“Do you want to throw the football around for a bit?” Sergio asked.
“Is it tackle football?”
“It could be,” he answered. “Do you think you can tackle me?”
“I’d like to try,” Mandi responded. Without warning or another second’s hesitation she went toward him and tried to tackle him down to the ground. He moved out of the way and she fell down in the sand, sending bits of it flying everywhere.
“You’re fast, but you’ll have to move faster than that,” Sergio said. He took off running a short distance away and turned around, throwing the ball while he was in motion.
Mandi surprised him by catching it and throwing a perfect spiral back.
“Very impressive. I can add ball handler to your list of skills, not that I didn’t know that,” Sergio shouted. His voice carried in the breeze and Mandi smiled at his words, feeling great that she’d delivered him something memorable the night before.
After the football was done they decided to see if the water was warm enough to play around in. Mandi looked around, wondering where she could change into her suit. There was no place around and she soon found out Sergio’s next plan. He’d stripped off his shorts and was in the buff, making his way into the water.
“How do you know nobody will show up here?” Mandi asked, moving closer to the water’s edge.
“I don’t. I’m just taking a risk.”
“I have a feeling that your risks work out better for you than mine do for me.” Mandi wasn’t sure she could handle the embarrassment of being caught skinny dipping, even if the country was more relaxed about those things than the States were.
“I didn’t think you were a chicken,” Sergio commented. “How disappointing. Oh well.” He dove into the waves and came up a few feet further out into the ocean.
Mandi didn’t like being called a chicken or thought of as someone who couldn’t accept a challenge and in that instant she flung her clothes off and charged in the water, making her way to Sergio.
The two laughed and splashed each other before deciding it was getting late and they may get sun burnt if they were not careful. “Trust me, Mandi. You don’t want to have sun burn in some areas. It doesn’t feel good at all.”
“Speaking from experience I see,” Mandi retorted. She didn’t want to know who the experience was with because it didn’t matter. Besides it wasn’t like she was a virgin when this arrangement started.
As Mandi and Sergio rode back to Benvenuto they held hands and watched a glorious sunset taking place. It was one of the most romantic evening she’d ever had even without sex, with Sergio. Mandi was hoping to get to have Sergio for herself for the rest of the night, but that wasn’t meant to be. He told her that he had to do some work and would be in his study for the remainder of the night. She was disappointed, but scolded herself for being selfish. She’d seen an amazing side of Sergio that day and she should be thankful. His busy schedule was one thing that she couldn’t change.
Chapter 15
Mandi awoke in the morning and felt Sergio lying next to her, still asleep. She wondered when he’d came up to bed and was surprised that she hadn’t heard him. The day outdoors having fun must have exhausted her more than she thought.
Instead of getting up or making any noise Mandi turned around and watched Sergio sleeping. She’d never had a chance to study him up close before without him being aware of it. It was nice and when he was asleep he looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world. In fact, his lips had a slight smile on them. There was no crease in his eye brow when he was thinking about something big involving business. She also could see his 5:00 shadow, something he usually didn’t have. He was always meticulously groomed. His shoulder length hair was a bit wild, making him look all the more inviting to her too. She liked this unkempt side of Sergio; it made him seem more…average, and not just some rich guy who was perfect in every way.
Mandi must have drifted back off to sleep because she woke up to Sergio looking at her. She wondered what he’d thought of his assessment of her, but didn’t dare ask. He’d offer it up if he wanted to share it.
“Good morning. I was up earlier and I must have dozed off.”
“You are so beautiful when you sleep,” Sergio said. He leaned over and kissed Mandi’s cheek and caressed under her jaw with his pointer finger.
“I think you have a one up on me when it comes to that,” Mandi teased. I hope I didn’t talk in my sleep!
“I have an errand to attend to this morning. Would you like to come with me?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“You shall see,” Sergio said. Mandi could tell that he took great satisfaction in leaving people hanging and curious. It was quite the switch for her, who preferred structure and to know everything going on. Yet, it was part of what made this time with Sergio exciting. You never knew what you were going to get and that was kind of refreshing.
“I’m not going to let you get to me,” Mandi said.
“Darn because you are very fun to get to, Mandi.”
Mandi grinned from ear to ear. Sergio was playful and flirty just like yesterday and it was wonderful.
After breakfast they headed toward Rome and Sergio’s stop surprised Mandi. He stopped at a toy store that was at the edge of a strip mall and announced, “We’re here.”
“What’s going on?” Mandi asked, completely curious.
“You’ll find out. We’ll each grab a cart when we get into the toy store, okay?”
“Okay. Are you getting some presents for your cousins or something?”
“No.”
Mandi and Sergio walked up and down every isle of the toy store, stopping in sections for all age groups, as well as boys’ favorites and girls’ favorites for toys. Sergio wouldn’t reveal what was going on and only asked for opinions of a certain toy looked fun or enjoyable. Mandi didn’t really know much about toys and had only been around smaller children minimally so she didn’t know how much help she was, but she did the best she could.
One hour later, Sergio, Mandi, and three toy store employees exited the store carrying bags full of toys out to the car.