Was this what it was like to
be in love?
He couldn’t help himself. He wrinkled up his nose and shifted on his feet. It wasn’t as if he had an example to follow. His mother and father had spent most of their married life fighting. He’d never seen a single moment between them to make him think they’d ever been in love. And although he’d missed Ireland when he’d been sent to Eton as a teenager, it had actually been a relief to get away from the atmosphere in the house. And once he’d left he’d had no intention of returning on a permanent basis.
So love was a bit of stranger to Reuben. Sure, he’d watched as many corny movies as the next guy—but even they made him feel uncomfortable. He’d loved his grandmother and his grandfather but that kind of deep love and affection was different from the way his heart was beating a rapid tune against his chest now.
That kind of love didn’t cause pins and needles down his arms and legs and make him bite his lips to stop them tingling. He took the tiniest step backwards.
He wasn’t entirely sure he liked this. He didn’t doubt for a second the kind of person Lara was. She was good. She brought out a whole side of him he hadn’t even known was there.
But certain things twisted away at his gut. Things he wouldn’t say out loud for fear of offending her. Lara already had some ridiculous idea in her head that she wasn’t good enough. The last thing he wanted to do was perpetuate that myth.
But deep down it bothered him that the woman he loved worked for his best friend. It shouldn’t matter. He shouldn’t care. She’d already told him she was doing a job that she loved.
Was it wrong that he thought she had so much more potential? Was it wrong that he really wanted her to fulfil her dreams?
She was proud. She was independent. He already knew these things. She wanted to pay her own way in life and save hard for the things that she wanted.
He squirmed as he thought about how he hadn’t had to consider money in a long time. He was no billionaire. But he was definitely in the category directly below that—in his line of work most agents were. And living in London certainly didn’t come cheaply. He hadn’t even admitted to her that he actually had more than one property.
The places in the US had become essential since he spent so much time over there—one on the west coast and an apartment on the east coast. Having his own space was so much better than constantly living in hotels. In the next few weeks he would close on a property in Ireland too. He hadn’t even viewed it personally—just online. But he knew the area well and it felt good to buy something in Ireland that wouldn’t have any ties to his parents and their complicated relationship.
‘Reuben, what are you doing?’ Lara shouted from the end of the row of street vendors lining the outside of the Piazza del Miracoli, which held the Baptistery, the Leaning Tower and the cathedral. ‘Come on!’
He smiled and hurried after her, reaching the entranceway to the square. The brilliant sunshine was glinting off the white marble of the three buildings. It was dazzling. A real suck-in-your-breath moment. Lara had stopped dead in front of him and he stepped closer putting a hand on each of her hips.
‘That was a bit unexpected,’ he murmured in her ear. He was talking about the view. Of course he was talking about the view.
He could see the smile painted across her face. It reached from ear to ear. She’d lifted her hands and placed them on her chest. ‘Wow,’ she breathed. ‘Just, wow.’
She leaned back a little against him. It was odd how he was beginning to appreciate the little things. Before he hadn’t really gone for any touchy-feely stuff with women. He’d never really had that kind of connection before. But with Lara things felt entirely natural and had done from the beginning. He was relishing it. Liking how much he actually enjoyed it.
‘What do you want to do first?’
She eyed the line of cafés across from the three monuments. ‘Did the tour guide give you tickets for the tower?’
He nodded and pulled them from his pocket. They had a time stamped on them. Her stomach gave a little growl. ‘How about we stop for something to drink first and then work our way around the monuments?’ She slid her hand into his as he nodded and headed towards the first café with empty tables out front.
Lara ducked her head in the shop door. ‘Nope, not this one.’
He frowned and followed her to the next one. ‘What was wrong with that one?’
She stuck her head inside the next one, eyed the glass cabinet full of cakes and shook her head again. ‘Not this one either.’
He looked at the huge array of cakes and pastries and held out his other hand. ‘What? Not enough cakes for you?’
She led him to the next doorway, peeked inside and turned around with a wide smile on her face. ‘Now, this one will be perfect.’
He glanced inside. It seemed exactly the same as the others. ‘What is it?’ he whispered. ‘What did I miss?’
She pointed with her finger. ‘That.’
He followed her finger to the hugely stacked sponge cake layered with strawberries and cream. ‘What is it?’
‘Strawberry cassata cake—ricotta, whipped cream, Chambord, sponge and strawberries. That’s what I’ve been searching for. What more could a girl possibly need?’
He laughed. ‘I could be quite insulted by that.’ He glanced back at the cake. ‘Instead, I think I’ll just order two.’
They sat at a table just across from the monuments and ordered the cake and two cappuccinos. One taste was enough. She was right. It was delicious.
‘How on earth did you find out about this?’ He was trying hard not to stare as she licked her fork.
‘They had it at a café in London. Addison told me when I got to Italy I had to try the real thing.’ She leaned back in her chair and looked first at the view and then at Reuben. She sighed. ‘I think I’m in heaven.’
There was something about the way she said it that made his heart swell. It was absurd. It didn’t matter that she’d been looking at him while she’d said it. He knew that she was talking about the whole experience. Was it wrong that he hoped she considered him part of it?
Four hours later, Lara was slumped against him as they walked slowly back to the bus. Today was officially the hottest day Italy had experienced in years. And every part of their bodies felt it. ‘I can’t believe my phone is full,’ she grumped, her hat crushed beneath her fingers. She’d given up wearing it on her head, claiming it made her sweaty, and had started using it as an impromptu fan instead. Both of them agreed it was entirely useless.
Reuben pulled his T-shirt away from his back for about the tenth time that afternoon. They’d walked around the cathedral, the Baptistery and climbed the two hundred and ninety-seven steps to the top floor of the Leaning Tower. Lara had almost wept when they’d reached the top as, although the cathedral and Baptistery had been cooler, outside on the tower the heat was scorching. Their tour guide’s joke about frying an egg on the pavement had been met with hard, exhausted stares.
‘When we get back I’m going for a sleep,’ Lara said, her head still resting on his shoulder.
‘Me too,’ he agreed. He could hardly believe he was used to working sixteen-hour days and yet a tour of Pisa had just about finished him. It didn’t matter that there was something oddly comforting about having Lara slumped against him. She just seemed to fit so well.
He closed his eyes and it seemed like only a few seconds later that the tour guide was brushing against his arm. ‘Wakey-wakey, everyone, we’re back at the ship.’
Reuben stretched his back and stood up, holding out his hand towards Lara. Maybe it was time to have a conversation about what happened when they got back? They’d danced around the subject a few times. But after today’s recognition about how he felt, maybe it was time to find out if his feelings were reciprocated. His stomach did a few flip-flops. The scary thing for him? Right now, he felt about as far away f
rom his bad-boy reputation as humanly possible. There was a gorgeous woman only a few inches away who could potentially mash up his heart like modelling clay. Was he really brave enough to find out if she would?
He touched her shoulder and gave her a shake. ‘Come on, Sleeping Beauty. We need to decide if we want to go to the theatre after dinner or just go for a few drinks.’
Her eyelids flickered open, revealing her blue eyes—a perfect match to the Mediterranean. He leaned forward a little. ‘Maybe you should wear that blue dress tonight? It looked gorgeous and you haven’t had a chance to show it off.’
Something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. The two elderly ladies from the cruise ship—Doris and Daisy. Doris’s voice was getting louder and her actions more frantic as she tried to wake her counterpart. ‘Daisy? Daisy? What’s wrong? It’s time to wake up. We’re back at the ship now. Come on.’
Reuben didn’t hesitate. He took a few steps closer. He was no doctor—he’d had no medical training at all—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help. Daisy’s colour was terrible, she was ashen and slumped to one side.
He touched Doris’s arm. ‘Why don’t you go forward and speak to the coach driver?’ He could see the pink of Lara’s dress at his side. ‘Lara will go with you and get some help. Let me sit next to Daisy for a few minutes.’
He glanced towards Lara, giving her all the information she could possibly need. Her lips pressed together as he almost lifted Doris from the seat and steered her forward. Lara took his place easily as he slipped into the seat next to Daisy.
He took a deep breath. He’d watched enough movies to know what he should do. They were right next to the cruise ship. Someone from the medical team would be here in moments. He put his fingers gently at Doris’s wrist to feel for a pulse and watched her chest for any rise and fall. He felt a minor second of panic until he adjusted the position of his fingers and felt a rapid fluttering pulse. There was no way he could count that.
Doris’s chest was rising and falling very slowly. Her pulse was fast and her breaths slow—what on earth did that mean? Reuben didn’t have a clue. Her lips were tinged blue so he repositioned her slumped head, hoping her airway would be a little clearer and started to talk to her softly. ‘Hi, Doris. It’s Reuben here. I don’t think you’re feeling too good but don’t worry. Daisy has gone to get some help.’ He slid his hand into hers. ‘It’s been a really warm day. Maybe the heat just got a little too much for you? Whatever it is, don’t panic. Help will be here soon. If you can hear me at all, give my hand a little squeeze.’