Chapter Eighteen– Feelings

The whole way back to her room, she kept playing with her necklace that she loved. She hadn't wished for Ramon to buy it honestly, and she had no doubt that he could afford more expensive other pieces. Again, not that she thought he would buy it. Really, that was such a boyfriend and caring move and this was what she didn't get, although, she was done asking.

      Here was a drop dead gorgeous man and he wanted her. Everyone else got to experience passion or same hot intense fling, why not her? She wasn't ugly, she just wasn't really as beautiful as some of the other ladies, but yet, Ramon was here, holding her hand as he drove her back, another amazing day drawing to a close. And how she wished it wasn't done.

      "Are you hungry, cara mia?" If she said yes, that would mean more time with this sexy man and she wasn't a fool to turn that down.

      "Yes, I am. Are you? Would you want to grab something and join me in my room? You know I have an amazing view." He glanced at her and smiled. Yes, he knew the view and he rather liked it.

      "That sounds good, Jeanette." Her brows wrinkled at that. She loved the way her name sounded coming off his lips but it wasn't something he did a lot of, so it almost made her feel like she was in trouble. Oh, did that mean she would be punished? She held back the groan from the desire that shot through her.

      "Why did you say that?"

      "Say what?"

      "My name."

      "This is your name." She rolled her eyes at him and he smirked. He liked her name and wanted to call her that, to taste it out on his tongue.

      "Okay smart ass." He laughed at that and she smiled, really liking that sound.

      "Does pizza sound okay? I know a great place right around the way from where you are."

      "That actually sounds great." She smiled at him and he had to remind himself to breathe.

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      Jeanette kicked her shoes off as she sat on the couch and flicked the TV on, handing Ramon the controller once he sat the pizza down on the table before them.

      "Find whatever you want. What would you like to drink?"

      "Water would be fine." She nodded as she walked to the mini fridge and grabbed two waters, along with more napkins and walked back over. She sat back down as he put on some action movie and she lifted a brow, pulling out a slice of pizza from the box. "What?"

      "You had to go with action?" He shrugged but grinned as he grabbed his own slice. She shook her head but ate her slice in silence and got into the movie.

      She was curious, though, if this was something he had done before. And honestly, she would have to say that no, this was not his normal evening plans. And hell, this was how she spent a lot of her nights when she wasn't working, or working on some plot. She stopped eating, her thoughts focusing on that and how lonely that was. What in the world had her life become?

      She never minded before, honestly. But she knew that when she walked away, she would go back to plain old boring Jean who lived through her stories and nothing more? Looking back, she never ventured out to even run into anyone by chance. No one could draw he out of her shell and yet, this man did. And did it so effortlessly and with nothing more than some smiles and some charm.

      Maybe this holiday romance was just perfect for her to see how much she needed to change, to live life. To find someone who wanted her and maybe a chance of forever wasn't so bad. Look at these days with Ramon. God, had it only been a handful of days? She felt like she had experience life times in the time that she knew this man and it was utterly amazing. Yes, when she went home, she would not be the woman she was when she came here. And she was not going to be the woman who lived only through her characters. Though they demanded much of her time, she needed to find time for her, for her to live.

      She finally looked up at the side profile of this gorgeous man and she had to smile. When she had first bumped into him, she didn't think anything more of it. In fact, she tried to turn him away. She was rather glad he didn't give up so easily though.

      "What are you staring at, bella (beautiful)?"

      "You." He turned to look at her with a raised brow and she got lost in his eyes for a moment. God, he was good looking and he did steal her breath away. And while he knew he was good looking and quite the catch, he had no real ego over it. He was humble when she knew men would have been pricks over it.

      "You are staring again."

      "You are great to stare at." Her hand ran over his eyebrows, down his straight nose, over the strong cheek bones and finally over the defined jaw. "Yeah, my next major male lead is going to have to be an Italian banker who is a smooth talker and a sexy charmer." His lips quirked at that.

      "And are you going to call him Ramon?"

      "No, I must protect the innocent. Sides, I wouldn't want my readers to fall for the man I was writing about and using as an inspiration; I want to keep him close to me and me only." She leaned over and placed her lips against this, her heart longing to speak specific words she had no business speaking. And she knew that killed her. 

She had to remember this was a holiday fling, that Ramon didn't do serious, no matter the other little things he did just for her or the things he shared. She knew he was different, but she wasn't special enough to change his mind about dating. Finally, she broke the kiss and pulled away, a smile on her lips. "Besides, if it described you, and I added the name Ramon, don't you think your sister might hurt me?"

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      Ramon laid on his bed and stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts racing. He knew what Jeanette wanted to say, he saw it in her eyes, but she held back and he wasn't sure if he was happy she did, or angry. He didn't do love, he had told her that and she knew that, not that he saw this going down that path.

      They both knew this was fun while she was here, and he did notice the changes in her and he liked that. He had felt, from the very first time, that she should open up more, that the beauty shouldn't stay hidden. And so when she went home, she could take all this new found independence and go find a decent guy. And why the fuck did that thought bother him? He had no claim to her, he never did with anyone and yet, he even bought her a gift; a God damn token to remind her of him.

      What the fuck was wrong with him? Really, this was not him. And yet, he knew her days were limited and he hated to see them end. Shit, he almost choked up at the idea of her going home. What was going on?