“Were you happy?”
Her hand gripped her glass tighter. “No.” Those years had almost choked the life out of her. Of course, he wouldn’t understand that. As far as he was concerned, she and Robert deserved each other.
He frowned. “No?”
“I guess that’s not entirely true. The first year Robert and I were quite happy.”
A nerve pulsed near his temple. “So what happened?”
She expelled a shaky breath. “I just don’t know. One minute we were in love and the next…it was gone.” She grimaced. “Perhaps if Robert and I had lived alone it would’ve been different. But with Monica there, as well—”
“Monica lived with you?” he said, his eyebrows shooting upward.
“Yes. Robert didn’t want to leave her on her own, and I could understand that. Her husband died years ago. Until I came along it was only her and Robert.”
One corner of his mouth twisted. “Her husband’s probably not dead. He’s hiding.”
She gave a delicate snort. “Don’t I know how that feels.”
He watched her with a measuring look. “You got out, that’s the main thing. It would have taken courage standing up to someone like Monica.”
She blinked rapidly even as a lump welled in her throat. He was admitting that he understood about Monica, at least, and that touched her deeply.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “It did take courage.”
He considered her across the table. “I gather this is the basis for your stand on independence?”
She inclined her head. “Yes. Having someone like Monica around really made me appreciate living alone.”
And Robert had been his mother’s son.
“Does she frighten you?”
She paused. “You asked me that last night, too, and I said no.”
“Are you sure that’s the truth?”
She tilted her head with a frown. “Why are you pushing?”
He shrugged. “No reason.”
“Tell me about your job,” he suddenly said.
She hesitated, confused by all the questions. “Er…what do you want to know?”
“You said yesterday Monica expected you to be home from work in time for her arrival. So I gather you work. I’m interested in what you do.”
Her brow lifted. “You mean, you don’t already know?”
“No.”
She sent him a wry look at the one-word answer. “My friend Angie owns a boutique and I work there three days a week.”
“Have you been there long?”
“Long enough,” she quipped, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Just then, a curtain rolled back at the end of the dance floor to reveal a woman sitting at a piano. At the sound of applause, she burst into a song. Danielle appreciated the interruption and sent Flynn a wry smile, receiving a knowing look in return.
The songs continued while they ate their way through their meal, talking only sporadically. The singer had a very good voice so it was pleasant listening to her. Besides, it gave Danielle the chance to gather her thoughts before the next onslaught from Flynn.
Then the singing finished to further applause, but the woman continued to play. One of the couples rose from their table and strolled out to dance on the parquet floor, slipping into each other’s arms as if they knew exactly where they were supposed to be in this world.
Then another couple followed and another. She didn’t want Flynn to think she wanted to dance, so she looked down at her plate and began pushing the remaining salmon around with her fork.
“You’re not hungry?
She glanced up and gave a polite smile. “It’s delicious but I don’t seem to have much of an appetite lately.”
He placed his napkin beside his empty plate. “You’ll have dessert.”
She bristled slightly at the order. “None for me.”
“But you’ve got to have something for your birthday. What about some of that chocolate concoction the woman over there is eating?”
Danielle glanced at the other table and felt sick at the thought of more chocolate. “No, I couldn’t. Three o’clock this morning I was eating celery dipped in a jar of hazelnut chocolate. Lovely at the time but—”
“You should be doing other things at three in the morning,” he suddenly growled, bringing sensuality back into focus. Without warning, he stood up. “Dance with me.”
Her heart jumped in her throat as he helped her to her feet, then walked her out to the floor. She knew she went into his arms as if she were made to be there, just like those other couples had with each other.
He pulled her close and she quivered and gave a small sigh, giving herself up to the moment, unable to fight him this one time. He smelled so good, so wonderful, so Flynn. His hand was against her back, caressing her, holding her against him, as if he’d never let her go.
Long moments crept by as they danced slowly around the dance floor, a possessive gleam in his eyes that both thrilled and disturbed her.
“Did you know your eyes turn smoky-blue at certain times?” he murmured thickly.
Her throat went dry. “When I’m angry?”
“When something moves you. When you get passionate.”
Her breath caught in her lungs. “You shouldn’t talk like that.”
A muscle pulsated in his cheek. “We’re adults, Danielle. We’re allowed to talk any way we want.” His arms tightened around her. “And do anything we want to do.”
Her heart rate accelerated as if someone had pressed a button inside her and forgot to stop. There was a whole other subliminal conversation going on beneath their words…had been going on from the moment they’d met.
“I…um…need some fresh air,” she said, her heart thudding against her ribs.
His gaze rested on her heated face. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“Ye—” she swallowed “—yes.”
She didn’t look at him as she let him take control, while he paid the bill and ushered her through the restaurant and across the road to Bicentennial Park. She needed to get outside, to inhale some night air fresh from the ocean.
“Is this better?” Flynn asked as he tucked her arm through his and they began to stroll along the pavement.
“Yes, thank you. It was so hot in there.” She glanced away when he sent her another knowing look.