marriage is… non necessario , no? If people love each other, is that not enough?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I think if two people love each other, it’s the most necessary thing…” I trail off, not wanting to start a lecture. It’s not just an institution. Marriage is a wonderful way to show how much you love them and how much you want to commit to them for the rest of your life. What’s wrong with making a joyous occasion of it, to share with your family and friends?
“You are from Australia. So far away…what’s it like?” He continues as he pours himself the rest of the wine, and I’m glad he’s changed the subject.
I pop another fig in my mouth. “Public transport is horrible, it’s always congested. Houses are so expensive. But, its home and I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else.”
“So, do you have a boyfriend back home?” He looks at me, his eyes blazing.
My eyes widen at his question. Why does he want to know? “No. I don’t have one,” I pause. I had a fiancé but that’s shot to hell. “You?”
His smirks and he looks at me while drinking the rest of the wine, and we look at each other eye to eye.
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend either,” he teases.
I laugh. “You know what I mean!”
He looks at me eagerly. “It’s a shame you can’t stay in Italy after the wedding.”
I sigh, agreeing with him a hundred percent. “I know. I would love to check out Capri, even head up to Rome—”
“I live in Rome.”
“Oh, you do?”
“ Si , it is a beautiful city. If you decide to stay in Italy a bit longer…”
Damn, he knows how to make a tempting offer. I can’t just extend my flight ticket at the drop of a hat, besides there are unresolved things I have to deal with at home.
I look down at the picnic blanket and notice that everything has been finished. I can’t get over how he can drink with ease. He has had two thirds of that bottle, yet he acts exactly the same as before. There’s not even a trace of redness on his cheeks.
“Thank you, for all of this,” I gesture to the food. “I had a really good time. See I left the hotel, didn’t I?”
Matteo raises his eyebrows. “This is not really leaving the hotel!”
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Well, thank you for agreeing to see me, I don’t get that many volunteers who want me to draw them.”
Who the heck would turn him down? I know Gabe sure as hell would sign up! He would pose naked, for free .
“Well I’m glad I could help you practice—”
“Especially, such a beautiful volunteer like you.”
I blush furiously under his scrutiny. Okay, I think he is definitely flirting with me. The way he is looking at me is not good. It is way too protracted. All of a sudden, the phone in my bag vibrates and I quickly open my clutch to check. I refrain from the urge to roll my eyes. It’s a text from Tristan. What does he want now? After that insipid phone conversation, I have mixed feelings about him. Sliding the screen, I view the message.
Who is the guy?
Sighing quietly, I text back the only response I can think of.
Someone who says what they mean.
I press send, and immediately switch the phone off before dropping it into my bag. Matteo moves so he moves closer and as an immediate reflex, I turn my head away. I’m not in the mood anymore, I just want to go back to the hotel.
“I think it’s getting late, I am going to head back,” I say politely. This is where the evening should end, I’m doing the right thing calling it a night now.
He opens his sensual mouth and starts to say something but stops himself.
“Of course, as you wish.” He doesn’t look offended in the slightest, and starts packing up the food. I stand up and watch him fold the blanket, shoving it into the bag along with his sketchpad and materials. There’s something so easy breezy about him that I don’t see in a lot of men back home.
We walk back up to the hotel lobby and
I shrug my shoulders. “I think if two people love each other, it’s the most necessary thing…” I trail off, not wanting to start a lecture. It’s not just an institution. Marriage is a wonderful way to show how much you love them and how much you want to commit to them for the rest of your life. What’s wrong with making a joyous occasion of it, to share with your family and friends?
“You are from Australia. So far away…what’s it like?” He continues as he pours himself the rest of the wine, and I’m glad he’s changed the subject.
I pop another fig in my mouth. “Public transport is horrible, it’s always congested. Houses are so expensive. But, its home and I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else.”
“So, do you have a boyfriend back home?” He looks at me, his eyes blazing.
My eyes widen at his question. Why does he want to know? “No. I don’t have one,” I pause. I had a fiancé but that’s shot to hell. “You?”
His smirks and he looks at me while drinking the rest of the wine, and we look at each other eye to eye.
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend either,” he teases.
I laugh. “You know what I mean!”
He looks at me eagerly. “It’s a shame you can’t stay in Italy after the wedding.”
I sigh, agreeing with him a hundred percent. “I know. I would love to check out Capri, even head up to Rome—”
“I live in Rome.”
“Oh, you do?”
“ Si , it is a beautiful city. If you decide to stay in Italy a bit longer…”
Damn, he knows how to make a tempting offer. I can’t just extend my flight ticket at the drop of a hat, besides there are unresolved things I have to deal with at home.
I look down at the picnic blanket and notice that everything has been finished. I can’t get over how he can drink with ease. He has had two thirds of that bottle, yet he acts exactly the same as before. There’s not even a trace of redness on his cheeks.
“Thank you, for all of this,” I gesture to the food. “I had a really good time. See I left the hotel, didn’t I?”
Matteo raises his eyebrows. “This is not really leaving the hotel!”
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Well, thank you for agreeing to see me, I don’t get that many volunteers who want me to draw them.”
Who the heck would turn him down? I know Gabe sure as hell would sign up! He would pose naked, for free .
“Well I’m glad I could help you practice—”
“Especially, such a beautiful volunteer like you.”
I blush furiously under his scrutiny. Okay, I think he is definitely flirting with me. The way he is looking at me is not good. It is way too protracted. All of a sudden, the phone in my bag vibrates and I quickly open my clutch to check. I refrain from the urge to roll my eyes. It’s a text from Tristan. What does he want now? After that insipid phone conversation, I have mixed feelings about him. Sliding the screen, I view the message.
Who is the guy?
Sighing quietly, I text back the only response I can think of.
Someone who says what they mean.
I press send, and immediately switch the phone off before dropping it into my bag. Matteo moves so he moves closer and as an immediate reflex, I turn my head away. I’m not in the mood anymore, I just want to go back to the hotel.
“I think it’s getting late, I am going to head back,” I say politely. This is where the evening should end, I’m doing the right thing calling it a night now.
He opens his sensual mouth and starts to say something but stops himself.
“Of course, as you wish.” He doesn’t look offended in the slightest, and starts packing up the food. I stand up and watch him fold the blanket, shoving it into the bag along with his sketchpad and materials. There’s something so easy breezy about him that I don’t see in a lot of men back home.
We walk back up to the hotel lobby and
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