Alan waved as they dragged Vanessa away. She broke free of her mother’s grip and came back. “Can I have your number?”
She had no idea what propelled her, but Lanelle found herself rattling off the digits to the bubbly young lady, whose presence alone made her feel lighter.
“I’ll call you,” Vanessa promised as she backed away toward her parents, who stood in front of a sweet red Lamborghini.
Dante’s presence dazed her as she tore her attention from the car to him. No man should be so handsome and have charm oozing from his pores to affect the innocent women of the world. Under the suave exterior lay, she sensed, someone who possessed a depth of character it would take the rest of her life to unearth. Someone worth getting to know? “I’d better go.” Once again she reached for her door. Dante’s hand stilled her. The warmth of his touch radiated up her arm, heating her in the most delicious way.
“Would you like to go out to dinner tomorrow night?”
She opened her mouth to speak and ended up drawing in a sharp breath when he stepped forward and crowded her. His spicy, citrusy scent enticed her. With a hard swallow, she stepped back, only to bump into her car. One way to get out of this. The destiny card.
Tilting her head up, she memorized his features, knowing she’d never see him again. “Let’s do this. If we ever meet each other by accident again, I’ll go out with you.”
“You seem like a reasonable woman. What you just proposed isn’t anywhere near rational. We’ve already met twice by chance. I think kismet has played its role.”
Impressed, she tried to stay strong instead of falling into his invitation. “It’s the way I live. Third time and you get a date.” She pointed a French-tipped manicured finger at him. “By the way, I gave my number to Vanessa, not you. So don’t even think about calling me. If fate wants us to go out, then we will.”
He reached for her hand and held it between them, rubbing his thumb against her palm. The few seconds of sensual circles hardened her nipples. With reluctance, she pulled away.
He looked into her eyes. Not a hint of a smile appeared. “I don’t like this game, but we’ll play it your way. Remember your promise, because we’ll see each other again.” He backed off.
The solidness of the car on her backside grounded her, helping her resist the desire to follow him as her body longed to do.
Tearing her gaze away, she turned her back on the temptation he presented and got into her car. With one last wave at Vanessa and her parents, she took off, refusing to acknowledge Dante with a goodbye.
No man would ever be able to provide her heart’s desire, so why even bother with them at all?
For once Dante was almost pleased to be chauffeured as his thoughts wandered back to the encounter with Lanelle in the parking garage. He relaxed as Vanessa navigated her way through the streets of Cleveland.
At a fresh red light Dante watched as she opened the lid on the dessert and scooped out a piece with a plastic fork. He should reprimand her for eating in his car, but fascination over what had brought him into contact with the most amazing woman he’d met in a long time took precedence.
Vanessa shook her head and slapped her leg. “Mmm, mmm, mmm. This is so good. Even better than I remember.”
“I don’t need to see it all in your mouth to know it’s delicious. Let me try.” Without any more coercion she placed a piece, albeit a small one compared with what she’d taken, onto the fork and slid it into his mouth. Not bad. Not worth a tussle, but he saw the appeal.
“What do you mean not bad? No wonder she turned you down for a date. If you can’t appreciate fabulous cake, you probably can’t appreciate her, either.”
Did his niece just take a stranger’s side over his? He couldn’t blame her. Lanelle radiated something alluring beyond her obvious beauty. The memory of her flawless skin, large dark brown eyes, an adorable nose he could eat up and lips he had difficulty looking away from made him sigh.
Lanelle’s poise and sophistication, along with her readiness to smile and celebrate life with a stranger, added to her charisma. He’d been inches from kissing her. Only the fact that his family stood so close watching their every move had stopped him. “Watch it. It’s not too late to revoke your driving privileges on my car.”
“You wouldn’t. Not to someone who found out she’s still free from cancer, now, would you?” Vanessa tried to pull off her sad, begging puppy-dog look but got diverted by the cake.
“We’ll be eating soon.”
“Mom’s not here to threaten me, so I’m eating dessert first. Can we swing by the college? Art history is letting out now, and I want to show off a little to my friends.”
Dante chuckled. “Fine, but don’t expect me to get out of the car and wait on the corner while you do.”
She shoved the half-empty container into his hands when the light turned green and the car behind them honked. “It’ll only be for ten minutes.”
“Either you showcase me and the car or there’s no deal,” Dante insisted.
“Okay.”
He closed the lid on the cake after sneaking another forkful. “What made you get Lanelle’s number?”
Vanessa flashed him a grin. “What made you ask her out?”
Smart-assed little girl. How Cynthia hadn’t driven that annoying quality out of her by now was a mystery to everyone. He resorted to “I asked you first.”
“I liked her. She seemed to be someone I could hang out with.”
“Even though she’s older?”
She shrugged. “We hang out.”
“Because we’re family.”
Vanessa sucked her teeth as she made a left turn. “Uncle Xander is family, but I don’t go places with him.”
Dante held up a finger. “First of all, your dad’s brother is nowhere near as cool as me, and second he lives in California, so you can’t just pick up the phone and ask him to come get you. And don’t you even mention my brother Emmanuel. With the number of kids he and his wife have, they can barely get out the house.”
“Whatever. My point is, age doesn’t matter with friendship. Or did I hear it about love?”
“I concede.”
Vanessa pulled the car over in front of a café a few blocks from her school, put it in Park and pressed the button to unlock the doors. “Please, Uncle D?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and looked out the windshield. One glance at her would break his resolve. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for his nieces and nephews, and they knew how to play him. “You can forget about me getting out of this car.”
“How about if I talk you up to Lanelle when I call her?” The manipulative minx tapped a finger on the custom-designed steering wheel. “Maybe find out where she’ll be, so you can bump into her.”
Dante reached for the handle. “You can tell her how wonderful I am, but don’t ask where she’ll be at any point in time. The woman is not stupid.” He opened the door. “You have twenty minutes. We still have to meet your parents and little brother at the restaurant. Your friends can sit in the car, but don’t go joyriding.”
He pulled out his phone. “I have an app that lets me see exactly where the car is at all times.” She didn’t need to know he had yet to learn how to use it.
“I promise. Thanks, Uncle D.”
Curbside, he watched his