“Lexi, are you there?”
“Yes.”
“I was thinking… What if you work remotely with the understanding that once a month, you’re in the LA office for a few days? Selfishly, I don’t want to lose you. Who knows, maybe this can segue our agency into international territories. You could open our Rome office.”
Oh Lord!
I sat in the car frozen in utter disbelief. Under different circumstances, this would be the perfect job. But how can I work on a laptop from a country that doesn’t have power or telephones or connection to the modern day world?
“I accept,” I heard myself saying.
What the hell did I just do?
“Excellent! We’ll discuss logistics on Wednesday afternoon. And Lexi, congratulations! We’ll make this worth your while, I promise.”
Crap!
I just accepted a promotion and a position where I’ll be working from Pompeii and somehow communicating with modern day LA.
Yup, I’ve lost my mind!
By the time I walked into the office with a hazelnut soy latte in-hand, I felt less panicked and much more confident. I dove into the pile of work. When I finally looked up from my laptop, it was well after four o’clock. Wow, I’d worked right through lunch. I packed my stuff and headed home, anxious to tell Marcus about phase two of the promotion.
Again he surprised me with a scrumptious dinner. I was glad to be on the receiving end of his newfound passion. We talked for hours deciding that we’d make Pompeii our permanent home with monthly visits to LA where we could squeeze in quality time with family, friends and of course, face-time at the office. It all seemed to be working out, yet I felt uneasy. What if someone at the office needed to get hold of me? How long before they figured out that I was completely unreachable? My poor Marcus. Was I just ruining his plans for running the family business?
“I hope you’re not stewing over me running the family business.”
“Uh, how did you—never mind. What will you do about your work?”
“I can run the business from Pompeii. We’ll need to make some adjustments and get consent from my father, but I think he’ll be fine with it. Maybe Father will continue to manage business out of Ostia.” As usual, he sounded unbothered by the change of plans.
“And what happens during the time you’re here every month?
“Well I’ll need to hire a manger to run things while I’m away. What else are you stewing over, the language issue? I think you should begin teaching me or get me books or a tutor.”
How did he manage such peaceful and confident outlook on life? I laid my head on his chest trying to channel his inner calm while he tangled his fingers in my long tresses sending electrifying chills up and down my spine.
“What if my new position requires me to be available to the team on conference calls and email?”
“If that’s the case, you’ll work out a deal where you’re available during your stay here once a month. Or, you turn it down altogether and we’ll find you a business to manage in Rome.” He took another sip of wine and placed it on the oval coffee table in front of us.
We took turns pleasuring each other, evoking a wave of boundless sensual gratification that kept us soaring for hours. We fell asleep soundly on the couch, exhausted and ravished.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cold panic woke me from deep sleep at the realization that my wedding was a few days away and I hadn’t even begun looking for a dress.
In the morning, I asked the girls to meet me at the Century City mall during lunch.
“You haven’t found a dress yet?” Charlotte sounded horrified.
“Honestly, Lexi…what have you been doing all week?” chimed Kate.
I opened my mouth to defend myself and clamped it shut again. They were right.
“Lexi…are you there?” Charlotte sounded more pleasant now that she’d gotten over the shock.
“Don’t panic.” Kate laughed. “We expected this might happen. We’ll shop for you. We’ll come over tonight. Make sure Marcus keeps busy in the other room.”
“You guys are amazing. What would I do without you?” I choked back tears.
I floated to work consumed by images of Marcus and I exchanging vows in front of my loved ones. I smiled to myself feeling grateful at the simple gift of clarity. Instantly, I felt less attached to the promotion and a whole lot less willing to strain my relationship with Marcus by flip-flopping between worlds.
During lunch, I dashed to Bloomingdale’s for lingerie and new lipstick. For Marcus I got a tux, shirt, and shoes. Size-wise I hoped for the best.
Marcus was laying on the couch my laptop on his stomach. I’d found a great app for him that translated English to Latin.
I walked in, the heavy shopping bags weighing my arms. Marcus was immediately on his feet to help out.
“How was your day?” I asked.
“Uneventful and clearly not as busy as yours. What is all this stuff?”
“It’s for our wedding day. You’ll need to dress up. I also bought you a present…for our wedding night.” I attempted my best seductive smile.
“Thank you for being so thoughtful. Wedding gifts aren’t necessary, we are already married, remember?” He arched an eyebrow at me.
“Yes, but I wanted something special on our wedding night.” I peeked from under my lashes while fumbling with the bags scattered all over the living room.
“Oh. Well, in that case, I think you should wear it right away.” He strode toward me, pulling me against his hard, broad chest.
“No. We can’t now. Besides, the present is for our wedding night. For the record, our first wedding night was perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.” I cupped his face in my hands and kissed him tamely, aware that I shouldn’t kiss him any other way if I wanted to stick to the plan of getting ready for my dress fitting. God knows it didn’t take much to derail me when it came to Marcus.
“Help me clean up? Charlotte and Kate are on their way here with wedding dresses. Oh, and I’ll need you to stay in the living room so you don’t see what we’re doing in the bedroom. Maybe you can try on the tuxedos—I bought a couple since I didn’t know your size—and tell me how they fit.”
“What time will they be here?”
“Six-thirty and it’s already almost six.” I playfully wiggled out of his grasp and jumped over the bags to the other side of the room. Yes, physical space was what I needed or he’d have me naked in seconds.
“It’s not almost six and I assure you, we have plenty of time. In fact, I can guarantee this won’t take very long.” Smiling wickedly, he began to unbutton his shirt.
Oh God
.
“Marcus…we can’t. Help me with the bags, please. I’ll make it up to you after the girls go home.”
He begrudgingly grabbed the bags and followed me to the bedroom.
“Marcus, please don’t be upset.”
“I’m not upset. I just miss you, that’s all.”
That tore my heart to pieces. “I’m so sorry. I should have been more sensitive to your feelings. What can I do to make things easier on you?”
“I’m all right. It’s not worth any worry…honestly. I love you.” He smiled, but even his smile couldn’t disguise the wariness in his eyes. My poor darling, Marcus. We needed to get back to Pompeii asap.
“Maybe I can drop you off at the beach before going to work tomorrow. During my lunch hour, I can pick you up and drive you home. Or maybe, I can work from home more often so at least we’re together. Or maybe we can go back to Pompeii earlier than planned and I can come back alone for a few days to figure out the apartment situation. Having Kate move in here is probably the easiest and quickest solution.” My thoughts were scattered and erratic.
“Stop fretting, please. And no to everything you mentioned except the Kate bit. We may need her to stay here for a while until we sort things out financially.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “The gods have blessed this relationship a million times over.” Marcus pulled me to sit next to him on the bed. “Show me the tuxedos and I’ll try them on before Charlotte and Kate get here.”
By the time I had everything laid out, he was naked and ready for his fitting. Right.
“Very funny. You’ll need to wear your underwear to try these on.” I couldn’t peel my eyes from his sculptured muscles flexing with every movement.
“Enjoying the view?”
I felt my face flush.
Focus Lexi, you have the rest of your life to ogle him.
The largest of the three tuxedos fit him perfectly. He looked magnificent and very delicious; he had to be a descendent of the gods.
A slow sensual moan escaped my lips, but I bit my lip hard to snap me back to the task at hand
.
His emerald green eyes sparkled clearly in tune with every naughty thought running through my mind. Damn! Maybe we had time for a quickie after all.
He chuckled, no doubt reading my wicked thoughts. I took a step toward him noting his arched eyebrow at my sudden change of mind. A hard knock sounded on the door. DAMN! Was it sixty-thirty already? We both sighed as I dragged myself to answer the door.
Marcus settled on the couch in the living room with the remote in one hand, a cold beer in the other, and a bowl of popcorn on the cushion next to him. We three ducked into my bedroom with armloads of dresses Charlotte and Kate had borrowed from the studio costume designer.
I went through the pile. One after the other, I cast them aside: too grand, too revealing, and too big. I was losing hope for finding the right one in time for the weekend. The last dress was a fitted sleeveless white satin that ruched around the bust line highlighting my figure. Thankfully, I still had an hourglass figure despite the lack of gym time and my ravenous appetite brought on by new and exciting flavors. The most delicate rhinestone beading etched from the waist all the way down the small train. Light bouncing off the diamond beads looking radiant. I felt like a character out of a fairytale. I turned slowly from the mirror to find my friends beaming with tears of joy.
“I think we found the one.” I hugged them both, elated they were sharing this experience with me.
It wasn’t long before Charlotte and Kate packed the rejected dresses, shoes and jewelry and left claiming they had their own prep to do for the wedding.
I slipped into a lacy black bra and panty set and lay seductively on the bed, arranging myself on one elbow with my hair tousled suggestively over my bare shoulders. I called for Marcus…
Chapter Twenty-Three
The knock on the door made us all jump in excitement. My handsome dad walked in to escort me down our spiral staircase, through the formal living room, the family room, and then kitchen patio door leading to the backyard. Arm in arm, we walked slowly with my mom, Charlotte, and Kate trailing close behind making sure my dress didn’t get caught on anything. I was amazed at the beautiful arrangements of pale yellow roses throughout the house. When did they have time to coordinate all this?
“Mom…” I sniffled back tears.
“Aren’t they beautiful? I know it’s your favorite color,” my mom said.
“And they match our dresses,” Kate offered.
Near the patio door, oversized silver vases filled to the rim with the same pale yellow roses lined the path from patio to the altar at the left of the tent. The same color fabric was tied in bows on the back of each chair. My mom, being the sensitive and thoughtful person that she was, arranged for guests to sit on both sides of the altar instead of the traditional left side dedicated to the bride’s side and right side reserved to the groom’s family and friends.
I scanned the altar anxious for a glimpse of Marcus, but didn’t see him. I sensed his presence though.
Once the girls were in place, arm in arm, my parents were leading me toward the altar when I finally registered that the music belonged to a three-piece orchestra! My darling mother had thought of everything.
Everything.
I blinked back the sting of tears and shifted my gaze to the right and found
him
, the man of my dreams. A pale yellow rose was clipped to his jacket and a pale yellow handkerchief was tucked in the pocket of his jacket. I couldn’t tear my eyes from him.
When he looked at me my knees went wobbly and I felt grateful for the support of my parents guiding me into the arms of the man I would marry—
again
. We reached the altar, a breathtaking beautiful archway of pale yellow roses. Marcus stepped toward us, hugged my dad, and kissed Mom’s cheek then grasped my hand and led me to my place next to him.
Charlotte was very prepared for her role as our ordained minister; she talked about the importance of communication and compromise, about destined relationships, which were rare and meant to defy any hardship. Her words were so touching, heartfelt and full of love that I found myself fighting back tears. Marcus recited every word of the ceremony in perfect English leaving me standing there open-mouthed.
Marcus took my hands and declared his love for me in Latin and then in perfect English again.
He actually learned English? I’ll have to give the app I downloaded for him with the highest ranking. When did Charlotte learn Latin?
Sneaky buggers!
With Kate holding my flowers, we exchanged rings made of platinum bands sealing our marriage with a kiss as Charlotte pronounced us husband and wife. Cheers erupted from the guests encouraging Marcus to kiss me again and again.
Hand in hand, we floated away from the altar. The wedding guests surrounded us to offer congratulations. Then my mom invited everyone inside for cocktails while we had our pictures taken.
And pictures we did take, with my parents, with Kate and Charlotte, by the rose garden and then by the altar, inside near the spiral staircase and finally some pictures of just me and then just Marcus. Needless to say, we were a little exhausted and very hungry by the time the photographer captured every angle.
As the sun dipped, I was reminded that the sunset in Pompeii always marked the time for my departure. Once again reading my thoughts, Marcus sealed the magical moment with a tender and yet passionate kiss then led me to the tented area for cocktails and the party.
The tent comfortably housed a DJ, a dance floor and ten round tables with eight chairs each. Delicate strings of lights starting at the highest point of the tent flowed down to the perimeter support poles. The ceiling looked like it was decorated with a million little stars. Mom had truly thought of everything.