Now, gazing at her beautiful face, he doused his desire. “I understand. This has all been rather sudden. When I make you my wife in more than name, it must be something you want as much as I do.” He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. Liquid heat shot through his veins. Control yourself, it’s just a kiss, the voice in his head tried to reason. He resisted the urge to taste her deeper, or allow his hands to explore her soft curves. With a low groan, he pulled away.
Sophia’s chest rose and fell rapidly and a dazed expression clouded her eyes. “I’m tired. I think I’ll go to bed now. See you in the morning?” Her voice was husky.
Dio, he hoped it wouldn’t be long before they shared a bed. “I must leave very early for work tomorrow. I will try to be home for dinner. So I will see you then. If you need anything, call me at my office.” No wonder she didn’t want to sleep with him. He was a boring businessman. Problem was, he didn’t know how to be anything else.
• • •
Sophia opened her eyes and had a moment’s panic. The sun was shining on her face and her first thought was that she was back sleeping on the street. This bed was way too comfortable for any makeshift mattress, however. A flash of gold on her finger returned her heart rate to normal. This was her future; she was no longer mired in the past.
She stretched in the large, luxurious bed, surprised she’d slept so deeply. After Luca’s goodnight kiss, she thought she’d toss and turn for hours, wondering whether she’d made the right decision. Maybe sex was like removing a plaster; you had to get it over quickly before you thought about it too much. She could almost hear Olivia’s laugh at the analogy.
It wasn’t so much the actual physical deed that churned her stomach. She’d read enough to know that consummation was supposed to be rather pleasant. And Luca certainly looked the part of a passionate, caring lover. No, it was the emotional aspect, the letting someone see her—scars and all—that scared the pants back on her. She didn’t trust easily, and for sex you had to trust. Or get blind, stupid drunk. That was always an option.
Twenty minutes later, she descended the stairs, hoping to sneak into the kitchen and find a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast. It was after ten o’clock; she hadn’t slept so late in years. Opening the kitchen door, she almost passed out from the sight of all the food. Baked goods, boiled eggs, an assortment of deli meats, and fresh fruit were displayed on the table like a king’s buffet. Despite having eaten a week’s worth of food the night before, Sophia’s stomach gurgled at the smell of the freshly baked muffins. She had to figure out a way to tell Maria not to cook so much or she would soon resemble an elephant.
Maria bustled over to her, wiping her hands on her apron, chattering away in Italian. Sophia sat in the chair Maria indicated and filled her plate. Forget shopping, she was going to be spending her days trying to work off all the food she consumed. As she ate, Maria talked, a happy buzz of conversation that evidently didn’t require any input from Sophia. Finally she managed to make Maria understand that she couldn’t eat another bite. But as she stood to take her dishes to the sink, Maria waved her away. She caught the words “signora,” which she assumed meant her, and “no,” which was obvious. Evidently, Luca’s missus didn’t do dishes.
With nothing else to keep her busy, she decided to explore the gardens. The sun warmed her, and the air was alive with the sounds of birds and various insects going about their daily business. Pausing for a moment, she listened for the noise of cars or other vehicles. There weren’t any. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been anywhere as peaceful. Determined not to spoil such a beautiful day with worries, she pushed aside thoughts of her marriage and let her senses dwell on the tranquility of the place. London seemed a very long way away.
Behind the pool and tennis court, screened off by a massive hedge, were two decent-sized, stone cottages. Walking past them on the manicured pathway, Sophia came across a rotunda set within a topiary and rose garden. Beyond that, she also discovered a couple of derelict buildings at the back of the land that had not been restored and were crammed with bits of furniture, statues, and other odds and ends. It appeared the pieces had been found during the reconstruction work and tossed there to be sorted out later. She made a mental note to come back on another day and see what treasures she could turn up.
A small pond, at the far corner of the estate, was home to a couple of ducks that quacked loudly as she approached, warning her away from their nest. As she sauntered back toward the house, she saw Vittore planting seeds in a bare area of an otherwise large, lush vegetable patch. Maria was cutting herbs and putting them in a wicker basket. Both called out “buongiorno” to her. She waved at them in reply.
Not wanting to go back inside and waste a glorious day, she decided to wander into the village. She’d noted an old church and some other interesting buildings as they drove past yesterday on their way from the airport.
The village was larger than she’d thought, with narrow, twisting, cobblestone streets that turned into even smaller alleyways. An old church was at the center, with a small piazza in front. Several older men were drinking coffee at a café and looked her up and down as she passed.
She strolled in and out of the shops and admired the ancient buildings and architecture. Stopping by a fountain, she trailed her fingers in the cool water. There were a few coins at the bottom, and she imagined a lonely girl standing there, tossing in her euro and wishing for love. She turned away before the image of her own face appeared in place of the girl’s.
Her stomach growled and she checked her watch, surprised to discover it was already four o’clock. She managed to make her way back to the old church, but from there she had no idea which of the twisty streets led back to the house. Wandering down a few roads, she searched for something familiar. Her feet were sore and her mouth parched. Intending just a quick exploration of the village, she hadn’t thought to bring her purse, so she couldn’t even purchase a drink.
She went into a café and asked if anyone knew the way to Villa Castellioni, the name that she had seen printed on the outside of the gate to the house. Unfortunately, Sophia couldn’t understand the directions the proprietress gave her.
“Are you trying to find Villa Castellioni?” a deep male voice asked. She turned around to discover a tall, blonde man with sky-blue eyes.
“Yes, do you know it?” She was grateful to find someone who spoke English at least.