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It’d been a long time since someone was truly interested in her and her feelings. “I don’t know. Somewhere along the way, I figured out that this deal was really involved and long lasting. I just couldn’t imagine having my life tied to the project for years. It was just too cold—too impersonal.” She caught the frown flitting across Roberto’s face and realized how her words might hurt him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you and my brother can’t find happiness in the work. It’s just not for me.”
“Fair enough. So what do you want to do?”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know. I know how ridiculous that sounds for an almost twenty-nine-year-old to not know what they want to do with their life. I married young, and with Lukos’s job, I knew we would be traveling a lot. I was all right with putting aside my career to support him, and we were talking—well, we were doing more than talking—about having a family. And then, well, you know...he got sick.” She sucked in a steadying breath. “So now I have no husband, no baby and no idea what to do with the rest of my life.”
Roberto reached out and took her hand in his. He gave it a squeeze. “I’m sorry. Life isn’t fair.”
“Agreed.” But they’d been talking about her for far too long. “So how about you?”
“What about me?”
“I don’t know, but we’ve discussed my life enough for one day. Tell me something new about you.”
“Well, I just spoke with my grandfather. He needs my help.”
She wasn’t sure what to say at this point. His furrowed brow told her that whatever his grandfather had asked of him must be weighing on him. She wasn’t sure if it was her place to press him for information.
Roberto turned to her. “You have to understand that my grandfather has never asked for my help. My grandparents stepped up and raised me when my dysfunctional parents abandoned me. I don’t know what I’d have done without them. But I’m afraid I’ve failed them. I haven’t followed the path they wanted for me—working in the family business.”
“I always wondered about that. But I knew you had your reasons.”
Roberto got quiet. He stared off into space as though he were thinking something over. By the creased lines on his forehead, it was troubling him.
“It must be serious.”
Roberto shrugged. “I’m not sure. He said he had some reports for me to look over, but he was reluctant to go into details.”
“That’s rather mysterious, isn’t it?”
“Yes, very. My grandfather isn’t one to play games. He’s a straight shooter. But I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my family business.”
“I’m interested in whatever you want to share with me. And it’s nice to focus on someone else’s problems for once. I’d like to think that we’re friends besides being fake lovers.”
“We’re definitely friends.”
“Good. I was hoping you’d be up for touring Venice with me. We’ll arrive there in a couple of days.” It was heralded as one of the most romantic cities in the world and it just seemed like a place that she would like to share with someone—even her fake boyfriend.
He reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. “You can count on it.”
His touch warmed her skin and sent a shiver of excitement over her. What was it about this man that got her body all excited with just a touch?
Her gaze met his and held. She knew she should turn away, but she lacked the willpower. There was something mesmerizing about his eyes, as though they could see straight through her and read her very thoughts.
She wondered if he could sense that all she wanted to do on this beautiful day was get lost in his arms and revisit the kiss he’d laid on her the other day. If only someone would come flirt with her, perhaps Roberto would kiss her again.
All too soon, Roberto released her hand and got to his feet. “I’ve taken up enough of your day. I’ll let you get back to your planning.”
As he turned to walk away, she wanted to call out to him to stay. She wanted to tell him that she could figure out her future another time. But wasn’t that what got her in this tough spot in the first place? And without a definite plan by the time the cruise ended, she would end up caving to Xander’s plans because she wouldn’t want to hurt him.
