“You know I don’t believe in fate.”
“Well, tell me this? Why the hell am I here in Kenya and you’re there in Glencoe? Both of us surprising the other for Christmas.” I love her enthusiasm for fate, but I’m a doctor. I think in logic and science.
“Miscommunication, definitely not fate.”
She scoffs at me. “No. Something’s happening. Fate is up to something. She’s sent a hot guy to our cottage, and you turn up after getting your heart broken.”
“Hot Italian guy,” I add.
“Oh my God, see… you speak Italian, Lilly. See… fate.”
“Let’s forget about fate for the moment. What the hell are we going to do now we’re both on opposite sides of the world?”
“Well, Alistair’s never been overseas, so I want to show him around.”
Selfishly I want her home, but the fact she got Alistair halfway across the world is a miracle, so I can’t take that away from her. She’s been badgering him for years to go traveling, but he likes his simple life here in the mountains.
“I’m going to miss you, but you need to explore that beautiful continent. I’ll see you when you get home.”
“You sure?” Lolly asks.
“Yes. I’ll be okay. I miss you so much. But Kenya is beautiful, and I can’t wait for you to see all of it. I’ll email you where to go and what to see in the morning.”
“Thanks, babe. I’m so bummed we missed you. But I’m glad I kicked Rob’s ass. I never liked him.” This makes me laugh because it’s true. Lauren’s always thought he was this rich, entitled snob, who thought he was so much better than everyone else.
Looking back now, she’s right.
“Okay, well, have fun, send me loads of pics, and I love you.”
“Love you, too, sis. And jump that Italian Stallion.”
“Bye, Lolly.”
I fall back asleep quickly, jetlag taking over, and my heart feeling a little less broken.
3
Luca
The smell of bacon and eggs pulls me from my sleep. Last night’s unexpected visitor comes back into my memory, and the way she hungrily looked at me, not going to lie, I liked it. The blatant way she looked at my dick with appreciation—major turn-on. I liked that she was confident enough in herself to do that. She has a beautiful face, almost heart-shaped with big, expressive, bright blue eyes and plump lips. Her cheeks were pink from the cold. She appeared au naturel—her face free of any makeup. Tiny laugh lines crinkled at the side of her eyes, and frown lines were drawn across her forehead. She’s most defiantly all natural, a huge difference to the women I’m normally seen with.
Then she threatened to call the police on me, and all sexiness faded away really fucking quickly. I don’t need trouble with the law at the moment because once they run my name through the system, my safe little sanctuary will be ruined.
I’m not ready to face anyone just yet.
“Morning.”
Lilly, I think that’s the name she said last night, she’s dressed in an oversized white shirt and leggings as she moves around the small kitchen, her light brown hair is pulled up into a messy ponytail. Turning around with a black spatula in her hand, I’m greeted by her nipples staring right at me. Maybe she doesn’t realize how see-through her T-shirt is because I can see the curve of her bare breasts straight through it.
Stop looking, Luca.
Actually, no. She took her time to look me over last night, I’m only repaying the favor.
“I just wanted to say how sorry I am for last night.” She waves the spatula in the air. “I was really jet-lagged…” She smiles. “I don’t normally act like that.” Her eyes look down at my pants as if to say ‘I don’t normally check out men’s dicks so openly.’
I can tell you now, no man will ever make you apologize for checking out their dick. No man!
When our eyes meet again, she seems flustered and waves the spatula nervously in the air as her cheeks burn bright red.
“Please accept a hot breakfast as my apology.”
I give her a genuine smile. Honestly, I don’t think a woman has ever made me breakfast that wasn’t one of my staff.
“Grazie.” Taking the plate from her hand, our fingers connect for the briefest of moments, and a tiny zap travels through my body. She felt it too as her hand moves away from mine quickly like it burned her. I take a seat at the kitchen table and take in what’s on my plate—it’s filled with bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomato, spinach, and a couple of slices of toast.
Was all this in my fridge? I don’t remember seeing any of it. I know there was stuff in the fridge, but I guess I didn’t take in exactly what was there. Once I grabbed the Scottish whisky, I decided on a liquid dinner instead.
She follows behind me, placing a bottle of water and juice in the middle of the kitchen table. “Would you like coffee?”
“Oh, no… No. No.” That was a mistake I made when I first arrived, tasting the horrendous instant coffee sitting on the shelf. I could kill for some real Italian coffee, but I don’t think I’m going to find any here.
She laughs. “Of course, Italian’s would never drink instant.”
Does she recognize me?
“How do you know I’m Italian?”
“My nanny was Italian. She spoke to us mainly in Italian, so I’ve picked up on some of the words you use.” She takes a seat far away from me with her breakfast.
“So, you speak Italian?”
“I used to be fluent, but it’s been a while since I’ve used it.” She smiles through a mouthful of toast.
We both fall into silence as we eat our breakfast. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating, and it doesn’t take me long to finish it.
“There’s more in the pan.” She flicks her head in the direction of the kitchen.
I stare at her for a couple of beats then
