Matt absorbs my erratic response with uncertain acceptance. “I’m good. Marco said you all were having lunch, but I didn’t know the restaurant was closed.” Then to Marco, “By the way, how did you get my number?”
“Your mom gave it to me. I think she wants you to expand your social horizons.”
“So it would seem.” Matt gives me a grin, and I’m glad he’s not being weird. Unlike me. After what happened between us last night, I’m not sure how I should act, but considering how calm and collected he is, maybe it’s not as big a deal as I thought.
“Holly and the chef seem to be getting along,” he says, looking over to where Dino is handing Holly a bowl of pasta.
“Yes, they’re getting along swimmingly,” Marco concurs. “They did just meet today, but relationships evolve much faster when you meet one’sdestino.”
Matt looks to me for clarity but I just shake my head in response. “I’ll explain it to you later.”
With a quick nod, Matt walks over to the heartwarming duo, saying“Ciao.”He then begins a long stream of Italian, and Dino answers him in his typical friendly tone. Holly looks at us then shrugs as she continues listening along. The two men have a brief but fast-paced conversation that lasts all of a minute, and Marco and I just stand there a little speechless.
“Did you ever hear him speaking in Italian before?” he asks me, still watching them.
“Not like that,” I answer.
“Not going to lie, witnessing this increases his hotness factor substantially. I know I originally just wanted you to have a sweaty fling with him, but now I feel like we should be aiming higher. Let’s reach for the stars. I’m picturing you guys married and thriving with a house in the Hamptons. And yes, Derek and I will be residing in the guest wing from May through August.”
Marco might still be speaking, but I can’t be sure. I’m long-gone daydreaming. I don’t even try to fight it as a succession of hazy, made-up images sift through my mind. Matt and I in bed. Him whispering to me in Italian. His body covering mine. My head tilting up. My toes curling. His hands are everywhere and I really need to pump the brakes because we are in company, and jumping him in this kitchen would be highly inappropriate.
I remind myself that those images never happened and maybe they never will. Our sexy measurement tutorial was as far as things went between us last night, but judging by my fresh litany of dirty thoughts, limiting our activities to a onetime occurrence may prove more difficult than I anticipated.
Matt and Dino stop chatting then, and I make sure to keep my raunchy inner imaging at bay as Matt beckons Marco and me over.
“How are the pictures?” Holly asks, with all five of us now standing in a cozy little circle. “Do I even want to look? Am I completely ridiculous?”
“Excuse you,” I tell her. “You are a Roman goddess and the social media team is going to love them.”
I watch as Holly’s cheeks redden, and a second later Dino turns around holding two bowls of pasta. “Who’s hungry?”
A short while later we’re all food drunk on the scrumptious carbonara Dino made for us as we walk through the restaurant. It’s only just starting to prepare to open with the waitstaff settling chairs at the tables and placing silverware. We’re about midway through when Holly appears beside me, whispering, “Why did Matt end up coming?”
Her tone isn’t accusing, but I still tense up.
“Marco texted him. I think he was just being overprotective.”
Holly nods and I do the same, feeling out of step and a little icky in the knowledge that even though I’m not lying, Iamhiding something from her. Something I know she wouldn’t like. Before I can dwell on it, Dino pauses and stops us all at the hostess stand.
“Before you go, I have passes for you.” He opens up a drawer and pulls out a large envelope, reaching inside. “You can use these to have access to the hotel amenities. The gym, the pool, the spa, whatever you like.” He hands us each a card that looks like a modified, upgraded hotel key.
“Are you sure?” I ask, accepting the one he offers me. “You’re really allowed to give these out to whoever?”
“The manager usually saves them for important guests who come to the restaurant, but all of you are very important guests to me.”
Dino’s eyes flick to Holly as he saysvery important, and Marco and I flash each other matching giddy looks. I mean, Dino didn’t come right out and propose, but he might as well have. Holly notices our nonverbal middle-school exchange, and casts us each astop embarrassing meglare that is usually only reserved for parents.
I feel aged and I’m okay with it.
Out on the street a couple of minutes later, Marco, Matt and I all pocket our cards as we regroup. Holly is still inside with Dino and told us she’d be down in a minute, assumedly so she and Dino could exchange phone numbers in private.
“Well,” Marco says aimlessly, “all and all a very productive day. We completed our assignment, we saw the city, we ate well and as a bonus, we may be back at this very hotel in a year’s time for Holly’s over-the-top destination wedding.”
Matt flashes an obliging smile and I resettle the camera bag on my shoulder. “I think that may be a bit preemptive. She and Dino have only known each other for three hours.”
“Fine,” Marco replies, “maybe they won’t get married, but they can definitely have fun while we’re here. Lust can appear in a matter of seconds, as I’m sure you both know.” He gives Matt and me a wink and I’m about to shoot him astop embarrassing melook of my own when he takes a cheerful step away in retreat.
“Speaking oflove, I’m going to FaceTime Derek. Come and grab me when we’re ready to go.”
