Chapter 6

She tookhim to Terrapin restaurant in Rhinebeck. The building reminded him of a wizard's castle, with red pointed peaks to the roof and sweeping curved windows. Inside, the atmosphere was dark and intimate, with lots of wood, a red accented bar, and rustic lantern chandeliers. He ordered short ribs with a bottle of champagne and she ordered the ahi tuna rare. Hunter lifted his glass of sparkling liquid. "To a successful, entertaining pageant," he toasted, his lips twitching with humor.

She gave an adorable snort as she clinked her flute to his. "Entertaining, maybe. I told Liz not to give Amber the role of Mary. It was too much pressure."

He tried hard to keep a straight face. "Well, she did just give birth. I'm sure Mary cried, too."

Skye shook her head. "Oh, Lord, did you see how sweet Jai was? He's a sympathetic crier and hates seeing anyone else upset."

"Oh, is that why he also burst into tears? I thought it was just the pressure of not being able to secure a hotel for his first newborn?"

Their gazes met and they burst into laughter. He'd never been to a pageant before, let alone an elementary school. Now, he understood why teachers deserved hazard pay. By the time the evening ended, he felt like he needed wine and some blessed silence, and he'd only been in the audience. But he was touched by the enthusiasm of the kids, and their high-pitched, excited voices as they sang the carols. There was something almost sacred being able to share in a moment of childhood innocence. It instilled him with the holiday spirit.

"I really appreciate you coming," she said again, forking up a piece of sesame encrusted fish and popping it in her mouth. "Probably not the most relaxing night you've spent on a date."

He arched a brow and dug into his meal. The meat was tender and fell off the bone. "Ah, is this an official date?"

She pursed her lips in thought and his gaze dropped. The shiny gloss had worn off, but she looked even sexier with naked pale pink lips. In fact, he was crazy about all parts of her. Her gaudy Christmas sweater showed off Mrs. Clause with colorful pom poms attached and dangly wreath earrings played peek-a-boo with her silky blonde tresses. There was a rip in her black tights from a backstage incident, and bits of tinsel clung to various parts of her body, glittering merrily in the shadows of the restaurant. The women he dated would have died before being seen in public without sleek hair, designer clothes, and impeccable make-up.

Skye was so…real. The love and care she obviously had for those children hit him straight in the solar plexus. Her job was a part of her, and she made a difference on a daily basis, with little thanks and fanfare. Every moment he spent with her had him craving more.

"Well, I'd say yes, this is a date. After all, you've passed the first two tests in my book."

He cocked his head, delighted. "What was the first?"

"Dug. When you got up to go, there was hair and slobber all over your pants and you didn't even flinch."

He laughed. "True. Sometimes love is messy. What's the second?"

"The pageant. You weren't just trying to impress me. You actually watched it."

"You mean men tried to put one over on you? Were they stupid?" he asked.

Her blue eyes sparkled. "Guess so. I can spot a faker a mile away."

"I'm glad, Skye. Because I can't imagine a man ever having to fake anything when he's with you."

She blinked, obviously startled. "Wow. Thank you." She fell into a short silence and he allowed her the space. After all, this thing between them was moving faster than either of them seemed able to understand. "It's weird. I haven't felt this connected in a long time. Yet, we hardly know each other."

His gut clenched into a tight ball. He was walking a dangerous line. He needed to tell her the truth of who he was, but he still needed more time. Time to let their relationship develop naturally, before the world intruded and tainted something pure.

He pushed down the panic and swore he'd tell her the truth soon.

"I think it's more about the connection," he said slowly. "I've spent weeks with some women and never even scratched the surface. But with you, I felt like one conversation opened up a whole other level between us. Am I wrong?"

She tilted her chin and met his gaze straight on. "No. But I want to know more about you."

Her naked honesty and vulnerability made his fingers shake around his fork. This woman was a treasure, and he couldn't lose her.

"What would you like to know?" he asked lightly.

She seemed to be deep in thought, wondering where to start. "You spoke about your family business, and it seems like you're trying to figure some things out. But are you close with your family?"

He wondered how to even try to explain his complicated relationship with his father. He rarely spoke to anyone about it, but right now, with her, he wanted to try. "My mother and I are close. I'm an only child, so I felt as if she treated me like a gift and my father looked at me as a responsibility."

A frown creased her brow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, let's just say after I was born, my father held me and declared his future rested on me. It was as if cares more about his legacy, rather than if I would want something different. Mom is more flexible, always saying happiness is different for everyone, and I have a responsibility to find what it is for me."

"They sound so different. Are they still together?"

He smiled. "Yeah, they are. They still seem very in love and there's a respect for each other I admire. I've seen my father cave to mom's wishes many times, so I know he has a soft spot. But I just don't know how they could differ so much and make it work. My mom loves working at the restaurant but she cares more about pleasing the customers she serves. Dad is focused on the big picture—with growth, profits, and success as the main goal."

"Hmm, sounds like they both want the same thing, they just go about it differently. Because a satisfied customer brings organic growth, but you also need to treat it as a business and not a charity. Maybe their distinct viewpoints make the relationship work as a whole, especially if they respect one another."

He liked the way she saw things in a new perspective. "Yeah, maybe you're right. What about your parents?"

"Both teachers. Both happily married. Both retired in Florida."

"Sounds nice."

"It is. I had a nice childhood with no big issues. I'm lucky."

"And you appreciate it. That makes all the difference."

"Maybe. Now, next question."

"Hit me."

"Your last name. I realized I don't even know it."

He tried not to stiffen. "Barone. Hunter Barone."

She nodded, the name obviously not causing any recognition. Slowly, his breath loosened. Good. Of course, he'd noticed there seemed to be no Pasta King chains this far north. They'd been concentrating on city and more populated regions, but with the growth in the Hudson Valley, Hunter believed it may be a good investment to begin expanding. Not that his father seemed interested at this point.

"I like it," she said. "It's a solid name."

"Thanks. My mother is English and my father is Italian."

"Yet, your mother likes to be in the kitchen and your father in the office?"

He grinned. "Yeah, quite a switch-up, huh? Mom has always loved to cook, ever since she was little. She said she was destined to marry an Italian man to make all her dreams come true."

"That's lovely."

"It is. But nothing is as beautiful as your name. Skye Summers." Her name spilled over his tongue like a melody. "It rings of joy.

Her face pinkened and he wished he could gaze at her all day long. "Ugh, I hated it so much in school. Gave me a cavity. I wanted to be called something badass like Brooklyn, or Raven or…Blaze."

He grinned. "Why can't I imagine you as a hell raiser?"

She wrinkled her nose and sighed. "Because I wasn't. I sucked as a hellion. I worried over breaking the rules or getting into trouble. I was boring."

"I doubt it. But if you're worried about your reputation, I think we should do something daring together. A badass activity you never did before. What do you say?"

Her eyes lit with intrigue. It took all his will power not to reach across the table, yank her into his arms, and kiss her senseless. "Really? Okay! But I can't be arrested or really break a law." She nibbled at her lower lip. "Since I'm a teacher, I can't get in real trouble."

"Understood. We'll be daring, not illegal."

"What should we do?" she asked with a touch of wonder.

His entire being softened. He reached out, took her hand, and kissed her palm. "Anything you want, sweetheart. As long as you take me with you."

They stared at one another for a long time, holding hands in the darkened restaurant, and he knew then nothing was ever going to be the same.

And Hunter knew he didn't want them to.