Chapter 10
Dylan leaned his head against the dingy wall of the Venice police station. Above him, posters reminded people to spay and neuter their animals, and to keep them out of hot cars in the summertime. The notices were dated and fraying.
I held my hand to my throbbing temple. It had been so stupid to get caught at the glass factory. Leo had told us one hour, but we’d lost track of the time. Being with Dylan, everything moved fast and slow at the same time.
Once our bodies touched, we were consumed by each other. All thoughts of consequence disappeared under the pressure of his mouth against mine, his body inside mine.
I massaged my temple a bit harder. I needed to focus on getting out of the police station and less on imagining his naked body hovering above me. In just a couple of days, I was sex-crazed.
At least, that is what part of me thought. Another part of me wondered if this is what I’d been missing all these years, sex so good it made me forget the time.
We should have been more careful, though, and I hoped Leo wouldn’t get into trouble. He had given us the key, after all, and I think we had finally convinced the security guards that we hadn’t stolen anything.
Just our luck, I didn’t know either of the security guards on the premises. They were new hires who commuted into Venice for the job. Carnival was the one time of year that knowing everyone in this town didn’t matter.
There were three million visitors on our streets, and for once, I was just a girl in the crowd. I hoped I could get to one of the police officers I did know tonight. There had to be a friendly face somewhere in this building. I needed to find a way out of here before my family got involved in this situation.
“They are being so slow,” I said.
Dylan reached over and patted my leg in a familiar way. “When do you suppose, these fellows are going to process us so we can get back into bed?” Dylan closed his eyes.
“Well, I need to sleep in my bed and you need to sleep in yours.”
“That is a terrible idea,” Dylan said.
“Aren’t you worried about getting arrested in Venice?” I asked.
“It’s not the worst thing that has ever happened to me.” He squinted, as if the fluorescent light pained him. “And may I remind you, it was worth it. Plus, these things have a way of working out. I can make some calls. Why don’t you let me fix this?”
“I am sure you can fix this for yourself,” I said, “but need I remind you, Mr. Street, I am not a billionaire or a famous musician?”
“Well, neither am I, anymore,” he said, eyebrows raised.
“So, I am not sure I want this on my record. You will have to excuse me for being worried.”
“Oh, I think you have more power in Venice than you realize, clever Bella,” Dylan said.
“I don’t even know what that means,” I said. “You are ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous and you like me,” he said, sighing. “Admit it.”
I sighed. I did like him. I liked him a lot. I also enjoyed the easy banter between us. It was flirty, energetic, and fun. I had never made love to a man who made me laugh this much. I had never fucked anyone three times in a row and come every time. Dylan was some kind of magic.
The door to the waiting area opened and my heart sank. It was Captain Angelo Camarda, the Chief of Police, a man close to my father’s age and one of his longtime friends. He had known me since I was a child. His son, Dante, was the legendary bad kisser from secondary school.
This was so embarrassing. Captain Camarda was a long-standing Venetian, which meant he was one of the many sitting in the pews of the San Polo Church when I’d hiked up my skirts and claimed the title of Venice’s most recent runaway bride.
Captain Camarda wasn’t a gossip. He was known for being tough as nails, and I did not consider him a friendly face. Stout and round with a shining, bald head, he stood in the doorway and sighed. Dark circles sagged beneath his eyes. He did not look pleased to see me.
“Isabella Uzano,” Angelo said, exhaling with a slight wheeze. “Come into my office, please.”
“Both of us, sir?” I said.
“No, my dear,” he said, smiling. “Just you, please. Just you.”
“See you, beautiful,” Dylan said, patting my leg one more time. “Don’t forget me.”
“SShhhh, be good,” I hissed, swatting his hand away and hoping Captain Camarda had not noticed his cheeky move.
I walked through the open door into Captain Camarda’s office. I could see Dylan on the folding chair right outside, his eyes closed again.
He looked like he was sleeping. How was that possible? I thought I might vomit, and Dylan looked like he had found a lovely, if awkward, place to nap.
Angelo nodded at the seat across from his desk. He sat down and sighed, his leather chair squeaking under the weight of his girth.
“I’m sorry, Captain Camarda,” I said. “Let me explain.”
He held up a hand to silence me. “No, please, don’t.” He rubbed his eyes. “Isabella, I have known you since you were a child. I know your father. I know your mother. I knew your sister. I was at your wedding.” He paused, and I wondered if this was for dramatic effect.
I cringed.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Things happen, my dear,” he said. “I don’t care who you marry or don’t marry. I don’t care who you spend time with.” He paused. “I have heard from the guards at the Lido Glass Factory.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, bracing myself.
He folded his hands and leaned across the leather ledger on his desk. “And I think it’s best that you remember to pick up your packages during business hours next time.” His words were slow and carefully worded. “Don’t you agree with me?”
He was handing me a lifeline, an excuse, a reason for being there after dark. I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t about to ask questions.
“Yes, of course,” I said, trying to sound normal, but convinced I sounded like a liar. I just wanted this conversation to be over so I could get out of here. “I should definitely pick up my packages during business hours like a normal person.”
“Like a normal person,” he said, rubbing the bridge of the nose. “Yes, that is right. You would save us all a lot of trouble. Going to the Lido Glass Factory after dark with a tourist is just asking for trouble.”
He waved at someone behind me and the door opened. In walked Leo with two Lido Glass Factory packages beautifully wrapped in white paper.
“Bella, darling,” Leo said, his eyes wide. He had a totally natural smile on his face. “I’m so sorry about this, Captain.” He turned and looked at me, his eyes focused. “I had the pieces wrapped, Bella. I know you wanted them for Carnival.”
“Carnival?” I asked.
Leo glared at me.
“Yes, Carnival, sorry, that Carnival,” I said, feeling like an idiot.
“As I explained when I called, Captain, this is my fault,” Leo said. “I had thought Bella could find the pieces easily, but they weren’t at the desk as expected.”
“Of course. Of course,” Captain Camarda said, his face weary. I was pretty sure he knew the whole package story was a lie. I could also tell that he didn’t care. He wanted us to wrap up and be gone.
“Well, if you must know,” Leo said with a dramatic wave. “I had a number of very large, lucrative pieces that I sold recently, and I knew that these pieces needed to go to the right buyer.”
“Leonardo,” Captain Camarda said, without missing a beat. “I appreciate the backstory, but I don’t want to know. I don’t care. It’s Carnival. I have ten extra men working shifts for the next week.
I have three million tourists roaming the streets. The phone is ringing off the hook with noise complaints, food complaints, ‘I lost my wallet,’ ‘I lost my dog,’ ‘I lost my girlfriend’ complaints. I am getting old and I would like to be home in bed asleep with my lovely wife, but here I am, talking to you two.”
“Oh, of course,” Leo said. “You don’t need to know, sir.”
“You understand,” Captain Camarda said, taking a moment to eyeball us both. “Finally, someone understands me.”
“Thank you,” I said, my heart racing. I had been imagining a night in jail, followed by embarrassing explanations to my family, and the prying eyes of Roberto. “Thank you, Captain. I am, we are, so appreciative.”
Captain Camarda raised a hand and pointed to the door. “You can go now,” he said. “Please, go. Go now before I change my mind.”
“Thank you. Thanks.” I stood up. Leo handed me one of the enormous packages he’d carried into the office.
“And Bella,” Captain Camarda said, “please, give your family my best.”
“Of course, sir.”
Captain Camarda stood and followed us to the door of his office. He looked at Dylan sleeping with his head against the wall. “Do I know him?” he asked.
“I don’t believe so,” I said quietly. Dylan was asleep.
“Was he in the same class with you and Dante?”
“God, no,” Leo said. “I mean, no, sir.”
“Huh,” Captain Camarda said. “All right. Good night.” He walked back into his office and closed the door.
I sighed with relief and gave Leo a look. “Let’s get him out of here.”
“How did he think that gorgeous creature went to school with you, me, and sloppy lips?”
“Don’t call his son ‘sloppy lips,’” I said, unable to contain my laugh. “We are lucky we got out of here.”
“One question,” Leo said. “Worth it? Huh?” He gave me a smile, his eyebrows dancing up and down.
“Worth it,” I said.
“David was supposed to call me,” said Leo, “but he had a bad signal. At least one of us got our rocks off tonight.”
“Yes, fine,” I said. “Now let’s wake him up and get out of here.”
Leo and I stood in front of Dylan. Leo tapped him on the knee. “Get up, gorgeous,” Leo said, grinning. “We’re free.”
“We’re done?” Dylan said, snapping awake, blinking. He looked around as if just remembering where he was. “Do we need to pay a fine? I have cash.”
“No. Time to go. Just walk,” I said, and without thinking, I took his hand and helped him to his feet.
The three of us left the glaring fluorescent lights of the station and stepped outside into a parking lot that backed onto the train station. On the other side of the station was the Grand Canal. This part of Venice was where the ordinary world collided with the magic of the inner streets.
“So, does someone want to explain to me how we got out of there?” Dylan said as we walked. We passed under a street light, a ghostly layer of fog hovering over the cobblestones.
“You just bought a lot of Murano glass.” Leo held up one of the Lido Glass Factory bags. He pointed to the other bag, which I was holding.
“I did? Well, that sounds perfect. I am assuming it’s very expensive.” Dylan grinned. “Let me hold that for you, Bella.” He dropped my hand and took the bag from me.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said. “I can carry it and you don’t need to buy it.”
“Yes, I do,” Dylan said as we rounded the corner of the train station. There were a few people on the steps outside, but it was practically empty. The trains wouldn’t start running again for a few hours.
“The way I see it, we had a lovely tour, and your friend has also selected some wonderful art and helped engineer our exit. I will carry it and I will buy it.”
“Thanks for noticing,” Leo said, pleased with himself. “I did engineer your exit, although Captain Camarda may have been on to us. He is still mad that you didn’t marry Dante, Bella.”
“Please,” I said. “No more talking of Dante.”
“Who is Dante?” Dylan said.
“You don’t want to know,” Leo said. “Nothing to worry about, by the way. Just a kid with terrible mouth and tongue coordination.”
“What does that mean?”
“A very bad kisser,” Leo said.
“Ignore him, please,” I said.
We walked down the marble steps of the station toward the Grand Canal.
“I’m amazed you pulled it off, Leo,” I said, exhaustion hitting me. The adrenaline of our evening was officially depleted. “Even if Camarda didn’t buy the whole story, you gave him a reason to send us home.”
We crossed the bridge over the Grand Canal and back into the narrow and cobblestoned streets of Venice.
“Well, if you must know,” Leo said, clearly enjoying the recap and his role in our escape. “I had to think fast. When the security guards alerted me about you intruders, I only had seconds to come up with a scenario to keep you out of trouble and keep my job.”
“Oh, Leo,” I said, hooking my arm into his as we walked toward the Campo Polo. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s all right. I kept my wits about me, and knowing you two enjoyed your private tour makes it all worthwhile.”
“Well, I’m still sorry,” I said. “We lost track of time.”
“I’m glad,” Leo said. “I’m glad someone had fun tonight, and honestly, I can return the packages in the morning.”
Leo turned to look at Dylan. “I needed a solid reason for you to be there tonight.”
“I’m keeping them,” Dylan said. “And I’m paying you triple for every piece.”
“You don’t even know what’s in the bags,” Leo said.
“It doesn’t matter. You work on commission?”
“I do,” Leo said.
“I have seen your work and I’ve seen what you sell in your gallery. It’s beautiful. Thank you for what you did tonight for Bella,” Dylan said. “I appreciate you looking out for her.” We kept walking in silence. I tried to ignore how much I liked the feeling of Dylan taking care of me.
Whatever started and ended in Venice, if I wanted to avoid another emotional breakdown that would land me in my bedroom for six months, I needed to take care of my heart.
We walked in silence. Leo and I led us to still quieter streets. It was close to three a.m., and most of the city was asleep, although every once in a while, we heard someone hooting and hollering. The bars and dance clubs had just closed, so there would be one more wave of chaos before the morning.
We were getting close to Leo’s house. I linked arms with him and leaned in, giving him a side hug as we walked. “You are simply the best,” I said.
“I wish David thought so,” he said.
“What?” I looked at him in shock. “What happened?”
“Nothing, it’s fine. Ignore me,” he said, shaking his head. “We had a call planned for tonight, a sexy call. He’s been traveling so much.”
“And you said he was busy.”
“I’m assuming he was busy,” Leo said. “He just didn’t call.”
“Damn,” I said.
“Yes, damn.” Leo sighed. “I’m sure it’s nothing, I don’t want to talk anymore about it. Tonight was wonderful. I want to focus on the positive.”
“Okay,” I said, softly.
Reaching Leo’s street, he kissed me on both cheeks. “Goodnight, Bella,” he said. “Goodnight, Dylan.”
Dylan and I stood side by side for a moment, watching my best friend leave. “Shall I walk you home now, clever Bella?” Dylan said.
“Yes. I need sleep.”
“In your own bed, and I in mine,” he said. “I would ask you to come back to the Mia Sorella with me, but I know you will say ‘no.’”
“Today, I will say ‘no.’ Ask me again tomorrow, and who knows?”
He gave me a wicked smile, and my resolve to go home wavered. That man had the ability to seduce me with a glance. I was going to have to start wearing blinders like carriage horses wear to avoid distraction in the parks.
I needed a night of sleep, and if two days of near-constant orgasms didn’t stop my insomnia, I had no idea what would. The thought made me giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Dylan said.
“Nothing.” I shrugged. “I just think that sex with you may be better than melatonin.”
“That is the weirdest compliment I have ever received.”
“Trust me, it’s a huge compliment,” I said.
“You know what else is huge?”
“Are you twelve?” I asked, laughing again.
We walked past the Mia Sorella to my parent’s palazzo. We stood outside the courtyard gate, our breath freezing in puffs, the sky dark, the stars bright.
In a few hours, the sky would melt into morning. Part of me didn’t want the night to be over.
“I’m sorry.” Dylan put down the packages and stepped toward me.
“About what?”
“Since I’ve met you, my family has come in to disrupt your business, and here we go, almost getting arrested.”
“Almost is the key,” I said. He stood so close. My body craved the sanctity of my bed, but it also craved him. “Besides, you now have some beautiful souvenirs of Venice.”
“So beautiful,” he said, looking at me. “A beautiful memory of Venice.”
“Yes,” I stood on tiptoes and gave him a gentle kiss. I knew if my lips lingered for one second longer, I would lose control. I turned on my toes, opened the gate, and walked across the courtyard and inside the front door of the palazzo.
“Goodnight,” I called over my shoulder.
“Goodnight, clever Bella.”
I closed the door behind me, leaning against the heavy wood for a moment. My eyes fluttered, but my body hummed alive with energy. I closed my eyes, thinking about Dylan just outside my door.
This gorgeous man had touched me in ways I had never imagined. My body lit up in places that had never known flame. The grief and loss of Roberto, the disapproval of my family, all of that pain faded when I thought of Dylan’s arms around me.
When I got to my room, I opened my curtains and saw Dylan pass in front of the fountain and turn toward the Mia Sorella. The white packages from the Lido Glass Factory stood out in the darkness.
Dylan stopped and turned to face my room. I wondered if he was thinking of me, too. Was he searching the dark, looking for my bedroom light?
He took a step toward our palazzo and stopped. My heart surged with desire. I was so tired, but a part of me wanted him to keep walking toward me. He turned back to toward the hotel.
I loved knowing that soon he would be upstairs in the Lover’s Suite, alone in bed, beneath the covers. I wondered if the room still smelled of me.
I stood at my window for a moment longer before crawling into bed. I closed my eyes and hoped I would dream of this man who I knew would change my life.