Chapter 40
KATE
I’m wearing a dress that costs more than my rent. It was delivered to my front door early this morning, along with a pair of shoes, earrings, and a clutch.
Mel was screaming bloody murder when I FaceTimed her to show her. She’s convinced me that the diamonds are real. I’ve never owned a diamond in my life, but now two of them are dripping from my ears.
The dusty rose gown is floor length, with a sheer layer covering the silk underneath. It has a built in corset bodice that somehow fits me like it was custom made. The leg slit makes it easier to walk. The heels are cream white. They’re not too high and the chunky heel is surprisingly comfortable.
There’s a gentle knock on the lavatory of the private plane. I pucker my lips in the mirror, checking the back of my up-do one last time before opening the door.
Luke is standing there in a navy Armani suit. He has a pink rose pinned to the breast pocket. His eyes trail from the top of my head down to my toes, leaving a trail of awareness on my skin.
He licks his lips. “Breathtaking.”
He extends his elbow to me. “Are you ready for dinner?”
I nod, reaching out to loop my arm through his. When he leads me out of the plane onto the tarmac, the sun is bright. There’s a black SUV waiting for us. Luke opens the back door for me before going around to his side and getting in.
“Ciao, Mr. Bradshaw. The Vonna Emilia, yes?”
“Yes, Enzo. Thanks for picking us up. This is Kate. How’s your mother?”
“Hello, Kate! Oh, she is still kicking. Takes a walk down to the water every morning with her little chihuahua.”
“That’s great to hear. Tell her I said hello.”
As we drive, the incredible scenery stretches before us. I gape at the beautiful city of Amalfi. I’ve had this place on my Pinterest board since I was in Junior high. Luke reaches his hand over to interlace his fingers with mine.
“I’m starving,” he whispers in my ear.
I nod, too overwhelmed to respond right now. When the car pulls up in front of the Vonna Emilia restaurant, I can barely believe my eyes. Green vines are growing up around the stone pillars, and the arch with double doors looks like something out of a fairy tale.
Luke shakes Enzo’s hand before exiting the car. He comes around my side to open mine for me.
He smiles, his eyes twinkling. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I feel like I’m inside a dream.”
He wraps my hand around the inner corner of his elbow, leaning down to brush his lips over my ear. “Better get used to that feeling, Cabernet.”
The hostess greets us with a smile. She doesn’t even ask us who we are before leading us out a side door that doesn’t even seem to be a part of the restaurant. We go down a cobblestone path before reaching an iron set of circular stairs.
Luke allows me to go up ahead of him. As I reach the top of the stairway, my breath gets caught in my throat when I see the view.
The stunning Amalfi coast stretches before me, with colorful buildings lined up on the side of the mountain and the skyline dotted with sailboats. The sun is dipping behind the turquoise horizon, painting the sky a pink and orange gradient. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life.
Luke grabs my hand again, tugging me toward the single two-person table on the balcony.
We’re on the roof of the restaurant, completely alone aside from a small firepit with a low flame in it and the white-tablecloth covered circle table and two chairs.
On the table there’s already two champagne flutes, and next to it a wine cooling bucket on a stand beside it with a bottle of champagne already in it.
“Champagne?” She asks.
“Please,” Luke says while pulling out the wooden chair for me.
I take the seat, releasing a slow exhale in an attempt to calm down my thundering heart rate. The hostess pours us each a glass of champagne before exiting. Violin music from the level below where other patrons are seated is floating up to us. It’s beautifully elegant.
Luke sits across from me. He pulls out his cell phone and snaps a photo of me staring out at the ocean.
“I’ve been needing a new screen saver for my phone,” he says before pocketing the device.
I reach across the table, grabbing his fingers.
“Thank you for bringing me here. This is . . . a dream come true.” Emotion is building in the back of my throat.
He lifts his glass to mine, clinking the rims together. “To many more sunset dinners, in all the places you’ve only ever dreamed about.”
I laugh, tipping the edge of the glass over my lips. “Okay, but I need to bring a sketch book and my colored pencils with me to draw it next time.”
A man in a suit comes up the stairs with a glass bottle filled with water and two glass cups. He has an impressive handlebar mustache.
“I’m so pleased you’ve finally given us another visit, Mr. Bradshaw. And you’ve brought a lady friend! Hello, my dear, I’m Andre. You’re enjoying the view, yes?”
I nod. “Oh, yes. It’s breathtaking. I wish I could sleep up here in a hammock.”
He smiles, filling each of the water glasses for us. “Shall I give you an overview of the special tonight?”
Luke nods. “Before you do, is the rooftop available tomorrow night?”
Andre nods. “It’s always available to you, Mr. Bradshaw.”
“Great. We’ll need it set up with a sketchpad and colored pencils. Don’t bother telling us the specials. We’ll just try one of everything.”
I sigh, taking another slow sip of my champagne. Andre bows and leaves us alone. Luke extends a hand.
“Dance with me?”
I take it, letting him guide me over to the space beside the firepit. He pulls me close, guiding my hands up around his neck before resting his around my lower back.
“Have I mentioned that you look stunning this evening?” He mumbles, pressing his forehead to mine.
“I think you did, yes.”
“I’m still getting used to this.”
“To what?”
“Not looking over my shoulder, waiting for an attacker.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s hard to adjust back to feeling safe and living a normal life after all that.”
He reaches up to trace his thumb around my lips. “You make it easier. Being with you makes me feel . . . calm and normal. You keep me grounded, reminding me what it feels like to enjoy life again. I didn’t enjoy life for a very long time, before I met you.”
I study the flecks of gold in his eyes, tilting my head back. “Good. I like being with you too.”
He kisses me then, lips softly pressing to mine as we sway back and forth. He presses his hips into me, our bodies flush. I’m gasping when he finally pulls back, his gaze growing heated.
“I invited Fallon and Garrison to lunch tomorrow.”
My eyes widen with surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah, we’ll take the yacht out so you can see the coast from the water.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. God, I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Luke.”