He’d certainly surprised her. Not just today, but this entire weekend. Some men might have felt out of place at a lodge filled with stuffy lawyers, not the least of which was her ex, but he’d managed to seem completely at ease, holding his own with everyone. Especially Michael. He’d been like a white knight or something. And that wasn’t even mentioning the crazy stirring of lust and attraction that had her nervous and excited like a fifteen-year-old girl again.
And the weekend hadn’t even ended.
Dominic looked up and caught her eye. She saw a softness in their depths and she tried to ignore the uncomfortable pressure building in her chest. Neither of them had mentioned what had almost passed the night before when he’d touched her and said the most beautiful things she’d ever heard. She almost wondered if she’d imagined it all. Maybe dreamed it. But there’d been no way she could have imagined the warmth of having him hold her hands, of comforting her. Making her want to throw off her robe and wrap her body around that delicious heat of his.
He was like the devil. Tempting her.
Fred Astaire’s warm, rich voice pulled her attention back to the screen, where he was singing about dancing cheek to cheek with the starry-eyed Ginger Rogers. Top Hat, her grandma’s favorite. Kate had lost how many times they’d watched this together, particularly this past year. There was something familiar and comforting to Grams about the movie that she couldn’t get enough of.
Kate, though, was caught up with wondering how this gorgeous, sexy man could sit there like there was no other place he’d like to be.
Michael had come with her to visit her grandmother less than a handful of times in all their years together. Even before her grandmother’s ill health had forced Kate to make the hard choice to settle her here.
“You know,” her grams said, not taking her eyes off the screen, “for every move that Fred Astaire made, Ginger Rogers had to match it. Backward. And in heels.”
Kate smiled and nodded, having heard this statement every single time they watched a flick that starred the duo.
“And makes it all look effortless,” Dominic chimed in.
“She does, doesn’t she? You know, it broke my heart when Fred Astaire went on to dance in his movies without Ginger by his side. No one did it quite like her. Even that lovely Audrey girl was never a match to Ginger. Why men don’t know a good thing when they have it is beyond me.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Dominic said. “Sometimes men are idiots.”
Grams smiled at him. “Oh, don’t be too hard on your sex, young man
. You men do have your moments. I’m sure this young lady can attest to that, right, dear?”
Kate swallowed a lump in her throat. She should be used to this by now, but she wasn’t. For she was certain her grandmother had no idea who she was, even though she’d reminded her as they walked in an hour ago. As her grams usually did, she was polite and sweet to everyone, choosing not to use names since it was too hard to keep track. For all her grams knew, Kate was just a woman who came by for something to do.
Someone knocked at the door and Sara, the day nurse, popped her head in. “Hi, Kate. I just need to check Mary’s pressure and give her her medication.” She came in, closing the door behind her. “You doing okay, Mary?”
“Quite well, thank you. With such delightful company and Fred keeping me company, what more can I want?”
Dominic stood and walked around the room. He stopped at a photo of Kate and her grandmother, taken when Kate was probably around twelve. Gawky, with long braids and a toothy grin, she looked happy with her grandmother’s arms wrapped around her.
He looked back at her and tilted his head, as if he was trying to picture her in those long braids again. She moved to join him, standing by his side as they looked at the picture.
In a soft voice, so as not to be overheard, he said, “I can see how much you love her, Kate. And even though she may not always know who you are, she can feel your love, too.”
Damn. Why did he have to go and say something like that? Her eyes felt hot and she fought back the tears that threatened. “I like to think so. It’s why I come here every week. She needs to be reminded that she has people who love her. I just wish I could get here more. It’s tough, though, with work.”
“I’m sure she understands. From what I can tell of this woman in this photo, she would be proud of you and all of your accomplishments.”
“You have to stop being so sweet. You’re ruining all your best boyfriend moments on an empty audience.” She smiled but kept her attention on the photo, not trusting herself to look back at him, even though she knew he still watched her. Afraid that if she looked too deep into those eyes, she might start believing this thing between them was real.
That they were real.
“True. I guess I can use this as material later. Just try and pretend you’re hearing it for the first time.”
“Deal,” she said and laughed.
She was standing so close to him that it seemed natural when he reached out to tuck her hair away from her face. Caressed her cheek again for a moment. As he had last night. She couldn’t help but press her face into his hand, just for that moment. To feel his breath against her skin.
“All right, Mary,” the nurse was saying. “You’re set. I’ll let you get back to your company.”
They broke apart, and Kate glanced over to see the nurse give them both a full grin before she packed the items on the tray. Kate’s cheeks grew hot and she tried to return the smile.
“You know, I’m feeling a little tired today, Sara. I might just take a nap. Would you be so kind to take me to my room?”