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She shook her head. “If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to stay here just a bit longer before heading back to the ship.”
The problem with lingering here beneath the star-studded sky was that he wasn’t sure how long his determination to keep his hands to himself would hold out. And he didn’t want to mess this up—whatever this was.
He forced his thoughts to the work that awaited him. However, the last thing he wanted to do that night was to work. The thought startled him. He was always up for work. It was his driving force in life—until now.
This trip had opened his eyes. He knew that was a lie. It was Stasia who had shown him what he was missing in life. He wasn’t sure his work would ever be enough to fill his life again.
What he really wanted to do was pull Stasia into his arms. He wanted to kiss her without limitations, without his family watching them and without any restraint. He wanted to drink in her sweetness and show her that there was still so much in life for her to experience.
And then he recalled his prior conversation with Xander, promising to watch out for Stasia. Roberto stifled a frustrated groan. Why did Stasia have to be his friend’s sister? Because she was the first woman to thoroughly intrigue him. She was the only one to make him question if his permanent bachelor status was really the right choice for him.
DAY NINE
Venice, Italy
WHERE WAS HE?
Stasia had walked the entire length of the deck twice now, but there was no sign of Roberto. She was beginning to wonder if she’d gotten their plans mixed up in her head. But the more she thought about it, the more she was certain they’d agreed to meet up here.
So where was he?
She tried his cell phone, again. And once again, it went directly to voice mail. That was strange. That man lived on his cell phone. He never turned it off.
The touring party had already departed the boat about fifteen minutes ago. It was too late to catch up with them. And honestly, she didn’t want to. She’d been looking forward to her private, guided tour with the sexiest man on the boat.
In fact, she’d had the hardest time getting to sleep last night and it was all his fault. Every time she’d closed her eyes, she saw his face. And then she would relive the moment when his lips pressed to hers. Even though it was only a memory, her heart would race.
Maybe she was so anxious for today because she hoped he would follow up that all-too-short kiss with a much longer one. Was that wrong? After all, she was supposed to be on this ship figuring out her next step in life.
She knew Xander wouldn’t approve of her hitting it off with Roberto. But what her brother didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. She knew her brother’s heart was in the right place, but she was all grown up and it was up to her to figure out what came next. And who she did it with. Well, if he showed up.
She sighed. Where was Roberto? She sent him a text. And she waited and waited. There was no response to it either.
Roberto wouldn’t ignore her, not unless something was wrong. Could that be it? Was he sick?
She took off toward his cabin. With most of the passengers having departed the ship in order to go on a tour, she didn’t have to wait for the elevator or have to wade her way through a throng of people in the passageway.
Once she got to Roberto’s cabin, she rapped on the door.
“Roberto? It’s Stasia.”
She waited. When he didn’t immediately open the door, she pressed her ear to it. She didn’t hear any movement inside.
She knocked again. “Roberto, are you okay?”
Thunk. Crash.
“Roberto? What’s going on?”
“Coming.”
She breathed easier, hearing his voice. Thank goodness he was safe and sound. Though she had absolutely no idea what had kept him and what caused him to forget that they had a date today.
At last the door swung open and Roberto stood there. His hair was mussed up. His normally clean-shaven jaw now had a shadow of stubble. He was still wearing the same clothes as last night, but they were a bit disheveled just like the rest of him.
“Are you sick?” She’d never seen Roberto unprepared. She’d have sworn he was born ready to take on the world.
He ran a hand over his face and then his hair, scattering the dark strands every which way. “Uh, no, I’m not sick.” It took him a second as though she’d literally just roused him from a deep sleep. He glanced at the time on his wristwatch. “Eight twenty. Oh, no. I was supposed to meet up with you at eight o’clock.”
