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The morning broke, cool and clear. Lana lay in bed, looking up at white vaulted ceiling, feeling the generous weight of the crisp, soft sheets around her, wrapped in her own delight.
She let herself doze a moment, remembering all that had happened the night before, then stepped out of bed. Almost instantly, there was a knock at the door. Alex’s invitation, she suddenly remembered. Seeing the island ... Her heart gave a whack. Was it him? Had she overslept?
“Lana? It’s me, Bella,” came the voice from beyond the door. “You up? Coffee and brioche?”
“Oh ... Bella. Yes, come in,” she said, feeling relieved. “I’m still in my pajamas.”
“Good.”
The door opened and Alex’s sister walked in carrying a cup of strong black coffee and a plateful of buttery brioche. “It can be a little daunting, getting your own breakfast in a house filled with four generations of Marinos,” she smiled, placing the food down on the dresser. “Did you have a good time last night?”
“Oh ... yes. Very.”
“Well, you looked stunning. And my brother is very ... taken with you,” she said, smiling broadly. “I don’t think I’ve seen him behave as he did last night ... maybe ever.”
“But he’s brought girls to meet the family before though?” asked Lana. Then suddenly, she realized what she’d just said ... Why was she so curious, suddenly? Was it even her place to ask?
“Yes, we’ve been introduced to a few girlfriends before,” said Bella thoughtfully. “But he’s never behaved towards any of them quite like I saw him behave with you last night ...” she was obviously thinking. Then she broke her train of thought. “Anyway, plans for the day?”
“Alex has offered to show me around the island.”
Bella’s eyes lit up. “Wonderful. When?”
“He’ll be here at nine.”
Bella looked down at her watch. “Perfect. Just perfect. That gives you just enough time to change and have a bite to eat. Enjoy exploring the beautiful island Capri. I can think of no better tour guide than my brother.” She winked and turned.
“Oh and Bella–” Lana said.
“Yes?”
“Congratulations. On your soon to be new addition to the family. I had no idea.”
Bella smiled. “Thank you. Jake and I are very excited to be having a little girl. So the family grows even bigger, I guess.”
Lana smiled. “In a family where you all so love and appreciate one another, I have no doubt it’ll be a beautiful thing.”
Bella smiled and gave her a wise look. “Do you want children of your own, one day, Lana?”
Lana nodded. She did. She wanted to give a child, or children, a happy, delightful home. A place filled with laughter and sunshine and love. “Yes,” she said. “Very much. When the time is right.”
“Good,” said Bella, nodding. “There’s plenty of time for that. Anyway, enjoy your day out on the island,” she said. “I have no doubt my brother will show you an interesting side of it. One few people get to see.”
At exactly nine o clock, a second knock came at Lana’s door. Straightening her hair in the mirror, Lana felt her heart leap.
“Lana? Are you ready?” Alex’s voice came from outside. Deep, cool, masculine.
“Right there,” she said, taking a breath and walking to the door, opening it. “Good morning.”
Alex was wearing a pair of tailored white chinos and a sky blue shirt. He looked gorgeous, wore a happy grin, and his eyes lit when he saw her. She was wearing her favorite white summer dress. A strappy number that came to the knees, together with a pair of tan-color sandals. She felt cool and confident in what she wore. Happy too.
“You look lovely,” said Alex, smiling and taking her in. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did, yes, thank you. One can’t help but sleep well in a bed like that.”
He smiled. Though they hadn’t had that much opportunity to talk one-on-one, Alex realized he felt instantly and immediately comfortable around Lana. It was strange, the naturalness he felt. Like walking into a warm ocean, being lulled by the waves ...
And yet, now, looking at her, he knew he wanted, needed to get to know her. Felt himself growing more and more hungry to learn what made her tick. And behind that hunger ... well, there was another kind of hunger too. He felt it even now, as they merely stood across from one other. But he pushed the feeling away. He would have to tread carefully. On her finger was a pale band, unkissed by the sun, where, just a day or so before, he imagined her engagement ring had been.
Alex’s hands rested lightly on the wheel as they rolled down toward the marina. The bright sun above them, they drove with the top down, Lana’s hair fluttering about her face.
“There are three ways to travel around Capri,” Alex was saying, smiling. “One is on foot. But ... while that lets you take in the detail, you can’t see very much in a day. It’s also not helpful when time is ... limited.”
Lana smiled. She was so enjoying riding in the gorgeous car with Alex. So relishing the bright, warm sun overhead, the beautiful island around them. She let her head fall back a little, allowing the wind to run more easily through her hair.
“The other is by car, or scooter, as you know,” Alex continued. “Now, that’s great, of course. But there is always the danger of potholes,” he smirked. “Plus you can get caught up in traffic, or wedged between the tourist buses, particularly at this time of year.” He suddenly took a sharp hairpin bend expertly and at some speed. Lana felt her heart give a little leap, even laughing a little in her delight. Alex looked over at her, his eyes made merry by her joy.
Finally, when they were back cruising along a straight, Alex continued. “Lastly, you can get around the island by boat. And see Capri in ways that most people don’t get the chance to.”
They pulled into the marina parking lot and headed for the far side. Suddenly, Lana felt her eyes grow wide. She’d seen a few expensive cars on the island, but, tucked away here were some of its most opulent ... Extravagant sportscars. Magnificent saloons. And yet, she thought, the Marino XL Alex drove was, still, the most beautiful among them.
“It’s just a short walk to where we’re going,” said Alex, pulling up the parking brake in their spot. Then, quickly, he hopped out and opened her door for her, from the outside. “Signorina,” he said, with a smile.
They walked along the boardwalk. Around them were anchored yachts of every size, from the smallest to the most grand. Lana took it all in. The boats were beautiful, gleaming, with shining wood and perfectly white sails. Most of them had women’s names. Carmen. Aria. Lucia. Gia ... She wondered how you named a yacht. Did you just pick a name you liked? Or did you name it after a real woman, one you wanted to honor or commemorate? Someone who had changed your life?
Lana was so busy looking around and taking in the magnificent scene that she didn’t notice Alex had stopped just a little way ahead.
“I hope the signorina has good sea legs,” he said, smiling. Anchored in the water beside him was one of the marina’s most beautiful yachts. A gorgeous, white vessel with a gleaming wooden deck, and long wooden mast that reached for the sky. The sails were neatly folded, and just waiting to be unfurled. Lana’s breath caught in her throat.
“Why ... there must be enough space for twenty, thirty people?” she asked. The yacht’s deck was massive and the vessel came complete with a full below-deck cabin. She could see the wooden stairs leading down inside. I mean ... I ... I thought we were just taking a tourist boat tour,” she stammered. “I didn’t realize ...”
Alex gave a little laugh at her reaction. She was quite obviously amazed. “You didn’t realize ... it would just be the two of us?” he asked.
“I didn’t realize ... that you owned your own yacht,” said Lana.
Alex smiled. “It’s nothing. I’ve owned a few over the years,” he said. “Most of them I sink. When that happens, I just buy a new one.”
“What?”
“Haha, I’m just kidding, just kidding.” He laughed.
And suddenly, Lana felt herself laugh too. It was so good to laugh with him. It felt so easy, so natural.
Briefly straddling the divide between land and sea, Alex hopped aboard the yacht. Next, he laid down a narrow wooden walkway so she could make the crossing too. As she did so, he held out his hand to her, steadying her balance.
“The boat is named for your mother,” she said, once she was safely aboard. She’d noticed the name on the hull a moment ago. She stepped down onto the deck, getting used to the feel of the rise and fall of the ocean below them.
“Well spotted,” said Alex. “And yes. My mother has supported all of us so much over the years that I guess there wasn’t any better name.” He smiled. “Anyway, it’s a lovely day for a sail. Calm seas. Perfect or ... almost perfect winds.”
Lana looked at Alex. He had a naturalness about him no matter where he went, or what he did. He never seemed to look out of place.
“Would you like a glass of orange juice?” he asked. “Or ... prosecco perhaps?”
Lana felt a renewed smile on her lips. The thought of sipping something cold and delicious in the sunshine as Alex sailed them around the island was like a dream.
Of course, the old her would have just stuck with the orange juice. A wholesome, non-alcoholic choice or ten in the morning. Something to help keep up her good girl image, allowing her to stay firmly in control. But now, she realized, as she gazed out at the beautiful blue waters around them, everything was changing. Everything. Most of all, her own self. Could she, at last, learn to let go a little?
“Prosecco, perhaps?” she suggested, with a coy smile. “Even if it is a little early.”
“Signorina makes the right choice,” said Alex, approvingly. “I’ll just take us out of the harbor, then we’ll open up a cold bottle.” He grinned at her then turned to raise the sails.
Just as she’d imagined he would be, Alex was as at home behind the wheel of the sailboat as he was behind the wheel of a sportscar. He had a natural grace about him as he guided the yacht out into the bay. An organic ease and flow, adjusting the sails, lightly touching the wheel, which adjusted the rudder.
Once they were safely anchored out in the open water, he opened up the bottle of prosecco and poured them each a tall, bubbly flute. The cold, crisp liquid fizzed in her hand. “Salud,” he said, raising his glass.
“Salud,” she echoed, raising her glass likewise. Together, they each took a sip.
“So if I recall, we had a deal from last night,” he began.
“A deal? Oh ... yes. I almost forgot. I tell, you tell. I remember now.”
Alex grinned. “That’s right. And now that you know a little more about me, it’s only fair that you tell me more about you.”
She nodded. “Alright. What do you want to know?”
“Well, what I’m really interested to know about first is ... your writing. Your book?”
Lana felt her cheeks glow a little. She’d always regarded her creative writing as a private, personal thing. Tom had never been all that interested in it, other than telling her she should stop. Now, here was a gorgeous, creative man who was looking her in the eyes and asking her, with genuine interest, what she worked on for pleasure and purpose.
“Well, um, it’s a ... romance,” she began, a little shyly. Then, instantly, she rethought her description. “No. Let me rather say this. It’s ... what I’m working on is a story about the journey of finding yourself,” she corrected.
“Finding yourself? Sounds interesting.”
She nodded. “I hope it is. Because against that, against that journey and search, it’s about two people who find one another along the way.” She took a sip of the prosecco, savoring the feeling of it in her mouth, savoring the sun overhead, the wind, the gorgeous ocean ... everything. “I guess, when you really get down to it, it’s a story about two people who learn to love themselves, and then learn to love one another, because ... Well, because there’s something in them that sounds the same, vibrates the same, hums the same within them, for all their differences. And believe me, there are plenty. It’s about two people who kind of fit into each other, the man and the woman in the story, I mean, and they both play a critical role in helping the other person to become who they really are ... who they need to be.”
She took another sip and looked away just then, realizing she’d never talked about her work as openly to anyone before. She felt both vulnerable and proud of herself for having been so clear, so honest. She turned back, meeting Alex’s gaze. He smiled, nodding, his eyes warm and bright. And if she was correct .... filled with understanding. He lifted his glass to her as though in toast. “The people you meet on lonely island roads at midnight,” he said, with just a little awe. “Who knew?”
He was so glad he’d brought her there, out onto the yacht. So glad he’d chosen the right place to give them time to start to get to know one another.
Truth was, Alex had never brought another girl onto the yacht before. It was his private space. His escape. His freedom. His refuge.
And the real truth was, he admitted, looking at Lana, her flowing hair, her bright smile, her gorgeous body, there’d never before been another girl who he could, truly, have enjoyed being out there, alone on the water with. Out there without feeling bored, or ... trapped.
He smiled. Who was this beautiful woman, whose mind was so filled with ideas and emotions and dreams? With whom he felt so totally at ease?
In an instant, he felt like he wanted to share more of himself with her. And share deeply. His work. His ideas. His dreams. His longings ... He knew, just somehow knew, that she would get it. Get all of it. Get him.
Suddenly, he felt he wanted to share with her in other ways too. Share himself physically. Let himself go. With her.
No, he couldn’t ignore it any longer. Couldn’t deny it. Knew he’d be a fool to do so. Though he was watching the cool, clear waters ahead of them, in his mind he was imagining pressing his lips to hers, feeling her warm body against his own, savoring the scent of her in his arms. It was fiery, it was complex, it was ... intense. He wanted her. In ways that both frightened and excited him.
But he would have to tread carefully. Very. He knew that.
So he took a breath and let it out slowly, settling his heart. “For our first stop, I thought we’d visit the Faraglionis,” he said, keeping his eyes ahead. He steadied his voice. He didn’t want to betray to her what he felt. Not just yet. He knew what the depths of his passions could be. And he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable ... So he kept his voice easy and light as he explained more about the adventure he’d planned for the day. “Stella, Mezzo and Scopolo,” he went on, waving a hand. “Huge rocks in the ocean, worn away by time, but still standing strong. On the way, we’ll see what we can of the San Giacomo monastery from the water, then head past some of the island’s grottos and the beautiful arco naturale formation. Then, we’ll round Villa Jovis and weigh anchor again, maybe find a spot for lunch? From there, we’ll sail on ... and see where the afternoon takes us?”
He turned to her, feeling his heart had settled enough to meet her gaze levelly once more. But she had closed her eyes to the sun, and allowed her head to fall a little back in reverie. “It sounds lovely,” she said, in a voice as warm as honey. The light played on the skin of her neck, shoulders, arms and legs and he let himself take her in.
––––––––
They were a way out at sea, taking in the ruins of Villa Jovis, Roman emperor Tiberius’ once island stronghold. He’d told her what he knew about the place and its history. What the rumors all said had once gone on within its walls. To all, Lana had listened with interest, trying to understand more about the island that, she felt, was slowly changing her destiny.
All in all it had been a beautiful morning’s sailing, the water calm and clear, the breeze just right. The conversation flowed naturally between them and soon, they found themselves talking about his family once more. Lana seemed so taken with them - with all of them - Alex realized. Of course, it was hard for him to imagine having grown up in anything other than a large, loving family. But looking at her, and hearing her words, he could see how fortunate he’d been. Not everyone had a family like his.
“I still feel a little embarrassed for crying during your father’s toast,” Lana said.
Alex shook his head. “Don’t. It was quite beautiful ... seeing you so moved.” He smiled, trying to keep his thoughts on course.
“He’ll be retiring soon?”
“Yes.”
“Seems hard to imagine. Your father still seems so passionate. So full of life and energy.”
Alex nodded. It was true. His father was still energetic. Still so passionate about the businesses. Still so involved, in even the smallest details. But he was a wise man, as much as he was anything else. Wise about his own abilities as those of others. And that wisdom meant he knew best, knew better than anyone in fact, about when to step aside and let someone else take the lead.
Looking out at the ocean, Alex admitted to himself that that - his father’s judgment - was, in fact, what so scared him about the coming weeks. Not the ultimate decision itself.
What if Ricardo looked at his son, loved him deeply, adored him, but found that he didn’t quite measure up? If that happened, Alex thought he’d be crushed. It might be something that he never quite recovered from.
“Alex, what is it?” Lana was looking at him. Her eyes were seeking something deep in his. “Are you alright?”
Alex realized his emotions were all over his face. He hadn’t meant to tell her about any of this. Hadn’t wanted to. When she’d guessed something of it the prior night, it had touched a raw nerve. Yet, now, he felt he wanted to tell her. Wanted to let go of the control, the composure he usually kept.
He adjusted his hands on the wheel. “It’s just that ...” he began, his voice unsure, “it comes to the future of the business, it’s no guarantee that I’ll be the one to lead it. I know for a fact that my father is considering at least a handful of people for the role. People with true automotive pedigree. Who’ve made their names at some of the world’s top car companies. And all of them are hungry for the role at Marino Automotive. Maybe even as hungry as I am.” He looked at the beautiful island rising up ahead of them, and allowed himself to talk on. “It scares me, Lana, if you must know the truth. Leading my father’s company is something I want more than anything. The idea that my father might find me wanting in some way, that he might not think I’m ready, not capable enough ... all of this plays on my mind. You saw that last night. How I reacted to you in the garden? I’m sorry again for how I behaved. I just ... I have a lot on my mind.”
“I understand, Alex,” she said. “Thank you for telling me. When will your father make his final decision?”
“Just under two weeks. He’s set us all a challenge to help him decide on who to pick.”
“What kind of challenge?”
“Well ...” Alex took a breath, “it’s part business. Part design. The core of it is, he wants us to show him how visionary we can be. How forward thinking. That we’re capable of designing cars so beautiful, so unique, that they’ll assure the future of the company.”
“Sounds like something you’d be great at.”
He smiled at her. “Thank you, Lana. But, see, the problem is, I haven’t been feeling very visionary lately at all.” He sighed, ran a hand through his hair. “In fact, the night of your crash, I was driving around the island trying to find inspiration. The muse.”
“I have a suspicion she’ll be here soon,” said Lana. “Just let it flow.”
She had walked up beside him and gripped the railing, looking out over the beautiful blue sea. It was so incredible to be out there, on the yacht, with him. She felt so free, so easy, so at peace.
“Maybe ... my muse is already here,” said Alex looking at her. He paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but speak. “Lana, I ...” Turning to her, he slowly brushed a few strands of hair from her face. “It’s you,” he said. “You inspire me. In ways I ... I never thought possible.”
“... Me?” asked Lana, incredulous. But she had no time to think. He had already brought his lips gently to hers.
Instantly, Lana felt her heart begin to race. Felt her stomach suddenly tie itself in knots. And, closing her eyes, she felt his want of her. His need. Matched by it was her own desire for him too - hot, fiery, intense.
She let her mind go, savoring the feel of his mouth on hers, the sense of his aura enveloping her own, the sensation of the waves gently rocking the vessel beneath them. If it was wrong to kiss another man while you were engaged to someone else, why did it feel so right?