Page 45 of Rome for the Holidays
She smirked, “You got shot and didn’t tell me.”
His mouth opened and closed, and he lifted an eyebrow, “Fair point.”
She laughed, and kept telling them about school, how she fell in love with the Italian language and her studies about Rome.
How even if Vincenzo didn’t live in Rome, she one day still wanted to see it.
Lucia said, “We shall take you to see what you wish.”
“Really?”
Vincenzo nodded, “All of us would love to escort you through Rome. There are beautiful things to see.”
She clapped her hands, “Please. I would love that.”
Vincenzo whispered, “There is that begging again.”
She blushed and his mom said, “Would you like to eat?”
Gio nodded, “Fucking yes. I am starving.”
Lucia hit Gio on the back of the head, “Language.”
Gio put his head down, rubbing it, “Sorry.”
Harper bit back a laugh at the grown man cowering before Lucia.
She nodded, and they sat around a small table, eating as she found out about Vincenzo’s family.
She fell in love with all of them and felt like part of their family.
She truly felt as if she were at home.
She was leaning against Vincenzo when they finished eating, barely able to keep her eyes open and Vincenzo lifted her into his arms, “I am going to take her to bed. The jet lag is catching up to her.”
Harper nodded and put her head on his chest as he carried her to his room.
He put her in the bed and took off her pants, leaving her in just the sweater.
She unhooked her bra and threw it across the room, making him laugh as she did.
He stripped down to his boxers again and climbed in bed beside her, pulling her into his arms.
“I love you Harper. You are my life.”
She smiled, “As you are mine.”
Then she let sleep claim her.
* * *
When she woke, dawn was breaking on the horizon and she looked over to see Vincenzo asleep still
His arm was slung over her stomach, and she needed to use the bathroom, so she lifted his arm and went to his bathroom, washing her hands when she was done.
Her stomach grumbled and she left the room, walking down to the small room where they had eaten the night before.
She loved the tree, and how cozy the room was.
