Stacy looks at me, her dark brown eyes speculative and knowing at the same time. “You like him, I can tell. Nothing gets byme.”
It’s true. Nothing tends to get by Stacy, having personally crossed-examined hundreds as a lawyer. But this time, she’s deadwrong.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I give her a frosty side-eye.
“Bullshit. When you wake up from that dream, please let me know. Anyway”—she gives a dismissive wave of her hand—“I need to get dressed. Try to live it upprincess-stylein Milan. And enjoy your time with Antonio. Stop getting caught up in thatI’ve sworn off mencrap. If it’s meant to be, you can’t fight it. Bye-bye,love.”
Hmm. Stacy and Emma can draw whatever conclusions they want. They’ll see. There will never be anything between me andAntonio.
Ever.
Antonio suggested I take time to rest up while he tends to some business obligations. So, I’ll spend the rest of the evening hunkered down in my suite, immersed in the hotel room’s majestic 18th Century décor and lavish amenities. The room is at least 1,200 square feet with hardwood floors and walls painted a dark tan with burgundy and white trim. Florentine-red-colored velvet curtains cover the huge bay window that overlooks a private garden courtyard. The living room has an enormous flat-screen television, a small sofa positioned near a bookshelf, full of books all about Italian culture, a small oval table, and two antique side chairs. The bedroom has a king-sized poster bed as well as another huge flat-screen television. The bathroom: to die for. Not only is there a huge Roman soaking tub, but there is a walk-in shower with five shower heads. Of course, there are many spa-like lotions, soaps, and shampoos, that I will gladly take back home toEmma.
I pull back the velvety curtains and peek outside. It’s dark now, but I can sense the excitementlooming.
Milan.
I can’t believe that I’m actuallyhere.
I would love to get out—venture about. But unfortunately, I have to rely on Antonio since I know nothing about the city. He promised to take me around a little after we visit the factory tomorrowmorning.
So, for now, my first night in Milan will be spent with me taking a long bubble bath, ordering a room-service dinner, then crashing out in the comfybed.
I close the curtain, switch off the lights in the living room, then head into the bathroom to draw the bath. I don’t even wait until it’s completely full before I undress and sink into the bubbles. I scoop up a mound of suds with the palm of my hand and blow, sending a flurry of bubbles into theair.
At this moment, I feel like Julia Roberts’s character in Pretty Woman. Wait. So does that make Antonio, Richard Gere’s character? He certainly was quite dashing in thatmovie.
Prince Charming-ish.
Yet, that movie hadfairy-tale endingwritten all over it, and almost everyone knows that I—Daniella Belle—am a big-time Scrooge when it comes to all things fairytales.
