Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
When my alarm goes off, I don’t want to get up. But I don’t have the luxury of sleeping in. I stand and stretch my arms over my head, my eyes aching and every sinew willing me back to bed.
A quick shower and some stern self-talk gets me out the door, heading toward Veronica’s hut. The morning is glorious. The sun bouncing across the waves, shimmering in the palm leaves.
Veronica sounds panicked when I knock. “Hello?”
“It’s me.”
“Siena?”
“Can I come in?”
“Uh, one moment. Is it important?”
I squeeze the door handle, a headache pulsing. Yes, it’s important. This whole week-long event is important.
Finally, she says, “Come in.”
I push the door open. She’s in bed, the sheets pulled up around her neck, sweating profusely, her hair sticking to her head. “What is it?”
“The waterfall party is later today. Apart from the vow renewal itself, I’d say it’s the biggest event we’ve got planned. The Bianchis specifically built an artificial waterfall because they wanted romantic pictures next to it, and they thought it would make a good scene for a party.”
“I’m aware of this.”
“Will I have backup?”
She purses her lips. My tone, no doubt, but I don’t have the capacity to change it this morning.
“I’m still not feeling great.”
“It’s a big event; everyone will be there.”
“I can’t wave a magic wand and make myself better,” she snaps.
“What has the doctor said?”
She makes a face.
“You haven’t been to the doctor?”
“Siena—”
One word, and it’s enough. She’s about to give me a – probably justified – dressing down.
I interrupt, “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night. If you’re not feeling well, I can handle this alone. Of course. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”
I don’t even need to go. I just want to splash some cold water on my face to wake myself up.
“I’m not su…”
Before I can pull the door to the en-suite open, a man walks out. He’s got bronze skin, straight white teeth, and a full head of silver hair. “Excuse me,” he says.
It takes me a moment to place him. “Rocco, right? You’re Dario’s godfather.”
“Yes, and you’re our capable event planner.” A pause. “Did you need to use the bathroom or?”
It seems he was hiding in there. Otherwise, why wouldn’t Veronica tell me she had company? But he’s acting like it’s completely normal.
“Uh, sure.”
He steps aside. “Be my guest.”
I walk into the bathroom, shut the door, feeling like a doofus. Are they going to listen to check if I go to the bathroom? Obviously not, and yet I linger longer than I planned. Flush the toilet, run the faucet, splash some water on my face, which brings no rejuvenation.
When I return to the bedroom, they’re waiting for me, sitting on the bed together. Rocco has Veronica’s hand in his.
“We think we owe you an explanation,” Rocco says.
Veronica stares at me as though she’s trying to tell me something. Is she sorry for concealing this relationship? She almost looks scared… scared that I’ll tell people she’s sleeping with a member of our client’s family?
Then she smiles, and the look vanishes.
“I don’t think you do,” I mutter. “I should be going.”
“No, we do,” Rocco replies. “You seem shocked–and you have every right to be. The truth is, Veronica and I have been dating for some time. It’s not what you think, however. We met before she earned this contract from my friend, Vittorio.”
“I didn’t want you to think I’d gotten any special favors,” Veronica says.
“This is really none of my business,” I tell them, waving my hands at them.
“But there’s something else,” Rocco says, standing. “We would like to keep this relationship a secret. We want to tell people in our own time.”
As Rocco approaches me, Veronica flinches. Civilians, I think. Maybe he’s embarrassed about being with ‘one of us’.
Rocco stops inches from me, looking down. He’s smiling, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “This family is more complicated than you could possibly comprehend, Siena. I am hesitant to make demands of a woman as lovely as yourself, but I really must stress the importance of keeping this relationship secret.”
I swallow. “Sure. It’s not like I’ve got a choice.”
“Excuse me?” he says sharply.
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Yet you said it.” Still smiling.
“I mean, it’s not my business to spread gossip about my boss or our clients. So, your secret’s safe with me.”
“Excellent. Thank you. It means a lot.”
I leave Veronica’s room quickly, with a funny feeling.
It’s not until I’m halfway down the beach that it hits me. Veronica was wearing her PJs, but Rocco was wearing a shirt and khaki pants… with sneakers. If they’d just gotten out of bed, would he be dressed?
I give my head a much-needed shake. He obviously got dressed when he heard me coming.
Walking between the palms, I head for the artificial waterfall, which is on one side of the photoshoot ridge. The Bianchis have dug out a large pool for the crystalline water to flow into.