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CHAPTER SEVEN
JUSTASSHEalways was, Antonietta was up long before the Sicilian winter sun. And for a moment she languished in bliss. Her head lay on Rafe’s chest and she listened to thethud, thud, thudof his heart, and in the silence of predawn she focussed only on the sheer pleasure of waking next to him.
The hurt that had become so familiar was held at bay when she was in his arms, and it was incredibly tempting to sink back into the sleep that beckoned. She fought it, though. The consequences of being caught in a guest’s bed had started to impinge and Antonietta forced her eyes open.
‘Rafe...’ She tried to untangle herself from the heavy arm that lay over her. ‘I had better head back to the cottage.’
‘Not yet,’ he said sleepily.
‘Yes,’ she insisted. ‘Your coffee will be delivered soon, and I had better not be here! I ought to leave while it’s still dark.’
‘I’ll walk you back.’
It was an offer without precedent, for while Rafe always ensured that his dates were seen home, it was generally under the care of his driver. Not that Antonietta could know that.
Even so, she immediately shook her head. ‘No, the staff will soon be starting to arrive,’ she said as she hauled herself from the warm bed and pulled the drapes open enough to allow her to see and scramble for her clothes. ‘I cannot be seen leaving your room.’
It really was unthinkable.
Most certainly she would lose her job. And, worse, her reputation in the village—already shaky at best—would flatline completely.
Last night it had felt so simple and straightforward, but the encroaching light of dawn cast shadows of doubt.
Rafe had promised one night, which meant their time was over, but how could this be goodbye? How did she simply walk out of his life as if their parting did not matter to her?
Because it did.
It very much did.
Rafe turned on the bedside light and Antonietta hurried to finish dressing. She turned her back to him, though not because she was suddenly shy—she was trying to hide her eyes. She did not want Rafe to glimpse, even for a second, that last night’s bravado had gone.
‘Tomorrow’ was here.
Which meant he was leaving today.
Antonietta couldn’t say that she hadn’t been warned. The potential for hurt had been clearly labelled, just as a pharmacist added stickers to a medicine bottle.
May cause heartbreak.
In case of sudden tears do not attempt conversation.
And so Antonietta did up the tiny zip on her dress, pulled on her shoes, and then turned to Rafe and attempted a smile. ‘Thank you for a wonderful night.’
He lay with his hands behind his head, watching her dress and wanting to haul her back into bed. Sex had made him hungry, and he would love nothing more than to confuse the chefs and cancel his strict order for coffee only, then tear into pastries and make love to her all over again.
‘Stay a little longer. I’ll order breakfast.’
‘I’m not hiding in the bathroom, Rafe. Anyway, I really do have to go to work.’
She did not want prolonged goodbyes and to be told by him that it had been good while it lasted.
Make thatgreat.
Or rather, make that the single best time of her entire life.
And it wasn’t just the sex, though her body felt deliciously bruised and awoken. More, it had been the talking and the dancing, and walking across the Old Monastery grounds hand in hand.
And, even more than the sum of all that, it had been the honesty she had found with him. Even if it was impossible to be honest now, and admit that leaving with a smile was the hardest thing she had ever done.
