Page 111 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
“Don’t cry, mia dolce ragazza. You will have all of this and more.”
His tenderness is in direct contrast to the tension and disappointment twisting inside me. Though my heart wants to keep hope that I can have this kind of relationship and I want to believe my soul mate is out there looking for me, the realistic side of me has lost faith. “I don’t think so.” I shake my head and stand up, fearing if we keep talking about this, I’ll break down entirely.
Thankfully, he takes my cue, dropping the subject and walking with me. We spend the afternoon walking through the rest of the village, popping in and out of shops. At the end of one of the cobblestone streets is a small jewelry store. It’s empty when we enter except for a gray-haired gentleman behind the counter, reading a newspaper. He stands up to greet us and he and Nicco exchange pleasantries in Italian while I smile. Taking our time, we look at the beautiful pieces through the glass cases and curio cabinets.
A silver locket catches my eye. It’s delicate with intricate etching on it.
“It’s a stunning necklace,” Nicco says from over my shoulder.
“Isn’t it? It’s a locket. You can put pictures in it or even an inscription. I’ve always thought there’s something so sentimental about lockets.”
“How so?”
I turn to him. “Well, usually, they house something very dear to the person. Their children, their parents, their spouse, or a quote that has a deep or personal meaning to them. Lockets are very special. I think they are anyway.”
“You should get it.”
“Oh no. I don’t need it. Besides, I’ve spent more money on this trip than I planned to.” I pause, looking at the locket one last time. “Where to next?”
We spend the next few hours browsing through the rest of the shops in the village. By late afternoon, we head back to the villa. Angelina and I chat about the day we had while Nicco plays with Franco.
Earlier in the day, he suggested we leave at 5:30 for our dinner reservation so I excuse myself to get ready. I haven’t yet worn the two-piece white outfit Candi snuck into my luggage. I put it on, touch up my makeup, and twist my hair up into a loose bun, leaving some pieces around my face.
When I enter the kitchen where Nicco and Marco are talking and Angelina is preparing their dinner, Nicco stops mid-sentence. His eyes travel from my head to my feet and back up. I catch Angelina and Marco steal a quick glance at each other, the corners of her mouth turn up slightly before she returns her attention to the stove.
Dressed all in black with several buttons open on his shirt, exposing the top portion of his furry chest and his gold necklace, Nicco is fiercely hot.
“I, uh.” He clears his throat, turning back to Marco and Angelina. “We’re going to go to supper. We’ll see you later.”
“Enjoy your supper,” Angelina says as Nicco approaches me.
“Thank you.” I wave in their direction.
We walk out to Marco’s car and Nicco opens the passenger door for me, lingering by my side. “This is the outfit Candi packed for you?” he asks.
“It is.”
“I told you she knows how to dress her models. You look beautiful.” The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The way he looked at me earlier makes his words feel true.
When we enter the restaurant, I’m awestruck. The hostess takes us through the main dining area which is the opening of a mammoth stone cave. The rough, stony walls and ceiling lead to the open-air edge of a scenic cliff that overlooks the sea below. We’re seated at our table, suspended above the water. The view is breathtaking as the water kisses the sky. A delicate lamp curls above our crisp, white-linen draped table, providing warm lighting. Subdued live music sets a romantic mood.
The menu offers an impressive selection. I order spaghetti alle vongole that’s flecked with sharp capers and topped with a breadcrumb crunch and Nicco gets fresh swordfish with stewed friggitelli peppers and cherry tomatoes with marinated anchovies.
“Do you see that beach over there?” He points to a stretch of sand below and behind me.
“Yes.”
“That’s Frontone beach. I’ll take you there tomorrow and we’ll go for a ride on a jet ski, okay?”
“Okay, that sounds fun. I’ve never been on one.”
“I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Once our stomachs are full, we sip our wine and enjoy the view of the never-ending sea. It’s so peaceful.
“When we first met, you said your career is struggling. But when I researched you, you seem very accomplished. Even a best-selling author. How is it you’re struggling?”
“You researched me?” I didn’t expect that.
