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“The best part?”
She started walking. Roberto fell in step next to her. She moved as quickly as she could, considering they were in a lava field.
“Don’t you want to wear a helmet and take a flashlight to explore a lava cave?” She glanced over at Roberto, who was smiling and shaking his head. “What? It sounds exciting.”
“Until something creepy and crawly comes out and attacks you.”
She visibly shuddered. “It doesn’t matter what you say—it’s not going to stop me.”
“Are you sure? I hear the spiders down there are big. Really, really big. With long, hairy legs and googly eyes—”
“Stop!” She frowned at him. “How did you know?”
“That you’re afraid of spiders?” When she nodded, he said, “It was a calculated guess.”
“Calculated? Are you saying I’m predictable?”
“I’d never say that. Because I never would have predicted you’d become my fiancée.”
She smiled. For just that moment, she wanted to give in to the fantasy, imagine what it’d be like to really be Roberto’s true love—his destiny. Her gaze moved to the heirloom diamond on her hand. It was meant for Roberto’s wife—the woman he was meant to spend the rest of his life with.
In that moment, she realized that she never wanted to give up the ring. Because to surrender the ring would be to surrender the blissful fantasy. And she didn’t want this to end.
The breath stilled in her chest. Her heartbeat slowed. What was she saying? Did she really want this engagement to continue?
And then she knew the answer. It wasn’t some mysterious answer that she had to wrestle with. The answer came to her so quickly, so easily that it was startling. No matter how much she wanted to fight it—deny it—she was falling in love with Roberto.
She glanced at the ring again. Ever since he’d put it on her finger, it was like it had pulled the blinders from her eyes. And now she was able to see what was clearly in front of her—Roberto.
He took her hand in his. “What are you thinking about?”
“Um, nothing.”
“That look on your face says otherwise. Must be something good.”
She glanced at him. “I was just thinking this is such a lovely day.”
“It is a really nice day. But I think there’s more going on in that mind of yours than that.”
She shrugged but didn’t elaborate. Some thoughts were best to keep to herself until she decided how to tell him. She didn’t know what he’d say. Would he be happy?
What was she saying? They’d just made love. He must feel the same way or he wouldn’t be here with her in a lava field about to descend into a cave.
Roberto played his emotions so close to his chest that sometimes it was so hard to read him. But with them reaching the mouth of the cave, it was best to leave the subject alone until they returned to the chalet.
* * *
What was going on?
She’d been acting strange all day.
Roberto couldn’t shake the feeling things had shifted with Stasia. He wanted to say that escalating their relationship had been a mistake, but he couldn’t dismiss such an amazing night. But it wasn’t just Stasia who was confused.
And this was why he worked rather than trying to have a relationship. For the most part, his work was straightforward. But this thing between him and Stasia was anything but straightforward. He didn’t know what to say or how to act.
At lunch at the nearby chalet, when she didn’t think he was looking, she would stare at him. She didn’t say anything, but there was a different sort of energy coursing between them. And it had nothing to do with the fresh air or bright sunshine. Nor did the change between them have to do with the delicious meat-and-cheese tray or the local wine. No, this change had to do with him letting go of his common sense and giving in to his desires. And now he didn’t know how to rewind the clock.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Stasia said as they made their way onto the ship.
“I am?” He hadn’t noticed because there were so many conflicting voices in his head.
She nodded. “What are you thinking about?”
He glanced around. A lot of people were returning to the ship at the same time as them. This wasn’t the place for a serious talk. But they had to talk. He couldn’t let things spiral further out of control.
