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DAY FIFTEEN
Rome, Italy
THE CRUISE WAS almost over.
And she’d concentrated on everyone but herself.
Stasia realized that was a pattern she’d developed in her life. First, it was Lukos. She’d given up her dream of a career in order to follow his career. And after she lost Lukos, she let Xander have a say in her future. Even on this cruise, she’d let Roberto distract her from her goals. It had to stop.
Stasia had stayed in her cabin that morning, not venturing on the tour of Rome and all its many splendors. She didn’t have any other excuses—any other distractions.
Everything was taken care of with Roberto. His project for his grandfather was complete. And he was about to step into his birthright. She couldn’t be happier for him.
She would miss him. More than she’d ever imagined possible. Her heart ached at just the thought of not seeing Roberto every day. And even worse, she could imagine him avoiding her at every turn after the way things on this cruise got way more involved than either of them planned.
She sighed. Worrying about the future wasn’t going to help anything. The best thing she could do was to make a final decision on her future.
At last she knew what she wanted—a chance to help people. It fulfilled her. It gave her a purpose. And it would help so many others.
She didn’t have to think any further. She knew what to do. But now she needed to take action—put motion behind her words.
Stasia grabbed her phone. She looked up the email correspondence from the woman at the hospital where Lukos had been treated and she placed the call. When she told the woman she would like to expand on their services and create a foundation, the woman promised to do everything she could to help smooth the way.
By the time Stasia hung up, she was smiling. This foundation would carry her late husband’s name. It seemed so fitting and she hoped Lukos would be proud of her efforts.
For so long she’d told herself she’d secluded herself because she had to figure out her life’s path, but the truth was she wanted a chance to lick her wounds—her deep wounds. And they hadn’t gone away, but they were healing now. The scars would always linger but they were now a part of her, just like Lukos would always be a part of her. She would never be the woman she used to be, but she hoped she would be a better person for having known and loved Lukos.
Now she was ready to start life once again.
And she’d foolishly thought she’d found the right person to share it with.
And she’d been totally wrong.
She might have said all the right things to Roberto when he’d declared their night together a mistake. A mistake? Really?
Because it’d felt like anything but a mistake. He’d been so passionate, so thoughtful, so giving. It was like the wall between them had fallen away and it was just the two of them on even ground.
She’d thought it had been the beginning of something real for them. She glanced down at the diamond ring on her finger. It felt so heavy. She slipped it off and placed it on the table next to her laptop.
She’d known what the deal was when she’d agreed to play his fake fiancée. Why should she think that would change? Her heart cried out: because it was what she’d wanted. Each day she’d spent with Roberto, they’d grown closer and she’d found out that he wasn’t the shallow playboy that she’d initially thought him to be.
He was so different—so much deeper—than she’d ever imagined. But there was one thing that hadn’t changed—his determination to remain a bachelor. His grandmother couldn’t change his mind. The flood of vivacious single women on the ship couldn’t change his mind. And she couldn’t change his mind.
She had to accept that he knew what was best for his life. And it didn’t include her—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Stasia? Are you in there?”
It was Roberto. She had thought he’d be off sharing the information they’d uncovered with his grandfather. She didn’t want to see him again.
Knock. Knock.
“Stasia,” he yelled. “I’m not leaving until we talk.”
She jumped to her feet and rushed to the door. “Roberto, keep it down.” She glanced around to see if he’d disturbed any of her neighbors. She didn’t see anyone in the passageway. “Come inside.” Once he was inside, she closed the door. “What are you doing here?”
