I glanced at all the burners and the oven. “Looks like you’re making Christmas dinner.”
He smiled and then held up a loaf of fresh bread. “Special bread. Takes forever to make, but it’s delicious.” He dodged the question and didn’t seem like he was ever going to answer it. “Did you need something, Sapphire?”
“I was going to ask if you could pack some wine for Conway. He won’t drink around me, but I’d like him to enjoy something.”
“Of course, Sapphire. I’ll think of something nice.”
“Thanks.” I walked back into the hallway and ran into Vanessa. “Hey, how are you feeling today?”
“Really good.” Her hair was done, and her makeup was heavier than usual. She wore a black dress with a gold bracelet. The only thing missing were heels. She was barefoot. “It’s the first day when I haven’t needed to pop some painkillers. Those pills are so big and difficult to swallow.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Me too. I know Conway wants me out of your hair as soon as possible.”
“Not true.”
She laughed. “Yes, it is. And that’s okay. He told me off for hogging you last night.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ignore him. He’s a weirdo.”
She laughed again. “I’m glad you finally realize it. So, you guys are going on a ride?”
“Yeah. There’s this nice spot in the hills where we can see a great view of Verona.”
“That’s nice. You guys have fun.” She started to walk down the hallway. “I won’t keep you.”
“Vanessa?”
“Yeah?” She turned back around.
“Are you going somewhere? You look so nice.”
“Oh.” She looked down at herself then smoothed out her dress. “I’ve been in my sweats for so long that I just wanted to look nice for a change. I’m feeling really good, you know?”
“Well, it definitely shows.” I went upstairs to meet Conway, and then together, we walked down to the stables with the picnic basket Dante packed for us. The air was cold but not unbearable. When the sun was right on us, it became the perfect temperature.
“When I went into the kitchen, it looked like Dante was making a feast. I hope all that work wasn’t for this lunch.”
Conway saddled Carbine and placed all our stuff in the pack. In tight jeans, boots, and a long-sleeved black shirt, he looked like a perfect fit out in the stables. He wore a suit better than anyone else, but he could dress down and look just as sexy casual. “He’s probably preparing dinner.”
“But it’s just the three of us.”
He shrugged. “Dante takes his chef responsibilities very seriously. Sometimes he makes a simple dinner, and at other times, he likes to make a gourmet feast. Maybe it’s because Vanessa is feeling better. Wants to celebrate.”
“That’s true.”
We took Carbine to the trail and then we both mounted the horse. I sat behind Conway, my arms wrapped around his waist. It didn’t rain yesterday, so the soil was fairly dry. We took our time down the trail, slowly moving up into the small hills so we could find the perfect spot.
I rested my cheek against his neck and kept my arms secured around his hard waist. I felt his back rise and fall every time he breathed. His cologne was potent, and once it was mixed with sweat, it reminded me of sex. “It’s so beautiful up here.”
“You never get tired of it.”
We rode for an hour before we reached the hilltop. Right underneath the oak was a spot of soft grass. We let Carbine graze while Conway unpacked the blanket and the picnic lunch.
It was a clear day after several days of storms, and the view of the city was crisp. The rooftops shone under the light just the way they did in summer. We were too far away to see the details, like people walking to the shops. But we could see the cars reflect the light of the sun as they moved around. “Beautiful.”
Conway set up the picnic on the blanket, and together, we enjoyed the sandwiches and salads Dante prepared for us. Conway pulled out a bottle of apple cider and poured two glasses.
“I asked Dante to pack you some wine.”
“I know,” he said with a smile. “And I told him to take it back.”
“Con, you can drink around me.”
“No. I really don’t mind.” He drank his juice without complaint. “There’s plenty of times when I sneak off and have a date with my scotch, so don’t feel too bad for me.”
“So there is another woman in your life?”
He smiled. “I guess so.”
I finished my sandwich then moved on to my salad. I ate more than I should, especially as there was going to be a show tomorrow, but since I was pregnant, I didn’t care. Any extra weight I put on could be attributed to the baby.
Or, at least, that was how I could spin it.