AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s the only reason you’re here?”
She frowned. “Why else would I be?”
He stared at her a moment longer before flashing her the tiniest smile.
“I’m going with you.”
For a moment, she just gazed at him, the words not making sense.
“Go with me?” she repeated.
“To the Spanish Steps.”
Her pulse kicked into overdrive as she blinked at him like a deer caught in the glare of headlights. Conflict raged inside her chest. More time spent in his company was risky given the roller coaster of emotions she’d been riding since last night. Not to mention all the opportunities it created for her to stick her foot in her mouth. Her rational mind listed off these reasons even as temptation whispered for her to seize what Antonio offered.
Say no.Say no.
“Why?”
A frown clouded his face. Most women probably said yes to anything he asked without a second thought. She hadn’t sought out information about him but that hadn’t stopped pictures gracing the covers of magazines, or popping up on Instagram from time to time, of Antonio occasionally in front of one of his resorts or at some high-profile meeting, and once in a while with his arm securely around the waist of a gorgeous actress or heiress to such-and-such a business empire.
Each picture had been a stab to her heart. Over time, those stabs had become less painful, more of a quick, dull ache. Except now the images paraded through her mind, ripping the Band-Aids off her wounds and flooding her with fresh pain.
She must be a glutton for punishment to even consider spending time with him when all he’d brought her the last ten years was hurt.
“I haven’t seen the Spanish Steps in a long time. I haven’t seen you in even longer.”
“You saw me last night.”
“For five minutes.”
“And then you left,” she retorted, unexpected irritation hardening her voice. She didn’t get angry. Anger hadn’t been a part of her idyllic childhood before the car accident that had claimed her parents’ lives. After she’d been sent from the sultry wet heat of Louisiana’s bayous to the dry, arid slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains to live with her uncle Diego and aunt Lonita, she’d quickly learned that anything other than a demure smile sent her new family into a tailspin. Tears led to more restrictions to keep her safe from sadness. Ire led to caution about the dangers of going too far down the path of anger...followed by more restrictions.
Safety had become synonymous with repression. Diego’s fear of losing his sister’s daughter had colored his decisions on everything from the friends she spent time with outside of school to where she went to university. He had always stepped in, taking care of things for her, encouraging her to ask for help, ask for help, always ask for help, never feel like she had to do anything alone.
Sometimes she asked for help because she knew if she attempted something on her own, it would frighten him. Other times, even when she thought herself capable, a fear had sprouted up inside her, a fear that the reason everyone was always offering to help her, to watch out for her, was that she really couldn’t do it on her own. She still felt that fear, felt that pervasive intrusion at the worst possible moments.
Perhaps it was the absence of fear that had allowed her frustration at Antonio’s sudden about-face to come through. Because there was nothing to fear, she realized. Yes, she’d had an adolescent crush at him at one point. A part of her would always care for him. At one point, he’d been her best friend, the only person in her life who’d believed her capable of more.
But the worst had already happened. He’d rejected her. She’d dealt with the pain. She’d gotten a degree in fashion, made friends, moved to Paris.
And now... She raised her chin. She was going after her dream. Whether she and Antonio parted ways now or spent an hour in each other’s company, it wouldn’t change all she’d accomplished on her own.
Or that, after today, aside from Alejandro and Calandra’s wedding, she probably wouldn’t see Antonio again.
The ache pulsing in her chest dimmed a little as elation spread through her. Shecoulddo this. She could act like a mature adult, sightsee with an old friend and then say goodbye. And if his departure hurt a little, she’d been through worse and survived.
“All right.”
“Don’t sound too excited,” he replied dryly.
A small smile tugged at her lips. “I am excited to see the Steps.”
His low chuckle stirred a warmth in her belly. He stepped forward, took her hand in his and tucked it into the crook of his arm.
Relax.Enjoy the moment.
With that mantra playing on Repeat in her head, she flashed a smile up at Antonio and moved forward. The sun was rising, she was in one of the oldest cities in the world, and a very handsome and very famous billionaire was escorting her through the streets.
