The boat veered a hard right, and everyone screamed as the water splashed over the side. Ava laughed while Julia called out reassurances.
Suddenly, his rich, deep voice came close to my ear. “Chiacchierone, are you trying to kill us? Do you want me to take over?”
I stiffened and pressed myself against the side, trying to put some space between us.
Julia launched into a colorful stream of Italian. Many of the curse words didn’t need translating. “Go take care of your ragazza, Rafael,” she said, a sly look on her face. I saw the red dig into Rafe’s cheekbones and helplessly stared at him. Why was he blushing? What did she say?
Rafe said something back, making her laugh, and suddenly he was in front of me, his dark gaze pinning mine. My breath exploded from my lungs, and it was as if Lauren had never happened. When I was around him, it was like magic. Was this what love was supposed to feel like? If so, it was too much to feel all these things. It was too . . . dangerous.
“What does ragazza mean?” I asked curiously.
He cleared his throat, looking embarrassed. But then his jaw clenched, and he was staring at me again like he could swallow me whole. “It means girlfriend.”
“Oh.” I wanted to die but refused to show him. “Well, Lauren is really pretty. And nice.” My throat closed up. “You should get back to her.”
He blinked, looking confused. “Lauren isn’t my girlfriend.”
“Who was Julia talking about?”
His lower lip quirked. “You.”
My belly dropped to my toes. Palms suddenly clammy, I stared back stupidly, having no answer, but thank God, Ava announced we’d arrived.
“Who’s swimming and who wants to be in the boat?” Julia called out.
Rafe and I were pushed to the side as the group pressed forward in a mad rush, calling out their preferences and stripping down to their bathing suits. My head still spinning from Rafe’s response, I followed them and looked over the edge of the rail.
My breath caught. A wall of jagged rock thrust from the deep blue sea toward the side, creating craters of space where both swimmers and boats glided in and out of the opening. The stunning view of earthy colors created a giant wall of stone, moss, and occasional gleaming white buildings of hotels or cafés. I turned to Rafe. “This is where we were before, right?”
“Yes, Praiano. But I didn’t take you to the grotto. Do you prefer to swim or take the boat?”
Julia’s voice called out. “Livia, everyone wants to swim. Are you good to come with us?”
I hesitated. Damn, I wasn’t the best swimmer, but I felt completely lame being the only one who wanted the boat. I didn’t want to ruin their good time, but I was worried I couldn’t make it. And that’d be even more embarrassing—needing a rescue. My cheeks burned. Maybe I could stay on board? But I knew Julia and Ava would never let me. Maybe—
“We’re going on the boat,” Rafe suddenly yelled. “You guys go ahead.”
“You sure?” Julia asked.
He waved her off. “Sì, now go jump, chiacchierona.”
She made a face, grabbed Ava’s hand, and jumped off the side. “What’s that word mean?” I asked.
“Someone who talks a lot.”
I grinned, liking the way they teased each other. “Chatterbox.”
“Exactly.”
I watched the group leisurely swimming toward the cave. I didn’t want Rafe to get stuck because I was a lousy swimmer. “I’m sorry. I know you wanted to swim. Why don’t you go with them and I’ll hang here? It’s a gorgeous view—I don’t need to see the inside of the grotto.”
He reached out and touched my cheek. My body stilled, savoring the feel of his skin against mine, the gleam of male interest in his dark eyes. “I’d rather stay with you. Alone.”
With a smile, he let his hand drop and took his position by the wheel. He guided the boat toward the gaping mouth of the cave, and we waved and hooted as we passed by the swimming crew. The sun burned hot and bright, gleaming on the surface of the water so it dazzled like diamonds. Kayaks cut back and forth to our side, and we waited a while for our turn.
As we entered the cave, the dank, earthy scent rose around me, and I gasped at the vast space. A quiet, almost reverent energy pulsed around us. We didn’t speak as we sailed around the circumference, and I leaned over to study the strange gleaming turquoise of the water. It was like the liquid was alive, glowing with an eerie presence that sent shivers down my spine. Shadows played across the rock from the weak strains of light that managed to penetrate the opening. It was as if we’d sunk into a whole new world untouched by people.
I loved the stillness, and I itched for a sketch pad to try to capture the essence of the cave. Too soon, Rafe exited to make room for others, and he cut the engine a long stretch away from the tourists and our friends. “We’ll circle back and pick them up when they’re done,” Rafe said, walking to stand beside me. “What did you think?”
“Oh, it was beautiful. I’ve never seen water actually glow before.”
“There are a lot of natural caves around here. The Blue Grotto is the most famous, but I’ve always loved this one because it’s not as touristy.”
“I went to Howe Caverns once. It was upstate and we climbed down a ton of stairs to see these cool caves that all linked together. It was pretty cold because you’re below the ground.”
I realized I was babbling, but he only smiled. “That does sound cool. Want to sit on the bow for a bit?”
“Sure.”
I settled in with his familiar presence, reveling in the scent of him, the slight brush of our heated bodies as we adjusted on the gently bobbing boat. He wore sunglasses with gold frames that made him look even sexier. His chocolate curls blew over his forehead from the wind.
I realized I was happier than I ever had been. Right now. With Rafe.
His words kept repeating in my mind like a mantra.
Girlfriend.
My fingers curled into fists. I wished he’d take my hand or finally kiss me. I was leaving in two days and my emotions were a tangled mess.
“Is your dad sad about Aunt Silvia leaving?” I asked, desperately trying to sound normal.
“Definitely. They’re good for each other. Dad gets lonely. Hasn’t met someone who he can really settle down with. Silvia makes him laugh.”
“Think they’ll try to do something more permanent?”
He smiled. “You’re a romantic, huh? Honestly, I don’t know. Things work between them well for now. Neither of them may be ready to risk blowing it up.”