“I wouldn’t have asked so much of you if I weren’t sure you could handle it, Mari.”
And she couldn’t help the warmth that spread through her at his words of confidence.
“And I thank you for that. As well as thanking you for realizing I needed a breather.”
When Mari pushed away her plate, Luca reached into the basket one more time.
“I know I probably shouldn’t have, but I got them to sneak in dessert.” He removed a ceramic pot and a spoon, held them up.
“You thought of everything.”
“Not everything. They only sent one spoon.”
She stared at the single utensil. What sort of game was he playing? She thought he’d simply hand her the dish and that would be it. But instead he dipped the spoon in and out, a smile playing on his lips.
“I told you that there was simple beauty to be found. That the Cascade meant an experience, more than providing a service. What if we weren’t running the hotel? What if we were guests? We wouldn’t be thinking of whether or not this was profitable, we’d be thinking of how wonderful the afternoon has been. We’d be opening our senses, our minds. We’d be thinking of ourselves and enjoyment and not worrying about a thing.”
Her heart tripped over itself as he held up the spoon, rounded with crème brûlée.
“Close your eyes, Mari.”
Oh God. This wasn’t putting up boundaries at all, or establishing a status quo. It was blowing it all to smithereens and she wasn’t sure she could do it.
He held the spoon, waiting. She was caught by his warm gaze, as lazy and seductive as the creamy concoction on the spoon.
And she closed her eyes.
The cold spoon touched her lips and she instinctively opened them. Felt the cool richness of the dessert enfold her tongue. Smooth, soft, sweet.
As the spoon left her lips, she opened her eyes.
Luca dipped the spoon again, but this time tasted it himself, his gaze never leaving hers.
“It’s good,” he murmured, presenting her with the spoon once more.
The spoon that had just been in his mouth. It was silly that the thought would have such an effect on her, but it felt like seduction. She opened her mouth and let him feed her, feeling more and more like she was completely out of her mind and her element. She didn’t know what to do with romance. And this was clearly romance.
“It really is exquisite.” Not only the dessert, but being here with him, and she had to find a way to divert the mood. It was sheer craziness that she’d let herself fall under his spell, but she knew what came next. Before she knew it they’d be kissing. The very idea made her tremble, from want and fear. She was not equipped for an affair, and she was smart enough to know an affair was all there would be with Luca. He was a limited time fantasy, and she couldn’t afford to buy into it.
She had to bring it back to the business of the hotel somehow. Mari started fussing with plates and silverware to avoid being fed any more of the decadent dessert. “I think we could develop a selection of picnic items.”
Luca helped himself to one more spoonful and Mari forced herself to look away from how his lips encircled the spoon.
He put the dish down and picked up his wine. “Interesting idea. Maybe offer a selection to choose from. Don’t want the bocconcini? Have a shrimp and rice salad, perhaps. Herbed chicken instead of lamb. Gunther’s chocolate terrine instead of crème brûlée. What do you think?”
What Mari thought was that test driving a sports car wasn’t the same as owning one, and doing a dry run for a romantic picnic wasn’t like being on one. But…the potential was still there and she could use her imagination. Especially after the last few moments.
If she were in love with Luca, and he with her, and they were in this setting, eating decadently, growing lazy on fine wine…
A couple in love would be romanced. And they’d end the afternoon in a very different way than she would with Luca. And that would be part of the Cascade experience.
And how would such a couple end the day? Mari’s hand paused over the dishes. Perhaps they’d return to the hotel and order in room service. Or they’d dress in fine clothing and have dinner at the best tables, dancing on the gleaming parquet floor with the scent of fresh flowers falling around them. He’d smile and hold out his hand, his brown eyes shining down at her because she was so lovely…
“Mari?”
“I think that sounds wonderful,” she answered, fussing with the blanket beside her feet, knowing that such a scenario was not possible, even as longing suffused her. A chill blew in with the breeze and she shivered. She had to stop thinking of him this way. Everything would go sideways and there’d be no graceful way out. If she couldn’t even stand his hand on her arm, how could she possibly relax enough for there to be more? She was simply tired and her defenses were down. She was muddled from the wine. It had to be about the Cascade, not about them.