Chapter 33      

When Caroline received Moira’s texted request to help her deal with her makeup, she turned to give Andy and Danny the news.

“Moira needs help painting her face,” she said as the young boy zoomed around the room making airplane sounds. “I’ll be back in a while. Can you wait a little longer on the pizza?”

“Sure,” Andy said, picking up a few of Danny’s toys scattered in the corner. “Lucy might appreciate a little more time to touch up her photos. She’s been working nonstop to meet her deadline. I was surprised she wanted to leave her cave to meet Chase last night.”

“I know Moira was grateful,” Caroline said.

Everyone had been on pins and needles about Lucy taking off to Lebanon for a week to take photos for a calendar about Syrian refugees. The trip had been heartbreaking, according to Lucy, but well worth it. 

“Maybe you want family time, given how much Lucy has been working,” Caroline said.

Danny let his toy fall to his side and gave her a puzzled look. “You’re our family, Aunt Caroline.”

Andy kissed her on the cheek. “Yes, she is. She’s slow sometimes. Go help Moira. I’ll feed the munchkin a snack if I need to.”

“Great! See you later.”

She dashed to her car and drove to Moira’s house. There was a red Ferrari FF parked out front. Must be Evan. Only he would drive a car like that around Dare Valley.

Knocking on the door, she waited for her sister to answer. 

“Hi,” Moira said, opening it and welcoming her with a hug.

“You’re all dressed and made up,” Caroline said in a dry tone. “You look beautiful, in fact. I’m glad you took my advice on the navy dress, but am I missing something here? This hardly seems like a fashion SOS.”

Moira put her hands on her shoulders and led her into the house. “Yes. Don’t be mad. He’s very persuasive, and I like him. Okay, I’ve gotta run. Have fun.”

“What?” Caroline asked as she watched her sister grab her clutch and run out of the room. “Moira!”

“Hey, beautiful,” she heard a familiar voice say. 

She spun around to see J.T. standing in the doorway to the den. She felt a little light-headed suddenly, not only from the shock of seeing him, but also because he was wearing an Armani tuxedo. Glory, that man was gorgeous. “Oh my God! You’re here! Why are you here?”

His smile was so wide that a dimple appeared in his right cheek. “I was in Dare Valley last minute and couldn’t pass up the chance to see you. Thought it might be fun to surprise you. Moira thankfully agreed to help. How are you?”

“Ah…good. Fine. What…” She was babbling.

“I really need to greet you the Italian way,” he said, taking one step toward her. Two.

Her heart crested to aerobic levels, and when she caught a whiff of his musky cologne, she had to firm up the weakness in her knees.

The smile faded from his face. He put his hands on her shoulders and simply looked down at her. “I missed you.” Then he slowly kissed first her right cheek and then her left.

He surprised her by pulling her to him instead of stepping away. When he wrapped his arms around her, she found herself clutching him back. “I missed you too.”

He traced her spine with a finger, sending a frisson of desire racing through her. “I’m glad. I wondered if this was a dumb idea—showing up last minute for the fundraiser so I could see you.”

Leaning back to see his face, she was captivated by the intensity she saw there. “You used the fundraiser as an excuse to see me? I’m…” What the hell was she? “Flattered.”

“You should be,” he said grinning. “Even Trev assured me this move couldn’t be construed wrong.”

The full weight of his words settled over her, but instead of inflaming her fast-beating heart, it calmed it. “You couldn’t wait until after I saw the other paintings?”

He shook his head. “No. I realized something a few months ago—the knowledge came at a price, but it’s changed my life. You don’t wait on joy. And Caroline, for me, you are pure joy.”

Warmth exploded in her chest. “That’s…I’m…”

“If you say you’re flattered one more time…” He cupped her face. “Caroline.”

“What?” she asked, settling closer to his body.

“Nothing. Just Caroline. I’m going to kiss you. Last chance to divert me.”

She couldn’t help it. She laughed. “Divert you? I can’t imagine anyone doing that.”

His face grew serious. “You could. I mean it. Once I kiss you, I’m going to want to be with you. Today I set even more plans into motion to bring me stateside again. Which I will tell you about later, if that’s okay. I still want your help on the art front and with a whole bunch of other things, but mostly, I just want you.”

Her throat thickened, and she touched his face. They had details to work out, certainly, but although she was a detail-oriented person, she was content, for once, to let the details wait.

“Caroline Hale, where have you been all my life?”

He kissed her slowly at first, gently. Pressing his hand against the small of her back, he made her aware of how much he wanted her. Heat fanned out from the place he touched until she felt engulfed in a blissful fire. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and she opened her mouth to heaven.

When he finally leaned back, he was smiling. “Well…that was better than even my over-active imagination could conjure up.”

He’d been thinking about kissing her too? “I couldn’t agree more.”

Wrapping both arms around her, he rocked them in place. “Interested in being my date tonight?”

She linked her arms around his neck. “I’d love to, but your spontaneity has its limits. I don’t have a suitable dress.”

He made a raspberry sound with his mouth. “Is that your only concern? Give me some credit. My spontaneity has no limits. Come with me.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as he drew her into Moira’s dining room. She stopped short at the sight of a large golden dress box wrapped up with a giant red bow. “You didn’t. You couldn’t.”

“I did,” he said, picking up the box and holding it out to her. “Let’s consider this repayment for the dress I threw mud on.”

“How long have you really been planning on this?” She raised the top of the box and set it aside. “Are you sure you know my size?”

“I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks—since Rome. I called your sister earlier to ask her where you were before I left Denver. And please give me some fashion credit. I told you Rome has given me a taste for fashion. I know something about sizes.”

She parted the white tissue paper and gasped. The white strapless dress was dotted with gold crystals, and the fashion designer label boggled her mind. “Oh, my God! It’s beautiful! J.T., I’m…”

“Flattered?”

“Speechless,” she said, carefully drawing the dress out of the box and holding against her body. Sure enough, it looked like a perfect fit. “You’re…”

“Crazy?” he asked, grinning.

“Wonderful,” she said with a sigh. “But yes, this is a little crazy.”

He kissed her lightly on the mouth. “I told you before. Welcome to my world.”

Right now she couldn’t imagine anywhere else she’d rather be.