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“I do, but I learned most on the job. I was twelve when my father first took me along to his office after school so I could learn firsthand.”
Wow, at twelve, I was still playing with my Barbie dolls, the cares of the world far away. No wonder Tiero is serious by nature. Being introduced at such a young age to the responsibilities of the adult world must have been tough.
“So I guess it would be a stupid question to ask if you want children?” I tease.
“Like every true blood Italian, I want a big family.” Tiero smiles sheepishly at me, then adds, “Do you want to make babies with me, Ella?”
I turn as red as a tomato at the suggestion. We haven’t even kissed yet. Just the thought of his hands on my body makes me go weak at the knees. Good thing I’m sitting down.
My throat goes dry, and I cough slightly to dislodge the frog that has taken up residence there.
Tiero throws his head back, laughing at my discomfort. He tries to reach for my hand, but I quickly grab my glass to drink away my embarrassment. The cool liquid sates my parched throat but does nothing to lower my body temperature or quench the thirst for the man sitting next to me.
Damn it, I’m slipping under his spell more and more.
“You look adorable when you blush, princess,” he teases.
It’s the first time tonight he’s called me that, and while I didn’t care for it much at first, I’ve grown to like it.
“You’re hilarious. Have you considered I might not want any kids?”
“Don’t you?” Tiero sounds surprised, turning more serious.
“Of course I do,” I admit softly. “But not for some time.”
Tiero’s smile returns, and he raises his glass and clinks it with mine.
“Are you going to follow in your dad’s footsteps and groom your kids for business from an early age?” I ask.
That would be a far cry from what I’d want for my children. I’d want to protect them from the cruelty and responsibilities of our world for as long as possible. Let them be kids.
I’m not sure why his answer matters so much to me, but I’m holding my breath in anticipation.
Am I actually hoping for a future with Tiero past this vacation?
If I’m being totally honest with myself, I think I am. The attraction between us is so strong I can’t help but think of what could be. There’s a familiarity that shouldn’t be there given we don’t know each other.
“No,” Tiero finally replies, bringing me out of my reverie. “I want my children to have a childhood filled with happy, carefree memories. Family business is serious and can wait till they are older.”
I sigh with relief at his response and lie to myself that I’m just happy for his future children.
After the heaviness of the previous topic, he asks me what Rhia and I have planned for the next day, and from there conversation flows easily.
The food is delicious, one of the best burgers I’ve ever had, and it surprises me to have found it in Sicily. Live music drifts in from outside, making the perfect backdrop for this wonderful evening.
We have several more drinks. We laugh and flirt, and over the course of the evening, we move closer and closer together. By the time we’re finished with dinner, our legs are touching, and we’re practically sharing the same breath.
When midnight strikes, we make our way back to the cars. Feeling relaxed and slightly buzzed, I snuggle against Tiero’s chest in the backseat when he pulls me close. His scent envelops me, and my blood heats.
To distract myself and regain a bit of self-control, I analyze the components of his aftershave. There’s a hint of sandalwood... I’ve always liked sandalwood.
When Rhia and I were teenagers, we dabbled with magic spells and the fragrant incense was always part of it.
Actually, even before that, when I was growing up in Austria, Ma would visit an old lady, Hilda was her name, and sometimes she would take me along. Her house always smelled of sandalwood. When she opened the door, she’d always greet us with a blessing and taught me to bless everyone and everything I came across. She said it creates magic. I never really understood, but it felt nice.
These ideas sprouted more with Rhia’s interest in spells. Once, we wrote our wish on a stick of sandalwood and burned it. It was meant to carry our hearts' desires to the heavens on the drifting smoke and set the wheels of destiny in motion.
I had wished for love... and the very next day, I met Donald, my first boyfriend. He rang my doorbell, delivering parcels. It was his part-time job while at university. I definitely believed in magic then.
