Free Passion Never Dies by Joy Tremay Page B

close?” asked Jake curiously.
    Diana nodded. “She was always my rock. My dad and I have had a turbulent relationship.”
    “I remember that night he showed up at the beach and nearly chewed me out.”
    Diana flushed at the memory.
    “I’m so sorry about that -”
    “No, don’t apologize,” Jake interrupted. “Any father would have done the same thing if he had found his daughter in a compromising situation.”
    Diana smiled. “I was so embarrassed that night.”
    Jake reached over to touch her cheek and caress it gently.
    “You were beautiful,” he said. “All innocently sweet but sexy.”
    Diana blushed under his warm gaze.
    The waiter approached them and took their orders. Jake ordered a seafood pasta platter and a bottle of red wine.
    “I’m glad you decided to come with me today,” Jake said after the waiter left.
    “You’re welcome. Thank you for inviting me. It’s not every day I leave the state for lunch.”
    Jake chuckled. “I’m just glad you didn’t faint when the plane took off.” He paused and said in an apologetic voice, “I’m sorry that it frightened you.”
    “It didn’t really,” Diana said lightly. “I’m just going to have to be braver if you intend to whisk me off to far-off destinations.”
    Jake laughed and said, “You bring out the adventurer in me.”
    “I bet you say that to all the girls,” she said, smiling.
    He frowned slightly and placed his hand over hers on the table.
    “Only you, Diana, only you.”
    Diana swallowed the sudden lump in her throat as she stared into his brilliant green eyes. She felt as though she was drowning in them and everything around her disappeared. It was just the two of them alone with the sun warming their bodies and his hand caressing hers.
    “I’m definitely going to need dessert after lunch,” he teased, breaking the spell.
    Diana blinked and licked her lips nervously. He was too mesmerizing and she was too vulnerable around him. She was going to have to be extremely careful with her emotions or she was going to be in danger of falling down the proverbial rabbit hole.
    “Like I said, you’ve already had dessert,” she quipped back as casually as she could.
    Jake smiled, “I know - but I want more, much more.”
    The waiter came back with their meals and poured some red wine into their glasses. Jake kept the rest of their conversation light and free of innuendo, which Diana appreciated, so she could concentrate on enjoying her meal. She did notice, however, that several women sitting close by them couldn’t help but give Jake interested, surreptitious glances now and then.
    Sitting back in his chair almost an hour later, Jake grinned widely as he watched Diana take one last bite of her pizza.
    “Good, wasn’t it?” he asked, a satisfied smile on his face.
    “It was,” she agreed. “I haven’t had pizza this good in a while.”
    “Then I’ll have to take you back here sometime.”
    Diana laughed, “Another plane ride for pizza?”
    Jake leaned forward and traced his finger down the side of her mouth. He gently swept away a trace of pizza sauce. She felt her mouth tingle at his gesture as he licked the pizza sauce from his fingertip sensuously.
    “Mmm,” he murmured, “so good.”
    Diana felt her breath hitch as she watched him and looked around to see other women watching him, too.
    “You have quite a fan base here,” she said, a little disgruntled.
    Jake looked around and smiled back at her boyishly.
    “The only one I care about is you.”
    Her heart did a somersault in her chest as she looked at his handsome face.
    “Well, thank you for the delicious meal and for the wonderful view.”
    “You’re welcome, Diana,” he said, the mischievous glint back in his eyes.
    The waiter came back and asked them if there was anything else they wanted. Jake shook his head and asked for the bill.
    “Did you want to order a dessert?” Diana asked.
    “That’s for later, sweetheart,” Jake said casually before winking