I grab Sophia’s arm and drag her behind a tangle of vines, pulling her close. She gasps, bracing against me. “Roman, we’re going to-”
But I end her sentence by kissing her, hard and hungry. Just like yesterday morning, I want her to know that she’s on my mind, owning every second or third thought I have so deep inside me.
She melts against me, clinging to me as we kiss. I draw back before we can go too far, and she pants while looking up at me. “What was that for?”
“I wanted to,” I say as if it’s that simple. I bring her back to the path. We’re only a little behind the group. “Are you still worried about your dad?”
She looks up at me with dark eyes and shrugs. “I know he’s strong. You guys know he’s strong, but it’s different. I’ve been without him so long, and now that I have a chance at living with him, getting close to him … it feels strange to not be with him. To not have him here with us.”
“That’s normal,” I assure her, bringing her hand up to my mouth to kiss the back of it. “It means you care about him.”
“Well, I care about you too. I’d worry about you too, but it would be different.” She shrugs. “And I’m worried about work. Like there were already people talking about how I got the job and now … I’m going to be gone after just getting the job.”
She keeps telling me how worried she is about work as if it’s the be-all end-all. Her work ethic is admirable, amazing actually, a lot like her father, but at the same time … work isn’t everything.
“Life is what happens when you’re too busy to stop,” I murmur. “Don’t learn that the hard way. Try, every day, to do one thing that you love. One thing new.”
“One or the other?”
“Both.” I chuckle. “Not working isn’t an option in today’s world, but think about where we are and what we’re doing right now. Be here now with me, Bambina. Would you really rather be at work than here with us?”
“No.” She says.
I nod as if that settles everything. The quiet brings us closer together. The thick vines twirling and twisting, trying to catch our hair as we catch up with the group. Massimo gives me a grin and then rubs his hand down Danny’s back and gives a light tap on her ass.
Sophia jumps to join them, whispering something in Danny’s ear. She smiles and nods.
We taste a few of the best vintages, the kind that sell for more than I’d ever be willing to pay for wine. But if I drank it like my family does, this is what I’d have.
Massimo translates after taking his drink.
“This is from nineteen twenty-two. One of the oldest they still have. It’s stronger than most.” He says. “A delicacy and luxury.”
When Massimo gives his approval, the man pats his heart once in thanks.
We go through a few other reds, which taste simply exceptional. They’re thick, dry, full of flavor, but I feel like I need a full glass of water after each. Sophia giggles and brushes her finger over her bottom lip.
Her eyes flick to me, and just like that, I’m the only man in the room. The man offers to show us how they prep the barrels for the wine, and I manage to steal Sophia from the group again. Is she really missing out by not seeing barrels?
Pulling her between two, I drag her into a deeper kiss, a less romantic kiss. She wraps her arms around my neck, no hesitation this time. I moan and slide my hand down to her ass, rubbing her against me until she’s panting and I’m hard.
God, I’d love to sneak away longer. I’d love to get under her skirt and devour her here and now. But I have Massimo and Danny to think of. I lick my lips to taste her again. “The wine tastes better on you.”
She snickers and tries to put her hair back in place. After three failed attempts, I do it for her. She watches me suspiciously, and I shrug. “Cousins.”
“Of course. So now, if I have hair trouble, I’m just going to have to find you.”
“Only hair, no nails,” I say before smiling.
She shakes her head at me and kisses me one more time. Well, it should only be one more time, but I’m incapable of keeping my hands to myself. I cup her breast through the fabric, then tease the neckline.
Sophia takes a step back. “We’re missing valuable information, Roman.”
“This is more valuable,” I reassure her, cupping her face between my hands.
She goes red, and for a split second, I think of how red her ass could be under my hand. But that evaporates when she takes my hand and leads me back out to others. I half-listen to what’s going on.
Instead, I wonder how on Earth I’d ever tell Miles about this. Or what I’d do if he found out. It’s not a today problem. It’s a future problem though. Miles isn’t dense. He won’t be far from Sophie for long, especially when she talks to him about his health and tells him how much she wants to spend time with him.
And she will. She’s reliable like that. She never hides her feelings for longer than they take to process. Once we’re allowed to walk in the vineyard – supervised – I reclaim Sophie from her in-depth conversation about football with Massimo.
“And then, it just glanced off my head and right into the goal.”
Danny smacks him lightly. “Bullshit. You put my training to work. Your head can be used for plenty.”
“Except thinking?” He asks Danny with a chuckle.
“Well, I think that’s gotten better, hotshot.” She laughs.
Sophie watches them with adoration, even when she can feel me beside her. Danny and Mass walk forward, grabbing Holden to talk about football and who he has his eye on in the European circuit.
Sophie glances at me. “You’re being obvious today, Roman. What if they … find out.”
“They like rumors, but Massimo’s just having fun. Danny is too.”
“They’re a good match.” She chews her lip. “What do you think about that? Bella and Matthew. Massimo and Danny. Do you think everyone has one person that they’re meant for?”
I shrug. “That’s above even my pay grade, Bambina.”
She laughs at me and shakes her head. I would hate for that to be true. I don’t want a time limit with Sophia. I want to know all her secrets, what she thinks about when she first wakes up in the morning. I want more trips like this.
“Maybe one day we’ll know.” She smiles.
“One day.” I agree.