put their things in the Escalade, he did one more sweep of the room. She was ready by the time he was done.
She’d gathered her hair up in a loose style, leaving her neck exposed, but it tumbled in soft curls down her back. The teardrop, blue topaz earrings Xavier sent to match her dress sparkled, but not as brilliantly as the sapphire when it moved as she fiddled with them. Her strapless, azure cocktail dress hugged her breasts with an inch thick, black velvet border around the bodice and at the hem, which flared just above her knees. A twinge of guilt pulled at her, considering that she was supposed to be all dressed up for Nick. It passed quickly.
When she walked out of the bedroom, he nodded his approval and stood looking at her with both hands in his side pockets. He hesitated at the black stilettos and shook his head. “You’re killing me. You know that, don’t you?”
She smiled, took his arm, and they headed out for the night.
He picked another romantic, picturesque location, an upscale Italian restaurant off the pier. They sat at a semi-secluded table close to the musicians. The smell of the ocean in the light breeze and the sound of the waves stroked the melody that played. Paper lanterns hung on droopy wire lines, giving a soft, romantic glow. Iced Cristal was on the table when they arrived. It was obvious that this was prearranged. He must have been to the restaurant before because the maître d’ called him Mr. Pierce in a familiar way.
“Do you bring a lot of women here?” she said, tongue-in-cheek.
He smiled. “No. I’ve come here on business in the past.”
“Business?” She wasn’t prying for information. She was just wondering.
“I was a prosecutor here in Le Grand for about six years. The cop deal was very short lived, too many rules. I haven’t been doing the PI stuff long, but I like it.”
“That’s wonderful.”
With a light shake of his head, he smiled and gazed at her.
“What?” She countered, confused by his response.
“Nothing, it’s just that every other woman I’ve ever told that to wonders if I’m crazy. They see it as going backwards.”
“Doing what you enjoy is never going backwards.”
Again, time was flying too fast. Dinner was already almost half over. She wondered if time ever moved at the right pace.
“So what about this book you’re writing? Tell me about it. It’s called Broken?”
She didn’t bother asking how he knew about the book. It was clear he’d made it his business to know everything possible about her in the last six months. He’d been in her home, met her family, and listened to her conversations. She was relieved he didn’t question her about Wayde, glad he somehow understood what she’d been through, and knew she wouldn’t want to talk about it.
“The title changed to Unbroken after the revisions were made. I’ve been working on something new. Unbroken is a romance about a woman who struggles with life, love, and self, but eventually heals. I received the advance a couple weeks before I came. Xavier was the only person I told; he always encouraged me to write.” She lowered her eyes.
He took her hand. “I’m glad he was there for you. Will you send it to me before it’s published, or do I have to wait?” He poured more champagne. “Would you like dessert?”
“Yes, you may read the book. I’ll send the manuscript to you, Mr. Pierce. And yes, I’d like dessert, but not here.” She pursed her lips in a pretty, smiling way.
“I know what you’re going to ask. Pierce is related. We aren’t close, and I told you how I feel about him.”
She didn’t question him further, knowing some things were difficult to share.
He turned toward the dance floor. “Well, only one thing left I’d like to do before we leave.” He signaled to the band. The music stopped, and he held his hand out leading her to the dance floor. “Flor D’ Luna” started to play. Unbelievably smooth with the Latin rhythm, he maintained steady eye contact, dancing the way he made love —with complete engagement. He pulled her in close and whispered. “Do you know why I chose this song?” He kept his mouth at her ear. The sensation of his wispy breaths roused her ache for him.
She buried her face in his neck to hide, sure that her flushed cheeks and desiring eyes reflected what was pulsing through her. “No.” She barely breathed the word