Page 3 of Marry Me in Rome

“All the touristy sites,” I said, “but I also want to see what it’s really like to live here. To be a part of the culture.” To experience the city like an insider, like a local.

Like Matteo, but not . . .him.

Was it too much to ask, to see Rome without being teased about my height or how I say “sorry” too much or pretty much everything? One text to Hunter, and I could be rid of the guy for good. It would be so easy.

I pulled up a map on my phone and felt immediately intimidated by the maze of streets, remembering the scooters and cars zooming by on the narrow roads. Could I even get around without a guide? Hunter was the only other person who knew the public transportation system here. Even Alexis admitted she’d gotten lost a few times during her visit, and taxis would cost a fortune. Walking wasn’t exactly an option, given how far apart everything was.

Blast. As much as I hated to admit it, Hunter was right.

I gritted my teeth as I responded to his text.

I’ll give Matteo one last chance.

Hunter checked his screen discreetly so Kennedy wouldn’t see. His fingers moved quickly, but I received no reply. Instead, I heard a buzzing from Matteo’s direction.

The guy pulled out his phone and looked at it before sliding it back into his pocket. He simply folded his arms and sat there, expressionless. A warning text from Hunter, maybe, about being more respectful? If only.

I found Kennedy’s overprotectiveness grating, but Hunter suddenly felt like the big brother I never had. Maybe he’d come in handy as a brother-in-law after all.

When the server returned Kennedy’s card, she put it away and paused as Hunter leaned over to whisper in her ear. Hereyes lit up before she looked at me and Alexis, her expression one of guilty excitement.

“Go,” Alexis said. “We’ll meet you back on the cruise ship tonight.”

Kennedy pursed her lips. “You both remember where the train station is? Don’t forget, it’s an eighty-minute ride back to the port. Give yourselves plenty of time.”

I nodded. “We’re good. You can make it up to us by cooking an extravagant Italian meal when we get home.”

“We have some work to do, then.” Kennedy and Hunter stood, their fingers still intertwined, and bounded toward a nearby line of taxis. “Have fun and be safe!” my sister called over her shoulder.

“You only have two days in Rome, and you’re wasting it.” Matteo stood. His mule of a dog immediately leaped to his feet, the tag on his collar jingling. Dante’s jowls sported an impressive collection of pasta pieces and red sauce. Had Matteo been feeding thirty-euro pasta to hisdog?

The man’s eyes met mine and held them firmly, almost challenging me to point it out.At least he ate more cleanly than his pet did,I thought, instantly feeling bad for it when he made his way over to my chair and pulled it out for me as I stood.

I felt his closeness as I straightened, felt his hot gaze on my skin.Lots of guys can be chivalrous like this. It means nothing.

He leaned over, speaking just inches from my ear. “Time to go, Jillian Travell. I’m about to make you wish you could stay in Rome forever.”

With the force of Hercules, I stared at a sports car driving by.Focus on the traffic. The sidewalk. The sky. Literally anything else.

“Lead the way,” I finally managed.

My traitorous stomach felt a little wobbly as Matteo and his dog strode away, my sister and I hurrying to follow.

“This is amazing,”I breathed, turning my camera to get a new angle of the crumbling buildings below. We’d started at the Colosseum and then explored the Arch of Constantine before settling at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Everywhere I looked, a photo moment awaited. My poor camera would house at least five hundred photos from this site alone. Who knew that ancient pieces of carved stone against a blue sky could be so pretty?

“Amazinglypacked,” Matteo muttered.

“It hasn’t changed,” Alexis said, hands in her pockets as she looked around. “Everything looks exactly the same as before. Crumbling structure, and another . . . ” She feigned a gasp. “Oh, look! Yet another one over there.”

“Would it kill you to let me enjoy it, at least?” I said. “If you can’t see the beauty in this place, that’s on you. Because every single shot is incredible.” I snapped another photo of the same angle I’d used for the last dozen pictures, hoping just one more would somehow capture the magic. But no photo could ever do this place justice.

My sister frowned. She’d backpacked across Europe alone after graduating high school. Alone, apparently, because ourjerk of a father remarried and didn’t want her around. I sympathized with her, but that didn’t mean I had to be jaded too. Between Matteo’s sarcasm and her bored distance, I could barely concentrate. This hardly felt real. We were here, in Rome. Surrounded by history and culture and beauty on a perfect, warm spring day.

And a certain attractive man currently peeked over my shoulder at my camera screen.

I turned but his eyes darted to Lexi. “When were you here last?” he asked her.

“About eight years ago,” she said. “Before you ask, I swear I saw everything. Piazza Venezia, the Vatican, St. Peter’s, Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon. You name it.”

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