by Me, Tara Sue
Because of the way the package the group had purchased worked, the entire trip would be cancelled if they were unable to fill that empty spot. When they called to ask if I could go, I still thought it could never happen, until they convinced me to talk to the travel agent, and she quoted me a price I’d be a fool not to take.
Fortunately, I had a passport, and after some whirlwind shopping, a few weeks later I was on my way to Italy. I flew out of Boston feeling as if I was on top of the world. I had to pinch myself to make sure it wasn’t a dream.
The resort in Courmayeur, Italy was more beautiful than I had ever imagined a place could be. When I met Luca the day I arrived, I allowed myself to get swept away by his soulful eyes, his good looks, and easy charm, but most of all, his sweet words. For the best ten days of my life, I thought my initial belief about love at first sight was a mistake on my part. After all, Luca and I had fallen that quickly.
But a little over a week was all it lasted. Ten days. Ten days were all I had to experience the type of love I never believed possible. Ten days before it was ripped from my hands and shown to be sham it was. Ten days before I lost not only the man I thought was my soulmate and the love of my life, but also, my forever dream of dance. With one foolish mistake, I lost everything.
Chapter 2
Luca
“I’ve checked you into your suite at the Boston Harbor Hotel, Mr. Botticelli,” my personal assistant, Carmella, informed me as the private jet I’d booked for the short flight from New York City prepared to land.
She continued to talk, reminding me of my schedule for what felt like the hundredth time. I knew exactly what my schedule was and how busy I’d be for the short time I’d be in Boston. At least for this trip. Deciding to move my business overseas from Italy to the US wouldn't be taken care of in the span of a week.
Carmella continued to talk, and I all but tuned her out. She didn’t mind flying, but landing always made her nervous. One way she dealt with her unease was to ramble. Which was fine, I mean we all have our idiosyncrasies, right? But that didn’t mean I had to listen to her.
I did, however, catch the name she dropped, not having remembered her mentioning it before. “What was that one?”
She looked up in shock. I normally let her ramble uninterrupted, so I’d obviously caught her off guard by questioning her.
“What was what one?” she asked.
“Who wants to meet sometime between now and the reception?” I asked. “And when did you schedule them?”
“Tenor Butler, sir,” she said. “And I thought maybe he could come up and wait in the sitting area. I think that’s the best way for you to get together before you meet your date.”
“He didn’t say what he wanted to discuss?”
“No, sir,” she said, and when I didn’t reply, she started going through tomorrow’s schedule, allowing me to once more tune her out. It was bothersome that Tenor wanted to discuss something before the reception. Maybe my date had backed out.
I chuckled. No way would I be that lucky.
The truth was, I didn’t want to go with anyone to the reception tonight. Hell, if I’d had my way, I wouldn’t be going. But it was an annual fundraiser for the East Coast Fashion Designer’s Association and as a new fashion designer, in the States anyway, it would behoove me to show up. And according to my board of advisors, I needed to have a date.
Funny, if you’d have told me five years ago, that there would come a time when I’d rather spend the evening alone than in the company of a woman, I’d have laughed my ass off. Five years ago, I usually went out with a different woman every night, and didn’t think a thing of it. But all that had been before my little bird flew in and out of my life so quickly at times I still wonder if I dreamt her up.
The pain she left in my heart, however, was a stark reminder of how real she’d been. I kept my feelings about her to myself, very few people knew of her. Most of those in my acquaintance thought it was something else entirely that completely changed my world that week.
To this day, I can’t say exactly what drew the two of us together in such a quick and intense manner. Logically, I should have discounted our connection as mere hormones, but when my grandparents were alive, they loved to tell anyone who would listen about how they knew they were destined to be together from the moment their eyes first met. When you grow up listening to that, while you may not believe it’ll ever happen to you, you recognize it for what it is when it does.
That’s what it had been like when I met Wren.
And for ten days, damn near everything was perfect.
I’m not sure what drove her away, or why, when she ran, she ran so hard and fast. I knew there had been a ski accident, and she was hurt. She wouldn’t allow anyone to visit her, and as soon as she could leave, she was gone. And just like that, my little bird flew out of my life as quickly as she’d flown in.
We hadn’t exchanged phone numbers or email addresses. Why should we have? In our minds, or at least mine, we had plenty of time to deal with such trivial things. She had never given me her family name, nor did I give her mine.
I’m still stunned at how quickly all the time I thought we had disappeared in a second. I talked with several people in the days following her accident, those that travel from the US with her, as well as those who were at the ski resort with me. No one could agree on what happened or why Wren was so insistent that she didn’t want to see me.
“Mr. Botticelli?” Carmella asked, and I realized we had landed and the flight crew was waiting for us to disembark.
“Apologies,” I said, standing and grabbing my carry-on.
Carmella gave me a sad smile. She’d started working for me right before I met Wren. As such, she knew about her and was also aware that at the time of her visit, Wren lived in Boston.
“More than likely she doesn’t live here anymore,” Carmella said after we were off the plane and waiting for our driver to load our luggage into the car.
I wasn’t a fool, I knew Boston was a large city, and that even if Wren still happened to live in the area, the odds weren’t likely of our paths crossing. But the fact that I was so transparent to Carmella bothered me.
The driver walked to the side of the car and opened the back door. I waited until Carmella made it inside before climbing in and taking my seat beside her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, thankful I’d kept my sunglasses on so she couldn’t see my eyes and recognize the lie I’d just told. Even still, I was pretty sure she didn’t believe me.
A few hours later, I was dressed for the reception and opened the door to the suite’s sitting room where Tenor Butler waited. We’d only exchanged emails mostly, though I had spoken with him a few times. He seemed to me more of a business executive than someone who worked and owned a match maker company. Of course, maybe that was why Bachelor International was so successful.
He turned from the large picture window he’d been standing in front of and walked to meet me.
“Tenor Butler,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”
I shook his hand. “Lucrezio Botticelli. I go by Luca.” I waved him toward the semicircle of couches in the middle of the room. “The request for the meeting caught me off guard. Is something wrong?”
“No,” Tenor said. “I try to meet all our international clients face-to-face before their first date.”
I nodded, there were several reasons I could think of for him to do so. Everything from client safety to customer service.
He chuckled. “When I called Ms. Marino to set up a time to meet with you, she assumed the same thing. Told me it wouldn’t be an issue if that was the case, because she had no problem filling in and being your date for the evening.”
Of course she wouldn’t, I thought, but kept to myself. Carmela made no secret of the fact that she wished to be more than my personal assistant. It would never happen because of a long list of reasons, only one of those reasons being that she worked for me. As a personal as
sistant, she was the best I’d ever had. She was organized, thorough, and had an uncanny ability to anticipate what I needed before I realized I needed it.
However, outside of the office, she had a tendency to speak without a filter and to act without appearing to think about what she was doing beforehand. I had never figured out what the deal was, why she seemed to have two distinct personalities. I didn’t let it bother me, or to use much brain power trying to understand. As long as she continued to do her job the way she’d been doing it, she could keep her Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moments. As long as she kept them away from me.
But even that wasn’t the primary reason. I sighed, knowing I couldn’t think about the primary reason at the moment.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” I told Tenor, resisting the temptation to run my hand through my hair.
He nodded, giving me the impression he knew exactly what I was talking about. “Did you have any questions about the process or the woman we've matched you with?”
While I was in New York City, Tenor’s business partner, Mia, had sent me a long email containing what I assumed were details on my date for the evening. I hadn’t bothered to read it, but felt somewhat guilty admitting as much sitting with Tenor the way I was.
I simply replied, “No, no questions at all.” That sounded better than telling the truth which was reading the details of the woman I’d be meeting wouldn’t change anything about how the date would go or how it would end. I needed a date for the event tonight and didn’t want to use an escort service. Signing up with a matchmaker sounded a lot more practical.
I had a plan for the evening. I’d be standoffish enough that my date wouldn’t consider thinking twice about another date with me. Of course, I’d be a gentleman, it’s who I was, and I wouldn't do anything to sully my reputation. I could live with my date calling me a bore after tonight, but I wouldn’t go so far as to be considered an asshole.
That was the plan, anyway.
“Have you had the chance to look into a place to live?” Tenor asked.
“I have,” I told him truthfully, assuming he was just making small talk in an effort to get to know me better. “But I’m interested in getting your take on the different neighborhoods.”
“I’m a bit partial to this area,” he said. “Mia and I have been talking about looking for a place here near the water. Right now we’re in a townhouse closer to the city center.”
I hadn’t realized he was living with his business partner. Not that it mattered. I only thought it was interesting.
“You have to admit,” he said, standing and walking back toward the large picture window. “This is an incredible view.”
I made the appropriate noises, because I stopped noticing things like beautiful views around the time Wren left. Not that I couldn’t see the beauty, it was more that I didn’t notice it until someone pointed it out. Looking out the window that Tenor indicated, I had to agree. The view of the Back Bay was quite lovely.
“Maybe we’ll be neighbors then,” I said. “If I end up feeling the same.”
I couldn’t help but to glance back at the water. I'd bet it was even more incredible at night with lights bouncing off of the surface.
“Sounds good,” he said, and turned away from the window back toward me. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll take my leave and let you finish up before heading to the reception. I hope the night exceeds all your expectations.”
“Nice meeting you, Tenor,” I called out as he left. I didn’t add that my expectations were so low, it’d take a massive disaster to not meet them.
Still not entirely sure why he wanted to meet, I went back to the bedroom of the suite to take one last look in the mirror to make sure I looked decent. Good enough.
A glance at my watch told me I still had about forty minutes until I was to meet my date in the lobby. I tucked the purple flower in my jacket pocket. Mia had it waiting for me in the room when I arrived with a note informing me it would allow my date to recognize me. Completely ready, I stopped by the bar for a quick drink before heading to the lobby.
Chapter 3
Wren
“Here he comes,” Mia said, with a nod toward the window, and I glanced over to see Tenor crossing the street.
We were sitting in a coffee shop across from the hotel Lucrezio was staying at, which was also where the reception and dinner would be held. It had been Mia’s idea for Tenor to set up a meeting with my so-called match in the hopes that he’d be able to do away with any fears I might have about going out with a stranger. I’d told her it was unnecessary, but she wouldn’t listen. And then Tenor chimed in saying he thought it was a good idea as well.
After that, I knew I could hang it up. Arguing with one of them about anything to do with Bachelor International was bad enough, but pair them together and you could forget about it.
“He doesn’t look very happy, does he?” I asked Mia.
Her lips were pressed tightly together. Obviously, she felt the same, but she refused to admit as much. “That’s his thinking face.”
“Looks more like an I have to get Wren out of this ASAP face to me,” I mumbled under my breath.
Mia wisely pretended like she didn’t hear me and didn’t speak again until Tenor made his way to our table.
He sat down beside Mia with a sigh.
“What?” Mia asked.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “You mean to tell me using your method of matching, Wren was that guy’s highest match?”
My heart jumped up to my throat. “Why? Is he a serial killer or something?”
Mia tried to cover her shock. “I know you’re joking. I’ve used that method for years and have hundreds of happy matches.”
But Tenor didn’t look like he was joking. “I think it’s wrong this time. No, he’s not a serial killer, though maybe if he was, he’d have a better personality.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
Tenor winced as he looked at me. “That guy is boring as hell. Zero personality and walks like he has a stick up his ass.”
His answer was so different from what I’d expected based on his expression when he walked in, I couldn’t help it, I laughed.
“I don’t believe it,” Mia said. “There’s no way she could match so well with either a bore or a serial killer. Maybe he just didn’t like you.”
Tenor ignored her. “Wren, I’m sorry you got matched with such a bore. Try not to fall asleep. Leave early if you want to, and Mia and I will make it up to you.”
Mia crossed her arms and shot him the evil eye before focusing on me. “If you need a rescue, text me the letter z and I’ll call and give you an out. Don’t lose hope just yet. It’s possible he didn’t like Tenor, or he was just tired. The guy has been traveling a lot.”
“Everyone likes me,” Tenor said with a grin. “Didn’t you get the memo? Odds are he’s a dud.”
I shrugged. It wasn’t like I had high hopes for the night, anyway. “At least I got a nice dress out of it.”
“It’s an awesome dress,” Mia countered.
It was an awesome dress. Mia and I had gone shopping over the past weekend, and had lucked out and found a high-dollar department store having a closeout sale. The navy blue gown didn’t look like much of anything on the rack, which is probably why it was unsold, but once I put it on, I knew I had to have it. I loved everything about gown. The delicate halter neck. The way the fabric gently hugged my curves in all the right places without making me feel as if I couldn’t breathe. The long, flowy fabric covering my legs. The blue hue that brought out the color of my eyes. Every inch of it was perfect and made me feel like a hundred bucks when I had it on.
“If you have to be bored out of your mind, at least you’ll look good doing it,” Tenor said. “Ow,” he added, which I assumed meant Mia kicked him under the table.
“Want us to walk with you?” Mia asked.
“No.” I stood up. It was time for me to leave if I wanted to arrive a minute or t
wo early. “It’s just across the street.”
Mia slipped out of her chair and gave me a hug. “You look fabulous. I hope you have an amazing night, but remember to text me if you need an out.”
“I think I can handle being bored for a few hours.” If I stuck it out, maybe Mia would stop telling me how I needed to get out more. And if she brought up the subject, I could easily reply that I had been out with a man she matched me with, and that the experience was enough to last me for at least a year.
I hadn’t taken very many steps when I heard Mia ask Tenor, “He really wasn’t that bad, was he?”
Tenor laughed, and if he answered, I missed it by stepping outside.
The sun had started its descent, but though it was still light, the air held a slight chill, as if reminding us autumn was just around the corner. Not that many of us who’d ever spent a winter in Boston could forget. I loved my city, but I hated the winters. Especially since Italy. While once upon a time I’d found the freshly fallen snow beautiful; now I only saw it as the catalyst in the series of reactions that landed me where I was - alone and unable to dance.
I crossed the road, telling myself to snap out of it. Even if my date turned out to be duller than an unsharpened pencil, I was going to give him a chance and not walk into the lobby with my mind made up about him before we actually met. Nor did I want to come across as a morose woman living in the past.
I caught sight of myself in the glass of a nearby building and almost didn’t recognize my reflection. With my dark blond hair styled and pulled into a delicate updo, makeup applied, and wearing something other than the baggy jeans and ratty tee shirts that made up most of my work-from-home wardrobe, I didn’t look half bad. I stood up a bit straighter and squared my shoulders. Totally unlike me, but damn it, I looked good, and I was going to own that shit.