His lip quirked. He swirled the amber liquid. Ice cubes tinkled against the glass. “No, we’re not.” He took a sip and seemed to reset. “Tell me about your day.”
She decided not to push. They had time. She relaxed into the chair, stroking the cat’s fur. “Rode Vespas along the Amalfi Coast.”
“Pepe take good care of you?”
“Of course. There may have been a small argument regarding scooter colors, but I was the bigger person.”
“Bailey got the orange, huh?” She laughed. “I wish I could repeat certain experiences for the first time. Seeing Amalfi from the seat of a Vespa is one of them.”
“It was amazing. We rode for hours. Then we stopped at the Hotel Prestige and watched the sunset. You were right. The spot was perfect—nothing blocked the view.”
“Good. Next time, I’d take you to Termini. It’s this beautiful small town on the Sorrento Peninsula like a hidden gem. The sunset views are killer.”
“I’d like that.”
He smiled and she smiled back. “I wanted to mention something. I had lunch with a friend of mine today. He’s lived in Positano a long time and knows most people. I was telling him about your mom and he mentioned a guy who may fit the bill. It’s his friend’s dad. About your mom’s age. Worked on boats here for years, then moved to Amalfi. Seems he got married later than most and now has two kids. His name is Rocco. Worth checking out?”
Her heart beat faster. Any type of lead was exciting, especially since they were running out of time. “Definitely. How can I contact him?”
“I have his number so you can call. He speaks English. If it seems like he’s the one, you can always arrange to see him before you leave.”
“Perfect. Thanks, Hawke, this is great.”
He fished the note out of his pocket and handed it to her. “That’s the number. Let me know if you need help. Mention David Veroni—that’s my friend.”
She gazed at the number on the paper, twisting it in her fingers. “Do you think it could be him?”
“Don’t know. But I’ve always believed in the long shot.”
His hand touched her hair. A sigh slipped past her and the air warmed. She addressed the unasked question between them. “Are we a long shot?”
“I don’t think so.”
She shook herself out of her trance. Time to get real. Shifting her weight, she narrowed her gaze on him and swore to focus. “Let’s go over the pros and cons of pursuing this relationship. Unless you want to end things right here? I get on the plane, we chalk up our time to a lovely gift, and we move on with our lives.”
“I veto that option.” A smile curved his lips as he continued to stroke her hair, his fingers so very gentle. “I happen to feel like Lucifer. You’re irreplaceable.”
Her tummy tumbled. Damn his quiet charm. Dev cleared her throat. “Oh, you’re good.”
He chuckled. “Give me the other options, please.”
“Fine. We continue with a long-distance relationship and put no restrictions on the other.”
“You’re saying we can date and be with other people, yet still see each other when it works out?”
“Correct.”
“I veto that too.”
Happiness bubbled up within her. She tried to tamp it down, reminding herself there were still many alternatives to consider. “Moving on. We do a long-distance relationship but agree to be monogamous and see if we can bring this connection with us into our real lives.”
His gravelly voice was all business, but his hands were personal. “Clauses? Stipulations?”
“We create a schedule on when we talk, including Zoom, email, text, or phone. We agree to a certain number of meet-ups that’s fair to both of us. We give ourselves a timeline to renegotiate or see where we are. I’m thinking we begin with six months, and if we’re agreeable, we move to a year.”
“You are the sexiest woman alive.”
Her cheeks flushed. “Thoughts?”
“I like that option.”
“So do I.”
“But I’d like to tweak the timetable. Let’s say three months virtual long-distance with all the inclusions you mentioned. The last three months, we become more personal. We have one date per week minimum.”
She tilted her head, confused. “A Zoom date?”
“No, I’m planning to move back to the city, Dev. I’ll be working at the firm again.”
Her jaw dropped. Suddenly, the possibilities this could turn real between them overwhelmed her. “I—I can’t believe it. But I thought you were set on staying here. Aren’t you afraid to go back to it again after what happened?”
His carved features reflected a serious intensity as he stared into her eyes. “I’ve been ready for a while now but wanted to move at a slower pace. I miss my job, but I’ve learned how to create a better balance in my life. Figured out my priorities and what I want. This time, I won’t let my job own my soul. And I’ll always have this place to fall back on when I need a break.” Hawke leaned in. “But I don’t want to scare the crap out of you. I can do slow. You don’t need to promise me anything or feel pressured. This is the right move for me, either way.”
She waited for the panic to hit. The pressure of having her tidy schedules threatened. Her career suddenly vulnerable to a more demanding personal life. The idea he could want more from her than she was ready to give.
Instead, there was nothing but a simple joy that flowed through her veins, quiet and clean and full of hope. “I think we may have reached an agreement for both parties.”
A grin overtook his face, and he pressed his forehead to hers, his hands cupping her cheeks. “You wanna sign?”
“Yeah.”
His lips pressed gently to hers. “You wanna stay?”
She sighed and leaned into his muscled strength. “Yeah.”
Hawke reached out and gently removed Lucifer from her lap. “Sorry, buddy, you’ve been trumped.”
Then he did something she’d once believed would only happen to Bailey.
He picked her up and walked upstairs to the bedroom, where he shut the door behind them.
chapter thirty-eight
Olivia
There are moments in life that are turning points. Some are brought by external factors and can be transformed by sheer grit, bravery, and a hunger for something more.
Other times God seems to be laughing above like we are a sitcom for his amusement, because there are no choices left—just a road before you that must be walked because it is the only route available. A road of acceptance.