Fool's Gold Collection Volume 3. Susan Mallery

that made sense.

      “Dove, what?”

      “Dove é il ristorante,” the recording obliged.

      “Is that a statement or a question?” she asked. “Isn’t it supposed to be a question? Where is the restaurant? Shouldn’t your voice go up at the end? Is that regional?”

      She flipped over the steaks she’d been marinating, then stuck the dish back into the refrigerator. A quick glance at the clock told her that Alistair would be arriving shortly. They were having dinner together. Their last dinner. He was leaving in the morning.

      She told herself not to be sad. That knowing him had allowed her to remember her dreams and follow them. She would always be grateful. The fact that she might have fallen a little in love with him was an issue she would deal with later.

      She replaced her “ Italian1” CD with something more appropriate for dinner, then raced upstairs to change her clothes. Thirty minutes later she was in a sundress, with her hair curled. She’d put on a bit of makeup and slipped into cute flats. As they were going to eat outside, heels would be silly, but she still wanted to look nice.

      While she’d settled on their dinner menu, she hadn’t chosen dessert. There were a couple of cupcakes in a pink box on the counter, but she was considering something else entirely. Inviting Alistair into her bed.

      She didn’t usually take relationships to that level. With him leaving and the real possibility that she would never see him again, sharing cupcakes made a lot more sense than giving him her body. But while her head could make the argument, her heart knew that showing how much she cared was important, too. Not for him, but for herself. What she hadn’t decided was if she was willing to risk it all, knowing there wasn’t the promise of a happy ending.

      She still hadn’t decided when he knocked on her door.

      She raced to the front of the house and let him in. When they were standing in her living room, she faced him.

      “Hi,” she said. “I’ve been busy. Everything is coming together, as it’s meant to be. I’m learning Italian, which isn’t going very well. But that’s okay. Montana’s sister, Nevada, works at the big construction site on the edge of town. They’ve hired a new manager and he has a wife and a little boy and they’re looking to rent a house for six months. They’ve been by and they love the place and they want to start the lease on the first. Which is exactly the amount of time I need to get ready.”

      She paused for breath. Part of her was aware of him watching her, of how his dark blue eyes seemed to see all the way to the very heart of her, but not in a scary way. Instead, she felt cared for and, well, adored.

      She told herself she was being silly, but the feeling wouldn’t go away.

      “I haven’t bought my tickets yet,” she went on. “I have told everyone I was going and they’re being so supportive. My banker reminded me about two CDs I have that will mature on the fifteenth, so as soon as that happens, I’ll have the money for the plane and the hotel deposits. I already have my passport, so I’m really doing it.”

      “You are,” he murmured, lightly touching her face. “Good for you.”

      She liked the feel of his fingers on her skin. The soft contact made her want to lean in and kiss him. There was need, she realized, but also something more. Something deeper. The hunger to connect with this man. To know all of him intimately.

      “You’re the reason, Alistair. You reminded me that I would always love Aunt Sophia. That I didn’t have to stay stuck to prove it. Thank you for that.” She smiled. “You gave me the kick in the rear I needed.”

      “You would have gotten there on your own.”

      She was less sure about that, but it was oddly difficult to speak. Her breath quickened and her clothes were uncomfortable. Need grew, traveling through her body on heated blood.

      She wanted to tell him about the steaks she had marinating and the salad she’d prepared earlier. But instead of mentioning that, she stepped forward and put her hands on his shoulders.

      It was, apparently, what he’d been waiting for, because he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her hard against him. They were touching everywhere and then his mouth was on hers.

      She let herself get lost in his kiss and when he took her upstairs, she got lost in the rest of him.

      * * *

      Two hours later they were back downstairs. Alistair had pulled on his jeans and his shirt, but left off his shoes and socks. Paige wore her dress and nothing else. Knowing a beautiful woman was nearly naked beside him made it difficult to concentrate, he discovered as he prepared to barbecue the steaks.

      Every time she walked past him, he was aware of her. He couldn’t seem to stop staring at her breasts as they moved. Telling himself he was a trained medical professional didn’t make the sensation any less intense. Warning himself that fire was dangerous didn’t lessen his desire, either. Even though they’d just made love, he wanted her again.

      She walked out of the kitchen with the steaks on a plate. Her expression was relaxed and content, her eyes knowing. She looked like what she was—a woman who had been well-satisfied.

      He could still taste her and feel her skin, hear her moans as he gave himself over to her while she shuddered beneath him.

      Her mouth curved into a slow, sexy smile. “Stop it,” she told him.

      “What?”

      “Thinking about it. At this rate, we’ll never get dinner.”

      He took the plate from her and put it next to the barbecue, then pulled her close. “Food is highly overrated.”

      She reached for his hands and placed them on her breasts. As his fingers explored her, her pupils dilated and her breath caught.

      “Maybe you’re right,” she whispered.

      He kissed her, moving his tongue against hers. She leaned into him. He dropped his hands to her hips and pulled up her dress until he could touch bare skin. Wanting poured through him until he was hard and ready and—

      He drew back and stared at her.

      “What?” she asked.

      He shook his head, not ready to admit to her what he couldn’t even admit to himself. Only the truth wouldn’t be denied. It took root in his mind and grew until it threatened to consume him.

      “I can’t do this.”

      She swallowed. “Dinner, or…” Her voice trailed off as her mouth trembled. “Alistair?”

      He took her hands in his.

      The words were there, waiting to be spoken. They required forgiveness, of himself mostly. And a willingness to admit that before, with Sara, he’d taken what was offered. An easy solution. He’d been too wrapped up in his work to want to truly engage his heart.

      “I was wrong before. I hurt someone I cared about because I wasn’t willing to be honest.” He stared at her. “I won’t do that again. I’m sorry, Paige, but I can’t leave you. I won’t leave you.”

      He tried to smile and couldn’t. He could only hope she would understand, would feel the same and agree.

      “I know you have your heart set on Paris, but perhaps you could consider Australia and Thailand first. We could go to France after that. Or if you don’t want to change your plans, then I’ll wait. If you’ll have me. I’ll wait and then we can be together.”

      She drew her eyebrows together. “I don’t understand. Are you asking me to go with you?”

      “I’m telling you that I love you and I’m doing a very good job of it.” He touched her face with one of his hands. “I love you, Paige. You have shown me what was missing in my life. What I tried my best to avoid. I couldn’t understand how Simon could give up his work for a woman,