Page 52 of Deception

Her hand slides over mine, the touch soft, seeking.

Our meal is forgotten as I reach for her, rushing in for a kiss?—

And the room goes dark with a loud pop.

Pitch black.

11

ISABELLA

The initial shock of the lights going out fades as I take a deep breath. I realize I’m gripping Alessandro’s hand tightly.

“Sorry.”

“For what? And why are you whispering?” There’s a chuckle in his words. “Should be a flashlight right…here.”

He clicks it on, shining it up to illuminate the room better.

“I thought I saw some candles when I was looking for silverware,” I mutter, feeling a little silly for freaking out.

In moments, we have a fair share of light and manage to get the older stove lit and heating our meal. The rich, creamy soup and garlic bread fill the kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma. Even more so, since the temperature has already started to drop in the house.

Alessandro heads upstairs to get the fire going in the den hearth while I finish getting everything ready, traying up our feast.

By the time I get upstairs, Alessandro has a roaring fire rekindled in the fireplace and several candles shine merrily, making the room glow almost romantically. The blazing fireplace is a bright and happy welcome as I set out the meal and settle down onto the fur rug.

“Here…” Aless wraps me in a fleece throw and I bite my lip to keep from giggling at his awkward shrug.

“Thank you.”

We dig in eagerly, the minestrone and bread tasting far better than it probably would have otherwise. Something about the weather, the dark, the firelight. It reminds me of camping with Papa as a little girl.

Alessandro seems to share the sentiment, making a few pleasant hums as he starts eating. We sit quietly, in companionable silence, enjoying our bread and soup, staring into the flames.

“I guess I’ll have to see if I can get the generator on. Or brave the blizzard to check the transformer.” Alessandro sits on the floor, wrapped in his own blanket, his back to the couch.

“You’re not going out there in the dark.”

“Then we’re both going to have to sleep on the floor in here tonight. It’s going to get really cold.”

The thought of sleeping near him sends a thrill through my legs down into my toes. “I can live with that.”

The lack of power sets a mood, like we’re both dancing around each other. It also punctuates the fact that I am stranded, alone, with the most intense man I’ve ever met.

It sets my heart pounding.

And I’m not sure if it’s in a good way or a bad way.

I just have to get through tonight, and things can go back to normal tomorrow once we get the power back on. Whatever normal is.

My stomach full, I curl up on the couch, feeling fairly sleepy and deliciously toasty. Giving in to a whim, I pat the couch cushion next to me, inviting Alessandro to join me. His body heat washes over me the instant he sits down and I can’t help scooting a bit closer.

“We used to have nights like this on purpose as kids. Dad would turn all the lights off, light candles. We would all gather in this room, have a big camp out. Tell stories.”

“Ghost stories?”

He huffs a little laugh. “Sometimes. My best friend was always trying to scare all of us with monsters and ghouls. He was a terrible storyteller, though.”

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