by King, Imani
“Oh please. What’s not to be interested in? You’re gorgeous . And smart, and funny, and sweet. Don’t go selling yourself short .”
Trisha looked down at her drink. Sam had said all that before, but she still had a hard time believing any of it .
Sam downed the rest of her margarita, then tossed a couple dollars into the tip jar before pulling Trisha away from the bar. “Come on, let’s go for a walk. You could use some fresh air to help clear your mind .”
Walking around did help, at least a little bit. The city was always so full of life, even on a Sunday evening. It definitely helped rejuvenate her a bit. This silly little crush on Jonathan wouldn’t be the end of the world .
This wasn’t her first unrequited love. She’d get over it, just like all the rest. Until then, she’d just keep her cool like she’d always done. It wasn’t like she tried to jump into the pants of every guy she’d ever liked .
12
Jonathan
“C arla, can you start looking into flights for me? I’m going to have to go out to Italy for a little while to sort things out .”
Jonathan stacked up the papers he’d been looking at and set them aside. He was going to have to go visit with some of his investors in person, if he wanted their money. And if he wanted his project to go forward, he would need their investment .
Besides, it was a trip to Italy, even if it was a business trip. It was hard to argue with perks like that, even if he did have to put up with an endless stream of paperwork !
Carla nodded and scribbled something onto her notepad. “Just for you ?”
Jonathan opened his mouth to reply, then stopped. He didn’t need any other employees out there, but why not take Trisha and the boys? It’d been a while since he’d had an actual vacation with the kids. If he extended his stay for a little while, he’d be able to spend some real, quality time with them .
Plus, he figured Trisha and the boys could enjoy some time in the sun while he was working. It’d be better than them sitting out home while he was away .
“Actually, hold off on that for a day or two. I might bring the kids with me. I think we’re overdue for a little vacation time .”
Carla snorted. “I’ve been telling you that for ages. Just let me know and I’ll get the tickets. Anything else for today ?”
“No, I think that’s it,” Jonathan said, shaking his head. “I’ll let you know if I need anything .”
Carla smiled and left, leaving Jonathan to his thoughts. Would Trisha even want to go on the trip? Heck, he didn’t even know if she had a passport. And it wasn’t like he could bring the boys without her. Not unless he wanted the boys wondering around a foreign country alone while he was at work .
He decided he’d broach the subject at dinner tonight. Well, if he made it on time, he thought as he glanced at the clock. He’d be late for dinner every night for the past week .
That meant he needed to stop daydreaming and get to work, if he planned on getting out of here on time .
That night, he walked in the door just as Gretta was putting food on the table. She glared at him as he took off his suit jacket and sat down. Jonathan smiled sheepishly at her, apologizing for being late .
Gretta grunted and finished serving the food, then winked at him before she disappeared. He’d told her numerous times to sit and enjoy the meal with them, but she never did. He knew she’d be in there packing up some food for herself and her husband, so they could sit and have dinner together, even if it would be a little late in the evening .
“How is everything?” Gretta asked when she returned with a bag .
“Delicious as always,” he told her with a wink. “I don’t think you’ve ever made anything that hasn’t tasted heavenly .”
Gretta waved off the compliment, despite everyone else chiming in to tell her how wonderful everything was .
“You just leave the dishes in the sink and I’ll take care of them when I come in in the morning. And there’s a pie in the fridge, if anyone is still hungry after .”
Jonathan stood and hugged Gretta before she left. “You’re wonderful, you know that ?”
“You just remember that when it’s time for my Christmas bonus!” she said, laughing as she left. That seemed to be a running joke with his emploees .
After she was gone, Jonathan decided to broach the subject with everyone. “So, in about two weeks, I’m going to have to fly out to Italy for a few days to meet with some investors .”
Alexander and Declan both groaned. “Do you gotta?” Declan asked .
Jonathan nodded. “I do. But, I was thinking, maybe you guys would like to come along. I’ll spend a few extra days after the meetings are over and we can have a little vacation .”
That cheered both boys up. They both bounced with excitement, talking about different things they’d like to do. They’d gone with Jonathan to Italy about three years ago and sounded eager to go back. While they chatted together, Jonathan turned to Trisha .
“Will you be able to go? Do you have a passport ?
Trisha blinked at him. “Me? Uhhh… Yeah, I have a passport. But why do you want me to go ?”
“Someone has to watch the boys while I’m in meetings.” He winked at her. “I figured you’d enjoy a trip to Italy as well. Have you ever been ?”
Trisha shook her head. Then, she looked down at her plate. “No, but I don’t think I can afford it .”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Jonathan waved his hand. “I’ll pay for it. You’ll be taking care of the boys while we’re there, so it’s no big deal. I mean, if you’d like to go .”
“Oh, I’d love to go!” she said almost immediately. “I just feel weird, having you spend that much money to fly me out to Italy, just to watch the boys during the day .”
Jonathan smiled. It was kind of sweet, actually. Most people would’ve jumped at a chance for a free trip to Europe. This was the first time he’d ever had someone hesitant to go. But she really would be doing him a favor by keeping an eye on the boys while he was working. It was either that or have the boys fly out later in the week, when he was finished his meetings. This way, the boys would get a longer vacation, even if he wasn’t there for all of it .
“Don’t worry. The company will pay for it, so you don’t have to feel weird. Besides, after everything you’ve done since you started, you deserve a bit of a vacation, too .”
The boys must’ve overheard our conversation, since Declan chimed in. “Please, Trisha! You gotta go with us! It’s gonna be so much fun !”
“Well, I can’t really say no to that,” Trisha said with a laugh. She grinned at Declan, then Jonathan. “It looks like I’ll be going with you then .
“Perfect!” Jonathan clapped his hands together and returned her grin. “I’ll have Carla book tickets in the morning then .”
The rest of dinner was filled with excitement as everyone chatted about the upcoming trip. Jonathan filled Trisha in about where they’d be going and the things they could do while he was working. Alexander and Declan both chimed in at certain parts, telling stories of their last trip or just mentioning things they were excited about .
“Where will we be staying?” Trisha asked. “A hotel ?”
Jonathan shook his head. If it was just him, he stayed at a hotel near work, since that was the most convenient. But he’d discovered long ago that if he had the boys with him, it was much easier to rent someplace larger .
“Our company owns a villa just outside of Naples. We’ll stay there .”
Jonathan grinned when he saw her eyes go wide. He knew visiting Italy would be an experience she’d never forget, and he was excited to bring her along. It’d been a while since he’d travelled with anyone other than a co-worker .
When the boys were younger, he’d taken them on his trips abroad frequently. But in the last few years, Grace hadn’t been up to traveling, so they’d stayed home while he traveled. Now, he’d get to bring the boys on a real vacation again. Plus, he’d have Trisha to
keep him company as well .
He couldn’t wait .
13
Trisha
T risha eyes had been wide and her head on a swivel since they stepped off the plane. She’d had a passport since she was a child, but this had been her first chance to use it. And this wasn’t a quick jaunt to Canada or Mexico. She was on a completely new continent !
Plus, she hadn’t been crammed in sardine can with a hundred other people. They’d flown on the AshCorp company jet, which meant they’d had the entire plane to themselves. The boys had even been able to watch a movie during the flight .
Jonathan had been on his laptop most of them, while Trisha had opted to read. She’d gotten behind on her reading since signing on to be a nanny, so the long flight was the perfect time to catch up. She’d have read a lot more if she hadn’t stopped to gaze at Jonathan every few minutes .
Even experiencing her first trip on a private jet, she still couldn’t get him out of her head. The man was like a drug, one she was inexplicably drawn to .
As they drove through Italy toward the villa, her face was almost glued to the window as she tried to take in all the sights. She couldn’t wait to get out there and explore Italy! She’d always dreamed of visiting Europe, of seeing all the historical sights and tourist locations. Now she was finally getting a chance to live that dream, at least partially .
But no matter how fascinated she was, she couldn’t stop glancing over at Jonathan every once in a while. He seemed to have a perpetual smile on his face ever since they’d gotten off the plane. At least she wasn’t the only one excited, she thought to herself .
Not that she’d worried about that. Alexander and Declan had been bouncing off the walls since last night .
“What should we do first?” Declan asked as he leaned passed Trisha and looked out the car window .
Trisha shrugged. The boys had spent the last week detailing all the things they could do in Italy, and she didn’t have a clue where to start. There was so much to do. So much to see! Where were they supposed to begin ?
Luckily, Jonathan came to her rescue. “How about we just relax at the villa tonight? You guys can walk down to the beach while we get acclimated to everything. Then we can go out to dinner .”
That would work. The day was already half over, so it was a perfect way to wind things down. Besides, once they got to the villa, they could sit down and plan out what they wanted to do and when for the next week and a half .
She’d already decided she needed to visit Rome while she was here. It just wouldn’t be right to visit Italy and not spend at least a day in Rome. According to Jonathan, the ancient city was close enough for a day trip .
Then again, compared to the US, everything in Europe was pretty close together .
When the driver pulled up outside their villa, Trisha’s eyes widened for the millionth time that day. The place wasn’t huge, nowhere near the size of Ashcourt Manor, but it was still a spacious little place. It sat right up against the beach, with the closest neighbor a good bit away .
It looked like something plucked straight out of a beautiful painting .
She made a mental note to get Sam an amazing gift while she was here. If it wasn’t for Sam going behind her back and sending in an application for this job, she’d never have gotten to experience any of this. She’d be in Sam’s debt for a lifetime !
The villa was definitely better than a hotel. Trisha and Jonathan both had their own rooms, while the boys shared the third. Each bedroom also had its own private bathroom. Plus, there was a spacious kitchen and dining area, and a living room with a large TV. But the cherry on top was the sliding glass doors that lead onto a porch with a perfect view of the beach .
Even from the doorway, Trisha could see the waves crashing against the shore. When Alexander and Declan ran down to the water, Trisha had to fight not to do the same thing. For a few moments, she felt like a kid again, in a magical world .
But she was here to be an adult. It was her job to keep an eye on the boys, not act like a kid herself .
Trisha and Jonathan both sat on the porch and watched them. They were close enough to keep an eye on the boys but far enough away that the boys wouldn’t feel smothered by their watchful eyes .
“So, what do you think so far?” Jonathan asked .
“It’s gorgeous!” Trisha couldn’t fight the smile that spread across her face. “I can’t wait to really explore everything tomorrow. I’ve always dreamed of visiting Italy one day .”
“It really is a unique place. I wish I could stay here tomorrow and show you around. But the number for the driver is on the fridge, in case you need him. Please don’t be afraid to call him, either. His whole job is to be a chauffeur and tour guide when executives come to visit. We may as well get our money’s worth !”
“Thank you. I really appreciate you bringing me along for this .”
“You don’t have to thank me. In fact, I should be thanking you. If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t have been able to bring the boys along, and it’s been a while since we’ve been able to go away together. Grace wasn’t a big fan of flying .”
The two of them talked, and before Trisha knew it, she was getting lost in Jonathan’s eyes. The sun was setting on the horizon, but she barely noticed it as she looked into those glistening emeralds, so different from her own brown eyes. Even the shouts and laughter from the boys started to fade away .
Then, Declan’s ear piercing scream broke her daydream. Both her and Jonathan stood and turned to look out at the boys, watching as Declan popped up from the sand, coughing and sputtering while Alexander laughed .
When they realized neither one was hurt and it was just a bit of playful roughhousing, they sat back down with matching sighs of relief. Trisha chastised herself for getting so caught up in Jonathan. Like he said, she was here to watch the boys .
She’d been able to keep a lid on her feelings and this beautiful place wasn’t going to be her undoing. She would keep herself under control, no matter what .
Thankfully, Jonathan would only be with them in the evenings. That would go a long way to helping her push those feelings aside. At least until the end of the week when he was finished with his work .
That would be the real challenge .
14
Jonathan
T he sun came up way too early the next morning. He still hadn’t adjusted to his new time zone, even though he’d gone to sleep early the night before. Jonathan wished he could sleep in a little, like Trisha and the boys could .
He’d also much rather have been heading to visit Rome today, rather than meeting with some stuffy old men. But he needed those stuffy old men, so he didn’t have much of a choice. Besides, the whole reason they were in Italy was because of these meetings .
So after a few minutes of grumbling, he slipped out of bed and into the shower. A hot shower helped wake him up a little, but he was still going to need a good bit of coffee if he wanted to function properly. After his shower, he made himself a large cup for the road just as his driver pulled up .
Despite relying on the caffeine to keep him functioning, the meetings had gone well. So far, his potential investors seemed intrigued with what he had planned. After a quick conference call with some of the guys back in Atlanta, he headed back to the villa .
Trisha and the boys were still out, so he grabbed a beer and headed to the back porch to watch the sun set. Even if he did have to work, there were much worse sights to come back to after a long day in the office .
Watching the sun set over the Italian coast was much different than seeing it set in Atlanta .
He must’ve drifted off because the next thing he knew, the sun had completely set. The front door shut and he jumped, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Trisha and the boys trailed into the house, laughing at something .
He stood and stretched, then went in to greet them. “Have a fun day?” he asked as he yawned .
The boys nodded and Declan launched into an epic re
galing of all the sights they’d seen today. The boy seemed even more energetic than normal. Alexander even chimed in a few times to add to Declan’s story. Trisha just smiled and let them talk, though it was obvious she’d enjoyed herself just as much as they had. Jonathan was glad he’d brought them all along. They deserved a bit of a vacation. Especially Trisha, having to take care of the boys all the time. Even if she still had to watch the boys while they were in Italy, he was sure a change of scenery was appreciated .
When the boys were finally tired out, Trisha offered to get them tucked into bed. That gave Jonathan a minute of peace to reflect on the day. He was staring out the glass doors at the ocean when she walked up beside him .
They stood there in silence for a few moments, just enjoying the marvelous view. Then, before Jonathan could stop himself, he asked “Would you like to go for a walk ?”
15
Trisha
T he picturesque moonlight beach took Trisha’s breath away. It was like nothing she’d ever seen. She hadn’t gone on many vacations growing up, so this was like something out of a fairy tale. The beach had been gorgeous during the day, but now it was simply amazing. Sand glittered in the moonlight. It almost looked like the stars had fallen to Earth .
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Jonathan asked, startling her out of her day-dream .
“Yes! The kids have me running all across creation to see things, but I’ve had so much fun.” Trisha sighed and looked out at the ocean again. Her first trip to Italy was something she’d never forget, that was for sure, and it’d barely begun. “I’m sorry you haven’t been able to join us .”
She’d hoped to spend some time with him on the trip, but she knew she couldn’t really complain. This was a business trip .
Now that she thought about it, this was the first time they’d really been alone together in months. Sure, they’d passed each other in the halls back home or been in the kitchen at the same time, but never for more than a few moments. The only time she really spent time with him was during meals, when the boys were present. If neither of them were home, he always opted to eat in his study while he worked. She was starting to think everything he did was business-related .
