Page 116 of Falling Overboard

“You have no idea how annoying that was growing up.”

“I would have liked that,” I said quietly.

Realizing what he’d said, he took me into his arms and hugged me tightly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“I know you were joking,” I said against his shoulder. He released me but kept his hands at my waist. “But there must be some part of you that likes that your parents love each other so much.”

“You’re right, I do. And I’ve always secretly wanted to have a relationship as strong and stable as theirs.” His bright blue eyes sparkled in the low light.

Did he think that we might be able to have a relationship like that? Someday?

My gaze traveled down to his lips and I wished that I could kiss him. He had the best mouth.

“Hey, my eyes are up here,” he teased.

And his eyes were filled with an intensity, a fire, that burned me from the inside out.

We stood there in silence, my heart beating so loud I was sure it was echoing in the staircase, and I tried to remember why the rules mattered.

He cleared his throat. “Hey, so I have a surprise for you. We’re traveling overnight so that we can get to Naples tomorrow. And my parents are giving the entire crew the next two days off.”

That brought me out of my lust-filled stupor. “What? I’ve never heard of a crew getting time off like that when guests are on board.”

“The owners have given their official permission. My youngest sister wants to go explore Monterra, so they’re going to grab a train in Naples and spend a couple of days there. Personally, I think she’s going to see if she can find one of those teenage princes and get him to fall in lovewith her.” He tugged me forward so that my body was flush with his. “Would you like to spend the day with me?”

“Yes.” I didn’t care what we would do. Most crewmembers never had plans when they had a day off. We would just go out and explore, sometimes in groups, sometimes alone. I’d love to share Italy with him.

“First thing tomorrow morning, bright and early.” He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. Then he went around me and back up to the deck.

Another thing he must have arranged with his parents. His mom didn’t have to be extra perceptive—the fact that he had asked for this kind of favor, she must have suspected that he had done it for someone’s benefit.

And she had quickly figured out that it was mine.

Precisely fifteen hours later, Hunter put his hands over my eyes and had me walk forward. We had landed in Naples and then he had immediately hustled me onto a train. He wouldn’t tell me where we were headed.

“Where are we going?” I asked for what felt like the hundredth time, nearly stumbling over a bump in the sidewalk he hadn’t warned me about.

He didn’t answer but we came to a stop. “We’re finally here. Ready?” He pulled his hands away and we were standing in front of a row of storefronts. “Ta-da!”

“What am I looking at?”

“I brought you to Salerno. You are looking at Il Pane. The bakery of Arturo and Giovanna Mascarelli.”

I gasped. Salerno? This was where my grandparents had grown up. Where my last name came from. And the bakery where my nonna had worked? “Are you serious?”

He looked so pleased with himself. “I am. My dad has some connections and I was able to find them.”

I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“I’d do anything for you,” he said into my neck. We stayed there for a bit and then he let go of me, taking my hand. “Let’s go meet the Mascarelli family.”

And it was the entire family. Children and grandchildren, cousins, aunts and uncles. There was an entire horde of Italians waiting to greet me and kiss me on both cheeks before passing me along to the next person. I could understand some of what they said, but not everything.

It made me wish I had paid closer attention when my nonna had tried to teach me Italian.

“Welcome to our bakery,” a woman close to my age said. “I’m Maria, and I’m one of the granddaughters. I’m here to translate for everyone. My grandparents are so excited that you’ve come. They loved your grandmother. And we heard you want to learn to make sfogliatelle? We make the best.”

“Please thank them for having me. I’m so excited,” I said.

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