6
Katy: took your advice. met someone. OMG i think i’m in love
Emily: YES! SPILL THE TEA! I NEED DETAILS!
Katy woke with a smile on her face. She stretched. Winced. Her body protested in places she didn’t know could protest. All worth it. She sat up, grabbed the bedsheet, and made a sarong out of the black silk. The aroma of breakfast cooking wafted through the air. The smell was incredible. Her mouth watered. And coffee. Strong coffee.
She couldn’t help herself. She let out a tiny squeak and danced a little jig on her tiptoes, not wanting him to hear her. Hottest man on the planet picks me, he’s insanely good in bed, and he cooks, too!
Katy grabbed her phone and headed for the bathroom attached to his room. After taking care of basic needs, washing her face and finger combing her hair, she sat on the platform by the jacuzzi tub. She wanted to call Emily and tell her twin everything, but she would have to settle for a quick text.
Pushing the button on her phone, she swiped in her code. There, in big, bold black numbers, the time flashed: 9:15 a.m. Her alarm, which she’d set for seven thirty a.m. the day before, had gone unnoticed. She’d slept right through it and was now running late.
“Oh no!” she gasped, her eyes drawn to where she imagined Ryker was standing in the kitchen. She had to leave, had to go sign the contract for Emily in less than an hour. Had to become Emily. A tear tracked down her face. She hadn’t even told Ryker her name. He hadn’t asked. What would he think of her? Would he care when she left? This was a one-night stand. She’d known that from the beginning. Still, her heart twisted painfully. She wanted more time with him.
Rushing back into the bedroom, she grabbed her dress, remembering too late that it was torn. Panic set in; her heart thundered. Now what? She couldn’t go out there with only a sheet. She spun around, searching for his clothes.
There, on the floor, half hidden by the bed, was the shirt he’d worn the night before. Grabbing it, she put the shirt up to her nose and inhaled. It smelled like him. Her heart tripped. As she put it on, her hands shook. She didn’t want to leave like this. Didn’t want their time together to be over. Not now. Maybe not ever. But it was too late. She was here for her sister. There was nothing she could do.
The shirt was way too big. She had to cuff the sleeves three times to keep them from dangling past her fingers. The length, however, was perfect. She might even be able to make it look like a dress if she could find a belt. She bent down to look under the bed. Yes! She stretched as far as she could go, strained to reach the long belt that had obviously been kicked under there. Just a bit farther…
“I had hoped we could have breakfast together before you got to the running away part.”
Ryker’s deep voice startled her. She jerked up, hitting the back of her head on the bed frame. “Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Oh jeez, I’m sorry! I-I was just…” she stammered. Slowly she backed out from under the bed, careful this time not to bash her head again as she pulled the belt free. “I really am sorry. I would love to stay for breakfast, but I’m actually running late. For a meeting.”
Katy blushed as she stood up. Faced Ryker. His eyes flashed with something she couldn’t quite name as he looked her over. Something primitive. Possession? Hunger? Her nipples hardened through his shirt.
Ryker stepped closer. Dipped his head and kissed her until her knees buckled and she had to lean on him for support. His hands began to roam. If she didn’t back away now, she would never make it to the meeting. She moaned in frustration. He was giving her exactly what she wanted, yet she couldn’t take it.
“Stay with me. We can spend the weekend together, get to know one another.”
“Ryker,” she groaned. “I swear I want to. I swear. But I can’t. I have to go to a really important meeting. It’s why I came to Italy. I’m really sorry.”
“Very well. Then I shall take you to this meeting. Promise when it is over, we will spend the rest of the day together. We can—”
“No!” she interrupted. “I mean, that sounds amazing, but I have to go alone. To the meeting. And I’m not sure how long it will last.”
“No breakfast. No staying. No postponing the meeting. What, then, Mia Regina, can you promise me?”
Katy stared at Ryker, her heart in her throat. This was torture. She wanted so much to stay. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I can promise. What do you want?”
He kissed her again. Hugged her close as he wrapped her more deeply in his arms. “I want you to promise that after your meeting today, you will come back here. Get to know me. Give us a chance. You see, I am smitten. I cannot allow you to simply disappear from my life.”
Joy lit her face. He was perfect. Absolutely perfect. She squeezed him. “I would love that.”
“Then say it. Promise me.”
Katy laughed. “Okay! Okay! I promise to come back here and give us a chance! But you must know, I’m not from Italy. I can’t stay here forever.”
Ryker grinned, satisfied. “We’ll see about that. In the meantime, I believe there is a car outside waiting for you.”
* * *
Katy dashed to the limo, her face beaming as she jumped into the back seat. “Mist. I’m so glad you’re here! Yesterday’s meeting was rescheduled for ten o’clock. Do you think we can make it on time? I really need a quick shower and change first.”
Grinning, Mist lowered her sunglasses and gave Katy the once-over. “We can make it if we hurry, but you’ll have to change fast. As in, set-a-record fast.”
Katy leaned back with a laugh. Nothing could ruin this day. Nothing. She was walking on cloud nine. “Got it.”