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Once I’d bought my souvenirs, Romeo took some photos of me on my phone with thetrullihouses as a backdrop and this time I checked they’d come out okay.

It was going to be weird to have a memory book with just photos of me on my own, but I still wanted to document the trip.

I’d thought about asking Romeo to join me in the photos, but the memory book was supposed to show the highlights with my match, not my Love Alchemist.

That’d reminded me to message Edward to check on him. He still hadn’t replied, but he was probably resting.

After taking more photos, Romeo took me to visit a church. We bumped into some of the other guests there, so we’d hung out with them until it was time to meet the others, then we’d gone out for lunch.

Thankfully we were on a big table, so I was able to chat to other people instead of sitting at a table for two with Romeo which would’ve been awkward.

Once lunch was over we’d got back on the coach. During the journey I’d admired the views and replied to the messages Stella had sent asking for feedback on the designs she’d created so far for a romance library who’d recently hired her as their freelance graphic designer. Then, before I knew it, the driver was pulling into the hotel.

Everyone filed off the coach and as I stepped off, I saw Romeo was chatting to the guests and checking that they’d had a good time.

Once he was alone, I went over.

‘Grazieagain for walking around with me today.’

‘Prego. I know the day did not turn out as you hoped, but did you still enjoy it?’

‘I had a great time, thanks toyou,’ I smiled. I was telling the truth. I’d smiled and laughed a lot today. Romeo wasn’t as up himself as I’d first thought. He actually seemed like a decent guy.

‘You know that I did not create the Alberobello or build thetrullihouses, right?’

‘No?’ I clutched my chest in mock surprise. ‘You mean you weren’t born in the fourteenth century?’

‘Surprisingly not,’ he smirked.

‘That’s a shame, because I was going to ask you what anti-ageing cream you used to keep you looking so young and hot.’

Oh, fuck. I just called him hot.

‘Sadly, I was only born in thefifteenthcentury,’ he said, thankfully ignoring the fact that I’d just admitted that I thought he was fit. ‘And you do not need anti-ageing cream. You look beautiful exactly how you are.’

My eyes popped and my brain froze.

Did he just call me beautiful?

‘I, er…grazie,’ I blushed. He was just being polite.

‘Sorry,’ he winced. ‘I hope that did not make you uncomfortable. It is just… I have strong opinions about how society judges people just for getting older. People are beautiful and that beauty comes in many forms, not just the standardised image that is presented to us in the media. And now I am rambling,’ he laughed. ‘We were having a light-hearted conversation and I turned it into something heavy. Forget I said anything.’ He waved his hand away dismissively. ‘I am just glad you enjoyed the trip.’

‘I ramble all the time.’ I flashed him a reassuring smile. ‘My superpower is that I always speak before I think. I’m surprised I can walk anywhere because my foot is permanently stuck in my mouth!’ I cackled. ‘I really enjoyed the trip, so thanks.’

We held each other’s gaze again and I swear I felt a crackle of electricity pulsing between us. Must be the sunshine frying my brain.

The sound of a phone buzzing snapped us out of our trance.

‘Prego.’ Romeo pulled out his phone. ‘I must get this.’

‘Okay. I’m going to check on Edward.’

He nodded then waved, before walking off to take the call.

I headed to Edward’s room. I’d asked Romeo earlier to give me his room number so that I could check on him without having to go to reception. For some reason he seemed reluctant, but I’d persisted and eventually, he’d given it to me.

When I got to the door I knocked, but there was no answer. I knocked again.