GUNNER
Ileave the sweet girl selling flowers with a bouquet for Sophie. I don’t know if it’s her kind of thing, but it feels right given where we are. Not to mention, I haven’t had the chance to do much in the way of romance for her.
I managed enough Italian to get through some clumsy flirting along the way, even though Roman rolled his eyes the whole time. I hold them up victoriously, and Roman gives me two claps. “I think you might have managed a full sentence.”
“Didn’t have time for that Rosetta Stone you got me.” I shrug.
“Do we have a plan for today?” Holden asks, joining us. “Not that we need one, just …”
Holden is obviously dealing with some hyper-vigilance. I’m sure he’s having it rougher than he’s letting on. I don’t blame him. I still jump when there are loud sounds. But I try to make the most of every day. Otherwise, I feel like I’m doing a disservice to those that never got to come home. I have to live for me, for the now, and a little extra for them.
“Where is …” I start, then Sophie comes around the corner with a wicked smile on her face.
She sees me and softens her look, suddenly demure in that sundress. I arch an eyebrow. At one point, I thought Sophia was sweet and submissive, but I’ve learned exactly how ambitious and determined she can be too. She’s something else. So unaware of how addictive her personality is, of how amazing she is on a base level, yet so confident and sure in herself.
Roman goes to Sophia and Nick while Holden nudges me. “Nice flowers.”
“Are they? I can’t tell. They’re all … flowers, right? No weeds?”
Holden chuckles a distraction from being on guard. “They’re all flowers.”
Sophia joins us with a warm smile. “Roman says he has a garden for us to check out. It’s supposed to be amazing.”
Holden nods. “I like the sound of that.”
He walks off to join the guys, and I offer Sophie the flowers. She takes them and looks them over before smelling them with a smile taking over. “Thank you, Gunner. They’re beautiful.”
“I don’t know if you’re the type that likes flowers,” I admit while taking her hand. “I’m glad you like them.”
“Daisies are some of my favorite and roses in lots of colors.” She murmurs. She laughs softly. “You know, I used to be nervous of tulips because I was sure bees were hiding in there.”
“Are you allergic to them?”
“No.” She laughs again. “That makes it even more ridiculous. I was just sure they’d sting me. Luckily, I got over that pretty quickly.”
I squeeze her hand and bring it to my mouth to kiss her knuckles.
Her face lights up with a pink blush taking over her cheeks, and I see that same innocent, sweet look that worms its way deeper into my heart. Sophia is … real. Everything about her is genuine. The only time I’ve seen her fake anything is with Neal when she’s nice to him.
“So, you like Italy?” I ask. I’ve always been shit at small talk and better in the bedroom, better with blatant flirting that has a clear goal. But Sophie makes me want to try. To get to know her, to let her get to know me.
“I do, so far anyway. I could be biased since … you know, it’s my first time in Europe, and I have great company.”
“This part of Italy is better than Rome,” I say with a shrug. “People are all about Rome, but this is more … real. Like going to New York and only seeing Times Square versus the craft and art markets that pop up.”
“You like those?”
“I like the energy.” I shrug. “I like to explore different things, you know. Like … to see all sides of the world.”
“So you’ve traveled a lot?”
“Absolutely.”
“Anywhere you’d go back to?”
“I loved this little place in Rio de Janeiro. Ipanema. It’s beautiful. The markets in the streets, the museums, the beaches.” I lean towards her. “Don’t tell Roman, but I’m better in Portuguese than Italian.”
She laughs and squeezes my hand. The silence stretches, and I clear my throat. “What did you want to be when you grew up?”
“Obviously a CEO.” She laughs and then sighs. “I wanted to save the rainforest, actually. Or be a photographer for National Geographic. It changed every other week. Always new things to catch my attention.”
“And what has your attention now?” I murmur.
She looks at me, blinks, and then looks away. Her eyes catch. “That. That has my attention.”
I follow her gaze and see the garden entrance. I realize it’s not some community garden focused on vegetables or the kind of butterfly garden I’ve seen elsewhere. It’s enormous and beautifully designed. There are nooks created by vines and shaped trees, lovely ponds with mosaic bottoms, art sculptures, fountains, gazebos, and so much to offer that my once beautiful bouquet now looks like shit.
Roman waves his hands around. “Beautiful, yes?”
“Si!” I smirk.