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Chapter 16
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“I’m divorced,” she finally said, the words still strange on her tongue. “Recently. My marriage ende badly
Fabio fell silent for a brief moment, waiting for her to continue. When she didn’t, his eyebrows shot up in surprise “That’s it? That’s your entire reason?”
Cassie blinked in disbelief. “Isn’t that enough?”
“Enough?” He laughed–a warm, uninhibited sound that made the corners of his eyes crinkle. “What century are you living in? A beautiful woman like you not having previous relationships would be the shocking part.”
He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering and utterly sincere. “I’m interested in you, Cassie–the person standing in front of me right now. Your past is just that–the past.”
Something squeezed in Cassie’s chest–not the familiar constriction of anxiety that had been her constant companion, but a warming sensation that spread outward. After months of emotional hibernation, feeling anything positive toward a man seemed almost traitorous to her healing process. Yet here she was, undeniably drawn to this open–faced Italian who looked at her like she was the only person in the world.
Before she could formulate a proper response, Fabio’s eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. “You need to get out of your head for a day. Let’s skip work–both of us. I want to show you something real.”
Cassie automatically glanced toward the main house, certain Martina would object to this blatant dereliction of duty. To her astonishment, Martina merely grinned when Fabio explained their plans, digging into her pocket for some cash, which she handed to her brother with a conspiratorial wink.
“Show her Sperlonga,” she said, her eyes dancing with mischief. “And don’t bring her back until sunset*
Cassie’s cheeks burned even hotter.
Though autumn had firmly established itself inland, the coastal air remained blissfully warm as Fabio’s convertible wound along cliff–side roads toward Sperlonga. Instead of taking her to some pretentious boutique to purchase designer items she didn’t need – Callum’s standard “date” approach–Fabio drove them to what looked like a postcard come to life.
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Perched on dramatic white cliffs, the village of Sperlonga cascaded down to meet a crescent of powdery sand and impossibly blue Mediterranean waters. Tiny white buildings huddled together like sugar cubes scattered by a
child’s hand.
“Roman emperors used to vacation here,” Fabio explained as they descended the stone steps toward the beach. “Two thousand years later, it’s still perfect.”
The brilliant turquoise water stretched before them, salt–laden breezes catching Cassie’s sundress. When she shivered slightly–more from anticipation than cold–Fabio immediately wrapped his linen jacket around her shoulders, his fingers lightly brushing her collarbone.
He stood beside her in just his thin shirt, brown curls dancing in the wind. His eyes caught the sunlight, transformed into the exact blue–green of sea glass. Cassie found herself staring, momentarily transfixed by the complete absence of calculation in his expression.
Without warning, Fabio grabbed her hand and pulled her into a run along the pristine shoreline. The warm sand yielded beneath her feet as they approached the water’s edge, where wave–dampened sand created a firm pathway between two worlds.
“Take your shoes off,” he urged, demonstrating by kicking off his own. When she hesitated, he dropped dramatically to one knee.
“Allow me, signorina,” he teased, but his touch was surprisingly gentle as he slipped off first one shoe, then the other.
“They’ll get ruined otherwise,” he explained earnestly, looking up at her with completely sincere eyes that made her breath catch.
When her bare feet touched the cool, damp sand, her eyes widened with childlike delight. The sensation was extraordinary–simultaneously firm and yielding, cool on top but warm underneath.
“Amazing, right?” Fabio grinned, grabbing her hand again and pulling her toward the crystal–clear shallows.
The Mediterranean wind whipped around them, filling her dress like a sail before dancing away, leaving her feeling inexplicably liberated. Her body, in motion, felt lighter than it had in years. Running–an activity she’d always avoided–suddenly became something she couldn’t get enough of.
It was as if Sperlonga had unlocked something within her. Cassie ran in circles, laughing openly, completely indifferent to the curious glances of locals. Nearby, Fabio watched her with undisguised joy before playfully splashing her with a wave of seawater.
“Hey!” she protested, retaliating with a much larger splash that left him delightfully soaked.
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The confrontation escalated into an all–out water fight, both of them drenched and breathless with laughter. In a moment of boldness, Cassie tackled him, sending them both tumbling into the gentle waves. The sputtering and laughing, her hair plastered to her face, his shirt clinging to his shoulders.
For a suspended moment, they froze–faces inches apart, breath mingling as the warm water swirled around them. Something electric passed between them, a current stronger than the gentle pull of the tide.
The pink glow of sunset bathed them as they finally made their way back up the beach, arms occasionally brushing,
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words unnecessary. Crystalline droplets caught the fading light, transforming ordinary moments into something
that felt remarkably like the beginning of healing.
