in time to the sound of the drums
originating somewhere deep inside of Barbie’s body. And what did the drums say?
Barbie Bradley, you might actually, really, truly have a fairy godmother after all.
Yay.
Inside was a blur. How could Barbie possibly glean any details, when Darin’s fingers had closed over hers, electrifying her
nerves? She absently took in dark corners, randomly placed lights with stained-glass shades, candles aglow on tablecloths
of tapestry and lace, tables that were all occupied, except for one. Without a host or maître d’, Darin ushered her to that
unoccupied corner deep inside the place, far from the door, and pulled out her chair. He waited for her to sit, then pushed
it in. Gentleman to the max.
Long-stemmed crystal glasses sparkled on the lace tablecloth like stars fallen to earth. Each table had its own light, all
of them looking like little islands of illumination on a darkened sea.
The ceiling was low and dark stained, truly cavelike, providing a warm, muted canopy to a place as romantic as all get-out.
Soft violin music drifted from somewhere unseen. Before Barbie could whisper her approval, a server appeared. Male, about
thirty-five. He filled her glass with a liquid so deep red it looked to be made of strained rubies. Then he filled Darin’s
glass as Darin settled himself opposite her.
A length of ivory lace stretched between them, at least two feet, studded with gold flatware. Barbie was grateful for the
distance. Breathing room. She felt the need for some air, and also appreciated the direct approach to further scrutiny of
the Russell charms. As it was, the dimness, the candlelight, the violins, and the sparkling crystal, coupled with the hot
hunk across from her. . .all pointed with the subtlety of a gigantic neon arrow in the direction—sometime soon, and at the
very least, sex.
She’d never had a one-night stand. Not for a lack of guys trying. She’d never met a man she’d wanted to throw caution aside
for. Could this Adonis across from her be the one to change all that? All her senses screamed yes.
Barbie waited until she felt confident enough to look Darin in the eyes without hearing distant strains of the “Hallelujah
Chorus” before raising her glass. Darin raised his. He placed his lips on the rim of the glass. Barbie did the same, envying
Darin’s glass the touch of that remarkable mouth.
The wine not only looked dazzling, it smelled wonderfully exotic. As Darin took a sip, Barbie did also, continuing to eye
him over the rim. Liquid rubies. . .yes, she noted happily, her lips stinging from their first encounter with liquid opulence.
And Darin hadn’t drooled or anything. No flaw there. Darn.
“You like the wine?” he asked, green eyes hypnotic.
“I’m not exactly a connoisseur,” Barbie confessed. “It’s nice. Smells sweet, like nectar.”
Darin smiled. He really was trying to please her, Barbie decided, quite possibly making up for the sack-of-potatoes business
of the night before. She wondered what he’d do if he knew she’d swap every single bottle of ancient wine in the restaurant
for one real peek at his pecs, which she already knew were spectacular.
Smiling to herself, Barbie watched Darin take a secondsip of wine before she did the same. This time, her taste was a tad larger. The lip sting became a buzz that tickled her tongue
and heated her throat.
“It’s hot,” she remarked with an astonished gasp.
“The burn will diminish in a minute. It’s a rare old wine.”
Barbie was having a minor meltdown. Everything the liquid touched burned, and there wasn’t any water in sight.
As if wanting to get in on the meltdown, her shoulders became warm, then her upper back. Barbie’s arms heated, elbow to fingertips.
Her cheeks again flushed hot, and most likely a shade of bubble gum pink. Who needed headstands, anyway?
“Truly like drinking fire,” she declared, beaming at Darin, wanting to fan
originating somewhere deep inside of Barbie’s body. And what did the drums say?
Barbie Bradley, you might actually, really, truly have a fairy godmother after all.
Yay.
Inside was a blur. How could Barbie possibly glean any details, when Darin’s fingers had closed over hers, electrifying her
nerves? She absently took in dark corners, randomly placed lights with stained-glass shades, candles aglow on tablecloths
of tapestry and lace, tables that were all occupied, except for one. Without a host or maître d’, Darin ushered her to that
unoccupied corner deep inside the place, far from the door, and pulled out her chair. He waited for her to sit, then pushed
it in. Gentleman to the max.
Long-stemmed crystal glasses sparkled on the lace tablecloth like stars fallen to earth. Each table had its own light, all
of them looking like little islands of illumination on a darkened sea.
The ceiling was low and dark stained, truly cavelike, providing a warm, muted canopy to a place as romantic as all get-out.
Soft violin music drifted from somewhere unseen. Before Barbie could whisper her approval, a server appeared. Male, about
thirty-five. He filled her glass with a liquid so deep red it looked to be made of strained rubies. Then he filled Darin’s
glass as Darin settled himself opposite her.
A length of ivory lace stretched between them, at least two feet, studded with gold flatware. Barbie was grateful for the
distance. Breathing room. She felt the need for some air, and also appreciated the direct approach to further scrutiny of
the Russell charms. As it was, the dimness, the candlelight, the violins, and the sparkling crystal, coupled with the hot
hunk across from her. . .all pointed with the subtlety of a gigantic neon arrow in the direction—sometime soon, and at the
very least, sex.
She’d never had a one-night stand. Not for a lack of guys trying. She’d never met a man she’d wanted to throw caution aside
for. Could this Adonis across from her be the one to change all that? All her senses screamed yes.
Barbie waited until she felt confident enough to look Darin in the eyes without hearing distant strains of the “Hallelujah
Chorus” before raising her glass. Darin raised his. He placed his lips on the rim of the glass. Barbie did the same, envying
Darin’s glass the touch of that remarkable mouth.
The wine not only looked dazzling, it smelled wonderfully exotic. As Darin took a sip, Barbie did also, continuing to eye
him over the rim. Liquid rubies. . .yes, she noted happily, her lips stinging from their first encounter with liquid opulence.
And Darin hadn’t drooled or anything. No flaw there. Darn.
“You like the wine?” he asked, green eyes hypnotic.
“I’m not exactly a connoisseur,” Barbie confessed. “It’s nice. Smells sweet, like nectar.”
Darin smiled. He really was trying to please her, Barbie decided, quite possibly making up for the sack-of-potatoes business
of the night before. She wondered what he’d do if he knew she’d swap every single bottle of ancient wine in the restaurant
for one real peek at his pecs, which she already knew were spectacular.
Smiling to herself, Barbie watched Darin take a secondsip of wine before she did the same. This time, her taste was a tad larger. The lip sting became a buzz that tickled her tongue
and heated her throat.
“It’s hot,” she remarked with an astonished gasp.
“The burn will diminish in a minute. It’s a rare old wine.”
Barbie was having a minor meltdown. Everything the liquid touched burned, and there wasn’t any water in sight.
As if wanting to get in on the meltdown, her shoulders became warm, then her upper back. Barbie’s arms heated, elbow to fingertips.
Her cheeks again flushed hot, and most likely a shade of bubble gum pink. Who needed headstands, anyway?
“Truly like drinking fire,” she declared, beaming at Darin, wanting to fan
Similar Books
