Chapter Seven – Seeing new things

Jeanette pulled away from this man that she knew nothing about. Why it never occurred to her that he would have a nasty temper, she wasn't sure. Well, she could most definitely say she now knew another thing about this man, well, two. That proved that he was loyal, if nothing else, a trait she could admire, but not right now when it hurt her.

"Jeanette…" She held up her hand to stop any other words from coming out.

"You know next to nothing about me. Why would you believe someone like me when you've known Sapphire all along, although something you've never said?"

"It is not like that at all." Jeanette laughed a hollow sound to her ears. His disbelief in her really hurt, although, she couldn't phantom why it bothered her so much. She was aware that this talk was something she should just forget.

"Look, Ramon, I know where you stand, that's fine, really. I say it's truly better to ignore any further talk of Sapphire, since it looks like it might be a touchy subject for the both of us." Ramon nodded his head in agreement, and they rode in silence for the rest of the trip, although neither one was happy; it almost put a damper on the day.

Ramon walked along the path with this hand lightly upon the middle of her back. They talked about nonsense stuff before he got into the history of the Theater of Manellus. When they stopped in front of the building, it really took her breath away.

"They story goes that Caesar was the first one that started the building. He wanted to build a theater to rival the one that was built by Pompeii." He smiled as he looked at it and went on with more in depth history.

"It's wonderful."

"I would say it personally one of my favorite spots." Jeanette glanced over at him and saw the twinkle in his eyes. He did love showing her around, talking about all this amazing history. Not that she could fault him, she understood about loving something with such an undying passion.

"Thank you Ramon. Showing me all this…a tour guide would so not have been the same, there would not be as much passion."

"It is a pleasure. There is one more stop before I take you out."

"Out where?"

"Dinner, of course." Jeanette shook her head and chuckled as they walked to the limo.

They stopped a few feet away from the structure and stood silent for a few moments. Jeanette could not help but be caught up by such beauty. The triple arch building was just plain amazing. In her mind, she could never help but wonder how such precise work was done with the limited tools they had in that time period.

"The Arch of Constantine was erected in honor of the first Christian Emperor's victory of Maxentius at Soxo Rubra, or better known as the Milvian Bridge…," he went on, giving her the history and she smiled.

"Does it not amaze you the skill that people had?"

"Yes, it does. To see work and to know…"

"…without today's tools. I was just thinking that. This is really outstanding. Thank you again, Ramon." He glanced at her and a smiled tugged at his lips. She really was absolutely beautiful and it was unbelievable that she wasn't with someone.

"Trust me, my dear, it is my pleasure. You get such a look of joy on your face, I do not recall ever seeing any one with that look."

"Oh, it's because it's a great background for a story." He laughed, yet, knowing her, even as little as he did, she probably was right. A writer's mind never rests. It's always working, always staying sharp. And, he realized that was yet another simple enough thing he liked about her.

His gazed turned back to the arch and he thought about his past relationships. The type that he liked was completely complicated. Yet, they always ended up in the worst possible ways, nothing ever lasted long. But, he knew simple girls, didn't he?

Mentally, he frowned at himself. He hadn't analyzed himself in such ways ever before. What was it about this woman? Honestly, she was doing things to him that was unheard of. His family, his friends, would very much all be in shock, it was him looking from the outside in and he most certainly was.

"Ramon?"

"I am sorry, what did you say?"

"I was asking about food."

"Oh, I am sorry. I did have something planned. A picnic that I am sure you will love."

"Funny, I've been told that a lot and never really seem to like what that person was doing." He put his arm around her shoulders and guided her back to the limo.

"Tell me, my dear, have I let you down?" She glanced up at him and knew that he hadn't, not as of yet. But, he was a man after all, and it was in his nature to let her down of course. That wasn't fair since not all men were evil. Just the ones in her past, after all, it seemed like a criteria.

"How is it that you can actually enclose a specific area and make it private?" Ramon glanced up at the fountain and smiled. His eyes traveled toward her and he threw her a wicked wink.

"Cara mia, when you are me, you can have just about anything you wish."

"Oh, I see. It's just grand to be powerful." He laughed and shook his head.

"For a fee, you can have this area for a while. It is used a lot for proposals. I feel it is just a beautiful sight and the last history lesson for today."

"I'll remember that for my next novel. The heroine will save the hero and here is where he can ask the most important question."

"You do love writing, huh?"

"I have for a long while. All I would ever do is write; it was, and still is, my escape and my venting source. I was called a freak more times than I can count because of it." They stopped talking for a few moments and just stood in the comfortable silence looking at the fountain. "Okay, tell me so I can start my next book."

"Well, if I am getting used for my knowledge of my country, I should start telling you more, do you not agree? And maybe charge," he added with a chuckle.

"Yes, please? It's very wonderful to have a tour guide who's so pleasurable."

"Why thank you." He grabbed the blanket and laid it on the ground. He sat down and started removing the dishes. "Wine?"

"You did bring everything, huh?" He glanced up at her, a smile over taking his features.

"Things have to be prefect. Food, wine…the setting."

"Sounds like you would be planning a seduction."

"Oh, no, I do not plan those." He handed her a glass a wine and she sipped at it as she watched him. No, he didn't have to plan because women were always willing to do anything for him. Oh, yes she could understand why. He was charming, powerful, and very sexy. He was smart, cunning, and maybe a little funny. He would praise you, love you, treat you like the queen you were. Yet, when that ended, when he stopped, what do you have? Ramon Capillini was not the type to be with one woman. He had fun playing the field, and he always would; she knew those types of powerful men, she had met her fair share.

And why not ask about his feelings? Mentally, she sighed. Indeed, why not ask? But, she knew that answer; scared, afraid, and many other things she didn't want to analyze. Besides, if she asked him, she would have to start examining her own feelings. Those were running to deep and she most certainly did not want to examine.

"This fountain was built from 1732 to 1762, by Nicola Salvi, who had won a contest for the design. Although, the true history of the fountain begins back in 19 BC, with the completion of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct by Marcus Vispanius Agrippe, during the rule of Augustus…"

"Amazing. How wonderfully amazing all this history can be," she beamed as he gave her another lesson, his voice making her smile.

"Get comfortable because there is still a lot more." He stopped for a moment to take a sip of his wine. He glanced up over the rim and threw a wink at her before going on. After he had finishes she tilted her head, her mouth quickly blurting out the question.

"How do you remember all of this?" Ramon leaned back against the ledge of the fountain, raised his knee and brought his arm across it.

"The finer points I learned in college, but when I was younger, my grandfather would take us out, show us the sites. He loved it and talked about all of this with such undying passion. I adored my grandfather and wanted nothing more than to be like him. He was not a scholar nor a historian, but it was just a love for his country that made him learn all he could."

"Aww, you did have a hero growing up." He laughed at that.

"Yes, I did. He was what I wanted to be; the strong, loving gentleman that he was. He would always tell me things, teach me things. I would sit on his knee and he would tell me I was his favorite grandchild. He passed away ten years ago. But, he made me promise one last thing. He laid there still as death, reached for my hand, and told me to promise that when I find my prefect woman, not to let her go, no matter what; show her she means the world and when we have our sons, to name one after him."

"I see. No wonder why you haven't married yet."

"True. Marriage is a huge deal among my family. You only get one shot at it; we do not believe in divorce." Jeanette laid down on the blanket and folded her arms under her head.

"What was your grandfather's name?"

"Kristopher."

"A very nice name." He smiled down at her and when she returned it, and he felt something pass between them; a spark, a connection, of sorts. Her eyes locked onto his and he felt it deep inside, heard it, a voice from a long time ago saying not to let this one go.