Page 29 of A Family Affair: The Vow
“Vic!” The voice jolted them apart. “Can I have this next dance?” A tall brunette wedged herself between Vic and Rae, her large chest brushing his arm. “You are going to share, aren’t you?”
16
Something changed after Lily’s housewarming party and Rae wasn’t sure she liked it. There was this heightened awareness of Vic—the tiny scar above his right eyebrow, the golden highlights in his dark hair, the woodsy scent of his cologne...the smile that seemed more intimate than it had a few days ago.
And the voice? Was he trying to make it huskier than usual?
When he arrived at Darlington Metals Monday morning with two coffees and two slices of Dotty Finnegan’s cinnamon apple bread, the smile he gave her along with theEnjoy, made the room twenty degrees warmer. What was happening and how could she slow it down?
But she knew it had to do with the party. She’d begun thinking about him in ways she didn’t want to admit. It would be foolish to pretend she hadn’t enjoyed spending time with him, laughing, sharing a meal, talking to his friends, dancing… Feeling his arms about her and then there was the almost kiss andI’ve heard there’s a time to trust your instinct and your heart because they won’t let you down. Oh, but she had wanted that kiss, wanted to hear more about trusting your instinct and your heart…
But it had all blown apart when the brunette interrupted and demanded her share. Vic’s frown said he hadn’t appreciated the commentorthe intrusion, but by then the moment had passed. Rae left soon after, but not before three more women fawned over him…clinging to his arms, hugging him, acting as though he were their very oxygen. His smiles were polite, his expression bland, until he looked at her. The intensity and the desire in that look said he’d wanted that kiss. Wanted more…
She wanted more too, and she should have known there was no avoiding destiny, but she’d been too naïve to see it. Too certain she could control what did and didn’t happen until she figured out where her life was headed and with whom. What a joke. What an unrealistic expectation. Nothing was certain where Vic Tramont was concerned and soon enough, destiny would teach her that lesson.
“Hey.” Vic eased into the chair opposite her desk, crossed a leg over his knee. “I had a good time at Lily’s party.” Pause and a casual “I kind of hoped you’d hang around.”
Rae glanced up from the order she’d been entering into the system, kept her voice even. “It was time to leave. I can tell when I’m outnumbered.”
He toyed with the lid of his coffee, sighed. “I have a hard time hurting other people’s feelings, but sometimes politeness can backfire on you.” His voice shifted, took on an intimate tone. “I definitely wish you’d stayed. Wish—” his gaze shifted to her lips, inched to her eyes “—wish we’d finished our dance. I really wanted that.”
He meant the kiss. “I thought we had finished our dance.” But the kiss? Oh, yes, that almost kiss.
A smile, a shrug, and a wistful “A dance can mean a lot of different things but one thing’s for certain, our dance hasn’t even started.”
The intensity in his gaze made her desperate for intimate details.More, she wanted to say.Tell me more. Tell me all of it.But before she could formulate a thought, he cleared his throat and eased out of his chair.
“Looks like you’ve got the orders down. I knew you could handle it. We can go over the invoicing later.” He zipped his jacket, grabbed his coffee. “I think I’ll head back. Enjoy Dotty’s cinnamon apple bread.”
And then he was gone.
* * *
Nate Desantro was a straight shooter,no BS, no sugar coating, no excuses. He said what was on his mind, though he’d developed a bit more polish since he’d married Christine. Still, this was Nate, a man of few words who believed in taking care of his own and living by a code. That code said you did the right thing according to your principles, and you owned your mistakes. He didn’t ask for explanations though people usually offered them up. It was all part of earning the man’s trust. Once you earned it, you sure as hell never wanted to lose it. When those rare times arose where he inquired about a personal situation, it made it damn difficult to flat-out ignore the man.
Like now.
“I’m not a relationship expert, but even a guy like me can see there’s something going on between you two.”
Vic lifted a box of bolts, set it on the shop cart. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
The laugh said, “try again,” followed by “Sure, whatever you say. But just so you know, neither one of you is hiding it very well. When you’re in the same room, the heat could melt steel. I’ve been there and while it might be curious to watch, it’s painful to experience.” Pause and a long sigh. “And Lily’s party? The dance? Even Dotty Finnegan could see what was going on between you two and her eyesight’s terrible.”
Vic stacked another box of hardware, kept his back to Nate so he didn’t have to see those dark eyes burrowing into him, extracting information Vic didn’t want to reveal. Not that the guy hadn’t already figured it out because Nate might not say much but he was no fool. Whatever was happening between Vic and Rae wasn’t something he wanted to talk about—or admit. He’d gone all-in three years ago and ended up looking like a fool. This time, he was taking it slow. “Good to know.” And then, because he couldn’t quite help himself, he added, “Why would I chase an impossibility when I can have whatever I want just by showing up?”
“Because those other women aren’t her? Because sex isn’t the same as caring about someone, and whether you want to admit it or not, you care about her? Yeah, been there, done that, not going there again.”
The man did not have to elaborate because everybody knew about how the former “sex in stilettos” Natalie Servetti almost destroyed Nate’s marriage. Nate might have hooked up with her before he met Christine, but she was no different from the other women trying to catch his interest: eager, desperate, willing to do anything to please him. And then he met Christine Blacksworth.Shewas different. She wasthe one. “Not every guy’s lucky enough to find someone like Christine.”
“Because too often pride and foolishness get in the way.”
Vic did turn around this time because when had Nate ever admitted to being prideful or foolish? “Now that’s something I never thought I’d hear you say.” Vic grabbed another box, set it on the cart. “You see, from my perspective, you could be two different people. The old Nate Desantro? Surly, angry, avoiding a commitment except for that nanosecond marriage and divorce I heard was a disaster.” The narrowed gaze and frown made Vic back up his commentary. “Okay, just saying. But with Christine, everything changed. And you want to talk about my dance at Lily’s party? Yours fell just shy of a marriage vow renewal.”
A scowl and a gruff “Christine likes that song.”
Okay, Vic was teetering on the edge of Nate’s patience. “Look, it’s not that she likes it that’s impressive, but that you care enough to do something the old Nate would never do. You’re not the same person you used to be. Hell, you’ve got two kids, car seats, and a swing set. I’ll bet this town never thought they’d see that.”
A shrug and a half-annoyed “Probably not. Are you going to make a comment about my cooking and baking abilities too? I don’t mind that, but do not say one word about Christine’s lack of skill in the kitchen because that’s crossing the line.”
