Chapter 26
HARPER
Cobbled streets are not designed for stilettos!
I shift my weight onto my toes to keep my footing, but I still find myself teetering like Bambi on ice.
Alex grips my elbow, keeping me upright as I lurch to one side.
“Thank you,” I say in a rush, my near fall and his close proximity stealing my breath. “Who would have thought that, in the city of chic, it’s almost impossible to walk in heels? I must be doing something wrong.”
I know I’m speaking fast, trying to lighten the mood.
Our hotel is at the top of the street. There’s not much further to go. Sidestepping, I try to put some distance between us, but the movement sends me stumbling again.
I grunt.
If I continue like this, I’m going to end up twisting an ankle or worse, and where will that leave me?
I stop, carefully making my way across the cobbled street towards the nearest building. I slip off my shoes, dangling them from my fingers, only to find Alex has stopped and is watching me.
“That’s better,” I say, with a smile.
Before I can take another step, my feet leave the ground, and I collide with something hard. A very broad, and very muscular male chest.
“Stop wriggling,” he says with a grunt.
“But I can walk,” I say, sliding my arms around his neck as he shifts his hold, pulling me more firmly against him.
“Not without shoes,” he says before I can protest any further. “You were about to step on a piece of glass.”
“Oh,” I say, relaxing into his hold as he strides up the street as if I weigh little more than my one-year-old nephew, Callum.
A twisted ankle or sliced foot, neither sounds very appealing.
We make it to the hotel entrance in silence. Alex lowers me to the ground, our bodies so close that I can feel the warmth emanating through his clothes. My hands hit his chest as I rebalance myself. Is it the wine, or his proximity, that is making my head swim?
“Thank you, kind sir,” I say, going up onto my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
He turns his head too quickly for me to pull back, and my lips clash with his.
We both freeze. Our mouths remain pressed together as our eyes lock.
I move my lips to apologise, only to realise they’re still pressed against his incredibly smooth, tempting mouth.
His pupils dilate, and my mind wanders back to Daphne and our conversation in the kitchen about Evelyn coming on to Alex.
Shit! What must he be thinking?
I pull back, my hand flying to my mouth. His eyes follow the movement before locking on mine.
“Shit, I’m so sorry,” I mumble.
Stepping back, I trip over the step behind me, my arms flailing as I try to right myself.
Alex reaches out, pulling me upright.
Spots dance across my vision, and I blink rapidly.
He reaches out with his other hand to steady me, but I dodge his touch. He doesn’t say anything, just stares, his eyes burning into me.
Humiliation floods through me, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Thank you for a lovely evening,” I say, staring at the floor as I continue to back up the steps.
“Brooke… I,” he says.
“See you in the morning,” I say, turning and sprinting into the lobby and up the stairs to our floor. I’m certainly not waiting for the elevator. That would complete my humiliation.
Making it upstairs in record time, I use my keycard and dart into my room, shutting the door firmly behind me. I stumble forward and faceplant onto the bed, screaming into the mattress as I flail my arms and legs.
Shit, shit, shit!
You have to ruin everything. The man was being nice and considerate, and you just had to take it one step too far. And do what? Kiss him?
What was I thinking? How will I look him in the eye tomorrow?
Rolling over, I stare at the ornate ceiling before pressing the heels of my palms into my eye sockets.
Crap!
Maybe someone will have spotted me tonight, and my cover is already blown.
Fuck, that’s the last thing I need.
No, I’ll just have to suck it up and hope I don’t end up with Evelyn in the secretarial pool by Monday.
Pushing myself off the bed, I make my way into the bathroom, running through my nighttime routine.
By the time I’m done, I’ve decided.
No comment. It never happened.
Even the gentlest touch of his lips against mine isn’t something I’m going to forget in a hurry. But who am I kidding? This is never going to happen again. There was no mistaking the look of horror in his eyes when he pulled me upright.
Back on the bed, I draw my knees up and drop my head into my hands.
I blame Rome. The romance of the city, its history, the people. But there’s no denying it, spending the night with Alex and his sister has had a profound effect on me. My heart lurches at the thought of my own family and how I want nothing more than to be held within the safety of their arms.
But tomorrow is another day. We fly home. Christmas is almost upon us. The office closes for over a week, so I won’t have to see Mr Tall, Dark and Broody. After that, night school begins in the new year. I just need to navigate that little hurdle with my protection team.