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“I didn’t think you were the crying type. I haven’t ever seen you cry before. Not even when—”
“When we broke up?” she finished for him when he stopped.
“Yeah. Not even then.”
“I didn’t cry in front of you. But I cried my heart out after you left. And for months afterward.” She’d never told him that before, but when had she had the chance? Even now she wondered if it was a mistake to tell him just how much he’d hurt her when he left.
“I had no idea you felt so…strongly. To tell the truth, I thought you were glad to be rid of me.”
“That’s what I wanted you to think. I didn’t want you to know that you’d—” She hesitated, unsure even now that she should tell him her true feelings about their breakup. But maybe if she allowed him to see her vulnerability, then he would help her understand why he’d felt he had to leave. Because she still didn’t know.
Dana drew in a deep breath and said, “I didn’t want you to know you’d broken my heart.”
Levi pulled to a halt in the restaurant parking lot. He released his seat belt, turned to her and picked up her hand. “I’m sorry,” he said and kissed her hand. “Forgive me?”
Dana had to bite her tongue not to ask him for more. But Levi obviously wasn’t ready to talk in depth about their past mistakes. Then she remembered what he’d said about why he hated horror movies. Because he’d lived it. That was the first time he’d shared anything with her about his own past. Talking about the past—his own or theirs—was not Levi’s strong point.
“I forgave you a long time ago. But that’s the past. We said we were concentrating on the present.”
“We did say that. And in the present I want very much to kiss you.”
“Good. Because I very much want to kiss you too.” Once again she’d let it go. And wondered if she should have.
*
“I’m so glad everything is all right with Savannah and the baby,” Dana said on the way back to her apartment after the reception. “And isn’t Liam an adorable name?”
Amused, Levi glanced at her. “Adorable,” he agreed.
“The picture Tobi and Travis showed us of Savannah, Harlan and the baby was so—so—”
“Adorable?”
“Beautiful. It was just beautiful.” She sighed happily.
Babies. Great. Now Dana was rambling on about Liam and how healthy he was and how lucky Savannah and Harlan were and how glad she was that everything had turned out well. Dana wanted children. Of course she did. Though they had never talked about it much, he knew she’d had a happy childhood, not like the nightmare he and Asher had lived. He parked in her parking garage and Dana was still talking while they rode up the elevator to her apartment.
“Listen to me, going on and on about the baby,” Dana said, walking into her bedroom. She kicked off her high heels and let out a big sigh. “I don’t know why I wear shoes I know are going to kill my feet.”
“I do. They’re sexy.”
Standing in front of her dresser, she glanced at him over her shoulder. “I suppose you’re right. Like my mom has always said, beauty must suffer.”
He didn’t know about that but if it made her wear shoes like the ones she’d had on tonight, then he couldn’t complain. Levi sat down on the bed and watched her perform her feminine rituals. First she took off her jewelry, laying each piece carefully in its place. Either in an old-fashioned jewelry box or in a crystal ring holder on the dresser. He realized she did the same thing at his house, placing her jewelry in a ceramic tray that sat on his dresser. Unless he distracted her first, he thought with a smile.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, reaching behind her back to unzip her dress. She laughed and added, “I haven’t given you much of a chance to talk, have I?”
Levi got up, walking up behind her to help her. He looked at them in the mirror. The contrast with him, dark and tall, and Dana, smaller, delicate, with a redhead’s fair complexion. But he knew she was anything but delicate. She was fiery and passionate.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said as he unzipped her dress, parted the fabric and pushed it down her arms.
“About what?” She sucked in a breath when he kissed her neck, then her shoulder, then cupped her breasts through the sheer pale pink bra. “Oh, that,” she said a little breathlessly, curving one arm up to sink her fingers into his hair as he kissed her.
“Yes, that,” he said, pushing her dress down further and helping her step out of it. She started to turn around but he stopped her, backing up so he could see her more fully in the dresser mirror. He undid her bra and slipped it off. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured, cupping her breasts and rolling her nipples between his fingers. Her breasts were full, with pink nipples and smooth ivory skin. So tempting, he wanted to turn her around and suck them, but he didn’t.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” Dana said.
“I can fix that. Stay right there,” he told her. He’d taken off his suit jacket long ago. He made quick work of his shirt and pants and soon stood behind her. Now they were both naked, but for the tiny scrap of panties Dana still wore.
