Page 18 of The Virgin's Dance with the Devil
“They’ll miss you.”
He shrugged. “If they miss me, they miss me.” He finished his coffee. “Walk back with me?”
She hesitated a moment before nodding.
Accardiano’s streets were busier than when they’d entered the café, the sun higher and bright enough for them both to put their sunglasses on. They headed back onto the main road that led to the hotel and were walking past the designer boutiques lining this stretch of it when Marisa’s fingers brushed against his. Rico’s heart jolted, warmth spreading through him when her hand slipped into his.
Their hands remained clasped until they reached the high white wall that ran the perimeter of The Bianchi.
Pulling her to the side to stand beneath the row of fig trees that ran that wall’s perimeter, Rico cupped her cheeks and brought his face close to hers. “Meet me outside the side exit of the ballroom at one? The door that leads out to the staff quarters?”
Her dark eyes were alive with trepidation and excitement. “Okay,” she whispered.
He brushed a kiss on her succulent lips, held it just long enough to infuse his senses with her delicate scent, then disappeared through the gates.
The side exit of the ballroom opened into a small staff courtyard. The butterflies in Marisa’s stomach and chest as she approached it were so strong she could hardly breathe. They’d been there since Rico had materialised in the church beside her.
Her question had been answered in the most terrifying way possible. But also in the most thrilling way.
The door opened before she reached it. Blood rushed to her head.
He smiled to see her, a wide smile that made his piercing eyes dance.
“All done?” she asked, striving for nonchalance, even though she didn’t know why.
“I’ll have to go back later, but for now, my time is entirely yours.”
The hotel’s grounds were deserted. The only people they passed as they took the scenic route to the beach’s pathway were staff. Not everyone had gone on the boat trip, of course. Marisa’s parents had begged off – sometimes Parkinson’s came in handy as a ready-made excuse – and were planning to spend the afternoon relaxing on their balcony. They didn’t know she had no plans to go on the boat trip either. Neither did Luisa, which only added to Marisa’s guilt.
Was this how her old friends had felt when they’d skipped school and loitered around the local town hoping not to get caught by someone who knew their parents?
She’d never bunked off school. Had never done anything that would cause her parents a moment of worry.
When they learned about Rico, it would give them twenty-five years of worry in one hit.
But that was something to worry about later. For now, it was just her and Rico enjoying a few snatched hours together, and she didn’t want anything to spoil it.
“Have you started reading the book?” she asked as they reached the path.
“Last night,” he said.
“And?”
“I’m enjoying it.”
“You soundsurprised.”
“I am.” He caught her eye and grinned. “I would love the power of time travel.”
“What would you do with it?”
“Visit you as a child like Henry does with Clare – I’m very curious about the sort of child you were.”
Her cheeks warming with pleasure, she squeezed his fingers. “A very boring, very good child.”
“I can imagine. I bet you never broke the rules or even pushed against them.”
“Never.”
