Eva got her bags packed. She sipped her chocolate—now cold, not hot—turned on the TV, watched a movie. It turned into a sad love story and she turned it off. Not what she needed right now. Callum didn’t come out of his room. She knocked on the door and asked, “Do you want dinner.”

“Busy packing,” he called out.

She put her hands on her hips. He didn’t have that much stuff. She paced her sitting room, tried to study, read the same page four times and gave up. She threw on a skimpy dress, touched up her makeup and headed for the dance floor. She found mostly older couples—people who could afford the Waldorf Astoria rates. It was boring, the music dull, and no one caught her eye. She tried the bar downstairs and found mostly old guys who eyed her like she was candy. Turning around, she headed back to her room. She dragged off her dress, washed her face, threw on an old sweatshirt and climbed into bed. As an afterthought, she ordered strawberries and chocolates to her room, and once she was settled with them she downloaded a romance to her cell phone to read. At least it promised a happy ending.

She woke to a sunny day and blinding white outside. Knocking on Callum’s door didn’t get an answer so she texted him.

Where are u?

A text came back in a minute. Making travel arrangements. Get packed.

She huffed out a breath, showered, dressed, had her coffee and went shopping for the day.

She bought way too many things—shoes, sweaters, scarves, gloves, a fur hat made of fake rabbit. She thought about buying Callum something, but he was so touchy. What was wrong with him? Maybe he hadn’t had as much fun in bed as she had? Maybe he was tired of teaching her? Maybe he’d met someone else? She nibbled on her lower lip and tried not to worry. That was impossible. She had her packages delivered to the hotel, and then bought two more suitcases from the hotel’s lobby store.

By mid afternoon, she was bored and ready to scream. Callum came back at last. He knocked on her door. She opened it, smiled when she saw his boyish face. But he wasn’t smiling. “Come on. I’ve got a car waiting, and don’t ask what it took. The thing is a tank so it should get us out of the city.”

He waved in a bellhop with a cart to take their bags and lifted one eyebrow when he saw her extra luggage. She shrugged. “When the going gets tough it’s time to go shopping.”

He shook his head. “Heaven help you if you ever have to live on a budget. Wrap up, it’s cold out there.”

Just because he said that, she threw her coat over her shoulder and kept her new fur hat in her hand. Once she stepped outside, she regretted that, but she hurried to the waiting vehicle—a huge Hummer.

Inside the car—okay, it was more like a tank—she glanced at Callum. “A Hummer? Seriously?”

“Hey, it was for hire, and it’ll get us to where we want to go. I hope.”

For most of the drive, Callum kept his head down, bent over his phone, texting, Eva figured. She did the same, texting Alexandra, and then Claire. Alexandra let it slip that Claire had let it slip that she was expecting. Eva grinned at the news. She’d have to go shopping for baby clothes.

The driver—a kid who looked like he was still in college—got the huge Hummer out of the New York streets and onto something that seemed to be called the New Jersey Turnpike. Eva turned to Callum. “Are you sure we’re going the right way.”

He glanced at her, and then out the window. “Heading south. That’s the right way. Kick back. It’s going to be two or three hours on the road.”

She crossed her arms. “I’m thirsty.”

He gestured to the back of the front seat. “All the fixings of home. This is like a full limo, only able to drive over another limo.”

She found the latch to open the bar, fussed with a choice of drink, thought about pulling out a bottle of vodka just to shock Callum. She opted instead for a sparkling water.

She also did her nails, texted some more, downloaded another book to her phone, started to get car sick, and gave up. She watched the scenery pass. The snow didn’t seem so bad, the further south they went. She saw a sign for Princeton and was glad she wasn’t going there. Traffic flowed around them, and at last the Hummer took an off ramp and turned.

Eva leaned forward to see the campus and Callum started talking.

“Okay, you’re going to have to do an essay as well as your test, and once you’re in, we’ll start prepping for when you get admissions to the art conservation—that’ll be post graduate work, but if you do well in your classes that should be no problem.”

She glanced at him. “I know that.” She looked out the window again. Red brick buildings that looked quaint—nothing as old as in Athens, but still the campus looked as if it had been here a long time. The tall trees had lost their leaves and under the patches of snow the grass looked browned by the cold. She sat back, her fingers cold. “I test tomorrow?”

Callum nodded. “We’ll do a last session this afternoon once you’re settled and then an early night and an early start tomorrow. You ready?”

She glanced at him and nodded. But her stomach was tumbling. Was she ready? What if she failed? She lifted her chin. She was a Rosso. She would not fail. She clasped her hands together. She was very worried, however, she was going to be the first Rosso to go down in flames—she would disappoint Antonio, Alexandra, and Callum. In short—everyone.

* * *

Callum stared at the dark hair hiding Eva’s face. She’d fallen asleep over her books and he didn’t have the heart to wake her. He’d gotten her to the condo that Antonio had had someone buy—the place was almost another Waldorf Astoria. Gated parking, a housekeeper who’d left a meal warming in the oven—something Greek that had had Eva lighting up when she saw and smelled it—fully furnished and complete with yet another fire place. Callum hadn’t even let her unpack but started going over what she had to know.

Now he hoped he hadn’t over done it.

What if she failed due to nerves, or because he’d worked her too hard, or because he’d thrown too much at her? Yeah, she could test again, but would she? Or would she run home to big brother and forget about her dreams? He couldn’t see that happening—she was too stubborn, too strong, and just too ornery. But it might take a long time before she had the nerve to try again. She just had to pass.

Scooping her up, he carried her up the stairs to her room. He’d taken the smaller bedroom downstairs. Tomorrow they’d have their answer. As he settled her onto the bed, she stirred and smiled up at him, her eyes opening just a slit. “Stay,” she murmured.

He couldn’t say no. He slipped out of his clothes, crawled into bed and slowly helped Eva to get naked. She gave a sigh when he pressed his skin to hers.

With a soft hum, she said, “Please don’t waste this chance.”

He knew what she was talking about, but he shook his head. “You have an early day tomorrow.”

“And I want to face it happy.” She opened her eyes wide. “Didn’t some Greek say something once about seize the day?”

“That’s carpe diem, and it’s Latin. Roman. From Horace's Odes.”

“Yes, and he probably got it from a Greek.” She kissed him. “Make love to me—I want to love you.”

Getting up, he staggered to his room and came back, a condom in place. It was an old one, dug out of the bottom of his bag, and he’d just have to hope it worked. Because she was right. They had this night—this moment.

He climbed under the blankets again. Shifting, she straddled him. Her dark hair fell over him and she kissed him. Her hands roamed over his skin, and her touch was driving her crazy.

“Easy, Eva. Easy.” He put his hands on her breasts. “Take your time.”

She smiled and sat on his hips. “You are so beautiful,” she said.

“Hey, isn’t that my line?”

She kissed his neck, nibbling on his skin. He lifted her up so he could take first one nipple then the other into his mouth. She arched into his caresses and gave a soft moan. “That feels really good.”

“You want good—go ahead and take it.”

Hips lifted, she hovered over him. She used her hand to position him at her entrance. He held his breath. She eased herself down on him, inch by inch. He wanted to push up into her, but he waited. She was so damn tight. She gave a soft gasp. He pressed up into her, meeting resistance.

“Okay, this is going to hurt.”

Her eyes flew open again. “I want it. I want you.” She pushed down on him, one sharp jolt that left her shaking and him, too. He waited for her, running his hands up and down her back.

“Not so bad,” she said in a tight voice. She gave a wiggle of her hips.

He grabbed them. “Do that again and I’m over the top.”

“Really?” She did it again and giggled. “I like that.”

Gasping, sweat breaking out on his forehead, Callum swallowed. “Well, if you like it—”

He broke off the words as she pulled out a little and sank down again. Leaning over, she kissed him. “This…this is the most fabulous feeling in the world. Callum, I feel closer to you than any other living person on the face of the earth.”

“Yeah, same here.”

She rose and came down again, slow agony and perfect ecstasy. He closed his eyes and let her use him, trying to focus on his breaths so he didn’t lose control. But she gave a gasp and a small shudder. She tightened around him and he followed her into utter bliss.

* * *

Eva collapsed onto the bed next to Callum. She could hear his heart beating as fast as hers. “That was…was…was better than chocolate even.”

Callum chuckled. “Glad to hear it.” He twisted to look at her. “Eva, I’m sorry.”

Propping herself up on an elbow, she asked, “For what? Making love to me?”

Callum shook his head. “No. Never that! But…well, it was your first time. I don’t know…I don’t know if it was good enough for you. I mean, look, you used to…to the Waldorf Astoria. I’m more a motel kind of guy.”

She laughed and traced a finger through his chest hair. It was springy and blond. “Maybe I like motels more than Waldorf Astorias.”

He shook his head. “You may think that but money’s a big deal. People fight about it. Break up over it. I could get touchy about you being so rich—start to hate being looked after. Or you could resent me being poor, always having to buy things for us. It’s…it’s a big deal.”

She put her head back down on his chest. “It’s not as big a deal as this.”

“Yeah, easy to say when you’re the rich girl.” He sat up again, dislodging her. “You need more experience Eva—it’s not fair to you to hook up with one guy without getting a chance to do more.”

Eva watched him with a measured glance. “Who said I was hooking up with you? I’m not trying to tie you down. I’m not going to get pregnant.”

“Let’s hope…but that condom was pretty old.”

Getting up, she grabbed for her sweater. “I think I’ll sleep in my bed tonight.”

He caught her wrist. “Please…no. I...we…” Callum closed his eyes and then said, “If you’re pregnant I want you to marry me.”

Eva was hurt by his words. She pulled back. “You only want me if I carrying your baby? If I am pregnant, it’s my body and my problem to deal with. And I will.”

Callum caught her other hand. He pulled her sweater from her grip and started pulling her back to bed. “Don’t. Please. It’s a big day for you tomorrow and I don’t want to fight now.”

She went into his arms, and his kisses undid her anger. He wriggled his thigh, pushing it higher until it pressed against her core. “Come to bed.”

“Do you have more condoms?”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “There’s stuff we can do without those. Right now, I’m hungry and I want to feast on you.”

She laughed and fell into his arms. For tonight, she had Callum. And that was enough.