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?’