6
Donna Smith’s nape still tingled where Blackwell had kissed her last night and unzipped her dress. His touch had transported her into a world of sensuality—taste and touch—making it tough to leave this morning. It had been difficult, but the right decision. If she’d drawn out a morning with him, she might have had her hopes crushed like all her other dreams hadbeen.
After a few delays, the train finally reached Venice, where she stepped off and stretched her legs. Hit immediately by the scent of water and old world buildings, she cautiously sniffed the air and followed the crush of people toward the luggage already on deck. Donna wheeled her bag behind her, ready to see Venice. Beth had told her to try Italian ice cream so that was on theagenda.
Perhaps something sweet would make her forget Blackwell—though she highly doubted anything could do that. Their one night would be burned in her mind forever as the starting point to figuring herselfout.
She followed her phone app to find a small but affordable inn away from the Grand Canal. Her app had her go through a narrow alley, but it seemed clean and there was even a store on thecorner.
Her luggage became harder to manage over uneven cobblestones but she made it to the hotel and went inside, overcome by the smell of cigarettes. She held her nose and filled out the forms at the frontdesk.
The clerk was pleasant through the process, but at the end said, “Your room won’t be ready till three. We can keep your luggage for you and put it in your room at thattime.”
It was nearly two. Hopefully her room didn’t smell like the lobby, but she kept her mouth shut and pointed to the door. “Sounds great. Which way to the GrandCanal?”
The woman smiled at her and waved. “Follow the water, Miss. You can’t missit.”
She let out a small sigh and asked, “And the RialtoBridge?”
The woman nodded. “To theright.”
She’d worn flats knowing she’d want to walk the city and maneuvering through the streets was much easier without dragging herbag.
The street near the canal was busy and curved, but it was nice to be amongst so many people from so many places. At home, she often went to the beach but had her nose in a book, not caring about the couples or families aroundher.
Venice was the first step in seeing the world and actually doing things on her own, without hiding who she was anymore. She passed a busy ice cream parlor and remembered Beth’s suggestion. Donna went inside and spoke to the young man in English. “Can I have an ice cream cone? For now let’s stick tovanilla.”
“Certainly,signorina.” He scooped the ice cream she pointed toward behind a sheer pane of plexi-glass.
He handed it to her and she paid, glad that he didn’t object to her American cash. “Thankyou.”
The taste in her mouth was sweeter than any dessert she’d ever had. There had to be more sugar in this than the legal limits of ice cream in America but then how were Italians so healthy looking? For now, she indulged herself in decadence. She licked her lips to ensure she didn’t miss a drop as she walked. The only thing tastier had been Blackwell’s kisses lastnight.
Perhaps she should have tried to switch her ticket to the noon train, and stayed to have breakfast with him. But that was a fleeting thought. The last thing she needed was to involve herself with a guy, any guy. She was here to ensure her spirit was strong. As she made her way to the canal and stared at the old bridge, she sighed and let the scene take her breathaway.
The Rialto Bridge almost had a shine to it as the sun set and with the reflection on the water, she couldn’t remember seeing anything more grand. Around her couples kissed, but she was all alone though her lips still tingled from last night’s kiss. For right now, she closed her eyes and indulged her wish for just a second that she was ready for a relationship, again, then said to herself, “Wow. I wish Blackwell was here to see this withme.”
A baritone voice behind her then sent a thrill up her spine. “Donna-”
She spun around in surprise, eyes wide. He’d come for her? Her heart beat grew faster as she shook her head. He came closer so she knew he was absolutely real and not her imagination. “Blackwell? What are you doinghere?”
“I couldn’t leave things as they were.” He took her hand inhis.
Part of her hoped he’d kiss her, but her face heated and she looked down at her ice cream. She knew better than to trust her feelings which had led her down the wrong path before. “I’d already paid for the hotel room and the train ticket. I didn’t think I could rearrange things at the lastminute.”
His hand brushed against her arm and shoulder. “Everything is negotiable. I feel terrible that I slept in a room you paidfor.”
“It was my room and you were my guest last night. Actually, the night was wonderful.” Had he followed her out of male pride? She wished instead that he’d come just to see her though she knew she shouldn’t. It wasn’t fair as she’d understood it was a mutual agreement of one night. He pressed his hand against her lower back and urged her closer to him. “I agree. I was hoping we could have morenights.”
Her lips tingled and she automatically closed her eyes and lifted her face to his. One night wasn’t eternity and he smelled like fresh mountainair.
The moment his lips met hers again she knew without a doubt he tasted better than the silly cone melting in herhand.
He ended the kiss and she licked her fingers to stop the mess. “So you came to join me on vacation for a fewdays?”
His gaze on her lips made her ache. “I want more than a few days,Donna.”
She wanted more too, but she wasn’t ready to give up on her quest either. She let out a breath and tried to sound reasonable. “Well, I have a list of things I need to do. If you’re here in Venice, I would love for us to see thingstogether.”
