Mostly I said that to rile her up, but in all seriousness, I actually didn't want to.
Who would have thought that the girl who lived right next door to me my whole life turned out to be perfect in every way? There was no way I wanted to forget any part of this morning.
As she walked past me, I allowed my eyes to trail over her body. I was surprised she'd put on the clothes I'd handed her, although maybe it was because she was perhaps more concerned with getting out of the hotel room than what I'd given her to wear.
It was a wrap over skirt and a camisole top similar to what she'd worn the other day. She looked good, really good, and the skirt hit the right parts of her perfect ass making her look more tempting.
I looked down at her shapely legs and remembered how smooth the skin was at the top of her thighs.
Geez, I knew as I continued to look that I was in for some serious trouble, but that wouldn't stop me.
Chapter 7
Gage
* * *
We started making phone calls as soon as we got settled in and continued to do so over the next three days. The determination and positivity were there, but we had no success.
Between us, we called just over two hundred people. It felt like working in a call center, and as the list grew shorter our hopes shrunk too.
I tried my best to keep my momentum going, but I could feel myself drifting back into the grasps of doubt. The lack of success had even clouded over the excitement of being here in this beautiful place with the beach just a stone throw away.
The villa offered the comfort I'd wanted for us with its homely feel created by the antique styled furniture. While the exterior held true to that Italianate style of architecture I'd seen in Rome, with classical synthesized aesthetics, the interior had a more personal touch that made it quite relaxing. Along with the furniture were the wooden beams running across the ceiling in each room and the red bricks on a majority of the walls which added more character. We also had a large open fireplace in the lounge. Summer might have been at its peak, but I was going to take the opportunity to light that up one night and sit by it. I lived in a penthouse apartment in L.A.
It was quite classy, but it was the typical bachelor pad. It was very modern looking with that contemporary edge and had none of the features this place had.
Sometimes it was good to step away from the modern, eccentric things and step back in time to an era or style when certain things had meaning. That epiphany had come to me after my accident, along with other things. In general, I found myself more appreciative of life and what it had to offer.
I'd been sitting on the sofa by the sliding doors that led out on to the terrace. I had the perfect view of the beach. The scenery was so clear and idyllic with the blueish green sea that it reminded me of a screensaver.
I hadn't been down there yet. I wanted to go check it out but put off doing so because I didn't want to waste time.
Looking at Grams saddened me that I couldn't do better. I was beginning to worry that she was worrying too much and I didn't want it to affect her health. The first thing her doctors had cautioned against was stress. She was told to stay away from it. Now she was right in the heart of it.
I thought a break was in order, even for a little while. It was approaching five and outside looked warm and inviting. It would be nice to go out for a while and have some time away to just relax. We'd both been sitting here for at least two hours making calls. Evie was up in her room. She tended to do most of her calls there and other than coming down to speak to Grams every now and again I didn't really see much of her. I guessed she was still mad at me.
Maybe a nice trip to the beach would do us all some good.
"Grams let's take a break from this," I stated.
She looked over at me and rested her elbows on the desk.
I slid off the sofa and joined her. "How about we just take a break? There's already a number of people we're waiting to hear back from."
We were waiting to hear from at least fifty people and evening was approaching. There was only a small window of time that we'd agreed was appropriate to call. That was between ten am and six pm. Any earlier or later might appear rude.
"What if someone calls and it's the right people. We'll miss the call." She straightened up.
"They can leave a message, and we'll get back to them. We've been at this since we got here. Look outside. We've got this beautiful beach that we can go to. You love the beach."
"You should go, and take Evie." She suggested. "You kids go on and have fun."
"Grams," I sighed. "You need a break. Even just a little one. Some fresh air is always good. If anyone calls, we can always get back to them. Get some stuff together, and I'll ask Evie if she wants to come."
She stared at me for a few moments and then nodded. "Okay."
"Meet you outside." I smiled. She looked adamant but at least she'd agreed to come.
I got up and made my way up the winding wooden staircase that creaked with each footstep. Evie's room was the first at the top. The door was open, and I could see her sitting out on the balcony. She had her contact list in her hand and was on the phone.
"Thanks, please ask her to call. Grazie." She hung up and focused on me as I approached. The gentle breeze lifted her hair making the ends dance about the smooth skin on her shoulders.
"Any leads?" I asked.
"No. Nothing, and it's been difficult trying to communicate in broken Italian."
"Same here." Some of my contacts hadn't spoken a word of English, and I had to end up passing them on to my grandmother. "I think we all need a break. We're going down to the beach. You should come."
I'd learned that instead of asking outright it was best to make the thought look appealing to her.
She tilted her head and looked at me through cautious eyes. "We, as in you and Lucy, or as in you and Giselle?"
Giselle?
"Why would it be me and Giselle?" Interesting she would say that.
"Well, I'm certain I saw you two going into town yesterday and then you disappeared with her in the evening."
Well, I'll be damned, I thought. Evie was jealous. Giselle was only too happy to offer to take me into town when their driver canceled because he was broken down. Then she showed me where all the restaurants were later in the evening probably hoping I'd take her there, but I'd focused on what I was going out for, and that was just to get some fruit punch for Grams.
This was interesting, however, and instead of setting Evie straight I wanted to see what she was thinking.
"Are you spying on me?"
She looked appalled at the comment. "Absolutely not."
"Okay Miss Evie, if you say so."
"I do say so," she scowled.
"Cool, come to the beach with me." I stepped closer to her and zoned in on her delicate lips as she pouted and folded her arms.
"Oh, so there's no we, just you?"
She was such hard work sometimes. "What if it was just me?"
"Then I would tell you to ask Giselle. She did say you should go to her for anything. Absolutely anything." She made a mocking voice with an accent that was supposed to sound like Giselle. "Nah, nah, nah anything." She tossed her hair across her shoulders in a gesture of defiance boldly meeting my eyes.
Yes, she was jealous alright, and the thought fascinated me. Fascinated me to the point where I forgot who we were, where we were and what we were. All I could see as she ranted on about Giselle and said something I couldn't hear, was her perfect skin, perfect hair, and perfect eyes that were the same green as the sea beyond us. Perfect everything.
She was about to continue her tirade but stopped when I reached for a lock of her hair, curled it around my finger, and brought up to my nose to smell.
The heavy lashes that shadowed her cheeks flew up. "What the hell are you doing? You are so weird." She smacked my hands away and drew her hair back.
I smiled on seeing how outraged she looked. "Just remembering what you smell like pr
incess."
Deep satisfaction filled me as her cheeks flushed and filled out with a soft rose color.
This was funny indeed. We were.
I stepped back, away from her. "See you on the beach in ten minutes."
Before I left I winked at her and noticed that her cheeks flushed even more.
* * *
Evie
* * *
I was only going because of Lucy. That was all, and perhaps because I'd been desperate to go down to the beach.
How could I not? The Mediterranean Sea was calling to me from my bedroom window.
Stupid Gage and his stupid charm, I didn't know what his angle was, but I wasn't going to be affected by it.
Princess. Who the hell did he think he was calling me princess? And Miss Evie.
And me, what was wrong with my getting all weak kneed and girly around him? I was acting stupid too, and it would stop right this minute.
I'd changed into a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, it was perfect if I decided I wanted to get my feet wet.
I also took my notebook and a few pens in case I got more inspiration. Since being here, I'd managed to write a lot more. I was halfway through it but felt it needed a bridge and maybe something else.
The wind whipped up my hair as soon as I stepped outside and the air smelled of salt and fresh sea. It was alluring and propelled every step I made down towards the beach. As I passed the threshold between the sand and the soft green grass the golden sand welcomed my feet. My sandals sunk into it and the sand smoothed over my toes like fine warm crystals. That feeling alone was delightfully refreshing.
I looked for Lucy and Gage but didn't see them. There was a man going by with his German shepherd and golden retriever, and a lady with two small children playing in the sand.
I stopped and looked about and...
My eyes molded to the man that rose up from the sea. I watched him emerge revealing the perfect description of what abs should look like. Ripples of muscle ran down his long torso in deep ridges showing the distinct definition between each set of muscle on his incredible six pack and pecs. Even more enticing was the Celtic designed tattoos that ran along the left side of his abs and at the top of his biceps. There was also one near the ridge of his thigh drawing attention to his athletic legs.
It was only when he slicked his wet hair back, moving it away from his face that I saw it was Gage, and I had the urge to turn around and run back inside the house, completely appalled at myself for blatantly gawking at him. What was wrong with me?
I was supposed to be immune to him. I was supposed to be able to look and not feel a thing. But no, something had happened to my resolve somewhere... I didn't know where.
"There you are." Lucy's voice made me jump.
I turned to Lucy and tried to act normal. "Lucy, hey. I..." I was flustered.
Lucy held onto her hat as the wind blew. I noticed she was also carrying a picnic basket. She looked ahead towards Gage and frowned.
He was heading straight towards us and looked better and better the closer he got.
"He seriously got another one," Lucy commented with distaste.
"Another one what?"
"One of those dreadful tattoos. Just look at him." Lucy shook my head.
I would actually rather not look but since I was told to I had to and found it very hard to stop as he approached carrying himself with that air of confidence like the athlete he was.
"Gage William Montgomery, what did I tell you about inking up your body with those horrible things?" Lucy was in full grandma mode.
Gage responded with one of his dazzling smiles. "Grams come on. It's cool."
"You look like a hooligan." Lucy scolded.
"What do you think Evie?" He held out his muscular arms to each side, standing tall and proud of what he displayed. Immediately, my eyes were drawn to the powerful build of his shoulders and broad, muscular chest.
The look he gave me told me he'd for sure seen my watching him minutes before, and knew I was completely enthralled by what I saw.
And, if he hadn't seen me watching him my now reddened face and open-mouthed response told all. I was totally conscious of his tempting physique.
"Do you like what you see?" He had the audacity to wink at me.
I looked to Lucy, expecting some sort of comment to set him straight, but she appeared too annoyed to notice that he was outrightly flirting right in front of her.
"You look like a hooligan," I grumbled, trying to maintain what little composure I had left.
"Liar." His voice, deep and sexual, sent a ripple of awareness through me.
"No more tattoos." Lucy reproved. "Anyhow, I thought we could have a light dinner, so I brought some food."
"I found the perfect spot, where there are no lizards," Gage advised with a deep chuckle purely for my benefit. He laughed when I cringed and looked away from him.
We followed Gage to the area he'd selected and enjoyed slices of honey roasted chicken with focaccia bread. Lucy also prepared a green and black olive mixture and a banana loaf. Everything was delicious. Since being here, Lucy had taken on the task of cooking for us, making sure we had three hearty meals a day and plenty of fruit.
After we ate Lucy and Gage went for a swim while I stayed behind at their little spot. They seemed to be having fun in the water, and they had the privilege of having the beach to themselves.
The sun was low and getting to that point where sunset was approaching but wasn't quite there yet. It looked beautiful out on the distant horizon, separating the auburn sky from the blues of the sea.
I heard and felt the music all around me, hearing it as the waves crashed against the rocks near where I sat, and as it kissed the shore. It was beautiful and gave me the inspiration I was hoping for. I wrote down a few notes as they came to me, thinking I'd test them out later when I went back in.
I marveled at how relaxed I felt here, even despite the tense situation we faced with trying to find Angelo. Being in Italy was good for me. It felt like it was good for my soul in ways and I'd love to come back to go to all the places I wouldn't see. Being here also made me look at the way my life had been for the last couple of years.
I'd worked hard to get to where I was, too hard maybe. While I'd achieved a lot I could be proud of, I felt I missed out on a lot too. It would be good to see my family and friends more. When I'd first moved to New York, I tried to make it back to see them every other week, but that hadn't happened since last year, and now it was practically the end of summer. I wanted to change that. There was nothing like doing what you love, but other things were important too.
I shuffled against the plaid blanket Lucy had brought out as I watched Gage and Lucy coming out of the water. They made their way back to me laughing.
"Sweetie, aren't you going to go in?" Lucy asked.
"No, it's more fun to watch you guys."
"How could it be more fun?" Gage smirked.
"I have a thing about the sea. It's safer if I stay here," I replied. "I can't swim very well either."
"I'll take you." Gage offered.
"Excellent." Lucy beamed.
"No, no. I'm fine." I tried to protest, but to my surprise, Gage leaned forward and took hold of both my hands to pull me up.
"You can't come to Tuscany and not go in the sea." He told me shaking his head.
Lucy shook her head too and smiled. "You can't dear. Go on with Gage he'll make sure that you're safe. I'll pack up here and get everything back in the house."
My stomach filled with nerves at the thought of Lucy leaving us alone, and I noticed that Gage still held onto my hand.
Before I could answer or protest he pulled my along, tugging me towards the shoreline. I was alright stepping in and allowing the warm water to wash over my feet, but as I went further and the water surrounded my knees, I stopped.
"I can't." I shook my head and gripped onto his arm.
"Hey, there's nothing to be scared of."
"There could be sha
rks." I winced, genuinely scared that there might be. I would have at least liked to read about what to expect here first before venturing into the water. There could be sharks in there and then I'd end up like my friend's cousin. Granted he was deep sea diving but still, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Gage smiled down at me. "Then you're with the right person." He tugged on my hand, but I pulled him back again.
"Gage I don't know if I can." I didn't. The sea was warm and felt nice against my skin, but I was too wary, and yes, scared.
"Hop on my back." He smiled.
"What? No. That's ridiculous."
"It's not, just do it." He gave me one of his cheeky smiles. "Come on it can't be worse than the other morning, and on the plus side this time you're wearing clothes."
I smacked his chest coming in contact with his rock hard abs that were indeed as rock hard as they looked.
"That is not funny. I was terrified. I could have died."
"Okay, I'll stop teasing." He smiled then lowered next to my so I could get on his back. "Come on, hop on."
I looked at him before me, looking strong and formidable as the wave washed over his shoulders unable to move him. When he looked up at me, his blue gaze took me in just like it did days ago and there was a twinkle in his eye that drew me to him. I found myself unable to say no.
I slipped my arms around his neck and secured myself to him while he held my legs. As soon as I was on, he stood up and walked in further and deeper until we were completely immersed. Because he was so tall, he could stand and not be fully covered, and I was at a height where I could just focus on enjoying myself.
"Oh my gosh." I breathed as a wave swept over us, sweeping over me with its melodious music.
This was absolutely different to just lingering by the shore or sitting on the beach. It was also different to my usual floating about in a pool when I did get the chance to swim.
Play of Love: The Gladiator Players Box Set Page 39
