Chapter 27
Hanna
He brought roses. Now he spreads his arms and smiles at me with excitement.
"Surprise!" he exclaims loudly and walks toward me. Seconds later, I'm in his arms, and he sways me back and forth. The scent of the flowers, which he still holds in his hand, surrounds me. "My God, I missed you so much."
Hearing his words, I have to swallow hard. But even that doesn't help against the guilt that threatens to spread all over me. "And I missed you too," I whisper in a choked voice.
He kisses my cheek and continues forward until our lips touch. Kissing Florian while knowing that Vico is watching feels awful.
I end the kiss as quickly as possible, but I still feel Vico's gaze on my back. I can't stop wondering what he might be thinking at this moment. Maybe because it's easier to think about him than to confront my own feelings.
Florian lovingly brushes my bangs away from my forehead, while scattered thoughts race through my mind. I condemn myself for not being able to enjoy his presence. For being a lousypartner to him and for not being sure anymore if buying the estate is the right decision.
Finally, Florian steps back from me and hands me the bouquet. "I just couldn't stand being without you any longer."
Words fail me, so I nod briefly and turn around. Vico's face is frozen. "Florian, this is Vico," I say, trying to say something. Then I point at Camilla's husband. "And this is Pietro."
"Pietro and I have already been introduced," Florian says as he approaches Vico and casually extends his hand. "Nice to meet you," he says in English, his smile charming, and his posture relaxed.
Vico, on the other hand, seems like an iceberg as he responds to the greeting. "I'd love to stay, but work calls."
"Of course, we have a lot to discuss too," Florian replies, putting his arm around my waist and raising his eyebrows invitingly.
For a moment, tense silence fills the air. I seize the opportunity to cast one last glance at Vico. His expression remains frozen as he shoves his hands into his pockets, turning away with Pietro. He doesn't give me a chance to signal how sorry I am that Florian appeared at this very moment. Who knows what would have transpired behind the house near the field of poppies if we hadn't been interrupted.
It was for the best. This is where it must end before something irreversible occurs.
"Alright then, let's go," Florian exclaims cheerfully, pulling me along with him.
But with each step, unease sets in. I should say something, but chaos reigns within me. "Is Natalie managing the inn on her own?" I blurt out, the first thought that crosses my mind.
His gaze turns sad. "We have no guests tonight. Again."
What? Even though things haven't been going well lately, we usually had a few bookings. "So things are still going downhill." Iswallow hard, lowering my gaze. Once again, I feel like the worst person on earth. While I was here in Italy, enjoying life, he has been working for our future.
He lifts his index finger under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "We have a plan. All we need to do now is put it into action."
That's right. I nod in agreement, realizing how absurd my earlier fantasies were. I belong with Florian. We've been a great team for years, and if we stick together, we'll have a wonderful life ahead.
"Show me how far you've come." He looks around eagerly. "The run-down shack looked much better in the pictures," Florian grumbles.
I immediately focus on him. "Yes, the estate is quite dilapidated," I admit, strolling alongside him on the courtyard. "But with some work and love, it will be beautiful again."
He walks over to the outer wall, tapping the stones for inspection. Then he examines the decrepit rain gutter. Although dusk has already set in, the damages are evident. "You didn't tell me about the rust."
Did I not mention it? How could I forget?
"I'm sorry." The urge to make up for my mistake overwhelms me. "The first cost estimates have come in," I quickly say, feeling uneasy about why I'm so eager to justify myself. "And I took new photos."
My backpack is in the car, and I retrieve it, taking out the camera to show him the pictures. But as soon as the display lights up, I realize what a terrible idea that was.
The first photo shows the vineyard.
It's enchantingly beautiful. But it brings a memory that now makes it hard for me to breathe. Right after this picture was taken, I sank into Vico's arms. I leaned against his chest and breathed in his scent.
It was magical.
