When she indicated she needed to clean up, Chris ran a critical hand over his jaw, said he could use a shower and shaved himself, and advised her not to rush. He stated, "We have all the time in the world. We'll start with an appetizer and a glass of wine while watching the moon rise, then eat dinner whenever the whim strikes.”
So she took a long bath and shampooed her hair to remove the salt from her hair. She toweled herself dry, massaged lotion into her skin, spritzed a little cologne behind her knees and slipped on the silk caftan, grateful she'd had the foresight to smuggle in aboard. He'd claimed he loved her, but she thought he'd said it unwillingly, and she didn't hold out much hope that he'd feel the same way in the morning. If that was the case, and if this was to be their final night together, she wanted it to be one neither of them would forget.
They didn't, either, but not for the reasons she had assumed. She knew their intentions had changed th
The nurse who took Lara's place felt relieved when she saw her arrival from the window. She snapped up her personal belongings and stepped towards the door not even bothered to say goodbye to Rocco. Lara eyes and mouth opened wide and her eyebrows raised when the nurse slammed the door shut, almost hitting Lara’s face."Wait, what happen?" Lara hurriedly opened the door and called the reliever, still puzzled on what’s going on.“I can’t take any more seconds staying in this house and look after with that sick damn old man. And don’t you ever call me again because I never want to work with him anymore.” Afterwards, the nurse scooted towards the residence gate.Lara let out a deep sigh, in the short time she was with Rocco she couldn't deny that he had a bad temper which was also the reason why he often couldn't get along with his son either. She was blessed to have a long patience and enabled her to tolerate his bad behavior. A
The whole night passed by without any sign of Chris. Lara was awake almost the whole night waiting for him. ‘Why he didn’t even bother to call and report his situation?’Downstairs Lara saw Rocco siting near the window while staring outside like waiting someone else.“Rocco, are you waiting for your son.”“You need to stay out of my business,” he said in a bossy tone of voice.“I know you are worried for him, too. You don’t need to hide it from me.”“You are wrong young lady, this is not the first time he disappeared, I already get used to it. And you better get used to this if you plan on sticking with him,” Rocco advised her.“Well, do you think he’s okay?” A hand of fear clutched at her heart.“Stop worrying yourself too much. If he really cares for you he will come back.”She studied his face for a long moment, then she sai
They went for a trek in the pine-covered hills behind town, packed a picnic, and set sail along the coast. They drove to out-of-the-way villages on occasion, where they dined on delicious local fare in a tiny, modest restaurant with walls lined with wine barrels. They went into the city on occasion and dined in style on the best the city has to offer. On the Grand Pavilion Hotel, they danced side by side and made passionate love in his king-size bed.If he had to break a date—which he did frequently—he sent her flowers or texted her notes in the middle of the night so she would find them when she awoke. In exchange, she attempted to keep her anxiousness in check while he was away, but she never felt truly at ease until he returned. She couldn't sleep and spent the night on the floor. She couldn't eat since her appetite had been taken away by anxiety. Rocco never missed an opportunity to remind her she was making the biggest mistake of her life when he noticed her.
He was caught off guard by her sobbing. “This is why, until now, I've avoided serious involvement with a woman,” he added, enraged with himself for distressing her and with her, too, because she'd understood from the beginning the vocation he'd chosen for himself. "When I go on assignment, I have to concentrate on people whose lives are at danger for various reasons. Worrying about you is a distraction I neither need nor can afford.”“I know,” she said, wiping away her tears and trying to grin bravely. “I'm being self-centered and irrational. Sorry. I'm not sure what hit me. Normally, I'm not this emotional.”He had to admit that she hadn't been throughout the early days of their relationship. But lately, even the little thing seemed to bother her. He'd gone to pick her up at the villa only a week ago and found her crying over a bird that had flown into a window and broken its neck. He wasn't happy about the poor thing's
However, he remained silent over the weekend. She couldn't hold it together any longer on Monday morning and sobbed in front of Rocco. She cried, "I'm worried sick for him."“When you become involved with a man like him, that's what happens.”“You make it sound like I had a choice whether or not to fall in love with him, but that's not how it works. Regardless of my better judgment, it happened.”“I'm not sure what to say. I tried to warn you, but you wouldn't listen, and now you're trapped with no way out.”“You're not helping,” she screamed as she wiped away her tears.He had a sad expression on his face when he gazed at her. “I'm sorry, but I'm unable to assist you. Worrying is a waste of time when it comes to my son, which I learnt a long time ago. He'll do what he wants, regardless of who or what stands in his way.”She cried bitterly, “How do you sleep at night, Rocco?&n
This one appeared to be unwell. He was gaunt, hallow-eyed, and hardly able to hold his own weight, let alone the weight of others. Lara was rendered immobile by the sight. Her disbelief rendered her speechless.“How are you doing, Lara?”“You haven't shaven in days,” she observed, gathering herself with great effort.His mouth was touched by a phantom smile. “I was hoping for a friendlier welcome. Maybe I should have stay awaya little longer.”“Perhaps you should have,” she admitted, her astonishment giving way to uncontrolled rage. “Perhaps you shouldn't have returned.”His gaze swept over her, landing on her face, which she knew was wracked with resentment. “Lara, sweetheart,” he said, his voice heavy with grief.Her inside sagged. Her eyes welled up with tears, which washed her wounded heart clean of everything but the burning want to touch him. To be able to fe
Lara kept the connecting door between their rooms open for the rest of the night, worried as much about his rising temperature as the injury that was causing it. He opened his eyes and peered at her in the faint light at one point, as if he had no idea who she was. Another time, she overheard him deliriously repeating her name and knew he was on fire when she placed the back of her palm to his cheek. She couldn't give him aspirin because she didn't know the extent of any vascular damage, so she had to settle for sponging him down with lukewarm water. It relieved the temperature for a while, but it never entirely subdued it.She'd understood from the start that what she could do for him would only be a first-aid, and she'd hoped that the new day would make him more receptive to the kind of care that only a doctor could deliver. When his temperature rose dangerously just before daybreak, despite her attempts, she decided she couldn't wait any longer and called Roc
He wasn't able to respond. His lungs were bursting at the seams, and black dots danced in front of his eyes. He knelt over, his chest heaving, embarrassed by his frailty, not to mention his audience.She slowly made her way back to him after seeing his condition. "I knew you could be cruel," she said, "but I had no clue you were also ignorant.You've undoubtedly made your wound bleed anew, undoing all of your previous progress. If you keep doing it, you'll end up in the hospital, whether you want to be there or not." He sighed, "I want to be with you.""What's the point? Remember that we have nothing in common outside of the bedroom?""We both know that isn't the case.""How come you said it?""Because I was and still am irritated to no end. I can't stand not having control over my life any more than I can stand my father's grudging welcome. The sooner I return to the penthouse, the bette