Rome in Love by Anita Hughes Read Free Book Online Page A

striding toward them, his hands jammed into his pockets.
    “You should come with me,” he said to Sophie when he reached the taxi stand.
    “Come with you where?” Sophie peered at him from behind her sunglasses.
    “To the orphanage,” Theo continued, running his hands through his hair. “I’m driving there tomorrow.”
    “Why would I go with you?” Sophie asked.
    “The children never see any women except the nuns,” Theo explained. “It would be lovely for them to meet a beautiful young woman.”
    Sophie lowered her eyes and studied the pavement. She saw a taxi pull up in front of them and turned to Theo. “All right, I’ll come.”
    “That’s wonderful!” Theo beamed. “Where shall I pick you up?”
    Sophie climbed into the taxi and leaned out the window. “I’ll meet you at ten o’clock at the top of the Spanish Steps.”
    *   *   *
    “What was I thinking? I’ve never done anything like that before,” Sophie groaned, pulling off her scarf. She sat on the blue silk sofa in her suite with her foot propped on an ottoman. The curtains were open and the sun had dropped behind Saint Peter’s Basilica. The sky turned purple and a light fog settled over the rooftops.
    “He’s cute and he liked you,” Amelia replied, reclining against the yellow silk cushions.
    “I’m engaged!” Sophie exclaimed. “I didn’t mean to say yes, it popped out of my mouth.”
    “Do you really have no contact with your fiancé?” Amelia raised her eyebrow.
    “My father thought it was best.” Sophie hesitated. “He didn’t want us to be tempted before the wedding.”
    “You must have had boyfriends,” Amelia continued.
    “We had dances at boarding school.” Sophie reached down and massaged her ankle. Her long lashes were coated with thick mascara and she wore light powder and pink lip gloss. “I kissed a lot of boys, but it was as exciting as practicing on a pillow.”
    “You’ve never…?” Amelia stopped, trying to find the right words.
    “I don’t mind waiting until I’m married; I have my whole life ahead of me.” Sophie twisted her ponytail. “I should call Theo and tell him I can’t come.”
    “He’ll be disappointed,” Amelia replied. “He was as excited as an overgrown puppy.”
    “I want to visit the orphanage but I don’t want to give him the wrong impression.” Sophie’s eyes were wide and she bit her lower lip.
    “Welcome to the world of dating.” Amelia laughed. “It’s like a Shakespeare play. No one says what they mean and someone’s heart is bound to get broken.”
    *   *   *
    Amelia took the elevator to the lobby and crossed the marble floor to the gift shop. It was early evening and the space was filled with men in dark silk suits and women in glittering cocktail dresses and narrow stilettos. Amelia glanced at the striped velvet sofas and mirrored walls and ornate ceilings and caught her breath. Even the fragrance from the huge vases of yellow roses was intoxicating.
    She purchased Vanity Fair and Variety and a packet of Life Savers. She was tired from spending all morning on the set and the afternoon at the Villa Borghese. She wanted to curl up in bed with a room service tray of insalata mista and gnocchi pomodoro and tiramisu.
    She walked toward the elevator and saw a man standing at the reception desk. He had dark curly hair and wore a blue blazer with beige slacks. He had a leather backpack slung over his shoulder and clutched a bouquet of pink roses.
    Amelia froze, her heart hammering in her chest. Whit couldn’t possibly be here. He wasn’t the kind of person who jumped on a plane and flew over the Atlantic to surprise her. She ran toward the desk and tripped on the Oriental rug. Her package went flying and her magazines spilled on the floor.
    She scrambled to collect the magazines and felt a hand on her arm. She looked up and saw Whit’s blue eyes and white smile.
    “What are you doing here?” she stammered.
    Whit found her hair clip and fastened it