A sigh released from her lips. “You tell a good story. Why is this your favorite constellation?”
The night squeezed around them in a lover’s embrace. “Antares. The fifteenth brightest star in the night sky.”
“Yes, of course. It gets confused with Mars a lot because it’s red and a supergiant.”
“The heart of the scorpion. Completely badass and destined for doom.”
She twisted a bit to look up into his face. “Scientists say it’ll soon run out of fuel to burn, right?”
He nodded. “It’ll collapse and explode into a supernova. Whenever it happens, tomorrow or a hundred thousand years from now, it’ll be a sight to see.” Dalton gently stroked her hair away from her face. “You remind me of a Scorpio.”
“Alas, I’m just a simple Aquarius.”
“Bet if they did your chart you’d have Scorpio hidden everywhere.”
Her dark eyes lit up with mischief. “Please don’t tell me one of your lines to your many women is ‘What’s your sign, baby?’ ”
He winced. “Absolutely not. Do you think I’m an amateur?”
“No, you’re a master.”
“Exactly. I’d say something like this.” He paused, waggled his eyebrows, and gave her a lustful look. “Hey, baby, why don’t you let me read your chart so we can see if we’re written in the stars?”
She collapsed into laughter, punching him in the shoulder. “I’d pay to hear you say that line.”
“You just heard it for free. Plus, I don’t have many women. I have one woman.”
That statement shocked her just as much as him. They stared at each other, accepting the connection that tightened around them and demanded acquiescence. He cupped her cheeks, lowered his head, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Tracing the lines of her face, he smiled with sheer pleasure.
“For now,” she whispered.
He hesitated, struggling with his answer. “For now,” he repeated. He tucked her back against his chest, and they sat in silence.
“Dalton?”
Her voice held the tinges of sleep. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for being with me tonight.”
“Welcome.”
Her breath deepened, evened out, and she slept. He kept watch, holding her close, thinking about the future, staring up at the stars.
“My goodness. Don’t men take you to bed any longer, or is that too old-fashioned?”
Raven jumped off the couch. Streams of sunlight had replaced the night sky, and she blinked, shielding her face as she stared at someone on her doorstep.
“Aunt Penny!”
She launched into her aunt’s arms, hugging her with a fierce need that made Penny squeeze back just as hard. Her petite figure was deceiving—her aunt was solid and strong, and still lifted weights at the gym with the boys. Her signature scent of expensive floral perfume wrapped Raven in comfort.
Her gaze greedily took in the only family member who’d stepped in after her father passed. Aunt Penny was a mother figure for her, taking on a troubled young woman and doing her best while she managed a thriving career as one of the most prolific theater actresses in New York. Even in her sixties, her face was smooth and unlined, her dark eyes filled with animation and a worldly charm that never bored. Her chestnut hair was styled in a short, classy bob, and she wore her trademark outfit of black on black—always preferring not to fuss with her wardrobe and waste precious hours. She adored jewelry, and even now, in the early-morning hour, she dripped with bling—from her diamond earrings to her silver bangles and the jumbo heart-shaped pendant around her neck.
Raven finally stepped back, swallowing the lump of emotion lodged in her throat.
Her aunt’s gaze lasered in on the tall, muscled man who climbed off the couch and stretched. His bare chest was a work of art, the solid pec muscles, the gorgeous dusting of golden hair, and the tight eight-pack on display. They’d fallen asleep wrapped in a plush blanket and an embrace that shouldn’t have been so easy and comfortable.
Yet she genuinely liked him. Last night, he hadn’t tried to turn their encounter into sex, which was the easiest way to communicate. Instead, he’d talked to her, held her close, and told her stories about the stars. She felt trapped in a John Green novel, but she wasn’t sixteen and didn’t believe that type of all-consuming, all-encompassing love really existed.
Dalton approached her aunt with an easy, welcoming smile, offering his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Seems we fell asleep stargazing last night. I’m Dalton.”
Relieved he didn’t state his last name, just in case her aunt remembered, Raven held her breath while Aunt Penny studied him with a thorough, assessing gaze. Then she broke into a delighted smile. “No ‘ma’am’ is needed. ‘Penny’ will be fine. And it’s lovely to meet you, too, Dalton. It’s nice to know Raven finally found someone who appreciates astronomy. To me, it’s complete torture. Now, why don’t we go in so you can make me one of those horrid cups of coffee?”
Dalton laughed. “I’ll make it,” he said. “Then I’m going to get going so you can have some time together. I need to get to work.”
“Where do you work?” Aunt Penny asked.
“Construction,” Raven burst out. She’d tell her aunt later about Pierce Brothers. Dalton nodded, allowing her to answer. He pulled on his T-shirt and began making a fresh pot of coffee.
“Ah, no wonder you look fit. Muscles like that don’t come from a gym.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” Raven demanded, pulling out some fresh fruit and yogurt from the refrigerator. “I thought you were still in London.”
“I’m doing a brief stint on Broadway and decided to come visit for a few days. I wanted to surprise you.” Her dark eyes sparkled. “I guess I did.”
Dalton laughed with ease. “Actually, I think Raven will appreciate the company. She had a bit of an episode last night.”
“What do you mean? What happened?”
Raven set out some bowls and grabbed granola. “Just a gunman holding up the bar. It’s fine.”
“Didn’t you warn me you were emotional and overdramatic?” he asked.
Raven shrugged. “I am. Just not when someone threatens me or my bar.”
“Now you know why I’m kind of crazy about her,” Dalton said to her aunt.
“A gunman! Are you okay? Why didn’t you call? Oh, my Lord, are you okay?”
“Yes, Aunt Penny, everything’s fine, I swear.”
Dalton interrupted by pressing a short kiss to her mouth. Her lips tingled for more. His blue gaze delved deep. “Catch up with your aunt and I’ll check in later.”
“Okay.” Her voice came out all soft and wispy, like a starstruck teen’s. Ugh.
“It was nice to meet you, Penny.”
“You too, Dalton.”
The screen door banged behind him. Aunt Penny rested her index fingers together and regarded her with warning. “Sit down, young lady. Tell me everything and leave nothing out.”
Raven sighed, sat down, and began to talk.
An hour later, breakfast was finished and her aunt had relaxed, assured her niece had not only survived but thrived. They moved to the living room, and Aunt Penny tucked her legs underneath her. “Now, I want to hear about the hot shirtless guy.”
Raven laughed, curling up against a plump pillow across from her. “Funny you should ask. I kind of wanted to talk to you about him.”
“Uh-oh. I’ve seen that face before.” Her aunt shook her head. “Had that expression myself a few times. You falling for him?”
Raven squirmed. How was she going to explain such a complicated relationship? Still, she trusted Aunt Penny, who was one of the few who understood the heartbreak she’d suffered with her father’s death. They’d also shared an open, truthful communication that was the key to surviving her wild youth. She owed her aunt the truth.
“Yes. But Dalton is not just any guy. His full name is Dalton Pierce.”
Her aunt tilted her head, frowning. “Pierce? Wait a minute—why does that name seem familiar?”