When I heard a second knock, I got up and opened the door.
“Hi,” said Ben, leaning against the doorjamb.
“Hi,” I answered, stifling a yawn.
“Bad time?”
“I took an unintentional nap.”
When he didn’t say anything, it occurred to me he was waiting for me to ask him in. I stepped to the side and waved my hand.
“Am I intruding?”
“No.” I bit my bottom lip.
“It appears I might be.”
“It isn’t that.”
“What is it, then?”
If I told him I didn’t like the way he’d left after I spent the night at the farmhouse, would I sound like a shrew? “I don’t have anything to offer you except water,” I said instead.
“I’ve actually come to invite you to dinner.”
“Oh…um…” I looked over at my one and only pair of shoes nice enough to wear to work that was tucked under the divano. I cringed at the thought of putting them back on.
I looked back at Ben, struck like I had been the first time we met by how handsome he was. His hazelnut eyes were so warm, and his smile so sweet. All I wanted to do was fall into his strong arms and rest my head against the broad expanse of his muscular chest. My gaze rested on his lips. Kissing him again would be quite nice too.
He took a step closer. “You’re tired.” He reached up and brushed my hair from my face.
I desperately needed to get it cut; my bangs had been in my eyes all day.
“I should go,” he murmured.
I clasped his hand and brought it to my face. When he cupped my cheek, I leaned into his palm.
“Maybe not.”
“Definitely not.” I sighed. “Except if you’re hungry or thirsty, in which case, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
Ben wrapped his other arm around my waist. “I’m starving, Catarina, and I’ve come to exactly the right place.” With his hand still cupping my cheek, he leaned forward and kissed me.
I groaned when he thrust his tongue into my mouth. Had any other kiss I’d ever had felt as right as this one did? Instead of being awkward, it was as though our mouths were a perfect fit. It wasn’t just our mouths; our bodies fit too.
“God, I like kissing you.” Ben rested his forehead against mine.
I looked around the casina. Other than the two-seat divano, which wasn’t all that comfortable even for one person, the only other place we could sit next to each other was at the dining table or on the bed.
“Tell you what. Since you said you don’t have anything to eat or drink here, how about we go down to the farmhouse and I’ll make us dinner.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“And if I want to?”
“That sounds nice.” I looked back over at my shoes, wishing I could just stay barefoot.
“What?”