Page 57 of Tempted Hearts
I was about to tell Cole he’d forgotten his clothes, but I was distracted by the billowing sheer white window coverings. Moving toward them, I pushed one aside and gasped.
They weren’t just windows.
We had a balcony, its open doors hidden by the curtains.
I stepped out, not believing my eyes. I’d known we were close to the city center, thanks to Cole. But he’d made zero mention of the fact that the back of our hotel overlooked the most famous of all Milan landmarks.
I was staring at the Duomo di Milano.
Holy shit. What a view.
The piazza was filled with people, most holding up their phones to take pictures or videos of the beautiful structure. I could have stood there all night looking at it. And did, for a while.
“Cattedrale Metropolitana della Natività della Beata Vergine Maria.”
I smelled fresh soap before I saw him as Cole joined me on the balcony.
If the view in front of me was impressive, the one beside me was almost equally so. Hopefully I didn’t gape openly before looking away, but the sight of Cole in a white robe—hair wet and tousled, no glasses—was… a bit much.
Breathe, Jules.
I couldn’t look at him.
“Come again?” I asked, my voice unnaturally high.
Way to play it cool.
“That’s its full name,” he said. “Though most people just call it the Duomo.”
“Oh. Yeah.”
No other words came out.
“Beautiful view.”
“It is.” I turned toward him by accident.
Except… Cole wasn’t looking out toward the Piazza del Duomo.
He was looking at me.
My heart picked up its pace.
Was he going to kiss me? Imagine a first kiss here, on this balcony, with that view.
First kiss.
With a guy like him, there might be a second or third, but that would be the extent of it. I had to stop thinking I was in the midst of some grand Italian romance.
“Did you pick your pillow?”
Pull it together.
“No. I realized there was a balcony. No one mentioned this view. You’d think Delaney or Parker would have said something.”
His sharp jawline flexed.
“They don’t have this view.”
