Her eyes widened. "No. Did you ever find out why she left?"
He shook his head and squeezed her hand, taking her to the table and their dinner which had just arrived "No. I hoped you did."
John held her chair as she sat and then pushed her in. "Where did you go after the funeral?"
"I was getting my master's at Stanford the day she died." He took the seat opposite Alice. His father had assumed he was into science, so when he'd moved to DC and walked away from everything, Mitch had hardly noticed. "Right after the funeral, I joined the FBI academy. My father was so angry he said he'd disown me."
Both of her hands now held his across the table. "But he didn't."
Alice was easy to talk to. He hadn't had anyone in his corner for as long as he remembered. "No. He kept the monthly money piling into my accounts, but now I have no idea what will happen. I guess I'll find out at the will."
She shrugged. "Maybe Peter disagreed with your dad."
Holding Alice's hand made the entire day worth living. He took his hand back and gazed into her clear and lovely face. Then he poured them both a glass of wine. "I don't know. Peter was the oldest and he was the most distant. Out of all of us, he remembered our mother the most, and I think I was jealous that he had memories."
She took the glass as she squeezed his shoulder. "You don't?"
This wasn't to make her feel bad for him. He shook his head. "Fragmented pictures go through my mind, but nothing concrete."
She brushed her hand against his again, and the warmth in his body shot through his veins. "I don't know how that feels. Vicki always said your mom left you all the day she was born, but if you have memories, that has to be hard. I'm so sorry."
This conversation could only be had with her. No one else would ever understand. He withdrew his hand and rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know why I'm telling you this."
The server interrupted and asked, "Do you need anything else?"
"No, thanks." John said without one glance away from her.
"I'm glad we're honest with each other." As soon as they were alone, again, she smiled and her face glowed. She could be related to angels, if those things existed. "'Cause you can trust me. It's okay. John, I told you my darkest secret."
"I wish I'd known about your crush back then."
She sipped her wine. His mouth watered and he wished he was the wine. He needed to stop this fantasy about Alice. She had no idea.
They finished their dinner.
She shook her head. "I was a tomboy and your sister's friend."
No, that wasn't why he hadn't noticed her before. If he had, it would be less of a nuclear explosion inside him now. She drank her wine. He scooted closer. "You turned out to be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
What had he said? Her entire body seemed to tell him to take her. Every cell in him reacted to her. He stared at her mouth and remembered she tasted better than fruit. She tasted liked Heaven.
She opened her eyes and then offered a smile. With a wink, she said, "That's it. We're getting married."
His entire body stilled. "What?"
She laughed. Perhaps she could be flirty and fun. "I'm joking, slightly. I don't know how much more flirting I can do. John. We're both adults now. We should go upstairs."
It wasn't a joke. The picture of a simple life with Alice at the door as she waited for him flashed in his mind. If he married Alice, then he'd have her in his life forever. No one would be hurt if he kept her.
It was something to think about. He took her hand and led her inside the hotel. "Then I'll ensure you get back to your room, alone."
She winced, hurt. "Okay." She shrugged. "Thank you for tonight."
He walked her toward the elevator, but kept her hand in his. Her eyes widened but she didn't ask. Her soft skin kept him grounded and warm. He hit the button to call the elevator. "At the funeral tomorrow, I'll be distant. The press will be there. Please don't be offended."
"So you don't want people on television to see me with you?"
"It's for your own protection. You should be safe, away from Peter and Jennifer and their narrow worldview."
The elevator opened, and they both went inside. She pressed 12 as he hit 13. Part of him wanted to go to her room and rip that dress off her body.
He gripped the elevator door to stop himself. She asked, "Why?"
The doors closed and they were alone. He wouldn't kiss her again. He swallowed. "I'm attracted to you and that's something my brother and the world doesn't need to see."
She rubbed her arms and met his gaze. Her eyes held a glimmer of a question that she kept unspoken. Should he lean her backwards in the elevator and kiss her hard? Right now, no. He intended forever, and forever doesn't start with seduction. A potential wife was different than a random hookup. He stood straighter. She was steady and he needed strength.
"You really don't trust him, do you?"
What had he said? Something about his brother. His mind caught up to the conversation, though his mouth still ached to kiss her. "I don't know. He might be fine, but in the House of Morgan signs of affection can be used as a weapon. You're too sweet."
Without another thought he captured her lips in a kiss. The overwhelming sense that he belonged with her shot through him like a lightning bolt. Her hands wrapped around his neck as he held her waist. He pulled back for a breath of air as the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
For a moment, neither of them moved or said anything. The elevator dinged a second time and his hand went out to stop the doors from closing. She swallowed and then said, "Okay. Good night."
She moved like an angel. She walked off the elevator, but then he held the door and asked her sexy backside, "Coffee afterwards?"
The words had just flown out of his mouth. She turned around and offered him a smile. "Where?"
He reached for his phone, and hoped his hands didn't show sweat. He swallowed back his nerves. "I'll text you, if you give me your number."
A laugh formed on her face, though neither made a sound. "Smooth, John."
She took his phone and typed her number. Then she handed it back to him. Strawberries scented the air. The taste of Alice was even sweeter. She took a step back from the elevator. "Good night."
"I'll see you at the funeral."
He lost all sense of what to say near her. Alice was incredible. If he could bottle her and keep her in his life, he'd be happier than he'd been in years.
He walked into his room and stared at Alice's number one more time. Smiling, he knew he'd find her again, but he refused to spend the evening like a lost puppy dog as he gazed at her name. He closed out the phone application and checked his email. The second one caught his attention.
John Morgan,