Sweet Dreams (Sunset Dreams Series Book 1)

by Senhaji, Jennifer

  “This isn’t the same bike, is it?”

  “No, I keep this one here. The one you saw before was a rental. I have another one in LA. Hold on.”

  Jake turns the engine on and the vibration kicks in right away. I wrap my arms around his waist without needing an invitation and squeal as he turns back onto the road.

  “Lean into me in the turns so you don’t fall off,” Jake calls over his shoulder.

  “What? Oh sugar! Don’t let me fall off!” I yell back and scoot closer to him so I’m practically wrapped around him.

  This is obviously encouragement as Jake laughs, hits the gas, and speeds down the road. This is so scary, but exhilarating at the same time.

  What a rush.

  We drive for a while, little squeals escape me every time Jake hits the gas. As we enter the main town, Jake slows down and asks, “Where are you staying?”

  “Casa di Gino,” I say in his ear, feeling him shiver a little. This reaction makes me smile and I grab him a little tighter around the waist.

  “I know where that is.” Jake takes a few corners and soon we pull up in front. He stops and turns off the bike, placing his hand on top of mine, which are still wrapped around his waist. “We’re here.”

  I let go reluctantly and slip off the bike. Turning to face Jake with a big smile on my face I exclaim, “Wow, Jake, that was really fun. Scary, but fun. I can see why you always ride.”

  Jake nods in agreement and takes off his glasses.

  His eyes, green like… like the freshly cut grass of the Amalfi hills.

  Amalfi green?

  I feel a little weak in the knees as he looks down at me in earnest. “How long are you here for?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know yet. I’m leaving it open.”

  Does he want to get together? Maybe we can have lunch or something.

  “I’ll go to the mechanic and have someone pick up your bike, fix the tire and bring it back to you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Sure. It was great running into you, Jen.” A moment of silence passes between us as Jake regards me. “See you around?”

  This rings so familiar. Even though I have no idea where he’s staying, or how we ran into each other, or when I might see him again, I smile and say, “See ya around, Jake. Thanks for the ride.”

  “Anytime, Jen.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all. Audrey Hepburn

  Up in my room, I sit on the bed thinking about my earlier run in with Jake. How is it possible that we were on the same road at the same time in the same country?

  Serendipity?

  I turn on the TV to try and distract myself from the thoughts running through my head and decide to take shower. As I’m changing, a picture of Jake and Amy appears on the screen. I can’t understand anything the announcer says except “Benvenuiti a Italia.”

  I deflate.

  Of course he’s here with Amy.

  I shut off the TV, not wanting to see any more and escape to the bathroom. After my shower, I put on my most comfortable clothes and sit on my bed to read for a while. My mind keeps going back to the ride with Jake; his smell, my arms around him, and the hug he gave me on the side of the road. I thought it had been long enough, but he still affects me the same way he did last year.

  I can’t concentrate.

  I keep reading the same page over and over. Eventually, I give up and put my book down. Climbing under the covers, I try not to think about him or if I will see him again while I’m here.

  It doesn’t work.

  The next morning I wake up early. Getting dressed for the day, I decide to head over to the café on the corner for an espresso. Grabbing my map and my bag, I leave my room, locking the door behind me.

  What should I do today? Where should I go?

  After getting down the stairs I open my map of the area and walk through the courtyard to the front of the pensione.

  Gino is at the front desk as I pass and asks, “Buon giorno, Signorina Jen, dove va?”

  “Buon giorno, Gino, primo espresso,” I answer with a smile and a wave.

  As I walk out the front door I find Jake parked on his bike in front of the entrance gate: jacket, glasses, and all.

  “Good morning.”

  Surprised, I smile and say, “Good morning. I was on my way out for the day. What are you doing here?”

  Jake looks down almost shyly and says, “Come with me for a ride? Come on, just for the day. We can catch up and I can show you around. I know this city like the back of my hand. Give me one day.”

  I can’t hide my happiness and excitement at the thought of Jake and me spending a whole day together and accept. “Of course I will.”

  Jake’s eyes are bright and sparkle as he flashes me his megawatt smile. “Great, get on.”

  Placing my map in my bag and my bag around my shoulders, I ask, “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see. Hang on.”

  Off we go. Jake drives us down through the streets and I yelp and cringe as he avoids pedestrians and other cars until we hit the coast road. He speeds up, and I’m once again wrapped around him. There’s no way to keep the smile off my face. I can’t believe I’m here, on the back of Jake’s bike, riding along the Amalfi Coast. The day is beautiful as the sun glints off the water. There’s no place I would rather be.

  We arrive in Positano and Jake drives us up into the hills where we admire the view as we navigate the small streets. Reaching a peak, we stop for a moment, not getting off the bike, taking in the breathtaking vista of the little town below. After a few minutes, we head back down to the waterfront. Parking the bike, Jake helps me off, taking my hand in his, and threading his fingers through mine. My heart skips a beat at the sensation of Jake’s hand in mine and I do a little internal dance when he doesn’t let go. He pulls me along the little road on the water where we end up at a café that faces the ocean. Unable to keep the huge smile off my face, I sit there with him as we wait for a server. I’m so incredibly happy. Jake orders two espressos and we sip them as we watch the people on the sand and the boats in the water, and comment on the beautiful weather.

  “When you’re done, let’s take a little walk around town, okay?”

  “Yes, that sounds great. Oh, it’s such a perfect day today,” I say, taking in a deep breath of the ocean air as I close my eyes and lift my face to the morning sun.

  “How do you like Amalfi?”

  “It’s beautiful here, Jake. You were right, I love it.”

  After our espresso, Jake places some Euros on the table and again takes my hand in his. He guides me along the streets, pointing out places that he has been before, and tells me funny little anecdotes about learning to speak Italian. We go into a few boutiques and I browse while Jake hides in corners to keep a low profile. We find several bakeries and a candy shop where I buy a bag of assorted candy. Jake steals a couple of caramels out of my bag and I tease him and giggle as I skip down the street, keeping my bag of sweets just out of his reach. After we loop around, we head back down toward the ocean. Walking along the water, we watch the boats for a bit all the while Jake holding my hand in his. Breaking away, I splash him a couple of times with the cold water and after the third time, he gives me a warning look like he will throw me in.

  “Sorry, sorry, please, don’t.” I hold my hands up in supplication while I try not to laugh.

  He gives me a pass and nods his head toward the bike. “Come on, let’s go.” Grabbing my hand, he walks us back up to the road and over to his bike where he and I take off our shoes and empty them of the sand.

  “Where to now?” I ask, getting situated on the bike behind Jake and wrapping my arms around him.

  “Let’s take a little ride. There are some beautiful sights that I want to show you. Does that sound good?” Jake has his head turned back toward me so I look at his profile.

  I bury my face in his shoulder blade to keep myse
lf from licking his neck. “Sounds good.” And we’re off.

  We drive down the coast, at a slower speed this time, Jake pointing to boats on the water as we go. I don’t see half of the things he tries to point out. Most of my time is spent with my eyes closed, content with my arms around him, the sun on my face, and the wind in my hair. We stop a couple of times at the vista points that look out over steep drop offs to the rocks and water below. Jake balances the bike with the balls of his feet as I rest my hands on his upper thighs to help keep my balance.

  Yeah that’s it, to keep my balance.

  Jake lets his hands occasionally drop down on top of mine, lacing our fingers together, making my heart pound and my stomach flip. This feels so natural and right.

  I’m a total goner.

  At one of the stops, Jake turns back toward me. “Are you getting hungry?”

  His face is so close to mine I actually have to pull my head back a little to look him in the eye. “Yes, I’m starving.” I hope that came out the right way, because I really am hungry and a little light headed.

  “I know a place where we can grab a sandwich. It’s not too far from here, is that okay?”

  “Yeah, that sounds perfect.” Jake takes a left at the next road and we drive up into the hills. It doesn’t seem like we are headed in the direction of any town and all these roads seem to lead to private villas. He pulls up to a gate and punches in a code.

  “I thought we were going to a café or deli or something?”

  “Nah, too many people. This is better.” The gate opens and Jake pulls down one of the longest driveways I have ever seen. He stops in front of a villa and cuts the engine.

  “And where are we exactly?” I ask, stepping off the bike.

  “My place.” Jake smiles and jogs up the front steps.

  “Shut the front door, this is your house?”

  Wow, it’s huge.

  “Villa actually and yes.” Jake opens the door with another code and walks in. I’m still standing on the stairs gaping as he pokes his head out and asks, “You coming?”

  “Yeah, sorry.”

  I quickly walk up the steps and into the foyer. Everything is tile and wrought iron, and in the distance a set of glass doors on the far side of the living room overlook the ocean. The décor is very classic, keeping with the style of the home and the location. He has masculine touches everywhere and I love it. I wouldn’t change a thing.

  “You have a house on the Amalfi Coast? I can’t believe it.”

  Well I guess maybe I can.

  Jake moves across the living room with ease, looking so right in this place. “I thought we could eat some sandwiches out on the deck by the pool. There’s a great view of the water from out there.”

  “Okay.” I follow Jake into the kitchen and he takes off his jacket and lays it on the back of a stool. Placing my bag on the same stool, I take a seat.

  “On the other side of the counter now,” Jake taunts.

  “This is beautiful. How did you find this place?”

  He starts to take different items out of the refrigerator and places them on the counter. “Well, I came here ten years ago for the first time and I fell in love. In love with Italy. I knew if I ever had enough money I would get a house here. Five years ago I bought this place. It needed work, and I got it for a really good price. I renovated it over the last few years with my brother’s help and it has come along nicely. I really like being close to the water. It’s not the best place for surfing, but I can take the boat out and spend the day on the water. Back here it’s secluded enough that I have my privacy. Plus, it’s Italy. What’s not to love? I come here as often as possible.”

  I smile up at him. “This place really suits you. I love it.”

  “It’s way too big for me, but really great for entertaining guests.”

  I smile. “Do you mind if I use the restroom?” It has been a long day and I really have to pee.

  “Oh, sure, I’ll show you where it is.” Jake walks me to a guest bathroom on the other side of the foyer and opens the door for me, leaning over my shoulder to turn on the light. He’s really close and he inhales deeply while I hold my breath, trying my best not to attack.

  He backs up and I turn to close the door, looking up at him. “Thanks, Jake.”

  I do my business and when I wash my hands, I splash some cold water on my face.

  You are two friends having lunch together.

  It doesn’t mean anything.

  Get a grip, Jenna.

  Drying my face on one of the hand towels, I take a deep breath, appraising myself in the mirror. I attempt to fix my windblown hair and rinse my mouth out with some water. Turning back and forth in front of the mirror, I try to see my best angle.

  Why am I always dressed either in sweats or jeans when I run into Jake?

  Why can’t I be in a dress and have my makeup and hair done?

  I guess because I rarely wear makeup or dresses.

  Oh well. This is the best it’s going to get for now.

  On my way back to the kitchen, I check my phone and see I have three missed calls from my dad. I call him quickly from the foyer so that he doesn’t worry.

  “Hey, it’s me. Yes, I’m fine. I’m in Amalfi. I didn’t hear my phone. It’s beautiful here. I will. I will. I know. Okay. Yes. No. Yes, I miss you too. I love you too. Talk to you soon.”

  Looking up, I catch Jake retreating around the corner. He must have heard me talking.

  Retracing my steps, I find Jake in the kitchen gathering some bread, cheese, olives, and some other items together. “Sorry, I need to check in or he gets worried.”

  “No problem.” Jake points to the food he has assembled on the counter. “So, I have salami, prosciutto, cheese, some olives, and bread.”

  “Sounds good.” My stomach growls, I’m so hungry. Hopefully Jake can’t hear it.

  “What do you want to drink? I have some good Chianti or some Italian beer?”

  “Do you have any iced tea or lemonade?” I don’t want to drink. I want to be perfectly clear headed every second we are together.

  “Yeah, sure. Take these and I’ll grab some lemonade and we can walk down.”

  I take the two bags he has packed the food in and Jake grabs a bottle of sparkling Italian lemonade, napkins, and a blanket. I follow him through the glass doors leading to the back and stop to take in the yard. The garden is breathtaking.

  He must have one heck of a gardener.

  From what I can see, it’s multi-tiered with a long wood table and chairs on the top deck for eating. Seating areas with big white cushions surround two fire pits and there’s a large grass area with a hammock lazily swinging between two fruit trees. Vines of beautiful flowers climb on the overhang above my head. With the smell of lemon blossoms in the air, I follow Jake down a path to a lower level where there’s a pool and a Jacuzzi. The pool is a regular rectangle in shape, but it flows right to the edge of the hill where it appears to drop off the side. There are lounge chairs on each end of the pool where I assume we’ll sit, but Jake sets a blanket down on the ground in front of the pool so we face the ocean view. He grabs three cushions off the chairs on the far side of the pool and brings them to where I stand, placing them on the ground just behind the blanket.

  I set the bags on the ground and help smooth out the blanket.

  It seems we are going to have a little picnic here in his backyard.

  Kneeling down on one of the cushions, I take items out and place them on the blanket between us. “Jake, it really is beautiful here.”

  Unpacking the other containers he comments, “Yes, it is. I love it. I come here to get away.”

  We eat with our hands, smiling at one another between bites under the afternoon sun as it moves across the sky. I’m in awe of everything. Of Jake, that we are together having lunch in Italy, the beautiful view and this house.

  Getting thirsty, I grab the bottle of lemonade from between us and look around for a cup. “Umm?”

 
; “Oh shoot, I forgot the cups.” He starts to get up, but it’s a long walk back so I stop him.

  “It’s okay, not like I have cooties or anything. We can drink from the bottle.” I take a big gulp, not waiting for an answer, and a little spills down my chin. “Ahh. That is so good. I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”

  Jake looks at me with his mouth open and I think I may have grossed him out a little. I flush and look back out toward the water.

  Maybe I should have let him get the cups.

  Thank God I didn’t burp.

  “So…” I wonder if we are going to talk about the elephant in the room, or on the deck, so to speak.

  “So, I’m really glad you were able to get away from the café and come back to Italy like you wanted. Who’s running the business while you’re gone?”

  “Oh, I left Jerry in charge.”

  There’s a hesitant look on Jake’s face as he asks, “How have you been, Jen? It’s been a while since we’ve talked.”

  “Good, I’ve been good. Busy with work. You?” I want to know what he has been up to. I thought I didn’t, but now I don’t really understand how I could have gone so long without talking to him.

  Why didn’t I call him?

  Why didn’t he call me?

  “Yeah, me too,” he says looking down at his hands.

  I study Jake as he nervously glances up at me from under his lashes. Wondering what he could be nervous about, I’m taken by surprise when he says, “I’ve missed you, Jen.”

  Oh boy. Breathe.

  My heart thumps in my chest and I want to tell him I missed him too, but for some reason I hesitate. He’s waiting for me to respond and I don’t want to ruin our time together by getting into how or why we lost contact now, so I decide to leave it alone and change the subject.

  “I bet it’s great having this place to retreat to. It must be hard finding a place to relax.”

  Jake seems relieved I’ve changed the subject and smiles softly. “Sometimes I get lucky, like when I was with you in Maple Grove. No one seemed to recognize me there, so I never had to wrangle with a mob or the paparazzi. I thought you didn’t recognize me for the longest time.”

  My eyebrows go up in surprise. Smiling I ask, “Why, because I didn’t ask for your autograph?”