Backup Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 4), page 4
With that, I took my glass and went inside, hoping she’d be open to my suggestion, even if I had taken her by surprise.
NINE
CHARLOTTE
I’d woken up at four in the morning, probably due to jet lag, and then dozed off here and there until nine. Feeling a little nervous after my last conversation with Damon, I’d taken breakfast in my room and then read a book until it was morning time back home.
I was torn on Damon’s offer.
On one hand, it was like a dream come true. To have a vacation romance with the guy I’d had a crush on for as long as I could remember … I mean, how amazing would it be?
On the flip side … what if it wasn’t amazing? What if it was awkward, or we didn’t have any chemistry, or God forbid, I got naked, and he ran screaming? After all, Damon was a supreme specimen, and I was a woman whose husband had started cheating because she gained weight while pregnant. My confidence level wasn’t exactly bursting.
And finally, what if having a fling messed up our friendship? That would be the worst possible outcome, even worse than the running and screaming.
When it was finally a decent hour back in the States, I picked up my phone and dialed Andi’s number.
“Hmph … ‘lo?” Andi grumbled and it sounded like she dropped her phone.
“Hello?” I asked, “Are you there?”
“Mmm, yeah. Char?” she asked sleepily, and I could hear sheets shuffling as she moved about in bed. “Everything okay?”
“I’m sorry to call so early, but … Damon’s here.” I whispered that last part, as if Damon was standing on the other side of my bedroom door listening in.
“What’d you say?”
“Damon. Is. Here.” That time I may have spoken a little too loud.
“Jeez, you don’t have to yell,” Andi said with a chuckle. “And I know. Whit told us. How’s it going?”
“You mean other than the fact that I found out he was here when he found me skinny dipping?” I sank down in my bed, feeling a flush of renewed embarrassment.
“Oh my gosh, that is awesome,” Andi said, perking up at the news. “Did he jump in with you?”
“No,” I practically shouted in response. “I would have died. He was a perfect gentleman.”
“That’s too bad,” she sighed.
“Well,” I amended, “he was a perfect gentleman at the beginning, but then he did offer me a proposition before I went to bed.”
“Do tell.”
“He suggested we have a fling over the next few weeks while we’re here alone,” I said, whispering again.
“Yes! That’s what I’m talking about. I love this for you.”
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“Oh my God, Charlotte. If you don’t take up that gorgeous man on his offer to make sweet, sweet love to you, repeatedly over the next few weeks, I will never forgive you.”
“But what about Luca?”
“Your brother is not invited,” Andi replied dryly.
“Eww, that’s not what I meant. He and Damon are best friends. Heck, Damon is one of my good friends. If this messes things up it could damage all of our relationships.”
“Or, it could be a fun, casual fling that fulfills all your deepest fantasies.”
“I have had a lot of those,” I mumbled in response.
“I know you have. Look, you’re both single adults, and you deserve to have some fun with a hot man.”
“But…”
“What?”
“I haven’t been with anyone since Nigel. And I’ve had a baby. I’m not exactly at the supermodel level of women he’s used to being with.”
“Okay, first of all, shut up. Second of all, Damon is the one who propositioned you, right? So, he’s obviously hot for your bod and wants to bring you endless hours of pleasure. I think you should let him.”
It was true. He was the one who brought it up and he obviously knew I’d had Sky.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said, chewing nervously on my bottom lip. “But what if over the course of the next few weeks I catch feelings for him? I mean, they’re probably right there under the surface where they’ve always been.”
“So, what if you do? What if he does?” Andi countered. “Why don’t you take a leap of faith and let what happens happen. Don’t put too much pressure on it, just enjoy yourself. Enjoy him … Lord knows I would. Damn, that is one fine man. Plus, he’s nice, funny, and talented. He’s pretty much the whole package. I say go for it.”
“I think you’ve just talked me into it,” I said with a nervous laugh.
“Yes! This is the best news I’ve had all day.”
“I just woke you up.”
“Fine, all month then. Seriously, I’m so happy for you and I’m going to spend the next few weeks living vicariously through you. Maybe when I get there, I can find a sexy Italian man who wants to give me a vacation to remember,” she said hopefully.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” I promised. “Now, I’ll let you get back to bed, I know you have to be up early to get to work on the farm. Thanks for talking this out with me.”
“Anytime. And, now that I’m up, I think I’ll head to the big house and see if I can wrangle some breakfast out of my mother.”
“Okay,” I said with a laugh. “Thanks again and have a good day.”
“You too … no, you have a very sexy day,” she joked, then hung up before I could yell at her.
I put down my phone and let took a deep breath.
Am I really going to do this?
TEN
DAMON
I’d started my day with coffee on the balcony, and honestly, if I could begin each day that way, I’d be a content man.
There was a light breeze, which stirred up the scents from the garden and perfumed the morning air. The coffee was strong, much stronger than your regular cup of Joe back in the States and gave me a real jolt.
Inspired by the view, I grabbed my travel bag of supplies and a sketchbook and went outside to find the perfect place to create.
I ended up in the back garden, to the left of the pool. There was a bench, as if it were waiting just for me, situated in front of periwinkles, bluebells, and violets. It was this riot of color that I just had to get down on paper.
I don’t know how long I sat there, or how many sketches I started and stopped until I had one I liked, but by the time Charlotte settled on the bench next to me, I was putting the final touches on the painting.
“That’s gorgeous,” she said softly.
My lips curved as I did the last stroke.
“Thanks,” I replied when I was done. “It’s easy when there’s so much beauty.”
I glanced at her and when her cheeks pinked up, I knew she caught my meaning.
“I have a feeling I’m going to fill a number of books while I’m here.”
Charlotte nodded absently, her eyes still on the canvas.
“Did you have breakfast?” I asked her as I realized I hadn’t eaten anything yet.
“I did, but now it’s lunch time.”
“Is it?” I asked with a chuckle. I often got caught up when working and didn’t remember to eat until my stomach began to protest.
“Yes, that’s why I came looking for you. I wanted to see if you’d like to walk to the village and grab a bite.”
I looked her over and realized she was dressed in a pretty floral sundress, with her hair and makeup done, then I looked down at my paint-splattered T-shirt and jeans and said, “I’d love to, but I’ll need a few minutes to get cleaned up.”
“That’s no problem. I’ll grab my things and meet you in the living room.”
“Sounds good,” I replied as I stood. I wanted to offer her a hand up, but I didn’t want to accidentally transfer paint. “You look lovely.”
Her smile was soft and sweet. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be quick,” I promised, and hurried off to jump in the shower.
Ten minutes later I was walking into the living room, hair damp, wearing a button-up and slacks.
“That was fast,” Char said as she rose from the sofa. “Nigel always took forever to get ready, often longer than I did.” When she realized what she’d said her face fell. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up Nigel.”
I crossed to her and placed my hand on her shoulder.
“Hey, don’t do that. You can say anything to me. You don’t need to censor yourself.”
Her eyes met mine and she said, “I know that … I do. I’ve just been trying to put him in the past. It’s harder than I thought it would be.”
“You went through a lot together. Give it time.”
She nodded and her face cleared. “Ready?”
“Absolutely,” I said, holding out my arm.
Charlotte tucked hers through and we were off. “I tried calling my mom, you know, to call her on her shenanagins, but she seems to be dodging my calls.”
“Really?” I asked with a laugh.
Char nodded then shook her head in disbelief.
The walk wasn’t long, and the path was quaint. When we got into the village, there were people bustling about and the air was filled with tantalizing scents of bread and food being prepared.
“I love this,” I murmured as I took in the worn, sturdy buildings, which were often painted in bright colors, but slightly faded from the sun. There were vendors selling flowers, vegetables, and bread, and the lovely sound of the Italian language being spoken.
“Me, too,” Char said, leaning into me as if she couldn’t get close enough.
I liked it. Sharing this with her and having her feel comfortable with me. I hoped it meant she’d considered my proposition and was open to the idea. I’d always wanted Charlotte, and even if it could only be for a few weeks, I knew it would be a moment in time I would always cherish.
“Do you have a certain restaurant in mind?” I asked as we meandered through the town center.
“Yes, there’s this lovely little place we went to last time. I think you’ll love it. The owners are so nice, and the food is excellent.”
“Lead the way.”
“Buongiorno!”
As we sat down at one of the tables outside of the café Charlotte had chosen, we were greeted by the server, and responded in kind.
“It’s nice to see you,” the woman said when she noticed Charlotte.
“I can’t believe you remember me, it’s been almost a year,” Char replied as she accepted the menu the server offered.
“Of course,” the woman replied easily, then looked at me and said, “But you have not been here before. I would remember that face.”
I grinned at her and said, “No, it’s my first time. What do you recommend?”
“Everything is delicious,” she responded. “But the ossobuco and risotto are perfecto.”
“Sounds perfect,” I said, handing her back the menu I hadn’t even looked at. “Can we pair that with a bottle of red? Your choice.”
“And I’ve been dreaming about your carbonara ever since last time.”
The woman smiled at Charlotte and said, “Great choice.”
When we were left alone, I reached for Char’s hand and said, “I hope you’re okay with wine for lunch. If not, maybe we can take what’s left home.”
“Of course, we’re on vacation,” she said with a light laugh, turning her hand over under mine so our palms touched.
My heart was pounding when I asked, “Did you give any thought to our discussion last night?”
ELEVEN
CHARLOTTE
Gosh, he’s handsome…
I loved the feeling of his hand on mine, and the way he was looking at me right now, as if I were the only woman on the planet, even though our server was gorgeous, had me feeling sexy and confident.
I didn’t know how we’d gotten here, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I also felt something I hadn’t felt in a really long time. Excitement … longing … hope.
I’d dressed with care, so happy I’d gone on a shopping spree before coming to Italy. All of my clothes were either too big and baggy, or actual maternity clothes left over from my pregnancy.
It felt great to actually look and feel like a desirable woman again, and not just like an overworked, overwhelmed, toddler mom.
So, with all of that newfound confidence, I looked at Damon and said, “Yes, I did.”
“And?” he asked, and I couldn’t help but feel a rush of emotion at how anxious he looked about my answer.
So cute.
“And … I’d love to spend these next weeks with you. I’m, of course, a little nervous and think there are some things we need to talk through first, but what you said is true, we’ve both thought about it.”
His grin was swift and sexy.
“Let’s talk.”
I squeezed his hand and met his gaze head on.
“I love you,” I began, my stomach dipping as my breath caught. I hadn’t expected to get emotional, but I should have, because this was Damon. “You’re my family. All of my family loves you, and you and Luca, you’re brothers in every sense of the word. Nothing can damage that, it’s non-negotiable. If there’s even a hint that things are going badly, or we don’t suit romantically, then we need to put a stop to it. I won’t lose you and I won’t ruin your relationship with my family. You’re too important.”
A look of tenderness came over his face and his hand pulsed in mine.
“Of course, I feel the same way, and I although I love them, this is between us, not your family. And that includes Luca. Nothing could damage our relationship, Char … I love you too. This is just adding a new layer to an already steady foundation. And as far as us not suiting romantically … not possible.”
A nervous laugh bubbled out of me when he looked at me in a way that conveyed just how well we’d suit.
I lifted my chin and continued, “Also, I haven’t been with anyone since Nigel.” At his shocked expression I chuckled. “Yeah, it’s been a few years, and even more than because he wasn’t attracted to me while I was pregnant.”
“Mother f–” Damon bit off his words but his face conveyed what he thought perfectly.
I waved my hand as I spoke, as if wiping the words away. “I only bring it up because I’m afraid my experience with Nigel has changed the way I view myself and the way I am about sex. It’s a sensitive area and since I haven’t been with anyone else, I’m not exactly sure how I’ll act, or react, in the moment.”
“Hey,” he whispered, leaning in closer and bringing his free hand to my cheek. “We’ll be together, through all of it, so don’t worry. I’ll be there for you no matter what.”
I reached up and covered his hand, leaning into his palm. “I know you will be. Thank you.”
There was more, of course, like I’d discussed with Andi. Body image issues and stuff I’d decided to worry about when the time came. For now, I was going to enjoy a delicious meal with a beautiful man. And be in the moment.
Our server, who I remembered from before was Anna, came out to pour our wine and give us some fresh-made bread with a side of an oil and vinegar-based dipping sauce.
“Oh my gosh,” I moaned as I took a bite of the still-warm bread. “I can’t remember the last time I was able to sit and enjoy a meal in a restaurant … with a gorgeous man.”
Damon laughed at that last part.
“I’m being serious. Sky never stops moving, so I can’t take her out to eat anymore. The last time I did she stood up in the booth and started throwing the bread at people. I wanted to die.”
“Really?” he asked, “Does she have a good arm?”
I rolled my eyes at him, because of course that would be his question, having no idea how embarrassing that moment was.
“Yeah, she’ll be the next Kershaw,” I said sarcastically. “I haven’t taken her anywhere but McDonald’s and Chuck E. Cheese’s since. And my meals usually consist of me trying to be good and eat a salad, and then finishing off whatever she didn’t eat. It feels amazing to be able to sit here and take my time. Actually taste and enjoy my food.”
“First of all, I love that you know who Kershaw is,” he said, then took a sip of his wine and made a face like, wow, that’s good. “Second, I think it’s kind of cool that you’re able to appreciate something as simple as taking your time to really experience a great meal, because you understand the flip side of it. Not many people, like myself, are able to do that. And, finally, you’d better let me know the next time there’s a Chuck E. Cheese’s trip. I haven’t been there in forever.”
I smiled at him, charmed, and for the first time in a while, completely relaxed.
Anna brought out our food and we each gave each other a taste from our plates before digging into our own. His was good, but mine was exactly what I’d been dreaming about. The perfect balance of obviously homemade pasta, sauce, and bacon.
“How is everything?” Anna asked a few moments later.
Damon looked up at her and said, “You were right, perfecto.” Then he did the hand kiss thing and rather looking ridiculous doing it, he looked like he fit right in.
Anna must have agreed because she beamed at him and then glanced at me.
“Even better than I remembered,” I assured her.
“Wonderful.”
Damon took another bite and his eyes rolled back slightly. “Are we coming back for dinner?”
TWELVE
DAMON
After a wonderful first meal out in Italy, Charlotte and I meandered through the town, stopping in little shops, and looking in windows … taking it all in. It was exactly what I imagined a small Italian village would be and I found it utterly captivating.
There were so many things I wanted to paint I was already feeling that rush of excitement to get it all out on canvas.
On the far side of town there was a small gallery, so of course we had to go inside.
