by Elle Keating
“Luke…I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. There was no way she could hide the grief, that sickening sorrow that completely enveloped her.
He whipped around, as if her voice broke the trance he was under. “Shh, don’t cry, Peyton,” he said, reaching up and brushing her tears away with the pads of his thumbs. “I didn’t tell you about what happened to me to make you cry or feel sad.”
“Why did you tell me, Luke?” she asked.
He brushed a saturated lock of hair away from her face and looped it behind her ear. “Because I know I don’t have a chance in hell of making you mine unless I let you in.”
“And does that scare you? The thought of letting me in?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. Without warning, he laid back down and rolled onto his side. After a few moments of silence she concluded that the conversation was over, causing her heart to sink. She reached over and turned off the nightstand light, bathing the room in darkness once more. She didn’t have the energy or motivation to rebuild the pillow wall between them. It had been a stupid idea to begin with. The Great Wall of China could separate them, yet she would still feel drawn to him. Peyton lay on her side and faced his back. She hated how quiet it was. “But you know what truly terrifies me, Peyton?” he asked in a gruff whisper.
Before she could answer he rolled over and faced her. For the first time, she saw his eyes well. Not even when he was telling her how he had tried to kill himself when he was a child did he look like he was close to tears. But right now, he appeared to be moments away from breaking down.
“What is it, Luke?”
“I’m terrified that you’ll leave. That when I finally find the strength to tell you everything, you’ll walk out of my life forever.”
She had wanted him to open up to her. To share a piece of himself that he hadn’t shared with anyone. But she didn’t want it if it brought him so much pain, like he so clearly was in right now. She thought about telling him the truth, that there wasn’t anything he could say that would make her leave him, but she thought that her automatic response would make him doubt her sincerity. Worse, he might think that she was pitying him.
“Hold me tonight?” she asked.
Even in the dark, she could see his eyes widen. He hadn’t expected that. And then his lips curled to form a sly smile, something she had hungered for these past tense minutes. “But what about your wall of pillows?”
She narrowed her eyes before erasing the space between them. His arms encircled her as she snuggled into his chest. “Fuck the wall,” she said.
It was while she was drifting off, feeling safe and cherished, she heard Luke whisper, “No more walls.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Luke
I love you.
The words were on the tip of his tongue, desperate to come out. But he remained silent and kept that game-changing phrase, one that he had never uttered to another woman, in his head as he watched her sleep. After he had slipped out of bed earlier this morning she’d wrapped herself up like a mummy in the sheets and moved to the edge of the bed. He was tempted to crawl right back into bed and take her into his arms because that was where she belonged.
Patience. That was what he needed to practice. If he had any hope of repairing what they had he would need to take things slow, which was frustrating. He needed her so badly, to feel her beneath him as he kissed and worshiped every inch of her. His cock ached at the thought of being inside her again and he realized that he was now hard as a rock. Maybe he should duck into the bathroom and jerk off for the second time this morning. Obviously, the one he had rubbed out in the shower when he first woke up didn’t help much.
“Good morning.”
His gaze must have drifted from her sleeping form while he was contemplating his decision to relieve the pressure building up down below, because he didn’t realize she was awake. Luke quickly lowered the tray in his hands to conceal his mounting erection. “Hungry? I brought you breakfast.”
Luckily, she was in mid-yawn. Her eyes were closed and she hadn’t seen the bulge in his pants. “I’m starving.” She stood and followed him over to the small round table. “What smells delicious?”
“Rosa’s crosatas. The ones on the left are filled with apricot jam and these are wild cherry, I think. I don’t know what she puts in the crust, but it’s unbelievable.”
Peyton sat down as he set a cup of scalding hot cappuccino in front of her. “I have a feeling that even if Rosa’s crosata recipe was a heavily guarded family secret, she would give it up in a second if you asked,” she said, smiling.
“She is a feisty little flirt, that’s for sure. You should have seen her when she met Brennan. If you thought I flustered her, Brennan just about sent the poor woman to the hospital. I had never seen a human being blush so violently. It scared the shit out of me. At one point, I had to ask him if he had told her a dirty joke to make her so red, but he insisted that the only thing he was guilty of was giving the old girl a wink and a smile.”
Peyton chuckled as she speared a buttery piece of crosata with her fork and placed it in her mouth. The satisfied moan that slipped past her tempting lips made his already stiff cock throb. Her tongue made an appearance as it swiped her lips, ensuring there were no crumbs left behind. He stifled a groan with a clearing of his throat and he took a much-needed sip of his cappuccino.
“This is amazing,” she said. Her gaze drifted and landed on something over his shoulder. She swallowed what was in her mouth and then her jaw dropped. Apparently, Peyton had just discovered why the Villa Rosa was the most popular B&B on the Amalfi Coast. Her fork landed with a clang against the table and she rushed to the French doors. He followed her and with a flip of the latch, she thrust the doors open leading to their private balcony and the most beautiful view one could ever imagine. It was while she was standing there, looking out over the turquoise water, that it finally hit him. Her eyes. They were the exact shade of the sea he had fallen in love with on his first visit to Italy. “Thank you for bringing me here,” she said, her eyes soaking in every sun-kissed whitecap. “It’s so beautiful.”
Her appreciation for the country he loved, the country that had guided him and opened his eyes to not just a career but a means to provide for himself with his dad at his side, overwhelmed him and he broke his promise…slightly. He reached over, cupped her chin with two fingers, and gently forced her to look at him. “So beautiful…it’s almost painful.”
Her cheeks flashed crimson as their eyes locked. With the way she was looking at him, her lips parted, her breathing quickening with each breath, he knew if he leaned in for a kiss she would kiss him back. But it wasn’t the right time. He felt it somehow.
Be patient.
Although it killed him to let the intensity of the moment slip through his grasp, he attempted to change the tone of the conversation and said, “Not as red as Rosa, but pretty damn close.” He didn’t think it was possible, but her pink cheeks darkened even more. His hand fell away.
“Let’s finish breakfast. After that, would you like to explore the village a little?”
“Um…y-yeah, that sounds great,” she said, evading his gaze. Her stammer was fucking adorable. It was the biggest turn-on and a boost to his self confidence that he had just made her nervous.
They returned to their breakfast and finished off the crosatas with no problem. He wanted to keep the breakfast on the lighter side considering the day he had planned for them. “After we’re finished exploring Nocella, there’s somewhere I would like to take you. Someplace very special to me.”
Her face broke into a beautiful, all-encompassing smile. Not an ounce of apprehension could be found, which meant that she trusted him. And that meant everything to him.
***
Peyton
After breakfast, Peyton took a quick shower and threw on one of the few outfits she had brought with her on this supposedly short trip. She gave herself a once-over and hoped that her ca
sual attire of jeans, boots, and a cashmere green turtleneck sweater was appropriate for what he had planned for the day. When she emerged from the bathroom, dressed, her makeup applied lightly and her hair down in soft, hairspray-free layers, Luke was waiting for her. She was pleased that he was also dressed casually in dark jeans, a thermal shirt and boots. But what gave her palpitations was the way he was smiling at her. His smirk was also reflected in his eyes, making him appear both sexy and cute.
“Ready, beautiful?” he asked.
She loved that. How that term of endearment just rolled off his sensual lips. God, she wanted to kiss those lips, watch him pepper her body with them, ensuring that not an inch of her was deprived. Her breathing hitched at the thought.
“Peyton, are you okay? You look flushed.” His brow was raised, and though there was a hint of concern in his voice, his hooded eyes had grown dark, making her believe that he knew exactly the effect he was having on her.
“I’m…great. Let’s go exploring.”
They left Villa Rosa and she was happy to feel the fresh winter air brush her heated skin and her pink cheeks. As they neared the village and what looked like the first cluster of shops he asked, “Mind if we stop in this bath and body place? My mom loves it, which means I’ll most likely be able to find a Christmas gift in there for her. Maybe for Carina and Morgan, as well.”
“Sounds good. Maybe I’ll find something Lainey would like, too.”
Was she really Christmas shopping with Luke McGinnis? For his mother? Who was this man at her side? Gone was the brooding, haunted man who had rescued her from Eden, the same man who had thrown a silent tantrum when she had asked for a tour of the winery after he had finished giving Tasha one. There was not a trace of the guarded man who at one time, not so long ago, had told her that he was fucked up…that he wasn’t the man for her. No, the man she was now with, the one who was at that very moment picking up random bars of soap and smelling them, was content.
He hadn’t lied to her. He had changed. Or at the very least, he was making every effort to shed that wall of armor he had built around himself over the years.
Much to her delight, she found a shitload of unique items that Lainey would never buy for herself, which meant Peyton was going to purchase each and every one of them. Soaps, body creams, a perfume that was subtle and so very Lainey were just a few things she bought on sight. Luke also scored big and looked incredibly proud of himself that he was able to find gifts for the three women in his life.
They left the shop, only to pop in and out of several more before drifting into a lingerie store. She knew she shouldn’t feel embarrassed shopping for silky undies with Luke, but she couldn’t help feeling awkward and shy, which was ridiculous since he had seen her completely naked already. “Lainey needs lingerie…for her honeymoon,” Peyton blurted out.
Good going, Peyton. Real smooth.
Needing some space and air…lots and lots of air…she walked ahead of him and perused the tasteful panty and bra sets on display. Everything she saw was elegant and expensive. A white silk nighty with a matching robe caught her eye. Peyton had promised her sister that she was going to take her lingerie shopping, and she was still planning on fulfilling that promise, but there was no way she was leaving this shop emptyhanded. Those damn jitters left her, and she was once again on her game.
Panty and bra sets, nighties in different colors and fabrics, two different robes, one short, the other flowing to one’s ankles, were all handed over to the saleswoman.
Yes, Walt is going to be a very, very happy man.
While her purchases were being rung up, she looked over and spotted Luke gazing at a black silk nighty and matching thong on one of the racks. There was something almost wistful in his gaze and so very swoon-worthy. Suddenly, his cell phone buzzed and he took the call. He walked to the other side of the store as he spoke to the person on the line, and she seized that opportunity. She ran over to the rack that had captured Luke’s attention, quickly found her size and added it to the obscene pile of lingerie on the counter.
So maybe Walt wasn’t going to be the only one getting lucky.
By the time everything was paid for and bagged, Luke had finished with his phone call and met her at the door. They did some more shopping and stopped at a café where they loaded up on hot chocolate and chocolate-dipped biscotti. It was definitely chocolate overload, but she didn’t care. She was enjoying herself, enjoying being so carefree with someone who also looked like he too was living in the moment. They were making their way back to Villa Rosa, sipping on the last of their hot chocolate, when she reached out and took his hand in hers. “Is this okay?” she asked, looking down at their entwined fingers.
Beneath hooded eyelids he looked up at her. “This is more than okay.” The heat coming off him, the way he was staring at her right now, made her want to strip him naked right there in the center of town.
She flashed what she knew was a nervous smile.
“Ready to move on? I want to take you to that place I mentioned earlier,” he said.
There was a glint of amusement in his eyes. It was like he knew about the naughty little thoughts that were going through her mind.
“Yep. Let’s go.”
Unfortunately, getting arrested for public indecency would just have to wait.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Peyton
It was late afternoon when Luke pulled up to the Maccione Winery. Peyton immediately was hit with a wave of déjà vu. Something seemed so familiar about this place, from the sprawling vineyards to the winery venue itself. Confused, she scanned her surroundings and saw a private residence located on the grounds, but at least a hundred yards from the winery. And that’s when it hit her.
“This was your inspiration,” she said, taking it all in.
“Yes, it was. And so were they,” Luke said, gesturing to the couple walking toward them. “I want you to meet my extended family and to see how and why I chose to get into the winery business,” he said, turning off the ignition. “Is that okay with you?”
Was it okay? She wanted to throw her face into her hands and weep. That was how okay it was for him to bring her here. He wasn’t just trying to let her in. He was doing it with his whole heart and with no reservations. Holding her tears at bay for now, she said, “I would love to meet your relatives.” The smile he gave her melted her on the spot.
The second they stepped out of the car, the couple greeted them warmly. Like some prodigal son, Anthony and Angelina Maccione took turns hugging and kissing Luke and uttering something in Italian.
“Uncle Anthony, Aunt Angelina, I would like you to meet Peyton Matthews, the woman I told you about.”
He told his aunt and uncle about her? She wondered how he had described her to them. Was she his friend, a girlfriend, a woman he hoped wasn’t fucking with him?
“Tanto bella,” Angelina said, taking Peyton’s hands into hers. “Welcome to our home, Peyton.” Anthony followed up with a hug and kiss as well. Shouts and laughter from the porch interrupted the introductions and soon two children who hovered somewhere between five and seven years of age came barreling toward them.
“I had no idea Gianna was in town!” Luke said, not masking his excitement. “And these two monsters.” Luke bent over and scooped the little boy and girl up into his arms, drawing out squeals of delight from each of them. He twirled them around, making them giggle even more. A woman emerged from the house and joined them. She was a younger replica of Angelina and absolutely gorgeous. “When I heard my favorite cousin was coming, how could I not bring my little monsters here to terrorize you?” On cue the sweet duo scrunched their chubby little faces and roared like the monsters Luke accused them of being.
“Peyton, these are my monsters—I mean cousins, Roman and Maura.” Another round of roars and chuckles erupted before they settled down enough to greet her in perfect English.
“Come inside. We’ve prepared an early dinner. After, the two of you can walk it off b
y exploring the grounds,” Anthony said.
“Maura, Roman, you two come with me and set the table,” Gianna said, giving Peyton a wink.
As they walked towards the house, Peyton leaned into Luke and asked, “What does tanto bella mean?”
“My aunt thinks you’re very beautiful.” Luke reached out and took her hand. “And just in case you were wondering, I have to agree with her.” Although he was holding her hand, he hadn’t really broken his promise not to touch her. She had been the one, not him, to throw caution to the wind while they were shopping and grab his hand first.
Angelina and Anthony’s home was, in a word, incredible. Old world charm blended with modern touches throughout each expansive room. The atmosphere, like her hosts, was warm and inviting and it didn’t take long for Peyton to completely relax and enjoy herself. As promised, dinner was served and Peyton couldn’t be happier. With the exception of the lone chocolate biscotti she had while they shopped, she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. The second she tasted Angelina’s creamy risotto, Peyton was thankful that she had come to their table hungry.
Luke seemed completely at home, as if he had grown up here his entire life. She loved the contented look on his face as he sipped his wine and listened to his little cousin Maura tell him a story. Maura was clearly in heaven. It was obvious that the child had a huge crush on her older and very handsome cousin.
“So Luke said you were in town on business?” Gianna asked as she placed a piece of seasoned pork into her mouth.
Note to self: try the pork next. That looks amazing!
“Yes, I just wrapped up a show in Naples,” Peyton said. She didn’t want to sound distant or give his cousin vague responses, but it was unclear to Peyton just how much Luke had told his family about her.
