September Storm (16 page)

"Good seats wouldn't be the problem," he said confidently.

"Oh, really."  She could tell him a different story because she'd stood in many a line trying to get a front row seat.

"I've a friend who owns Premiere Tickets and Tours. He's a genius and gets me all the good tickets I want."

“I thought you’d never been?”

“No, not to a concert but plenty of basketball games.”

She grew more impressed with each passing minute, but then there was so much about this man she didn't know.  She found herself wondering if she would really like to find out. "How about letting me borrow your friend the next time the Rolling Stones come to town."

"I'll see what I can do." He flashed her a devastating smile. "Listen, it's a pretty good walk to the hotel. You want to take a cab?"

"I've a better idea."  She stopped and pointed toward the river and the long boat coming toward them.  Before she could call out, Lopez, who always tried to put on a good show for his paying customer, shouted.  "Hey, Bud.  Those Levi's you're wearing?" Many of the passengers laughed at the joke.

Adrian chuckled in good humor, too.  "Afraid not.  Can't afford them."

"Do you have room for two more?"  Dani asked.  "We need a lift to the Holiday Inn."

"Always for the lovely Danielle." Lopez grinned.

The boat glided to the side and Lopez held up his hand to her.  She grasped his arm and carefully stepped into the boat.

Adrian started to follow, but Lopez held up a hand much like a crossing guard.  "All full."

Dani swung around just in time to see Adrian's brows snap together as he gave Lopes a withering look.

"Just kidding, señor."  He grinned and the crowd cheered at his antics.

"There's a comedian in every bunch," Adrian told him when both his feet were in the boat.

"And this one gets paid, too," Lopez finished, hamming it up for the crowd.

The cool air felt good on Dani's face as the boat glided down through the water.  There wasn't much room so she had to sit very close to Adrian who had to put his arm around her so they'd be more comfortable.

Not that Dani was complaining.  She was much too comfortable. She leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder as she listened to the trickling water and, of course,
Lopez’s joking with the crowd. Thousands of tiny lights entwined on the tree branches glittered through the limbs that arched over the river, reflecting their glow in the dark water below.

Everything was perfect. Too perfect.  They had gone from strangers to lovers to now.  And she still didn't know what they were to each other.  What did that mean?  Everything had happened so fast that she felt like she was walking on an ice-covered lake, knowing that if she hit a thin spot, she'd go under and drown.

"Are you a tourist, too?" One of three young women sitting across from them asked.

Dani had noticed how they'd watched Adrian since he'd taken his seat.  She didn't blame them. He was something to look at.  Even she'd noticed how his pinstriped trousers hugged his long legs.  Blatant sensuality seemed to go hand-in-hand with Adrian.  He smiled at the girls, and her heart contracted.

This sort of thing had happened many times in the past with Steven. He'd always eaten up the attention.  He'd even gone out of his way to impress whichever lady it was at the moment. Dani stiffened, waiting for the same thing to happen again.

"Actually, I'm not a tourist," Adrian replied.

"Then you're from San Antonio?" one young lady asked. "Good.  Can you recommend a great nightclub?"

"Afraid not.  I'm not from here."

"But."

"I didn't come here for sightseeing.  I came to see a woman." He squeezed Dani's arm. "Dani, can you tell these young ladies a place to go?"

Hell would have been her first choice, since they had been making eyes at Adrian, but her heart was too busy soaring.  He hadn't flirted with the girls at all, so she politely suggested several clubs they could try.

Adrian felt completely at home in San Antonio though the laid back city didn't compare to the hustle and bustle of New York. It felt much too good to have Dani in his arms again, for him to worry about locale. Her hair carried the faint scent of white gardenias, and he found he wanted to rest his cheek on top of her head.

Danielle Kapur could become a habit.

The sightseeing barge bumped the side of the landing as Lopes said, "Danielle, this is your stop."

They stood and Adrian helped Dani up to the sidewalk, then followed her out of the boat. Once on the walkway, he turned back to Lopez. "Thanks for the ride."

"For the lovely, Danielle, anything." The Mexican grinned.

Adrian gave a thin smile and, not thinking, spoke his thoughts.  "Just as long as it's a ride, my friend." He turned to Dani and found her with that breath-taking smile of hers. "Let's go to my room and get your purse."

"I've heard that line before," she chuckled and reached for his hand.

And I've used the line many times
, he thought as they stepped into the elevator, but he was going to be a good boy this time. No sense complicating matters anymore than he already had.

Lazily, he watched Dani as they rode up the elevator.  She carried a subtle sophistication he liked.  Her hair hung just below her shoulders, like shimmering gold.  Her lashes lowered, casting shadows on her cheeks.
Damn, she was beautiful! Dani reminded him of a rare orchid that stood out from the rest of the flowers. Perhaps, waiting to be picked.

The elevator jerked to a halt. Thank goodness. Because he had thought of doing something real stupid just before the doors opened.  He took her elbow and escorted her down the hallway to his room.

Dani couldn't help feeling jittery standing in front of Adrian's hotel room, then reminded herself how silly she was being. After all, she'd already spent a weekend with him. She'd just get her purse and go.

She spotted her gold bag on the edge of the bed and immediately went to retrieve it. "You don't suppose there are still crabs hiding in here?" She joked, trying to sound light-hearted.

"I can assure you that I disposed of all the sea life." Adrian chuckled.

Dani liked to hear him laugh.  He just didn't seem to do enough of it, and she found herself wondering what Adrian was like in his everyday world.  Perhaps he wasn't the carefree person he'd seemed at the beach.  If only she could get him to talk about himself.

Dani pulled out her wallet, the one her mother had given her for graduation, and checked her license and credit cards. "You don't know how much trouble this has saved me." She smiled at him.  "Thank you.  Everything looks good, considering what it went through."

Much better than I do, she thought.

Digging deeper, she removed her checkbook. "I can't say the same for this thing.  She flipped several pages.  "The ink in the register has all run together. But it could be worse."

Adrian put the room key on the nightstand and sat on the bed.  "If you'll excuse me, I need to make a phone call," he said.

"Sure." She stuffed everything back in her purse. "I'll check out your view." Dani moved out onto the small balcony overlooking the river, clutching her purse to her chest like a life preserver.

Though her gaze wandered over the water, her ears were tuned to Adrian's voice. She couldn't believe how fast her heart beat when he was near her, nor the giddy feeling that invaded her stomach like a swarm of bumblebees. She needed to get bac
k her feeling of indifference.
She needed control
!

Adrian's phone conversation bore into her thoughts. "What time will the plane be here?"

She speculated on what the airlines were saying on the other end. Would she have him just for the night?  Maybe he wouldn't be able to get a flight and would have to stay another day. She hoped so.

"Seven o'clock.  Good, I'll be there."

So much for maybe.

Dani sighed, realizing she'd have to say goodbye again. She wasn't very good at goodbyes.  Except for Steven. For once in her life, she thought she'd handled him very well. Now that she'd taken the final step, she felt pretty stupid for not doing it earlier.

Grasping the rail, she pushed all thoughts from her mind as she stared down at the decorated trees. She liked to pretend they were full of fireflies, and they had all come just to make the trees pretty. A gust of wind whipped up from the water cooling her flushed face and brushing her hair back. She sighed again.

She sensed Adrian was close even before he put his hands on her shoulders. "Hand me your purse before you drop it over the side, and I have to go after the thing again." She passed it to him over her shoulder, then felt Adrian turn and toss it behind him to the bed.

"I like your city," he said, drawing her back against him and wrapping his arms around her.

"It is pretty."
God, she was content
. "But nothing like Sea Horse Island.  I'll never forget that place."

"I have to agree with you.  Maybe someday you'll get to go back there."

She laid her hands on top of his, thinking she was ready right now. "Maybe."

"Have I ever told you that you look like a vision in the moonlight?" he whispered, his breath warming her ear.  "The first time I saw you, I didn't think you were real."

Her breath lodged somewhere in her throat.

Taking her by the arms, Adrian turned her around to face him. "We really shouldn't be doing this," he murmured all the while lowering his head. "But I can't seem--."

His lips provided her with the unanswered words. The shattering kiss robbed her of any logical thought, and for a moment, it felt as if they were back at the beach in their very own hideaway. The world they had created.

As his tongue began to explore her mouth, a hunger grew within her.  Dani knew at this very moment she loved Adrian more than she ever had Steven.  And, he must love her, too.

He could have mailed her purse. But he hadn't; he'd made a special trip--just for her. That's why she didn't think twice when she said, "Make love to me, Adrian."

Adrian hadn't planned on taking the blond into his arms again, but every time he came near this woman the logical side of his brain turned off. At her surprised request, the other side clicked off as well.

To hell with logic!

He had now, and he had her.

His arms tightened around Dani, molding her body next to his. She fit perfectly, too perfectly, and again that thought scared him. And, again, he ignored everything.

She smelled of gardenias, Adrian thought as she shut her eyes.  He slid his hands in her hair. Each strand felt like the finest China silk. Desire raged through him at avalanche speed.

He was fast becoming a man out of control. When he finally lifted his lips he asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?" This wasn't like any of the other times they had made love. This time, Dani knew who he was and there wasn't any storm threatening their lives.  This time he wanted her of her own free will.

And, dammed if he could figure out why any of that was important. After all, Danielle Kapur was just another woman.

Or, was she?

Her eyes sparkled like rare sapphires when she nodded, and it was all the urging he need. Sweeping her off her feet, he carried her to the bed.

He didn't recall either one of them removing their clothes, but somehow they ended up two hot bodies clinging to each other in a passionate embrace.

"I also like the way you look in the moonlight," he murmured against her lips.

"Thank you," Dani whispered. "You're not bad yourself."

Dani liked the slight smile that brushed his lips and his smoldering look told her all she wanted to know. He wanted her. And he always got what he wanted. Always.

Suddenly his mouth lowered until he nuzzled her full breasts.  She almost screamed at the shock waves that shot to every part of her body. Urging him back up, she kissed him freely and with a need that she never realized she had. Adrian made her feel complete, and she wanted to give him something back.

She shoved him over on his back then climbed on top. "Now it's my turn."

"I like the sound of that," he groaned.

Trailing kisses down his neck to his chest, she felt his skin jump and quiver, and she smiled, liking the power of control. Her fingertips moved over his thick, hard muscles. He
r gaze moved back to his face. “I--," she murmured ever so softly, realizing she was about to say,
I love you
.  Instead, she leaned down and kissed him.

Without warning, Adrian grasped her arms and in one swift move, he was on top and inside of her, moving with a steady rhythm that built until white stars flashed across the back of her eyelids. Somewhere, a voice called Adrian and simultaneously he shuddered and collapsed into her arms

She wanted to murmur all the love words which burst within her, but now wasn't the time, so she lay contented in his arms as she silently said a small prayer for the storm that had brought her
true love
.