Page 259 of Valentino

Visions come floating through my mind, of him standing in the rain and declaring his love.

I can’t imagine a future without you in it, nor would I ever want to. I love you, Anna.

My heart….

I’m swooning so hard.

And he told me that he wasn’t romantic…. Ha! Liar.

The future feels so bright.

For a long time, I lie and watch him with a dreamy look on my face, and I come to the conclusion that when he’s vulnerable like this, it would be the easiest thing in the world to lock him away and keep him to myself forever.

So that’s just what I’m going to do….

VALENTINO

I feel the bed dip and I stretch as I open my eyes.

“Mr. Sleepyhead.” Anna slides half over me and I smile and wrap my arms around her. “Sorry, babe,” I sigh. “I don’t know why I’m so tired.”

“That’s okay.” She kisses me softly.

“What time is it?” I ask.

“Five o’clock.”

“What?” I frown.

“Uh-huh.” She pushes the hair back from my forehead. “You slept for twenty hours.”

“My God.” I try to will my eyes open. “Still feel like I could sleep another twenty to be honest.”

“That’s okay.” She lies down and snuggles into my chest. “You can.”

“No.” I slide my hand down over her behind and give it a squeeze. “I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

I roll her onto her back and hold her hands over her head. “My favorite meal.” My teeth drop to her neck as I nudge her legs open with my knee. “You.”

6:49 p.m.

I glance at my watch. “You nearly ready, babe?”

“Coming,” she calls from the bathroom.

“Our reservation is for seven.”

“Yeah, I know.”

I glance at my watch again. “That’s in ten minutes, Anna.”

“I’m coming now.”

I close my eyes, patient. Be. Patient.

I hate being late, more than anything I hate being late, and the more I get to know Anna, the more I realize that she’s late to everything.