When she realized sleep had fled, she climbed from bed and pulled open the shutters. Dino's brother Marco worked underneath her window, preparing one of the boats for launching. He looked so much like Dino, even had the same mannerisms. If Dino hadn't been determined to sing, this would have been his life. And she would never have met him.
Her gaze was drawn up the hill to what she thought of as Dino's cliff. At the sight of a lone figure striding up the coast path, her breath caught with a sense of déjà vu. Even from this distance she recognized Dino. He halted in the spot where he had jumped into the sea with his friend as a boy and stared out to sea.
Maria clutched the edges of the shutters. What was Dino doing walking alone this early? Was something troubling him? She dressed quickly, only stopping to brush her teeth and run a comb through her hair before slipping quietly downstairs and out the front door.
Marco had his back to her as she darted past. She hurried up the cliff path, her pulse racing as much with worry as from the incline.
By the time she approached Dino the sun was higher, gleaming off his black hair as if every strand was polished. Her breath caught as she stared at his darkly handsome profile but her heart pinched. Dino stood so still, his gaze fixed in the distance, his usual aura of energy and enthusiasm strangely muted. Was he having second thoughts about their marriage?
"Dino," she said tentatively. Uncertainty flashed through her when, lost in his thoughts, he didn't respond. He was normally so vital and attentive. She hadn't seen him like this since he first arrived in Cornwall. For some reason he was hurting. She ached inside at the thought it might be connected to her. "Dino," Maria repeated, moving closer so he had to notice her.
His head whipped around, startled, and for an instant she caught the sadness in his eyes before he smiled. "Maria, what are you doing up so early?" He extended his arm and she went to him. His large, warm hand swallowed hers and he lifted it to his lips and kissed her fingers.
"Voices outside woke me. Then I looked up here and saw you."
He turned back to stare out to sea. "I needed some time alone before I leave."
Maria leaned against Dino's side and he wrapped his arm around her waist. "What are you thinking?" she asked.
"Ah, now we are engaged you want to know my secrets do you, cara?" He flashed her a wry smile.
"Not if you don't want to tell me."
He sucked in a breath. Then he raised his hand and opened his fingers as if releasing something fragile into the wind. He whispered some Italian words and then fell silent for a few moments. "There, it is done."
"What is?"
"I have let go of my childhood dreams. Now I dream only of being with you, cara, of our life together." He turned to smile at her, but a hint of sadness lingered around his eyes and tore at her heart.
"You don't need to forget your dreams, Dino."
"I have chosen to be with you instead."
"I don't expect you to give up everything you've worked so hard for." Even as the words left her mouth, she knew she lied. This was exactly what she'd asked of him. If he gave up traveling and lived in England, it was impossible for his career to flourish. The first time she'd seen him, seen the hollow sadness in his eyes, she'd promised herself she would make him feel better, take care of him. But somewhere along the way she had forgotten that promise, forgotten Dino's feelings.
A rush of shame raised goose bumps on Maria's arms. Whenever she considered Dino's career, she thought of it as a nuisance that hindered them being together because it interfered with her vision of the life she wanted. She had only paid lip service to the fact that by singing he fulfilled his hopes and dreams. She stared over the rocky cliff where Dino had risked life and limb trying to fly and realized that the daring little boy had succeeded. Dino had flown up among the stars, to the peak of his profession, achieved what few men ever would. Yet he was willing to give it up for her.
"I don't know what I've done to deserve you," she said, remorse tightening her throat. She loved him. She wanted him to be happy, to have the rewards he'd worked so hard for.
His arm tightened around her. "You only need to be yourself, amore. That is enough."
But it wasn't nearly enough. If she clipped his wings, she didn't deserve his love and devotion.
"Is playing Pavarotti really such a big honor?"
His gaze grew unfocused, a hint of longing on his face. "I would lie if I said otherwise. It is a tenor's dream to be chosen to portray such an icon."
"I want you to do the movie, Dino. If it's such a big deal, you can't give it up for me."
He stepped back from the cliff, turned to face her. "No. I will not leave you behind again."
"Then I'll come with you, darling Dino."
"But you will worry. You won't be happy."
In that moment she decided it was time to put her fears behind her. She'd been hanging on to the past for too long. No wonder her mum had been overprotective of her when she'd clung to home like a child. "As long as I'm with you, that's all that matters. I love you."
"Ah, Maria, your words make my heart sing." He pulled her close and kissed her so softly and tenderly it brought tears to her eyes.
"I promise you," he whispered, "Where ever in the world we go, I will always keep you safe."
And she knew he would.
Epilogue
Maria hugged her mother on the front step of the Crow's Nest, tears in her eyes.
"You'll have a wonderful time in America, love, and you'll see us again soon." Her mum stroked strands of hair back behind her ear, tenderly.
"I know. I am happy." And she was, even though tears ran down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the side of her hand and smiled. "It's just that I'll miss you and the Nest." She still couldn't believe the guesthouse had been sold, that next time she came home her mum and dad would be living somewhere else. A little part of her heart belonged to the Crow's Nest. She would never forget her happy childhood, or the magical four weeks she'd spent here with Dino.
She glanced over at her new husband. He was chatting with her dad, a little apart from the rest of the family group who were enjoying the sunshine as they gathered to see her and Dino off.
After Dino's final few tour dates, they'd been married in Riomaggiore. Dino had far too many relatives for them all to travel to England. Since then she and Dino had been on a honeymoon in the Maldives. They'd come home to a reception for her family, so those who hadn't made it across to Italy could celebrate with them. This was their final family event at the Crow's Nest. In two days her parents would move out and the new owners would take possession.
Dino shook her father's hand and headed her way. He wrapped an arm around her waist. "No tears, amore." He cupped her face between his hands and wiped her wet cheeks with his thumbs. "We will be back again soon."
"I know." Maria leaned into him and kissed his neck, breathing in the spicy smell of his skin, feeling the reassuring pressure of his hand on her back.
"Time for us to leave," he whispered beside her ear.
She drew in a breath to compose herself before launching into all the goodbye hugs and kisses with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and last but not least her mum and dad.
Chris threw herself at Dino, giggling. No doubt under the influence of too much champagne. "Sister-in-law's privileges, Dino." She grabbed his shoulders and clung to him as she kissed his cheeks three times.
"Hey, hands off my husband, Christine," Maria said, pretending to be annoyed, while everyone laughed at Dino's startled expression.
Finally she and Dino made it to their car. Amid shouts of congratulation they drove off. Maria craned her neck around to watch the massive, white, Victorian edifice that was the Crow's Nest until it was out of sight, her chest tight with mixed emotions.
Dino's hand settled over hers. "Are you sad, cara?"
"I'm happy because I'm with you." She managed to smile, but it wobbled.
"You are a little bit sad as well, I think. The Cro
w's Nest means something to me, as well. It is where I fell in love."
"It's where we fell in love with each other." Maria leaned across and cuddled against his shoulder.
"Where we made love for the first time."
"Where I bullied you into making love to me," she corrected him, blushing.
"No, no, cara. I wanted so badly to make love to you. I always want to make love to you." He flashed a wicked grin that reminded her of the heavenly days they'd spent in each other's arms in their secluded beach house in the Maldives.
They had only driven a few miles when Dino pulled over to the edge of a deserted country road.
"What are we stopping for?"
"This." Dino dragged her into his arms and kissed her. "You should not tempt me, cara. Now I want to make love to you in the car."
Maria giggled as she looked around the tiny interior of the sports car he'd rented. "You should have hired an SUV for that," she said, sure he was joking. Her eyes widened as he pulled a green, silk scarf out of his pocket. "What's that for?"
He gave her an enigmatic smile. "Patience, cara." Dino rolled the scarf into a strip and beckoned her closer, then slid the silky fabric over her eyes and tied it behind her head.
"Okay. This is getting weird."
He laughed. "I have a surprise wedding present for you. No peeking." He kissed the end of her nose, and she settled back in her seat.
"You've already given me a beautiful wedding gift." Her fingers traced the emerald and diamond bracelet Dino had bought to go with her engagement ring.
"Am I not allowed to give my wife more than one present?"
"Of course, darling." She reached out blindly, found the hard muscle of his thigh, and squeezed.
"Careful, cara, or I will make love to you here."
Maria pulled back her hand reluctantly, and the car moved off. She chewed her lip, trying to work out what the present could be. "Is it far to my surprise?"
"No."
"You're not giving much away, are you?"
"No," he repeated, a smile in his voice.
She tried to follow the twists and turns in the road, the route one she had travelled many times and should know well. But she soon lost track of where they were. After fifteen minutes, Dino slowed to turn and gravel popped under the tires. They must be on a drive of some sort.
The car stopped and Dino cut the engine. "Stay there. I'll come round and help you out. And no peeking."
Her door opened. Dino's warm hand engulfed hers as he helped her to her feet. The familiar sound and smell of the sea was the first thing she noticed. They must have driven along the coast.
He led her forward, and she clung to him blindly, trusting. Sun warmed her face as she angled her head, trying to hear anything that might give her a clue as to where they were. Dino positioned her, then stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. "Now, amore, you may take off your blindfold."
With a tingle of excitement, she ripped the scarf off and blinked. "What's going on?" They were back at the Crow's Nest. She glanced over her shoulder at Dino in confusion. He grinned. The truth flitted around the edges of her mind then swamped her like a tidal wave. "You've bought the Crow's Nest." For a moment, her heart raced so fast she couldn't breathe. She turned and threw her arms around his neck, bouncing and squealing. "Oh my God, you've bought the Crow's Nest."
Suddenly the air was filled with cheers as her family jumped out from behind the hedge and surrounded them, all talking at once.
"It'll be here for us when we come back," Dino said, as the excited chatter died down. "Your mum and dad have agreed to stay on until they find someone to manage the place."
"I can't believe you've done this for me. Thank you so much." She hugged him, pressing a kiss to his lips.
"This is for us, cara. This is a good place for children to grow up, I think. When we are ready to settle down, we will raise our family here."
Maria's mother appeared with a bottle of champagne and handed them each a crystal flute of sparkling liquid.
Taking a sip, Maria snuggled against her husband's chest, emotion nearly overwhelming her. She loved this man so much. She pressed a palm to her flat stomach, imagining it rounded with his child. His hand slid over hers, and he smiled down at her, a silent message of understanding in his eyes. "Soon," he whispered.
Then Dino raised his glass and silence fell. "Here's to making all our dreams come true."
Thank you for reading Oceans Between Us
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Also by Helen Scott Taylor
Unbreak My Heart
Praise for Unbreak My Heart
"Any lover of traditional Harlequin/Mills and Boon novels will especially adore this novel." - Heather Hiestand, author
*
"So many tender, touching moments that will make you laugh, cry and sigh." - Charlotte, Amazon reviewer
*
"Unrequited love, characters from opposite sides of the tracks, family, and poignant scenes make this romance a charming combination of love and tenderness." - Rita Herron, author of Husband Hunting 101
*
Andre first set eyes on Kate when he was two and she was a babe in her mother's arms. He's twenty-five now, and he still remembers the moment perfectly, the moment she slipped into his heart. But they came from different sides of the track and family conflict tore them apart.
Nine years later, Kate turns up at Andre's prestigious hotel with the paparazzi at her heels and the six-week-old daughter of her celebrity ex in her arms. She has nowhere left to run except back to the place where she left her heart.
Can they forgive the pain of the past, accept each other as they are now, and rediscover the childhood love that was snatched away from them?
Read a sample or buy Unbreak My Heart on Amazon.com HERE
About the Author
Helen Scott Taylor won the American Title IV contest in 2008. Her winning book, The Magic Knot, was published in 2009 to critical acclaim, received a starred review from Booklist, and was a Booklist top ten romance for 2009. Since then, she has published other novels, novellas, and short stories in both the UK and USA.
Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful long-suffering husband, she shares her home with two Shih Tzus and an aristocratic chocolate-shaded-silver-burmilla cat who rules the household with a velvet paw. She believes that deep within everyone, there’s a little magic.
Find Helen at:
http://www.HelenScottTaylor.com
http://twitter.com/helenscotttaylo
http://facebook.com/helenscotttaylor
***
Book List
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
The Magic Knot
The Phoenix Charm
The Ruby Kiss
The Crystal Crib (novella) in A Midwinter Fantasy anthology
The Feast of Beauty
Warriors of Ra
A Clockwork Fairytale
***
Contemporary Romance
Unbreak My Heart
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Oceans Between Us (A Cinderella Romance) Page 16