It’s an upper floor of a high-rise in what looks like a business district of the city. Three bedrooms with sleek, minimalistic finishes and a balcony with an impressive view.
The bedroom I’m given is small but comfortable with a full-size bed and a private bathroom. I have absolutely no complaints as I wheel in my luggage and sit down on the edge of the bed.
I made it here with no problems. I was expecting a ticket in coach, but Hugh got me a seat in first class next to him and Candice—an unexpectedly generous gesture. He worked through most of the flight, and Candice was on her phone with her earbuds the whole time, so there were no expectations for conversation. I read a cozy mystery and enjoyed the first-class perks. A car service picked us up at the airport and drove us here to the apartment, so overall I’ve never had a smoother travel experience in my life.
Now I feel rather odd though. I’ll be living here for the next month with a man and a teenager—both strangers—and I still have very little idea what to expect.
It’s surreal.
I left my bedroom door half-open and jump up with an embarrassing squeak when a tap on it startles me.
Hugh is in the doorway, leaning against the frame and looking sexier than ever in a wrinkled green shirt and tan trousers and slightly tired eyes. “Sorry to surprise you.”
“That’s fine. I’d gone into a daze. Did you need anything?”
“No. Just checking your room is all right.”
“Oh yes, it’s great. It’s actually bigger than I expected.”
“Good. Do you need anything?”
“Not that I can think of. I’ve just got to try to stay awake until it’s a reasonable bedtime here.”
He gives me a small smile. It turns up the corners of his mouth and warms his eyes. I must definitely be dazed from the long trip and jet lag because I gape at him besottedly for way too long.
“Oh here,” he says, digging a billfold out of his pocket. He peels off some of it and hands me a wad of what I assume is local currency.
I blink down at it. “What’s this for?”
“In case you need anything to get settled here. They stocked the kitchen and were supposed to provide soap and everything in the bathrooms, but I figured you might have certain things you want. Just get anything extra you need.”
I stare down at the money in my hand. “I’m sure whatever is here will be fine. I’m not picky, and I don’t have any special diet needs.”
“Still. You might think of something.”
My family was never in need, but we also never had any extra income. I was raised checking the prices on every single thing we ever bought and waiting or going without if something was too expensive.
The stack of bills in my hand makes me very uncomfortable. “But this is too much. I don’t think I’ll need—”
I start to hand it back to him as I raise my eyes, but I break off my objection when I see his face.
He doesn’t look angry or intimidating, but he looks… grumpy.
I’ve never seen him look that way before.
This much money feels wrong—like something unearned and unnecessary—but it’s going to annoy him if I continue to object to his generosity.
After all, he’s employing me, and he’s supposed to compensate me for my work. Just because no one has ever been this generous to me before doesn’t mean it’s out of line or inappropriate.
I haven’t earned it yet, but I’ve got a month of work ahead of us.
So I swallow over my instinctive argument and instead say, “Okay. Thank you.”
He relaxes visibly. “Okay. Just let me know if you need more.”
Raising my eyebrows, I manage to suppress the instinct to question the plausibility of that occurrence.
“Candice and I are going out to dinner this evening at about six. Do you want to come with us?”
“Thanks, but I’ll probably stay here.”
He peers at me with a hint of that grumpiness I saw before. “You’re more than welcome.”
“I know. I really do appreciate your generosity. But I’m kind of tired, and I’m sure Candice would prefer for dinner to be just with you.” My tone is matter-of-fact. I’m not remotely annoyed or surprised or offended by what I know to be an indisputable fact.
Hugh clearly knows it too. “It takes her a while to open up to people, but I’m sure the two of you will get along fine once she gets to know you.”
“I completely understand. I’m not worried about it. But you’re going to be busy starting Monday, and I don’t think horning in on the time you have with her until then is the best way to win her trust.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, you’re probably right. So I guess that means you haven’t changed your mind about this weekend either.”
He and Candice are leaving tomorrow for a weekend trip to Florence. I was politely invited to join them, and I just as politely declined. “No. I’m not changing my mind. You two should have a good time with just the two of you. I can take the weekend to get settled here and get the lay of the land better. It will make it easier once you start working and I’ll be going places with Candice.”
I don’t say so, but it was actually a huge relief to learn I have the weekend to acclimate myself to getting around Rome. Hugh probably should have chosen someone for this job who had experience navigating European cities, but I’d rather he not realize that oversight.
I’ll have three days to practice and figure things out. I’m going to need them.
After Candice and Hugh leave that evening, I make myself a salad for dinner with chicken on top since it feels like I need to eat some vegetables and I don’t much want to cook. I sit at the kitchen counter to eat and text my friends and family. It’s a quiet, enjoyable meal, and afterward I take a shower and change into a tank top and cotton pajama pants, which is what I always sleep in.
It’s still early, but I’m exhausted and really want to go to bed. When Hugh texts me at just after eight to tell me that he and Candice are wandering around and so won’t be back until late, I take it as a sign that an early bedtime is the right decision.
So I read in bed until my eyes won’t stay open, and I’m asleep before nine o’clock.
I wake up in the middle of the night and momentarily have no idea where I am or what day it is. My mouth is so dry it feels scratchy, and I blink in the dark, staring at the illuminated numbers on the bedside clock until I can figure out what they mean.
It’s almost one in the morning. It’s my first night in Rome, and I desperately need water.
I roll out of bed and go to use the bathroom and splash water on my face. I should have gotten a bottle of water to put on the nightstand before I went to bed. That’s what I always do at home. Now I’ll have to venture out to the kitchen to get one.
Maybe some people would be comfortable in this situation, but I’m not. I feel like an intruder in someone else’s home and mostly want to remain unnoticed. But it’s so late Candice and Hugh are sure to be in bed.
I’m allowed to get water from the kitchen here. Hugh would probably get his grumpy face on if I implied I was hesitant to do it.
So I open my door and glance out. The hallway lights are off. The other doors I can see are closed. Everyone seems to be in bed as expected.