Page 75 of Lodged

He shakes his head.

“Well, I’ve always wanted to visit,” I tell him as we make our way to the villa.

“Maybe one day we’ll go,” he says nonchalantly, but my heart latches onto his words. I hope so, too.

“Welcome to Villa Tuscany,” a girl, probably around my age, greets us as we enter the main floor of the villa.

“You must be Ruin and Gio. What a pleasure to have you here today.” She shakes our hands as she leads us to a table with six wine bottles lined up alongside tasting glasses. “My name is Aria, and I’ll be your wine tour guide today.”

She beams at us, and I smile back. I don’t see anyone else around. Did Gio plan this to be an exclusive tasting? How much does this cost?

One by one, we taste the wines produced in the vineyard. Each has its own subtle notes and unique production time.

“I really like this Bella Misto,” I tell Aria as I finish my second glass of the delicious wine.

“That’s actually our best seller. The perfect blend of fruity and mineral notes makes it the ideal wine to go with any meal,” she replies.

I reach for another refill, but Gio intervenes. “Easy, sweetheart,” he says, and I give him a sheepish look.

“Why don’t we grab a bottle of Bella Misto for our lunch? Then we can head back home.” I smile at his idea, and Aria opens a bottle for us. Gio grabs it, along with two wine glasses in one hand, and takes my hand with his free one.

“Where are we having lunch?” I ask, confused. I thought we would eat inside the tasting room.

“It’s a beautiful, sunny day. I thought you’d like to eat in their gazebo.” Gio points to a white gazebo that sits atop a hill, surrounded by a wildflower garden. Inside, a table and two chairs are already set for lunch.

“You are so thoughtful,” I tell him as I grab his arm and pull him closer to me. “Thank you so much for taking such good care of me.”

He kisses my hair, and I feel the butterflies in my belly again.

“You’re welcome. I thought about laying out a blanket for a picnic, but then it dawned on me that it wouldn’t be the smartest idea to put too much weight on your ankle as you get up from the blanket.”

He truly takes care of me. Butterflies take flight in my stomach as I get lost in the thought—how is it possible that I’m having lunch in such a beautiful setting after a hot air balloon ridewith the most handsome, smart, and all-around amazing man I’ve ever met in my life? How is this real? Maybe after the hardest moment of my life, the universe has decided to give me a reprieve and sent this angel my way.

He pours our wine, and we enjoy a spread of Italian treats—everything from pasta with meatballs, to lasagna and even gelato. It’s a feast.

“Do you think we can walk around the vines before we head home?” I know he’s asking if my ankle can handle it. I had therapy yesterday, and even though I’m a little sore, I don’t want this date to end.

“I would love that.” He gives me a big smile, and we head toward the rows of vines at the bottom of the hill. There’s a nice breeze making them sway. The birds are chirping, and the smell of dirt and fragrant flowers mix in the air. It’s the perfect day, and I’m not sure how I got this lucky. Being here with a man who doesn’t care about my flaws or shortcomings, who wants to spend time with me, and who lets me be me. I always thought this only happened in the movies, but I guess I’m living my own.

“Where did you go?” Gio asks, bringing me back to the moment.

“I was just thinking how much I’m enjoying being here with you—and how lucky I feel to have met you.”

His eyes soften as he gently places my hand in the crook of his elbow.

“I have no words to describe how happy I am to be here with you, Ruin. I feel like I’ve been looking for you my whole life.” His eyes fill with emotion, and I smile at him because I feel the exact same thing.

He wipes the moisture off my face and leans down, brushing a featherlike kiss on my lips. I feel electricity going from his lips to mine, and I want more. Without thinking about whether I’m going too fast or being reckless, I press my hands against hischest and grab his sweater, pulling him closer to me. Gio groans as I feel his dick pressing against my middle. The kiss grows passionate, almost desperate. I can’t get enough of him.

Slowly, Gio starts to break the kiss, and I whimper. He chuckles, and the vibration does delicious things to my libido, which until now had been non-existent.

“It’s not our last kiss, sweetheart. I can promise you that.” He gives me a peck on the lips, and we continue our walk.

I can’t wait to tell Rain how amazing this day has been.

Chapter 33

Gio Bianchi

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