Page 36 of His Innocent's Passionate Awakening

Not going to happen.

How could he be so confident it wouldn’t happen?

And how could she be so hopeful it would? That he would fall in love with her?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ONCE DINNER WAS OVER, Luca led the way back to his car past a wine bar where live music was being played. The sweet strains of a well-known Italian love song filled the night air. He glanced down at Artie’s wistful expression, and stopped in front of the entrance. ‘Do you fancy going in for a bit?’

She shifted from foot to foot, looking like she was torn between running away and going in and letting her hair down. ‘I haven’t heard live music before. And I’ve never been to a wine bar. Or danced with anyone before.’

He took her hand and looped it through his arm. ‘Come on, then. Let’s dance.’

A short time later, Luca held Artie in his arms as they slow-waltzed to another old love song. Her head was resting against his chest, her hair tickling his chin, her flowery fragrance teasing his nostrils. Her body moved in perfect time with his, as if they had been dancing together for ever. The naturalness of their motion reminded him of the natural rhythm of their lovemaking. It was as if their bodies were in tune with each other, recognising the other as the perfect partner.

Perfect partner? You’re hardly that.

The sharp prod of his conscience made him miss a step and he had to gather Artie closer to stop her from bumping into another couple on the small dance floor. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I lost my concentration.’ Or maybe he’d momentarily lost his mind, thinking about the possibility of a future with her.

A future he couldn’t offer her.

When he’d first offered her a six-month marriage it had seemed an inordinately long time to be tied to someone, and yet now it didn’t seem long enough. He avoided thinking about their inevitable divorce. Avoided thinking about a time when she wouldn’t be in his life. Avoided thinking about her with someone else. He felt sick to his guts at the thought of her making love with some other man. He’d never considered himself the jealous type but he couldn’t stomach the thought of her with someone else. What if they didn’t treat her with respect? What if they weren’t patient with her struggles in public? What if they didn’t understand how sensitive and caring she was?

Artie looked up at him with luminous eyes, her face wreathed in smiles. ‘This is so much fun. Can we do this another night soon?’

Luca smiled and bent his head to kiss her. ‘I can think of nothing I’d like more.’

* * *

The next couple of weeks passed in a whirlwind of activity where Artie’s feet barely touched the ground. There were visits to the hospital to see Luca’s grandfather, who was making good progress after his hip surgery. Then there were trips to various sightseeing spots, and picnics in the countryside overlooking the hills and valleys of the region. Luca taught her about the skill of wine-making and olive production and showed her the vines and groves on his estate. He took her for romantic dinners in award-winning restaurants as well as less famous ones, where the food was just as fabulous and the atmosphere intimate and cosy. Luca took her shopping and spoilt her with a completely new wardrobe of clothes, including a collection of swimsuits and gorgeous lingerie.

But it was the nights at home she enjoyed the most. Just being with him, sitting in the salon chatting, watching a movie or listening to music together, her head resting on his chest and his arms around her. It gave her a glimpse of what life could be like if they stayed together longer than the six months he’d stipulated. He was still driven by work and was often on the phone or answering emails, but she noticed he was more relaxed than before and seemed to smile and laugh more. Was it because his grandfather was on the mend and had decided to go ahead with his cancer treatment? Or was it because she had helped Luca to see there was more to life than work? That being in a romantic relationship could be positive rather than negative?

Artie had to bite her tongue so many times to stop herself from confessing how she felt about him but she let her actions do the talking instead. Every time she kissed him, she let her lips communicate her love. Every touch of her hands, every stroke of her fingers, every press of her body on his, love poured out of her. But she wanted to say it out loud. She needed to say it out loud. She needed him to hear the words—I love you.

They were sitting on the sofa watching the moon rise through the salon windows after a day of sightseeing. The moonlight cast a silver light over the surface of the infinity pool outside on the terrace overlooking the vineyard. Luca’s arm was around her shoulders, her head resting on his shoulder, and soft music was playing through the sound system—cellos, violins and the sweetly lilting tones of a flute. A romantic ballad that tugged at her heartstrings and made her wish there wasn’t a limit on their time together.

‘Luca?’

‘Mmm?’ One of his hands began to play with her hair, sending shivers coursing down her spine.

Artie tilted her head to look at him. ‘Luca, I want to talk to you about something. Something important.’

He brushed an imaginary hair away from her face, his eyes dark and serious. ‘Go on.’ His tone held a note of caution, unease, guardedness, but she refused to let it daunt her.

She swallowed a tight knot in her throat. ‘There’s so much I enjoy about being with you. You’ve spoilt me like a princess. You’ve treated me with so much patience and kindness and helped me build my confidence.’

He gave a half-smile, some of the wariness in his gaze fading. ‘I like seeing you blossom, cara. You’re a beautiful person who’s been hiding away for too long.’

Artie touched his face with her fingers, her love for him taking up all the room in her chest so she could barely take a breath. ‘I never thought I’d meet someone like you. And not just because I was locked away in the castello. But because I didn’t think people as wonderful as you existed.’

Luca took her by the upper arms in a firm grip, his expression clouding. ‘Look, don’t go making me out to be a hero, Artie. I’m hardly that. You’re confusing good chemistry with...other feelings.’ Even the way he hesitated over the rest of his sentence showed how reluctant he was to the notion of love, but Artie pressed on regardless.

‘Luca...’ She took a deep breath and plunged in. ‘I don’t want our relationship to be temporary. I want more, and deep down I think you do too.’

His hands fell away from her arms and he sprang off the sofa to put some distance between them. ‘You’re wrong, Artie. That’s not what I want. I’ve never wanted that. We made an agreement—’

Artie jumped off the sofa as well and stood in front of him. ‘We made an agreement and then we changed it to what it is now—a physical relationship that works on every level but the one that means the most to me. I can’t make love with you and keep my feelings to one side. They are the reason I want to make love with you. The only reason. I love you.’

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