“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, he just needed some…advice, I guess. Which is a big deal for him. He’s not much of a talker.”
Gio shifted closer and leaned in. I wanted him to close the space between us.
“Now, where were we?”
I swallowed, trying to remember anything other than the feel of his lips on mine, the feel of his body pressed against me. “Um, we were going to wander Rome, and see what catches our eye?” I took a step back, but I was so close to the door, my back bumped into the wooden surface. There was nowhere for me to go, without looking like I was avoiding him.
And did I really want to? What good would it do to avoid him, avoid this? Sure, it would most likely mean heartbreak, but didn’t people have vacation flings all the time? Didn’t plenty of people have hot sex with near strangers, just to walk away at the end of it?
I could do that.
Couldn’t I?
“Sounds perfect.” He reached out and took my coffee cup, stealing a sip before he handed it back. “Did you see any direction you wanted to go in while you were getting this?”
“Um, I didn’t leave the hotel.” I blushed, realizing that would’ve been a better use of my time, instead of eavesdropping. Hell, I didn’t even really know if he was talking about me. Maybe Neil knew the whole situation, and there was some other woman he was falling for.
“That’s fine.” He reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers before he tugged me closer and opened the door. “Let’s see where Rome takes us.”
The hotel was in what appeared to be a commercial district, and all around were shops, restaurants, and some kitschy kiosks full of souvenirs.
I looked around, taking it all in. The balance of the classical architecture styles, the cobblestone paths, and the silhouette of the Colosseum in the distance mixed with the bright colors of the shops, the modern cars, and the typical, almost tacky looking souvenirs was odd, but somehow everything blended until the square just felt full of life and color.
Gio squeezed my hand as we headed right, away from the front of the hotel, toward a strip of shops.
“What are you wearing tomorrow for the rehearsal?”
I shrugged. “I brought a couple of dresses. I figured I’d make the choice tomorrow, when we’re getting ready.”
He stopped at a store window and smiled. “I think you would look hot in something like that.”
The dress in the window was clearly designed for someone who was closer to a size two than a size twenty, and way more revealing than anything I’d brought with me. Of course, he thought it would look hot. He’d be able to see everything. “Uh, Gio, I don’t think that’s quite my style or really styled for someone like me.”
“Are you doubting my artist’s eye? Come on, let’s go in and look around. If not that, maybe there’s something else that catches your attention. A woman like you should stand out, should be noticed.” He tugged me into the shop before I could protest.
I doubted there would be anything in there that I could fit into, let alone afford, and even with Gio’s insistence, I didn’t think I needed to be noticed. I just needed to get through this wedding without embarrassing myself.
Gio started wandering the racks, and soon he was holding up different dresses, as if he were evaluating them against my skin tone.
I’d never had a man dress me. I didn’t think I’d even ever had a man care what I was wearing.
But Gio seemed determined, and when we came to a rack with the deep royal blue dress from the window, he thumbed through them until he got to the back.
“Good afternoon. Are we looking for something special today?” The woman who approached had a lilting Italian accent, and although she was obviously sizing me up, she had kind eyes and a bright smile.
“My sister’s getting married, and my fiancé wants me to outshine her at the rehearsal.” I smirked as Gio turned, holding up the dress in front of him, almost as if he were trying to decide what size he’d have to wear.
“Not outshine, necessarily. I just want everyone to see you as I do. And yes, that means you’re going to have to shine some.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “She needs something bold. Something vibrant. Like she is.”
I wasn’t about to admit that the dresses back at the villa that I was debating wearing were both pastel, similarly colored to the theme of the wedding. “I don’t need a new dress, Gio. I’ve already got two.”
“We’re in Italy. Rome. And you, Helena, deserve the best.” He smirked as he turned to the saleswoman. “Please explain to her the power of an incredible Italian dress.”
The store clerk put on her best saleswoman smile. “Your fiancé is a wise man. Italy is the fashion capital of the world for a reason. Some of the best fabrics, the best designers come from this country. And although we are in Rome, not Milan, we know how to dress a woman’s body. We can make you feel powerful. Fierce. Like you can take on the world, and the world will bow at your feet.”
“It’s just a dress, right?”
The saleswoman chortled. “Only if you let it be.” She took the dress from Gio, and then picked up three more in bright jewel tones. “Let’s leave him to ogle you and see if we can’t make you feel like the goddess you are.” She smiled as she led me toward the back of the store, and as I glanced back at Gio, I could’ve sworn he was smirking.
I didn’t know if he’d somehow planned this, if he’d known this shop was here, or that he’d be able to get the saleswoman in on his plan this quickly, or if he was just smirking because I didn’t have much choice but to let the woman dress me.
But as I pulled on a plum colored gown that was far too elegant for a simple rehearsal and dinner, I tried to give in to the process.
I doubted anything in this store was going to fit me right, and if I did manage to get it onto my body, there was no way I was going to look like the woman standing next to me. There was no way I would look as elegant, as put together, as she did. And there was no way I would be able to walk in shoes like the ones she had on.
“Hmmm, this one is not right.” She gestured at me to take it off.
I barely had it down over my hips, and the front was gapping widely with the zipper still open. I hadn’t ever had someone help me get dressed, unless it was Daphne or Mom, but even then, it was more about me helping them than them helping me.
“The blue one. I hate to give men credit, especially when they already think they deserve so much, but I believe he’s chosen well. Not that we’ll tell him that.” She winked at me as she unzipped the dress from the hanger and held it out to me.
I sighed, stepping into this one, and carefully, I pulled the straps up over my shoulders.
She waited until I had the dress in place, and then stepped forward and zipped it up.
With eyes closed, I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable sound of ripping or of a saleswoman in distress.
Instead, I heard Gio. “Wow.”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to be back here.” I looked over my shoulder, still afraid to look at myself in the mirror. I almost felt like I needed to see his reaction first, to see what he thought.
“I waited until you were dressed. It’s not like I have naughty intentions, Helena.” He walked up behind me and traced his fingers down my arms slowly. “This dress was made for you.”
I swallowed hard before turning back to the mirror. Whatever fears I’d had melted away quickly, with Gio standing behind me. The tea length dress hugged my curves, and a built-in corset pushed my breasts up and tucked everything else tight, so that even the deep v of the neckline seemed to be in just the right place.
“Still doubting my eye?”
Shaking my head, I smoothed my hands over the soft, silky fabric, and then reached up to pull my hair back.
Gio quickly took over, holding it up, away from my face. “We have to get it.”
I signed no, unable to speak the word out loud. I couldn’t afford a dress like this, even with everyth
ing else I hadn’t had to pay for on this trip. “It’s too much, Gio.”
“A piece of art needs the perfect frame. And you, Helena, have found yours. If it were up to me, we’d custom order this in every color of the rainbow.” He pressed a soft kiss to my cheek and smiled. “I’m not taking no for an answer. You’re in Rome. You’re my fiancé. And I intend to spoil you.”
Swallowing back tears that were fighting their way to my eyes, I shook my head. “Gio, you can’t. It’s too much. You’re not my fiancé. You’re just a man I met, who agreed to a crazy plot to help me out. I can’t let you spend this kind of money.” I didn’t even know how much it was; I hadn’t seen a price tag. But if it made me look this good, feel this good, it had to be crazy expensive. “You’ve already spent too much on me.”
He took my hand and pulled me over to the small bench in the corner, tugging me into his lap as he sat. “Helena, look at me.”
I swallowed hard, letting my eyes slowly drag up his chest, taking my time, afraid of what he was going to say. Afraid that sitting on him would cause him pain. Afraid that sitting in this dress at all would rip it. Just afraid.
When my eyes met his, he said very pointedly, “I’ve had incredible opportunities in my life. I have doors open to me that I never would’ve been able to walk through if it weren’t for my parents, for people believing in me, for giving me things that I never would’ve been able to get any other way. I love them for it, and because of them, because of the people behind me, I’ve got more than enough in my life. A dress isn’t anything huge in my world, but I saw your eyes when you finally looked at yourself in the mirror. I saw how you reacted. And I’ve seen you do things this week that I can’t help but be proud of. You stood up to your mother. You pushed back on people, rather than just giving into what they want and how they want it. You stand a little taller. You walk a little more confidently.” He reached out and took my hand, skimming his thumb over the diamond there. “I don’t know if it’s this rock on your finger, or just the fact that you’ve got someone here who’s standing up for you, standing with you, but this is the woman you should always be. The bright, vibrant woman who stands out in a crowd. Who fights for her place, even when the people who are closest to her question her. I’m buying you this dress, and I’m going to make sure you wear it tomorrow. You can say no all you want. You can bitch, and moan, and argue, but you deserve to be seen. You deserve to look like a goddess, even if you have to stand up with Daphne during the actual ceremony in some boring, pastel dress designed to make sure you blend in.”
“You know, your message might be better received if you didn’t tell me I fight for what I want, and then demand things of me.” I smiled weakly.
“I’m a stubborn ass when I want to be. And, don’t forget, I know you like it when I’m bossy. You like it when I tell you what to do. And we both know that if you truly didn’t want to do it, you wouldn’t do it, and I certainly wouldn’t be demanding it of you.”
Scowling, I stood and rolled my eyes. As I turned back to look at him again, I leaned down, certain my breasts were practically spilling out of my top. “You like it when I tease you.”
His hands came up to my hips and he grinned. “Only because I know the teasing leads to more later.” He stood, pulling me against him, and he kissed me hard. “You’re gorgeous. Change, and let’s get this dress bought and paid for.”
He tugged down the zipper and left me alone in the dressing room, his eyes lingering on me in the mirror until the door closed.
As I took off the dress and hung it up, I stared at myself in the mirror, at the woman that Gio couldn’t seem to keep his hands off of. My fingers trailed over the hickey on my neck. Whatever was going on between us, whether it was love or just a fling, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep my hands off him, and I didn’t want him keeping his hands off me.
Screw being afraid. Fuck worrying about what other people thought. That’s what I loved about the dress above all. The dress said, “Go to hell if you don’t like it.”
Bonus that Gio wasn’t going to be able to keep his hands off me either.
21
Giovanni
By the time Helena came out of the dressing room, I’d worked with the saleswoman to pick out shoes and accessories to go with the dress, including a pearl-covered hair comb that I could imagine pulling out at the end of the night to let her curls fall down over her naked shoulders.
All we needed now was to bag up the dress. And I desperately wanted to…needed to kiss Helena again.
God, I’d fallen so far down the rabbit hole on this one, I didn’t know how I’d ever find my way out again. I’d never cared much about what a woman wore, unless I intended to take it off, or I wanted to capture the movement in a piece of art. With Helena, it all felt different. I wanted her noticed. I wanted all eyes on her.
And I wanted everyone to know she was mine. There was that caveman voice in my head that was unfamiliar, but when it came to Helena, it seemed to be the loudest.
“Are you sure about this?” Helena walked up, with the blue dress over her arm. “I’m really okay just wearing something I brought.”
“It’s already done.” I took the dress and handed it to the saleswoman. “Can you have these delivered to our hotel?”
“Of course.” She smiled at me, the sort of smile that was usually reserved for the attractive and the wealthy.
I paid for everything and steered Helena toward the door before she could see everything the woman was bagging up. I didn’t need her seeing all the surprises I had in store for her.
“Where to now?” Helena looked up at me with her big blue eyes and smiled. “Do we need to dress you next?”
I chuckled. “I’ve got it covered. But maybe we could just walk a while? I like you in Rome. The light here does incredible things for your skin.”
Helena laughed and shook her head. “Maybe it’s all the hot sex. I’ve heard that can give a woman a glow.”
God, why was she so damn hot all the time? I could’ve easily dragged her back to the hotel for more of that hot sex she was talking about. What I really wanted was a weekend away from her family and mine to see if we could really connect without all the lies and deception. “Come on. Let’s walk before my mind wanders too far down that dirty path and I’m not able to walk right anymore.”
She practically purred as she pressed up against me, sliding her hands up into my hair before she kissed me. As she pulled back again, she murmured, “Hold onto those thoughts. I think we could make good use of them later.”
I growled at her as I grabbed her ass and squeezed it a little rougher than I intended. “You keep me thinking those dirty thoughts, and I’ll make sure I’m not the only one who’s having trouble walking.” I leaned in and nipped at her ear, my hot breath teasing her.
Helena groaned, and I smirked as I guided her down the street, thinking about all the ways I wanted to make her moan and scream.
As we walked through the city, I kept my eyes open for places to frame Helena in photos, constantly stopping her, posing her, making her smile and laugh. She was like a drug and I was merely a slave to the high I got from absorbing her with all my senses as much as I could.
“You know, I could take a few pictures of you. Or we could do some selfies.”
I pressed my palm to my chest, over-dramatizing my shock. “The sacrilege!” Rolling my eyes, I handed over my camera. “Okay, take my picture.”
She lifted her chin and pursed her lips, looking at me with a scrutinizing eye. “Have you modeled before, Mr. Wright? You seem a little green for this. This is a very exclusive shoot, and I do not work with amateurs.”
I laughed. “I think you’ll be surprised at my professionalism.” I winked at her and struck a ridiculous pose.
Helena let out a giggle and said in a terribly fake accent, “Oh, yes. Just like that. Make love to the camera. Give it to me.”
I pursed my lips, turned and looked over my shoulder as I cocked my ass out, a
nything I could do to keep her giggling.
“Okay, stop, or I’m going to lose it here.” She lowered the camera and grinned. “And I just saw a gelato shop. I think we need ice cream.”
I took the camera back and wrapped my arms around her. “Anything you want.”
I let her lead, just enjoying the simple, quiet afternoon. Enjoying the company of a beautiful woman who, at least for now, I got to call my own.
After wandering Rome most of the afternoon, it was obvious Helena was losing steam. She walked slower and found more excuses for us to sit down for a few minutes here or there. Even though she never complained, I could tell she was tired of walking. “Let’s get a taxi back to the hotel. Or we could ask the driver to recommend somewhere for dinner.”
“Are you sure? It’s not so bad, walking.”
I leaned over to kiss her nose. “I’m sure. We’ve covered a lot of ground today. I’m tired. I wouldn’t mind letting a taxi take us back.”
Helena nodded and her shoulders relaxed, almost as if this idea was the best one she’d ever heard. “I could go for some dinner. Gelato was a while ago.”
I chuckled and pulled out my phone, first looking up a restaurant, and then looking for a taxi company I could call.
We found a restaurant a couple blocks from the hotel, and we were soon seated in a booth tucked away so much it almost felt like we were in our own private little corner of the world.
“Thank you, Gio, for all of this.”
“It’s nothing. I’ve really enjoyed the day.”
“Not just today. Not just Rome. I…” She looked down at the table and mumbled something.
“Helena, you’re going to have to either speak up, look at me, or sign it.” I hated that I couldn’t just hear her easily, but I wanted to know what she had to say. I wanted to hear anything on her mind, or in her heart.
“I’m just really grateful that you’re here with me. That you took a chance on a near stranger, to help keep me from feeling like a loser at my sister’s wedding. I don’t know how I would’ve made it through this week without you.”
The Fiancé Agreement Page 17
