VENICE SEEMED SO far away.
Luckily Roberto hadn’t meant to keep his distance until then.
Stasia sat across the table from him. They’d just had lunch. Neither felt like going ashore. Instead they’d moved to the deck beneath the light blue sky. To keep up appearances with his family, they were spending a lot of time together. Every day they gravitated toward each other, and to Stasia’s surprise, she didn’t mind. In fact, she was enjoying having a friend on board.
While Roberto enjoyed an iced latte that she’d convinced him to try, she was sipping on a fruity umbrella drink. A gentle breeze rushed over her sun-warmed skin as they sat in comfortable silence.
“Roberto?” a female voice called.
In the next moment, his grandmother and a gentleman with silver hair who resembled Roberto, from his handsome face to his tall stature, approached. The man had some white in the temples that only accentuated his classic good looks. It was definitely Roberto’s grandfather. However, neither grandparent was smiling.
Roberto rose to his feet and gave his grandmother a hug. “Yaya, happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” his grandmother said. “Everything is arranged for the party this evening.” And then his grandmother smiled. Not one of those friendly, doting grandmotherly smiles, but one of those I-know-something-you-don’t-know smiles. And even though Stasia didn’t know the woman, it made her nervous.
“Good.” The straight line of Roberto’s shoulders eased. “Is there anything you need me to do—”
“Yes.” His grandfather spoke up. “I thought you’d be in your cabin working on that project I gave you.” The man frowned. Displeasure was written all over his face. “I should have known better—”
“I was just headed that way to get my laptop.”
His grandfather’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.”
“And you don’t want to give me a heads-up about what I’ll be looking for?”
He shook his head. “I want your unbiased opinion about the numbers.”
“Okay. I’ll do my best.”
“You have until the end of the cruise.”
Stasia felt for Roberto. How was he supposed to do what his grandfather wanted when the man was being so vague? And by the look on Roberto’s face, no matter what he said, pleasing his grandparents was important to him. He may have fooled himself into thinking otherwise, but she could see the love he had for them written all over his face. And she couldn’t blame him.
Family was something special—something she no longer had. And now that Xander was married with a child of his own, he felt further away than ever before. And that was why she needed to carve out a life for herself. She needed to find a job that she was as passionate about as Roberto was about his work.
“We should be going,” his grandmother said. And then she turned to Stasia. “It’s so good to see you again. I hope we’ll get a chance to speak more this evening at the party.”
“But, Yaya, she...she wasn’t invited,” Roberto said, looking utterly flustered.
His grandmother reached out and patted his arm. “All the details have been taken care off. We’ll see you both there.”
And then his grandparents strolled off toward the double doors leading to the interior of the ship.
Stasia turned to Roberto before he could say anything. “I don’t know about this.”
“She’s suspicious of us. I mean, if we were really a couple, you’d come with me, right?”
Stasia hesitated and then nodded. “I’m just having a problem thinking of us, you know, that way.”
“If you’ve changed your mind—”
“No. I said I’d do this.” Even though she was now having second and third thoughts about what she’d agreed to. But she refused to let Roberto down.
“Forget it. I’ll go tell her the truth.” When he started after his grandmother, Stasia rushed after him.
“Roberto, don’t. I really wouldn’t mind attending the party. Those of your family who I’ve met, I like. And I’ve always loved big get-togethers.” She really missed her own grandparents and their extravagant parties. They’d always been so much fun, with singing, storytelling and dancing into the wee hours of the morning.
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. “I am.”
She hadn’t been to a party since...since Lukos was alive. A pang of guilt and a dose of pain washed over her. This would be another first for her since he’d passed.
“Now, I’d better go look over the reports for my grandfather. I have a feeling this evening’s activities will include a Q&A with him.” Roberto started to walk away.
“Good luck.”
He glanced back. “Thanks.”
Now was her time to run and do some research and reading before she had to get ready for the party, but instead she remained seated. Roberto had her so confused that she didn’t know if she was coming or going.
That evening there were no wardrobe malfunctions.
Roberto was disappointed, as the last time had led to such delicious consequences. He told himself it was for the best that they didn’t kiss again. It was better for everyone if they remained friends without benefits.
He’d have preferred an excuse to avoid a big, loud family affair. These things always made him uncomfortable.
When Stasia finished speaking with his cousin Gaia, he leaned in close. “Are you ready to call it a night?”
She turned a puzzled look in his direction. “Since we arrived that’s the second time you’ve asked me that question—what’s wrong?”
He shrugged. How was he supposed to explain how awkward he felt around his relatives?
“I have work to do.” It was the truth. He always had work to do. And there was a report he needed to review about a prospective piece of property.
“It’s more than that. You’ve been unusually quiet this evening. Do you regret bringing me?”
“No. Not at all.” He glanced around to make sure no one could overhear him. “You’re the only thing that’s made this evening bearable.”
“What?” Her gaze filled with confusion. “But this is your family. And they’re all happy you’re here.”
“But I don’t fit in.”
“That’s so sad.” Sympathy reflected in her eyes.
That was the last thing he wanted. He shouldn’t have said anything. “Forget I said that.”
“I can’t. Talk to me.”
He never told anyone as much as he’d told Stasia. There was something about her that made confiding in her so easy. And she wanted to hear what he had to say, unlike some of the women he’d dated who only cared about listening to themselves talk.
Stasia continued to stare at him expectantly.
He cleared his throat. “You probably noticed that my parents aren’t here.” When she nodded, he continued. “They dumped me on my grandparents when I was young. I used to wonder what was wrong with me that they didn’t want me. I was the only one in my large extended family who didn’t have an active mother and father. I always felt different, estranged from everyone else. So I spent my youth studying and reading. And when I got older, it was easier to always be working instead of attending family functions.”
“I’m sorry.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. Her touch was warm and gentle. It sent a wave of awareness through him.
“Don’t be.” He shook his head. “I’m used to it after all these years.” But it was the reason he held back a part of himself in every relationship.
“Your parents, they’re still alive?”
He nodded. “They rarely show up for these sorts of events.”
“Gaia is really happy you’re here. So are your grandparents.” She nudged him. “Maybe you could smile and act like you’re having a good time.”
Guilt assailed him. He avoided a lot of the family functions. Maybe in the future he would make more of an effort to attend the gatherings. After all, his grandparents weren’t getting any younger, and to his surprise, his grandfather was mellowing a bit.
Not wanting to talk any more about his family, Roberto turned to Stasia. “Would you like to dance?”
Surprise lit up her eyes. “I would.”
“I have to warn you that I don’t dance often.”
“I bet you’re better than you think.”
He shook his head. He knew his limitations. Why exactly did he suggest dancing? It was obviously a moment of desperation.
To his relief, the music switched to a much slower, romantic ballad. He was a little better at this pace. And then Stasia stepped in front of him. She was so close. His heart beat faster. He wrapped his arm around her slender waist and automatically drew her closer. His heart pounded his ribs. His other hand reached for her much smaller hand, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin touching his.
Her jasmine scent wrapped around him. All the bad memories, stress and guilt disappeared as if in a puff of magic. The only thing on his mind now was Stasia and how much he enjoyed holding her as they moved around the floor. He’d never get enough of this.
All too soon the music stopped as the band took a break. Disappointment assailed him as he released her. His family and friends joined them at a large round table in the middle of the room. The birthday girl was at the center of the crowd. She looked ten years younger than her eighty years. And his grandmother continued to smile as she’d done all evening.
People pulled up chairs until they were sitting two and three chairs deep. He and Stasia were at the front, across the table from his grandparents. Moods were light and festive as champagne flooded.
“You two looked so amazing out on the dance floor,” his cousin said.
“I don’t know about me,” Roberto said. “I have two left feet.”
“You do not,” Stasia piped in. “You are quite talented.”
“All I know,” Gaia said, “is that you two look so much in love. Maybe you’ll be the next ones to get married.”
Stasia reached under the table and squeezed his hand. He knew she was nervous and he couldn’t blame her. His cousin could get carried away at times. But with his grandmother watching them like a hawk, he didn’t say a word.
As the party wound down and they made their way to their cabins, they were hand in hand. It just seemed like the thing a couple would do. And he found that he liked the physical connection—being tied to someone else. Even though it was a fake relationship, he liked that they were in it together. It was a confidence that was shared just between the two of them. It was a link he’d never shared with anyone, as he usually kept people at arm’s length.
And as hard as he tried to tell himself it was just a blossoming friendship, unlike the cordial relationship they’d entertained in recent years, this was so much different. She was warmer, funnier and livelier than he’d originally thought. In the beginning, she was reserved with people until she got to know them. Like with his grandmother, Stasia had held herself back. But something told him that if she spent much time with his outgoing grandmother it would all change. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
Because the more Stasia became comfortable with him and his family, the more comfortable he’d get with keeping her around for the long term. And he didn’t do long terms. He refused to end up like his parents, who were involved in a relationship, which was supposedly based on love, but they could barely stand to be in the same room with each other for more than five minutes.
But then there were his grandparents. They seemed to have overcome their problems. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was because they came from a generation that believed you toughed out the rough times no matter how bad or how miserable. That didn’t sound like something he wanted to try.
It was best for him to remain a bachelor, answering to no one and not having to worry about disappointing anyone.