Page 18 of Bella Rosa
"Well that's a shame. Something that good deserves to be seen. You should start a blog or something so others can see your perspective."
I take a step toward her, but I turn just before I can reach her to grab my helmet from the handle bars, and swing my leg over the scooter. I've got to get the hell out of here before I kiss this woman. Rosa quickly gets on the back, much more gracefully this time and without complaint.
Neither of us say a word as I push the kick stand back and start the engine. I get out on the main road and gun it toward the city. What the fuck happened back there?
Rosalie
What the hell happened to just business? I've been swept up in the tornado that is Matteo Moretti and I'm afraid I'll never be the same. This attraction is like nothing I've ever experienced before. It's unnatural to be honest. It doesn't make any sense.
Everything I thought I knew about Matteo was flipped on its head tonight. I thought he was grumpy, unkind, and thoughtless. He proved me so wrong.
Now I'm beginning to rethink this only business deal we have going on. What if we just had fun together while I'm here? No strings kind of thing. I know people do that all the time. Granted, I've never done anything like that.
Who am I kidding? There's no way that would work with Matteo. This attraction is too strong. It would break me. I can't let that happen. I won't.
I must have been deep in thought for a while, because we suddenly pull to a stop and Matteo cuts the engine in front of Alda's.
I unwrap my arms from around him and immediately miss his warmth. I reach up and unbuckle my helmet. He stands and takes my helmet to place on the handle bars. He digs my bag out of his storage compartment and hands it to me. Neither of us have spoken. We haven't even made eye contact.
Matteo breaks the silence when I turn away from him to start walking inside. "Hey listen." He reaches up to rub the back of his neck like he's nervous. He still won't make eye contact with me. "I'm sorry about all that back there. It was really unprofessional of me. It won't happen again." Right. I knew he hadn't changed his mind. Why would he?
"Let's just forget anything happened. Pick me up at the same time tomorrow?"
He lets out a sign of relief, but his face doesn't match. Do I see a hint of disappointment? No. I must be imagining things. "Yeah. Sure. I'll be here. Goodnight, Rosa."
"Goodnight." I make my way inside and close the door. He never moves from his spot. He doesn't even start the Vespa until I'm all the way upstairs and in my room. What a weird night.
I undress and take a quick shower. I still have an hour or so before I want to head to bed, so I grab my camera and transfer my photos over to my computer for safe keeping. While they are downloading I look through my photos from the past few days.
Maybe Matteo is right. I should share these photos with the world.
I spend some time researching blog sites before I finally pick one. Before I know it, I've spent two hours customizing my own blog. My first entry reads kind of like a diary. It's not like anyone will read this anyway.
I finish the post off with the photo I took of the front of Alda's place and a few photos of her gallery wall downstairs. Azzurro and its people are slowly stealing my heart.
I put the finishing touches on my first post before I head to bed for the night.
Isle of Capri
There's a few things that have surprised me about Italy so far. How everything seems to be brighter, how the people seem to be happier, and how much I love it here.
My host may be one of my favorite new friends. She told me this morning over breakfast about the story behind this place. She wanted to open the inn because she grew up helping her grandfather with his inn on the Isle of Capri.
She came to Azzurro alone for university when she was only seventeen. She even took all the photographs that can be found throughout the rooms. She started this bed and breakfast all on her own. I hope I can be like her some day.
12
When in Rome
Matteo
Lucaleansbackinthe chair in my office and gives me a smirk before digging in. "So what are you going to do about it?"
Here we go. I roll my eyes as I look up from the mountain of papers on my desk and act like I have no idea what he's talking about. "Do about what?"
He sits forward in his seat to look me dead in the eye. "Rosalie, of course. She has to be what's gotten you in such a bad mood. You've been snapping at everyone since I got here today, you almost made Enzo cry earlier, and your dad says you've been acting weird for the past week. That timing lines up pretty well with a certain brunette with nice legs coming to town. Just go for it man. What's that saying? When in Rome."
My head snaps up and I point a finger at him. "Don't talk about her legs unless you have a death wish. And leave me the fuck alone."
