by L. M Anthony
“Leave me alone,” she said, looking away. “I just want to sit here for a while.”
“While I would like to listen to you,” I said, unable to help the sharp sarcasm in my voice, “it isn’t safe to be out here on your own, especially dressed as you are.”
Laura’s hackles instantly raised as she glared at me again.
“What’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?!” she exclaimed.
Absolutely nothing, of course. She was beautiful. But…
“Your zipper isn’t done all the way up,” I said as bluntly as possible, hoping to spare her some embarrassment.
She instantly checked and flushed, mortified. I had seen the zipper, and all sorts of dark thoughts had already occurred to me about what might have happened tonight. She curled in on herself and a sob escaped her, prompting me to take a step back.
Laura threw a handful of sand at me, her shoulders shaking.
“Leave me alone!” she sobbed.
There was no way I was leaving her here, not like this. I moved back further, unsure about what to do next, but feeling the intense need to do something. She obviously didn’t want to talk, but what else was I meant to do?
“Laura,” I tried.
“Go away!” she yelled.
Already, talking wasn’t going to work. She was too upset and embarrassed to want to talk to me right now. I hesitated, and then it occurred to me what I could do. I knelt down beside her, and the sight of me in my nice clothes on the sand next to her stunned her enough that she dropped the next handful of sand that she had picked up.
“Would you like me to help you with the zip?” I asked as calmly as possible.
Laura stared at me, searching my face. Tears were escaping her beautiful eyes and, slowly, she nodded, turning her head away. I drew in a deep breath and then carefully pulled the zipper of her dress back up, taking care not to touch her. I had no idea what had happened, and I didn’t want to make her any more uncomfortable than she obviously already was.
Then I pulled away and waited. She didn’t move for a long moment. Then, Laura peered at me through her long hair.
“Thanks,” she said thickly. She looked away and then back at me. “I know this looks bad, but I should set the record straight; no one touched me tonight unless I wanted them to.”
A wave of relief washed through me. It was my primary concern, that someone had tried to assault her. While it didn’t answer the question of what had happened, at least I knew that she hadn’t been hurt in that way. I felt my shoulders relax.
“I’m glad,” I said. “Would you like to talk about it now?”
She gave me a small smile, which was far better than her glaring at me.
“Not really,” she said.
I’d expected that answer, and I had already formed a plan.
“Very well,” I said. I stood and casually brushed the sand off my clothes, uncaring that it was everywhere. “I know an ice cream parlor that would still be open. Would you like to go there?”
“What sort of ice cream parlor would be open at this time of night?” I asked, surprised.
“He runs a small, exclusive pub,” I said, smiling at her, pleased that I could take her mind off whatever was troubling her. “He sells ice cream during the day, and he always has it available at night, too, though not many are aware of it. Would you like some?”
Her eyes lit up, and I knew the answer before she said a thing.
“Yes, please,” she said. Her voice turned sunny. “Thank you, Matteo.”
I felt a pleasant warmth spread through me.
“It’s fine,” I said. “If you don’t mind walking along the beach, it’s just up there.” I looked her over, guessing that fresh air would be good for her right now. “I’d imagine that’s fine with you.”
She smiled, pleased. She shivered in the chilly wind as I pulled her to her feet and, without a second thought, I pulled my own coat off and draped it around her shoulders. She stared, surprised, and I coughed; I hadn’t thought that through.
“Sorry,” I said. “I hope you don’t mind.
“No…,” she said, and she slowly pulled the coat around her. “Thanks.”
Our trip up the beach was spent mostly in silence, but it was calm and pleasant. I glanced occasionally at Laura at my side; she was looking around at the beauty of her surroundings. She still looked upset, but she was more relaxed than before.
The bar was, of course, open, and the owner, Giuseppe, looked up as we entered with a toothy grin. Laura hung back.
“Hello!” he said in Italian. “How are you, Matteo?”
“I’m fine,” I said politely, glancing at Laura; she looked completely lost, which meant that she had no idea what was being said. “Any chance we could get some ice cream?”
“There’s plenty left over,” Giuseppe chortled. “What flavors?”
“What flavor would you like?” I asked Laura, switching to English. “He’s got a huge variety, so pick your favorite and we’ll see if he has it.”
“Wow,” she said. “Um… strawberry?”
“One strawberry and one chocolate mint, please,” I said to Giuseppe.
“Coming right up, Matteo!” Giuseppe said. He grinned at me. “By the way, thank you for your wine donation last month; it’s been a real help.”
“Have you sold any of them?” I asked curiously.
“A few,” he admitted. “But most of them are displayed here, on the back wall.” He laughed. “They’re some of our most expensive drinks, that’s for sure!”
I laughed too. Belle Rouge wines were some of the most expensive wines in the world. Just a single glass could sometimes cost more than some people could afford.
I glanced at Laura, hoping she didn’t feel too left out since she couldn’t follow the conversation, but she was simply standing quietly at my side, taking in her surroundings.
“Here,” Giuseppe said, holding out two ice cream cups. He held up his hand before I could pull out my wallet. “On the house, for those donations. Just take care of the girl, yeah? She seems unsettled.”
“She’s had a rough night,” I said simply. “Thanks, Giuseppe.”
I picked up the ice creams and left the bar. As we exited, I handed the strawberry to Laura, whose eyes lit up at the sight of it.
“Thank you,” she said, already digging her plastic spoon into it. “This is just what I needed.”
“Glad to be of help,” I said, amused. “Now, can I offer you a lift home?”
“I can get a taxi,” she said, shaking her head.
Was that how she got out here?
“I insist,” I said firmly. “No arguments. My car is parked up the beach, so we need to walk back.”
Laura looked like she was about to argue anyway, but then she closed her mouth and shrugged.
“Sounds good,” she agreed. “Lead the way.”
I smiled, pleased. I still didn’t know what happened, and part of me was burning to know, but that was Laura’s business, and I wasn’t going to try and force it out of her, not when she so clearly needed someone right now. So, I would drop her off at home and hope that everything was all right there.
Then, I would check up on her another day. Just to make sure.
Chapter Eight
I had resolved to wait a few days before going around to the holiday house Laura was staying in, but when I woke up the next morning, I knew I needed to see how she was. I couldn’t get the sight of her tear-stained face as she curled up tightly on the sand out of my mind. While she never told me exactly what had happened to her, I knew something bad had occurred. If it had anything to do with Lorenzo, I wanted to be there to make sure he didn’t hurt her again.
I knew I didn’t have the right to be so possessive. Laura hadn’t shown any indication that she was interested in me, not like I was interested in her. Last night, she had needed someone to listen to her, and I had provided comfort, but that didn’t mean anything. On top of that, I still didn’t know exactly what she fe
lt for Lorenzo, and it was hard to forget the dark, wanting look in her eyes last night at the party.
Staying away was for the best. If she was interested in Lorenzo, then I was only setting myself up for heartbreak. But, before I knew it, I was getting in my Bugatti Chiron and heading toward the house I had driven Laura to last night.
My heart was pounding as I remembered how she had looked at me before she left the car, equal parts gratitude and confusion, as though she wasn’t sure what was going on.
The drive wasn’t long, and I pulled into the short driveway. The house, which had looked ominous in the middle of the night, was brighter and more quaint in the daylight. I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, still not sure if I was doing the right thing by coming back.
Well, I was here now. It wouldn’t hurt just to see how Laura was feeling.
I walked to the door, my stride more confident than I felt. I could hear movement and the soft murmur of voices on the other side of the door, and I knocked firmly before I could talk myself out of it.
A few moments later, Laura, looking confused, opened the door. The way her eyes widened in shock when she saw me was almost comical, and I might have smiled if I wasn’t trying so hard not to show how nervous I was.
“Matteo!” she squeaked. “What are you doing here?” I raised an eyebrow, bemused at the question, and she blushed, the redness spreading endearingly across her cheeks. “I mean, it’s good to see you again.”
“You as well,” I said politely. Behind her, I could see her dark-haired friend, Dina, peering curiously from the kitchen. “I was in the area, and I wanted to make sure you were alright after last night.”
A complete lie, of course; I definitely hadn’t been “in the area.” But it was worth it for the way Laura’s expression softened in watery gratitude as she smiled at me. She definitely looked much better than she did last night, and maybe more comfortable, as she was in day clothes with messy hair.
“Would you like to come in?” she asked.
“Thank you,” I said, stepping inside, pleased at the invitation.
Dina looked surprised to see me, and I suddenly remembered what Laura had said last night about me being rude to her. I hadn’t meant to be rude, but I still felt ashamed when I saw her.
“Matteo,” she said, blinking. “What are you doing here?”
I wasn’t surprised they’d both asked; neither of them would have expected me this morning, and for good reason. I was still a stranger to them both. Laura snickered next to me, likely finding humor in the situation.
“I wanted to make sure Laura was alright,” I said. I smiled at her apologetically. “Now that I’m here, I should also offer you an apology for last night. I was very rude to you, and I’m sorry about that.”
Dina looked even more surprised at my words. Then, she started to smile, a mischievous expression that set me on edge and made Laura tense.
“That’s okay, I shouldn’t have whisked your princess away like that,” she teased.
Laura was clearly embarrassed. She covered her burning face in her hands. But I just smiled at Dina, not embarrassed at all.
She wasn’t entirely wrong, after all.
“Indeed,” I said, and I know I wasn’t imagining the impressed look that flashed across Dina’s face at my reply.
I glanced at Laura. She looked uncomfortable. She also looked tired, which wasn’t surprising considering how late she had gotten to bed. My intention had been to come here and briefly see how she was. Now that I was here, I didn’t want to leave again. So I made a split-second decision.
“Speaking of whisking away, do the two of you have plans?” I continued. “I was hoping to ask Laura out to coffee.”
Laura stared at me and Dina beamed, her grin a megawatt glow.
“We were just going to do some exploring, nothing concrete!” she said, almost vibrating in her excitement. “Go ahead, and take her for the day!”
Laura swung around to stare at Dina as well. For a moment, I worried that she was going to refuse. She had every right to, especially if she already knew what she wanted to do with her day. But then, her expression turned thoughtful as she glanced at me.
“Are you sure?” she asked Dina slowly.
Dina grinned, and I felt like joining her.
“Sure as sure can be,” she said. “Go on, Laura. We have three weeks to do stuff together.”
I made a mental note of that time frame. I knew Laura was only here on vacation, and it was nice to get confirmation of how long she would be in Italy.
“You could come along, if you wanted,” I said to Dina. I didn’t really want her to come along, but I also didn’t want to get between the two young women.
Dina shook her head. “Thanks for offering, but I’m fine. I’ll go visit some family instead.”
Laura relaxed on hearing that Dina had a plan. Then a smile slowly spread across her face.
“Thanks, Dina,” she said.
“Go have fun,” Dina said with a wink.
Dina waved us off, and I led Laura out of the house, pleased. I hadn’t expected to get Laura all to myself for a few hours. I glanced at her and was relieved to see she didn’t seem upset by the change in plans.
“I thought you had a black car,” she said in surprise when she saw the silver car in the driveway.
I paused. That was right… I hadn’t told Laura who I was yet. It was on the tip of my tongue to say something. But I stopped myself. If there was anything I had learned over the years, it was that money had a way of ruining everything. Laura might seem nice, but what if she changed the moment she realized just how much I was worth? Many of my problems with Martina had been because she had originally pursued me because of my money.
No… it was too early to tell Laura that I was a billionaire. I might like her, but I still knew next to nothing about her.
“I do,” I said, not looking at her.
I could feel her staring at me, but she didn’t press the matter as she got into the car. There was a curious look on her face, but she just smiled at me as I started the engine.
I hoped that was a good sign. I still didn’t know where a relationship with Laura would go, or even if a relationship with her was possible, but I very much wanted to be able to trust her. It was a feeling I hadn’t felt since Martina, and it was terrifying in the face of everything that had gone wrong there, but…
Maybe it was time to let all that go.
***
Laura was easy to talk to, I found. Before I knew it, we were exchanging the worst stories about ourselves. She told me about her parents’ divorce back in America, a closed expression on her face and her voice tight, and I told her a little about Martina.
I also got a brief explanation of what had happened last night. It horrified me that Lorenzo would be so crass as to spring a threesome on Laura without asking her first. I was also trying not to think about what it meant that Laura was willing to sleep with Lorenzo last night before she found out another woman involved.
One thing that was for sure, though, was that Laura was not well. As she spoke about her parents, there was a deep hurt in her eyes that reminded me of the look that had stared back at me every time I looked in the mirror after Marina hurt me so badly. For her, the worst had happened, and people that she had trusted had let her down. I understood that feeling very well.
It made me feel far closer to Laura than I should have, a feeling that I could see reflected back in her eyes as I spoke about my own past. Somehow, we had found in each other a kindred spirit, another person who understood pain and was still haunted by it on some level.
But that conversation was too heavy for a first outing (I wasn’t sure if I could classify it as a date, no matter how much it felt like one), so I turned the conversation to something lighter.
“Do you have a job back in America?” I asked.
“I work at an electronics store,” Laura said with a grateful smile, seizing the topic. “It’s lots of fun sometimes, espec
ially when I can get new computers and phones at a discounted price.” She laughed suddenly. “But it can be frustrating when people come in claiming something’s wrong with their computer and don’t want to listen when I try to tell them they’re not pressing the right button.”
“Does that happen often?” I asked curiously.
“More often than you would expect,” Laura said dryly. “When I’m not there, I’m studying; I’m a history major.”
“Do you enjoy history?” I asked.
“I love it,” Laura said. Her eyes lit up. “It’s amazing. The different cultures from so long ago, everything that was left behind… I love learning about it all.” Her smile turned sheepish. “Though, I’m still not sure what to do with it. I don’t like archeology, and I don’t think I want to be a history teacher.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” I said. “In the meantime, I enjoy history too, and I know quite a lot about Lecce. If you ever want my knowledge, I’d be happy to show you around.”
“That would be amazing,” Laura said excitedly. She beamed at me. “What about you? What do you do for work?”
I hesitated. I didn’t want to lie, but I wasn’t ready to tell her the truth.
“I work for a large company,” I said casually. “In a… supervisor’s role.”
Technically, not a lie.
“You know, I figured you must be part of some big company with those fancy cars of yours,” Laura grinned.
She propped her chin on her hand. Her hair tumbled down around her shoulders, and the sun was gleaming on the blonde locks. My breath caught; she was beautiful. I would sit here forever with her if I could.
It would be harder than ever, now, to pull myself away from her. She was smart, witty and intriguing, and I knew I wanted to spend even more time with her. She was only in Italy for three weeks; if I wanted this amazing woman in my life, I needed to make an impression.
I dragged my thoughts back. I still didn’t know what was going on with Lorenzo, and she had just told me she wasn’t in the right place for a relationship. I needed to take a step back; crowding her with hopes and expectations would only push her away.