If only my family just knew what an amazing person he is, I’m sure they would grow to love him.
I need to fix this, if we can’t meet in the open, what about…? We could meet in secret? But how?
I’m only allowed to a few places: Anna’s, the library…my eyes widen. Of course, why didn’t I think of that before?
The library.
I dial his number, he answers first ring. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you come to Milan?”
“What?”
“I’m allowed to go to the library, if you get there before me and hide while my security do their checks, I can see you.”
“They don’t stay in the library with you?”
“No, they do their check and then wait outside. Could you hide for ten minutes in the bathroom or something. I mean, I don’t know how it would work but….”
“I could.”
“When?” I ask.
“Tomorrow.”
So soon. “It’s risky, Jules, what if they catch us?” I whisper.
“Five minutes together will be worth it.”
The car pulls into the parking lot of the Milan public library and I close my eyes.
Shit.
My two guards climb out of the front seat and Antonio opens my car door. I peer out with trepidation.
Oh hell.
What am I doing?
They’re going to catch us and then they’re going to beat Giuliano to a pulp and he will get the blame, when really, this was all my fault.
I glance up at the building in front of us, is he in there? I couldn’t even bring my phone in case it’s found. I stalled at home as long as I could to give him enough time.
What if he hasn’t hidden yet?
Fuck.
“Everything alright, Miss Ferrara?”
“Uh-huh.” I fake a smile and climb out. “Thank you, Antonio.”
We walk up the grand steps and through the double doors and into the main hall and study area and I see Anna sitting in the corner at one of the long tables. I made her come as a decoy, she has textbooks open and looks the studious part. My eyes dart around in search.
No sign. Thank God, he’s hidden.
I wave and make my way over and sit down. “Hello.” I smile, I open my textbook and get out my pens and notebooks. My heart is hammering hard in my chest, and this is undoubtedly the scariest thing I have ever done.
Antonio walks around the library as he does his check while Hugo goes back to wait out the front.
“Is he gone?” I whisper to Anna.
She watches Antonio over my shoulder. “Not yet.” Her eyes widen.
“What?” I stammer.
“Oh shit.” She puts her hand over her heart. “I thought he was going into the men’s bathroom.”
That’s where Giulio is hiding. “Did he?”
“No, he’s heading toward the door.”
I hold my forehead and slump into my chair. “Fuck, I’m so nervous.”
“About seeing him or getting caught?”
“Both.”
Anna giggles as she looks toward the door. “I’m going to go and check that the coast is clear.”
My scared eyes hold hers.
“Will you relax, you look like you saw a ghost,” she whispers as she walks over to one of the big windows looking out over the street, she peers out and then returns to the table.
“What’s happening?” I whisper. “What are they doing?”
“Antonio is on his phone and Hugo is leaning up against the car having a cigarette.”
I nod, feeling a little better. “Okay.”
Anna takes out her phone, she texts.
The coast is clear
I feel my underarms begin to heat as nausea rolls my stomach. “What if he doesn’t like me?” I whisper.
“There’s no chance of that, have you seen yourself?” she says as she watches the men’s bathroom door.
“I can’t even look,” I whisper as I stare straight ahead. “I swear to God, I’m about to throw up.”
Her eyes widen and she gasps.
“What?”
“Is that him?”
I nervously look over my shoulder and see Giuliano walking toward us, he’s wearing blue jeans and a black T-shirt with a navy cap pulled down to cover his face.
He’s tall, broad and muscular.
I don’t remember him being this hot. “Yes,” I squeak.
“Holy fuck, he’s gorgeous.” She swoons.
My heart hammers so hard it’s about to escape from my chest. “This is a bad idea.”
“This is a great idea.” She smiles at him as he approaches. “Drag him into an office and have your wicked way with him.”
I hit her leg. “Will you be serious?”
“I am.”
“Francesca,” a deep voice says from behind me. I look up into the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen.
Oh….
We stare at each other for a moment. “Hi,” I whisper.
The air crackles between us and he gives me a slow sexy smile.
Anna interrupts our moment. “Hello, I’m Anna.”
His gaze shoots up as if remembering his manners. “Hello, I’m Giuliano.” He shakes her hand. “Piacere di conoscerti.” (Translation: Nice to meet you.)
Anna smiles goofily up at him.
Italian.
He spoke to her in Italian.
We only ever speak in English.
He pulls out the chair beside me and sits down, he unpacks books onto the table to look the part. I can feel the warmth coming from his close proximity and I hear my pulse in my ears. I’ve never been this nervous in my entire life.
“Hello,” a voice says, we look up to see another boy, he has brown hair that has a bit of a curl to it and big lips and holy shit…who is this?
“This is Valentino, my best friend,” Giuliano says.
“I’m the wingman.” He smiles. “Call me Val.”
Anna’s eyes widen as she and he stare at each other, he gives her a slow sexy smile as he holds his hand out to shake hers.
I smirk as I watch the blood drain from Anna’s face, she nervously drags her hand through her hair. “Hello, I’m Anna.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Giuliano takes my hand in his and pulls it over onto his leg under the table, his quad muscle is large and hard. His hand sits over mine and is big, warm and soft, it exudes power. Anna glances down, her eyes widen with excitement and I swallow the lump in my throat.
Jeez.
Let’s get right to it then.
I feel faint.
“Let’s leave them to it,” Val says as he gestures to another table. “Shall we, Anna?”
Anna’s eyes flick to mine and I try to hide my smile. W ho’s nervous now, bitch?
“That would be great,” Giuliano replies. “Behave, Val.”
My eyes widen. Huh? Where are they going? Are they just going to leave me here with him all alone?
Oh hell.
What if I mess this up? Which is completely possible because I have literally no idea what on earth to say.
Anna picks up her books and moves her things to another table in the far corner and I watch as she and Val sit down and start talking as if they’ve known each other for ages.