Page 3 of Beneath the Dawn

And that smile he was displaying now? Lordy! Beautiful white teeth, a beautiful pair of lips, and a hint of a dimple in his left cheek only added to his sexiness. He looked younger than a man in his forties and could easily pass for someone in their mid-thirties. That meant, aside from good genetics, he probably took extremely good care of himself. She didn’t see a single wrinkle in his face or a strand of gray hair on his head.

She assumed, as he had done the past two days, that he would have finished his swim and returned to his place by now. She would not have ventured out had she known he was still on the beach. And although she knew the house next door was occupied, she never dreamed it would be someone she had met years ago. And now she was standing here, taking in everything about him, while remembering the wonderful times they’d had as kids on this same beach.

That summer, he had been her hero. But unfortunately, that had been the last time she had seen him. For years following the incident, she’d been haunted by the memories of nearly losing her life and hadn’t wanted to return to her grandmother’s beach house.

Marti fought not to stare but couldn’t help it--he was so darn easy on the eyes. And she noted that his hair was still just as long as hers. Thinking back, she recalled that his father had also worn his hair long, too. According to her grandmother, they were full-blooded Italians.

Now, looking at him, she was noticing things that an eight-year-old would not have thought about. She wished she could ignore how his wet body looked so darn sexy. Even his hair, which flowed past his shoulders, was dripping water down his broad chest and well-defined abs. No wonder he could still swim so well.

Since she was thirty-seven, he was probably around forty-two, which meant there was a five-year age difference between them. She studied his facial features… His Italian heritage was striking. He had a prominent, angular jawline, a strong chin, and high, sculpted cheekbones with olive-toned skin. He was sinfully gorgeous, and she battled against the naughty thoughts that suddenly consumed her. Like…how she was tempted to lick those drops of water falling onto his chest…and lower, down his firm stomach. Lordy, she simply refused to look at him below the waist, although she was sorely tempted.

“So, Martina, what have you been doing for the past twenty-nine years?” he asked, his deep husky voice cutting into her salacious thoughts.

She appreciated the intrusion and met his eyes. They were dark brown eyes, perfect for his skin tone. “Well, for one thing, very few people call me Martina anymore. I’m Marti now and have been since high school.”

“Then, Marti it is,” he said. “How’s your sister? I remember how protective you were of her. You took your role of big sister seriously that summer.”

That was true and hadn’t changed until a few years ago, when her obsessive protectiveness had nearly caused a permanent rift between them, nearly destroying their close relationship. It had taken some time, but Kara had finally forgiven her.

Marti smiled. “Kara is fine. She’s married to a great guy and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have beautiful three-year-old twin daughters, and are expecting their third child in a couple of months. They already know it will be a boy.”

“What about you?” he asked.

She raised a brow. “What about me?”

“Are you here alone?”

She paused a moment before answering. “Yes.”

“Are you single, Marti? Divorced? Widowed?”

Marti figured he’d assumed such a thing since she wasn’t wearing a ring. “I’m single. And I never married, so I’m still Marti Goshay.”

“Neither have I,” he said. “My career keeps me busy. I’m the general manager of the Ursula Hotels and Resorts in Sedona Valley.”

“I heard that’s a very nice place.”

“It is. What about you, Marti? I recall your family living somewhere in California. Are you still living there?”

“No. I lived in Charlotte for a number of years. Two years ago, I moved to Billings, Montana, for my job as a CPA Consultant. Last year, I decided to be my own boss and started working for myself. I love the flexibility, but I needed a break. Starting my own business was draining, both mentally and physically.”

She paused and then asked conversationally, “How’s your father? I remember him being a really nice man. A lot of fun.”

Marti saw the pain that suddenly filled his dark eyes. “Dad was killed in a skiing accident a few years ago.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I recall how close the two of you were. You and your dad did practically everything together. He was so unlike Nana, who was up there in age and got tired easily. She often sent us outside to play on our own, just to get us out from under her feet, I think.” She smiled. “I loved how your dad included us in your daily activities, and he always seemed to have a lot of them lined up.”

He nodded again, remembering those times. “Yes, Dad believed in keeping you active, that’s for sure. He was a very special person.” He paused a moment and then said, “And speaking of your grandmother, I was saddened to hear about Ms. Della. She was a sweet lady.”

She nodded. “Thank you. Nana left her beach house to Kara and me. Since Kara and her husband purchased a second home on Galveston Beach to be close to her in-laws who retired to Houston, she signed this house over to me. This is my first time back here in years.”

She looked up into the sky, needing to break eye contact with him. His eyes were so mesmerizing… She felt heat pool in her midsection and decided it was time to take a step back. She couldn’t deal with this kind of attraction—not right now. Glancing back at him, she said, “From the look of the sun, it’s going to be a hot day. I’d better head on out to enjoy the beach while I can. It was good seeing you again, Dante.”

“Same here. How long will you be here, Marti?”

“A month. What about you?”

“I’ve been here a month already and intend to stay for another two. It’s been a while since I’ve taken any extended time off from work, and I decided this was the perfect time to do it.”