KE

e was even more soft-spoken than Jill. But once Mathilda Nielsen switched

Uli na, anak. Your d

Still talking it o

r strained voice sounded more emotional over the phone. "I kno

, Mom.

that's not something you'll be doing a long time." Mommy sighed

p breath and closed my eyes. The guilt just constr

er. Now she sounded rather upset, he

gging, but I knew better than to respond wi

en I finally heard a pleasant goodbye from my mom, she

plane ticket yet. And now I just promised my

implode. My eyes felt warm and teary now. I'd hesitated all week, knowing my mother would force me to quit my job here

er take time off work or just quit, something my handlers woul

and and kept studying my face, and the woman's pale pink lips smiled wi

vibrant and as long as I could manage, with Miles' go

her 40s. Mrs. Falco was also half-

I regarded Miles' fat

y before he sat down on the corner chair, his bodyguards no

razie. Come

ò sto bene." Mr. Falco

ving me a tight hug. "Where's that secretive son of mine?" Mrs. Fal

r

imil

ap

nd found Miles leaning against the

e looked up from his phone. The

ng about a long drive. Both her English and Italian sounded fluent. Miles'

knew he favored his artist name instead of his

mbling while his hand rubbed his nap

nd walked around the kitchen. The hem of her simply elegant dress sashayed along her ankles after

't even p

pped raiding the fridge and propped a

t to pull a face, my confus

s took swift steps towards

ur way to the guest room on the farthest right of the house

with his parents? I had yet to hear a proper explan

Umbr

ue why we were having this conversation. As I frowned at the strong smell of cigarettes in the room, my ba

h his hair cut short. It just made him look...manlier. For seconds, Miles' expressio

d, my voice almost

d after a moment of just staring at me.

and sighed. "I-I can

rm touching my waist, his strong chin now a

led. Dad

ed me away from the wall and sat me down on

st possible." I crossed my arms and regarded my

ced down at my clo

, recalling his mother's compliments earlier.

with." Miles scratche

ement subside. "Your cousin's house i

We'll be stayin

epeated with

leaned in. The look on his face seemed

e to,

my hand. "Then I'll dri

of sadness mixed with his hopeful gaze, and hi

couldn't just turn him down. "Please? Two days," Miles promised.

ne...but

st my cheek. Goosebump

p. I forced my eyes to open, fighting off the drowsi

head was stuck in between someone's warm neck and shoulde

on his lap? What the heck

ice rumbled against my ear that sta

ny sudden movements. My grogginess had worn o

r some sentences, I was able to infer that the affluent businessman was t

his stiffness and slight discomfiture, and his muted sigh

. One of his arms loosely hugged me by the waist, and I could feel his musc

rstand, now they were lecturing Miles on how

break up, Maximiliano, but.

ma," Mile

t. You want her to stay here with you? Tell her parent

Miles said before a stretch of

at Miles was lying to his own parents, and the fact that they

es scoffed and stayed closelipped a

ept my mouth shut and got off of Miles' lap, my current

ed. He didn't say anything as I pulled a

parents were talking to him about

I chose to keep quiet. Facing forward now, I could see his parents sitting behind

red to have only two members of their security detail with t

d feeling of insecurity now interfered with my thought

urmured the g

r what he'd told his parents. To brush the thought aside

lian countryside didn't quite compete with Tuscany's quaint churches and cathedrals, rustic villages,

an array of centuries-old structures that te

o captivated my undivided attention. Worthy painting subjects as well were the pictures

iated the scenery. We traveled by another historic town. The impr

his wife about the family business: from their recently messed up cargo shipments to

wanted to keep on ignoring everybody. I sat still,

nto a frown, his curly hair all over his forehead. The lack of lighting in the vehicl

stayed a few words,

kept staring at me as if waiting for me to spe

his handsome face, I grabbed his

:19

reach Ricchar Falco's house soon. Ricchar was Miles' first cousin an

iles mutter

I'd worn a sweater above my skirt. I tried not to mind our physical

pretend? Why would he ev

ea came to mind. Did he r

my phone last night-something we had yet to discuss. Shouldn't make anything out of it

nd again. How was he? Was Jill at the hospita

k was one thing, but, how could I just go on vacation with Miles and his fami

needed to talk. Now. If only we could get to somewher