His entire face gazed so intensely at her that she lost her ability to think. He had no idea what she was talking about. She ought to go jump in the pool fully clothed and cool off. Granted she'd only been fourteen, but the memory was seared into her mind.
To avoid him, she gulped a second glass of wine and said nothing. There was nothing else to say. The special moment was destroyed, so she pushed away from the table. "I should probably go back to my room."
"Wait." He squeezed her hand. "We were at Vizcaya for Vicki's birthday party. I had no idea it meant so much to you."
She inhaled and scooted closer. He remembered! She took her hand back from him and clutched her necklace. "You remember?"
He tilted his face so they were inches apart. "You tasted like strawberries."
At the farm, she always ate strawberry something. He remembered her taste? Her mind was mush. To avert her gaze she turned her head and tried to stop her limbs from shaking. For one second she needed to breathe like a normal person. "We grow them on the farm."
Without a word, he picked up his drink and studied her. His perusal felt different from other men. There was no way she was worldly enough for a man like John.
Then a smile that shined like the sun appeared on his face and brought out those dimples as he leaned back in his chair. "I didn't know it was your first kiss. I'd have made it more special."
Her gaze flew to his, and the gleam in his eye made her feel like she was the only woman on the planet. "That would have been more awkward, and I was already embarrassed."
The buzzer on the table reverberated. He picked it up and took her elbow. "Don't be embarrassed. I was the luckiest guy that day, and I didn't even realize it."
If he thought like that, then tonight would end with fireworks and explosions. "Really?"
"Yeah," he said. "You had just had a fight with your dad or something. Shall we go to dinner?"
Her hotel room would be quieter. She would have been happy to skip dinner but he seemed intent on a meal. He lifted her to her feet as she scooted back her chair. His hand brushed the base of her spine. This was it. Her body trembled for his hand against her naked body as he escorted her into the dining room.
"I'm glad I came home," he said.
They waited for the hostess to show them to a table, and John held her seat for her. She'd told him her feelings and he'd responded. It wasn't her imagination—John was flirting with her. She had to read this right. After the funeral, they'd go their separate ways, but for tonight, she'd be his Cinderella. She traced her throat with her forefinger. "Why?"
"You." He slid into the seat opposite her.
A shiver of pleasure overwhelmed her. She lowered her eyes and giggled. Her nerves were getting in the way. She'd never be sophisticated. "The Morgan charm."
His hand went across the table and brushed against hers. "What?"
She picked up her drink. More memories played in her mind like a movie as she remembered the House of Morgan and how Vicki went to charm school. She tilted her head. "Did you get lessons in how to be charming?"
For a second, his face lost all traces of that guard that was so high and jaded. Then his sexy dimples came back and his smile was simple and pure. "No. I just like seeing you blush. Do the boys in the country not compliment you?"
She slid her drink back on the table and winked at him. "Not like you do."
Without warning, he scooted his chair closer to hers. "Alice Collins, if you keep looking at me like that, then I'm going to kiss you."
Yes. Her mouth fell open. He couldn't mean that. It was what she'd always wanted. Her entire body felt light and airy, but despite her dreams, she'd never actually drag John to her bed or anywhere. It wasn't who she was. Despite her claims, she couldn't pretend to be that much of someone else. She averted her gaze. "It's way too soon."
He leaned closer, across their seats. Every second disappeared and time went still. Her heart beat wildly. Then his nose brushed hers. "Then turn away."
She closed her eyes. Fairy tales weren't real and she needed to respect herself in the morning. "I can't."
His arms circled her waist. Nothing else existed in the world except them. Her body ached for his touch, all over. This was fate. Then his lips met hers. The featherlike brush against hers melted everything. This was heaven. His lips tasted like a fine wine or candy, but a million times more succulent.
Chapter Six
John thought Alice's strawberry-scented hair matched the sweetness of her kiss as he pulled away from her mouth and leaned back in his chair.
He was under some spell and not himself tonight. With her, the world was fresh and clean. He gazed into Alice's light blue eyes and felt like he was in a dream where he was safe, and no one judged him. Though she'd compared him to a tree, Alice gave him a sense of home and belonging.
There was no other choice but to go slow with her. Her entire body begged him to take her right here and now, but he wouldn't. He ran his hands through his hair and tried to regain his control.
The music from the terrace wafted into the restaurant. Sitting across from Alice felt like he belonged somewhere. He tried to breathe.
She fingered her gold pendant, saying something he didn't catch. His gaze returned to her sweet lips as she unfolded her napkin and placed it on her lap. He pictured kissing the parts she hid under her black dress.
She leaned across the table and kissed him. Without intention, he opened his lips, and tugged her close.
Steel drums beat in his ear, and he questioned if it was his heartbeat. He let go of her chin as the waitress came over.
"John, I don't know what to say."
Whatever had prompted those words would remain a mystery. The tingle of her kiss lingered on his lips. At least she couldn't hear his thoughts. She would run away. He sat back and crossed his arms. "I don't either. Alice, I'm in the middle of changing my entire life."
She scooted her seat in across from him. The distance of the round table between them was good. "Okay. Don't worry about it." She shrugged. "Tonight is a fantasy."
Fantasies and Alice were a dangerous combination. Forget dinner. It had been a bad idea to spend time with her. The trouble was, if he went anywhere near her room, he wouldn't let her go. The thought scared him. Alice reminded him of a dream he never had. She was the only thing he'd touched in years that was warm and inviting. "The funeral is on my mind."
"Of course it is. Despite everything, he was your father and the only parent you had."
"I don't want my dark thoughts to ruin your night too. Maybe once we finish our meal, I should let you go back to your room."
She toyed with her water glass, but then her lips puckered. "Don't run away on my account."
She knew him. Her comments about home earlier hit him in the gut. Alice's kiss made his body soar, and if he took her, then it would be forever. But eternity wasn't a possibility for him. In his everyday life, vengeance ruled him and he held onto too much anger to ruin a girl like her.