A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 17



"I think not." He, too, seemed distracted. Taking her hand in his, he bowed over it, his lips brushing lightly over her skin. "Thank you for this evening. I hope to see you again soon."

She nodded, felt an odd tingle as his gaze met hers.

Murmuring good night, she crossed the threshold and closed the door. Going to the front window, she watched him slide behind the wheel of the sleek black car and drive away.

The next afternoon Dominic sent her a dozen blood-red roses with a card that read:

Would you like to go walking on the beach this evening? If so, meet me at the foot of the stairs at sundown.

He had a thing for red roses, she thought, smiling, as she arranged the flowers in a blue-and-white ceramic vase and placed them on the mantel near the others.

That day, as never before, she was aware of time passing as she waited for sundown. Dominic was unlike any man she had ever dated before. Though he looked to be in his early thirties, he seemed older, somehow. Perhaps it was his bearing, or perhaps it was his courtly,Old World manner and speech.

She completed the landscape she had been working on before she moved. When it was dry, she would frame it, then wrap it and ship it to her client inVirginia . Like most artists, she usually had more than one painting in the works at a time. She currently had a seascape, a still life, and a floral in various stages of completion.

She ate a quick lunch, threw a load of laundry in the washer, and changed the sheets on her bed, always watching the clock.

Finally it was time to get ready. She chose a yellow flowered sundress and sandals, tied her hair back in a ponytail, and spritzedherself with cologne. Grabbing a warm sweater, she slipped it on,then left the house.

It was a lovely evening with a touch of a sea breeze. She paused at the top of the stairs that led to the beach to admire the sunset, which was breathtaking. The blue-sky canvas was awash with flaming red and orange, highlighted with brilliant splashes of ochre and darkening shades of purple and indigo.

With a sigh of appreciation for the work of the Master Painter, she started down the stairs.

Dominic was waiting for her at the bottom. He wore a white shirt open at the throat, white trousers, and sandals. The contrast with his black hair and dark skin was striking and she felt her breath catch in her throat when he offered her his hand. "Good evening."

"Hi."

His skin was cool, his fingers long and strong as they folded over hers. His touch sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.