“Take a photo,” she instructs, and I pull out my phone and take several. “She’ll be glad to have those.”
“How many steps is that?” I ask absently, wondering if she’s exhausted and if she carried Reggie up.
“One hundred thirty-five,” Marina says without missing a beat. I turn to stare at her, and a beat goes by. Two. Then we both burst out laughing.
“I can’t believe you just…knew that off the top of your head.”
“I told you. It’s what I do.”
I shake my head with affection, then lean into her. I don’t mean to. It’s not intentional. My body just kind of…tips that way, and I feel Marina’s arm go around me, tightening, holding me close to her for a moment before she lets go. I swear to God, if Chloe wasn’t here, it’s very possible I’d drag Marina back to my hotel room and have my way with her. Part of me is bummed. Another part is relieved, thankful for the situation and for keeping me from doing something too spontaneous.
But damn.
We stand there for a long time—or at least what feels like a long time. Just stand there, leaning into each other. Anybody looking at us might not notice because we’re not holding hands. We’re not kissing. We’re not even looking at each other. But our bodies are touching. From our thighs up to our hips, our sides, my shoulder is pressed against her arm, and I would stay like this forever if I could.
I watch Chloe descend the steps carefully with Reggie in her arms—which I’m glad about, because there are so many people here. She glances up every so often until she sees us, then returns her focus to her feet until she reaches the bottom. Then she sidles through the crowds and finally reaches us. Her eyes are bright and sparkling, and her smile is radiant.
“This place is amazing,” she says, and drops a kiss on Reggie’s head. I expect her to hand him off to me, but she keeps possession. “There’s too many people here to put him down,” she informs me. “He could get stepped on. Plus, I think all thelegs make him nervous. Can you imagine? You’re walking along, and suddenly all you see are long, tall legs? Nothing else. How creepy and scary.” She kisses Reggie again, and my dog looks completely content to be carried like the prince he is. We’re quiet for a moment before Chloe addresses Marina. “Why are they called the Spanish Steps when they’re in Rome? Did Spain build them?”
Marina shakes her head. “No, they were built by Italians. They’re just named for the area.” She spins her finger in a circle. “This is the Piazza di Spagna—the Spanish Plaza. So…the Spanish Steps.”
“Well, that’s boring,” Chloe says, clearly hoping for something more action-packed.
“It really is,” Marina agrees with a sigh, and the two of them stand there, looking at the gorgeous Spanish Steps of Rome with twin looks of disappointment on their faces. I manage not to bark out the laugh that wants to shoot from my mouth, because oh my God, they’re so much alike right now, it’s a little bit unnerving.
We spend a little bit more time just wandering. Chloe hands Reggie over to me so she can get some photos with her phone, and then she’s sending texts and smiling at the screen. When she finally slides it into her bag and looks at me with a big smile, I ask her if she’s ready to call it a night.
“Not really,” she says, then proceeds to yawn, which makes us all laugh.
“But clearly yes,” I say, and we head back the way we came, taking our time, in no hurry to leave one another’s company. The trip back to the hotel seems to take much less time than the walk to the Spanish Steps, and it’s my turn to be disappointed.
At the door of the Cavatassi, Marina turns to us. “I had so much fun tonight.”
“Me too,” Chloe says.
“Me three,” I add.
“Chloe, I don’t know that I’ll see you before you leave, but if I don’t, it was an honor and a privilege to meet you.” Before she can say anything more, Chloe wraps her in a hug, and because she’s so small, Marina has to bend. She stands, lifting Chloe off her feet and making her laugh.
“You’re super cool, Marina,” Chloe says. “I hope we meet again.”
Marina doesn’t say anything to me as she steps forward and wraps me in a hug as well. But in my ear, she whispers, “Text me.”
I nod and she lets go. “Be careful getting home, okay?” I say.
“Always.” She takes a couple of steps backward before she finally gives us a wave and turns to go. As is my normal behavior, I stand there and watch her go until she turns the corner and is out of my sight. A sigh escapes me before I can catch it.
“Wow,” Chloe says as she turns to the front door of the hotel and punches in the after-hours code to open it. “You’ve got it bad.”
“What?” My voice is about six octaves too high on that word, which kind of defeats my whole pretense of being insulted.
Chloe laughs. “Okay, Squeaky McSqueakerson. Deny it all you want. But I haveeyes.” She waves a hand over and around her eyes to showcase them. “And they have seen things.” Then she laughs and laughs as we head for the elevator.
I shake my head and follow her, trying to deny the soft smile playing on my lips and the subtle heat in my cheeks, but I stay quiet, and I don’t deny anything.
Mostly because I can’t.
Chapter Eleven
