Page 64 of I Knew You Were Trouble

I’m used to wheeling my carry-on case around airports, but it doesn’t seem negotiable, and I can’t say I mind this small kindness. It’s another reminder that there are decent men out there and Willem is one of them.

He downs the rest of his beer, stifles a burp behind his hand, which is somehow endearing, then breaks into a smile. ‘Ready?’ he asks.

‘Ready.’

We depart the lounge, Willem indicating which way to go, and I fall into step beside him. As we make our way to the gate, half the people we pass do a double take when they see Willem and the other half outright stare. I glance up at him, and he seems oblivious to the attention – another tick in his ever-growing ‘plus’ column.

Sometimes when I was out with Jon, it was like he craved attention from others, especially attractive and well-dressed people. He’d raise his voice or gesture wildly – occasionally, he’d laugh loudly out of the blue. At the time, I thought it was an indication of his confidence. Now I recognise that he was starved for attention, a sign that he actuallylacksconfidence.

Whereas Willem exudes it, which is incredibly sexy. Pretty much everything about the man is sexy. And I’m about to spend the weekend with him. My eyes drop to the handle of my case, which is enveloped by Willem’s enormous hand. If only he knew what’s inside it.

My phone notifies me of a message, and I fish it out of my tote as we walk. It’s from Margot:

Did you pack condoms?

Horrified, I look over at Willem, but his eyes are trained straight ahead. I slip the phone back into my tote. Margot may be right on the money, but I don’t want to admit to her that I’ve planned ahead, just in case.

Like it matters. She’ll either tease me relentlessly until something happens between me and Willem or tease me relentlessly because nothing ever eventuates. Either way, Margot is invested in me having rebound sex. With Willem.

‘Kate?’ Willem calls.

I stop, realising I’ve been so deep in thought, I strode past the gate. I backtrack and join him in the queue.

‘Sorry. I’m a little distracted.’

His concerned face makes another appearance. ‘I can imagine. It’s big.’

Please tell me he’s bragging about the size of his penis…

‘Uh…’

‘Remember, I’ve gone through it, so I know,’ he continues, cutting through the noise inside my head. He reaches out and runs his hand reassuringly down my arm. ‘But don’t worry, I’ll be there with you.’

Jesus – this bloke is too good to be true – there’s got to besomethingwrong with him. Oh, that’s right. He’s the brother of my fiancé’s other fiancée and getting involved with him would make a messy situation even messier.

I wish my libido would get the memo.

* * *

‘It’s a nice-looking building,’ I say, regarding the modern, four-storey façade in the dim light of a nearby streetlamp.

Willem, who has been around the corner retrieving the key from a lockbox, joins me on the stoop and looks up. ‘It’s nice,’ he says, ‘but I prefer that.’ His gaze goes to the building next door, its crumbling stucco a dark salmon-pink.

‘Then why did you book us accommodation in a brand-new building?’ I ask with a laugh.

‘Because I thought you would prefer it,’ he replies matter-of-factly.

‘Oh.’

He unlocks the front door and motions for me to go first. I do, and an automated sensor floods the white marble lobby with bright light, making me blink. It’s stark, sleek, and so modern, we could be anywhere in the world.

For some reason, Willem believes this is my preference, but when I knew I was coming to Verona, a city that was founded two thousand years ago, I had something more traditional in mind.

‘It’s on the first floor,’ he says, stooping to pick up my case then jogging up the stairs, his case in the other hand. I follow, eyeing the lift longingly, bone-weary after a long evening of travel. I want a shower, then to climb into bed and pass out.

Not even the close proximity of a god-like travel companion will keep me awake.

Willem unlocks the large front door of the flat and swings it open, stepping aside so I can enter first. I quickly take in the large entry, the sleek, modern kitchen, the combined lounge and dining room, which is decorated in ‘IKEA chic’, and the bathroom that boasts a bidet (I still don’t know how you’re supposed to use those) and a ginormous shower.

---