Secret Weapon Spouse - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,35

wondered if she was sorry she’d revealed a little more of herself by acknowledging that she understood Italian.

Candlelight flickered warmly over her face and with a stab of desire, he realized that she’d never looked more beautiful than she did tonight.

She must have felt his eyes on her. She brushed a lock of brown hair from behind her ear and let it fall so it hid part of her face again.

She picked up her menu. “All I really need is a salad….”

Alex laughed. “Trust me you are not getting out of here that easy. Romano would not allow it.”

“Really, Alex—”

“What are you afraid of?” he asked, leaning across the table toward her.

A wary look leaped to her eyes.

“It’s only food,” he said smiling at her. “One of many fun indulgences I have a feeling you’ve been missing out on.” Her cheeks flamed. Was she actually blushing? “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

He leaned back as a young Italian waiter put down a basket of warm, savory-smelling bread, a small bowl of whipped fresh creamery butter and a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Compliments of the house,” the waiter said with a bow.

“I’m not even going to pretend I know anything about wine,” Alex said to Samantha and laughed, hoping to relieve some of her tension. She looked ready to spring out of her booth and run. “I can only assume it’s a very good year, given that Romano is obviously trying to impress you.”

The waiter uncorked the wine—Alex waved away the offer to smell the cork—and poured them both a glass and left.

Alex raised his glass in a toast and realized he didn’t want to talk about Caroline, her fiancé, anything that might spoil this moment. And just maybe there was an even better way to find out about this woman. “Tonight let’s just enjoy ourselves. I really want to forget about everything and just enjoy your fascinating company. Whatever it is you want to talk to me about, I’m sure it can wait. Indulge me this one night?”

INDULGING ALEX GRAHAM? That’s the last thing she wanted to do, she thought as she reluctantly touched her wineglass to his. She’d seen his appetite for food. Was keenly aware of his appetite for life. As a fireman, she knew the man enjoyed taking chances, living on the edge—the exact opposite of Samantha Peters.

Being this near him she couldn’t just feel his enormous energy, it seemed to infuse her with the desire to not only indulge him, but herself.

She took a sip of her wine, her hand shaking, and tried to concentrate on something else. The music. An Italian love song. Alex was looking at her with that intensity that warned her he saw beneath the surface. He saw what she had been so successful at keeping a secret for years.

He got to his feet and reached for her hand. “Dance with me.”

Before she could decline, he had drawn her up and into his arms, whirling her expertly onto the small dance floor she hadn’t noticed before. She saw Romano smiling at them from the shadows and suspected he’d intentionally played the song. He gave her a wink.

She tried to relax. Being in Alex’s arms was heaven. And hell.

“You dance very well,” he said, holding her close as they moved to the sensuous beat of the music.

She was intensely aware of the places his body touched hers. The smell of his light aftershave and distinct male scent filled her senses, making her dizzy in a way the wine never would have.

She felt both relief and disappointment when the song ended and he led her back to the table, releasing her hand as he slid into the booth across from her.

The food arrived in a flurry of dishes and aromas. Alex was like a kid in a candy store and she felt herself being swept up by his enthusiasm.

He began to explain each of Romano’s specialties as he spooned them onto her plate. She listened, enjoying the sound of his voice as much as the smell of the food.

He waited for her to taste each one.

She indulged him—and herself. Obediently, she tried a bite of each one, giving the appropriate responses all of which met with a smile from Alex. “This is wonderful,” she said with a wave of her hand.

He laughed as he refilled her wineglass.

They ate and drank, laughing and joking. The meal, the music, the warmth of the café and each other totally relaxed her.

Just for tonight,