Page 39 of Vinny

Finding no answers while looking at the Richmond skyline, she moved back to the dining room chair and picked up Easnadh. Her fingers flying over the strings elicited the music her heart craved. Inside the music, she could forget. About being chased. Drugs. The police. Her father. Everything negative floated away as the music filled her soul.

And an hour later that was how Vinny found her.

13

Vinny stopped outside of his apartment door. The sound of music filtered out into the hall; soft and haunting. There was something about the harp that always brought him to a stop. His eyes closed as his mind rolled back five years. The music. Filtering out through the night. Then…no.

Taking a deep breath he leaned his head against the door, hearing the very different music that Annalissa played. He opened the door quietly so as not to disturb her. She was sitting with her back to him, her harp resting against her shoulder. Her dainty, yet strong, fingers were nimbly moving over the strings. The sounds floated around his apartment, filling it with an energy that had never been there before. The sounds of life. And perhaps…love.

She did not notice that he was there. Absorbed in the music flying from her fingers, he watched her face. Eyes closed, a smile playing about her lips. She appeared to be one with her harp. One with the music.

As he walked closer her eyes flew open, her fingers stilled, and her smile widened. “Vinny, I didn’t hear you come in.”

Quickly closing the ground between them, he leaned over kissing her lips. “I heard the music from the hall and thought angels were playing,” he murmured.

She laughed thinking he was joking, but sobered as she saw the look on his face. Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “Are you okay?”

Kissing her once again, he nodded. “Perfect, now that I’ve come home to you and your music.”

“Well, aren’t you the gallant flirt?” she teased.

Standing to his full height, he winked. “Well, you gave me such a nice surprise when I got home. I’ve got a surprise for you.” With that he headed into the bedroom while she bent to place her harp into its case.

“Come on, babe,” Vinny called out from the bedroom.

Annalissa walked in to see him standing naked in front of his closet, pulling on swim trunks. “Are you going?—”

“Not me. We. We’re going swimming, so get your bikini on,” he interrupted.

“Um…I…um…I don’t have…”

He stalked over stopping right in front of her, lifting her chin with his fingers. “Well, we can’t go skinny-dipping in the pool downstairs, as much as I would love to.”

She had to giggle at that thought. “I mean I don’t have my things from my apartment.”

He walked over to a large canvas bag that was sittingjust inside the door. “I sent Gabe and Jennifer over to your place today. I knew Jennifer would know what you’d need and Gabe was there to make sure she was safe. And,” he winked mischievously, “I specifically told her to hunt for a swimsuit.”

Embarrassed, she dug through the bag and saw what she was looking for. Looking up, she said, “I have a boring, old bathing suit for when I sit in the sun, but I don’t even do that very much. So why don’t you just go for a swim yourself.”

“Whatever you’ve got will be fine. Just hop in it and let’s go. I’m teaching you how to swim.” Seeing her about to protest again, he placed his fingers on her lips. “Now, baby,” he ordered gently.

Turning away from him, she pulled out the one-piece bathing suit that she had had for years. He had seen her naked, but now she felt self-conscious. Moving to the bathroom and shutting the door for privacy, she pulled it on. Red, with little blue flowers on it, she blushed as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror.I look like I’m ten years old.And I’m going to drown. Great. A ten-year-old, drowning kid. Just how I want him to see me.The knock on the bathroom door shook her out of her thoughts.

“You ready?” he called.

Pulling herself up, she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself. Throwing open the door, she said, “Yes, let’s go and get this over with.”

He took her arm as she attempted to pass him by and gently pulled her in for a hug. "What’s going on, babe?”

Sucking her lips in, she just shook her head. “Just nervous, that’s all.” She pulled herself out of his embrace and slid her feet into flip-flops as she walked toward the door.

He looked as she walked away, his brow knit in concern. Grabbing his own towel, he followed her out of the door.

Several minutes later she had to admit that the pool was not like what she expected. The indoor facility was beautiful and the water was a pleasant temperature. There were a few other people swimming laps so she had dropped her towel and slipped quickly into the water at the shallow end. Moving her hands around she loved the feel of the water as long as her feet were touching the bottom of the pool.

Vinny slid into the water behind her, noticing her nervousness. But her rocking body was holding his attention. Down boy, he reminded himself, knowing his swimming trunks were beginning to tent out.

“Okay, princess. Give me your hands,” he said, moving toward her. As she reached out her hands, he took them gently as he walked backward slowly toward the deeper water. She walked along, holding his hands until the water reached her shoulders and he felt her stop.