Roman Holiday

You'll Do

"Well this is me" Jess turned to him and laughed as they now stood outside her hotel.  Tom looked surprised and disappointed all in one go.

"But.." he turned and looked at the restaurant they just left, then at Jess then the hotel.  He smiled and smacked his forehead "well you DID say it wasn't far!" he looked down at her and she blushed, a mixture of excitement and wine adding to the flush.  This had been about as different an outcome to the evening as she had ever imagined. As she looked up at him, all 6'2" of him, she suddenly felt small and safe and about as happy as she could remember for a very long time.  

The evening had passed quickly, much too quickly for Tom's liking.  Jess was funny, sharp, engaging, hugely knowledgeable about Rome and very, very pretty.  He was usually much more reserved, it took a while for him to open up to strangers, but there was something about Jess. Something vulnerable and delicate that made him trust her.  She had been hurt, he could see that and it had made her careful.  Right now, careful was what he needed.  She wasn't the only one who had been burned, but by the looks of things, her burns were still pretty raw.

Their eyes had locked on several occasions and he felt himself becoming more and more keen to spend more and more time that way.  Was it the wine?  Was it the fact they were in Rome?  Who could tell, all he knew was she was fascinating and he, in turn, was fascinated.  He wanted to know everything there was to know about her, from her favourite colour to what she did for a living to... he even wanted to know what she felt like to kiss.  Yes, he decided, he really wanted to find that one out.  Sadly, he doubted that would happen any time soon.   Every time their eyes locked, she had pulled hers away, a shadow of reservation and sorrow crossing her face, preventing him from making good on his wish.

Papa and Mama had let them sit talking until well after they should have been closed, bringing dark intense espressos and warm smooth brandy after their meal even without being asked.  They pulled down the window blinds, put out the lights until all that was left was Tom, Jess and some candles.  Jess had laughed, blushed and looked down at the table in apology.

"Oh my god I am SO embarrassed " she said quietly "They are SO obvious.  They have never done this before I am SO sorry Tom. " she looked up, squinting through her fingers.  Tom laughed and pulled them away from her face gently,  continuing to hold them as their hands rested on the table.

"Oh Jess, please, it's ok" he smiled and his eyes twinkled in the candlelight. "I have always wanted to be in that scene from Lady and The Tramp- you remember.." he paused and she nodded, a thousand childhood memories coming flooding back. "So, this is as near as I will ever get.  We just needed to have the meatballs to make it perfect." They laughed together for a moment.

"Just the meatballs?  That's all that's missing?" she said quietly, her heart pounding despite herself,

"Yes" he said, leaning towards her, "otherwise this is perfect" her breath hitched as he leant over.  Was he?  Oh god he was - panic rose in her chest... then at the last moment, he kissed her cheek instead.  She was astonished to find she was overjoyed at this.  What the actual hell?  Tom Hiddleston was about to kiss her and she was glad he didn't?  Was she mad?  No, she knew she wasn't.  She knew she DID want to kiss him, just not here, not now.  She wanted to kiss him when there wasn't wine, wasn't candle light, wasn't expected.  Her whole love life had been a set up.  A lie, a scenario built to achieve a goal - Graeme's goal.  She needed to break the curse.  Needed to change the record.  Would Tom be interested enough, patient enough to wait for her to do just that?  It seemed so.

"Jess" he said when he pulled back "I know something happened, and I hope one day I will have earned your trust and you will tell me, but for now I am happy to just be with you." he squeezed her hand and she could have cried with relief "You and I are very similar in  ways you couldn't possibly imagine - well maybe you could but you know what I mean" he went on "I would be honoured to spend time with you in this wonderful city but I also understand if you would prefer to be alone.  I don't want to pressure you into anything, I just want to get to know you.  You are" he raised her hand and kissed the back of it, his eyes searching hers and for once she held on " very special."