by Layla Hagen
Cole stepped right next to me, following my hand with his gaze.
“Yes.”
“They have excellent sandwiches. Local stuff. It’s the best in the city.”
“Recommended by guides?”
“Yes, but also tested by yours truly. I can confirm it’s delicious. I stalked a few bloggers, and they also recommended it.”
Cole cocked his head toward me, and I sucked in a breath. I couldn’t believe his nearness had this effect on me. I’d been rather immune to masculine charm over the past two years. It hadn’t even been a conscious choice. Since losing Ryan, it was as if there was a thick veil between me and men.
“You take research very seriously.”
“I don’t get out much, so when I do, I want to make the most of it.”
“I’m tempted to ask you about New York. Bet you know more than I do, and I’ve lived there for twenty years.”
“Not really. My work schedule in New York is insane. I mostly sleep in my free time, so I don’t get to see much of the city.”
I’d read a few guides before moving, but honestly, I’d come to New York because I’d desperately needed a change of scenery, a fresh start.
“I know we’ve had dinner, but I could eat a porchetta sandwich.” My mouth was already watering at the prospect. I kept glancing at the sandwich shop. It was open, of course, because Rome was alive until well past midnight.
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Sure, why not?”
“You’re making fun of me.”
He shook his head, but that playful glint in his eyes was not fooling me.
“Careful, Mr. Winchester. I’m still building that first impression.”
“Ms. Smith, you’re a tough customer.” He trained those blue eyes on me, wiping away every thought. “Come on, let’s get your sandwich.”
Guess who ordered food for himself? That’s right, Cole. I was being a bad influence on him. His sandwich was with mortadella. They didn’t have any place to sit down, so we just leaned outside against a wooden railing, devouring our food. This piazza too was full of vendors flashing fluorescent items, calling out at tourists.
“Holy shit, this is good,” Cole exclaimed.
“You sound so surprised. Again. Did you think I was going to feed you something bad?”
“Not at all, hot doc.”
I laughed. “Hot doc, really?”
“It’s been on the tip of my tongue all evening. Slipped out after all. Despite my best efforts to make an excellent first impression.”
“You’re doing okay so far,” I assured him.
“Okay? I never settle for okay, Laney.”
My heart rate accelerated. I cast my gaze away and didn’t look at him again until I finished my sandwich.
“What’s our next stop?” he asked.
“The Trevi Fountain. It will also be the last one.”
“Don’t want to give me too many chances to make the best first impression?”
I grinned. “It’s not that, but I need to get up early tomorrow.”
“You have a shift?”
“No. I’m doing a tour of the Colosseum.”
“Thought you already saw the city.”
“Saved the best for last. I’m so excited. I want to read up a bit on it just before the tour. It’s guided, so there will be someone explaining everything, but if I read about it before I hear it, I remember it even better.”
“Fuck, you’re cute. All excited about a tour.”
“Ah, so Isabelle was right. You’re a charmer through and through.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
I tapped my temple. “Just filing it all here. Details for that first impression.”
His eyes flashed. I wiggled my eyebrows, pointing to my right.
“That’s the way to Trevi,” I said.
The street was even narrower than the one we’d come from. We walked side by side. Luckily, the street wasn’t too crowded, though I knew that would change the closer we got to the fountain.
“You know that without looking at the map?”
“I have a good sense of direction.”
“You impress me more with every second, doc.”
“Good to know.”
“Now I get why my sisters love Rome,” he murmured.
“When were they here?”
“Years ago. They were so psyched when they found out I was coming. Now I’m second-guessing the souvenirs I bought them.”
Who was this guy? He looked like someone who never second-guessed himself about anything. His body language was one hundred percent self-confident (and two hundred percent sexy).
“There are a ton of kiosks with souvenirs and street vendors literally everywhere. You’ll find something else if you want to.”
My body was so wired up from his proximity that I didn’t know how to loosen up. And when my heel caught in a cobblestone and he steadied me with a strong hand on my back? Heat gathered in my belly, then spread through my limbs with lighting speed.
We arrived at the fountain ten minutes later. It was even more crowded than I’d predicted. Hundreds of people were gathered around it, taking pictures with selfie sticks and throwing coins in the water. There was also an excellent gelato shop right across from it, in a building painted in a lovely shade of terra-cotta, but I was determined not to look at it for too long.
I groaned as we made our way closer to the fountain through the crowd. “It’s best if you can come super early tomorrow to see it. It’s literally empty at seven o’clock.”
Cole’s eyes bulged. “No way am I waking up that early. I guess this is it. It’s fantastic.”
“I know, right?”
“Which god is that in the chariot?” He pointed to the statue on top of the fountain.
“Neptune. The god of the sea. Those are horses pulling the carriage—one calm and one angry.”
“Why angry?”
“Well, the sea is moody, and I think the horses are supposed to represent that. Oh, and those below are tritons. That building behind is the Palazzo Poli.”
“In baroque style,” he said.
“Oh, you’ve read about it?”
“No, but since I work in real estate, I notice architecture styles. Materials too—like the travertine stone the fountain is made of. By the way, there’s an ice-cream shop back there. Want some?” he asked.
My jaw dropped. “Why would you point that out?”
“I saw you looking at it out of the corner of your eye. Like you were trying to resist it.”
“And you’d thought you’d give me a push straight down Temptation Road?”
He dropped his gaze to my mouth before looking over my shoulder, smiling as if he’d just thought of a joke. Why was he willing to indulge me in everything like this?
“If you want to put it that way. Besides, they have seats. We can watch the fountain from there.”
Five minutes later, I was happily eating my pistachio ice cream with the tiny spoon. It was a stroke of incredible luck that these seats had been empty. You couldn’t really see the fountain because of the crowd, but this was good enough. The smell of sugar was thick in the air.
“Tonight was a food festival,” I muttered. I was so very full, but also perfectly happy. “It’s really late. I need to get going to my place. Rolling, most likely. You know how to get to your hotel?”
When Cole didn’t answer, I turned to look at him and was startled by the intensity in his eyes.
“Laney, I want to crash your plans tomorrow. I want to come on your tour.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you just say you saved the best for last? What’s the one thing you’d recommend I see?”
“The Colosseum,” I admitted.
“See?”
His gaze grew more intense by the second. Leaning over the table, he put one forearm on it, staring me straight in the eyes. My heart rate was out of control just because he was looking at me. How was I supposed to spend the
whole day with him tomorrow during the tour?
“Right,” I said. “First things first. We need to book you on my tour.”
“How long is it?”
“Four hours.”
His eyes bulged. “You don’t do anything in half measures, do you?”
“Never. Now let me check if there are still tickets.” I got my phone out and clicked the link to this particular tour on the company’s website.
“You’re lucky. They’ve still got a spot.”
I bought the ticket right away, almost breathless at the thought that someone else could take it. Hmm... I really was looking forward to our day together more than I should.
“All done. You can pay the guide directly tomorrow,” I announced, looking up. There was a playful glint in his eyes, but underneath all that playfulness was an intensity that I couldn’t even describe.
“Good. I’m looking forward to rounding up that first impression,” he said.
“Nah, sorry about that. You only got one shot.”
“So, what’s the verdict?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” I teased. “After a good night’s sleep, I’m always more objective. Wouldn’t want to be hasty.”
“Course not.”
“Well, I’m off, then.”
“I’m going to stay out here for a while longer. It’s relaxing.”
“I know, right? Good night,” I said as I got up from my seat. “Anyway, since the tour starts at one, let’s meet ten minutes earlier in front of the Colosseum. Don’t be late.”
“No chance in hell of that. Good night, Laney.” He looked straight at me with his mouth curled in a half smile.
I felt Cole’s gaze while I made my way through the crowd. I looked over my shoulder just before the gelateria disappeared from my view, and sure enough, his eyes were on me. I fanned myself a bit as I stepped into a side street.
There was a labyrinth of narrow streets right until I reached Via Roma, one of the main traffic roads in the city. I could Uber to my apartment, which was near the Colosseum, but why not take advantage of this amazing evening? It was a twenty-five-minute walk, but I had enough calories to burn. I loved strolling around. Rome was seriously an open-air museum.
Even my apartment had an old-world charm, with high ceilings, huge windows, and tiled floors. My landlady was a lovely elderly woman who kept bringing me coffee whenever I was home. She lived just above.
I called Isabelle on the way because it was still daytime in New York. There was a six-hour time difference.
“Hey, girl,” she greeted. “What are you up to?”
“Heading to my apartment after a long evening with Cole.”
“How was it?”
“I had a lot of fun, and you were right. He’s definitely a charmer. I’m not sure if he’s flirting with me or not.”
“If you have to question it, then the answer is yes. Yes, he was.”
“Thanks for clarifying that. How are you doing with the move?”
“It’s fun, and I have all the Winchesters, except Cole, helping me. But don’t change the subject.”
“I wasn’t.” Sort of.
“You know... I bet if you wanted, Cole wouldn’t mind some action under the sheets.”
I laughed, instinctively looking around, but of course no one could hear. Only Isabelle could say that in a conversational tone.
“Isabelle...,” I muttered.
“Okay, fine. That was a stretch for you. But I just want you to be happy. How about a kiss?”
“I just met the guy.”
“Well, I know him and can assure you he’s not a serial killer. Also, he’s probably real good at it. Has tons of experience. What’s the worst that can happen? Things get awkward? He’s getting on a plane tomorrow night, and New York is big enough that you don’t have to see him again... unless you want to.”
“You had this speech prepared?”
“Nope, it all came to me just now. The more I think about it, the more sense it makes. It’s time for you to move on, hun. Be happy again. You deserve it.”
“You’re not giving this a rest, huh?”
“That’s what friends are for. Start small. With a kiss.”
“Well, I’m hanging up before you come up with more ideas.”
Translation: before I told her that I was seeing him again tomorrow. I was certain she’d talk my ear off. I loved Isabelle. I knew she had my best interest at heart, but I hadn’t been intimate with a man in two years, and I wasn’t sure that could change anytime soon. Love and sex were part of a happy past that honestly seemed to belong to someone else.
But a kiss? I grinned, strolling with even more energy than before.
Oh, yeah. That definitely deserved some thought.
Chapter Three
Laney
Next morning, I had a ton of energy, even before my landlady, Giovanna, brought my morning espresso and my usual breakfast—mozzarella with tomatoes. I ate at the small round table in my living room, glancing out the window. The bougainvillea growing on one side of the facade was starting to bloom, and I could even see one of those gorgeous pink flowers from my window. I tore my gaze away with great effort, focusing on the thick Lonely Planet travel guide in my lap. I had three hours until the tour started.
My life in New York was so different from this. I left my apartment at five thirty in the morning, and by the time I was back home, I was too tired to do anything more than sleep. I was grateful that the hospital here was going easy on us overseas interns, and I made the best of my free time. Saturday was my favorite day of the week. Today I was even more excited than usual.
I took stock of my appearance before leaving. My hair was up in a ponytail, my jeans, simple white sweater, and sneakers ready for a day of exploration.
I swung a black leather backpack over my shoulder and stopped near a mini-market on the way that made sandwiches with focaccia and mozzarella. Since the tour was four hours, we might need a snack in between. I also bought water.
When I arrived at the Colosseum, Cole wasn’t there yet. My gaze fell on a bride. The groom was right next to her, and they were having their picture taken. Oh, they looked so beautiful. She was wearing a mermaid-style dress, and her hair was braided on one side. She was smiling at her husband from ear to ear. He was looking at her with pure adoration. I pressed two fingers on my sternum, sighing. Ryan, my late husband, had left this huge hole in my chest. Two years had passed since I lost him, and yet that hole was still there. As my friend—and a very good therapist—Isabelle kept telling me I had to move on. I knew that she was right, of course. I wanted to move on, but it was easier said than done.
I’d met Ryan in my first year of college, in Philly. He’d been even more of a geek than me and pretty shy. It took him four years to ask me out. When he finally did, he took me to a rerun of Star Wars, Episode III. The whole thing had bored me to tears, but I’d discovered that I liked Ryan very much. He’d made me laugh, and we’d talked until the early hours of the morning, crammed in his one-person bed in the student dorm.
We married in my fourth year of med school and had lived in an on-campus apartment. He’d been a post-grad in biochem. In my last year of med school, we’d started looking at houses. He’d enrolled in a PhD program, and we’d decided to stay in Philly. We’d had so many dreams and wanted so many kids.
We’d only been married for six months when he passed away from a heart attack. He’d been suffering from a rare heart condition that had never been diagnosed. The shock of it all had just numbed me. I barely remembered those last few months in Philly when I’d simply gone through the motions. I’d grabbed at the chance to move to New York like the lifeline it had been. I couldn’t stay in Philly or buy a house there anymore. I didn’t want anything that reminded me of the life we had, or the one we’d dreamed about having.
With a sigh, I glanced away from the couple. I checked the perimeter around the main entrance, looking for Cole. Then I took out my phone to see if I had messages
from him and discovered that Isabelle had sent me pictures of her new apartment last night. Oh, I was so jealous that I hadn’t been there to celebrate this milestone with her.
“Morning, doc.”
I startled, looking up. Cole stood before me. In the morning light, he looked even more gorgeous—all masculine and... charming. He was smiling widely, and just like that, I felt the corners of my mouth tip up, even though I’d been melancholic a few minutes ago. How could his mood influence me so easily?
“Hey! Was looking at some pics Isabelle sent me of her new apartment.”
“That’s right. My siblings were helping her move yesterday. Did you talk to her?”
“Yeah, on my way home yesterday. Can’t wait to be back in New York, help her out with things. It’s daunting to move to a new city.”
“She’s got my family, though. And you. So... brought her up to date?” He wiggled his eyebrows. This man!
“Yes. Told her about this guy I met last night. Very fun and willing to indulge my culinary wishes.”
“Sounds like you like him.”
I laughed, tilting my head playfully. “Just a little bit.”
“Poor schmuck. He’s got to up his game, doesn’t he?”
Hmm... that hadn’t been the answer I’d expected, but I suddenly wanted to know what that would entail.
“What’s with that smile?” he asked, eyes focused on me.
“Nothing you need to know.”
He took one step closer. “Tell. Me.”
Holy shit, had he meant to sound playful? Because it had come out all bossy. He was used to being in charge, to get everyone to do his bidding, that was for sure.
“Well, she did tell me about your nickname, and she wanted to know if you do it justice.”
“And what’s the verdict?”
I winked, suddenly feeling a little feisty. “I’ll reserve judgment until after the tour.”
“Game on, Ms. Smith.”
“No, no. Tour on. Game off.”
“We’ll see about that.”