Chapter Nine

A breeze tickled my skin and my eyes fluttered open, my gaze settling on a pair of sheer curtains waving in front of the open French doors. Sunlight bathed the room, everything about this place and time making me feel as if I were in a dream.

I glanced to the opposite side of the bed, heat radiating from my chest when my eyes fell on Dante’s slumbering form. His lips were curled up slightly in the corners, a peaceful air about him. I couldn’t help but smile. For a moment, I lowered my defenses and allowed myself to consider how perfect it would be to wake up by his side every day, to feel his perpetual five o’clock shadow tickle my skin, to savor his lips murmuring “good morning” to me. Last night, I’d told him I would give him a chance. Why was it so hard for me to break from my plan and consider the possibility that there was a reason Dante had entered my life?

Too soon, my bladder throbbed in discomfort, tearing me away from my fantasy world. Gingerly getting out of bed so I didn’t disturb Dante, I quietly padded across the large bedroom and into the en-suite bathroom, which was nearly as big as the bedroom. A beautiful claw-foot tub sat at the far end in front of tempered glass windows, the view of the acres and acres of vineyards surrounding us evoking a sense of calm.

After going about my business and freshening up a bit, I returned to the bedroom. Seeing my suitcase, I retrieved a silk kimono robe and pulled it on, securing the sash around my waist. Then I stepped out onto the balcony. I briefly closed my eyes, relishing in the feeling of the sun on my face. There was a slight chill in the air as the sun continued to rise. An early-morning dew shimmered on the grass and vines, the beauty that lay before me unlike anything I’d ever seen in my life. I’d done a fair bit of traveling, mostly in the States, but nothing compared to the peacefulness I felt here.

I leaned my arms on the stone railing, wanting to remember everything about this place. The way the breeze wrapped around me. The way the birds sang. The way the air smelled of sweetness mixed with a bit of spice. Even the air smelled like Dante.

I lost track of time as I stood admiring my surroundings, imagining how perfect life would be if this were the view that greeted me each morning. Suddenly, a pair of arms enclosed me in the familiar warm embrace that was beginning to feel more and more like home.

“Buongiorno, amore mio,” he crooned into the crook of my neck, his voice raspy from sleep.

I melted into him, the timbre of his words like a beautiful song I could listen to over and over again. “Buongiorno, amore mio,” I offered in response, although my Italian left a lot to be desired.

“How did you sleep?” he asked, keeping his arms around me, the scruff of his unshaven jawline tickling my skin.

“Great. One of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while.” I turned to face him. “For once, there wasn’t some fiend waking me up every few hours to put his cock in me.” I winked.

He studied me for a moment, as if there were a question on the tip of his tongue. Then he leaned toward me, his lips grazing mine.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t want to. You had a long day yesterday. I wanted you to get some sleep.” His expression showed a hint of worry before he recovered, placing a chaste kiss on my lips. “But tonight, my beautiful Eleanor, is an entirely different story.” He shot me a mischievous grin. “And let me just say that last night was…” He bit his lower lip, his lustful stare scorching my skin.

“Yes?” I raised a brow.

“It was fucking hot. We’re doing that again.” He covered my mouth with his, greedily kissing me, then released me from his hold. “Coffee?”

Struggling to catch my breath, I simply nodded.

“I’ll return shortly.” He led me toward a small bistro set to the right of the French doors, helping me into one of the chairs. As he strode inside, I admired his chiseled backside, thinking I’d never tire of seeing him clad only in a pair of boxer briefs.

He disappeared from view and I turned my eyes back to the rolling hills in front of me, allowing the sights and smells of this tranquil slice of heaven to bathe me in comfort and ease. Yesterday was probably one of the most trying days I’d ever had, yet it didn’t worry me like it normally would have, like it would have worried the old Ellie. That seemed to be the effect Dante had on me. My troubles didn’t seem as bad when I was with him.

When the aroma of coffee invaded my senses, I turned my head, smiling as Dante placed a tray on the metal table. “I thought you were just bringing back coffee,” I teased as my eyes scanned the selection of pastries and fruit that accompanied two steaming cups of coffee. My stomach chose that precise moment to growl, and he lifted a brow, smirking.

“Sounds like it’s a good thing I brought some refreshments, too.” He reached for one of the cups, offering it to me. “Milk and one sweetener, correct?”

Smiling, I took the pristine white mug from him, relishing in the feel of the warmth between my hands. “You remembered,” I commented, thinking how Brock never brought me coffee the way I liked it. I doubted he even knew. We didn’t really talk to each other much, not about the little things, like how I took my coffee, what toppings I preferred on my pizza, whether I liked ketchup or mustard on my hot dog. The more I thought about it, the more I realized Brock was a complete stranger to me, despite the fact we’d shared a home and bed for the past several years.

“You’ve made a lasting impression on me, Eleanor.” Dante’s gaze met mine, pulling me out of my past, making me want to only look toward my future…a future that was becoming more and more difficult to imagine without this man in it.

I brought my coffee to my mouth, taking a sip. “Even the coffee tastes better here.” I leaned back into my chair. “This place is paradise. If I lived here, I’d never leave.” The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

“Then don’t,” he urged in a quiet voice, a longing building in his brilliant gaze.

“Dante…” I sighed, placing my mug on the table.

“I know.” He briefly closed his eyes, his expression falling. “I apologize. It’s not fair of me to keep bringing it up. I’m not naïve enough to take any promises made when emotions run high, like they did last night, as gospel.”

I pulled my lips between my mouth, hating the idea of crushing his hopes. The truth was, I couldn’t entirely rule out the idea of staying here with Dante. It didn’t sound nearly as crazy as I thought it had when he first brought it up.

Passing him a sly glance, I said, “If we’re meant to be together, fate will make sure we are.”

He took a sip. “I thought there was no such thing as fate.”

“Maybe you’ve changed my mind on that matter.” I reached across the table and grabbed his hand. “Maybe Lilly’s changed my mind on that matter, too.”

He floated his eyes to mine, an unreadable look on his face. Gratitude maybe? It didn’t change the fact that Dante made me rethink my opinion on fate. On hope. On returning home.

Withdrawing my hand from his, I cleared my throat. “So what are you going to do now?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” His eyebrows furrowed.

“About James,” I responded, fidgeting with my coffee mug. “About getting answers.” I looked at him, my voice even. “You need answers, Dante. You need to know the truth, no matter what that is. I don’t think you’ll ever move on if you don’t. I don’t think you can have a future…” I swallowed hard, “with me or anyone else, if you’re still clinging to the past.”

“I know,” he agreed, albeit reluctantly. “But now I’m back to square one. I really thought…” He shook his head, his shoulders slumping forward. I felt his frustration from across the table. I wished there were something I could do to dampen his pain, to ease the heartache that still consumed him, body and soul, whenever he spoke of Lilly.

“Not necessarily,” I offered, the wheels spinning.

He quickly raised his head, studying me with a probing gaze. “What do you—”

“You thought I may know something because I was about to marry his son.” I shrugged. “I can go back and tell Brock I’ve come to my senses. He’s pompous and self-centered enough to—”

“No!” Dante said forcefully, slamming a fist on the table, startling me. I shot my eyes toward his as he drew in a deep breath, struggling to regain his composure. “No,” he repeated, softer this time. “Absolutely not. I can’t put you in that position.”

“But if you think it will help you get answers, I’ll do it. It may take me a little while to get back into his father’s good graces, but I’m sure I’ll be able to. Before I ran out on Brock, we were pretty close.”

Dante faced me, clutching my hands in his, running his fingers over my knuckles. “You can’t, Eleanor. I won’t let you, and it’s not only because it will mean you’re leaving me. Remember what you said yesterday when I was ready to call the authorities to have Brock arrested?” He raised a brow. “How if you were forced to return to that life, you didn’t know if you’d be able to break free again?”

“That was before I knew about—”

“You refused to have Brock arrested for the same reason I can’t allow you to do what you’re proposing.” He released my hands, reaching toward me to brush a tendril of hair behind my ear. “If you go back to that life, I may lose you. As much as I want answers and to close this chapter, I won’t put your life at risk to do so.”

“My life won’t be at risk,” I insisted.

“Really?” Dante tilted his head, narrowing his eyes on the mark on my neck. “If I’m not mistaken, I seem to remember walking into my apartment to see Brock choking you, cutting off your oxygen.” His jaw tightened, his shoulders tensing. “I don’t even like the idea of you going back to California where you may run into him. But to throw you straight into the lion’s den?” He shook his head. “Out of the question.”

“Yes, but—”

“But nothing, Eleanor,” he said forcefully, staring at the rolling hills. “I’ll find another way. If what my source said is true, if there’s some sort of corruption going on that caused Lilly’s death, it won’t stay covered up forever. You know what they say, don’t you?” He lifted a brow.

“What’s that?”

“Two can keep a secret only if one of them is dead. The truth will come out eventually, and I hope I’m there to wipe the self-righteous smirk off that bastard’s face.”