CHAPTER 69

Lisa's POV

I hardly got a wink of sleep the whole night. I'm not sure why I didn't sleep or how I felt about it.

Do I have concerns about Damien?

Why did he tell me at such a last minute that he was going to Verona? Is he arriving for a professional meeting? Does he intend to visit me?

I shouldn't get my hopes up since I can see that he turned down my invitation for us to meet together.

Is he a threat to me?

How come I should be afraid? Am I concerned that he may sabotage our relationship? He doesn't seem to appreciate the fact that I laughed and spent yesterday night with Romeo. Romeo is a clown who makes me smile, yet he is just my buddy.

Even though I would want to date, I am aware that now is not the appropriate moment. It would be awful for me to start dating a new guy since I am already married to someone else. If he invites me out, I could genuinely think about him in the future. Despite his silence, I am certain that he feels the same way about me as I do about him.

I'm going to probably tell him what's going on. Last night, I lied to him, telling him that Damien was a buddy who was calling to see how I was doing.

I wish I had referred to him as a brother rather than a friend. Romeo may not have looked astonished and questioned me why my buddy was checking on me so late if I had referred to Damien as my brother.

I'm confused about how I'm feeling since my emotions are muddled.

He's coming, so I should be thrilled, right? I'm not, however. I have no idea why he is coming over, so how can I feel happy?

If I get too excited about the prospect of him visiting me so that we can enjoy the city together, and he really comes here for some business stuff, I'll be very unhappy.

I get out of bed to answer the door when it knocks just as I'm about to get out of bed.

"Ta-da!" Romeo shows up in front of my door with a bottle of red wine and a bouquet.

I say "Hey" as I quickly get over my disbelief and offer him a quick embrace.

When I release the embrace to take the flowers and let him enter the room, he sees my mood and inquires. Are you alright?

Yes, absolutely. I react swiftly. I laugh nervously, "I just feel a little tired from last night's walk."

I should figure out a way to cancel our date for tonight as well. Romeo is Spanish-born and also of Italian descent. He said he had been visiting Verona for three years and was more familiar with the city than I am.

For the days before I returned to America, he really made a commitment to show me around at night, and I gladly agreed since I was usually bored in my hotel room after Alejandro dropped me out at 7 p.m.

He sends me off earlier than normal these days, and I think he could be seeing someone.

Alejandro was chatting to a brunette when Romeo ran into me and started yelling for my name. I believe they are now dating.

The idea that finding love in Verona is truly possible is startling. Alejandro has discovered a lady who has previously spent a week here, together with Romeo's companion.

Romeo and I had previously entertained the possibility that we had also discovered ours, but after speaking with Damien last night and learning of his arrival this morning, I am no longer so confident.

"Hey!" Romeo motions with his hand to get my attention. Are you alright?

I responded "Yes" and set the wine bottle and bouquet of flowers on the table. I run into him as I turn around, and he grips my waist.

We remain in that position for a long as I consider how to escape his grip without insulting him.

His beautiful blue eyes beg, "Tell me what the matter is."

I feel a touch under the weather, but otherwise, I'm alright. I probably should stay in bed tonight and question whether I can go out.

I finally hear him say, "I'm sorry," and I breathe a sigh of relief. Should we go downstairs and get a quick breakfast?

I say to him, "I would like to have some coffee, I have no appetite."

Even though I'm hungry, I want him gone before Damien is introduced. He hasn't phoned me yet this morning, and I have no idea if he has left or not.

He could take longer than normal to depart if I agree to walk downstairs with him for breakfast, but if it's only coffee, I'll find a way to make sure he's gone before I go back up.

He takes my hand and says, "Let's go then," and I nod in agreement.

I don't want to spend any more time shopping for anything else to wear when I am already wearing a respectable sleep shirt and pants. I put on my flip-flop and saunter quietly behind him.

He turns to face me and says "Last night was amazing", as I use my keys to lock the door.

It gives me a grin. Last night was enjoyable for me as well, but Damien's surprise call ended it early.

Romeo and I have been doing this for two nights straight, and today should have been the third, but that won't be feasible.

I wasn't anticipating a call from Damien. I believed he had no interest in how I was doing in Italy, so I tried to make the vacation worthwhile. When I arrived, he didn't phone me; instead, he sent me a text message, which I didn't respond to right away since I had assumed he would call but he didn't.

He hadn't called when I submitted my response, and now, a week later, he is.

Sincerely, I didn't think he would contact me again. I had already focused my thoughts on the notion that we would meet when I got home.

Actually, I was attempting to be sympathetic. A sympathetic false wife, I suppose. I am aware of his hectic schedule, but I'm sure he can find a minute to contact me.

But I do get it. He is quite active. He doesn't have time to phone insignificant individuals.

Romeo says to me, "You better be good by tomorrow, or I'll have to whisk you away tomorrow night," and he chuckles at his own joke.

I also laugh.

Damien should go by tomorrow, I hope. If he is here for business, he should leave in a day or two, which won't make Romeo suspect anything.

I've been successful in keeping him apart from Alejandro. He could assume I'm cheating on Damien first, in which case he might question me once more about the reports.

Romeo starts babbling on about their date from the night before, but I am far away. As we down the stairs to the lobby and go to the coffee shop just outside the hotel, my thoughts are miles away.

Romeo unlocks the store's entrance, and we both enter.

I stay behind him while he orders two coffees, trying to figure out how to get him to go so I can go back upstairs and contact Damien to find out whether he has landed or not.

He smiles and hands me a cup of coffee after getting it.

I muster up the willpower to grin back. With my other hand, I grab hold of his and lead the way outside.

Do you now feel better? We cross the street to go to the hotel's side.

"Really not. I'm in a bad mood. I should leave to relax.

Is the flu present? He worries as he looks down at me. Should I call an ambulance?

Saying "No, no, no!" I recite. "Don't worry, I'll be OK. All I want to do is sleep.

We are facing one other as we stand by the side of the road, and I'm still holding his hand. "I should leave you then," I say.

Thankful for the advice to leave, I swiftly agreed and let out a long sigh of relief. I said, "Thank you."

He gives me a hug and says, "I'll call you." He doesn't leave as I start to back away; instead, he stares at me intently.

He leans down to kiss my forehead just as I'm going to shove him away. I shut my eyes as his kisses rest on my forehead and wait for it to stop so I may ascend.

It's "Lisa Russell?" The moment I recognize the voice, I push Romeo aside and let the cup of coffee in my hand fall to the ground.

I look up to see an automobile at the side of the road. When Romeo and I came over here, it wasn't there. Even the sound of a vehicle loading up next to us escaped my ears.

Who am I thinking of?

Romeo yells at me "Hey" just as the vehicle window is winding down and I turn to face him.

"Damien?!"