"Miss Montgomery," Allegra said warmly. Her thick accent wrapped around each word, turning even an introduction into something exotic. "It is nice to meet you."
I accepted her extended hand and shook it firmly. "It's nice to meet you too."
"Ms. De Luca will accompany you to your hotel while I take care of some other matters," Jacob said crisply.
Allegra's dark brows furrowed. "Surely Miss Montgomery would be better served by a familiar face? She's in a strange country, Jacob."
I bit my lip to keep from letting out a ‘Yeah!’, but decided I liked her. I had a feeling not many people questioned Jacob Whitmore.
"That may be true, but I couldn't think of anyone I'd trust with this more than you." He said, not budging an inch. He turned his attention back to me. "I'll see you in the morning.”
And just like that, he was walking briskly in the other direction. I cleared my throat and squashed the nerves that bundled in my stomach and squared my shoulders. I wasn't allowed to be nervous and most of all, I wasn't allowed to miss him.
Allegra didn't waste any time, promptly opening my door before she moved to the front of the car and squeezed behind the wheel. I found a small comfort in the no frills gray cloth interior of the sedan. It reminded me of home.
I looked out my window as we pulled away from Marco Polo airport, melting into the buzz of people, busses, and water peppered with wooden boats and larger ferries.
“There are two ways to get around Venice from Aeroporto Marco Polo,” Allegra said from the front seat. She gestured at the water. “If you prefer a more romantic experience, you could take ferry or water taxi. If you prefer to keep both feet on solid ground, bus, or if you’re lucky, me.” She smiled at me in the rearview mirror and I smiled back, her good mood contagious.
I turned back to the scene unfolding just outside my window, gazing longingly at scooters and mopeds, imagining how exhilarating it would be to experience all this without a barrier, with the wind rushing through my hair. Every building that lined the streets was more unique and vibrant than the last. I wished I’d brought my camera, but snapped a few pictures with my phone.
When we arrived at my hotel, I couldn’t believe that over an hour had gone by. I could have gone up and down those streets a million times and I’d find something new and amazing every turn.
Allegra parked at the valet station and hopped out, quickly grabbing my suitcase before I could get to it. When I opened my mouth to protest, she shook her head. “You are visitor here. It’s no problem.”
I was grateful to have my hands free when I stepped inside the lobby because I could spin around and take the extravagance in. Everything glittered and looked both classical and beautifully modern. The marble statues that stood sentry at a small waiting area and beside the front desk were like something out of museum. I turned toward the desk, meaning to check in, but Allegra steered me toward the elevators instead.
“You’re already checked in,” she explained, punching the ‘up’ button. “Jacob had your clothes and a few other things sent over.”
We zipped up to the third floor and I followed my guide down the pristine hall. Allegra parked my suitcase in front of a door near the end, pulled out a slender card and handed it to me.
“Your key.” She gave me a nod and moved to go. “You probably want to unwind, take a nap, yes?”
“Nap?” I said, shaking my head furiously. “I’m in Venice—I can nap back home!”
“We will get along famously.” She chuckled. “What to do first…” She scratched her chin, mulling it over. “Maybe you get settled, change into something a bit more comfortable, then join me for an early dinner, drinks in the ristorante?”
“That sounds great!” I smiled after her, feeling a little guilty that I’d pouted at the thought of not having Jacob bring me to my hotel. I would have been on pins and needles with him. With Allegra, I felt like I could finally relax.
I pushed into the room, flipped the light switch and gasped. The room was gorgeous, filled with antique touches without feeling too stuffy. A four poster bed was the focal point, but it was the vanity near the door stole my heart. I gravitated to it, oohing and aahing over the workmanship. I ran my hand around the dips and curves of the wood, fingers tracing until I saw the small stack of items sitting neatly in the center.
A small white bag was on top, filled with exotic scarves and odds and ends like Chanel no 5 and other toiletries. Beneath it was a white box with the signature Apple logo on the front.
I frowned, lifting it up and using an ivory handled letter opener sitting on a tea table to break the tape. Packing peanuts spilled out, quickly followed by a sleek, white box with a picture of the latest iPad gleaming up at me.
“He got me an iPad?” I screeched, my voice echoing up to the vaulted ceiling then back down as I pulled it out of the case.
Before this job, I’d just settled on pinching pennies until I could find a used one on Craigslist. Now, I had my own.
I walked over to the bed, sinking into the awesomely soft duvet, already imagining how I’d capture the city with my new gadget when I caught sight of a slender white envelope on the bedside table.
I let out a bitter chuckle, coming down from cloud nine. What did Jacob want me to do now? Strip down and send him an XXX video with the tablet?
I ripped open the side of the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. There were only two words, written in gentle cursive instead of angry slashes like the first.
Be patient.
My mind went a million miles a minute as I read it over and over. ‘Be patient’? Did that mean that he wanted to open up to me? That my attempt to pour my heart out hadn’t made things worse after all?
I brought the piece of paper to my lips and pressed a kiss on his words before putting it back on the bedside table. I folded my arms behind my head and looked up at the ceiling, letting myself believe that wherever Jacob was, he was thinking about me too.
****
I donned one of the few casual-ish outfits hanging in my closet: a sheer black blouse, crimson colored skinny jeans and slipped my black flats on before I exited the room. My cell beeped to life at my side and I read the text. It was Allegra, letting me know that she grabbed a table for the two of us in the hotel restaurant.
To be honest, I was looking forward to learning more about Jacob as much as putting some food in my belly, though as soon as I stepped on the first floor and got a whiff of freshly baked bread and basil, the playing field was even.