Page 59 of Pause

It’s nice. No, it’s amazing, but we have a mission before us, so we get back to it. We’re both eager to see what the rest of the letters say.

We pore over them, our heads together as we concentrate. We can hardly read fast enough with our curiosity raging.

Turns out, they’re all more of the same. Lots of reminiscing about touristy things Lauren (Matteo calls her Laurie) and Matteo did. Mostly, the letters are filled with declarations of undying love in Italian. We Google every single one since neither of us knows a lick of Italian.

“What’s this one, Marin?Ti amo molto.”

I type it into my phone while he reads off the spelling. “It meansIlove you so much.” Our eyes meet as I say the words.

His fingers skim my cheek. “I like hearing those words from your lips.”

We break eye contact quickly. We’re not ready for those words, and we both know it. The feelings are there, pulsing through and around us. They’re just not ready to be declared out loud yet. We’re tentative, ready to explode. For now, we’ll let the bomb keep ticking.

The anticipation is a high all its own.

“How about this one?” Slade asks.“Sei sempre nel mio cuore.”

We’re both equally excited as we go on this treasure hunt for words.

I stare at the answer while my heart beats on double time. “You’re always in my heart.” After a raking gaze, Slade’s eyes slide away from mine reluctantly.

“I can’t begin to guess what this one means.” He reads off the letters.“Sei la mia anima gemelli”

I gawk at the answer on my screen. Another set of words I’d love to exchange with Slade one day. My palms begin to sweat. They’ve never once done that before. I didn’t expect this to be a sensual experience. Spirals of ecstasy are flowing through my veins.

I clear my throat. “You are my soulmate.” There goes that darn whisper again.

I feel his eyes on me. I hear his quick intake of breath. I don’t look up. I can’t. I might blurt out he’s my soulmate for real.

“Wow. Your father was quite a romantic man. I don’t think I would’ve been able to resist these love letters.” Even my breath is burning in my throat.

“He really loved my mom. In spite of everything, I’ll always have this understanding of what they meant to each other. Nothing can take it away. Something about knowing this makes me feel legit. Like I’m not a mistake. I guess I’m glad Mom let me have this insight into their relationship. I can’t say it’s easy to read. At the same time, wow. Just wow.”

“Yeah. Is it hot in here?” I fan myself.

A sensuous light passes from Slade’s eyes to mine. “No, but it’s about to be. I don’t know about you, but I’m suddenly feeling very romantic.”

“It’s in the air,” I mumble right before his lips smother mine.

Whoa. Hesitation is a thing of the past.

Slade scoots his chair back and pulls me onto his lap. We’re a tangle of arms and legs as our kiss turns frenzied.

Even more romantic than the letters of a crazed man desperate to find his true love.

I’m grateful I found Slade.

More importantly, I’m grateful we’re both single and free to explore our love.

chapter twenty

KNOCKING ON MYdoor wakes me up out of a deep sleep. I glance at the clock and realize it’s eleven-thirty in the morning. I was up late with Slade last night. I must’ve been more tired than I thought.

I missed Slade’s amazing breakfast buffet. My stomach growls at me with disappointment.

“Who is it?” I holler.

“It’s me.”

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