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Nat and I got into the back seat, hurriedly closing the door behind us. I knew it wouldn’t do us any good to linger, and the longer I looked at Becca and Sloane, the harder it would be for me to get away.
“I wish we didn’t have to leave them,” Nat said, looking back at the house and raising her hand to wave.
“I know,” I said. “I wish we didn’t either. But I’m going to try to get them to the States soon.”
She bit down on her lip as we went down the winding road toward the main highway, riding toward Verona.
“Look,” I said, “I know it’s going to be hard, but I just want us to get to Verona and enjoy the last of our time here.”
Her blue eyes looked a million miles away, but eventually, she nodded, placing her hand in mine. “Okay,” she said, sighing as she set her head on my shoulder.
“Okay,” I said, pulling her into the crook of my arm. “We’ll be there soon. Try to rest.”
As we sped toward Verona, where the most famous love story of them all had played out, I kept thinking that Nat was meant to be by my side—forever. And I could definitely live with that.
Chapter Nineteen
NAT
The sun was setting on our last night in Verona, and I sat next to Spencer at a table in the piazza, sipping a glass of Barolo as a crowd of people flitted around us, speaking in musical Italian.
The week went exceptionally well and was revitalizing for my body and soul. I’d long since buried the unwanted emotions that’d been conjured the night of the wedding, which was something I was a little too good at doing.
I was still surprised Heidi affected me how she did, but I convinced myself I only let it get to me because I’d had my defenses down with Spencer. She happened to strike my most sensitive chord, but I was able to rein myself in and do what I always did: get over it.
However, I was on dangerous ground, and I knew it. I was not at all prepared to dig into my feelings when Spence found me crying in our room and still wasn’t. I wanted to avoid it entirely. So, I locked it away and moved on.
“Her mind drifts off, her eyes dazed with exotic beauty, and I am left to try and decipher the mysteries she holds,” Spencer’s humored, low and sexy voice said.
I smiled as I took another sip of wine, admiring the beauty of the dark-haired and intensely dark-eyed man sitting across from me. “Wouldn’t you love to know?” I teased.
He reclined some in his chair, his eyes looking like they were searching my soul as he studied me. His gaze sent a shiver throughout my body, heating my insides with anticipation of the amazing sex only this man could deliver.
I had no idea when I’d allowed myself to be open to him. The whole feeling of melting emotionally over a man was not in my personality. But somehow, I’d let him in, and I could only assume it was because I enjoyed how it made me feel.
His eyebrow arched, “Well, with us in the lovers’ capital of the world, I believe I would like to explore more of your body and your intelligent mind too.”
“You’re just letting all of this Shakespeare nonsense get into your head,” I countered, a defense tactic I was using with ease to prevent the conversation from going deeper.
“Perhaps,” he said. He glanced around the room, and then his eyes returned to mine, “I mean, we’ve been here nearly a week, and I have love on the brain.”
“Take it easy, Rhianna,” I said with a laugh. “There’ll be no talk of love, forbidden or not, tonight, sir.”
“Sir?” He grinned as he licked his wine-stained lips, “I suppose the atmosphere of this city has worked its way into your heart and soul as well?”
“Nah,” I played it off, “I’m not a believer in love.”
He frowned, and I grew concerned that my silly way of saying a great truth of mine upset him.
“Who hurt you?” he asked in his direct, businessman way.
I took another sip, my eyes searching for the proper answer without getting too deep. “No one, really,” I answered. “I guess I just feel like love is foolish. I’ve watched others get hurt by the emotion, and I don’t plan on allowing myself to be in that position.”
“How do you relate hurt with allowing yourself to feel or be loved by another person?”
“Staying up all night with a best friend whose heart has been shattered and trying to do everything I can to console her to no avail is how.”
“Breanne?” he questioned.
