192
Sophie is easily integrated into the Carrero family lunch; it’s obvious that she’s a frequent visitor, the Huntsberger family home being a mere walk away from here. Sylvana clucks over her like a mother hen, and family and friends pull her into easy conversation on topics they seem to already know about. Arrick places her beside him through lunch, and it’s easy to see the rapport they have already built, his touch causing her no hesitation. A very brotherly Arrick is watching over her as Jake did for me. I wonder if he’s Sophie’s ‘bear’ that caused her to blush.
We’re all sitting around a garden table that’s big enough to seat about twenty people or more and eating a light chicken salad lunch with lots of side dishes. Jake’s beside me with a casual arm around the back of my chair, already full from the huge mountain of food he inhaled the minute he sat down, while the rest of us ate more slowly and made polite conversation. He’s lazing in his chair and laughing at whatever Arrick (or ‘Arry’ as Sophie keeps uttering) is saying to the left of him.
The bustling noise of this family is a joy to be a part of, having grown up with just my mother. It’s a little overwhelming but so enjoyable, a complete contrast to my life in my own family. The conversations are littered with fluent Italian and English, and it seems not one of them knows how to speak without talking over each other and butting in from every direction. They are a fun and verbal family, and I now know where Jake learned the art of being social and found his confidence. They also endlessly touch one another, prod, poke and push or throw sarcastic gestures around. I absolutely love them all.
His fingers trail up my back, and I throw him a sweet smile.
“You must have been hungry,” he grins, watching me clear my plate for the second time. Lately, I’ve been ravenous at meals.
“I told you I was starving,” I shrug defensively, wondering if he’s having doubts about me staying thin. I put my fork down, feeling that bite of anxiety.
“Don’t stop on my account … I like seeing you well-fed, Bambina.” He kisses me lightly and runs a finger across my cheek with a smile.
“Voi due siete così appassionati di belle, mi fa così caldo dentro,” Alessandra gushes toward us, but I can only look in confusion as Jake smiles at her.
“E facile amare, Emma, non-ho potuto chiedere per una ragazza più perfetta,” Jake responds with a look toward her then at me, complete infatuation sweeping his expression, but I just stare at him, completely lost.
“What now?” I burst into laughter, and he shakes his head, leaning close to talk quietly.
“Alessandra is envious of how we are together. She appreciates people in love.” He kisses me on the corner of the mouth; a rise of inner warmth spreads through me and makes me blush.
“And you said?” I tease playfully.
“That it’s easy to love you … because you’re perfect.” He grins, and this time it’s me that throws a kiss on him with a smile of complete devotion.
Smooth! My man is so smooth; he’s slick!
“You’ve no idea how perfect you can sometimes be,” I gush. “Sometimes, it’s easy to love me.” I correct him and get a look of agreement in response. “Hey!” I protest with mock outrage, but he pulls me into a headlock and devours me with nibbling kisses across my face and cheek, which has me squealing for help. No one at the table does, but I catch Sylvana watching us with extreme glee on her face.
“Mio figlio, così innamorato,” she gestures at Jake as most of the table turns and smiles at us, and I can only assume she’s happy that he finally settled down with one woman. It makes me all warm inside. Jake slides his hand down my arm and squeezes me against him, beaming with pride.
What’s with this family talking Italian, though, when it’s obviously about us?
***
The day seems to go by effortlessly, sharing time with his family, laughing, joking, and relaxing, and then time alone, wandering the beach late in the day, with naked feet in the sand. Then all too soon, Jake tells me we have to catch a flight home in the morning, and I am hit with reluctance.
“I could stay here forever,” I grin lazily from his embrace as we lounge on a double swing bed in the huge, manicured gardens. “It’s so peaceful and so unlike the city. I love it here so much.”
“Maybe we should just buy a house here and make Mamma happy,” he smiles and kisses me on the side of the head; he’s wrapped around me, our breaths intermingling from close proximity. I shift around, so he’s spooning me from behind and pull his hands across my stomach.
“What, and leave your much-too-adored bachelor pad behind? I’m not that cruel to you, Jake,” I giggle and toy with his fingers.
“Maybe I’ve realized having a bachelor pad isn’t for me anymore.” The seriousness in his tone makes me glance back at him in surprise, catching a look that is anything but humorous.
“You’re serious?” I blanch, a sudden winding fear hitting me in the gut.
He’s talking about long-term houses, the future, and plans. Forever …
“Why not? I don’t need to be in the city to stay in contact with Margo. You like it here, so why don’t we get a house here?” He shrugs it off and goes back to nuzzling into me.
“No … stop it,” I snap, pushing myself out of his embrace and climbing off the bed, agitation prickling my skin. His face drops, and he follows, coming to stand in front of me.
“What? Why the reaction? It’s okay to talk about marriage but not a house, Emma?” The confusion on his face makes me falter, and I wave my hands around, trying to get my thoughts in order. I have no idea why I’m reacting this way. Fear gripping my heart because this is something huge.
“It’s serious, Jake … these houses cost millions. You’re moving too fast, so soon. We have barely had time just to be together, and you’re talking about uprooting and moving away from the city. You’re talking about buying a house that most families can never dream of affording and just setting up a home in the blink of an eye.” My voice is high and breathy.
How can I make him understand how terrifying this is? It’s easy to slot into his life and his apartment because nothing changes in any way, and if we were to break up, he wouldn’t lose anything … just me.
But buying a mansion and moving next door to his family like a little married couple? He will never let me go back to working in the Carrero Corporation now. It’s too much—to be a kept woman with no chance of being able to slide back into city life should he ever get tired of me, to get cozy and make bonds with these people who I have loved being around.
What if it all blew up in my face, and I had to give up more than just him, like his family and Sophie close by?
It’s all so overwhelming I can’t think straight. My fear and anxiety threaten to choke me at the huge change he wants to make in my life. He has no idea how hard this is. Not so long ago, I was alone, reliant on only myself. I had my own money, plans, and life, and I didn’t want to let anyone else in. Now here I am, willing to gamble everything on uncertainty and faith and let someone else take control.
I need control.
“If this is about money, Emma, then it’s not a problem. I’ve my own money … I can more than afford a house here. I won’t even need the apartment in New York, but we can keep it if you want a place to stay when we go back if it makes you more comfortable?” His face is dark and closed in, his voice edgy and husky. I can see a surge of domineering boss Carrero, that no-nonsense temper moving in.
“It’s not the money,” I snap. “It’s how fast this is moving, Jake. How you think it’s just so easy to up and move in the blink of an eye! To change everything in life on a whim because you get an idea and impulsively want to act on it.”
No discussion. It’s just what he wants, and I have to accept it. I know this means my career will be over.
Overwhelming emotions hit me again, and I step back to sit and steady my legs on the edge of the swing, nausea rising and blinding fear threatening to engulf me. He has no clue how much this scares me; he’s changing all the rules, changing all the players, and knocking things on their heads.
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