Page 14 of Ruthless Match

“What kind of surprise?” she asked hesitantly.

“I thought we could spend the day exploring Viejo San Juan. I have already made the arrangements; we leave in an hour.”

Aurora sat up, pulling the sheet around her. ‘Viejo San Juan? I haven’t been there since I was a child. I used to love it there.”

Grinning, I opened the curtains and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. “Then it’s time you saw it again. Get dressed, and we’ll have breakfast before we leave.”

To my relief, Aurora didn’t argue.

“Okay, I’ll meet you on the patio in fifteen.”

I watched as she got out of bed and began to prepare for the day. I knew I shouldn’t stare, but I couldn’t help it. She was exquisite.

Finally, I tore my gaze away and went to see that the assortment of fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee was ready. A sense of anticipation was building within me and although I hated to admit it, I was excited. I was excited to spend the day out of our element where there might be a chance to bridge the enormous gap that separated us. Maybe, just maybe, this honeymoon could become something more than a business formality.

The realization that I wanted it to be more unnerved me, but I pushed that aside – determined to have a good day.

The drive to Viejo San Juan was quiet but not uncomfortable. Aurora seemed more relaxed, though she still maintained a certain reserve. She looked beautiful in a strapless floral sundress, and I couldn’t help but notice the way the sunlight caught her hair and the way she smiled as the wind hit her face.

When we arrived at our destination, I parked the convertible and walked around to help Aurora out into the bustling street. The air was filled with sounds of music and laughter, and the vibrant colors of the buildings brought the city to life. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I wanted to remember this moment.

As we walked through the streets, Aurora seemed to come alive. Her facial expressions brightened as she pointed out various landmarks and shared memories of her time spent here as a child. I listened intently, finding myself genuinely interested. As we walked along the cobbled streets, we came across a small market full of vendors selling handmade crafts and local food.

Spotting a small stand, Aurora beamed. “Oh wow, look at these,” she said picking up a small ceramic bowl and showing it to me. “My grandmother used to collect these. She had an entire set in her kitchen.”

I watched, seeing how happy the unsuspecting item seemed to make her. “Would you like to get one?”

Aurora tilted her head like she was thinking of an answer to the most important question of her life. Smiling softly, she shook her head. “No, but thank you. Sometimes it’s just nice to remember things from a simpler time.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it, but I knew exactly what she meant. We continued to explore the market, sampling the delicious food and admiring the local artwork and crafts.

The relaxing setting made Aurora less reserved, and I found myself enjoying the day more than I anticipated. As Aurora’s defenses lowered, she began to share more pieces of her past life with me. In a matter of a few short hours, I had gone from seeing Aurora as a casualty of a business arrangement to a person, a real person with a history and dreams.

It was even stranger when I felt an overwhelming urge to protect her as we walked through a particularly crowded market section. Where the hell did that come from?

Without thinking, I reached out and took her hand. Guiding her through the crowd of people, her hand in mine, I was surprised at how natural it felt. I was even more surprised that Aurora didn’t pull away. Instead, she squeezed it gently; to let me know she appreciated the gesture. At least, that’s how it felt.

An unexpected warmth spread through me as I realized but accepted that I liked holding Aurora’s hand. Her beauty was obvious and every man we passed turned to look at her. I couldn’t blame them.

I also couldn’t deny the sense of pride I felt in knowing she was spoken for. Technically anyway. But seeing our hands entwined let the admirers know that she was mine. Mine. The thought filled me with a sudden feeling of possessiveness, protectiveness, and an emotion I wasn’t used to - affection.

Aurora suggested having lunch at a quaint café with a view of the ocean. As we enjoyed fruity cocktails, I couldn’t help but stare at Aurora. She was a work of art. She was more alive than I had ever seen her, and her deep, blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she remembered stories from her childhood.

“You seem to love this place,” I said with a smile.

Aurora nodded and pushed a stray hair behind her ear. “I do. It holds so many memories - good memories of the summers spent here with my family. It was the only time my father was just “Dad” and not Dominic DeSantis, Hotel CEO. It was nice.”

I reached across the table and took her hand. “Then I’m even more glad that we came. It’s nice to see you smile.”

Aurora looked down at our enjoined hands and blushed lightly. “Thank you, Matteo. I must admit, this has been surprisingly nice.”

After lunch, we continued to explore the city, and as the day wore on, I found myself drawn even more to the woman who was now my wife. Aurora possesses a strength and resilience that I admire; strength and resilience are things I want to protect.

I was beginning to think she hadn’t been able to rely on too many men in her life, including her father, and I wanted to change that. I found myself wanting to be the man she could rely on. And that scared the shit out of me.

By late afternoon, we found ourselves at El Morro, the ancient fortress That stood guard over the city. The irony wasn’t lost on me, as I wanted to guard and protect Aurora. But even stranger was that for a short while, I felt like the weight of my responsibilities had lifted. I liked it, even if it was temporary.

“This place is incredible,” Aurora said, running her hands along the stone wall. “It’s like stepping back in time.”

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