VINA IN VENICE (THE 5 SISTERS)

by Kimberley Reeves

  In his heart, he knew it was hopeless. He’d made such a mess of things and saw no way out of it except to confess what he’d done and pray she forgave him some day. Drawing in a deep breath, Travis rose to his feet and went in search of the mystery woman. He had no idea what he was going to say to her. How do you explain to someone you had sex with that you have no memory of meeting her, let alone sleeping with her?

  Feeling like the dog that he was, Travis followed the scent of freshly brewed coffee to the kitchen. Pausing in the doorway, he could hear her moving around the small room, although he couldn’t see her. The thought of sitting down at the table with her to discuss what happened the night before made his stomach knot. He’d be lucky if she didn’t crack him over the head with the coffee pot.

  Knowing he couldn’t stall any longer, Travis stepped inside, his heart thudding heavily when he saw Vina propped against the counter, sipping a cup of coffee. She was wearing a silk robe but it was sheer enough to see the outline of a short nightie beneath. Her hair looked tousled and there were dark circles under her eyes; a tell-tale sign that she hadn’t gotten much sleep. What had he done?

  “So you finally woke up,” Vina said when she spied him standing there.

  “Smells good,” he nodded to her cup. “Mind if I grab a cup?”

  “Help yourself. I’m sure you could use it after the night you had.”

  Feeling guilty as hell, Travis stole a quick look at her before reaching for the coffee pot and pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Vina…about last night…”

  “I don’t want to hear your lame explanations,” she said coolly. “What you did was inexcusable. I hardly got any sleep at all because of you. I have a rug burn on my thigh, a bruise on my hip, and blood shot eyes. You should be ashamed of yourself for stumbling in here drunk.” She set her cup down with a heavy sigh. “The only reason I’m not furious with you right now is because my behavior wasn’t much better. I never should have let it go as far as it did.”

  Travis mumbled an apology, staring blankly into his cup. How could he tell her that he didn’t remember how he’d gotten from the bar to her suite? And based on what she’d told him, they must have had sex on the carpet before moving to the bedroom. Should he apologize for being so rough that she’d gotten a rug burn? And what had he done to cause a bruised hip? Judging by how drawn she looked, they’d been at it for a good part of the night. How could he forget something like that?

  “Vina, I…I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m asking for it anyway.”

  “I’m not entirely blameless,” she admitted. “And as long as you promise never to do anything like that again, I see no reason why we can’t put it behind us and forget it ever happened.”

  “I promise,” Travis forced the words out. He owed her that for the way he’d treated her, but it didn’t stop the pain from clawing at his chest or the gnawing fear that he had lost her forever.

  Chapter 11

  Vina didn’t say anything right away. She was too busy trying to figure out why she felt guilty for letting Travis know how much his behavior had upset her. It was his eyes, she decided. He looked…crushed, as if she’d cut him to the quick with some horribly cruel remark. It made her heart ache because Travis Malone was not the type of man to openly display his emotions.

  Still, she couldn’t just let him off the hook, not after the jealous routine and then the disappearing act he’d pulled last night. But Vina didn’t want to make him feel worse than he already did either. So Travis had bailed out of their relationship before it got serious. It hurt, but it didn’t exactly come as a surprise.

  With her own emotions so unstable right now, it would be impossible to pretend everything was back to normal. She wasn’t even sure either of them was capable of forgetting what had happened…or nearly happened between them. The only thing Vina was sure of was that she wasn’t strong enough to let Travis go yet. Somehow, she had to convince him she wasn’t dying inside and restore the peace so they weren’t constantly snapping at each other.

  “I’m sorry for being such a shrew,” she said with a tentative smile. “What happened last night was regrettable, but it’s over and done so there’s no need to dwell on it. This is our first day in Venice and I don’t want to spend it arguing. Besides, you know I can never stay mad at you.”

  “I’m surprised you’re even talking to me,” Travis shook his head ruefully.

  “It’s not that big of a deal. Honest. I’m just irritable because my muscles are stiff. I ache in places I didn’t even know I had, but I’m sure I’ll feel better after I take a few aspirin and a nice hot shower.”

  Travis grimaced. “Vina, I don’t know what to say except I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry too,” she said with a wistful sigh. She was sorry for everything that happened after they arrived at the Palazzo, especially the discovery that Travis had changed his mind about pursuing a relationship with her. Vina tried to convince herself it was a good thing. As it was, the dull ache in her chest was a constant reminder of his rejection. How much worse would it be if she had fallen hopelessly in love with him?

  Pasting on a smile, Vina emptied her cup in the sink and set it on the counter. “Let’s go to breakfast, I’m starving. Afterwards, we can explore the city and stop at some costume shops and buy something for the masquerade ball.”

  “You’re sure you want to spend the day with me?”

  “Of course I’m sure. Just because we discovered we weren’t compatible as a couple doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends, does it?”

  Vina held her breath, silently praying he would deny it, that he would take her in his arms and say his desire to make love to her was as strong as ever. Her heart did a wild flip when Travis moved towards her, then plummeted to the ground when he set his cup on the counter next to hers and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

  “You’re right. There’s no reason we can’t still be friends. I’ll go back to my suite and change and meet you back here in thirty minutes.”

  She nodded mutely then turned and fled to the bedroom before he could see how deeply he’d wounded her.

  ***

  Travis watched Vina scurry from the room as if she couldn’t get away from him fast enough. It sliced right through him, sharp as a butcher’s knife, but then he’d earned the pain he was suffering, hadn’t he? Everything he’d done so far had gone wrong. To make matters worse, Vina’s sexual experience with him last night apparently left something to be desired. His performance had been so awful, in fact, that Vina had reinstated his status as merely a friend to insure there would be no encore.

  He wanted to go to her, to apologize again and beg her to give him the chance to prove he could make it good for her. If only he could remember what he’d done to make her flee like a frightened rabbit. Had he forced himself on her? Was that how Vina’s hip had gotten bruised? The thought that he could do that to any woman, let alone someone as kind and gentle as Vina, filled him with disgust and self-loathing.

  Only her proclamation that they could still be friends gave Travis some assurance he hadn’t taken Vina against her will. Surely if he’d gotten that aggressive, she wouldn’t want anything at all to do with him. They would have to talk about it sooner or later, but now was not the time. He needed to prove she could trust him first, which meant he had to guard against doing anything even remotely sexual, and that included kissing her.

  His steps were sluggish as he headed for the door and noted with a wry grin that his card key was lying on the floor where it must have dropped when he and Vina were…were doing what? Travis leaned down and scooped the card up. He stood there for several minutes, motionless except for the heavy rise and fall of his chest. A vivid memory of Vina lying beneath him on the rug played in front of his eyes, her dark hair splayed around her head as she gazed up at him with kiss swollen lips.

  Even through the haze of a nasty hangover, Travis was able to discern it hadn’t been one-sided. Vina’s response to his kisses had be
en passionate at first; that much he recalled. But then…? He rubbed his temple where the throbbing pain was the worst, but it didn’t help his aching head or revive any other memories. Had she asked him to stop? Or had they both gotten carried away and now Vina resented him because he’d been too drunk to know or care if was good for her too?

  Well, there was no use stewing over it right now. He doubted Vina would be willing to discuss it any time soon and the truth was, he was in no condition to have a serious conversation either. Venice was waiting for them. He would take her on the grand tour, keep the mood light, regain a little ground. Then he would set her down for a nice long heart to heart. He’d made some huge mistakes last night, but he was determined to atone for it somehow.

  ***

  Vina was a little apprehensive when Travis returned a short time later, but to her immense relief he didn’t mention anything about what happened the night before. They grabbed a quick breakfast at one of the Palazzo restaurants then opted to rent a gondola rather than taking the motorboat moored at their private dock. Travis was his usual charming self, making her laugh and feel completely at ease as their gondolier steered through the narrow waterways and the Grand Canal.

  Venice was breathtaking with its churches, palaces, and magnificent gothic and Renaissance architectural monuments. Occasionally, they got out to explore but kept it brief because she was anxious to visit the costume shop Travis had promised to take her to. Trying on the elaborate ball gowns was even more fun than she imagined, and Travis was surprisingly patient and actually seemed to enjoy watching her parade around in them.

  Vina insisted they keep their selections a secret and after arranging to have their costumes delivered to the Palazzo, they visited several shops that specialized in carnival masks. There were so many to choose from, each of them so elaborate and beautifully designed, it was almost impossible to select a favorite. Travis chose a gold mask that covered most of his face, leaving only his mouth and jaw exposed. The nose of the mask had been painted a deep, ruby red that curved up around the top of each eye hole.

  “You’re taking longer to pick out a mask than you did the dress,” Travis teased.

  “It’s different for women,” she replied, reaching for another mask. “You don’t have to worry about color coordinating or whether it will work your hair style. Men have it so easy.”

  Vina smiled when she saw caught his expression in the mirror. His lips were pressed together, jaws clenched, in an obvious effort to keep from disputing her claim that he had it easier than she did. Travis had been on his best behavior today, and if he was suffering from having to hold his tongue, it was no more than he deserved for what he’d done last night. Granted, his apology had been sincere, but she wasn’t ready to fully forgive him just yet.

  It was a bit mean spirited of her, Vina knew, especially when they’d had such a wonderful day. She’d done a good job of hiding her feelings, and there had been a few stretches of time when she was able to forget and just enjoy the moment. But underneath the smiling façade was a lacerated heart that was clinging to the hope Travis would do something to prove she was wrong and that he wasn’t giving up on them.

  Swallowing her disappointment, Vina shooed him out of the shop under the pretext of keeping the mask she’d chosen a secret until the night of the ball, just as she’d done with her costume. Making her purchase and waiting for the clerk to box it up provided Vina with the time she needed to pull herself together. Emerging from the shop with a smile planted firmly on her face, she managed to maintain the appearance of light-heartedness until she was alone in her suite.

  Vina deposited the bag with her mask inside the closet, then kicked off her shoes and curled up on the bed. Travis had seen her to the door but hadn’t given her so much as a peck on the cheek after agreeing to come back shortly before six o’clock. The excitement she’d felt at seeing the Andollina’s again was dampened by her somber mood and she seriously considered calling the Marchesa to arrange dinner for another evening.

  She couldn’t do it, of course. At this late hour, it would have been incredibly rude. Besides, maybe it would do her some good to be around other people right now. In fact, it might just prod Travis into admitting he wasn’t ready to call it quits if he saw how attentive the Andollina brothers were. They were notorious flirts with all the ladies, so she had no doubt they would make a competition of it.

  Vina gnawed on her lip. She shouldn’t even contemplate making Travis jealous. After all, hadn’t she been the one to berate him for playing the jealous card after Cayo left yesterday? But that was before you considered the significance of his reaction, she told herself. No, it was wrong no matter how she looked at it. Wrong to incite jealousy in Travis and wrong to use the Andollina brothers that way.

  “Oh, what’s the use,” Vina cried despondently. “He doesn’t want you and he never will.”

  ***

  The first thing Travis noticed when Vina opened the door was how incredibly beautiful she was. The deep red cocktail dress she had on conformed to every delectable curve and brought out the fire in her hair. She was also wearing those killer red heels. The second thing he noticed was how stiffly she held her shoulders and how drawn her face was. Surely, she wasn’t nervous about dining with the Andollinas, which meant he was the reason she looked so tense.

  “These are your friends,” he said after she’d closed the door behind him. “If you’d rather go alone, it’s okay with me.”

  Vina crossed her arms, her tone challenging. “Is it really?”

  Travis started to say yes. He wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of spending the evening with people he didn’t know, and he sure as hell didn’t want to watch while she laughed and relived old times with the Andollina brothers. His eyes swept over Vina. She would be the center of attention, her sweet smile drawing them to her like a magnet, her sexy body inciting the same raw desire that was running rampant in his own body.

  “No, it’s not okay with me,” he replied honestly. “As your escort, I feel it is my responsibility to accompany you.” Okay, so the second part hadn’t been quite as honest as the first, but he could hardly tell her the truth. On the other hand, he saw the way her eyes flickered and couldn’t let her believe he was only going due to a sense of obligation. “There…uh…is another reason I want to go.”

  “And what would that be?” she snapped.

  “The way you look right now,” he said softly.

  She looked confused, as if he’d spoken in a language she didn’t understand. Travis closed the distance between them, the need to touch her as necessary to him as his next breath. Framing her face with hands, his eyes lingered on her mouth before shifting to meet her bewildered gaze.

  “Vina, I’m not letting you out of my sight for a minute tonight.”

  Travis felt her body tremble and experienced a moment of triumph as he lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to hers. Ignoring the voice inside his head that reminded him of the vow he’d made to give Vina time to trust him again, Travis captured her mouth in a slow, seductive kiss. He was powerless to stop himself, incapable of holding back the torrent of love that filled his heart when she gave up the fight to remain impassive and surrendered to him.

  He dropped his arms over her shoulders, down to her slim waist and pulled her closer. Gradually, Vina’s arms uncrossed, the tension in her body slipping away with the last of her resistance. The warmth of her hands seeped through his shirt as they inched up his chest and curled around his neck. Travis was glad now that he hadn’t waited, elated that she was back in his arms where she belonged. This time when he made love to her…

  A sharp rap on the door jolted him back to reality. Travis groaned inwardly; Cayo was here to pick them up. It would be hours before he was alone with Vina again, hours of torturous conversation with people he didn’t know before they returned to the Palazzo. Irritated by the interruption and the prospect of competing with the Andollina brothers for Vina’s attention, Travis drew his head ba
ck, muttering oaths under his breath.

  “I’m sorry, Vina. I didn’t mean for this happen. It was a mistake to…” Another loud rap did nothing to improve his surly mood. “I’ll get the door,” he said, the irritation evident in his tone. Vina took a step back, looking extremely sexy and very much like a woman who had just been kissed senseless. “Maybe you should go…straighten up a little.”

  Vina stared at him for a moment, her cheeks turning a fiery red that matched her dress. “I…I’ll just be a minute,” she said hoarsely, then turned and walked away from him, her measured steps as rigid as her spine.

  Admonishing himself for making Vina feel self conscious, he went to open the door before Cayo decided to give up on them and leave. Not that Travis would have minded, but he doubted Vina would be very pleased with him. As he’d tried to tell her after Cayo’s knock interrupted them, it was a mistake to start kissing her when he knew they had to leave soon. It left them no time to talk and no time to tell Vina how he felt about her. It was frustrating as hell that they had to postpone everything until later tonight, although it did give him something to look forward to.