Page 106 of The Strength Of A Woman

It feels safer, too.

You can’t reach us unless you parachute people on top of this compound, and even then, the armed people on the ground would have more than enough time to organize their defense.

This hardly looks like a military complex, though.

It rather looks like a newlywed couple’s estate. How grandiose of me to even think about such a thing.

The truth is, it’s beautiful, and I can’t wait to spend two weeks with him here.

I give Rory a detailed description of the luxurious space, including the multiple bedrooms, the upper floor that belongs to me, the gazebos outside, the pools, and the footpaths. The vineyards.

I love the vineyards.

And then there are horses.

My love for horseback riding has come back since he mentioned it to me.

She’s happy with this turn of events and begs me to keep her in the loop and to make sure that I create beautiful memories so I can tell her about them.

Her father is on the mend, and she’ll spend more time with him.

We end the call a little later, and I drop the last few hangers on the bed and walk to the window.

Shielding my eyes from the sun, I look in the distance.

There he is.

My man.

Riding a dark horse, he looks amazing. Like no man I’ve ever seen.

What I forgot to tell Rory is that I share the upper floor with him.

This is our bedroom.

And these two weeks will be our life.

It’s up to us what will happen after that party in Taormina and how we play our cards, but so far, so good.

I think fate is on our side.

Leaning against the window frame, I wait for him to reach the house and look up.

Grinning, he peers at me.

Everything fits him perfectly, from his open-at-the-neckline shirt to his fitted vest, riding pants, and shiny boots.

The sun has already darkened his skin a little, making his devilish eyes pop.

He winks at me, and my knees turn to butter, before I give him a small wave.

“Let me know when you’re ready to join me for a ride. I want to show you the property,” he says loudly.

“I’m ready,” I say just as loudly. “Wait for me.”

Without waiting for him to say another word, I spin around and sprint to the closet, giddy, excited. I’ve never been happier in my life.

I have to improvise since I don’t have riding clothes.