Page 13 of Ruin

I clapped my hands together as a smile formed across my lips. “Oh. Good news. Perfect!”

Lorenzo’s attention turned back to me. “Yes. So…the bus route to Naples is not safe. A very serious structural issue. The road has been closed until repairs are complete.”

I stared at him, trying to make sense of his words. “What do you mean by closed? Like, no one can get out of Calabria?”

He replied slowly as if his accent was causing the confusion, “Uh…this is the main road that the buses take between here and Naples, Miss. Sometimes things like this happen. Only passenger vehicles can make the trip now.”

He smiled, waiting for my reply that never came as I continued to blink at him. “I am deeply sorry, but to make up for the inconvenience, we are taking care of everything. Your stay, food, and beverages will all be handled, and we will rebook the flight once the road is fixed. We will keep trying to get a car service for you, but they are booked days out right now.” Lorenzo smiled as his eyes filled with desperation.

“Yes…I guess,” I stammered, my voice wavering. “Wait…you’re covering everything? Why?”

“Yes, Miss,” he confirmed. “A gift from us to you. There was a note on your account to take eccellente care of you. Please, try not to worry. Just enjoy your time here.” He flashed a warm, reassuring smile.

“And Antonio? Our meeting?” I questioned as Lorenzo slid the new room key across the counter.

“Yes, of course. Antonio is off for the weekend, but I will leave a message for him on your behalf. In the meantime, we have put you in a fresh suite. It is our absolute best. You will love it,” Lorenzo said with a wink, wrapping his arms behind his lean frame, and bowing his head ever so slightly.

There was a note on my account?

Surely, Antonio felt bad for ghosting me and added the note.

Finally, a glimmering sign of hope for this deal!

I took the fresh room key, managing a polite smile as I thanked him, my face still painted with a puzzled expression.

Turning around, my eyes widened as they landed on the last person I expected to see.

Chapter Six

Claire

“Looks like fate,” he said with that disarming smile, the same one that seemed to pull me into a trance the night before. He stood before me, dressed in an all-black suit, crisply tailored and hugging in all the right spots, just like the night before. This time, without a tie, giving him a more casual and relaxed appearance.

I blinked slowly, processing the whiplash that was occurring. First, the extended stay, and now…him.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of confusion. “I have no idea what’s wrong with your roads,” I said, frustration seeping into my voice.

He chuckled softly and shrugged. “That sort of thing happens from time to time. Generally, in the winter, though. Odd that it would occur in August.”

I grasped the handle of my suitcase, trying to shake off the bewildering situation. As I started heading down the corridor toward the garden villas, he fell into step behind me. The quiet clatter of our footsteps and my suitcase wheels gliding along the tile was the only sound between us, other than the distant echoes of the fountain in the lobby.

I stopped abruptly and turned to him, my voice sharp as I asked, “What are you doing here?”

His smile did not waver, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity as he replied, “Oh, I was working, like most people do.”

I rolled my eyes and continued making my way down the long corridor to the garden.

I could practically hear the frustration in his exhale as he picked up pace to catch up to me again, calling out to me as he did so, “I did not mean to intrude. I was hoping you might take me up on my offer.” His tone heightened with excitement. “The stars have aligned…I happened to be heading to the office when I saw you at reception.”

I sighed, my gaze wandering down the hallway in search of the garden villas. “It’s fine,” I huffed, my tone reluctant.

I let this man distract me once. That won’t happen again.

His voice was warm and inviting, as opposed to mine. “Do you need help finding your way? I know this place like the back of my hand.”

I came to a fork in the hallway, unsure which one would take me where I needed to go. My shoulders dropped as I confronted the fact that I did, in fact, need his help. My hands rested on my hip as I snapped toward him, responding with as much appreciation as I could muster at the present, “Umm, yeah. The garden villa suites?”

“Yes, I can help with that,” he replied smoothly, a satisfied smile forming across his lips. “But what is your room number?” He glanced over his shoulder toward the lobby, as if checking to make sure no one was listening.