The maitre d’ bowed low, showing extreme deference to Dare, then directed them to a private room adjoining the restaurant, an elegantly decorated room aglow with the soft light of a dozen candles shining through stained glass shades that lined the walls. In the middle of the table was what looked like a bouquet of flowers but turned out to be flower shaped candles from which an almost heavenly fragrance wafted.
Dare released her arm and pulled out her chair then he went to sit across from her, his eyes never once leaving her face. It was if he was seeing her for the first time, so intense was his stare. Or was there something more? There was a gleam in his eyes, one that she could not decipher. The only word that came to mind was ‘wicked’. She could feel her breathing grow shallow. Goodness, had she made a mistake in coming?
But then inexplicably his demeanor changed. Gone were the frown that had darkened his face, gone was the intense stare that was almost a glare, and in their place was a half-smile that, while not totally reassuring, made her breathing just a little bit easier.
Dare took charge, placing the order for both of them. He seemed familiar with everything on the menu so there was no need to question his recommendation.
In fact, just then Erin was feeling so out of her depth she doubted she would have been able to order anyway. She wasn’t even sure she’d be able to eat when the meal arrived. Dropping her hands to her lap she twisted her napkin with shaking fingers and pasted a bright smile on her face.
“Are you alright?” Dare’s frown was back. He was watching her intently, his gray eyes glittering like shards of glass in the candlelight.
“I’m…fine, thank you.” The words came out stilted and strained. She swallowed and tried again, hiding desperately behind her fake smile. “This is a really nice place. It seems to be the nicest restaurant at the resort.”
“I like it.” His voice was brusque and cool. It was almost as if he had no interest in conversation.
Confused, Erin bit her lip. Why had he asked her to dinner? He was acting like she was an annoyance.
She dropped the napkin onto her lap, lifted her head and looked him squarely in the eyes. Enough was enough. “You didn’t really want to invite me out, did you?”
“Excuse me?” He straightened, obviously caught off guard by her direct question.
“This…date, if you can call it that. Clearly, you don’t want to be here so why did you invite me out?” Erin gave him her coldest stare.
“I’m…sorry,” he said, his voice low. He had the decency to look contrite. “I’ve had a rough day and was a bit…distracted.” He leaned forward and for the first time that evening he gave her a smile that could be described as warm. “That’s no excuse for my behavior and I’m sorry. Forgive me?” He gave her a puppy dog look that melted her heart.
How could she say no? She smiled back at him. “Of course,” she said with a slight nod of her head and when he reached out and took her hand she did not pull it away.
After that the rest of the date went smoothly and soon Erin began to relax in Dare’s company. He was charming and witty, and she found herself laughing at his insightful and satirical observations on life. She was seeing another side to this man she’d branded as too domineering and too bold. He actually had a sense of humor.
She’d just finished her second glass of wine when the server approached the table, bottle at ready. This time she quickly covered her glass with her hand.
“I’m fine, thank you,” she told him with a smile.
“Are you sure?” Dare asked and a mischievous smile played on his lips. “You’re on vacation, remember? No time like the present to let your hair down.”
She thought about it. He was right. It was not like she had to drive a car afterwards so no fear of DUI. And she didn’t have to get up next day to head out to work or classes. What harm could one more glass of wine do? Besides, she liked wine.
She began to slide her fingers away, her lips slightly pursed in anticipation of the tangy liquid, but then her better self, good old cautious Erin, came to the rescue. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I rarely drink so two glasses of wine is enough, I think. I’ll have to walk back to the villa, remember?” She was looking at Dare and gave a little laugh as he gave her an exaggerated look of disappointment. Then when he gave her a pout and wiped away a fake tear she laughed out loud. Dare DeSouza was actually a funny guy.
Seeming satisfied that he’d made her laugh, Dare turned to the server. “Just one glass, please. We’ll share it.”
At his words Erin’s eyes widened and she felt the warmth of a blush rise to her face. We’ll share it? Whoa, hold on. Wasn’t that much too intimate for two people who hardly knew each other? She continued to stare at Dare, trying to look composed, but she could feel her smile faltering.
Within an instant a fresh glass of white wine was placed on the table between them and the server slipped discreetly away. Erin tore her eyes from Dare’s face and looked instead at the sparkling liquid.
He chuckled and reached out a hand to slide the glass closer to her. “You first,” he said and the way he said it was both commanding and seductive at the same time.
For a moment Erin hesitated. Then the tension in her dissipated. She relaxed and reached for the glass. She wasn’t going to have all of it, after all. She picked it up by its delicate stem and lifted it to her mouth, her eyes never leaving Dare’s sharp gray ones. She took a small sip then another and another until Dare stopped her with a laugh.
“Hey, leave some for me. We’re supposed to be sharing, remember?”
She laughed too, and lowered the glass to the table then slid it across to him. She was staring at him, she knew, but she couldn’t help it. His smile so transformed his face that she could hardly believe he was the same man, the cold, hard brute she’d met the day before. He now looked something very close to a naughty boy planning some devious trick.
This time it was Dare’s turn to put the glass to his lips. He gave it a slight turn with his fingers, seeming to deliberately position it so that his mouth would fall precisely where hers had been just moments before. Then, before Erin could guess what he was about to do, his tongue darted out to taste the memory of her lips.
Erin’s breath caught in her throat. A simple gesture was all it had been but never had she seen anything more erotic. He’d sent her a clear and unmistakable message without saying a single word. Dare DeSouza wanted her in no uncertain terms.
Her pulse racing Erin watched, mesmerized, as Dare took a sip and another, then his tongue slipped out again this time to catch a stray drop of wine from his lips. But he did it so slowly, so sensually, she knew it was all for her.
He was obviously intent on seducing her and it was working. She drew in a deep breath, trying her best to calm her racing heart, but it was difficult to stay serene when the sexiest man on the island was coming on to her. Goodness, nothing she’d experienced in the past had prepared her for this.
Another sip and Dare had finished the glass of wine. Now he turned all his attention on her. He leaned forward and took her hands in his big strong ones.
When he looked down at them she closed her eyes, willing her hands not to tremble. Come on, Erin, you’re a big girl. You can handle this. The best way to handle it was to distract him in some way.
“Umm, why don’t we go for a walk? It’s a nice balmy night.” She glanced at him, hopeful that he would take the bait. She needed to get away, out of this intimate space where they were all alone and he could seduce her wickedly without prying eyes. Out in the open he would have to behave. She hoped.
He did not object. “We might as well walk off some of this food. Come.” He quickly signed the bill and rose, and as he’d done before he gave her his arm.
Erin stifled a smile. The consummate gentleman when he wished to be. But she was not fooled. Underneath that polished exterior was a man who could be as hard as iron. She’d seen it in his unforgiving response to her blunder in the pool. She’d felt it in his punishing grip when he’d thought she was about to flee. And she could sense it now, as he stood tall and imposing, looking down at her with those steel-gray eyes. She took his arm, thankful to be leaving the romantic atmosphere behind. She needed all her wits about her when dealing with this man and the combination of the fragrant candlelit room and two and a half glasses of wine were not helping.
She sighed with relief as they left the restaurant behind and set off along the cobbled pathway. For a while they walked in silence under the moonlight, breathing in the perfume of the frangipanis that lined the pathway and listening to the sounds of music and laughter in the distance. It was a romantic night, with stars winking in the deep velvet of the sky, and Erin could almost imagine they were lovers enjoying the night and each other’s company. If only it were true.
They’d been walking almost aimlessly for some time before Erin realized they’d left the cobblestones and were now on sandy soil. Her stiletto heels had begun to sink into the soft earth and she suddenly found herself toppling over.