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“I apologize, Maya. I should have known better than to draw you without your knowledge.” In fact, he’d never done such a thing before. Never had he sculpted or sketched a human subject who wasn’t aware he was doing so.
What had gotten into him?
He could venture a guess. Something about this woman was bringing forth an awareness he didn’t want to acknowledge or examine. It made no sense.
Was it her sorrow he was drawn to? That had to be why. He felt bad for her. She was clearly hurting and lonely when she should have been enjoying one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
She didn’t look ready to accept his apology. In fact, she looked like she might be even angrier at him.
“You think I’m upset that you drew me?”
He could only shrug. If not that, then why?
“Never mind,” she bit out. “I guess it’s not important. Please tell me where my clothes are. And then I’ll be on my way.”
“Of course. I’ll bring everything out. It should all be dry by now.” It was downright silly of him, how disappointed he felt about her leaving. Or about how likely it was that he would never see her again.
“Thank you.” She seemed to hesitate, looking up at the ceiling. “Also, can you tell me how to get to my hotel?” she asked after a long sigh.
“The easiest way would be by boat. You can catch one by the bridge across the walk.”
“I’ll have to walk. I lost my bag in the fall. Along with all my money, credit cards and cell phone.” Her lips trembled as she spoke the words. She was clearly nearing her breaking point. There was no way he was going to leave her to her own devices under the circumstances. Particularly as he’d been the one to cause her latest upset.
“I can’t let you walk back by yourself. It’s already getting dark. You don’t even know your way.”
“I can manage. You’ve done more than enough.”
She was certainly a stubborn one. But what did she expect him to do? Let her walk out into the night without a cent on her and no idea where she was headed?
How would he ever live with himself if his actions were even slightly responsible for the injury of yet another female? It was hard enough to live with himself as it was.
“Let me at least arrange a boat ride for you. A water taxi can get you right to your destination without any stops along the way.” He held a hand up before she could argue. “I insist. I’ll call while you get dressed.”
Vito watched the internal battle as it played out in her eyes. Her pride versus common sense. He breathed a sigh of relief when she finally answered. It appeared common sense had won out.
“Fine. If you insist. And I’m only doing this for your peace of mind.”
Vito bit down on the amusement that bubbled up within his chest. To make it sound as if his arranging her transportation was a favor she was doing for him instead of the other way around. She really had no idea how magnificent she was. If she only knew.
And if only things were different between them, he mused. If only this charming, enigmatic woman who seemed to have reawakened his senses wasn’t about to walk out of his life for good.
As quickly as she’d fallen into it.
* * *
She couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Maya rolled over onto her stomach and adjusted the pillow under her head for at least the hundredth time since she’d crawled into her hotel room bed. She’d been certain she’d fall asleep within seconds after the harrowing day she’d had. And she definitely needed the rest. There’d be a long day ahead of her as she made the calls to replace her bank cards. She had no idea what to do about her cell phone.
But none of that had any bearing on why slumber was so stubbornly eluding her. It was because of him. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw a dark, enigmatic face with charcoal-black hair framing expressive, sad eyes.
She couldn’t begin to explain it. Here she was, jilted by her fiancé, newly single after losing the man she’d hoped to spend the rest of her life with. But she’d barely given Matt a thought since she left Vito’s studio. What exactly did that say about her? Or about the marriage she’d been about to enter into?
