Page 8

Chapter

Seven

Robbie enjoyed the gondola ride. With Alice in his arms, and not angry at him, he could enjoy anything. He savored the sweet smell of raspberries and cream and her silky hair brushing his cheek and nose.

He searched the alleys, bridges, and walkways but saw nothing out of place besides some tourists noticing them and staring, probably wondering if they were celebrities with their obvious bodyguards in front of and behind them. Price and Merrick diligently kept watch.

The ride was over an hour, and every moment was filled with all things Alice—laughing when he said anything even half funny, cuddling into him, looking up at him with those big dark eyes he could get lost in.

The experience finished far too quickly. Their guide pushed through the busy Grand Canal and to the docks, and Robbie helped Alice back onto the wooden-planked dock.

“We made it,” she said, smiling sweetly at him.

He palmed the gondolier some money. “Our guide was an expert.”

“ Ciao .” The man grasped his hand and then blew Alice a kiss.

They waited for Price and Merrick, then made their way back through the tangle of the main square. Robbie reached for Alice’s hand, but she twisted and pointed, pulling her hand away.

“Do you see that line of people? I think we can ride up the tower and get a bird’s-eye view of the city.”

Robbie frowned. Why would she snuggle into him for the gondola ride but avoid his hand now? “The tower’s on the schedule for tomorrow.”

“Oh, good.” She gave him a smile that lacked the power of her earlier ones, and she didn’t clap her hands in delight as she often did. What had happened?

She walked off, and he kept pace with her. They made it through the busier tourist spots and onto a quieter side street.

“You’d better point out the way now,” she said. “I’d get us hopelessly lost.”

The sun was close to setting. From a security standpoint, he didn’t want to be out past dark.

From a man longing for the love of his life to cuddle in close to him, he wouldn’t mind getting lost on these side paths and walking slowly arm in arm through the streets lit only by streetlamps.

This was where she’d always dreamed of going on a honeymoon.

If only he could make those dreams come true.

“All right,” was all he said.

“Anything else on the schedule today?”

“Madelyne has us scheduled for a fancy dinner at Il Rodetto. It’s close to our place. Do you want to change into a fancy dress? Or we can walk straight there and be a little early.” The Alice he remembered would want to put on a beautiful dress.

She clapped her hands together and beamed. “We definitely need to get all dressed up.”

Robbie would wear whatever she asked if she continued to beam at him like that. “Should we buy me the yellow suit on the way back?” he asked as they sauntered over a bridge.

“Oh, yes please.” She laughed. “Honestly, no. I don’t have my phone, so I can’t take pictures and send them to Chase.”

He laughed, but then it hit him. “Wait a minute. Do you and Chase keep in touch? ”

“No. I was teasing.” She looked askance at him. “You think any of your friends would reach out to me without us being together?”

He mulled that over and knew they wouldn’t.

When Brandon had set up this crazy two-week adventure, Robbie had been terrified of being set up with Alice and then furious when he found out that she was in danger and no one had told him about it.

Brandon had teased that he’d set Alice up with Emmett if Robbie didn’t want to partner with her.

He’d threatened to remove Emmett’s pointer fingers.

Emmett had promised he’d only looked twice at Alice, never a third time, out of respect for Robbie.

Everybody else in the room had smiled at that, but he knew his friends were loyal to him and he needed them in his corner.

If only he could call Chase and tell him about all the conflicting feelings Alice was stirring in him.

All of his friends were doing similar adventures simultaneously.

How were they doing? What were their counterparts like?

He’d promised Brandon and Madelyne not to reach out to any of Squadron 7 except Brandon or Rockwell these two weeks.

Even with his closest friend Chase, he didn’t get into emotional stuff and doubted he’d tell his friend more than that he was a mess.

“Robbie?”

“Apologies,” he said. “I know they wouldn’t keep in touch with you. They’re loyal to me.”

She nodded, but then she looked crestfallen.

They walked quietly for a few moments and finally he got brave enough to ask, “Are you all right?”

She shrugged. “My best friends are dead. It’s rough.”

He reached for her hand then, and she didn’t resist as he threaded their fingers together and hoped his touch brought some comfort.

“I lost a friend on a mission. Trace Edgely.” He smiled thinking of the jokester Trace.

He’d reminded Robbie and Chase of their friend Parker, who was always messing around.

He lost his smile, thinking of the sniper’s fire and the bullet that had gone straight through Trace’s neck.

“I understand how rough it is. I’m sorry for your loss. ”

“Thank you.” She peered up at him as they plodded along, their steps slowing even further. “I’m sorry for yours.”

“Appreciate it. ”

Neither of them said anything else, but there was a camaraderie between them. They made it back to the condo half an hour later and separated to change and get ready for dinner.

Robbie quickly dressed in a button-down pale blue shirt and black slacks. He tried to tame his hair and beard with some water. It didn’t really help. He considered tying the hair back out of his face but feared it would look cheesy. Should he shave the beard and find a way to cut his hair?

He studied himself in the mirror and then shook his head.

There was no reason to do either. Alice’s reservations with him didn’t seem to have anything to do with his long hair or the beard.

They were deeply buried and festering resentments from years of pain and no contact.

She’d acted like she wished he would’ve reached out, but then she’d blocked his number.

Their relationship now was a riddle he had no answer for.

He hurried out of his suite, down the stairs, and into the main area. Curtis was in the kitchen, fixing himself something to eat.

“How was the day?” the guard asked.

“Great. Beautiful city, and the waterways were unique. Alice loved the architecture. Have you been here before?”

“No. River and I walked around for a bit. We’ll be with you tomorrow for all the tours.”

“Sounds good.”

Curtis lifted a hand and turned back to the microwave.

Robbie paced, looking out at the lights of Venice as he waited for Alice. Curtis finished eating and headed back up the stairs.

A few minutes later, he heard movement on the stairs and his stomach flipped over. He hurried to the bottom of the stairs, anxious to see …

Price strode down.

“Oh.” Robbie backed away.

“Waiting for someone?” Price’s dark eyes twinkled at him.

“Not you, that’s for sure.”

Price chuckled.

A door opened and closed, and they both turned. Alice appeared at the top of the stairs and paused, as if she knew Robbie needed to appreciate this view.

The breath was walloped out of him as he stared with wide eyes and a slackened jaw. Alice’s dress was V-neck, had short sleeves, and fell to the floor. It was white with little flowers on it, a soft material that clung to her curves in the most alluring way and set off her dark coloring.

“Breathe, man,” Price murmured, slapping him on the back.

Robbie gasped in a breath and straightened to his full height, extending his hand to her as if he were some prince waiting for his princess.

Price chuckled and turned, striding into the kitchen to give them some space.

Alice glided down the stairs, her steps slow and measured, her gaze focused on him. She placed her hand in his and all was right in the world. Robbie knew he should say something, but he was still having trouble breathing.

“You’re exquisite,” he murmured in a gravelly voice.

“Thank you.” She beamed at him. “You … your clothes fit your build nicely.”

Robbie heard a low chuckle from the kitchen.

He didn’t waste the time to shoot Price a dirty look.

He stroked his beard with his free hand.

“You don’t like the hairy wildebeest look?

” He acted injured, but he recognized he looked wild with all the hair.

It was intimidating to many people, but it helped him fit in with some of the scuzziest men on the planet, which was the purpose.

“No, I don’t. The Aquaman look isn’t my favorite,” she admitted, still smiling. “I can’t even imagine how I’d kiss you with all that hair …” Her voice trailed off, and she looked shocked at her own words.

“Kiss me?” he managed, his imagination spinning back to all the kisses they’d shared in years past. Was she willing to kiss him? That would change everything. He’d go shave this very moment.

“Oh, look at the time. We’d better get to our appointment … dinner.”

Robbie studied her, waiting for her to admit she would kiss him. She was the one who’d brought it up .

“Price?” she called, stepping around Robbie. “Are you accompanying us to dinner?” Her voice was high and tight, and she sounded too formal for his Alice.

“Yes, ma’am. Let me just grab Merrick.”

Price pumped past them and up the stairs.

Robbie was left staring at Alice, but she wouldn’t look at him. She wasn’t his Alice anymore, and there wasn’t the easy familiarity and trust between them any longer.

It would be impossible to get back there.