The Perfect Someday (A standalone novel ~ Book three in The Mathews Family) (5 page)

“You know,
” her voice came out in breathy puffs of air. “Those words don’t hold value when a man says them to every women he meets.”

The hush of his silence
cloaked around her in darkness.

Tracy cringed a little. She hadn’t intended for it to sound like an insult, but it did.
Even with her eyes closed she could feel the weight of his gaze on her chest with each labored breath.

His fingertip wandered over her collarbone to
the underneath of her jaw. “Lo dico solo 'le parole di una bella donna che ha rubato il mio cuore con ciao—“ his voice, soft and gentle, carried on to rephrase in English. “—I only say these words to a beautiful woman who stole my heart with hello.”

His
sweet breath swept over her hairline. An intense shiver rippled down her spine like a long fuse setting off a stick of dynamite in her lower abdomen.

“Open your eyes.”

Forcing herself to turn away from Giovanni’s delicious voice, she faced the sound of the surf splashing against the rocks and pushing up the sandy beach.

Colors streaked across the sky changing from lilac to deep purple. Wispy tips of golden rod began to drag and pull the underbelly o
f the clouds, deepening the bold range of colors from tangerine to red.

Tracy let out a small gasp
, in awe of the beauty. “Oh my God.”

B
arely able to contain her excitement, she began making her way down the boulders. Giovanni leaped from the last rock. Raising his hands, he obligingly clutched her around the waist to assist her to the bottom. She caught a small appreciative grin hovering at the corner of his lips taking in the vision of her voluptuous cleavage when she bent to hold onto his shoulders. She jumped into his arms and her breasts bounced when her feet hit the sand, grazing his shirt front.

She
felt a vibration roll through his body. Giovanni’s cheeks flushed with color.

Neither said a word, only stared at each other
. Muscles began to twinge in areas she didn’t know existed. Her sensory receptors sparked with the desire to kiss him.

However
, intellect refused. “I…I should hurry.”

“I’ll get the wine.”
He eased her out of his arms and handed her the camera.

The vast panoramic view exposed yet another caldron and the entire northeast side of the isle.
The golden sun turned blood red reflecting its light on the sea and surrounding islands as it began to sink into the offing.

“
I can’t believe it. How lucky am I?” She had seen this precise view dozens of times in photos. Removing the lens cap, she yelled from over her shoulder. “Giovanni, this is the spot!”

“The spot
?” He approached offering a glass of red wine.

“Yes, the spot.
I’ve been searching this place. This exact view is showcased in brochures and travel magazines. I’ve never been able to pinpoint the exact location.” Her hands waved aimlessly at the picturesque surrounding before accepting the wine and taking a quick sip.

“I am the lucky one.
” His hand settled on the small of her back waiting for her to swallow. “The beauty in your smile is far more impressive than the most exquisite sunset I’ve seen in Greece.”

She damn near spit the wine from her
mouth and nose choking out a snicker, “Oh, you are an enchanter.”

Tracy felt giddy, making it impossible to keep a straight face.
Giovanni oozed a composed presence of authenticity, unlocking a deep seeded comfort inside her. The notion that this man could convince her she was the most beautiful woman he’d laid eyes on seemed absurd. Yet seeing the blush burnish his cheekbones and hidden hunger in his eyes fried every brain cell she processed. Pleasure spread over her like the sea washing upon the craggy shoreline, filling every exposed fissure.

Giovanni
stepped toward her at the precise moment Tracy leaned in to hand him back the glass. Their thighs brushed, striking a match to every hormone in her body. Caught in his intense gaze, her feet remained planted to the ground like the olive trees taking root on the hillside. She flushed hard, craving to feel the smoothness of his lips.

He moved slowly,
slipping his fingers around hers retrieving the glass and transferring it to his other hand. The skin on his exposed throat took on a golden hue, the kind of sun-kissed glow you get after a day at the beach. The temptation to put her mouth on his neck was too much to bear. She glanced away, subconsciously moistening her lips in a nervous manner. Turning back, she found him following the movement of her lip with a glazed expression.

“Grazie,” she managed to say before rising
to her tiptoes and pressing a soft kiss on his cheek. The stubble tickled her lips. The softness surprised her, but not near as much as the fact that she had just reached up and kissed him.

Giovanni
held perfectly still. His face was severe, seemingly taken aback by her show of affection.

A ping of trepidation rattled
her thoughts. Tracy opened her mouth to apologize, sucking in a shaky breath stammering, “Oh I’m s—“

B
efore she could utter an excuse, he responded by hooking a loose lock of hair behind her ear, carefully tracing the shell of her ear. All words and good sense drained from her brain. Giovanni lazily traced the underside of her jaw to the curve of her neck. Every place he touched made her skin catch fire. “Di niente.”

There was a vulnerability
in being so close to Giovanni, a man so full of intrigue he sent tremors of lust straight to her core. She tried to process her feelings and unfamiliar reactions to him. Unable to turn away, Tracy simply stood there allowing his fingers to sweep over her face. She permitted her mind to settle, rejoicing in the moment of wanting him to touch her.

His prolonged stare sent a
nother rush of desire coiling through her. The scent of wine on his breath tangled with the ocean air drawing her closer. He cupped her jaw in the palm of one hand and she nuzzled into the warmth. Nothing had ever felt so good in her life.

The pad of his thumb etched over the edge of her mask.
The mask. It’s the damn mask. The ever so miniscule façade added such an intense feeling of liberation and mystery, she let go, stepping outside the perimeters of boundary lines she lived by. Tracy didn’t feel like her reserved self at all. She felt sexy.

Mimicking his movements, she brought
her hand to his chest. Allowing her fingers to roam at freewill, she caressed a long feathery stroke up his neck to the side of his face. He dragged a long searching look over her features.

Luscious anticipation swept through her
. Yes, kiss me. Rising to the tip of her toes, she lifted her chin hoping he would greet her.

He did.

Giovanni lowered his mouth gently to hers. His lips, full and firm, reserved a hint of tightly harnessed control. The taste of his mouth was silky and warm, indulging her with the burn of a slow supple kiss.

Tracy released the
soft hum of pleasure rising in her throat. Giovanni’s supporting arm curled behind the small of her back, forcing a slight arch. Tucking his fingers through the hair at her nape, he parted her lips, gliding his tongue over her bottom lip, gently drawing it into the heat of his mouth. Her chest lifted higher, and she exerted a more provocative pressure to his mouth, reveling in the spicy bold flavor that danced on his tongue.

Tracy paused, pulling in a ragged breath.

Longing rolled through her and she gripped his shirt front. Nothing could’ve prepared her for the intensity she felt from one small measured kiss. A feeling nearly impossible for her to define, a sort of pleasurable desire, licking deep into the confines of her heart and awakening her soul.

His face remaining over hers.
Their breath mixed together in heavy exhales. Giovanni held her firmly to the hard muscled framework of his body. His breathing was no better than hers. Disarmed by the unhurried tenderness of his kiss, she sagged against him.

“The sun is setting.”
His mouth trailed to her ear. “I don’t want you to miss what you’ve been waiting for.”

Her
dazed expression fell to his chest. Trembling, she released her grip, smoothing the wrinkles near his open collar. “Right,” she agreed, unable to move an inch.

His hand came to her e
lbow, encouraging her to take the shot. Tracy’s mind went blank, but she lifted her camera taking aim at the mesmerizing sunset. The instant her brain began to process what she’d just done, her thoughts spun out of control. She cringed inwardly. You just kissed a complete stranger! What the hell are you doing? She couldn’t even bring herself to look at him.

Giovanni
remained respectfully quiet, graciously waiting for her to work up the nerve to say something. When she found the courage to peel her gaze away from the view and glance his direction, he shot her a dazzling perceptive grin. Oh, he knows, all right. He knows I’m mortified. Her lips curled into a broad smile. She flushed hard, releasing an edgy chuckle.

The volume of the reception in the distance
grew louder, but the continuing silence between them was driving her crazy. Her heart pounded uncontrollably and she rolled her eyes in admission. Reaching for his glass of wine she blurted, “This is a real date, right?”

“Si`.
” He showered her with another gorgeous smile. “I don’t usually let strange women kiss me…unless we’re on a real date.”

She drowned her grin behind the rim
, nursing a long draw of wine. 

“You like the wine?”

“It’s growing on me,” she acknowledged in surprise, savoring the earthy bouquet. Tracy attempted to distinguish if she truly enjoyed the actual wine or the taste of him lingering on her tongue. “It has an oaky flavor. I kind of like it.”

“Kind of?”

Crap. I’ve insulted the wine again.
It’s not like he paid for it, he lifted it from behind the bar.

“This is one of the best wines made in Tuscany.”
His brows creased, creating a deep notch in his forehead. He reclaimed the glass. Holding it toward the fading sun, he gave it a tilt, so the wine rolled toward the edges. “You see?”

She couldn’t see
any further than the pulse throbbing at the side of his neck. “What am I looking for?” Their arms brushed as she snuggled closer to his side.

“
This allows you to see the wine’s true color, not simply the dark center. If the color is murky or pale at the edge…no good. It should be clear and brilliant.” He brought his fingertips together gesturing perfection.

“
Aren’t you supposed to swirl it or sniff it?”

He swirled the glass, pointing to
the streaks forming on the inside. “You see the tears?”

She nodded
questioning inquisitively, “Do the streaks distinguish the quality of the wine?”

“
It tells how strong the wine is, the alcohol content.” He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved his invitation, tossing the white envelope to the ground. Giovanni smiled and wriggled his brows, squatting to his haunches. “Watch.”

Genuinely intrigued, she rested her palm on his shoulder, observing
closely as he gave the glass a good swirl.

“Now you
can see the tears clearly.” Giovanni stated matter-of-factly pointing to the shadow cast upon the white paper by the dissolving rays of sunlight. Tear-shaped droplets streaked down the clear glass. Tears that were nearly undistinguishable to the naked eye became visible in the shadow against the paper.

“
Whoa! That’s amazing!”

P
assion filled his voice as he continued, explaining the interplay between adhesion, evaporation and surface tension of water and alcohol. The lure of his rich voice drew her like a magnet and left her listening intently as the sun disappeared from the horizon. In Tracy’s opinion, there was nothing sexier than an intelligent man. His rugged good looks were merely the canvas beneath the masterpiece. Giovanni was intellectual, but spoke in terms of logic and common sense. He was the sexiest man she’d laid eyes on. Judging by the way he almost brought her to her knees with a slight kiss, she guessed he would be gifted in more ways than one.

Neither Tracy nor Giovanni
spoke the other’s language at one hundred percent fluency, but they understood enough to fill in the small communication gaps. He continuously spoke with his hands. Each gesture punctuating an expression, giving deeper meaning to his colorful words and phrases. Her gaze drifted over him, keenly watching the strain of each defined muscle, reveling in his body language. By the time he got to higher vapor tension, lower surface tension and cohesive water molecules she couldn’t even think rationally.

Over the years, she found it difficult to be herself o
n dates. Men who looked like Giovanni didn’t bother taking the time to relate to her passions or the subjects she found interesting. She’d dated a few men from her classes, who were complete nerds like herself and appreciated her IQ, but they did nothing for the chemistry of her libido. She constantly found herself more attracted to her professors than men her own age. Tracy decided over a year ago to give up on dating and focus on her studies until after graduation, teasing that she could date vicariously through her little sister.