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“Why the sudden change of heart?”
He continued staring out at the view, the sunset so pretty with lights coming on as far as the eye could see. “She might not stay with you … Listen, if I tell you this, it has to stay between us.”
“Fine,” I replied through gritted teeth.
He hesitated before dropping a bombshell. “She said her old employers might be coming back from the States, and they’re pressuring her to go back to work for them again.”
I got up, running my hand through my damp hair. This couldn’t be happening. “And she told you she’s going to leave us? When the fuck did she say this, Rupert?”
“Calm down. If she leaves, it won’t happen until November. Laura has made no decisions yet, but she’s considering it.” He tried to placate me.
“That’s why you want me to fuck with her, because you know she’ll be gone by the end of the year?” I asked, incredulous.
“Well, yeah. You guys sleep together with no strings attached, and then she’ll be gone. If you want to keep dating her, you technically won’t be her employer anymore so it won’t be inappropriate. Think about this, Spencer. It’s a good option. Laura believes she’s controlling the situation. No one will get hurt, and you can avoid a scandal. It’s a win-win if you ask me.”
I exhaled, still grappling with the shock that Laura was considering leaving. In a way, my brother was right. Sex could ease the tension between us. But I couldn’t fathom her leaving Maja. I wanted her more than I’d admit, and the thought of her moving on was unsettling.
“I’ll think about it, brother, and I appreciate you telling me this,” I said.
“I’m going to hit the sack. Your daughter has tired me out, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” He patted me on the back before walking away.
I remained seated on the sunlounger, gazing out at the breathtaking view of the island as I recalled the promise I’d made to myself a year ago: to have a woman willing to be the mother of my daughter and share my passion. Last year, I was afraid to take that step and I was so fed up with fucking around, but now I finally had a chance to change my life.
I was in touch with a few of my cousins already. Fabio, one of my second cousins, was taking his family on a cruise, so we planned to see each other once they came back. The next two weeks were very active, with security managing the planned trips admirably, but I made sure that we had a few relaxing days when we did nothing.
The day after our arrival, we all went sightseeing in Cefalù, a small but touristy town in the north. I had a feeling Laura was slowly falling in love with the island. She was amazed and really enjoyed visiting the towns and historical sites. Things between us were still unclear, and I thought sex might complicate everything further. I was the one being hesitant, not wanting to ruin things, so I made sure to be on my best behaviour.
Over the next two weeks, we visited Palermo, La Kalsa, Vucciria, Il Capo, and Albergheria. Sicilian culture fascinated Maja. This wasn’t the first time we had been to Italy, but the other night she’d told me that so far, this was her favourite trip because Laura was here with us. On top of that, the food was incredible. We had a full-time housekeeper, and I had to admit, her homemade food tasted out of this world. Throughout the day, when we travelled, we stopped at traditional restaurants that had been vetted beforehand and offered a private area for our group.
We stayed clear of busy places. I was having a great time with my family, and I wasn’t willing to disturb our dynamic. It seemed like even Rupert was enjoying himself.
Today, we were sunbathing on a tiny private beach near Syracuse. One of my security personnel, who was actually from there, had recommended the place. It was operated by a small hotel and not open to the public. This meant we didn’t have to worry about crowds, and we were able to secure a few hours of private bliss.
Marco, my security guy, had arranged it all. We entered the hotel through a VIP entrance and were led right out to the beach area. A true paradise. In the distance, I spotted at least three lifeguards and several staff members who were walking around with trays. It was a perfect spot for an afternoon chill-out in this heat.
“Spencer, this is truly amazing.” Laura sighed and touched my arm when we stood on the sand, looking out at the crystal-blue waters.
Even Maja seemed impressed.
Laura’s touch sent a jolt of heat through my groin. I was trying to remain calm lately, but that didn’t stop me from checking her out everywhere we went. She was so sexy …
“Come on, Daddy, I want to get in the water,” Maja said, yanking me out of my thoughts.
Laura smiled at me, then glanced at my arm as if she’d only just realised she had her hand on me, and quickly pulled away.
“Ladies first,” I said. “Just make sure you watch your step, Laura, as there are rocks in the water.”
She nodded, then followed my brother and Maja.
This was going to be so very hard.
Chapter Thirty
Laura
I was drowning! Water was getting into my nose and mouth. Panic crushed through me as I tried to reach the surface of the water, throwing my hands around and kicking my feet. This was pathetic, I didn’t want to die like this. Of all the places in the world, I would end my life on this beautiful island. I didn’t even realise how strong the current was, and the waves were pushing me farther up. I’d swum all the way here because I thought I’d seen Maja for a second.
Another waved crushed over me, and then a split second later someone was pulling me towards the shore. I was so disorientated that I was certain that for a second I must have blacked out, because it felt like an eternity before my feet moved through the sand, then a voice was saying to me, “Tieni duro, bella, adesso ci sono io.”1
