Read Online Perfect for the Beach by Lori Foster, Janelle Denison, Kayla Perrin - Free Book Online Page B
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crystal wineglass to Alex’s. “I’ll drink to that,” she agreed, and took a sip of the Riesling that Alex had ordered to compliment their dessert.
They’d spent the past hour and a half lingering over a delicious meal of lamb, fresh steamed vegetables, and the kind of easy, companionable conversation that came so naturally between herself and Alex. They’d discussed a big-name client she’d taken on at work that could prove to be a coup for her resumé, as well as a leg up to yet another promotion within her imaging firm. They talked about his cousin’s new babies, and had a good laugh over his sister Mia’s latest run-in with her nemesis, Cameron, as well as tossed out their own predictions on how long the couple would be able to resist the attraction sizzling between them.
All in all, dinner had been enjoyable and relaxing, without anything to spoil their lively exchange or their time together in such a romantic atmosphere.
But now that serious look was back in Alex’s gaze, and as Dana took a bite of the apple tart on the table between them, she suspected that their idyllic dinner was about to come to an end.
Since there was no sense in putting off the inevitable discussion to come, she decided to get it out in the open and be done with it. “What’s on your mind, Alex?” she asked softly.
He swallowed the bite of dessert he’d taken and wiped his mouth with his linen napkin, looking more than a little bit sheepish at her accurate assumption. “Am I that obvious?”
She shrugged and set her fork aside. “You don’t spend a year with a person without learning to gauge their moods.”
“True, and you’ve become pretty adept at reading mine, it seems.” He grinned and took a drink of his wine.
The thing was, unlike herself, Alex was an open book. He never tried to hide his feelings, had never been anything but sincere and truthful with her, about anything and everything. His past. His emotions. His faults and even his strengths. There was little about him she didn’t know, or couldn’t find out if she wanted to.
She exhaled a breath and swirled the liquid in her wineglass. “So, what’s up, Alex?” she prompted once again.
He shifted in his seat, seemingly more anxious than she was feeling at the moment. “There’s something I need to know, and I’d like an honest answer.” He paused for a moment, met her gaze, and continued. “Have you been happy this past year, being with me?”
“Of course I have,” she replied without hesitation, more than a little startled that he’d even have to ask such a question. “I enjoy being with you, and I wouldn’t have stayed with you this long if I wasn’t happy.”
Truth be told, this past year with Alex was the longest she’d ever allowed herself to remain in a relationship with a man. Since she’d started dating in high school, then college, and into the early years of building her career, all her relationships had been short-lived, a few months at the most—by her choice. As soon as things turned serious with a guy, or demanding, or interfered with her career goals, she’d break things off, afraid of becoming too emotionally involved. Afraid of letting her heart overrule her head for fear of finding herself depending on a man like her mother had done for years.
But even though things had gotten serious with Alex, more so than with any man that had come before him, there was something unique about him that drew her in and made her feel safe and secure within their relationship. He accepted that she needed her space at times, seemed to understand her independent personality, and didn’t mind her penchant for being in charge during certain situations.
Until lately.
Until now.
She watched as Alex reached into his pocket and withdrew a small black velvet jeweler’s box. She tensed, her stomach knotting with a bout of uncertainty as he pushed it toward her.
“What’s this?” she asked with an air of nonchalance, more a stall tactic
They’d spent the past hour and a half lingering over a delicious meal of lamb, fresh steamed vegetables, and the kind of easy, companionable conversation that came so naturally between herself and Alex. They’d discussed a big-name client she’d taken on at work that could prove to be a coup for her resumé, as well as a leg up to yet another promotion within her imaging firm. They talked about his cousin’s new babies, and had a good laugh over his sister Mia’s latest run-in with her nemesis, Cameron, as well as tossed out their own predictions on how long the couple would be able to resist the attraction sizzling between them.
All in all, dinner had been enjoyable and relaxing, without anything to spoil their lively exchange or their time together in such a romantic atmosphere.
But now that serious look was back in Alex’s gaze, and as Dana took a bite of the apple tart on the table between them, she suspected that their idyllic dinner was about to come to an end.
Since there was no sense in putting off the inevitable discussion to come, she decided to get it out in the open and be done with it. “What’s on your mind, Alex?” she asked softly.
He swallowed the bite of dessert he’d taken and wiped his mouth with his linen napkin, looking more than a little bit sheepish at her accurate assumption. “Am I that obvious?”
She shrugged and set her fork aside. “You don’t spend a year with a person without learning to gauge their moods.”
“True, and you’ve become pretty adept at reading mine, it seems.” He grinned and took a drink of his wine.
The thing was, unlike herself, Alex was an open book. He never tried to hide his feelings, had never been anything but sincere and truthful with her, about anything and everything. His past. His emotions. His faults and even his strengths. There was little about him she didn’t know, or couldn’t find out if she wanted to.
She exhaled a breath and swirled the liquid in her wineglass. “So, what’s up, Alex?” she prompted once again.
He shifted in his seat, seemingly more anxious than she was feeling at the moment. “There’s something I need to know, and I’d like an honest answer.” He paused for a moment, met her gaze, and continued. “Have you been happy this past year, being with me?”
“Of course I have,” she replied without hesitation, more than a little startled that he’d even have to ask such a question. “I enjoy being with you, and I wouldn’t have stayed with you this long if I wasn’t happy.”
Truth be told, this past year with Alex was the longest she’d ever allowed herself to remain in a relationship with a man. Since she’d started dating in high school, then college, and into the early years of building her career, all her relationships had been short-lived, a few months at the most—by her choice. As soon as things turned serious with a guy, or demanding, or interfered with her career goals, she’d break things off, afraid of becoming too emotionally involved. Afraid of letting her heart overrule her head for fear of finding herself depending on a man like her mother had done for years.
But even though things had gotten serious with Alex, more so than with any man that had come before him, there was something unique about him that drew her in and made her feel safe and secure within their relationship. He accepted that she needed her space at times, seemed to understand her independent personality, and didn’t mind her penchant for being in charge during certain situations.
Until lately.
Until now.
She watched as Alex reached into his pocket and withdrew a small black velvet jeweler’s box. She tensed, her stomach knotting with a bout of uncertainty as he pushed it toward her.
“What’s this?” she asked with an air of nonchalance, more a stall tactic
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