Chapter Two – Day Dreaming

The man stared at her, a smile lingering upon full lips as he held her steady. Jeanette stepped back, a blush slowly creeping up her neck to her cheeks. She felt horrified for running into a stranger. No, not just any stranger, nor any man. This man, who towered over her, stood about six foot, with raven black hair, and sensual chocolate eyes. This man, this god, was powerful and everyone around him was very aware of that simple fact, it was an essence of him.

"Pardon me, señorita."

"I'm sorry. I, um, was just day dreaming."

"Be careful. Rome is a busy city. Day dreaming can result in accidents." His lips curled up and a breath taking smile over took his features. "It would be a shame to have someone so pretty injured."

"Thank you." The blush that stained her cheeks became redder.

"I am Ramon Capillini. And you are Jean Washington. I have a younger sister who loves your novels. You are very talented, señorita, besides being beautiful."

"Thank you, Mr. Capillini."

"Please, all my friends call me Ramon." Jean smiled at him and he smiled in return. "Are you sure you are okay traveling the streets of Rome?"

"I'm actually going to rent a car. Let me offer you a lift home, since I was the one who bumped into you."

"You are visiting, right?" At Jeanette's nod, he went on. "Than you will be lost and an accident will occur anyway. Let me take you to your hotel."

"Oh, no, it won't be necessary. Really, thank you, though."

"It would be me my pleasure, señorita. Where are you staying?" Jeanette pulled her lower lip between her teeth, thinking about this. She would have to find a way to come back here to pick up a car. As if seeing the worry upon her face, he quickly smiled. "I will have a car pick you up. It is the least I can do."

"What are you referring to?"

"You have kept my sister out of trouble with your wonderful books." Jeanette laughed softly at that, never having anyone tell her something like that and finally agreed to the whole situation and told him the hotel she was staying at, ignoring the stranger part, for something told her he wasn't all bad.

Half an hour later, Jeanette looked out the window, watching the passing scenery and sighed in pure bliss. The man across the seat however, was busy watching the young woman. It wasn't a common occurrence for him to bump into women, nor to offer them lifts over town in his limousine. Her eyes, a chocolate mix with hazel flakes in them, though, had entrapped him and he couldn't stop looking at her.

Ramon leaned back against the plush seat and wondered where this attraction came from. From the moment she had bumped into him, he felt a spark and it raced all over his body. Although, he usually didn't give into this feeling so soon, he could feel something different about her; not that he had a lot of sparks like the one that engulfed him.

"Is this a holiday, Miss. Washington?"

"Yes. My boss said I needed to have one." Ramon smiled and chuckled to himself. His family would be surprised to see him smile so much; it really wasn't something he did often and most assuredly with the opposite sex.

"Why did you pick Rome?" Jeanette glanced over at the man, a longing expression crossing her beautiful features.

"I remember hearing so much from a friend. She always said Rome was peaceful and beautiful. I don't doubt her word. She was born here, but when she was five, her family moved to California. The last I heard, she had moved back here."

Ramon shifted his gaze out the window, watching the passing scenery now. "You are talking about Sapphire."

Jeanette glanced at him sharply. 'So much for a man not knowing that woman,' she thought, not sure why him knowing her deflated her heart a tad. "How do you know about her?"

"She is one of the top models from Rome," he shrugged, although mentally adding that she was a long time family friend.

"True," she conceded.

"Are you jealous of her?" Jean sniffed in disgust. "You do not like her, anyone can see that." Jean thought that over, was it jealousy that fueled part of her anger? Of course! But, and there was a huge but, that wasn't the only thing, nor was that the main thing.

"How do you like a woman that lies and steals to get what she wants?" It was Ramon's turn to look at her sharply. But before he could ask, the limo drew to a halt. "I thank you, Mr. Capillini, for the lift." The name and tone letting him know that she saw that look, without looking at him.

Jeanette quickly exited, amazed that a man like him should fall for her charms, but sadly, she really shouldn't have been surprised, this was Sapphire, when did anyone tell her no? "My pleasure, señorita." Jeanette rolled her eyes as she got out but stopped with the door open and gasped when she saw Anthony standing in front of her hotel entrance.