Chapter 50
SAMMIE
‘What made you want to come here again?’ I asked as Stella and I walked from Brighton station towards the beach.
‘I thought it’d be nice!’ Stella replied. ‘And I know you’ve been missing the sea since you got back from Italy, so I reckoned this would help.’
‘Hon, I love Brighton beach as much as the next person, but it’s nothing like the ones in Italy.’
I sighed as I remembered the conversation I’d had with Romeo’s mum, Linda, when I’d said the crystal-clear waters couldn’t compare to the murky greenish-blue sea here.
It wasn’t just the beaches I missed about Italy. It was Romeo.
I was so looking forward to video calling him yesterday like we’d planned earlier in the week. But when I’d messaged to ask when would be a good time and he’d asked if we could speak today instead, my heart sank.
At least spending time with Stella would take my mind off it and by the time we got the train back to London tonight there wouldn’t be long to wait until we could chat.
Sadly, Aunty Jeanette hadn’t had any luck finding any job leads, but I wasn’t gonna give up. I’d find something and that was what I planned to tell Romeo tonight. I needed him to know that I was trying.
I was also finally going to tell him I loved him.
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I couldn’t wait to speak to him again.
When we got to the seafront, Stella and I went down the steps and walked along the pebbled beach.
Although it was cloudy and windy, I supposed she was right. It was nice to get out of London and smell the sea air.
‘I’m dying for the loo.’ Stella winced. ‘I’m just going across the road to find a toilet.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘No,’ she said quickly. ‘Just wait there, close your eyes, breath in the sea air and imagine you’re back in Italy. I won’t be long.’
‘Okay,’ I sighed.
I took a few steps towards the sea, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.
As a reel of memories showcasing the fun I’d had by the sea with Romeo flashed through my mind, I smiled.
I pictured the time I bumped into him on the beach then ended up having lunch with Linda and Biscotti.
Then I remembered our time on the boat.
Next, my mind replayed the memory of us chatting as we walked along the other gorgeous beach he took me to. Then I chuckled as I thought about our fun skinny-dipping session.
Oh, sweet memories.
I’d give anything to be with Romeo right now. To hug him. To inhale his gorgeous scent. To kiss him.
Just to be with him.
‘Enjoying the views?’ a deep voice sounded from behind me.
A deep voice with a sexy Italian accent that I instantly recognised.
No.
It couldn’t be.
I spun around and when I saw Romeo standing there my jaw dropped.
I blinked quickly, blinked again, then prodded his bicep, my eyes wide with disbelief.
‘We have not seen each other for more than a month and you greet me by poking my arm?’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘I was hoping for a better welcome than that!’ The corner of his mouth turned up into a smile.
‘Are you…?’ I rubbed my eyes, then prodded his other bicep. ‘Are you real ?’
I must be dreaming. There was no way Romeo was here.
‘The last time that I checked, I was very real. Perhaps if you allowed me to kiss you, that would prove it?’
‘Yes, please,’ I nodded, my eyes still the size of saucers.
Romeo stepped forward, dipped his head, wrapped his arms around me, then pressed his lips against mine.
At first, I was rooted to the spot, still questioning whether this was a vivid version of one of the millions of fantasies I’d had since I left.
But when he deepened the kiss and slid his tongue inside my mouth, a bolt of electricity rocketed through me.
And then I knew.
This was real.
Oh my God!
I snaked my arms around his back and pulled him into me.
The kiss grew frantic and emotional, like it’d been decades since we’d last locked lips.
As I melted into him, the rest of the world disappeared.
Romeo had come to me. We were together again.
This was a billion times better than all of my dreams put together.
When we eventually pulled away, we looked at each other in a daze.
‘You’re here ,’ I repeated.
‘ Sì .’
‘When did you arrive? How did you know I’d be here? How long are you staying?’
‘So many questions!’ He laughed, before giving me another soft kiss.
‘The plane landed a couple of hours ago. And as for knowing you’d be here, I had a little help.’
Romeo looked over his shoulder and I spotted Stella about fifty metres away, grinning like an idiot.
‘You two!’ I shook my head. ‘I’m worried about how good Stella was about lying to get me here. But I’m glad she did, because it’s great to see you and because there’s something I need to tell you that’s long overdue.’
‘Let me guess. You have found another celebrity to compare me to,’ he smiled.
‘No! You’re an original. No one could ever compare to you.’ I took his hands in mine. ‘What I’ve been wanting to tell you, is that I… I love you.’
Romeo’s eyes lit up and his face brightened.
‘ Grazie, Tesoro. Ti amo anch’io .’ Romeo leant forward and kissed me again.
‘That means you love me too, right?’
‘ Sì .’
‘Phew!’ I wiped imaginary sweat from my brow.
‘But you already know this.’ He rolled his eyes and laughed. ‘I told you when you left for the airport.’
‘I thought that was what you said, but for all I knew you could’ve been saying don’t forget your passport !’
‘Maybe it would have been better if you did!’
‘I was tempted!’ I smiled. ‘You didn’t answer my last question. How long are you here?’
‘I have to return to the hotel in two days. And I am hoping to bring you back with me.’
‘What?’ I frowned.
‘How would you feel about having the opportunity to become a Love Alchemist in California?’ A grin that was bigger than the Titanic spread across Romeo’s face.
‘Wait, what ?’ My eyes popped.
‘The management want to interview you. If it goes well, once you have been trained, you could work at the new resort, which means that we would be together.’
‘No fucking way!’ I screamed, before jumping up and down, throwing my arms around him then squeezing Romeo so tight I was scared I’d break him. Then again, with his rock-hard body, that wasn’t likely.
‘So you think it is a terrible idea,’ he laughed.
‘It’s the best idea in the history of brilliant ideas! How did this even happen?’
As Romeo explained how he thought of it and everything that he, Victoria and Jasmine had done to present it to the management team, my heart bloomed.
‘So what do you think?’ Romeo said. ‘Would you like to come back to Italy then come on an adventure to California with me?’
‘I haven’t even had the interview or got the job yet!’
‘You will get it. They would be lucky to have you. I am lucky to have you.’
‘And I’m lucky to have you,’ I said, thinking how amazing it was to have found a man who truly believed in me. ‘And hell yeah, I’ll come to Italy, California and wherever with you!’
Romeo cupped my face then gave me another long, slow kiss.
And as our lips locked and I melted against him, pure joy washed over me.
I’d gone to the Love Hotel to find my perfect match, but I’d left with so much more.
Not only had I found the love of my life, I’d found a new direction.
Now I had the opportunity to secure a new job, plus work and travel abroad.
I was the happiest I’d ever been.
All because I’d fallen in love.
Yep.
Love was powerful.
Love was brilliant.
Love had changed my life.
And my romantic adventures with Romeo were only just beginning.