Page 47 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

The driver was waiting outside. I was grateful for the efficiency of it all. He took the bag and loaded it into the trunk while Cleo and I slid into the back seat.

The partition was up. We had privacy. She turned to face me, pulling off her sunglasses and revealing she hadn’t put on makeup. I really loved the natural look on her. She was beautiful. “Okay. We’re in the car. Start talking.”

The car pulled into Roman traffic, which operated on a system of logic I would never understand, which was why I chose to trust the driver to navigate.

“I want to apologize for the manner in which I got you here,” I said. “A phone call at three in the morning is bold.”

“More like completely unhinged.”

“Slightly informal.”

“Mm.” She was already looking out the window, taking in the city while also trying to interrogate me. “Why am I here, Cash?”

“Something came up in my meeting with the client yesterday,” I said. “There’s a charity fundraiser gala—tomorrow night—and my presence has been requested in a specific capacity. I needed someone I could trust on short notice, and you were the person I thought of.”

She turned to look at me. “What is the specific capacity? That sounds sketchy as hell.”

“I’ll explain everything when we get to the hotel. It’s easier to walk through the full picture there. Basically, I need to impress a client. And with you by my side, I think I can do that.”

“You’re not settling my nerves,” she said. “But I’m going to let you keep your little secret for now because this place is amazing.” She was looking out the window. “Are they looking to rebrand? The client?”

“Possibly. I’m still assessing the situation.”

“You’re not going to give me a hint.”

“At the hotel.” I watched her take in the city. I loved that I was able to give her this experience. I wanted her to enjoy it now before I told her my plan.

“It’s different than I expected,” she said, mostly to herself.

“Good different or bad different?”

“Just different.” She leaned slightly toward the glass. “It’s older. Like, obviously I knew it was old. But it feels old. Like the buildings are watching you.”

I shrugged. “Maybe they are. How was dress shopping?”

“Good. Found her a dress. It will be ready two weeks before the wedding, which is nothing short of a miracle.”

“Good. I’m sure that’s a relief.”

“Huge. That was the biggest challenge. She looked beautiful in it. Austin is going to lose his mind when he sees her.”

“I’m sure he will.”

“I told her I was thinking about shifting gears, like with my career.”

That was a surprise. “Yeah? And how’d she take it?”

“She was surprised. Maybe a little hurt. I promised her I wasn’t going anywhere until after the wedding. I told her I was coming here.”

“And what did she have to say about that?”

“Have fun.”

I smiled. “Good.”

The driver pulled under the portico of the hotel. It was tucked into a quiet corner of the city’s most expensive district, behind a wall of old stone and an iron gate that opened onto a courtyard. The place was luxury on steroids. Exclusive. Only the wealthiest and most famous stayed there. I appreciated the privacy.

The grounds were more like a park than a typical hotel. Ponds with lily pads. Benches under cypress trees. A bar set up under shaded canopies strung with lights. Standing tables where two guests were having an afternoon drink.