Penny Serenade (9 page)

“I didn’t have a choice. My dad was strict and unfeeling. You either did the things he did or you were invisible. My sister didn’t have to work so hard for his attention, but I sure did. It was grueling work. He painted and built things, so I did too. Otherwise I would never have seen him. My mom died when I was young, so it was the three of us. He always told me I’d take over his business when I graduated.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry about your mom. It sounds like you’re living with some regret.”

“Just a tad,” he said, making a gesture with his thumb and pointer finger. “When you grow up knowing what college you’ll go to, what you’re expected to study, and the career you’ll have, it takes some of that surprise out of life. There wasn’t ever the wonder of what am I going to do when I grow up. That path was paved for me and I never got a chance to go another way.”

With her head cocked she asked, “It’s kind of like going around in circles, isn’t it? There’s no need to stop and ask for directions because you know there’s only the one way.”

“Exactly.
I could give it all up tomorrow and not think twice about it. I’m not driven by a passion or a fond memory the way you are. I’m driven by a paycheck.” Dominic stopped himself, aware the conversation was too serious for his comfort. He’d never meant to go on about himself. “Ah well, listen to me. I’d rather hear more about you.”

“There’s not much left to tell,” she said. “I’ve told you more about myself than I’ve shared with anyone else.”

Normally he would’ve let that go straight to his head, but not with her. Like the stars at the planetarium, she’d opened a portal for him to get to know her, the woman she kept hidden from others.

“Thank you for trusting me in that way.”

“You made it easy,” she said.

And right then Dominic knew he never wanted to see pain or hurt in her eyes again.

Audrey couldn’t believe she shared such intimate details of her life with him. Things she didn’t expect to ever tell a stranger. Or whatever he was to her. She didn’t know how to think of Dominic. A friend didn’t sound right. A stranger, well no, she’d never felt like he was a stranger, even when he first walked into the shop. The connection she’d felt with him made things more complex than she was looking for.

Betsy had always told her love happened when you didn’t look for it, but she didn’t feel like a candidate for love, and did her best to avoid it. Relationships required more of
herself
than she cared to give. Maybe she was too solitary and independent, but she liked things the way she wanted, and she’d worked hard to get past the grief from her youth. Everything had been a struggle in her life. She was finally starting to mend. Being around Dominic made her question why she closed herself off to people. He’d listened and empathized. He didn’t make her feel foolish. Somehow he’d gotten her to open up and she felt good. Not even good, but that a huge weight had been lifted.

She looked at the moon and wondered what her father would think of this man next to her. Would he approve? Would he welcome Dominic with a fatherly embrace or a gentleman’s handshake? Pat him on the back and then threaten to cut off his balls if he dared do anything to hurt her? Audrey knew her father would want her to be happy and for her to choose someone who would treat her right. She’d been of the mindset that she didn’t need someone to take care of her. When had that changed?

Audrey felt the tears return and forced them back. She refused to cry. What would Dominic think? He’d think her weak, and she couldn’t take that.

She turned and at the same time, he leaned in.
His mouth, sexier than ever, covered hers.
Eyes closed, she allowed the bliss overtake her. Her body sizzled at the touch of his hands moving along her back until they settled at the small of her back. Aware her legs were ready to give out on her, she rested her hands on top of his shoulders. For a moment she felt his muscles ripple beneath her touch and it made her entire body swoon. Not wanting to part from him anytime soon, she gave into his deepening kisses. The guy might not be a smooth talker all of the time, but he wasn’t lacking in the area of lip service.

Shivers followed the path of his hand up her side. He cupped his hand along her lower jaw and brushed his thumb along her cheek. Heat and longing filled her insides. The initial judgment of him faded fast, and in that moment she didn’t see how she could ever be angry with him again.

Dominic withdrew his lips and rested his forehead against hers. It felt like days before she found her voice.

“Um, you kind of caught me off guard. Did you…I mean, why did you kiss me? Like that, I mean.” Her cheeks burned at the way her words came out.

“I couldn’t wait a second longer. I’ve wondered what those beautiful lips would taste like since I walked into your store.”

“Really?”

He’d felt the same way? He’d felt the same need and desire? She’d always balked at the scenes in movies where the characters met and fell in love with one another right away. Instant connections didn’t happen in real life, did they?

She had to wonder now.

“So, then, was it what you’d imagined?” She asked, her voice resounding all crackled and hoarse.

“I’ll need another taste to make a solid evaluation.” Dominic prompted her to turn slightly so her back was against the car. His body seemed bigger, and his eyes smoldered. “Would you mind?”

Was he kidding? Her pulse pounded, and this time she didn’t have background music playing to mask it.

 
“I’m fine with that.”

He leaned in, his hands on either side of her against the car, and caught her mouth with his.
Audrey pulled him closer, her back flat against the door. Her nipples throbbed behind a wall of lace, and ached to be kissed with the same wild abandonment he gave her mouth. She was almost sorry that they hadn’t taken advantage of the darkness of the planetarium. Though, at the moment, being beneath an actual starry sky seemed to make the moment extra special.

Guided by the sheer lust tearing through her core, she didn’t hold back.

Somewhere in the distance she heard an odd sound, like someone clearing their throat. She opened her eyes a crack, blinking back the sensual haze. A man stood off to the side in a ball cap, with agitation written all over his face.

“Do you think I could get into my car?” His voice rumbled.

Heat blazed her cheeks. “Of course, I’m sorry.”

Eyes wide, she pulled from Dominic’s embrace and together they moved out of his way. Audrey shook her head. She’d forgotten they were in the middle of a parking lot. She’d forgotten anyone else existed. The kiss had transported her to somewhere lush and exotic.

With a harrumph, the man got into his car and started it up. He rolled the window down and gave them a sneer. “Get a room, hey?”

Tires squealing he backed out and hauled ass out of their view.

“I’m embarrassed,” she murmured.

“Don’t be. He was jealous, and I don’t blame him. Not every guy gets to lock lips with a siren like you.”

Her cheeks engulfed with flames.
Siren?
She hoped he meant that and it wasn’t some cheap tactic to get her to put out later. Audrey looked to him and saw the way his eyes burned on her. It was a look that shut down all the thoughts of him being less than genuine.

“We should probably get going,” he suggested and unlocked the car door.

“Yeah.
It’s getting late.” She slid into the car and let him close the door. Her body tingled from the way he’d held her. Was it her imagination, or had she never felt safer?

You’re getting way ahead of yourself girl. Relationships are messy. And in the end he’ll break your heart.

The sound of his door closing snapped her back to attention. He started the engine and flashed a wicked grin.

“I know I invited myself,” he said, “but I had a great time. I’d like to come back again sometime.”

“Sure,” she said, still breathless from the way he’d touched her. “The celestial shows run twice a month throughout the summer. I’m glad you weren’t bored.”

“Far from it.”
The huskiness of his voice made her groin throb.

While they weaved through the parking lot, she relived each sensation that had been awakened from his touch. It was addictive and she wanted more. Realizing she was sitting beside him with a crazy big grin on her face, she considered engaging him in conversation. It would help keep her from focusing on her soaked panties.

She cleared her throat and asked, “So you said you’ve always been a fan of stars?”

“More or less,” he answered. “I used to watch the sky through a fancy telescope growing up. Considered being an astronomer early on, but I guess it wasn’t in the stars.”

Audrey groaned at the pun, but laughed to be polite.

“If I’d had the chance, I’d have studied astrology. But you know the rest of the story. Okay, so where do we go from here?”

The question hung in the air while her mind tried not to interpret that in other ways. “At the light you’re going to want to take a right, and then head straight down Pearson. Hang a left at Foxglove and mine’s the second one on the left.”

“Got it.
Is it a house, or do you live in an apartment?”

“It’s a house.”

“Wow. Your business must be doing well.”

“I saved big, and got an even bigger loan,” she said. “I’ll be paying that baby back for the rest of my life.”

Dominic snorted. “Yeah, I have a whopper of a college loan. The funny thing is, I learned more from watching my dad then I did all those years of tests and presentations.” He reached up and adjusted the rearview mirror. “Oh and, about the lack of air conditioning. You’re sweet to put up with it.”

Audrey had been too amped up on heady bliss to notice. “No biggie. My car door makes a hideous sound when you open it. I swear it could wake the dead. But I still love the old clunker.”

His chuckle sent tiny vibrations through her. It was crazy to be this comfortable with a man, and one she still knew so little about. She’d been under his spell from day one, and each moment she spent with him she wanted to find out more. They’d be at her house soon and she didn’t want the time with him to end just yet.

“When we get to my place, I’d like to show you something. Outside,” she added, not wanting to give him the wrong impression.

“Do I get a hint?”

Audrey let out a shaky breath. She didn’t want to hold anything back from him. “I have a moon garden in my backyard. It’s where I like to write on nights I’m restless.”

In the glow of the streetlight she saw him turn to her. “What’s a moon garden?”

“A garden created to be enjoyed in the twilight hours,” she explained. “All the flowers are night blooming and give off a very sweet fragrance. It’s got—” she paused a moment thinking why would a guy find that interesting. “You know what, never mind. It must sound silly.”

“What? Are you kidding me? I’m excited to see it.”

She gave him a look though she didn’t think he could see. “You’re not just saying that?”

“No. I don’t say things that I don’t mean. I’m interested in what interests you.”

Audrey couldn’t believe she was sharing so many things with him, and was shocked at her willingness to let him in so fast. She kept waiting for a warning bell to sound. Allowing someone in went against her nature. She couldn’t determine if the trembling in her belly was raw need or nerves.

They turned onto Foxglove and the car slowed.

He leaned forward, one hand on the steering wheel. “You said the second house?”

“Yes, on the left. That one right there,” she said, pointing to the one-story blue house. “You can park next to my car on the driveway, if you’d like.”

He turned into her driveway and her pulse thundered. It had to be nerves from sharing personal things with him. She’d told him the reason behind the pennies, and now she planned to show him her garden. Both of which were sacred to her. At first glance he’d thought her pennies frivolous things. And while she’d moved on from that, it would hurt if he thought the same about her garden.

Audrey jumped as her door opened. She hadn’t realized the car had stopped and he’d gotten out. Dominic held his hand out while she unfastened her seatbelt. Disoriented she took his hand and set her feet on the concrete.