Page 29 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
8
Destiny
Tour guide? My social life is pathetic and I confess I don’t really know where to take him. Now I’m laughing at myself for resorting to Google.
I didn’t ask how many days during the two weeks he wants me to help him so I’ll put together four days’ worth of itinerary and run it by him tomorrow when we meet. That should be enough. I can’t believe he wants to pay me to show him around. This is nuts. But, he’s also right, I could use the money.
My phone chimes.
Candi:Hey! How did it go with Nicco?
Me:Can you talk?
My phone rings.
“Tell me everything!” Enthusiasm bursts out of her. “I’m packing to head out of town so I have you on speaker.”
“Where are you off to?”
“Hawaii. I’ve never been there before. It’s an amazing shoot for Guess and I’m so excited! Come on, tell me what happened with Nicco.”
“Okay.” I sigh. “So, not only am I going through with this ridiculous deal we made, but it seems that now I’m going to be his tour guide here and there over the next two weeks.And, he insists on paying me.”
“Well, isn’t this interesting.” I can see her tapping together her fingertips with a mischievous grin plastered on her face.
“He’s just looking for someone to show him around so he has a better feel for things when he moves here someday, that’s all,” I say, trying to douse whatever fantastical thoughts are brewing in her head. “I don’t even know where to take him.”
“You’re resourceful. You’ll figure it out.”
“I’m thinking some touristy things, you know, to give him a little taste of that stuff. And then I thought I’d take him to a few off-the-beaten-path places, even though my life is so boring I don’t even know what those places might be.” I chuckle. “Where doyouthink I should take him?”
“The Hollywood sign for sure. But I’m thinking you should spend a day in Malibu. You can hit the beach, a winery, and eat at Malibu Farm. That would be a fun day.”
“Yeah, that would be good. Oh hey, what does dolce ricotta means? Is it some kind of cheese?”
“What?” She laughs.
“Dolce ricotta. He says it when we’re leaving each other. I don’t know what it means, but it sounds like some kind of cheese.” Now I laugh at how silly it sounds.
Her laugh grows louder. “I think you’ve got something wrong in your translation. I’m pretty sure he’s not saying, goodbye cheese.” She laughs harder still. “Shit, I gotta go. My limo’s here to take me to the airport. I love you. Tell me more later.”
“Okay, Love you. Bye.”
Malibu is one good idea. That’ll definitely fill up a day. The beach though? I’m not about to let Niccolo Mancini see my shapeless body in a bikini. I’ll wear a suit, but I’ll keep my coverup on.
I change into jean shorts and a tank, grab my water bottle, and settle in at my computer to do some research and plan a few days of fun activities for Nicco. But first, I Google him.
While there are many articles about his movie and his music, there isn’t much about his personal life. Hmmm. I was hoping to learn a little more about him. Well, I guess I’ll learn as we go.
A few hours later, I’ve created itineraries for four days that I know I would have fun doing. I just hope Nicco will. Nicco. I can’t believe I’m going to be spending four days with the hottest freaking man who I’ve been having torrid fantasies about for months. God, every time he does that kiss-on-the-cheek thing, I feel like I’m going to melt to the ground. I know that sounds childish and ridiculous, but I can’t help it. He just has this sexy energy that makes my entire body tremble.
Our plan is for him to come to my house around eleven a.m. so I can get some writing done in the morning after my workout. Then we’ll grab lunch, head to the observatory, hike to the Hollywood sign, and call it day.
Fueled by thoughts of Nicco, I get some words written before I go to bed. I can fill in the practical parts of the story once I’ve interviewed him. Right now, the steam is all I can think about.
Holy hell was my dream realistic last night. I swear I could feel the warmth of his lips on my skin as he trailed hot, feathery kisses across my collarbone. Thankfully there was no smoky smell in my dream. It was just the two of us, together, alone.
His strong hands on my waist pinned me against the wall. He moved slowly, determined, trailing from my collarbone up the side of neck, nibbling, kissing, sucking.
