I’m excited to be closer to home for the next six months.
26
Lilly
Two Months Later
“Oh my God, the Prince is coming.” Bernadette grabs me, shaking me with excitement.
“Who?” I’m distracted writing up a report for my department head.
“Prince Luca. That man is so delicious.”
My stomach sinks right out of me.
Luca? Luca is coming here?
“When?”
“Now, Lilly. You have to come and see for yourself. The prince is literally the most gorgeous man in the entire world.” I can see it on her face how excited she is to meet Luca. I don’t need to know how good looking he is, or how he smells, or the way he fills out his expensive suits because I have been trying to forget, but not doing a great job of it.
“I have to finish this. I’ll be out in five.”
Bernadette rolls her eyes but runs out the door.
I don’t want to see him.
He has made it abundantly clear he wants nothing to do with me, so I’ll give him his wish and hide away out here.
“There she is,” my boss, Ronaldo, states from behind me. “Our best doctor in the clinic, Lilly Simpson. She’s been the biggest godsend. She’ll be sadly missed when she leaves us next week to work in Albania.” I can hear the warmth in Ronaldo’s voice, and it’s nice to know how much I’m appreciated.
Turning around in my chair, I pause when I see who he’s standing with.
Shit! I thought time apart would turn him into something unappealing. Unfortunately, it looks like time has made him even more handsome if that’s even possible. He looks broader too.
“Lilly, this is His Royal Highness Luca Fiorenzo,” Ronaldo announces proudly.
Standing, I bow my head ever so slightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.” Not entirely sure what the protocol is here, so I go for it. Those chocolate eyes turn almost black as they stare at me. His clean-shaven square jaw is tense—actually his whole body seems awfully tense—and the silence between us turns more and more awkward.
“May I talk to Miss Simpson for a moment.” Luca looks back at Ronaldo.
“Oh, yes, of course. I’ll just be outside.” My boss’s eyes widen as he hastily retreats through the door. Once he’s gone, I sit in my chair and return to what I’m doing on the computer. I can feel rage radiating off him from behind me. Well, screw him, I say.
“You have nothing to say for yourself?” I start hitting random keys on my keyboard with no idea what I’m actually doing, my mind is so focused on the man behind me.
“Me?” His voice raises.
My swivel chair turns so I can look at him.
Luca’s face looks like thunder, his nostrils are flaring, and feet are planted wide apart—he could not look any angrier if he tried.
“Yes, you. The one who blocked me completely out of the blue.”
Those dark chocolate eyes narrow in on me. “Out of the blue?” He looks confused by my statement as his head flicks back. “You’re the one who messaged and told me you would call the police if I ever contacted you again.”
Wait! What?
“Are you high?” Standing, I’m whispering my question.
“Are you crazy?” He learns forward while glaring at me and frowning.
“Why the hell would I tell you I’d call the police if you ever contacted me again? I tried to call you to…” I trail off while shaking my head, never mind, the reason why doesn’t matter right now, “… to check in. I wanted to be friends after everything that happened.”
“Friends?” He begins pacing the room, running his hand through his lush black hair. He smells so good. Damn him. Urgh. “You wanted to be friends with me?”
Okay, the way he’s saying ‘friends’ indicates it’s something negative.
“You texted me. I called you, then you sent me this…” Pulling out his phone, he hands it to me. Our hands touch, and we both feel the zap. Quickly, we move our hands away from each other.
Looking down at the last text message I sent him, I read it.
Lilly: Please stop calling me. You were nothing more than a holiday fling.
Then, there was a phone call.
Lilly: If you don’t stop harassing me, I will get a restraining order.
What in the hell?
“I didn’t send you this stuff.” What’s this? I shake my head in disbelief.
“Evidence says otherwise, Lilly.” The way he says my name it’s with pure disgust.
“When did I supposedly send this?”
“The date’s there…” He points to his phone.
I scroll up a little and look at the date.
No.
He…
No, he wouldn’t be that cruel, surely?
Realization sets in.
“That motherfucking little bastard.” Standing abruptly, I hand Luca his phone. I want to punch something.
Oh God, my chest is becoming tight.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t damn-well breathe.
“Lilly. Lilly… are you okay?” Panic crosses Luca’s face as I start shaking my head rapidly.
“I…” pulling in shallow rapid breaths, “… can’t…” more hyperventilation, “… breathe.” My eyes widen as the panic attack takes over my entire body.
You need to calm down, Lilly.
Calm the fuck down.
“Here…” Luca grabs a paper bag and places it over my mouth. I breathe a couple of times, then sit on my seat and slump forward.
Luca crouches between my legs. “Are you okay now?”
Shaking my head, I take a deep breath in, then out and repeat it a few times to calm myself.
“The night that message was sent, Rob showed up at my door.”
Luca looks taken aback, his hand reaches out and grips the arm of my chair tightly.
“We had an argument. He said some hurtful things, and I ended up in tears in my bathroom. When I came out, he was on my phone, but he told
