Chapter Six – Opening Up

"You can see all the stars tonight." Ramon glanced up and tonight, and as she had said, every star twinkled back at them. His town house was near the outskirts of the city and overlooked the town. In the location, the town was beautiful, but the city lights couldn't reach him. "What a beautiful sight."

"Surely you can see the same from your place?"

"My apartment in New York is near the middle of the city, so all I get to see is lights."

"I have been there a couple times; an interesting place to be sure." Jeanette laughed and nodded her head in agreement. "How did you get involved in writing?" Jeanette leaned back against the chair and sipped her wine as she turned her attention from the stars to him.

"Since high school, I have loved writing. It soothed any emotions and eased my pains. I wrote a couple poems, entered a couple contests, and won. It was amazing and I enjoyed it so much, quite a natural high for me. From poems came short stories, and than to novels. Although, it wasn't until after Anthony left me that I had the guts to publish anything." She smiled as a look of remembrance crossed her face. "Having Sapphire take everything, I decided I needed a new life. So, I actually moved to New York, met my friend and Editor, and started this journey. Everyone said I had the skill to go far, but I finally had the faith in myself, something I lacked a lot of in the past."

"And your parents? What do they say?" Jeanette's smile faded and she turned around, her eyes glancing out over the town as she thought about how to answer that.

"My parents are okay with it. Truthfully, they really don't care either way. I'm aware that sounds mean, but it's the truth, sadly, for lack of a better way to say it."

"That is awful, cara mia." She shrugged, trying to get rid of the unwanted emotion, both within him and herself. But, like everything else, it stayed. She dropped her eyes from the sky and stared into the candle flame, getting lost within her thoughts.

She had tried throughout her early years and the majority of her teen years to get her parents attention, to get their praise and adoration but nothing worked. She thought it might happen when she published her first book, but it barely caused a ripple, much to her dismay, although her siblings were proud of her and her achievements.

Ramon sat back and watched; watched as the brilliant glow in her eyes died and got replaced by a pain. His heart twisted at the sight. Here, he had an abundance of love and affection and she grew up barely having any. Oh, he was positive her parents loved her, but they probably never showed it and that was something he couldn't understand.

"Where do you get your inspiration for your stories?" Jeanette raised her eyes to his and offered a sweet smile of thanks. His heart caught, stopped, and started at a rate that really couldn't be good. Although, he knew he would want to see more of it, of that precious smile that was different than the others.

"Various things really. It's the high point of being an author; having an overactive imagination that never stops." Ramon laughed at that. Mentally, he could tick off all the reasons why getting involved with someone like her wouldn't be a smart move. But, all his life he's done the smart move, the right move. No woman had sparked an interest in him. For that matter, no woman made his heart speed up either, nor caused those tingles that he was enjoying so much.

"What shall we do tomorrow?" Jeanette glanced over at him, a smile over taking her beautiful features.

"You had all the plans today, without my thoughts on it. Now, you're asking for my opinions?" Ramon laughed, enjoying her easy manner. He was aware that he could be pushy and bossy when he was going after things he wanted. It was part of his job and it could trickle out to his everyday life. But, it was nice to have someone who laughed over it.

"Maybe, my dear, I just wanted to spend some time with you." He raised his glass in a toast and watched her expression. She was surprised, and once again, he had to question her past relationships. Sapphire was beautiful, he knew that, yet he couldn't understand why any man would choose her over Jeanette? Of course, he really knew Sapphire, since they were friends for so long. "Why do you always seem so shocked when I say something like that?"

"You always say flattering things. And honestly, Ramon, I'm just not used to it." Ramon sat his glass down on the table top and grabbed her free hand.

"You are staying for two weeks, right, cara mia?" At her nod, he smiled. "In two weeks, I want to spend a lot of time with you."

"Back to making plans, I see?" He laughed once more and he lifted her hand and gently kissed the precious finger tips, one by one. She smiled, a deep smile, one that brought out two dimples in either cheek and he thoroughly enjoyed that sight. His heart fluttered and he had to the urge to grin like a love sick fool. Except, he wasn't in love, just a strong attraction, right? A want, a need even, to show her that she was special, wonderful, and amazing. That she could have any man that she really wanted.

Something in him, though, twisted at the thought that she would be with any man; anyone other than him. Jealously was not a feeling that suited well with him, but in his past, he never had much to be jealous over; he had never had a woman leave him, he did the leaving. A man, who didn't exist, had caused this and that was a feeling he really didn't like.

"What are you frowning over?" Ramon sharply glanced up at her. "You were smiling, than something entered your mind and you whole expression changed and I'm guessing it wasn't something pretty."

"Oh, I was, uh, it was nothing." She raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing him, although, he couldn't blame her. She let out a small sigh and quickly just dropped the subject.

"Sight seeing and maybe some historical sights."

"Excuse me?" She threw back her head and laughed at that.

"The plans for tomorrow. I wouldn't want to impose upon you though."

"The pleasure of owning, running and working at the bank or the hardship of taking a beautiful, delightful woman out? What is a poor man to do?" Again, Jeanette busted out laughing. He let that sound rush over him, a feeling quite unusual for him. "Tomorrow, oh, around 9:00?"

"A decent hour?" She smiled again, and those unknown feelings came rushing back again.

She stared up at the ceiling, trying to organize thoughts and emotions. All of this was new for her. Again, there wasn't anyway it was love. For one, she didn't believe in love at first sight, even being a writer; she didn't apply what she didn't believe in, in her work. Attraction and lust can be felt; hit you full on, but not the lasting love. As for the second half, she still knew next to nothing about him.

He was attractive, really no denying that, he was also smart, most certainly charming, and…and what else? He was full of questions, not full of answers. He didn't avoid her questions, he was just always asking about her. She frowned as she thought of that. She really hadn't been that open with anyone. It most certainly was not like her. Like her talking about her family; that was information not too many people were even aware of. She had family, just never felt the relationship. When she was interviewed, she merely suggested her family loved her and quickly changed the subject. And yet, it flowed so freely from her when she was with him.

She sighed and quickly rolled over on her side, the clock showing it to be 2:36. She punched her pillow in frustration. No man ever bothered her so much. In truth, there wasn't any real reason why he should get to her. Other than making her feel at ease rather than on guard, like whenever she was with or near an attractive man. Jeanette finally closed her eyes, willing all thoughts of Ramon out of her mind. She had a feeling she needed a good nights rest to fight against Mr. Capillani and all the things he did to her.

"Are you ready?" Jeanette put a dab of lip gloss on, wiped off the edges of her lips, and sent a smile to Ramon in the mirror, which, for the last few moments, was leaning against the bathroom door frame quite intently watching her.

"Yes, my dear Ramon." She shut off the light and made her way into the front room. "Where are you taking me today?"

"That, my dear, is a surprise. I suggest, though, that you bring your camera." She grabbed that, along with her handbag and phone and quickly left her room.

"I gather it might be a long day?"

"Of course. You have only a few days in Italy and you need to experience it all."'

"Oh, that's why you rather waste work time and show me around?" She lifted one eyebrow at him as they stepped out of the lobby doors. They walked over to his limo and he held open the door for her.

"I am not spending my time foolishly, if that was what you are implying. I have a few meetings lined up for this week and a cell phone with me."

"I trust your judgment, Ramon. So, where are we going?

"To a place, cara mia, I am sure you shall very much enjoy."

"Is that all you will tell me?' He glanced over at her and sent her a wicked smile that sent tiny butterflies off in her stomach.

She softly drew her bottom lip in and he watched in helpless fascination. It simply wasn't fair to him the things she could do, the erotic thoughts that stayed on his mind; like all those that seemed to stay long after she had left his place. And yet, all those times, it would unnerve him that she never was married, nor that she was currently seeing anyone.

"Tell me something, Jeanette. Why are you single?" Jeanette smiled, liking the way her name rolled off his lips. She savored it for a moment before answering the question.

"Sapphire played a big part in that, I suppose she still does. Since I lost my men to her, my self-esteem was never the same. Although, I am aware she lied and used them to get her way, it still plays with my mind, my emotions and my self-esteem."

"Oh, would you stop? When will you see that it was not Sapphire! Sapphire would not dare do such things, my sweet Jeanette! And I would very much like you to stop berating my friend. If there were problems in your past relationships, mayhap, you should look towards yourself before you start pointing your finger!"