“It’s nothing, really.”
She shakes her head and nods towards the door. “I’m worried about my sisters, but I must trust in the process, I suppose.”
She smiles shyly. “After all, they must be worrying about me, and I’m more than fine.”
“Are you?” I’m surprised at how happy that makes me.
“I am and, well, thank you, Julius. It’s a lot to ask of someone, and you have been so kind in agreeing to helpwith this test. It’s brought you a lot of grief, and I, well, I just want you to know that I appreciate that.”
I’m shocked when she stands on her toes and presses a light kiss to my cheek and then blushes furiously as she heads toward the door and once again, just like that, everything changes.
20
ROSE
Why do I feel so awkward around him? It was as if I couldn’t speak. My mouth was dry, and my heart was fluttering, and yet he appeared disinterested. He’s kind, considerate and polite, but he is distant. I must be an annoyance to him. He is used to living a different life from me and may be missing that. Then again, he could have a girlfriend—a wife even and the thought of that disappoints me more than I thought it would.
I must concentrate on the test ahead, accepting that this is just the first of many.
We travel down in the elevator in silence, and it’s as if he has placed an imaginary wall between us.
There is no hand-holding now, just polite distance, and I hate it.
The door opens, and as we head out of the hotel; I force my attention onto Madrid.
“This is exciting.”
He shrugs. “What is?”
“The city. It’s very loud.”
A passing car honks its horn causing me to almost jump out of my skin and he surprises me by reaching for my hand and saying with a grin, “You should stick close to me, I’m guessing traffic isn’t something you’re used to.”
“You could say that.”
As we walk hand in hand along the street, I love how it paints us as a couple. I am proud of walking beside Julius and I don’t miss the envious glances of the smart women who walk by, and I am one of them. Julius is an attractive man, a stylish one, who stands out like a beacon even among the cosmopolitan inhabitants of the city.
He is wearing black trousers with a black shirt open at the neck, revealing his strong chest with the gold crucifix nestling against it. His heavy ringed fingers merge with the tattoos on his hand, and the slightly unruly hair that dusts his collarbone gives him an irresistible edge.
I fully imagine he could wrestle a bear; he is that intimidating, and it leaves me breathless.
“This place looks okay.”
He points to a smart restaurant set beside the sidewalk, and I nod, loving the potted trees on either side of the door and the fairy lights twinkling over a flower-covered archway.
“I’m hungry, are you?”
He nods as he peers at the menu pasted on the board outside.
“Come, let’s eat.”
He pulls me inside, and we are soon shown to a table in the middle of the restaurant, and I’m surprised when Julius jerks his head to one in the corner.
“We’ll take that one.”
I note the waiter’s unease as he whispers, “I’m sorry, sir, that table has been reserved.”
“By me.” Julius reaches inside his wallet and pulls out a wad of notes and hands it to the waiter. “I’m sure this will guarantee our reservation.”
