Page 78 of In Italy for Love

His gaze snagged on the envelopes on the floor and he forced himself forward to retrieve them and place them on the table with more gentleness than he’d thought he could muster. Lowering himself heavily into the chair opposite her, he lifted his gaze to hers.

‘Are you going to open them?’

She picked one up, but just held it in her limp hand. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered.

‘None of that was your fault.’

Her grimace was eloquent. ‘I can’t believe I moved to Italy forhim.’

He swallowed, his fingertips brushing the other envelope. ‘You can go home now, though.’

When her gaze flew to his, it was unexpectedly haunted. ‘Yeah. I won’t have to scrounge off you any longer.’

‘Jules,’ he began sharply, ‘Luca was aiming to hurt you. You earned your way – both with him and with us.’

‘With you?’ she asked quietly.

Smothered in indignation and frustration, the right words refused to come and he opened his mouth stupidly. What could he say? Yes, she’d more than earned her keep – but not the way Luca had sneeringly suggested. Or no, she hadn’t earned anything. She didn’t need to earn anything. It was a minefield he didn’t have the focus to cross. There was too much adrenaline still pumping in his veins.

‘IwishI’d punched him!’ he blurted out, resting his forehead on the heel of his hand when he couldn’t seem to hold himself up any more. ‘Damn it, Jules! Ihatethat he hurt you! I hate that you listen to him!’

She dropped the envelope to clutch his forearm with both of her hands. ‘I’m glad you didn’t hit him. He’s not worth getting upset about. I’m trying not to let his words sink in.’

He turned his arm over and grasped hers tightly. ‘Try harder.’ If Luca hadn’t destroyed her confidence, maybe she would have had some bravery left to stay – here, with him.

She opened her mouth, hesitating and licking her lips before she said softly, tentatively, ‘I’d rather listen to you.’

And I’m asking you not to go…

His breath was tight, words he wasn’t ready to say pulling at their restraints. He almost asked her. He almost told her he didn’t know what he’d do without her. But that wouldn’t be fair. He couldn’t manipulate her into loving him when he didn’t know if he could ever love her back the way he’d loved Laura.

She’d lost so much because she’d been brave and tried to love someone. He couldn’t ask her to do it again.

Letting his eyes drift shut, he released a long breath and leaned over the table to be closer to her. She met him in the middle, her cheek against his forehead.

‘I wish your passports had got lost in the post,’ he murmured – true, but far too shallow for what was inside him. Her fingers drifted into his hair and he finally allowed himself to be soothed, even though part of him didn’t want to be.

‘You know the post doesn’t come on the weekend.’ He felt her smile against his skin.

‘It doesn’t. Nothing ever arrives on a Sunday.’

Her hand slipped to the back of his neck. ‘The post will arrive tomorrow. Nothing came today. Sundays are for other things entirely.’

He turned his head and grazed his lips against her jaw. ‘Kissing – yes. Never post.’

‘Definitely for kissing.’ Her words were more breath than voice and he grasped at the chance to show her how much he felt, even though it could never be enough.

When he came closer the pull between them was different, as though she understood his turmoil – or were experiencing her own. She sucked in one last breath before their mouths met, a little desperate.

‘I hope you’re not thinking about him,’ he said gruffly as he hauled her to her feet, wrapping an arm around her as they stumbled into the hallway in the direction of his room.

‘I’m not,’ she reassured him between kisses. ‘You’re a much better mistake than he ever was.’

Her words tugged at him even as he tumbled onto the bed with her and soaked up her fragrant skin and soft body.

‘You’re not a mistake to me,’ he said firmly. ‘You’re a page in my book – one I want to bookmark and return to over and over again.’

She peeled his shirt off, her hands and her lips eager and busy as always. ‘Just stay on the page with me for a minute, Alex. We don’t have to turn it yet.’

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