by L. M Anthony
For now, I would just get to know her. Then, maybe, we would see what happened next.
Chapter Nine
It didn’t surprise me that Laura was the last thing on my mind when I went to bed that night, her face smiling softly at me as it swam across my vision. As such, my dreams were full of hazy images, her light laugh burrowing deep into my psyche. When I woke up, the memory of her was the first thing I thought of.
I groaned and rolled over, burying my face in my pillow. I’d shot myself in the foot by spending so much time with Laura yesterday. Being in her company for a few hours had only cemented how amazing and perfect she was. Yet, I still didn’t know if she had any interest in me, and whether or not she had a thing with Lorenzo.
A knock sounded at my door, and I looked up.
“Sir, Gabriel has finished breakfast.” It was Pietro, summoning me from bed. I didn’t want to get up, but I wasn’t about to let Gabriel’s amazing food go to waste.
“Thanks,” I groaned back.
There wasn’t a reply, so I dragged myself out from under the covers and tugged a robe around my body, yawning. When I opened the door, I almost walked straight into Pietro, who was standing in the hall.
“Is everything alright?” I asked, surprised that he was still there.
“I don’t know,” Pietro said, giving me a stern look. “It is late in the morning, and you are reluctant to get up despite your normal habits of rising early.”
I glanced at my watch. It was far later than I’d expected.
“I’m taking a break,” I protested. “That’s what you wanted, right?”
Pietro frowned at me, and I felt like a child again. I scowled at him. It wasn’t fair. Pietro was under my employ, he shouldn’t be able to make me feel so guilty for trying to sidestep him.
“How was your outing with Laura?” Pietro asked casually as we headed for the stairs.
I almost missed a step.
“How did you know I was with Laura?” I asked.
“You mentioned, yesterday morning, that you had met the girl from the airport, and that her name was Laura,” Pietro said, his lips quirking up slightly. “You then left to check on her after your tumultuous night. You did not return for several hours, leading me to believe you spend that time with her, especially since you had planned no meetings for yesterday.”
“Good deduction,” I grumbled. As we headed downstairs, I caught a whiff of breakfast; it smelled amazing. “Yes, I was with Laura. We just hung out and had coffee. I wanted to make sure she was alright.”
“Are you going back to see her today?” Pietro asked.
Leave Pietro to ask the questions I didn’t want to answer right now. I sighed.
“I don’t know,” I said, looking away. “She’s really amazing, Pietro. But I think she’s interested in another guy.”
Lorenzo… I tried not to think about the warning Alessandro had given me. Laura was a big girl, she could take care of herself.
Except…
“I should have known better. But things have been pretty messed up for me; it’s why I came to Italy in the first place.”
I remembered Laura saying that as she told me what happened with Lorenzo. She had confessed that her mind wasn’t working as it normally did, and she was making decisions poorly. Should I at least warn her?
From the way she was speaking, though, she did know what Lorenzo was like. I scowled at the floor. What was it about that self-obsessed pretty boy that she liked so much?
“From what you said, she hasn’t been in Italy very long,” Pietro pointed out, breaking into my thoughts. “I doubt she has had time to form a very strong emotional connection to a man that has already hurt her.”
I hesitated. He wasn’t wrong. I didn’t get the impression that Laura liked Lorenzo very much. It was just that she wanted him in some way.
“It certainly wouldn’t hurt to throw your hat in the ring,” Pietro continued.
I glanced at the older man. He was staring straight ahead, a serene smile on his face. I’ve trusted Pietro’s advice for years; not once has he steered me wrong.
I smiled. “I might head out for a few hours today,” I said.
“Very well,” Pietro said with a nod. “I hope you have fun on your outing.”
I was going to go see Laura again; there was no way I wouldn’t have fun.
***
When Dina opened the door, she grinned.
“Back again?” she teased.
“If you don’t mind,” I said graciously. “Do you have plans for the day?”
“Nothing that can’t be rearranged,” Dina said with a wink. “I’m kind of tired after visiting my family yesterday.”
I liked Dina. From what I had seen of her, she was fiercely protective of Laura, cheerful and bubbly. She was a perfect match for Laura, who was more serious.
And, from the look of it, she completely approved of me courting Laura. It was nice to know that I had back up from her.
“Come on in,” she offered. “Laura’s still upstairs. Do you want me to get her?”
“No, I’ll wait,” I said, heading for the couch.
“Coffee?” Dina asked.
“I’m fine,” I laughed. “I’ll just sit here.”
Dina laughed. “Great. I’ll put the TV on. What are your plans for the day? Any ideas?”
“Is there anything in particular that Laura would like to do?” I asked. “She told me yesterday that she was interested in history, so I thought she might like learning more about Lecce.”
“She would love that.” Dina grinned as she flicked the TV on. “She was really interested in the history of this city.”
I smiled; it sounded like I had a plan, then.
In the end, I didn’t have to wait very long. I heard heavy footsteps on the stairs, and then Laura burst into view, looking upset, her hair flying around her. Dina and I stood up to greet her, and she skidded to a stop, shocked.
“Matteo!” she exclaimed.
“Hello, Laura,” I said with a smile, wondering what had upset her on the way down. “I was just speaking to Dina about your plans for the day. She said she was tired from yesterday. Would you like to accompany me on a trip to the city instead?”
Laura glanced at Dina with a frown, who grinned and winked. Laura sighed and then smiled.
I was thinking we could do some proper sightseeing,” I wheedled further, pleased when her eyes lit up. “Dina tells me that you are interested in the history of this area.”
“Very much,” Laura smiled. “Thanks, Matteo, I’d really enjoy that.”
I smiled back. “Did you want breakfast before we go?”
Laura opened her mouth to say something, then grimaced as Lorenzo appeared from the stairs, heading for the kitchen. I gave him a beady look; this was the man responsible for Laura being on the beach the other night.
“Can we get something on the go?” Laura asked, a pleading note in her voice.
“Sounds good,” I said. I didn’t want to stay here with Lorenzo, either.
“Have fun!” Dina grinned at us.
I wasn’t surprised when Lorenzo glared at me, seemingly insulted that I was taking Laura away. I glared back, silently telling him that he should have treated her better if he was going to get jealous when she spent time with others. I had every intention of pulling Laura from that man’s grasp.
Somehow, as I saw the way Laura glared at Lorenzo for scowling at me, I didn’t think it would be too hard.
***
Spending time with Laura was intoxicating. The hours passed in a whirl of activity; we visited the Piazza del Duomo, where Laura surprised me by having some knowledge of the area, proving that she had done her research.
After that, I took her to see the Basilica di Santa Croce, an old Roman church, and the Palazzo del Governo, Lecce’s government building that was once the Convento dei Celestini. Laura hung on to my every word as I told her about Giuseppe Zimbalo, once a prominent architect of the baroque style buildin
gs in Lecce.
Eventually, as the sun began going down, we ended up at the beach of Purity. As it got later, I decided to take her out there knowing that it was peaceful and amazingly beautiful. It was late when we arrived, and as the sun started to set over the water, we walked slowly across the sand. My hand brushed hers on occasion, and I fought the desire to slip her palm into mine.
I was content. This had been a wonderful day. Laura was a wonderful person. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to be around her. I tried to remind myself that she would be returning to America in three weeks. For now, though, I was just happy being in her company. I could figure the rest out when the time came.
“Thanks for bringing me out here,” Laura said softly, and I looked down at her. The orange hues of the sunset gleamed off her hair. “This place is beautiful. And it’s quiet at this time of the evening.”
“I thought some distance from Lecce might help,” I said. “And watching the sun set over the water is a beautiful thing.”
Though, it couldn’t compare to Laura.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She glanced up at me, and I finally looked away, not wanting to be caught staring. Laura shuffled closer, our arms brushing, and together we watched as the sun dipped down, seeming to set the water on fire with its brilliant colors.
“It is,” she breathed.
There was no one else I would rather see this with. I looked down at Laura again; her eyes were directed, now, to the water, an amazed look on her face. The sunset was mesmerizing… but so was Laura.
“The most beautiful thing in the world,” I said softly.
She didn’t look at me, unaware that my eyes were locked on her. Watching the dance of colors on her hair and skin was amazing.
I was lost. In that moment, I knew there was no going back for me. Laura had burrowed herself too firmly into my mind. I could only hope that there were more moments like this in our future.
***
I drove Laura home, still caught in the wonderful day we had just had. Laura was smiling and laughing, so happy as she watched the scenery pass the window, and that made me feel happy, too. I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt so relaxed and content.
Eventually, however, the day had to come to an end. I pulled up in front of the holiday home.
“Did you have a good day?” I asked Laura.
She looked at me, her expression giddy.
“It was amazing,” she said. “Thank you so much.”
“I’m glad,” I said.
I knew I shouldn’t, but in that moment, I couldn’t resist. I leaned in, and Laura’s breath caught, her eyes widening. Keeping my gaze calmly on her, I picked up her limp hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it.
“Thank you for accompanying me,” I said, her eyes searching my face in surprise. “If you ever…”
“Yes?” she whispered when I hesitated, unsure if I should offer.
Her face was red, likely from my proximity, but she hadn’t moved away yet. I smiled slightly. Before I knew what I was doing, the words tumbled out of my mouth. Her safety came before my interest in her, and I couldn’t stand the thought of her staying in a place where she felt unsafe with a man that had hurt her.
“I know you’re upset about having to return to Lorenzo,” I said quietly, and her eyes widened. “I know I’m only a stranger, but my home is always open if you want to escape.”
She was staring at me, barely breathing. I pulled back, and she jolted to attention.
“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind,” she stammered. “I’ll look forward to our next trip.”
Then she was gone, the door closing behind her. I watched her make it to the front door, and I smiled when she turned back and waved. When she finally disappeared into the house, I slowly backed out of the driveway.
I knew I had just given her a lot to think about. Maybe she was even confused about my offer. Still, I wouldn’t regret it. My offer would stand open for as long as she was in Lecce. If nothing else, I hoped that Laura and I could become friends; I enjoyed spending time with her and sharing my knowledge with her.
There was no denying it. In some way, I definitely wanted her in my life.
Chapter Ten
By the time I got home, my thoughts had scrambled slightly. Had I jumped the gun by offering her a place to stay? I still didn’t regret it, but maybe I should have thought it through a bit more. Laura was probably very weirded out by an almost stranger offering to open his home to her.
No second-guessing now, though. I’d made the offer, and I wasn’t going to take it back, no matter how it affected my relationship with Laura. I wanted her to feel safe, and I really wanted her away from Lorenzo.
I sighed and walked into the house. I wasn’t surprised to see Pietro still there, despite the late hour. I was surprised to see Chiara with him, almost bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Were the two of you waiting for me?” I asked. “Sorry I’m so late.”
“It’s no problem,” Chiara said, beaming at me. “You said you wanted to talk to us about our contracts?”
I paused. That was right; before I left for America, I had set a date for all my staff to talk about their current contracts so they could be updated. I had managed to get to everyone other than Chiara and Pietro before I left, and I had told them yesterday that I would speak to them tonight.
After everything with Laura, I’d completely forgotten.
“Sorry,” I said, wincing. “I should have been home earlier.”
“Not to worry,” Pietro said briskly. He gave me a small smile. “I’m pleased that you had a good day.”
I hadn’t said anything about my day, had I? Then I realized that I had been smiling as I came in; it wouldn’t take a genius to realize that something had gone well.
“Thank you,” I said. “Now, please wait in the living room, I’ll join you in a moment.”
I rushed up the stairs, ignoring the knowing smiles they both gave me. My staff had been with me long enough to know almost everything about me. With how much I had spoken about Laura recently, it wasn’t a surprise that they knew I was interested, and how much it would mean to me that the day had gone well.
I collected the contracts that I had left on my desk the day before and hurried back downstairs. Pietro was standing by the coffee table while Chiara was slouched on the couch, yawning widely.
“We’ll try and get through this quickly,” I assured her.
It didn’t take long, in the end. Like with the rest of my staff, I wanted to raise their current wages. With my company getting larger by the day, I had more than enough money to give all my employees a salary increase. After everything they had done for me, I refused to allow any of them to protest the almost obscene amount of money I was giving them, well aware that they would be hard-pressed to find another job with this sort of wage.
“You can put this money toward your studies,” I said to Chiara when she still opened her mouth to argue, fully awake once she had seen the figure I was presenting her with. “I won’t take no for an answer.”
Pietro just rolled his eyes; he had been through this with me many times over the years and had known what a contract renegotiation with me meant. He also knew that it was useless to do anything other than sign the new contract I had already written up.
“Seriously, there’s no way I’m going to want to leave when I finish studying,” Chiara grumbled as she signed. “You treat us too well.”
I laughed. For me, it was important that all my staff achieved their dreams, and I knew a little extra money would go a long way toward that. Increasing their wages every now and then didn’t hurt me, so there was no reason not to do it.
“Thank you, sir,” Pietro sighed, folding his new contract carefully and tucking it in a pocket. He glanced at me. “Any plans for tomorrow?”
“None right now,” I replied honestly. “Why?”
“We wanted
to know if you were going to see Laura again,” Chiara said, grinning.
I coughed at her bluntness while Pietro rolled his eyes again. Now I knew why the two of them had stayed back rather than just going home and speaking to me tomorrow.
“I haven’t decided,” I said. “She’s here in Italy with a friend. I should give the two of them some time to spend together, as well. They’re only here for three weeks.”
“Three weeks?” Chiara gasped. “That’s hardly very long at all!”
Yes, I was aware of that, and I was trying not to think about it too deeply.
“She lives in America with her parents,” I explained. “She’s only here on holiday.”
I looked away from the expression of sympathy that Chiara gave me. It was probably stupid of me to court a woman who lived in another country, but I honestly didn’t consider it a problem. I was always traveling anyway, and I went to America more than any other country. As such, it would be easy for me to drop in and visit Laura whenever I wanted.
I checked that thought. I hadn’t even discovered whether Laura was interested in a relationship with me yet, so I needed to slow down on future plans.
Maybe something crossed my face because Chiara paused and looked at me closely.
“Have you asked her out, yet?” she asked slowly.
“Chiara…” Pietro said warningly.
“I’m just asking,” she shot back, then glanced at me. “So? You obviously like this girl. What’s holding you back?”
I looked at Pietro. He was the only one I had told, so far, about Laura possibly being more interested in someone else. It wasn’t something to hide, though it was almost embarrassing that I had fallen so deeply for a woman who was likely unavailable.
“Laura… may have other interests,” I said finally when Pietro just shrugged at me.
Chiara’s expression creased for a moment. And then her face cleared and she covered her mouth with her hands.
“She likes… women?” she asked in a hushed voice.
I stared at her incredulously. Pietro snorted and hurriedly covered it with a cough.