Page 42 of A Very Italian Wedding
‘That was before you started to draw a crowd,’ she whispered. ‘I might wait until your fan club loses interest.’ She nodded pointedly towards the two young women who were still staring openly. ‘I know they aren’t looking at me, but…’
Ben sighed. He hadn’t intended to make such a spectacle of himself. He was just trying to unsettle Rose, but he didn’t normally show off. What was it about her that made him behave so out of character?
‘I’m going in. They’ll forget me once I do. See you in there,’ he said and then took off.
The water was cool and refreshing as Ben ran in, relishing the splash against his thighs as he got deeper, trying to forget that Rose was watching, hoping she’d relent and join him.
She needed to loosen up. He’d never met anyone so uptight. But there was still something about her that called to him. Perhaps it was because of how determined she was to protect Luna? Or maybe it was because she wanted to fix everyone’s relationships – while tying herself up in so many rules it made it impossible to have one of her own.
She was vulnerable underneath all those serious edges, but it was clear few people saw that. Ben wasn’t sure why he could. He only knew that Rose was the first woman he’d met in a long time who’d made him question his desire to stay emotionally single. But whether that was the result of too much sun, a magical statue or his reaction to being part of a wedding again, he wasn’t sure.
When Ben turned, he saw Rose. She stopped swimming and stood, her chin resting above the waves as she floated both arms at her sides, helping herself to stay balanced as the sea lapped around them.
‘You made it,’ he said, grinning.
‘Your audience got distracted by someone selling ice cream,’ she told him, flicking a piece of wet hair from her face. ‘I’m afraid they didn’t leave you enough coins for lunch.’
‘I must be losing my touch,’ he joked. ‘Could be the statue’s energy interfering with my own.’
She fluttered her fingertips above the waves before swiping seawater from her eyes. ‘You don’t think there’s any truth to the statue story, do you?’ For the first time since they’d met, Rose looked concerned for someone other than Luna.
‘No, but are you—’ Ben had to stop himself from asking if there was someone special in her life. She’d mentioned there wasn’t a boyfriend on the scene. It seemed unlikely, but he still felt a twinge of jealousy at the idea.
‘I’m single, so I’m not worried about me.’ Her eyes fluttered over his face. ‘But what about you? I’m assuming there’s no one significant.’
‘I don’t really do serious,’ he murmured, but the words were a reflex and left a bad taste in his mouth.
She didn’t look surprised. ‘After today, you might want to be extra careful with your…acquaintances,’ she said, her tone serious. ‘Obviously, you’re welcome to do whatever you want, but…’ She pulled a face.
Ben nodded. ‘I’m not looking to get anyone pregnant.’ Something inside his heart lurched. He hadn’t said those words aloud before, hadn’t quite acknowledged what they might mean. Rose stared at him and her face changed – he saw sympathy in her eyes and wished he could wash it away. ‘Which is the right decision,’ he said, trying not to snap. ‘I’m not looking for serious.’ There was that bad taste again.
Rose nodded and didn’t push. She stared at him a little more, floating her hands on the water, letting the lull of the waves push them from side to side. Ben watched her silently as she drifted back and forth, which meant when the wave hit his shoulders, he wasn’t expecting it. It propelled him forward, right into Rose.
‘Sorry,’ he said as his body hit hers. He might have flattened her, if she hadn’t immediately placed the palm of her right hand flat against his chest, making his insides go haywire.
The wave subsided, but instead of taking her hand away, Rose left it resting on his skin. Everything inside Ben began to hum, as every molecule of his body reacted to her touch. He hadn’t felt this turned on in years, and it shocked him. Wasthis the statue’s doing or was his resolve of the last two years wavering?
Rose must have realised she was still touching him because she gasped and abruptly withdrew her palm. ‘That’s not me, it’s got to be the fertility statue,’ she murmured, reading his mind. ‘Looks like I need to spend some time in the salt water until the effects wear off.’ She took a wide step backwards, just as another wave crashed onto Ben’s shoulders shoving him forward as if nature itself were trying to push them together.
‘Or it could just be the tide,’ he croaked, wondering if she was right because all he wanted to do right now was pick Rose up and bury his face in her neck before licking her senseless.
He carefully eased backwards, trying to move sideways as awareness continued to course through him. ‘We shouldn’t stand like this or I’m going to end up pushing you over.’
Rose moved until they were facing again, only this time with their shoulders towards the waves. She took in a deep breath and looked up at the sky. He watched as she absorbed the sunlight, wondering if he’d ever seen anything more beautiful.
‘I haven’t been to the beach for years,’ she confided. ‘I’m guessing you come here often to pose?’ She opened her eyes again and gave Ben a look that was someway between serious and amused, making him feel ashamed.
‘You really think I’m shallow, don’t you?’ he asked.
‘Of course I don’t,’ Rose said, flushing. ‘I’m sorry, I was just teasing. I’m not very good at it,’ she admitted. ‘I?—’
‘It’s okay…I’m wondering if perhaps you’re right.’ The realisation, on top of the acknowledgement of his growing feelings, was unsettling.
‘I’m not,’ Rose said, stepping a little closer to him, holding up a palm again and dropping it just before it touched Ben’s chest. She looked like she was going to say more, but then someone shrieked as they dived into the water and a crowd – includingthe two women from earlier – were suddenly swimming around them, splashing and laughing.
‘We should probably get out, you don’t want to be late for your party favours and I want to eat before we go…’ Ben pointed towards the beach, feeling a sudden need to retreat.
He wasn’t used to having these feelings, wasn’t ready – but for the first time in a long time, Ben wondered if with Rose, he could be?
