“Are you ready for some fun?” Sergio asked Mandi, taking her hand and guiding her out to the parking lot where his beautiful Ferrari was parked.
“You have time?” He has time. Why are you asking?
“I am making sure I have time,” Sergio responded, squeezing her hand as he spoke.
“That must mean that everything is okay now with your work obligations. That’s great, Sergio.”
“It’s under control. These visits are always taxing on my time and there’s only so much of me to go around. It’s a rather huge juggling act, but I pulled out all my tricks to ensure I could surprise you this afternoon.”
“I like your tricks.” Mandi smiled, feeling the tingles that Sergio seemed to deliver her so masterfully travel through her body.
“Good. What I’m about to show you is something I did not create though, but I love it as if it was. It’s my favorite spot here.”
After Sergio seated Mandi in the passenger seat of his car he walked around and sat down in the driver’s seat. Mandi looked at him and was in awe of his casual eloquence. He moved so effortlessly and was naturally sexy while doing so. Nothing was forced. It just was.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. I wish I could blindfold you, but I’m afraid that this vehicle is a bit noticeable around town.”
“Blindfolding…now that’s interesting,” Mandi replied, hoping she relayed a flirtatious tone that showed what she was feeling at the moment. This was really cool and she was so curious about where Sergio was taking her.
“You have a surprising side that I hope to learn more about,” Sergio commented.
“Of course that involves spending some time together,” Mandi said. It was bold, but it was necessary.
“And I plan on doing that, Mandi. I’m sorry that I shoved you off on my family, as wonderful as they are. I know that you want to spend time with me, not just them.”
“You have that correct, Sergio. I heard a lot of great things about you the past day and a half though. Even though you weren’t around I feel like I know you a bit better. It’s nice.”
“That’s good. I doubt everyone would say nice things about me,” he rebutted.
Mandi didn’t know what Sergio meant by that and she didn’t care. She was happy and feeling sexy in the slick Ferrari heading toward the coastline. It was so incredible.
A small grove of olive trees was along the cliff, seeming most unusual to the openness of the rest of the landscape and Sergio took a quick right, making his way down the dirt path that was in between them. It went about fifty feet and then opened up again, revealing a hidden cliff with a view that was breathtaking.
“Oh my gosh, Sergio. It’s beautiful.”
“As are you.”
Mandi looked at Sergio, smiling softly. She was so thankful to have him to herself and it really warmed her, making her more courageous for the potential they had. Or at least, to discover if there was any potential.
“I was wondering…” Sergio began. Mandi could see that he was actually hesitant and nervous. It was something that she’d never seen in him before with his high level of confidence and directness. “What do you say about us trying this thing out…the arrangement we spoke about on the jet?”
“Here’s what I think,” Mandi said. She leaned in and placed her hands around Sergio’s neck, pulling him in closely. She began to kiss him passionately and he responded right away.
Mandi’s entire body was on alert, ready to accept any touch that Sergio had to offer and longing for more. She was surprised when he pulled away and gently cusped her head in his large masculine hands. “You have gotten to me, Mandi Jenkins. Do you know that?”
“I’ve been hoping, I’ll admit, Sergio Leon.”
“Ever since our encounter on the jet I’ve been distracted and I don’t distract easily.”
Mandi mumbled, “I think you do.” She was leaning back in to kiss him again before he could say another word and he didn’t resist her aggression either. She wanted this badly and it was not the time to talk herself out of indulging in what she had been longing for to the point of insanity.
It was tempting to go beyond kissing for Mandi, and she suspected for Sergio too. They decided to hold off until they were in a place that was a bit more private. Sergio surprised Mandi by pulling out a small plate of cheese and crackers, along with a bottle of wine from their family’s private label and they sat down at the edge of the cliff, their feet dangling over the rough ocean below.
“It would be amazing to sketch this place. I wish I would have brought my supplies,” Mandi commented. “Maybe we can come back.”
“For you, anything, but for now I’d like to get back to Benvenuto.”
“For anything in particular?” Mandi was temporarily jarred from her bliss, believing Sergio had some sort of business to attend to. He hadn’t even answered his telephone all afternoon.
“Yes, something very particular. You’ll have to wait and see.”
Every word Sergio said was perfect and Mandi couldn’t even believe how this day had turned out. What started out as a nice, but slightly disappointing day had turned into a dream. She felt like she was living the life of an adventurous wonder woman who experienced amazing things all the time. Today, Mandi was the wonder woman and she was loving it.
When Sergio and Mandi were heading back to the villa, Mandi recalled what Diedre had said to her at the restaurant about them being a couple, and she couldn’t resist asking about it. It was as good of a time as any by her estimations.
“When Diedre and I were alone at the restaurant she mentioned something most interesting,” Mandi began.
“Oh, something about me growing up?”
“No, something about us.”
“What’s that?” Sergio asked, looking over toward Mandi.
“I’ll tell you if you keep your eyes on the road. This is one winding path and I am very close to the edge of the cliff.”
Sergio laughed. “Fine, I’ll try to keep my eyes off you, but you shouldn’t look so damn sexy if you want that to happen.”
“Diedre told me that you said we were a couple. I was just wondering why?”
“I didn’t want to embarrass or compromise you, Mandi. Nothing more. You are actually staying in my room right now.”