Relieved, Dante put away the laptop, leading her into the kitchen. He got out the pots they needed.

Laurie pulled out the magazine she saw the recipe in. She took the ingredients from the refrigerator. Conversing little, they set about chopping onions, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs for the sauce.

Dante stirred until he got restless, then Laurie took over. He started boiling the water for the pasta. By the time the noodles were ready, the sauce bubbled merrily.

They sat next to each other at one end of the long kitchen table. Laurie’s somber expression finally got to him, and Dante covered her hand with his.

She looked up at him and gave him a small smile. It was a start.

“I know it’s been hard.I know loosing David was awful, but we’ll get through this.”

Laurie’s smile brightened. She leaned over, kissing him on the cheek.

Warmth spread through his chest, and he smiled back at her. He continued to hold her hand as they ate dinner, both trying not to say or do anything that would further upset the other.

Dante didn’t attempt to work after dinner. Laurie wanted to watch TV to get her mind off everything. Dante agreed without much protest. She sat on the couch, close to him. He stretched his arm over the back of the couch. Around 10:00 p.m., Dante heard a door open down the hall.

Laurie scooted over to the end of the couch.

Dante threw her a smile right before John appeared.

Laurie said hello to him. She pushed herself up from the couch to go the bathroom and get ready for bed.

Dante was relieved. He didn’t want another scene like the one earlier. Dante followed shortly thereafter. He entered his room, and then crept through the adjoining closet into Laurie’s room. He waited.

When she returned from the shower, Dante stood just inside the bedroom door. The moment the door closed, he tugged her to him, wrapping his arms around her. They stood there like that for several minutes, as Dante kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and her lips. He nuzzled her neck, licking her freshly scrubbed skin. When he started moving her toward the bed, Laurie chuckled at him.

“Shhhh. We have to be quiet. They’re right down the hall.” Dante kissed her silent.

“Sorry,” she mouthed.

He gave her a lingering, slow kiss. One of his hands tangled in her hair, while the other slid down to the soft curves of her backside. He was amazed at how her touch could make him feel so alive. Heat washed over every place they touched. He ached for her.

Dante laid her down on the bed. He pulled the nightgown off her then kneaded her breasts with his palms, grazing the nipples with his thumbs. He ran the back of his fingers down the smooth skin of her abdomen, and then massaged the sensitive flesh of her thighs. Every stroke was careful, deliberate, as he sought to heighten her desire.

Laurie ran her hands up his chest, sliding her hands underneath his t-shirt. He worked himself out of his own clothes. Then he made love to her again, but this time it was slow and sweet. They savored every minute as if tomorrow would never come.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Laurie

Laurie woke up in a haze. She lay in a ball on her side, knees drawn up toward her chest. She could feel Dante behind her, his chest pressed against her back. His right arm draped over hers, his hand covering hers. She curled under his chin, so his head rested lightly on the back of her head. She wondered if he was subconsciously trying to shield her from the door. She smiled at the thought.

Laurie felt his deep, even breathing. He was fast asleep, and she didn’t want to wake him. She studied his strong hand. He had knobby knuckles; strong, thick fingers, and a fleshy palm wrapped in his caramel complexion. How on earth had she ended up with such a lover? He was nothing like the previous men she dated.

She had dated rarely, but when she did, the men were bookish types. Frail, thin men who wore sweaters into class because of the air conditioning. She didn’t date gun-toting, life-saving, strong, and silent types. Yet she felt a profound sense of comfort and ease tucked beside this man she hardly knew.

Laurie found herself wondering what it would be like starting a new life without Dante around. He had been her guide in this horrifying adventure. She would only have a few more days with him. Would he have the opportunity to write to her, to call her? Would he want to? Was this was just a mindless fling for him? Laurie sighed. Being lovers for a few days seemed insufficient. She felt a pang of loss more sharp than giving up her friends and her life at the resort. The cost of testifying at this trial rose every day.

Dante stirred, coughed. Then he nuzzled the back of her head. Laurie stretched out her legs for a second and Dante moved his head so he was cheek to cheek with her.

“Morning.” She turned her head to kiss his cheek.

“Go back to sleep,” he whispered back.

She chuckled at him, but she didn’t move.

He pulled her flush against his naked body.

“Isn’t the new guy supposed to come soon?”

“Yes.” Dante’s eyes remained firmly closed.

“Don’t you have to change shifts with John and Dean?” Laurie prodded him with her elbow.

“Maybe.”

Laurie chuckled, rolling over onto her back beneath him.

He growled at her.

“I’m trying to sleep, Ms. Shelton.”

“I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

Dante opened one eye to survey her pointed expression. Then he opened both eyes and yawned, stretching out his limbs. Dante gave Laurie a lazy smile before he brushed her lips with his. Then he rolled over to look at the clock. It was almost 10:00 a.m.

“You’re right. Time to get up.”

He rolled out of bed and grabbed the jeans and t-shirt he had worn three days earlier. He buckled his gun into place and ran his fingers through his hair.

Laurie sat up on the bed, her arms wrapped around her knees. She watched him, still wondering at how they came to be together.

He walked over to her. He ran his hand over her crown of sunlit hair. Then he bent down and kissed her forehead.

Laurie leaned back so he could brush her lips with his.

“Gotta go to work.”

She laughed.

Laurie dressed slowly, taking pains to look nice. She brushed out her hair, her thoughts filled with the man who just left the room. When she went into the living room, she waved a greeting at John and Dean. They were absorbed in their TV show.

In the kitchen, Dante was sitting at the table. He was so engrossed in his thoughts, he didn’t hear Laurie come in behind him.

She took one look at him scowling at his phone and became concerned.

“Dante?”

His head snapped up. He straightened himself. Then he forced a smile.

“It’s nothing,” he replied to her questioning look. “It was just Rick calling to say the new guy would be here any minute.”

She looked him over for a moment, but decided to let it pass.

“What do you want for breakfast?” She came up beside him.

“Anything is fine.” He got up and went to the coffee maker, avoiding her completely.

Laurie stared at his back for a moment. Then she sighed and made her way to the refrigerator to get out the eggs and bread. She made them both omelets, while Dante stared at the toaster like it had offended him this morning. They sat down at the table. Before they started eating, Laurie reached over and squeezed his hand. As he looked up, she gave him a reassuring smile. It worked. The scowl on his face slipped away. He smiled back, and squeezed her hand before he let her go.

“Boss, I think the new guy’s here.”

Dante excused himself from the table and went into the living room.

Laurie listened from the kitchen, wondering what could possibly be bothering him.