“Still. Thanks.”
His eyes soften as he looks down at me. “You’re welcome.”
The air conditioning in the hotel’s lobby makes my skin break out into goosebumps as Matteo checks us in.
“We were expecting you last night,” the woman behind the counter says.
“Unexpected delay,” Matteo explains.
“Well, we’ve got you all set. Here are your keys to the room. It’s on the top floor.”
Matteo and I head up to the bridal suite, and the minute I open the door, it’s like a breath of fresh air. The suite has a living room and kitchen on one end and a bedroom on the other. It’s decorated in white and soft pastels, making me feel instantly calm compared to the dark wood of the meeting house. My eyes land on the king-size bed. I can’t wait to sink into that tonight and get a much better night's sleep.
But it’s the view that draws the most of my attention. I walk over to the huge bay windows overlooking the ocean. It’s stunning.
Matteo stands next to me. “Look at that view.”
“Yeah,” I breathe out.
I can feel him looking at me. “Ready to start anew?”
I meet his gaze. “I am.”
CHAPTER 12
Adelina
“Now, what?” I ask as we stand by the window, looking out at the ocean.
He shrugs. “Now, we get to know one another.”
I can’t help but smile at that. “You make it sound so simple.”
“That’s because it is.”
“So … what? We just talk?”
He quirks an eyebrow. “Unless you had something different in mind.”
Most definitely not. I’m still reeling from last night. There’s no way I trust Matteo yet when it comes to my body.
“Talking it is,” I finally say.
He chuckles as he opens the door that leads out to the balcony. “Let’s get comfortable outside, shall we?”
I follow him outside, letting the warm summer air wash over me. The smell of the salty ocean below makes me feel refreshed. It’s a brand new day.
We sit down facing each other, neither speaking. I shift in my seat. Matteo clears his throat.
Finally, he lets out a small laugh, and I smile in return. “So, conversing is neither of our strong suits, I take it?”
“I guess not,” I respond. “Um … where should we start?”
“Well, we agreed to start over, so let’s just get to know each other. Uh …”
A small laugh escapes me. “We’re bad at this.”
“We are.”