‘Are we ok after last night?’ she asked, tilting her head back to meet his eyes.
‘I’m fine. You?’
She dropped her head back to his chest. ‘Yes. Thank you. I slept more deeply and contentedly than I have in months.’
‘I’m glad.’ Matthew paused momentarily before adding, ‘I lied to you the other night.’
She pulled back from his hold and they locked eyes. ‘What do you mean?’
‘At the door to your room. In Florence. I told you I came to check up on you. That wasn’t true.’ His eyes darted across her face, anxious to read her reaction.
‘Why were you there, then?’
‘Because I was lost without you.’ He grimaced against the embarrassment of vocalising the truth. ‘I was a fidgeting, clumsy mess.’
Sarah smiled. ‘Really?’ He nodded sheepishly. ‘Why didn’t you just tell me that?’
‘Because it scared me to realise how much I need you here with me.’ He dropped his forehead to rest against hers. ‘I don’t think I can do this without you.’ Sarah felt the intensity of his clutch tighten, and he exhaled a deep breath of relief. ‘Do you think I’m pathetic?’
With a gentle shake of the head, she said, ‘I think you’re wonderful. And far more capable than you give yourself credit.’
‘When you’re here, I know everything will be ok. You just have a way of reassuring me about things.’
‘I’m glad. Thank you for telling me.’ She dropped her cheek to his shoulder and the comfort of his skin against hers reminded her of the insatiable passion he had shown her.
‘And another thing. Please don’t read anything into the condoms. Auto-pilot packing.’
She giggled, then squeezed his middle a little tighter.
Looking down at Sarah in his warm naked embrace, Matthew felt inexplicably at ease. If their arrangement now extended to this, he was more than willing to make the change.
venti
Matthew stood at the open kitchen doorway, watching Sarah enjoy a cuppa in the rear courtyard. With her back to him, she gently tapped her feet to a rhythm unknown, taking notes from her iPad onto a sketchpad. She reached across the table for her cup of tea, took a sip, then set it back down, now humming along to the tune only she could hear.
Matthew approached slowly and made himself comfortable in the seat beside her. Sarah was oblivious, completely in a world of her own, with her eyes now closed. Sensing an impending spilled-tea-vs-iPad disaster, he gently took her left hand into his. Her eyes flew open.
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.’
‘Christ almighty,’ she exhaled, withdrawing her AirPods. ‘Wasn’t expecting you there.’
‘Was just wondering where you got to. Haven’t seen you since this morning.’
She handed him the iPad. ‘I’ve been researching linen manufacturers from the region for the sails in the main hall. And that led me down a YouTube rabbit hole of linen styling and bedding presentation. You are in the presence of the soon-to-be Grand High Mistress of the hospital fold and tuck.’
‘You never cease to amaze me,’ he laughed. ‘The things we are learning.’
‘You’re telling me!’ Her attention returned to her notes. ‘Marghe and I had success with the bedding and towels today. We found a small artisan workshop in Perugia that will embroider the DA crest. Marghe did most of the talking, but I understood at least a quarter of the conversation.’ Matthew smiled. ‘They will hold it all until closer to opening date. I don’t trust starched whites at a construction site.’
Matthew nodded, then fell momentarily quiet. His top row of teeth found his bottom lip and he gnawed on it, buying himself a few seconds. ‘I sent Petunia and the crew home. All done for the day.’ There was an apprehension to his tone that regained Sarah’s attention.
‘So soon? It’s only two o’clock.’
‘I’m done. The guys were done. Petunia was running on a short fuse. I killed it. Sent them home to rest for the afternoon. Angelo refused to leave. He’s down in the orchard, pruning.’
‘Sounds about right,’ she said, setting the iPad down and shifting on her chair to face him. ‘Are you ok? You seem off.’
Matthew fought the urge to indulge his curiosity. What business was it of his, after all? But he couldn’t help but wonder, and he worried he could be helping and he wasn’t. And they had agreed to support each other no matter what. And something told him that this was definitely awhat.
