“I don’t know, Star. I’m so confused. The sex is amazing. I mean, like really hot. And he’s super charming as well, but if I keep going down this path I’m just going to get hurt. Bad.”

“Why? Why do you always have to play it so safe? Just take a risk. You never know what could happen. I have a good feeling about him. I really liked him and I think you’ll be good for each other. I can’t explain it, but from the moment I met him I had a funny feeling that he was the one for you. That he was going to put a ring on it.”

This is a funny conversation. It was usually me urging Star to take a risk and step out of her comfort zone. Then one day she took a leap out of it and has never looked back. “Yeah, he is fun, Star, but marriage material? Absolutely not,” I say as I turn the covers back on my bed.

“You shouldn’t be so hard on him, Rosa. Give him a chance. A baby can change a man.”

I stop and sniff the air. “Oh my God, Star. I can smell cannabis wafting in through the windows. Must be the kitchen staff from the restaurant downstairs. I hope my baby doesn’t inhale it.”

Star giggles.

Suddenly, I hear an unfamiliar buzzing sound.

“And what the hell is that?” I mutter.

“What?’ Star asks, her voice suddenly all concerned.

I glance around to see if there is an alarm clock I’ve missed. The buzzing comes again. “It’s the downstairs doorbell!”

“Don’t open the door, Rosa,” Star whispers.

“I’ll walk to the window and look down,” I whisper back.

“Who is it?” she demands.

I sigh. “Who else but a playboy. See what I mean, Star. What am I now? A booty call?” With more than a hint of annoyance and the phone still in my hand, I hurry down the stairs. I unlock the door, and swing it open. The sharp words at the tip of my tongue die away.

“Ciao, bella,” Dante says standing with one arm propped against the side of the building. It’s not fair. Damn him for looking like a model on the cover of GQ.

“Do you realize how late it is?” I ask, when I finally realize I should stop staring at him like a fool and say something.

“Of course I do. What better time to show you Rome than after dark when all the English tourists are in bed,” Dante says, beaming his irresistible smile at me.

“Oh.” I put the phone to my ear and hear Star laughing. I clear my throat.

“See what I mean?” she crows.

“I’ll call you in the morning. Good night.”

“Enjoy Rome,” she sings before ringing off.

“Thanks for the thought, but I was actually about to go to bed.”

His eyes widen thoughtfully, but to his credit he keeps his purpose. “Come on, let me take you out on a special excursion.”

Hell, I want to cave in and go with him so much, it’s embarrassing, but for my pride’s sake I make a token protest. “But it’s so late?”

He shakes his head. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

I make one last feeble attempt. “I’m already in my jammies.”

“Didn’t the owner of your magazine tell you to get acquainted with Rome before writing a single word?”

My eyes narrow. “Well yes, he did, but how do you know about that?”

“He told me, obviously.”

I scowl and cross my hands over my chest. “Is he going to be giving you reports on me?”

“Don’t be silly. Of course not. It was his first meeting with you and he happened to mention it.”

“Right,” I say suspiciously.

“Go on. Throw on a pair of jeans. I promise you won’t regret it. If I am not the best tour guide in Rome, I don’t know who is.” He smiles, and the warmth of it melts the last bit of feeble resistance I have inside me.

“I suppose you better come in and wait while I change,” I say hurrying back up the stairs.

I pull on a pair of white jeans and a lime-green crop top and go back out to the living room. He turns around from looking at my nest of photos. He walks over to me. Putting one finger under my chin he raises my face up to his. I stare into his eyes. They are almost yellow, like a wolf’s.

“God, how could anyone look so fucking edible?” he mutters thickly.

I remember how he ate me out last night and blush like a teenager.

He smiles slowly. “I never thought I’d see you blush.”

I open my mouth to say something cutting, but he lays his finger on my lips. “Sometimes, you don’t need to say anything, bella.”

Then he takes my hand and pulls me toward the stairs. “Come on. Rome awaits.”

“Where’s the taxi?” I ask, glancing around and expecting to see Salvatore parked nearby. When my eyes return to Dante, I find him taking helmets off a yellow Vespa.

“Oh, no. I’m not getting on the back of that thing with you!” I shake my head. “Those scooters are dangerous enough during the day.”

“Rosa, where is your sense of adventure?”

“I’d have to say, back in London.”

“Come on. All young lovers ride Vespas in Rome.”

“Is that what we are?”

“Get on and find out,” Dante says, holding out one of the helmets.

I hesitate for another second before I take it off him. “I hope I don’t live to regret this,” I mutter.

“You know Vespa means wasp in Italian,” Dante adds sweetly as I climb on the back of the scooter.

“Yeah, I hope that name doesn’t come from the sting you get when you fall and hit the pavement!” I grumble, strapping on my helmet.

“Just hold me tightly and you won’t fall,” Dante advises, his eyes glinting.

I wrap my hands lightly around his hard body.

“Ready?”

“I think so,” I answer, and he gives gas to the scooter causing it to lurch forward.

“Eeeeee!” I scream in terror as I tighten my grip around his waist.

“That’s more like it,” he says with an evil laugh.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I accuse.

“Just relax,” he calls over his shoulder.

I do more than just hold onto Dante’s waist. I hug him so close my lips are pressing against the back of his neck as the wind blows into my face.

“Where are you taking me?” I shout to be heard over the noise of the scooter and the wind.

“It’s a surprise,” he yells back.

God, the streets are so different when viewing them while zipping around on the back of a Vespa. All of a sudden I realize that it doesn’t matter where we’re going. I’m enjoying both the ride and hugging Dante to ward off the fear I have of us crashing.

“We’re here,” Dante says pulling into the paved carpark of a fairly unremarkable restaurant/bar. It has a green awning and its name, Lo Zodiaco lit up. He turns off the ignition.

“You brought me to a restaurant?” I ask in surprise.

“I’ve brought you to the best kept secret in Rome. Go on, get down.”

Pulling off my helmet, I get off the Vespa. He gets off too, and taking my hand leads me around the side of the restaurant.

“I give you Rome after dark,” he says and points down at the city, ablaze in lights.

“Wow! Where are we?” I ask. The view of the city lights below is magical. I start walking forward towards the railing.

He joins me. “Monte Mario. This is the highest point in Rome.”

“It’s beautiful, Dante.” I gaze spellbound at the majestic splendor of Rome spread out below me.

For a long while neither of us speaks then Dante puts his arm around me. “Lovers come here at night.”

I turn my head and look at him. “Part of the seduction technique, is it?”

“One day that smart mouth of yours is going to earn you a good spanking, Signorina.”

“Is that a promise?” I tease, knowing I’m completely safe.

“Getting cocky, are we?” Dante asks as he reaches out to grab my hand. I evade his hand and start running away from him. Catching me he whirls me around so I am inside the circle of his hands. My palms are on his chest and I can feel his heartbeat.

“I like it when you laugh,” he says softly.

For a second my breath catches at the expression in his eyes, then I remember myself. I cannot let myself be swept up in his professional charm. “Where to now, Mr. Tour Guide?” I croak.

“You will soon see,” Dante says, and leads me back to the Vespa. “All aboard for the last sight!”

“I’m sure it can’t surpass this one.” I climb up behind Dante.

“Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I say, and then squeal like a schoolgirl when the Vespa lunges forward. “Do you bring all your lovers here?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I never felt like it,” he says simply.

“So why did you bring me?”

“Because I knew you’d enjoy it and I wanted to.”

My belly feels warm. I turn my head to one side and press my cheek against his broad back. I feel like little Kai being taken by the Snow Queen in her sleigh. I feel enchanted.

Feeling the Vespa slow down, I raise my head. We have hit the narrow streets of downtown Rome.

“Oh, wow!” I exclaim as Dante stops the scooter.

“Fontana di Trevi, the largest fountain in Rome!” Dante announces as I climb off.

“It’s golden! How beautiful! And it’s so big!”

“The lights turn it gold at night. It’s beautiful during the day, but at night it is very special. And no tourists!” Dante says sweeping his hands around.

“I love the winged horses.”

“I like the statue of Poseidon most,” Dante remarks.

“Being a macho man, you would.”

I dig into my purse as I walk to the edge of the fountain. “I’ve got to toss a coin in,” I say beaming.

“Be sure to close your eyes and make a wish.”

I lean my upper body over the water, close my eyes, make a wish, and toss the coin into the air. When I hear it make a splash, I open my eyes.

Suddenly, Dante spins me around and presses his lips to mine. It feels as though an electric wire has touched my lips. As his tongue slips into my mouth, I swear I almost faint. He lifts his head and looks into my eyes. I can’t look away. Then his powerful arms catch me as he bends his head and continues kissing me passionately.

I think of the Snow Queen kissing little Kai. Once to numb him from the cold, a second time to make him forget about Gerda and his family. I forget everything with that second kiss. It is the most romantic thing that has ever happened to me, and I know instinctively that as long as I live I’ll never encounter such a kiss again.

Later, I surreptitiously kiss Dante’s back as he drives us back to my house.

He waits for me to get off the scooter, takes my helmet, and buckles it on to the holder.

“Thank you, Dante. The night was enchanting, but especially the fountain.”

And the kiss. God, the kiss.

“I would insist that you come up but I can barely hold my eyes open it’s so late.”