Page 34 of Some Saviors Can Break You

“We won't need to worry about any of that,” he assured her. “We’ll be taking my personal plane. I made the arrangements last night so everything is all set and ready to go. All we need to do is turn up at the airport. Ten hours there, ten back, I figure we’ll walk through the streets of Florence then have dinner at this beautiful Villa I know of, and we’ll be back in New York in twenty-four hours.”

Shock was written all over her face at his suggestion. “I can't just go away for twenty-four hours. I’m in the middle of a serial killer case that is quickly spinning out of control, not to mention the other cases Jake and I are working.”

“I already spoke to your boss and your partner, and they both said they thought you should go. They said you hadn’t taken aday off in almost two years and you deserve a break. It’s one day, Florence. Let me treat you, take you someplace special and spoil you rotten. The case will be waiting for you when you get back, and because I know you're a workaholic and that taking this break would be hard for you, I got sealed copies of your files for you so you can work a little on the plane if you want. Don’t worry I didn't take a peek at them.”

Although Eli didn't let it show, he was nervous. He wanted Florence all to himself for a whole day, but he knew he was taking a big gamble. There was a very real chance that she could say no. He knew twenty-four hours was the most he could convince her to give up, so he’d made the most of the small window of time they’d have in the beautiful city of Florence and planned out a walk and dinner for them, and he really wanted her to say yes. If he was going to convince her to be all in with this fledgling relationship they had growing, they needed some time away from their real lives to just spend together and connect.

“Please, Florence.” Eli reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb caressing her soft skin. “Come with me, just relax and let go, I have everything planned out, we’ll have an amazing time, just trust me.” He caught her gaze and held it, letting her read in his eyes how important for them he thought this was.

From the look on her face, she was clearly debating with herself, and he had to fight to keep breathing and not hold his breath as he awaited her answer. Finally, she gave a single nod. “Okay.”

“Okay?” he echoed, hardly daring to hope that she had cracked and decided to let him treat her. Eli had the feeling that her tough upbringing had made her rely on herself and no one else, and growing up poor she probably wasn't used toextravagance like flying to another country on a private jet for twenty-four hours.

“This makes me feel weird, and a little irresponsible, but it’s obviously important to you, and it does sound kind of fun.”

“And romantic,” he added, leaning in to kiss her. Stopping himself before he reached the point where he wanted to throw her onto the sofa, rip her clothes off and plunge into her hot, wet body—that point seemed to get closer and closer the more time he spent around Florence. “We better get going, we’re supposed to be leaving at five.”

“What should I wear?”

“Something comfortable, and you’ll need your coat, it’ll be cold, and once we get to Florence, we’ll mostly be outside.”

“I've never been to Italy before, the only time I've been out of the country was for a conference in London that Jake and I went to the year before last. What's Italy like?” Florence asked as she disappeared into her bedroom.

He willed his feet to stay put, he wasn't here for a peep show, and he had a feeling if he watched her undress they wouldn’t make it to the plane in time to leave. “It’s beautiful. There’s so much history there, and Florence is a gorgeous city. I wish that we were able to spend more time there, but I packed in as much sightseeing as I could for the couple of hours we’ll be there. And the Villa I’m taking you to for dinner is just amazing.”

“Tell me about it.”

“It’s called Villa Il Leccio. It’s been around since the 1200s, and in the eighteenth century it was transformed into a country house for the Landi family. It’s been in their family for nine generations, and they still live there. Part of the house is used as a bed and breakfast, and they have the most mouthwatering food, cooked onsite, with a lot of the ingredients grown on the farm. The views across the Tuscan countryside are breathtaking, and the gardens are beautiful with roses and lavender, andlemon trees. I wish we had more time to spend there, and next time we go we’ll book a room and spend a couple of weeks exploring Tuscany.”

“Next time?” Florence asked, sticking her head around her bedroom door.

“One visit to Italy is never enough. When I take you back, not only will we explore Tuscany, but I’ll take you to Rome, and Milan, and along the Amalfi Coast, and we’ll need at least a couple of weeks to enjoy Venice.” Italy was one of his favorite countries, he’d loved living there and continued to vacation there at least once a year. Of all the cities he loved in Italy, Venice was his favorite. There was just something about wandering its little streets, crossing bridges over the canals, and eating bowls of ice cream worth fifty Euros in St Mark’s Square that was magical in that kind of way you could never get enough of. He couldn’t wait to share that with Florence. He’d take her for a romantic gondola ride, they’d explore the Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, and each and every one of the islands that made up Venice, including his personal favorite, Burano with all its colorful houses.

“Awfully presumptuous of you to assume that I’ll go back to Italy with you again.”

“Hey, you're the one that calls me cocky,” he reminded her with a teasing smile. “Princess, you aren’t just going to go back to Italy with me, you’re going to travel the world with me. Remember, I saved your life, you’re my responsibility, it’s my job to make sure you travel the world and unlock all its secrets.” Traveling with his parents had opened his eyes to all the world had to offer, from cozy little towns in England to thousand-year-old pyramids in Egypt, he’d loved every second of those vacations, especially just being together as a family. Now he wanted to share that with Florence and the family they would have one day.

The thought of having a family with her didn't even surprise him.

He was in deep.

Already falling for her.

One day, they’d get married and have children, and he’d take his family to all the places he loved, sharing those experiences with them and watching the wonder and joy on their faces that he knew his parents had loved seeing on his.

When his father had died, he’d felt so alone in the world, no family left, but Florence was going to change that. She was already his, all he had to do was hope that this romantic trip to Florence was enough to convince her of that.

9:07 P.M.

Florence, Italy

“I can't believe we’re here,” Florence said as she tried to take in everything around her all at once. Everything had happened so quickly. Just ten hours ago she’d been woken by a knock at her door, and now she was in Italy.

InItaly.

It didn't seem real.

She’d quickly thrown on a pair of white jeans, black knee-high boots that were warm and comfortable, a blue sweater that she knew made her eyes shimmer like a summer sky, she’d added a blue woolen beanie, scarf, and gloves, and her favorite black coat that reached to mid-thigh and would provide extra warmth. Traffic had been virtually non-existent, and by the time they climbed on board Eli’s plane, barely thirty minutes had passed.

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