Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Mr. Beckett?” he asks, and I just nod. “My name is Mario, and I’m your gondolier.” I look over at Gabriella, who puts her hands to her mouth. “Right this way.”
TWENTY-ONE
GABRIELLA
I look around at the lake and wonder if we are maybe going on a kayak when I hear the man say his name and what he does. “Did he just say he’s a gondolier?” I ask Romeo as he follows the man with his fingers intertwined with mine.
“That is what he said.” Romeo grins at me, and all I can do is smile, looking around when I see a gondola that looks exactly like the ones in Venice.
“Watch your step,” Mario cautions as he steps on the back of the boat, right next to the paddle, the red seats in front of him waiting for us. Right in front of the seats is a stainless-steel bucket with a bottle of something.
Romeo gets into the boat first before holding out his hand to make sure I get in okay. I step in and then sit down in the seat looking forward. Romeo sits down right next to me. “Are we ready?” Mario asks and all I can do is smile and nod. Romeo puts his arm around my shoulder as Mario takes us through the canals. I lay my head on Romeo’s shoulder as we both listen to Mario tell us stories. Both of us are just happy to be in each other’s company.
We stay out for I don’t even know how long, but when we make our way back, there are lots more people than when we got here. The boat pulls over to the side, and Mario gets out, holding out his hand to Romeo, who then turns and holds out his hand for me. “Thank you.” I smile at him and he just wraps his arm around my waist and bends to kiss me. I kiss him, and only then does it dawn on me that we are outside in public.
I quickly look around to see if anyone is looking our way and see a couple of people looking at us, and I see two people pointing. I don’t even hear what Mario just said, so all I do is smile and nod. Romeo slips his fingers with mine. “Thank you so much, Mario.” He extends his hand to shake Mario’s. “It was perfect.” Romeo then looks over at me. “You ready to go?”
I nod at him and then turn to Mario. “It was beautiful, thank you.”
Romeo doesn’t look around; instead he just looks at me. “Want to go for ice cream?” he asks, and even though my head screams we should go back home, all I can do is smile and nod.
I do another sweep of the place and see that no one is looking this way, so I feel a touch better. He opens the passenger door, and I lean up and kiss his lips. “That was the best.” I smile at him, and he bends his head to give me a kiss, and this time he slips his tongue in with mine. My eyes close as soon as his tongue touches mine. I get lost in the kiss and almost forget where we are, pressing my chest to his.
I’m literally panting when he lets me go. “So ice cream?”
“Or,” I counter, holding his hips in my hands, “we go back to your place and order room service and you can eat the ice cream off me.” I kiss under his chin and I can see him biting down as he glares at me. “What? It’s just a suggestion.”
“Suggestion is noted,” he says between clenched teeth. “Now get in the car.”
“You used to be a lot more fun.” I wink at him, getting into the car. He closes the door and I see him look up at the sky and breathe out before walking around the hood. He gets in and starts the car. “You okay there?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “This isn’t easy for me.” He looks over at me. “I’d love to spend the next week buried in you.”
I open my eyes. “The week?” I laugh. “I was thinking maybe a couple of hours.”
He just laughs and then stops while he stares into my eyes. “After not being with you for eight months, I will need more than a couple of hours.”
“Noted,” I joke with him, and he starts the car. The whole car ride I look out the window with my arm stretched out as I play with his hair. He pulls up to a small little ice cream shop, and I can see families are around. I get out, and he meets me at my side, slipping his hand in mine as we walk over to the little building. We stand in line, and I see a couple of people do a double take. “Maybe this isn’t a great idea.”