AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“When we get to the hotel,” I assured her.
She nodded and placed her head against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, securing her petite body against mine. Shortly after, her breathing evened out. I smiled, looking down at her serene face. Her palm curled on my chest, and her hair fell over my arm. She was so fucking beautiful I nearly wept, I was so overcome. I kissed her forehead before leaning back and watching her face.
“Sir, sir.”
I blinked open and squinted against the light. The flight attendant from earlier stood over me. Violet stirred in my arms, and I held her more firmly.
“What is it?” My voice was hoarse. I'd fallen asleep.
“The plane will touch down soon, sir.”
“Thank you.”
The attendant inclined her head and went back to her station.
I gazed down at the woman cradled in my arms. She looked perfect, right here. I loathed asking her to retake her seat.
“You have to buckle up.”
She blinked blearily and climbed down from my lap. “I'll miss you.”
She said that anytime we parted, even if she was going across the room, it warmed my heart because that was exactly how it felt for me. "I'll miss you, too, sweetheart."
Violet took her seat and clipped the belt. Five minutes later, the pilot announced that we would be landing, and soon after, the plane taxied, and we got out.
The wind was a little chillier in Italy in the late evening. Violet stayed close as we made our way across the hanger to the prearranged car. The chauffeur pulled open our door, and we sat in the cozy vehicle.
Violet leaned close to me, but once we were out on the streets of Milan, she pressed her face to the window. "Oh, my gosh. It's so pretty."
I smiled and looked out with her.
“What’s that?”
The driver answered. “The Castello Sforzesco,” his voice rich with his Italian accent. “It's an old building.”
“Can we go there?” Violet glanced at me. She was nearly jumping in her seat.
“Of course.” I couldn't rein back my smile.
She asked more questions, and the chauffeur offered answers. When he couldn't find the correct English words, I supplied them. By the time we arrived in front of the hotel, we'd conversed about Italy's past rulers and its infrastructure. The chauffeur let us out, and he gave me a curious gaze.
“Are you a man of history, Mr. Hart?”
“I have many interests,” I replied.
He unloaded our luggage and tipped his hat before driving off.
The hotel staff came over and took our bags, heading into the lobby. I offered Violet my arm, and she looped hers through. She watched my face.
“What?” I asked as we walked into the ornately decorated lobby.
“Nothing.”
Her smile was suspect, but I couldn't engage her in questions now. We needed to get to our room. Eleven hours was a long time to be up in the air.
We confirmed the booking at the reception area, got our key, and headed up. The elevator brought us to the topmost floor. And the carpeted hallway led to the presidential suite.
Violet gasped as we walked in and ran to the glass doors. She pushed the doors aside and walked out to the balcony. The wind blew her hair around her face, and I melted when she turned to me with a big smile. I would never get used to her unabashed enthusiasm.
