Page 14 of Delayed
“Why is that?”
“My mother’s side of the family is Italian.My nonna never lets you leave her house until you’ve eatensomething. I don’t get these curves without effort.” She patted herhip glad she didn’t have body issues anymore. She worked out andwas in shape. When she was younger, the bombardment of perfectfemales on advertisements and some of her skinnier friends hadgiven her a slight body image complex. Her nonna used to tell herwomen were meant to have curves and in college, she found out menliked women who did. She’d never be a size four, and she was okaywith that.
“Bless your nonna. I’m fond of your curves.”He waggled his eyebrows over a bite of his burger.
She smirked and arched a brow.
“What else do you enjoy?” He swiped anotherfry.
He sure was full of questions. Like hewanted to get to know her, which seemed strange since they werespending just this one night together. A part of her had a millionquestions, too. But if she started to get to know him, she’d likehim even more than she already did. She might even start fallingfor him. Then walking on that plane tomorrow and saying goodbyewould leave her bereft. “Hm, a lot.” She dipped her own fry inketchup, but Rex plucked it from her and brought it to his mouth,eating it. She laughed.
“I know you enjoy warm weather andsunshine.”
“I guess I made that very apparent with myslight tantrum at the airport.” She shrugged. “What can I say?Florida born and bred.”
He chuckled. “Well, it’s good to know youwon’t be moving to Michigan any time soon.” He sipped his beer. “Doyou like to travel?”
“I do. I haven’t been as many places as Iwould like yet, but I have a list.”
“Where do you want to go?”
She paused, racing through her laundry listof destinations. “Ah, Europe. Italy, particularly. I’ve had thisfantasy of staying in a villa on a hillside in Tuscany for asummer, sipping wine and sitting in the sun reading a good book.I’m sure it soundsUnder the Tuscan Sun-ish and unoriginal,but I can’t help it.”
“Based on my limited experience, it soundsveryyou.” He smiled. “You’d love Italy. I did a semesterabroad in Florence. Such a rich culture. Each region has its ownhistory, wine, food. Is there room for a strapping brewer in thisvilla or were you fantasizing more about a fling with a local?” Hewinked.
Her chest tightened and a heaviness settledover her belly. “Are you inviting yourself into my fantasy?”
He leaned back in his chair. “It just soundslike so much fun. I wouldn’t want you to do it alone.”
“Who said I was alone?”
He certainly was presumptuous. Rex seemedlike a guy who specialized in one-night stands. His interest ingetting to know her threw her for a loop. Though she hadn’texpected to be naked and between the sheets the entire night, shedidn’t know how to take his probing questions and his curiosityabout her future plans. Never having had a fling, she didn’t knowthe proper protocol.
“That’s why I’m asking. I can see me sittingin a chaise lounge by the pool, you between my legs…”
“Hey, now!” She held up her hand. “When Isaid fantasy, I wasn’t talking about your sexual fantasy.”
He laughed. “You didn’t let me finish. Ididn’t mean it like that. Though that could also work.” Hescratched at his jaw as if he were thinking. “I meant you sittingbetween my legs, resting your head on my chest. We both sip ourMontepulciano and bask in the glorious Tuscan sun.”
“You know your wines, too?” She shook herhead. “I’m definitely at a disadvantage.”
“All the more reason to let me tagalong.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s not a ‘no.’”
“Just so we’re clear, that’s not a ‘yes’either.” She meant for her words to bite—just a little.
He flinched, just slightly, but he recoveredhis smile. They sat in silence for a few minutes finishing theirmeals and beer.
She liked him. She really did. He wasdevastatingly handsome, had a good sense of humor, had anadventurous side, and was spectacular in bed. What more could agirl want from a one-night tryst?
But she was out of her element. Sex hadalways been something she connected to a relationship. Sure, shehadn’t been in love with all of the men she’d slept with. She mightnot have been in love with any of them, but they’d had arelationship, or at the very least, been on several dates, hung outat each other’s houses. Basically, they’d known each other for morethan a couple hours.
She shifted in her seat. Was it Rex or theirsituation that had her heart pounding?
This fling with Rex was different, and shedidn’t know how to separate her emotions from the sexual act. Shewas used to experiencing both together.
