Chapter 19
Chapter 19
“ W ait, wait, wait,” Caroline stammered as the car sped off. “This doesn’t make any sense. Why would the owner of a luxury hotel be helping out a tiny wedding party like ours?”
“Lady Pembrey,” he responded, “is an old family friend. Her mother and mine went to the same university in England. Cambridge. She asked me to step in to help with the wedding.”
Caroline sat there in stunned silence. There was no way – there was simply no way that that horrible, vile, bigoted woman had stepped in and saved the day.
After all the complaining, the negativity and those awful things she’d said to the O’Briens… could Patricia really not be as terrible as everyone had thought?
A little while later, her thoughts were interrupted by the car jerking to a sudden stop.
“There,” Fabrizio called out, pointing to a girl dancing in the middle of a nearby side street.
It was Molly.
Caroline jumped out of the car and ran straight over to her best friend. “Molly Rose O’Brien,” she called out. “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
Molly just smiled, looking almost giddy.
“Caroline!” she cooed. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. How did you – ” She stopped when she saw Fabrizio standing by his car.
“Long story,” Caroline said curtly. “Where have you been? We had no idea where you’d gone. Ben’s been worried sick about you – literally.”
Molly squeezed Caroline’s hand in hers as they walked back towards Fabrizio’s car. “I went exploring,” she explained. “I hopped on a tram, got off completely randomly, and I kind of just stumbled upon this place. I have no idea where we are, but – Caroline, isn’t it wonderful? This is what Rome is all about - this was the city I wanted you to see.”
Molly was beaming with an enthusiasm Caroline hadn’t seen since their arrival.
She took a look around her for the first time. She had to admit, this area, wherever they were, had a certain authentic charm to it, possessing more of a true Italian feel to it than other more heavily commercialised areas of the city.
“Fabrizio,” she asked when they returned to the car, “where exactly are we?”
“Il Quartiere Coppedè ,” he said. “The Coppedè district. It is well-known for being more… erm… I am not sure of the English word… svariato … than any other district in Roma.”
“It’s wonderful,” Molly said dreamily. “But now I think maybe it’s time for me to get back.”
“To your groom I hope?” Fabrizio inquired.
Molly nodded. “Yes, I suppose so.” She turned to Caroline. “Is there any way I can have Ben’s parents banned from the ceremony?”
Caroline squeezed her friend’s hand again. “I don’t think so love,” she smiled. “But, listen… just leave everything to me. They’ll be on their best behaviour, I promise.”
“Fabrizio held open the car door. “After you, ladies,” he said.
When they reached the hotel, Molly gave Caroline another hug. “Listen,” she said, “I’m going to talk to Ben. I think we have some things to work out.”
“You’ve only got a few hours left ‘til your wedding, remember?” Caroline said. “Do talk to him. Explain it all, but don’t forget that you love him – and he loves you.”
Molly waved to Fabrizio as she walked away.
“Thanks for the lift,” she called.
“My pleasure,” he smiled, waving back.
Once Molly was gone, Caroline went over to the Italian and kissed him on the cheek.
“You might just have saved the day, Fabrizio,” she whispered. “Thank you for your help.”
She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him.
“ Signorina ,” he said, his dark eyes boring intensely into hers. “Caroline. I do these things for you because I find you fascinating. I do not normally meet women like you,” he continued.
Caroline trembled slightly despite herself. “Women like me?” she scoffed shakily. “You hardly know me.”
“Few women are willing to speak their minds the way you do,” he told her. “You are fearless and brave. You will tell people what you think whether they want to hear it or not. I… admire that.”
With that, he took her face in his large, olive-skinned hands, and brushed her hair off her face.
A moment passed between them that felt to Caroline like an eternity.
“I’m telling you, Fabrizio,” she said quickly, “I’m not—”
She didn’t get the opportunity to finish, because she suddenly found his face against hers, her lips locked with his.
It was the kind of kiss that made a person weak in the knees, long and serious, blissful and playful – and when it was over, left an impression.
One hell of an impression.
Caroline’s eyes were still closed when he broke away. “Fabrizio—” she murmured, momentarily awestruck.
“You see, signorina ?” he asked.
Caroline opened her eyes, realising what had just happened, and shook her head. “No,” she insisted quietly.
“No?”
“No,” she repeated. “No, no, no . I’m – I’m so not doing – this can’t – ” She began to back away from him.
“Caroline,” he pleaded, more intently.
“No, Fabrizio, look, thank you for helping me find Molly, but I –I have to – to go.” She walked backwards away from him unsteadily, almost in a daze. “I’m – I’m sorry. I— ”
Caroline didn’t say another word, but instead, turned her back on him and picked up speed until she was almost running to the lift, her mind racing.
Oh God , she thought, What in the world have I just done?