Marla gazed at the man she loved. He kissed her as Charlene took picture after picture. She’d spend a lot of time mooning over them later.
“Okay, Charlene,” Dwayne said. “We gotta get going. I expect we’ll be back late tomorrow afternoon.”
Marla put the strap of her Carlo Fellini evening bag over her shoulder and kissed Skipper good-bye. “What car are we taking?”
“She doesn’t know?”
“She’s about to find out. Come on, honey. One more surprise.” He led her out the front door and pointed to the emerald green Lincoln MKZ parked in front of the house.
“Is that yours?” Realizing she was gawking, she closed her mouth and stared.
“Nope, I borrowed my daddy’s new car for the weekend.” He extended his arm. “Shall we?”
“Uncle Johnny loaned you his new car? How did you talk him into that? Dad said he won’t even let Irene drive it.”
“Blackmail.” Dwayne laughed. “I’ll tell you on the way.”
She waved. “Bye, Char. Bye, Skipper. See you tomorrow.”
Charlene returned her wave. “I left something for you in the trunk. Have fun!”
“What did she leave?”
“No clue.” He carried their bags to the back of the car after Marla was seated and grinned from ear to ear when he sat behind the wheel.
“What are you so happy about?”
“Must be that Victoria’s Secret bag in the trunk.”
Her breath caught and an unexpected blush warmed her neck and cheeks. “Charlene’s a troublemaker.”
“My favorite brand of trouble.” He reached for her hand, brought it to his lips, and brushed a kiss on her palm.
Her breath caught and her eyes shimmered. She was in deep, deep trouble if this relationship ended.
He held her hand and pressed it to his cheek. He hadn’t known it was possible to fall this hard and fast. He glanced across the seat. Her lips were pressed together, and she’d closed her eyes. He hoped she was feeling the same. He would ask her to marry him, but not yet. They needed more time.
“Did I say you look beautiful, beautiful?” He laid her hand on his knee and covered it with his.
In answer to his question, she choked on a slight sob and nodded but didn’t say anything.
“God, Danaher, I am so in love with you.”
She gazed at him with a wobbly smile. “Is this a dream?”
“Let’s make it one.”
During the concert, he spent more time looking at her than the performance. She caught him at it and pushed his chin with a finger so he faced the stage. He immediately turned and gazed at her again. A woman behind them snickered. Marla lowered her forehead into her hand and shook her head. He loved teasing her.
After the valet brought the car, they drove less than a mile to Hilton Checkers hotel. When the bellman removed their luggage from the trunk, Dwayne took the Victoria’s Secret bag and insisted on carrying it through the lobby to the check-in desk where he set it on the counter. He grinned at Marla’s embarrassment and the obvious amusement of the young man who checked them in.
“You have a supper reservation in our restaurant, Mr. Dempsey. Shall I have the bellman take the bags to your room while you dine?”
“Yes, thanks.” He took the key card. “Shall we go, honey?”
She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “If you carry that shopping bag into the restaurant I’ll kill you.”
He chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “Have the bellman take this with the bags, please.”
“Very good, sir.”
He put his arm around her waist as they walked away. When his big hand drifted low on her hip she said, “You have a death wish, Dempsey.”
Marla’s breath caught when they entered the restaurant. “Oh, this is lovely.” She looked around the room. “I’m surprised to see so many diners this late in the evening.”
The maitre d’ seated them at a candlelit table in a quiet corner. A chilling bottle of champagne waited for them in an ice bucket that stood guard next to the table. She cocked her head in confusion. “Are you drinking alcohol tonight?”
“I have a confession. It’s sparkling fruit juice. I hope you don’t mind. I wanted the festive look.” He laid his hand over hers.
Uh oh. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear his answer, but she asked anyway, “Why don’t you drink? Are you a recovering alcoholic?”
“Nope, nothing like that. It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you another time.”
The wine steward approached their table and asked Dwayne’s permission to open the bottle and pour for them. He lifted it from the bucket and studied the label. With a perfectly straight face, he said, “An excellent vintage, sir.”
Dwayne winked and nodded toward Marla. “Yes, I need my wits about me tonight.”
Blushing hotly at the man’s knowing smile, she held her breath until he filled their glasses, bowed, and left.
“You certainly enjoy mortifying me. First the Victoria’s Secret bag and then that comment.” She shook her head, sighed deeply, and fanned herself with the leather-bound menu.
“So, what’s wrong with me telling the world I love you and I’m going to make love to you?”
What could she say? He was incorrigible. A part of his character, and she wouldn’t deny she found it attractive and erotic. “I don’t know. I’m just not used to it.”
“Get used to it. I’d like to shout it from the rooftops.” He picked up his menu. “What looks good?”
She opened hers and perused it for a moment. “Hmm. You look good.”
He leaned forward and whispered, “Yeah, besides that.”
“You pick. My brain isn’t functioning at top speed right now.” In fact, her brain hadn’t been functioning at top speed since the first time they’d made love, two weeks ago. Only two weeks? How had this man become the most important person in her life in two weeks?
He signaled the waiter. “We’ll have the Seared Maine Sea Scallops to start, Roasted Jidori Chicken for the main course, and then decaf Cappuccino after dinner, and please, have the
