cheeks. I should have known. Relationship troubles seem to be the root of all evil. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Nate says stiltedly as he pushed away from the table. “It’s just been my experience that American girls are all the same: self-entitled, arrogant and complete bitches.”
I stare at him, dumb-founded. “I don’t know what to say to that,” I admit.
“Say nothing,” Gavin advises. “He’s just being a dick.”
Nate glares at him before stalking off. Dante follows him and I watch as they seem to have a few heated words by the edge of the pool. Dante sticks his finger in Nate’s face and Nate’s scowl seems glued into place.
“What’s his deal?” I ask Mia. “Did he really get burned that badly?”
She nods. “Uh-huh. The girl was a cold-hearted wench. I know that all American girls aren’t that way. But Nate can’t seem to get it through his thick, pale head. And truly, he’s just kind of a dick in general. He’s never happy.”
I watch as Nate stalks away and Dante returns to the group. He doesn’t even seem flustered.
“Where were we?” he asks smoothly as he pours a glass of lemonade and offers it to me. It actually has mint leaves floating in it. Fancy.
“You were getting ready to tell us that you are bringing Reece to the bonfire tonight,” Gavin answers fluidly without missing a beat.
Gavin turns to me and takes my arm, speaking conspiratorially.
“There will be fresh crab legs, oysters- and you know what those are good for- and clams. And all the fresh melted butter that any girl could ask for. Plus, of course, the fruity drinks with umbrellas that all females appear to worship.” He bats his eyes in exaggeration. “Please say you’ll come. I will die a slow, painful, horrible death if you don’t.”
“What are oysters good for?” I ask him innocently with a straight face. He stares at me as Mia hides a giggle.
“Seriously? You haven’t heard this?” he asks. I shake my head even though I know dang good and well what they are good for.
“They’re aphrodisiacs. Tried and proven,” he thumps his chest proudly. “I’ll make sure they have extras for you tonight, my lovely.”
Gavin grins at me and I have to laugh. He’s ridiculous. But I find that I like it. Charm, cockiness and an inflated sense of ego. What’s not to like? The charm is the key. Without it, he’d just be an ass.
I grin. “Alright. I’ll be there.” But then I look at Dante. “I mean, will we?”
He smiles patiently. “Anything you’d like. You’re a guest in my home. Your wish is my command.”
Gavin looks at him, then at me. “You’d better study your list of commands,” he advises me. “Ask for something good.”
I laugh at his ridiculous expression, then turn to find Dante watching me.
His blue eyes are solemn and I wonder what he is thinking.
Laughingly, I ask, “I can ask for anything?”
Dante leans in, his lips so close to my cheek that I can feel his warm breath.
“Just say the word and it’s yours.”
I suck my breath in and stare at him. He’s seems so serious all of a sudden and my heart starts skipping beats. His nearness is making me crazy. He smells delicious, like the earth, the sea, the sun and the woods. I have to literally bite my lip from replying, You. I want you .
And I realize with a start, that I do.
I do want him.
I’ve known him all of two days and I want him completely, utterly and absolutely.
OhMyWord.
>
Chapter Eight
The sea here in Caberra is amazing.
During the day, it’s turquoise and clear and smells like salt.
At night, right now, it is massive and black and mysterious. And smells like salt.
I guess that’s the case with the sea anywhere, but it seems especially amazing here. So clean and huge and romantic. Maybe because this is Dante’s home. Or maybe it’s because I’m walking with him right
“Don’t be,” Nate says stiltedly as he pushed away from the table. “It’s just been my experience that American girls are all the same: self-entitled, arrogant and complete bitches.”
I stare at him, dumb-founded. “I don’t know what to say to that,” I admit.
“Say nothing,” Gavin advises. “He’s just being a dick.”
Nate glares at him before stalking off. Dante follows him and I watch as they seem to have a few heated words by the edge of the pool. Dante sticks his finger in Nate’s face and Nate’s scowl seems glued into place.
“What’s his deal?” I ask Mia. “Did he really get burned that badly?”
She nods. “Uh-huh. The girl was a cold-hearted wench. I know that all American girls aren’t that way. But Nate can’t seem to get it through his thick, pale head. And truly, he’s just kind of a dick in general. He’s never happy.”
I watch as Nate stalks away and Dante returns to the group. He doesn’t even seem flustered.
“Where were we?” he asks smoothly as he pours a glass of lemonade and offers it to me. It actually has mint leaves floating in it. Fancy.
“You were getting ready to tell us that you are bringing Reece to the bonfire tonight,” Gavin answers fluidly without missing a beat.
Gavin turns to me and takes my arm, speaking conspiratorially.
“There will be fresh crab legs, oysters- and you know what those are good for- and clams. And all the fresh melted butter that any girl could ask for. Plus, of course, the fruity drinks with umbrellas that all females appear to worship.” He bats his eyes in exaggeration. “Please say you’ll come. I will die a slow, painful, horrible death if you don’t.”
“What are oysters good for?” I ask him innocently with a straight face. He stares at me as Mia hides a giggle.
“Seriously? You haven’t heard this?” he asks. I shake my head even though I know dang good and well what they are good for.
“They’re aphrodisiacs. Tried and proven,” he thumps his chest proudly. “I’ll make sure they have extras for you tonight, my lovely.”
Gavin grins at me and I have to laugh. He’s ridiculous. But I find that I like it. Charm, cockiness and an inflated sense of ego. What’s not to like? The charm is the key. Without it, he’d just be an ass.
I grin. “Alright. I’ll be there.” But then I look at Dante. “I mean, will we?”
He smiles patiently. “Anything you’d like. You’re a guest in my home. Your wish is my command.”
Gavin looks at him, then at me. “You’d better study your list of commands,” he advises me. “Ask for something good.”
I laugh at his ridiculous expression, then turn to find Dante watching me.
His blue eyes are solemn and I wonder what he is thinking.
Laughingly, I ask, “I can ask for anything?”
Dante leans in, his lips so close to my cheek that I can feel his warm breath.
“Just say the word and it’s yours.”
I suck my breath in and stare at him. He’s seems so serious all of a sudden and my heart starts skipping beats. His nearness is making me crazy. He smells delicious, like the earth, the sea, the sun and the woods. I have to literally bite my lip from replying, You. I want you .
And I realize with a start, that I do.
I do want him.
I’ve known him all of two days and I want him completely, utterly and absolutely.
OhMyWord.
>
Chapter Eight
The sea here in Caberra is amazing.
During the day, it’s turquoise and clear and smells like salt.
At night, right now, it is massive and black and mysterious. And smells like salt.
I guess that’s the case with the sea anywhere, but it seems especially amazing here. So clean and huge and romantic. Maybe because this is Dante’s home. Or maybe it’s because I’m walking with him right
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