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“You remembered?”
“I wouldn’t want to ruin everything. You went to great lengths to tell me how much you hated alcohol.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I brought something for you.” She stared at him not knowing what to say as he pulled a small box out of thin air handing it to her over the table.
She took it from his waiting hands and opened it. Again he took her breath away, for inside lay a dazzling diamond necklace. She knew it matched the engagement ring. She glanced up to see him watching her closely.
“It’s beautiful, Duncan. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I have my wedding ring. You don’t need to buy me jewellery. I’m happy with everything else.” She lifted her finger to show him as well as gesturing around them at the home.
He shook his head. He took the box from her, extracting the necklace from its case. He took her hand kissing the wedding ring.
“I wanted to get you something. It would please me for you to wear this. I went to great lengths to get you the replica diamond in the necklace. May I put it on?” he asked.
“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“I know, Tess. I think it will take a great deal of time for us to grow accustomed to each other. May I?” He held the necklace up. She nodded her head. If it pleased him to see the item around her neck then she’d wear it for him.
He got up from his seat and moved round the back of her. She glanced down at both rings on her finger as he pushed her hair out of the way. His fingers touched the back of her neck. The clasp fixed in place. The diamond lay in the valley between her breasts. His hands held onto her shoulders, his breath beside her ear.
“I want you to wear this when we make love,” he said against her ear.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“I can’t wait to see it resting against your breasts as I take you.” Duncan moved away leaving her panting for more.
She picked up the diamond and twirled it in her fingers. The light caught the diamond and glistened in the room. Tears lodged in her throat at the beauty of his gift. He took his seat then grabbed her hand to kiss her open palm. His thumb brushed the pulse in her wrist.
“Thank you for wearing it.”
“It’s beautiful. I wish I’d gotten you something,” she said, hating the fact she couldn’t think of a single thing to give the man who had everything.
“I’ve got you. I’m happy, Tess. There is nothing else I’d want.”
She swallowed trying to be rid of the lump in her throat, but it seemed so tight.
The gesture and words he spoke were tender and romantic. Any ice or doubt remaining around her heart melted away. She was seeing Duncan James in a whole new light. He was her husband, and God help her, she believed she was in love with him already.
“I know we didn’t have the proper beginning most married couples have, but I want to do everything right. I don’t want you to doubt my intentions of making this a real marriage. I want us to get to know each other.” He kissed her fingers again. It was if he could not help but touch her. “This honeymoon is for us to get to know the real person inside.”
She nodded and took his hand to kiss his fingers the same way he’d done to her. She noticed he wore a simple wedding band. Her finger ran over the plain gold thinking she should have been the one to get his wedding band. Tess decided it would be something she would buy him. No matter how long her search took, she’d buy him a wedding band out of her own money. She was about to say as much to him when they were interrupted. The moment was lost.
Sofia came out with small bowls filled with soup. On closer inspection Tess noticed it was a tomato and pasta soup, simple food but prepared with love by a woman who cared. She took a spoonful, and it tasted amazing.
This is what she’d always dreamed about. To be in Italy, eating food, and being in the company of someone she was beginning to feel for. Duncan ticked all of her boxes at that present time.
“After tonight, Sofia will leave the cooking to you.”
She smiled, not wanting to spoil the moment with more questions. Instead, she dug into the glorious tasting food.
Bread was dotted about the table in small baskets. Tess took a huge chunk of ciabatta and dipped it into her soup.
“This sounds really strange, but this to me is perfect. I’ve always dreamt about visiting here and having something like this. I remember telling my Dad on one of my birthdays what I’d wished for. He’d laughed at my idealism and told me to start dreaming about something else. I’m so pleased I never gave up that dream. Thank you, Duncan. This means so much to me that you can’t even begin to imagine,” she said. Thinking about Erik didn’t affect her. She recalled the moment clearly in her mind, but she wouldn’t be pulled down by the past.
She felt so happy eating spoonfuls of soup, hoping for the moment to never end. Duncan made her feel as if she could open up about anything. Every once in a while she gazed down at her necklace. It was so beautiful. This real moment was more romantic than in her imagination.
“Well, I hope you enjoy this meal. Sofia is an amazing cook, and of course she’d be more than happy to cook with you. All you need to do is ask for her company. She loves food, shopping, and everything that requires her to spend money. Maybe you could learn some tricks from her?”
The soup was done with, and the bowls taken away by Sofia. She didn’t allow any help. Duncan poured Tess some more water into her glass as he took another glass of wine. Sofia came back minutes later with the main course, spaghetti carbonara, which was pasta with pancetta, eggs, and cream. Tess loved every mouthful. Duncan kept talking as they ate. Their conversation went all over the place. They talked food, culture, and politics. Neither gave an opinion that would start an argument. She listened to him as he expressed his passions along with the things he hated.
Sofia came in to take their plates as they talked. Tess didn’t want it to end.
Duncan changed from wine to water after his second glass.
The conversation went from politics, to celebrities, to finally a game where they asked all of their favourite things. She’d read about it in several books as a way people got to know each other.
“What was your favourite pet?” Tess asked.
“I never had a pet.”
“Really, no pet dog, or cat, or even a hamster?” Tess was amazed. Erik had allowed her to have pets. She believed he did it to make up for her lack of a mother. Her pets had ranged from dogs and cats to pigs and chickens. She smiled when she remembered the doubtful look on her father’s face when she had asked for a pet chicken so she could call him “Pecker”.
“No, no pet.”
“Why?”
“Let’s move on and not talk about my childhood. What is your favourite movie?”
Tess answered him watching as he chuckled. She asked him his movie. He didn’t have one.
“From the sounds of it, Mr. James, you don’t like a lot of things,” she said.
“There is a great deal I like, but I can find more useful and far pleasurable things to do with my time, Mrs. James.” He gave her a look that she knew meant he was talking about sex.
Feeling bold, she circled her glass then smiled. “Okay, Mr. James, what is your favourite position?” She ignored the blush in her cheeks or the cream soaking her panties as she stared at him.
Just as Duncan was about to answer, Sofia came out with dessert, a sweet delicious chocolate pudding. Now Tess knew she’d died and gone to heaven. There were few things she loved more than chocolate. Sofia placed hers in front of her. She dived into her portion and ate with relish even though she felt completely full.
It was much better than all the chocolate puddings she’d eaten over the years.
She finished her portion within minutes, sitting back in her chair, closing her eyes and sighing in absolute bliss. So much food and she’d consumed more than she was accustomed to. She loved every minute of the meal. She was unconsciously rubbing her stomach. When she heard Sofia clearing the plates, she opened her eyes. Tess thanked the older woman for the food. Sofia looked like she’d begin to purr at the praise. She didn’t let the other woman go until she’d given her full compliments. The meal had been perfect. She couldn’t think of a more enjoyable day to spend on her honeymoon.
“Thank you, Duncan. That was wonderful,” she said to him. She smiled at him showing her delight. She was so happy and peaceful.
“You’re welcome, Tess.” He returned her smile with one of his own. They retired to his sitting room across the hall from where they had just dined. The room was dark. He flicked a switch brightening the place up. Tess felt a little uncomfortable being in a room he used for business. She accepted the small brandy from him and sat in the corner of one of the sofas. It was not surprising that the sofa was uncomfortable. Tess sipped her brandy trying not to think about how different this room was from all the others in the villa.
