Dreaming of Love by Melissa Foster Page A

confidence and enthusiasm, Dae found it easy to imagine her speaking at conferences and quickly earning the respect of the attendees.
    They spent hours inside the castle, toured the bell tower and the grounds. They examined the areas that were used as the castle’s prison hundreds of years ago and took pictures in most of the rooms. Dae’s favorite picture was the one they took in front of the grand stone stairwell, which Emily deemed too impressive for words . He knew the image would relay the excitement in her voice. She was so easy to be with. Every little thing she did made him want her even more. It was all those things—her Emilyisms—that were coiling themselves around his heart. The adorable way she trapped her lower lip between her teeth when she accidentally made a double entendre. The way she touched his side when she wanted to show him something. Hell, even the way her eyes grew serious as she explained the history of the castle captured his attention. But what he liked most about Emily was that she was real. She didn’t pretend to be something she wasn’t, and she didn’t try to impress him. She was as vulnerable as she was strong, as witty as she was serious, and after watching her roll her eyes at her brothers’ texts, which she graciously checked only once—her love for them overrode the irritation in her exasperated sigh—he sensed that she was loyal to the core. By the time they left, Dae was completely and utterly enthralled with her.
    After eating a late lunch in Poppi and exploring the city until the sun began to set, they headed back toward the villa. Dae wasn’t ready for their date to be over, especially since he’d have to spend most of the day tomorrow doing research on the property he was there to assess. The idea of being away from Emily made the muscles in his neck cord up. He glanced at her, resting against the headrest, her eyes closed. A slight smile curved her lips. She looked relaxed and happy, and she was stunning.
    “Tired?”
    “No,” she said softly, eyes still closed. “Just relaxed. I think it’s been years since I’ve felt so relaxed.”
    “Are you up for a stroll by the river?”
    Her eyes opened wide, like he’d offered her a pot of gold. “Definitely.”
    Fifteen minutes later they’d parked in a quaint town that bordered the river, and with the sun kissing the horizon, they headed across the cobblestone street toward a tree-lined path along the river.
    “Thanks for an amazing day,” Emily said as she gazed up at him.
    Dae put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Thank you . But the day’s not over yet.” He kissed her temple, inhaling her floral and feminine scent. Pure Emily .
    She leaned her head against his side as they walked along the water.
    “Do I get to choose our day tomorrow?” Emily asked.
    “I’m sorry, Em, but I have some things I need to do for work tomorrow.”
    Her grip on him eased. “Of course. I shouldn’t have assumed…”
    Dae stopped walking and turned her in his arms so she was facing him. Then he pulled her close and used his index finger to lift her chin so he could look into her disappointed eyes.
    “You should assume. I want you to assume. I just need to do some research to decide if I’m taking on this job or not, and that’s going to take a few hours. Why don’t we try to get together in the evening?” Damn, he wished he could blow off his meetings. He felt a twinge of guilt not telling Emily that the meetings were about a demolition job. He needed to talk with her about that and was waiting for the right opening to do so.
    “Sure, but don’t feel pressure. I don’t mean to monopolize your vacation.”
    “Em, this wasn’t a vacation. It was a work trip, and then I met you. And you are far more interesting than my work could ever be. Please, monopolize me.” He pressed his lips to hers and smiled against them as her arms circled his neck.
    “That’s better.” He deepened the kiss, loving the way her