Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
I woke with a start, snapping my eyes open. But the next thing I saw had me smiling like a silly schoolgirl. Roman was at my side, curled toward me, totally naked, and looking right at me.
He smiled. “I wondered when you’d wake up.”
A flood of warmth washed through me at how his eyes captured my gaze. “Good morning.”
“Did you sleep well?”
I nodded. “Probably the best sleep of my life.”
Our pillows were lined up beneath the window and the sun was streaming in, shining on our bodies. His olive skin was stunning in this golden glow. My pale flesh not so much. The view beyond the window would be incredible, but it was the view in this bed that had my heart thumping.
I wanted to pinch myself. Never in my wildest dreams had I expected my plan to work out so well. I couldn’t wait to tell Zali. “Oh, shit.”
“What?” Roman’s eyes bulged.
“I promised Zali I’d message her when I found you.”
He grinned. “Grab your phone. ”
Slipping out of bed, I was torn between stupidly trying to cover my ass with my hand and striding over like prancing about butt naked was something I did every day. Opting for the latter, my flesh tingled like I was in an ice bath as I dashed across his bedroom.
I grabbed my phone and my tits swung like giant pendulums as I returned to Roman, and unlike just about every other time we’d been together, he didn’t drag his eyes from them. His expression confirmed he liked what he saw. Yay me. Yay Roman.
Slipping back into the bed, he rolled me onto my side and wriggled closer to my back so we were spooning. Our flesh molded together, warm and delightful.
Roman curled his arm beneath my breasts, snuggled closer, and placed his chin on my shoulder so he could see what I was doing. “Take a selfie.”
“Oh, okay.” I fumbled with the phone, trying to work out how to take the photo with one hand.
Roman chuckled. “What’re you doing?”
“Trying to take a photo.”
“Here, give it to me.” He held the phone, captured the two of us smiling, and clicked several photos. Then with him kissing my cheek, he took another. My heart swelled to bursting point.
That last photo was the one I sent to Zali.
My phone buzzed just a second later with a text.
Yay, about time you two got your shit together. Hi, Roman. Nice to meet you
“Let her know I said hi and that I look forward to meeting her in person one day.”
I sent the text to Zali.
You better look after my girl. She’s been through some shit
Roman kissed my shoulder. “Tell her I promise to look after Daisy forever.”
My thumping heart pounded like a battle drum as I tapped out the message.
But just seconds later, sadness washed over me like a hideous stain. In less than a month, I had to get out of Europe.
I put the phone aside and rolled toward him, placing my hand on his cheek. “We need to talk.”
“We sure do. You promised to tell me all about your mom.”
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “I will.”
He leaned forward and kissed me. It was a quick kiss, but it was spontaneous and fun and lovely. My heart squeezed. I wanted this. I wanted him. I wanted it all so bad and yet . . . “Roman, I want us to be together too, but?—”
“No, Daisy, there are no buts.”
“There is and it’s a huge one. I can’t stay in Europe.”
He blinked at me. The intensity in his eyes proved that he hadn’t really thought this through.
“I told you. My visa expires soon, and I have to leave.”
He shrugged. “Then I’ll come with you.”
I jerked back. “No, Roman. I can’t take you from your family.”
“You’re not taking me from them.”
“I’ve seen how you are together; I won’t ruin it.”
“Dais, all my sisters have left at one time or another.”
“Yes, but they were gone just for a holiday, nothing permanent.”
A knock on the door had me wrestling to cover my boobs .
“ Buongiorno, Roman, la colazione è quasi pronta .” Mamma spoke through the door.
“ Grazie, Mamma. Saremo presto a terra .”
Roman wobbled his head and winked at me. “Mom has breakfast ready.”
“Oh, okay. I was hoping to have a shower, freshen up.”
“You look fresh to me.” He squeezed my boob.
Giggling, I slapped his hand away. “Hey.”
“I’ve been dying to do that for weeks.”
I squinted at him. “You’re sneaky, you know?”
“What? Why?”
“Because I had no idea you liked me.”
His eyes softened. “I didn’t just like you, Dais; I was falling in love with you. But I had to be sure. I didn’t want . . .” He paused, curling his eyes to the ceiling as if trying to find the right words to say. “I needed to be sure.”
I knew exactly what he meant. It was the reason why I’d traveled thousands of miles. I also needed to be sure. “And?”
A beautiful smile lit up his face. “I’m one hundred percent sure. Two hundred percent.”
I smiled even as a lump choked up my throat. But his words were a double-edged sword. On one hand it was everything I wanted, on the other, it may be very short-lived.
He slapped my hip. “Come on. You don’t want to keep Mamma waiting.”
“But—”
“No buts.” He rolled me toward the edge of the bed and slapped my ass.
“Hey. You’re bossy.” Standing again, I studied the spectacular view beyond the double windows that dominated one wall of his bedroom. The morning sunshine streamed in, warming my body. I could happily wake up like this every single day of my life.
Oh, God. What am I going to do ?
Roman stood and every rotten thought whizzing through my brain evaporated at the sight of him. Holy hotcakes. Kill me now.
He pulled on sweatpants, tugging at the drawstring. They hung low on his belly, revealing just enough of that ‘V’ muscle to have my girly bits singing.
Lordy, lordy . Maybe I actually was in heaven.
Nah . Not after all the naughty things I’d done. This was every bit real.
“I’ll go see just how close Mamma is.” He kissed my cheek and trotted out the door.
I too dressed in track pants and a plaid shirt and made my way out the door to the bathroom.
After a shower that was way too quick for my liking, we were seated at the dining table with Roman’s parents. It was nothing like the chaos from the previous night. But it was just as pleasant.
Conversation flowed via Roman’s translations, and I kicked myself once again for not learning Italian during my years in Europe. I would though. It’s going right to the top of my to-do list.
It was Sunday, and according to Papà, Sunday was for rest, reading, and catching up on any sport he’d missed during the week.
Roman however, planned on taking me fishing. A new first for me.
After breakfast and a huge hug with Mamma, we returned to his bedroom, dressed in warmer clothes, and with him holding my hand, we headed out the front door and toward the marina.
Roman waved at anybody he saw, and I waved too. During my whole life, I’d preferred to hide under the radar. Slinking into the shadows was my thing. Not now though—not with a sexy hunk holding my hand and an entire Italian town seeming happy for us.
The breeze coming off the ocean was slight but very cool like it’d come straight from an iceberg. I tucked my scarf tighter around my neck and tugged a pair of gloves that Roman had found for me onto my fingers. I would’ve been shivering if it wasn’t for the sunshine glistening off the aquamarine ocean. Only a couple of cotton-ball clouds in the distance dotted the perfect blue sky.
At the marina, we skirted around to the left and walked along a wooden pontoon that, based on the weathered gray timber and rusted bolts, looked to have been here for decades. Halfway along, Roman jumped into a small boat, put the bag and icebox he’d been carrying into the front, and reached up for my hand.
I climbed in and sat where he indicated.
He fiddled around with ropes and the motor, and every time he bent over, I was treated to another view of his sexy butt.
I could get used to this fishing thing very quickly.
The engine roared to life, and the wind whipped through my hair and my boobs bounced onto my knees as Roman guided the boat over the tiny waves and headed out to sea.
As we cruised parallel to the shore, I studied all the colorful homes. It was hard to believe I was here. Seven days ago, I was in Sydney, fighting with my mother.
Now I was in Manarola—a tiny Italian town where everybody knew everybody. I’d never had a place I’d called home. Never. Yet the instant I’d walked into Roman’s home and met his family, I’d felt like I’d found the place I wanted to spend the rest of my life.
And with Roman at my side, I feel so complete. So whole.
Life did not get any better than this.
The boat hit a wave and my tits slammed into my chin.
Laughter erupted from the back of the boat, and I turned to Roman. His grin was truly spectacular. I wanted to pinch myself. How was this even happening?
How did I deserve this?
Soon there were no more houses to see, just high cliffs with jagged rocks at the base and gnarly vegetation clinging to whatever they could. But after ten or so minutes, we came to another town, and I recognized the marina. “Hey, that’s Riomaggiore.”
He looked at me quizzically and I realized I hadn’t told him I’d spent the night there before I met him. We still had so much to talk about.
We cruised right on past the hillside town, continuing our course following the shoreline.
After a while, he slowed the engine again and leaned over the side. “Dais, check this out.”
I fell to my knees next to him and we peered into the water. I gasped. “A boat. When did it sink?”
“Back in 2011. It would cost too much to salvage it. When it’s warmer, we’ll swim down to it. You can go right inside. It’s fun.”
I frowned at him, shaking my head.
“What?”
I sat back on my heels and blinked at him. “Roman, I won’t be here when it’s warmer. Remember?”
He cleared his throat and nodded, but I could tell he was rolling something around his brain. It was like he was in denial. But this was not something that was going away.
“Back on your seat, babe. We’ve got a little farther to go.”
Babe. I loved the sound of that.
He ramped up the engine and I tugged the scarf around my neck again, trying to keep the cool breeze off my chest. Roman traversed a point that jutted out like a crooked finger and hugging close to shore, we traveled for about another fifteen minutes before he slowed again .
“Have a look.” He indicated over the side again, and as I stared into the pristine blue water, I saw another sunken boat, and another, and another.
“Wow, what happened?”
He shrugged. “There are over sixty boats down there. People are reckless and stupid. They see a pretty place to stop and get distracted. Every year another one goes down around here.”
“Well as long as it’s not ours.”
“Not a chance.”
He got moving again and we passed yet another rocky point, and then Roman aimed for a narrow valley. Cliffs towered on either side and ahead of us was a tiny rocky beach.
“Hang on, babe.”
I gripped onto the seat, and he drove the boat right onto the gravel, swapping the noise of the engine with the crunch of tiny rocks beneath the metal.
He jumped out and reached for my hand. “We’re here.”
I frowned. “Here?”
“Yes. Our own private beach.”
“I thought we were going fishing.”
“Maybe we will.” His grin was cheeky and perfect.
My feet crunched across the rocks as I stepped back, letting Roman secure the boat in position.
The spot was very secluded. Giant cliffs towered above us on all three sides, creating a natural windbreak. The only way in was via boat. With the sun streaming into our little beach, and the wind gone, it was quiet and lovely.
Roman unzipped the bag he’d brought and tugged a blanket free. He billowed it out and laid it onto the sand. As he set about placing one thing after the next onto the rug, my brain slammed straight to Luca and our little picnic. Clenching my fists, I fought to scrape that memory from my head.
Stay in the now, Daisy.
When Roman finally turned to me, absolutely beaming, I was so in the now.
“Your picnic, madam.”
I curtsied. “Why thank you, sir.”
We sat on the blanket, and it took a little bit of wriggling around to get comfortable on top of the tiny rocks.
Roman poured us a coffee each from a hot thermos he’d brought along. Then he opened a Tupperware dish and held it toward me. “Would you like one of Mamma’s treats?”
The container had a selection of cakes and cookies that looked delicious. It was so hard to choose, but finally I decided on the caprese cake that was studded with almonds and dusted with icing sugar.
Roman chose the huge slice of Italian cream cake.
I nestled my coffee onto a breadboard, ready to eat my cake. “This is so nice.”
“I thought you’d like it here. We had to get away from Mamma—she’ll never leave us alone. You’ll need to get used to that.”
Again, he was talking like I was going to stay. I took a bite of my cake. It was tasty and moist, but my rotten situation was making it bitter.
“So, Dais, I know you won’t want to ruin this, but did you want to tell me about your mom?”
“No.”
He cocked his head.
We had so many things we needed to talk about, and that was the last of the ones on my agenda. But as we drank the steaming coffee and munched our way through a couple of treats in one of the most picturesque settings in the world, I told Roman all about my visit to the hospital to see my dying mother. Telling him about Rob and the necklace and the robbery and the police . . . all that was easy in comparison to what Mother did.
He remained mostly silent as I relayed the entire rotten story. After meeting his family, I wondered how he felt about me abandoning Mother when she needed me the most.
What did that say about me?
Oh, God. I’d never even thought of the consequences of that. I had to ask. “I hope you understand. After what she did, I just couldn’t see her again. For years she was so selfish that she’d compromised my safety to be with a man?—”
Roman leaned forward, clutched my cheeks, and kissed me. He pulled back. “It’s okay. Stop worrying. I understand why you left. Just because someone is your blood relative, doesn’t mean you have to love them. And being family doesn’t give you the right to abuse it.”
Nodding as relief flooded through me, I squeezed his hand.
“Like any relationship, the strength of a family bond relies on trust and honesty, and mutual respect. Your mother didn’t offer any one of those.”
“The only reason she wanted me there was so she wouldn’t be alone at the end. I . . .” I shook my head, hardly able to believe I was getting emotional. “I denied her of her dying wish.”
He shuffled over and tugged me to his chest. “Your mother broke every rule of love. That’s why she was alone.”
As we sat in the glorious sunshine, Roman allowed me my little moment of sorrow. But when I realized that once again, Mother was ruining something special, I sucked in a shaky breath and pulled back.
Looking into his stunning eyes, I shrugged. “So, there you go. I had a mother who was selfish in every way, and the man who pretended to be my father was a criminal, and I’ll never know who my real dad is. How do you feel now about getting involved with me?”
“Where you came from is not what matters, Daisy. We all have baggage in our past. It’s what you do now and in the future that matters.”
“Right.” I nodded. “Well said. You sound just like Zali.”
He grinned. “I like the sound of that.” He raised his cup and clinked our coffees together. “So now that you’ve told me about your family, there’s something you should know about mine.”
He was so serious that dread formed in my chest. “Okay.”
He reached into the ice cooler and plucked out a long, narrow bottle filled with a yellow liquid. “If you are going to be part of my family, you need to get used to Dad’s limoncello.”
I laughed; my heart skipped a beat. Part of his family? Oh my god. Did he really mean that? Mentally, I did the happiest happy dance possible. He poured the vibrant-colored liquid into a flute and handed it to me.
He filled a glass for himself, and when he turned to me the sun captured in his eyes, highlighting his honey irises in a way that made my breath catch. Sitting in this beautiful alcove with my Italian hunk was everything a picnic should be—relaxing and calming and utterly perfect.
We clinked our glasses together, but when I sipped, the bitter liquid stung at my tongue and burned my throat. I chugged back the blazing fire.
He nodded at me. “What do you think?”
I swallowed, hoping my voice was still possible. “It’s nice.”
He burst out laughing. “I saw your reaction. You hated it.”
“I didn’t hate it.”
“Dais, if it’s the only thing you ever do for me. I want you to be honest. Okay?”
Wow, that came out of nowhere. But it was so important. If I’d learned anything in my lifetime about relationships, honesty was king.
But passion was queen. When he ran his tongue over his lips, it took all my might not to tear my clothes off and wobble my boobs in his face.
Roman tossed back the rest of his drink, put the glass into the cooler, and without warning, he lifted his jumper and T-shirt over his head.
Maybe he’d read my mind.
He leaned back with his arm behind his head and the sun glistening off his rippling abs.
How on earth could a girl concentrate with all that glorious flesh on display?
I took another tentative sip of the limoncello and fought the scowl forming on my face. “Okay, you want honesty? This”—I held up the glass—“is a little nasty. But it’s drinkable. Didn’t you say you and your father made it together?”
He started talking and I thought he was explaining how they made it, or he could have been talking about how to gut a fish or something, but it was impossible to focus with him looking all sexy like that.
“Shush.” I stopped him mid-sentence. “How can I concentrate with you like that?”
“What?” He looked down at his chest, feigning confusion.
“You, half-naked.”
“Hmmm, well you could even that up.”
If that was a challenge, he had no idea who he was messing with. I whipped my shirt over my head and as much as I’d taken extreme care in choosing my underwear for today, I wanted it off. I unclipped my bra and tossed it at him. It landed across his nose, but the cups were so fucking big, he couldn’t see.
Roman kept it there as he belted out a hearty laugh.
Capitalizing on the impromptu show while he was unable to see, I whipped off my shoes and socks and stripped naked. I straddled his chest.
His hands reached for my waist, and he gasped. “What’re you doing?”
I tugged my bra off his face. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m nudie sunbathing.”
He cupped both my breasts in his hands. “Crazy woman.”
I laughed along with him. “I told you I was.”
He reached for me. I reached for him. Our lips met and we kissed.
Our kiss was perfect, soft and gentle yet loaded with meaning. He squeezed my breasts and tweaked my nipples and I, in turn, lowered my hand to between his legs feeling the bulge already forming.
When I sat back up with my hands on his pecs, our eyes met. The intensity in his irises had my insides melting.
For the first time in my life, I had no baggage. I felt so free. Alive.
“You do drive me crazy, Daisy. Ha, that’s what I’ll call you . . . Crazy Daisy.”
I slapped his chest. “Oh, you’re hilarious.”
“You’re the one who’s hilarious. You make me laugh. Do you know how special that is?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “And you frustrate the shit out of me.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“But that’s a good thing too. Mamma thinks you are the best thing since ravioli and my sisters think you are way too good for me.”
I burst out laughing, not sure how to react to all of that. “But they’ve only known me for about six hours.”
“I’ve been talking about you for months.”
I still couldn’t comprehend that. Leaning forward, I kissed him. But soon the kisses grew from sweet and tender to as hot as the sun casting its rays over us. I forced my tongue into his mouth, tasting him. His hands squeezed my ass that was out on display for the whole world to see.
In a flash, he stripped naked, and I admired Roman’s mighty erection—good Lord.
For months, I’d been trying to picture Roman’s package. Oh my god, none of my daydreaming did him justice. And out here in the glorious sunshine it was even more heavenly.
Our sheltered beach had no waves, just a gentle ebb and flow as the wind moved the water and it was just like us, moving together in perfect harmony.
We made love right there on the shore. Out in the open, we were so free. No tangled sheets. No constrictive clothing. No worrying that someone would hear us.
We were as one, and united we cried out, reaching our climax at the same time.
I fell onto his chest, panting, and as he glided his fingers up and down my back, I closed my eyes, inhaled the salty air, and thanked the Universe for giving me my wish.
Making love with Roman on that beach was one of the most incredible moments of my life. Hopefully the first of many, many more to come.
Eventually, when we left the hideaway, I rode a wave of euphoria as we cruised over the aquamarine water back to the marina.
But as we neared Manarola, concern once again barreled through me like a tsunami. Yet again, we hadn’t discussed what we were going to do when I had to leave Europe. By the time he tied the boat up at the jetty, the mind-blowing euphoria that’d enamored me on our secluded beach was long gone.
That afternoon, Roman asked me to do something that was so far from my wish list that it had my gut clenching enough that I thought I’d throw up.
He wanted me to join his family in attending a funeral.
When we started our trek up the massive hill where the church was positioned, I nearly did throw up. But I fought it back. Mamma and Papà and just about all of his family were with us. And while they all talked during the hike, I could barely breathe. Clearly, they’d had plenty of practice climbing this hill. Our journey took us through many back alleys that had their fair share of what looked like stray cats, and around every corner was another spectacular view and yet another path to climb.
Roman must’ve noticed that I was struggling to breathe, let alone speak because he refrained from talking to me for the last part of the climb. There was a god.
At the top of the very steep hill was Chiesa di San Lorenzo, a small fourteenth-century church with Gothic facades. Normally, I’d want to go straight in and explore such a beautiful ancient building. But not right now, not when just standing was an issue.
Easing to the side of the church so no one could see me, I sucked air into my lungs. And through my blurry vision, I tried to enjoy the spectacular view overlooking the red-tiled roofs of the colorful Manarola homes and the dazzling sea beyond that stretched all the way to the horizon.
Roman’s hand caressed my lower back. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Just very unfit.”
He wriggled his brows. “You seemed pretty fit to me earlier.”
I slapped his arm, giggling. “Shush.”
He chuckled. “I’ll take you to the cemetery one day. It’s up even higher, but trust me, it’s worth it. ”
I glared at him. Once again, he was talking like we had all the time in the world to be together.
The church was situated on a little paved piazzale, and several dozen people were milling around all dressed in black and looking somber.
I’d never been to a funeral before, and I didn’t want to be at this one now. I’d expressed my hesitance right from the moment Roman had asked me to join the family in sending off the elderly woman who had been, according to Roman, the town’s only spinster who had made it her mission to know everyone’s secrets.
When the guests started moving inside, Roman clutched my hand and we strolled through the giant wooden front door together. The church was quaint and simple. A man whose back was curved over so badly that his perpetual view must be of his own feet, was playing a beautiful melody on the piano-organ.
We strolled over checkered marble tiles, and Roman and his family began sitting in the front four rows of pews.
I’d been in many, many churches in my life, but for each one of those visits I’d been either a tourist or a tour leader, so I’d been observing the architecture or stunning artwork. Now my focus was on the people around me. Roman sat at my side, our thighs touching, and held my hand with our fingers interwoven. On my other side sat Donatella, looking regal and as beautiful as ever.
A young girl dressed in a simple yellow dress with white flowers dotted along the hem stood at the front, and without any announcement she began singing.
Her voice was so beautiful and soulful. I imagined an angel would sing like her. Although I couldn’t understand a single word she sang, the melody had tears prickling my eyes. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my cheeks, and I was trying my best to discreetly flick them away.
When Roman’s sister reached for my other hand and squeezed my palm to hers, my tears truly flowed. Closing my eyes, my thoughts shifted to my mother, but I didn’t see the gaunt figure who was bedbound in the hospital. I saw a beautiful smiling young girl with her baby sister. I pictured them in their colorful dresses, holding hands and running through a grassy field dotted with white flowers.
I sighed, long and deep, knowing that Mother had finally found peace with Lily, her little sister.
A huge weight lifted from my heart as I realized that not only had my mother found peace, but I was at peace with her too.