Luca slid his hand into Sophia’s, the first time he’d touched her that day. “Of course, Leslie. We will just freshen up and join you in a few minutes.”
Sophia swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat. It was show time. She wasn’t sure why it felt different this time, pretending to be in love with Luca. Peeking at him from the corner of her eye as they rode the lift up to their third floor room, it hit her. It was no longer a pretense. She loved her husband. Shit, that wasn’t supposed to have happened.
• • •
Luca put his arm around Sophia and although she smiled up at him, it didn’t reach her eyes. She’d been distant, more reserved around him, since he’d reminded her of the trip to Teramo earlier in the week. She was still a passionate and enthusiastic lover. But the little touches, the moments of intense connection were gone. She was withdrawing from him, millimeter by millimeter.
Chet Wilkins droned on about the boutique hotel industry. Luca had never known a man who only had one topic of conversation. He’d tried to steer the discussion to something more general where everyone could contribute. But Chet always found a way to return to his beloved industry.
Sophia shifted in her chair next to him, and her smile became a little more forced. Her acting talent was slipping. He should be annoyed, but he’d rather have her genuine than pretending. He fiddled with a lock of her silky hair. Across from him, Leslie Wilkins was on her fourth drink, and he had to keep moving his legs under his chair to stop her rubbing her foot along his calf. The woman knew no bounds. Every other business associates’ wives had stopped making advances when he’d introduced his wife to them. Leslie hadn’t taken the hint.
“It has been a long day and we have a full schedule tomorrow. Shall we meet at seven in the restaurant?” Luca suggested.
Leslie groaned. “Darling, I don’t get out of bed at seven for any man. Even one as gorgeous as you. Nine o’clock is the earliest I appear,” she said.
No wonder this site visit had already been delayed by four weeks. And if they didn’t start until after nine, there was no way they’d be done in one day. Luca had hoped to take Sophia to the coast before they headed back to Milan. Spend a little time with her away from both their businesses.
“If we do not start until nine, then it will be a very long day,” he said.
“Then we’ll just have to take two days, won’t we, darling?” Leslie replied.
He stifled a groan. If this wasn’t the deal of a lifetime, he’d walk out the door right now. As if sensing his frustration, Sophia put a hand on his thigh.
“Actually, I’m getting a headache. A later start is probably a good idea. If you’ll excuse me, I need to take some tablets and get my head on a pillow.” Sophia stood and Luca prepared to depart as well.
“You don’t need to go, too, darling. Stay and have another drink,” Leslie interrupted.
Luca’s eyes flashed to Chet. The man sat there like a dead fish, staring blankly into the distance. What had happened to these two that they were so indifferent to each others' needs? Had they ever been in love? Luca turned back to Sophia, who hovered by her chair. She seemed to be battling her need to flee and her promise to help him. His stomach fluttered.
“No, I will say goodnight, too. If I massage my wife’s neck, sometimes her headache disappears. And we need you fresh for tomorrow, yes, amore?”
“Yes,” she replied, her voice subdued.
As they returned to their hotel room, Sophia didn’t say a word. However, as the door clicked closed behind her, she released a weary sigh.
“If I have to spend the whole day with that woman tomorrow, I may take up drinking as well,” she said.
“As long as you do not take up flirting with other men.”
“Why would I, when I have you? Well sort of.”
“What do you mean, ‘well sort of’?” He pulled her against him, cradling her head against his chest. The embrace was more for his sake than hers. He needed to feel her, know that at least the distance between them wasn’t physical. Although it soon may well be.
“I mean I have that bit of you that is not married to your company.”
“You have more of me than that,” he whispered into her hair.
He hoped his surprise tomorrow would do the trick in convincing her to choose him over her career.
Chapter 13
“Do you mind if we sit down for a bit, darling? The men can clamber all over these broken down buildings. I just want to relax and enjoy the sunshine.” Leslie plonked down on a stone wall and pulled the bottle of water from her bag, taking a long swig.
Sophia waved at Luca, indicating he should go ahead with Chet. Despite having seen the photos, the village was larger than she expected and more dilapidated. There wasn’t a building left with a roof, and she worried if she leaned against a wall it would collapse on her.
When they’d first arrived after eleven this morning, a sudden lightness had taken over her heart. The place was a disaster—no way would Chet want to build here. After the heavy weight that had been sitting in her chest for the past week lifted, she’d bounded from the backseat of the Land Rover, ready to explore and enjoy the day.
Within half an hour, however, Chet’s concerned features had turned to elation and his expressions of “this is just perfect,” and “I can see it now,” became more frequent. He was enthralled with the site and the vision Luca presented to him. And glancing around now, as Leslie drained her water bottle and hunted around for another, Sophia couldn’t blame him. Nestled in a small valley, sunshine seemed to bounce off all sides of the village. A flock of birds, unused to human companions, called out warning messages to their loved ones. The hills were covered in wildflowers, especially red poppies. Sophia wouldn’t put it past Luca to have planted them for effect during his previous visit.
The project that would rip her and Luca apart took a giant leap closer to reality.
“We were once like you, you know.” Leslie’s nasally voice interrupted Sophia’s musings.
“Pardon?”
“Chet and me. We were once in love like you and Luca. Now, as soon as we get back to the States, I’m going to file for divorce.” Leslie tossed her plastic water bottle over the wall. Sophia made a mental note to pick it up later. This place was too beautiful to leave litter.
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
The other woman gave a bitter laugh. “Life happened, darling. It always does.”