My Italian Heart

Chapter Two

The next morning I got up and was ready for work nice and early. I had a meeting with a new vendor in the afternoon, which unfortunately meant I couldn't wear my jeans to work like I preferred. Instead, I picked out my emerald green suit and plain black bodysuit. Begrudgingly grabbing my black court shoes. As I slipped out my bedroom door, trying my best not to disturb everyone else in the house, I bumped almost straight into Mamma.

"Morning."

"Is Emily up yet, dear?"

"I have no idea. I've only just got up myself."

"Last night was so awful."

"Keep your voice down, Mamma." The last thing I wanted was to wake Em and Amiee. I guessed the pair didn't sleep well. Not to mention Em wouldn't be happy if she found us talking about her. "My heart is breaking for her, but all we can do is to be there if she needs us."

Out of nowhere, I heard her voice from behind the door. "Don't do that." We were busted.

"Do what?" I replied lamely.

"Aurora, I'm not thick. Stop talking about me. I'm fine." She was in no way fine, but she was entitled to her denial.

"Alright, Miss Fine. What's the plan for today?"

"Can I borrow your car? I need to pick Dad up at ten." After everything that had happened the day before, I had completely forgotten that her dad was coming to stay for a while.

"How about I come with you?" I really didn't think it was a good idea for her to be alone after everything that had happened. She might have been in denial, but at some point, it would really hit her. When it did, she would need support.

"I don't need a babysitter."

"Well, you've got one." There was no point in pretending she was wrong. She knew me too well for that to work. I realised I had forgotten my bag and quickly dipped back into my room to grab it. The pair of them had disappeared when I returned. I headed straight for the office to try to get a couple of hours in before I needed to be back at the house.

I threw myself into the stack of orders that had built up on my desk in my absence. So much so that I lost track of time and was late getting back to the house. When I got there, I was somewhat thankful that Em was late too and not stood waiting for me. Despite that, I was only there a couple of minutes before Em and Amiee came out and jumped into the car.

I had no idea what Em's dad looked like, but as we stood there waiting for him, Amiee started jumping up and down. I assumed she must have seen him and that was the reason for her excitement. Within seconds, she had taken off across the entrance of the airport and threw herself into the arms of what was presumably Em's dad.

He wasn't at all what I expected. Somehow I had envisioned a balding, slightly plump older man, but he was anything but what I had thought. He was tall, at least six feet, but he was still some distance away, swinging Amiee around in the air. His hair was a rich brown with the slightest streaks of red laced through it. He was clean shaven, wearing a suit and screamed sophisticated business man. I knew enough of them to know. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach rising.

As he got closer, Em started talking, but I missed what she said. I was too transfixed by his eyes. They were light grey, which should have felt cold, but they didn't. There was nothing but warmth and kindness in them.

"Also known as David. It's nice to meet you. I must say Emily has barely stopped talking about you all since she got back from Italy, so I feel like I know you all already." Oh my God, you can know me anytime. I chastised myself for my mind going straight there. It was Em's dad. I was certain they could both read my mind.

"Hi David, it's nice to meet you at long last." He held his hand out to me and I went to take it, but managed to accidentally fist bump him before managing to actually take his hand. I whipped it back quickly, trying to guard against the heat and spark his skin transferred into mine.

I got straight into the car while they sorted the bags out. Feeling like a complete i***t all the way back to the vineyard. Thankfully, I was saved from having to find coherent words by Amiee and David chatting away in the back seat of the car. Em seemed to be constantly looking over at me as I drove and I was sure she had picked up on my strange behaviour. I was so paranoid that when I got to the vineyard, I was rather rude and headed straight back to the office. I needed to be out of the way. To be able to calm myself before Em noticed anything was wrong with me. I had just sat down at my desk when my phone pinged.

Emily: Could you do me a favor?

Aurora: Shoot.

Emily: Help Amiee with her swimming things? She's heading down to the pool with Dad. I don't want her to see me crying.

I couldn't say no. She was right. It wasn't a good idea for Amiee to see Emily crying. I jumped up from my desk and headed down to the pool. Hoping to God that David would still be getting ready and I could be gone before he got there.

Aurora: On my way.

My hopes were dashed the second I rounded the side of the warehouse. Even from that distance I could see him stood beside the pool in just a pair of swim shorts. I tried to keep my eyes on the ground as I walked there. The last thing I needed was to be getting wound up before I even got there. He was already in the water when I got there, doing laps, and completely unaware of my presence.

"Hey, Amiee. Have you got your things?" She nodded and passed them to me. I couldn't help but wonder what it had taken for David to gain her trust. I could tell from the way she was with him that he had it. If anything, it endeared him to me further. Once I had Amiee ready, I headed to the edge of the pool, intending to help her in. David had other ideas and hoisted himself out of the pool right next to me. Forcing me to see his abs and biceps constrict with the movement. I was sure I must have been practically drooling.

I watched as he lifted Amiee and threw her into the pool. If I hadn't been frozen to the spot, I would have gone in after her. "She's fine. I know it looks inhumane, but she loves it."

"I did nearly have a heart attack."

"Feel free to come and swim with us and see what she can do. Assure yourself that I'm not going to let her drown."

"I can't stick around for long. There's a mountain of paperwork waiting for me in the office." Despite the words coming out of my mouth, I didn't move. Just lingering there beside him, like an awkward teenager. There was no way I was getting into a pool with him, but that didn't mean I was quite ready to tear myself away, either. "From what Emily has said, you are familiar with an all work, no play life."

"I would love to say she is wrong, but she isn't. I've always made time for her when she needs me and now Amiee. Nevertheless, I'm terrible at making time for myself. I think that might be why she has dragged me away from the office. To force me to stop working. Don't tell her, but I smuggled my laptop into the country. I need to at least be able to check my emails."

The slight chuckle was an automatic reaction because I knew exactly what he meant. "I wish I could say I wouldn't do the same. It's not easy to switch off, especially when there are people relying on you." The vineyard was well established, but it was still a constant battle to find revenue streams. Trying to keep it running not just for the now, but for future generations as well.

I had crouched down beside the pool when I was planning on helping Amiee into the water. Staying balanced there for so long was making the muscles in the back of my legs start to strain. "I best get going." David was still stood beside me and I couldn't concentrate on anything but his body as it came back into view. It was part of the reason I had stayed crouched, so his naked torso wasn't in my direct eye line.

As I lifted myself back to standing, my knee complained. Leaving me wobbling a little too much before going over on my ankle. I was heading straight for the water in my favorite suit. I never quite met the water. It would have been better than the alternative. David's arms came around me and stopped me from falling. His arms were still encasing me as I straightened myself up. My heart racing at the closeness of him. The sweet, woody scent of him surrounding me just as tightly as his arms.

We were too close. My eyes barely left his. For one brief second, my gaze shifted down to his mouth, imagining it on mine. I nibbled on my bottom lip at the thought. David had been all smiles each time I had seen him, but he was different. Brooding almost. The moment lingered. "Daveed, come swim." He let go of me carefully but quickly and turned without a word. I watched on as his clean line dove into the pool. I took the opportunity to walk away as quickly as I could. Beating myself up for being an awful friend all the way back to the office.