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‘We can actuallybuythis stuff,now?’

‘Sì. It is fresh from the oven. They bake early to give time for everything to be delivered to different bakeries.’

When I spotted my favourite pastries, my eyes brightened and I nodded my head towards them.

‘I think you already know what I’d like.’

‘Va bene.’ Romeo grinned.

Ten minutes later, we were sitting on a bench near the sea eating freshly bakedpasticciotto.

‘Grazie mille,’ I said, wiping some pastry crumbs from the corner of my mouth. ‘I didn’t think it was possible, but these are even tastier straight out of the oven.’

‘I am glad you like it. I am sorry I could not organise a special romantic dinner like the other matches had, but I hope that this freshpasticciottowill make up for it.’

‘Are you joking?’ I raised my voice. ‘Tonight’s been bloody brilliant! You organised a late dinner on a rooftop. No, not justanyrooftop. Onyourrooftop. You showed me your home, views of this beautiful town, you cooked a delicious barbecue feast under the stars, then took me to get my favourite pastry which I’m now eating by the sea with the most incredible man created. If that isn’t romantic, I don’t know what is!’

‘Oh.’ Romeo blushed. ‘Grazie,’ he said before stifling a yawn. ‘Scusi. I am tired.’

‘I’m not surprised. You’ve been working all day, then we had that emotional rollercoaster this afternoon and now it’s almost three in the morning and we’re still out. Come, on, Mr. It’s time to get you to bed. Are you staying at the hotel tonight?’

‘Sì.’

‘Great! Let’s go.’

When we arrived at the hotel, this time Romeo insisted that he drop me off within the grounds because it was too late for me to walk alone. I’d hidden under a blanket in the back seat so the security guard at the gate wouldn’t see me with him.

I expected Romeo to say goodbye in the car, but he insisted that although the grounds were safe, he’d walk me to my room. Because Victoria had asked us to be discreet, he put on a jacket to cover his uniform and wore the cap again.

‘Thanks for walking me home and for an amazing night,’ I whispered when we got to my door. ‘Have a good sleep.’

‘I am not ready to leave you yet,’ he said. ‘So, unless you have any objections, I would like to stay the night with you.’

‘Course! I’d love that!’ We stepped inside, this time closing the door behind us.

Romeo then flipped his baseball cap backwards, gently nudged my body back, then leant against the doorframe and kissed meoh, so slowly.

As our tongues gently flicked against one another’s, a moan slipped from my mouth. This was heaven.

Then, without saying a word, Romeo scooped me up in his arms, carried me to the bedroom, kicked open the door, then laid me down on the bed.

He straddled me, then gently peeled my clothes off before removing his.

Romeo’s dark eyes bored into me like lasers and I couldn’t tear my gaze away.

I didn’t move. I didn’t talk. I wasn’t sure I could, even if I wanted to.

‘Sammie,’ he growled, ‘I would like to make love to you now.Va bene?’

‘Sì,’ I panted, struggling for breath, before nodding enthusiastically.

He rolled on a condom, then slid inside me. As our bodies rocked together in perfect harmony, I realised that what he’d just said was true.

Romeo had said he wanted to make love to me and that was exactly how it felt.

In the beginning it was just sex, but now it was clear from the way he looked at me and the way I knew I was looking at him that there were real feelings involved.

Deep feelings.