The House by the Cypress Trees by Elena Mikalsen

Author:Elena Mikalsen [Mikalsen, Elena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Italy, Travel, pets, Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy, Beach Read, Friends to Lovers, Europe, Food, Family, Women's Fiction
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2019-07-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Julia woke with a start, trapped by something heavy. Daniel. She’d spent the night on the swing, wrapped in Daniel’s arms. She struggled to shake the last of her sleep and slowly looked around. The sun was beginning to come up on the horizon, its rays turning the valley and the vineyard below different shades of gold. She didn’t remember falling asleep, just gently rocking with Daniel stroking her arm until it all seemed a sweet dream. Was it all a dream? The evening at the castle, Daniel’s kisses, his warm body behind her?

She was tempted to go back to sleep, wrapped in the blanket with this big warm man next to her, until she looked back at the house and realized they were in plain view of many of the residents and guests.

“Daniel, wake up,” she called out. She tried to untangle herself from his strong arms, but he only hugged tighter.

“Just a minute,” he whispered sleepily, finally moving his arms.

Oh, no, people would walk out and see them out there, together. A part of her strangely didn’t mind.

Julia blamed her Italian mother she had never met.

For everything.

For the sunset she’d watched at the castle, that she refused to admit to Daniel was the best she had ever seen. For the man who held her all night and respectfully never asked her to have sex with him again. For the love she had developed for this place, with Daniel’s family being so kind and welcoming. Something must be in her genes. Otherwise, why would she be so in love with it all?

A warm hand rubbed her back. “Good morning.”

“Good morning. We have to get inside,” she said, turning.

“No hurry.” Daniel stretched his arms, then legs.

“Everyone will be up soon, Daniel.” Julia finally was free, and she got up and stretched.

“They’re up already. It’s a farm. They start their day rather early.”

“What will they think of me?” Julia was mortified. She looked up at the windows of the house. The guests were surely still sleeping. “Whose windows face the pool? When they see me, sleeping out in the yard with you, like…”

“Like what?”

“Like your other girls. Women. Whatever.”

“I don’t make a habit of bringing women here. Or sleeping outside with them.”

“Well, I’m sure I’m not the first. I’m going to my room.” She ran up the path, her heart in her throat. What if she bumped into Francesca on the way?

“Wait, Julia, it’s not like that for me,” he called after her.

She ignored him and ran all the way to her room, luckily avoiding his family. Once safely behind doors, she sat in the armchair, thoughts swirling. Why did he have such an effect on her? One moment, she wanted to kiss him and be held by him, and in another, she was furious with him and wanted him away from her. It was the wine. No, it was her lack of experience with men. She was hopeless. She had no clue how to have a normal relationship. Going on blind dates a few times with jerks didn’t count.

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