The smell of bacon and eggs pulls me from my sleep. Last night’s unexpected visitor comes back into my memory, the way she hungrily looked at me, not going to lie, it was a shock but also a major turn on. I liked that she was confident enough in herself to ogle me. She had a beautiful, makeup free face, total opposite from the women I’m used to. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and bright blue eyes, so expressive, they drew you in. Well, she did until she threatened to call the police on me, and that is not what I need at this moment. Once they run my name through the system, my safe little sanctuary will be ruined. I’m not ready to face anyone just yet.

“Morning.” Lilly, I think that is what she said last night, greets me. She’s dressed in a white shirt and leggings as she moves around the small kitchen. “I just wanted to say how sorry I am for last night. I was really jet lagged and I don’t normally act like that.” She seems flustered as she talks about it. Does she like what she sees? Of course she does, she stared at it long enough. “Please accept a hot breakfast as my apology.” I give her a genuine smile, because I don’t know if a woman has ever made me breakfast before, I mean, besides one of my chefs.

“Grazie,” I say, taking the plate from her hand. It is filled with bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomato, some spinach and a couple slices of toast. Was all this in my fridge? It was stocked when I arrived but I have been drowning myself in some Scottish whisky instead of food. She follows behind me, placing a bottle of water and juice in the middle of the dining table.

“Would you like a coffee?”

“Oh no, no. No.” That was a mistake I made when I arrived, tasting the horrendous instant coffee sitting on the shelf. I could kill for some real Italian coffee but I don’t think I am going to find any in this place. She laughs.

“Of course, Italian’s would never drink instant.” Does she recognize me?

“How do you know I am Italian?”

“My nanny was Italian, she spoke to us mainly in Italian, so I’ve picked up on some of the words you use.” She takes a seat far away from me with her breakfast.

“So you speak Italian?”

“I used to be fluent, but it’s been awhile since I’ve used it.” She smiles through a mouthful of toast. We both fall into silence as we eat our breakfast. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating. It doesn’t take me long to finish it. “There’s more in the pan.” She flicks her head into the direction of the kitchen. I stare at her for a couple of beats, then I realize she means I have to get it myself, welcome to the real world, Luca. I’m so used to people looking after me that I’ve never really been self-sufficient. I grab some more bacon and make some more toast. “I’m just going to grab my bag and get out of your hair,” she tells me, placing her plate in the sink. She’s going so soon? Now she’s in my space I’m not sure if I want her to go. Not because I think she’s cute, which I do. I certainly don’t need a cute complication in my life at the moment, but, honestly, I don’t think I am going to enjoy my own company. I had most of yesterday by myself, and it sucked. I had to get drunk to hang out with myself. The next month, my only companion is probably going to be my whisky bottle and I think I like the one standing in front of me much better; she’s cuter.

“I heard there’s a snow storm coming, is it safe for you to go?” Her eyes widen.

“Shit, is there?” She grabs her phone and furiously types away on it. “Bugger, you’re right, they have issued a weather warning. I better go.”

“Don’t,” I say, stilling her. “I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you.” She frowns at me.

“I can’t crash your holiday.”

“I can’t let a woman go out into a snow storm.” Her hands come up to her hips and she looks a little pissed.

“But, you’d let a man?” Huh, what?

“I…just …” I stumble over my words.

“Exactly…Thank you, but I must be going.” She looks like she can’t wait to get away from me, the exact opposite of how she looked at me last night. Maybe I was drunk and dreamt the whole situation, that could be a distinct possibility. I watch as she grabs her bag and hauls it to the front door, she stops to put on her coat and scarf. “Well, I hope you enjoy your stay here…” Her words trail off.

“Luke, my name is Luke.” Technically, that is true, but she doesn’t need to know any more, it’s not like I’ll be seeing her again.

“Luke.” She smiles saying my name, and I like it falling across her lips. “Well, I hope you enjoy the cottage, it’s truly a beautiful place.” And then with that, she is gone.

A couple moments later, the door suddenly opens and I’m caught still staring at the space she just left. “Sorry, I left the breakfast cleaning up for you but, you know, the storm and all.” She gives me a wave and then closes the door again. Maybe it’s for the best, cuddling up to a cute girl is not what I need. The distraction would be nice, but I need to focus on the complete shit show that is my life at the moment. Away from everyone who wants to influence it.

A couple hours later, there is a knock at the door. Who on earth could it be? I open it and swirls of snow hit me in the face, the wind is fierce out there. Bright yellow lights on a tow truck flash through the white abyss.

“Hi.” Lilly moves from the side, into my view. “Guess, you were right. You shouldn’t have let a woman go out in the storm.” My heart stops, is she hurt?

“Aye, he was, Lilly. Ye know not to go out in weather like this,” a hulking giant says, placing her bag on the doorstep. His eyes narrow onto me and he doesn’t look happy. “Who’s that, Lassie?” the man asks.

“This is Luke, a family friend.” The man eyes me suspiciously. “He’s Contessa’s nephew over from Rome.” This seems to relax the old man, whoever Contessa is.

“God rest her soul.” Lilly looks sad at his condolence; she must have been close with this Contessa.

“Say hi to your wife for me.” Lilly pulls herself back into her bouncy self. He nods and disappears into the white. Lilly lets out a heavy sigh, grabs her bag, and walks back into the cottage.

“I’m sorry to be crashing your holiday, again.”

“Are you okay?” She shrugs.

“Just a bruised ego more than anything, slid off into a snow bank. That was Broden, he owns the mechanics in the village. Won’t take long for the village grapevine to kick in and know that I’m back.” She shucks off her jacket, and hangs her scarf up and rubs her hands together. “I promise I won’t be in your way. I’ll lock myself up into my sister’s room and let you holiday in peace.”

“It’s fine. Honestly, one day of my own company and it was sending me crazy.” This makes her laugh.

“Not used to your own company, then?” I shake my head.

“I come from a big family, they like to get into my business a lot.”

“Sounds very Italian.”

“It is.” This makes me smile, thinking about my family for the first time since… shaking my head, I’m not going to think about it. I’ve messaged my brother to tell him I’m okay, but I’m requesting time by myself to sort through it all. I just hope they understand. “But, they mean well.” Lilly smiles.

“I only have my sister who cares, and she’s enough trouble as it is.”

“Lolly?” She smiles.

“Yeah, and I’m Lilly.” She holds out her hand to me. “I’ve forgotten to introduce myself in the chaos.” I take her hand and shake it. Surprise hits me, I wasn’t expecting the zap of electricity between us, it catches us both off guard.

“Come sit, you are probably frozen.” I usher her to one of the arm chairs by the fire.

“Thank you.” I head into the kitchen, grab the bottle of whisky and two glasses, setting them down in front of the fire on the side table.

“That’s a Macallan whisky.” She looks at me with shock.

“It’s nice,” I respond, as I start pouring it into the glasses.

“But…that is an expensive bottle.” I hand her the glass; she just stares at me. I shrug. Shit, maybe I just gave myself away with the whisky. I could just be some busy executive needing time away to decompress. Yes, that is what I will say.

“It was a Christmas present, from work,” I add.

“Wow, work must really like you, this is a $400 bottle of whisky.”

“Yes, they do. I’m a hard worker.” It’s all true, I do work hard, it never stops until now, when I have to hide away in the Scottish Highlands.

“Well, cheers to you and hard work.” She raises her glass, we clink the crystal together, and take a sip. “This is so smooth.” Lilly licks her lips and the action is distracting.

“Hhhmm,” I say.