Eat. Pray. And freaking Love. That meant putting myself first and moving forward instead of back.
I texted Allan that drinks would be great. And hopefully, things would progress to mind-blowing sex so I could forget about Dante’s muscles dripping with ocean water.
I grabbed my belongings and hurried back up to the room without him. I glared at my reflection in the mirror, my hair windblown and most of my makeup gone from sweating in the sun. I threw my new clothes off and stared at the new lingerie I’d purchased in my suitcase for this trip.
I slid into the red lace and took a peek at myself again. This time, my cheeks were flushed, my hair wild but maybe sexy.
I nodded.
I was just as good as any girl on that beach and Allan, at least, would see that. I jumped when I heard a knock at the door and raced to throw on a night shirt and shorts over my lingerie.
I sighed as I opened it. “I’m just lying low the rest of the day, Dante.”
“Delilah, ask who it is before you open the door.” His voice was low like he wanted me to really listen this time. “When you leave the beach, you need to tell me.”
“I didn’t leave the resort.” I crossed my arms over my chest to hide how my heart had started to pound out of my chest from him standing directly in front of me in wet swim trunks with no shirt on. I couldn’t make out all the tattoos without staring but the ones across his chest and ribs looked intriguing.
He lifted a brown bag. “Got you some food since you forgot to eat and it’s almost dinnertime.”
I didn’t invite him in. He was half naked and my body had gone off the deep end imagining what it would feel like if I rubbed my hands over him.
“I even got a quesito in here. Let me in.” He tilted his chin at the door I was holding half-closed.
I shook my head and opened the door wide. “You may enter.”
He patted my shoulder and walked on by to set the food on the counter. “You didn’t snorkel today.”
Glancing out the window at my ocean view, I didn’t confess that I had to get out of there before I clawed the towel girl’s eyes out for staring. Plus, there was another reason. “I think I’m scared of it.”
“Scared? Little Lamb, what for?” He smiled softly at me like he genuinely wanted to know.
“You know, that nickname is demeaning.”
He blew a raspberry and pulled out a box of food that smelled delicious. “It’s not. It means you’re cute and—”
“—innocent and pure and probably na?ve. I don’t want to be any of those things.”
“But those things make you close to perfect,” he murmured.
I blew past him, ignoring how smooth he was. “Your charm only works on women who don’t know you use it on every one of them.”
I probably shouldn’t have said it, but I was remembering the long blonde hair of the towel girl and couldn't stop myself.
“I don’t use my charm on everyone, and I only say what I honestly mean.” He handed me a box of food with a look of question in his eyes.
“I believe you really mean everything you say, Dante.” I shrugged before I took the carton and went to sit at the table near my bed. “You just view the world beautifully and make everyone feel beautiful in it.”
“You forget I’ve seen a lot uglier things than most. Hence why I appreciate the beauty.”
“Fair.” I opened my carton and stared at the food that smelled so sweet and glorious. There was nothing to say other than, “What is this? It smells like I died and woke up in heaven.”
“Mofongo. It’s plantains and garlic and olive oil, with a few hidden ingredients, fried and mashed together. If done right, it’s the best thing in Puerto Rico.”
“I think I can officially check off my favorite food here, and I haven’t even explored good food outside of this hotel.”
“We will.” He stood leaning against the counter while he watched me eat.
“Do you want some?”
“Already ate.”
“Well, you can’t keep feeding me and not eating, Dante. It’s weird to have you watch me eat every single time.”
“I’ll make a note of that,” he murmured. “Anyway, I just came by to give you food and let you know I won’t be around much tomorrow.”
“That’s fine. I have work and …” I physically had to stop myself from combing a hand through my hair. Was it weird that I didn’t want to tell him about my scheduled date too? “So, I guess we won’t see each other much for the next few days.” I wrung my hands around and around at the thought.