Mia, Mine #sytycw15 #RomanticSuspense Book 1

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18: Natalie woke to golden sunlight streaming in through the drapes, kissing a warm caress over her skin as she stretched the sleep from her limbs. She bit her lip as she sat up, wondering what Giovanni was doing at the moment. She could picture him now, a hard cast to his features to cover the inner turmoil swirling within him. She wanted to know what was weighing so heavily on him, to see if maybe-just possibly she could take some of the weight off of him and make it better. She bet that he could and would be such a better, happier person if maybe he just told someone of what was troubling him so deeply. Shaking off her seemingly never ending thoughts ALL about Giovanni, she swung her legs over the monstrous bed and slipped on a thin lace ivory silk robe and padded over to the window. She was surprised to find that it was almost noon. She usually woke up always around 7 or 8, but then again that wasn't her life anymore.

A knock sounded on the door and she about jumped out of her skin. Pulling the long silk ties tighter across her waist she shouted a soft 'Come in'. Nicholas entered and she noticed he was nervous. She was immediately on alert, her stomach a bundle of burning nerves that made her chest ache.

"What? What is it? What's wrong? Is it Giovanni?" she asked hurriedly.

Nicholas's eyes momentarily widened at the onslaught of questions before he composed himself. "No, it is nothing like that. It is umm... my wife...." He paused, shifted.

Natalie gestured impatiently for him to continue.

"She...she wants you to go to lunch with her today." He mumbled and Natalie put a hand to stifle the erratic beat of her heart.

"Oh, goodness. I thought it was something bad." She said and he mumbled something in Italian.

"When will she be here?"

"In about one hour." He said and with that he left.

Natalie stared at the spot he had just been, then shook her head as she walked over to the closet to start getting ready. Finally she decided on a strapless blue and white striped sundress that had a big bow underneath the breast.

It was fun and flirty and it didn't feel like it would crumple under her hands with the fine materials it was made of like a lot of the things Giovanni had bought her. Then she picked out some gold sandals put in some of the ivory pearls for earrings and slipped on a small bracelet that dangled on her wrist, then grabbed a tan sunhat. She stared at herself in the mirror before taking a deep breath, nodding to herself, and turning to start walking out of the room. She almost bumped into a man as she left, though.

He started mumbling apologies in Italian his eyes wide with fear. Her brows furrowed and she laid a hand on the man's shoulder.

He jumped as if her touch had scalded her.

"It's okay." She said and tried to do it in Italian, but she could tell she wasn't doing it right for the amusement that deepened the wrinkles around the old man's eyes before he sobered.

"I am sorry, Ms. Please do not tell Mr. Amaro. I am begging you." He pleaded and Natalie was completely dumbfounded for a moment. She realized that he was scared because he had ran into her.

What had Giovanni done? Ordered a no-touching zone?

She wasn't his damn property. She fumed for a moment silently and then realized the old man was still trembling with fear waiting for the moment where his life would be ripped from him. Natalie smiled reassuringly, not daring to lay a comforting hand on him for the fear she would terrify him even more.

"It is fine. Really." She whispered and his shoulders sagged with relief, but worry and weariness still worked his old face.

"What are you doing in here?" She asked.