Sweet Christmas Kisses (118 page)

Unfortunately his stubborn mind refused to obey and teased him with several forbidden images of Julia modeling lingerie. He’d seen her in one delectable nightie at the Barcelona hotel. Was it one of the pieces meant for her honeymoon?

What a waste to wear them in the privacy of her king-size bed, or rather in the loneliness of that damn bed. After congratulating himself on his will-power to resist temptation, Tony was now cursing the trap he’d fallen into.

The fashion presentation continued. Tony dutifully examined the outfits and applauded when he thought the garment would look good on Julia.

During the intermission, Julia introduced him to her partner. “Tony, meet Su-Ann. She flew in two days ago with the outfits and a portfolio of new designs to present to the big store representatives. We have several outfits to offer to the fashion community, beach ensemble, work attire, dinner dress, and a formal evening gown.” Julia turned to the incredibly thin woman with straight chestnut hair flowing to her waist and bangs skimming her long eyelashes. “Tony is the travel agent who convinced me not to cancel the cruise.”

“Nice meeting you, Su-Ann.”

The sophisticated brunette whistled. “I want my own travel agent,” she said with a pout.

“Hands off. This one is taken. Tony is also a dear friend.”

A dear friend
. Her last words resonated like a triumphant hymn in his heart. A welling need to kiss her overwhelmed him. He reached for her hand.

Warmth simmered in her eyes and smothered him with guilt. Had he really acted like a dear friend?
What about your lies by omission, Dr. Lorenzo?
They were necessary to allow her to enjoy a week in paradise. He shifted with unease at his professional excuse.

Self-derision swelled inside him at his inept treatment. What would happen to her when she learned the truth about his profession?

Blood pounded in his veins and he averted his gaze.

“Tony, your attention is not here. I knew you’d be bored.”

“On the contrary, I’m enjoying every minute.” Wrong time to share or show his guilt. “By the way, I have some ideas about your designs. The lingerie in particular.” He winked to erase the seriousness of the moment.

“Really?” She burst out laughing, and lowered her voice. “You’ll tell me later.”

Waiters circulated with white wine and soft drinks. Julia chose a soda. Tony preferred a glass of wine. A gangly man approached her with a big smile and clucked noisy kisses on her cheeks. “Darling, I am so happy to see you here.”

Tony frowned, then observed the man’s swaying, and smiled. Rather than being jealous, Tony should examine the newcomer carefully and learn a few mannerisms in case he needed to put on an act for Mary-Beth again. Julia introduced him to George Lebeau, and two other colleagues wearing flamboyant pants, shiny shirts, and pungent cologne that made his nose sting.

The second part of the show zoomed by in a blur of elegant dresses and impossibly wild outfits as far as Tony was concerned. After the presentation, they proceeded to a large dining room where lunch was served. Julia and Su-Ann sat next to a couple of representatives from a big retail store. Tony did his best to join in the conversation.

“After lunch, I’m going to abandon you for a moment and present my portfolio to these reps,” Julia said with an apologetic smile.

“Take your time.” He retired to a secluded corner, sat in a comfortable armchair, and busied himself with his smartphone taking pictures here and there and checking his email. An hour later, Julia was still in deep discussion with her colleagues. He texted her he’d be going out for a short time. A brisk walk in
Via Veneto
revealed several restaurants, sidewalk cafés, and boutiques. An idea popped into his mind at the sight of the shop windows decorated for Christmas. He entered one of the jewelry stores and came out with a small, fancy bag.

By the end of the day, Julia strode toward him with a radiant smile. “Sorry it took so long, but we did it,” she announced with a jubilant voice. “Mission accomplished. We managed to snatch commitments from two stores for the lingerie and the line of sports clothes.”

“Fantastic. You are amazing.” Her energy impressed him. She’d built her business from scratch and didn’t count on her father’s money to back her.

“We can return to the ship to celebrate.” The sparkle in her eyes dimmed as she mentioned the ship. Tony would rather not have another encounter with her former classmate spoil the joy of her successful day.

“How about dinner in town? Someone in your convention recommended
La Dolce Vita,
a restaurant in
Via Veneto
, not far from here. They have music and dancing in the second floor discotheque.”

“Great idea.” Her smile warmed his heart.

“But first I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes and turn around.”

She did as requested. He took a box from the bag and removed the wrapping. “Not yet,” he warned as he hung a necklace around her neck and fastened it. “Now come and look in the mirror above this credenza.”

“Oh my God, what a beautiful necklace.” She fingered the
Murano
crystal balls glittering in red and orange.

“I’m glad you like it. I wanted you to have a souvenir from Rome. Consider it a congratulation gift for your successful sales.”

“It’s gorgeous. Thank you, Tony. I’ll treasure it.” She gave him a light kiss on the lips.

“Not good enough.” He grinned. “Can we defer your thank you kiss until we have more privacy and you can make it a real kiss?”

After dinner and two hours spent dancing to romantic Italian songs, they finally made it to the ship that would remain docked in Rome for another day. Tony walked her to her suite.

“Would you come in for a drink?”

He considered her for a moment and sighed. He couldn’t let the flames between them flare out of control.

“Remember I have to give you a proper thank you kiss. You didn’t approve of my previous one.” Her bubbly laughter wreaked havoc with his insides.

“Oh darling, don’t tempt me. If I come in, I won’t be able to leave.”

“Is that a problem? We both know what we are doing.” Her fingers laced through his.

A shock of realization jolted his spine stiff. “Julia, you had your heart broken too recently. Give yourself time to recover.”

“Stop talking like a shrink.” She tapped him on the shoulder.

“Uh... ” He stiffened, opened his mouth, and clamped it shut. Damn, what could he say? “We’ve known each other for less than two weeks.” A pathetic statement that didn’t seem to convince her.

“Two weeks that felt like two years. Two weeks that gave me more happiness than two years with my ex.” Her voice wobbled with melancholy but her eyes glittered with hope.

“Julia, I can’t be a substitute to fill the sudden void in your life.” Exasperation and eagerness warred inside him.

“You’re not.” She hooked her hand behind his neck and molded her mouth to his.

How could he resist? Why would he resist?

He deepened the kiss, but suddenly pulled back. “Goodnight, Julia.”

“I love you, Tony.” She dropped her forehead on his shoulder.

His control fractured at the note of sincerity in her simple words. “No, you can’t. Too early yet.” He pressed a finger to his eyebrow wishing he could rub the stress away, wishing he could make love to her tonight and every night.

“What’s the specific length of time required to fall in love?” A bittersweet smile curled her lips. Her fingers crept behind his back and played with the hair at his nape.

A groan escaped him. He’d never been good at restraint. Why was she making it so difficult for him?

“My darling Julia...” He tilted his head for one last kiss before he ran away to the loneliness of his room.

Was it his imagination or had Mary-Beth appeared at the end of the corridor ready to spoil their idyllic evening? Straightening, he angled his position to hide Julia. “People are coming. Open the door please. We can’t discuss this here.”

A camera flash flared in their direction and a couple rushed along the corridor, swooping in like hungry hawks. Tony winced. “Hurry. Open the door.”

“I love it when you’re so eager.” Julia laughed and slid the card inside the lock. He pushed her in and silently closed the door behind them.

Running footsteps sounded outside the suite. Tony shushed her by placing his finger across her lips.

She winced. “What’s wrong?”

He pointed to the door from where a few words filtered in.
Wrong suite
, coming from a male, and
I’m sure it’s her
, from a female companion.

Julia’s face lost its glow and her lips drooped. “So that’s why you came in. To protect my reputation.” A note of desperation crept into her voice and slammed his heart. He wanted to hold her in his arms and swear to never let her go.

She slouched in the nearest chair, kicked off her high-heeled shoes, and folded her legs under her.

He gently rubbed her arm, wondering why all his psychological knowledge had suddenly deserted him. “Julia, don’t let them affect you. They are after a juicy story, maybe a spicy picture.”

“I couldn’t care less about them. The woman wants to help her father win a senate seat.”

“We won’t let them catch us together.”

“You don’t understand Tony. All my life I’ve lived in the shadow of my father’s ambitions. Everything I did was regulated by how it projects on his status.” Her eyes glistened with tears.

“Come on, let’s sit on your balcony and watch the stars. It’s private there and the night is beautiful.”

He took a step toward her, ready to comfort her, but she raised her palm in a stop sign.

“You don’t have to feel sorry for me.” She leveled her gaze on him. “I’m not expecting anything from you, Tony. No commitment, no promises. Just fun and happiness for the three days left. Then we’ll each go our different ways.”

“We’ll talk about the future later, after the cruise is over. Now let’s enjoy our Lala Land.” He tugged at her fingers and enclosed them in his hand. She nodded and stood.

Julia cuddled in his arms on the lounge chair of her balcony and they watched the midnight sky glitter with stars. He pointed at the constellations. “You can easily detect the Big Dipper or Ursa Major here and the Little Dipper or Ursa Minor, not too far from it.”

“Tony,” she whispered.

“Yes?” He tilted her chin toward him for a scorching kiss.

“It’s so amazing here,” she whispered against his lips. “They say the full moon affects our mood, makes us more vulnerable.”

“Is that how you feel now?” He squeezed her tighter in his arms and continued to brush his lips along her temple and her jaw. The gentle sea breeze ruffled her hair and her exotic perfume rippled through him, dazing him more thoroughly than an intoxicating drink.

“I feel perfectly cozy, warm, relaxed. Can we spend the night here?” She pulled the wool checkered blanket up to their waists.

“On your balcony? When you have such a big comfortable bed?”

“It’s like camping. An experience to try.” They both chuckled.

Above in a dark but indulgent sky, the moon glowed and the stars twinkled in approval. Holding Julia in his arms in the privacy of her balcony was the closest to heaven Tony had ever reached.

An hour later she drifted off in his arms and woke up when Tony carried her to her bed. “Goodnight, sweet Julia. See you at the gym at 6:30 a.m., if you manage to wake up early.”

He knew damn well that the three days left would never be enough for him.

The next morning after she got back from the gym, a knock on the door caught Julia’s attention as she headed to her bathroom for a well deserved shower. “Yes, coming.” Had Tony forgotten to tell her something?

She pulled the door open with a big smile that faded right away.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty.” The high pitched voice grated on her ears and she was tempted to slam the door in Mary-Beth’s face.

“Good morning, Mary-Beth. Who’s sleeping at 8:30 am?” Julia crossed her arms on her chest and waited for an explanation for the morning visit.

Her former classmate gave her a once-over and glared at the spandex outfit. “You’re going to the gym? So early?”

“No, my dear. I’m back from the gym. Want me to pick you up tomorrow at 6:30 for some healthy exercise?”

“Huh... No way. Jeff would kill me if I dared disturb his sleep at such an ungodly hour. Huh... you’re all sweaty.”

“I was about to shower. How can I help you?”

“Oh I badly wanted to visit a suite. Maybe I can convince Jeff to book us one for the next cruise. Can I come in?” She stepped in without waiting for an invitation. Her eyes darted left and right surveying the place.

“Looking for something in particular?” Maybe the woman hoped to find the incriminating evidence of a male visitor. “This is the bedroom.”

Mary-Beth peered at the bed and frowned at the groove in the left side pillow only.

“The cleaning steward hasn’t been to do the rooms.” Julia avoided the unspoken question.
No, Mary-Beth, no one has slept next to me.

“Are the closets big?”

No kidding the woman wanted to check for male clothes or maybe a man hiding in there. “See for yourself.” Julia opened wide the folding doors of her closet. Mary-Beth’s gaze scanned the multiple outfits and pinched her lips.
Sorry to disappoint you, witch
. No tangible evidence of a scandal.

“Did you have a good time yesterday?” The questions would now start but Julia wasn’t ready to waste her time with the annoying woman.

“I had an excellent, productive day. Now I need to shower and get dressed for another business day.” She showed Mary-Beth the door. “If you’ve seen everything you wanted to see in my suite, I need to get going.” Julia opened the door and pressed her palm on her visitor’s back almost shoving her out.

“I forgot to ask you. Did your assistant Tonino have a good time at the convention?”

“I suppose so, but you’ll have to ask him.” She practically closed the door in Mary-Beth’s face.
What a bitch
.

Before showering Julia texted Tony.
M-B was here. Meet you on the quay. Get a taxi & wait for me. xoxo. J.