Giorgio (Members From Money Season 2, #136)

Chapter 10

Juliana woke the next morning with a delicious lassitude wrapping her around completely and a soreness between her thighs that was not at all unpleasant. Before she could open her eyes, a smile was playing around her lips. But she knew he was gone.

Squelching the disappointment, she decided not to allow it to bother her or encroach on the memories of last night and what had happened on this very bed.

She had read some of his mother’s historical novels and nothing in the steamy love scenes could compare to what she had experienced. She had read somewhere about European men and their ability to make a woman feel special in bed.

Giorgio was not disappointing. She had no idea about whether she was vastly experienced when it came to lovemaking, something she strongly doubted! But last night was something to record. Something to cherish, something she was never going to forget as long as she lived.

She refused to contemplate the reality of what was going to happen when it was time for her to leave. She also refused to wonder if he would ask her to stay.

She knew he was attracted to her. Last night could not be faked. He had derived as much pleasure from the lovemaking as she had. His kisses had been potent, his words whispered in her ear had a romantic ring to it.

She had recognized some of the words, but the others had been lost to her. He had called her his sweetness and his told her how much he enjoyed her.

She also refused to reflect on how many women had gone before her. If she did, it would call his sincerity into question. He was gorgeous and she was…? Her mind faltered as she wondered what he saw in her.

He had left his own party to come to her. She had begged him to stay, and she knew he had not done so out of pity. He had wanted to – had stated that much.

She refused to believe that it was one-sided.

He had left to stem the gossip from the staff, that she was sure of. And tonight, he would come to her again. A smile bloomed on her face as she realized that she could not wait to see him.

She would have breakfast in the informal dining room with the hope that he would join her. With that in mind, she made her slow way to the bathroom, picking up her clothing that were strewn at the foot of the bed.

*****

Giorgio went riding. He had gone back to his suite in the early hours of the morning and had been unable to fall asleep, so he decided that he should take his horse out and clear his head.

He had been at it for almost two hours now and his horse was getting tired. Pulling on the reins, he vaulted from the saddle and wrapped the reins around some saplings. The morning was cold and clear, the wind rustling the leaves of the trees. Fall was here and along with it came the cold. All too soon it would be winter, his favorite time of the year.

And she would be gone. It had been three weeks since the accident. Edoardo had told them that her foot was healing nicely and very soon the cast would be removed. He had also told them that her memory could come back at any time. Which would leave them with no excuse for her to go back home.

There would be nothing tethering her. She would be free to go. And he was not going to stop her. He had no right. He could not offer her marriage, because he was not certain he wanted to marry anyone right now.

He was afraid of hurting her – there, he had said it. That was what was bothering him. He had hurt her enough already. He was not certain he would ever be a good husband. And she would want that, she deserved nothing less.

He had spent years doing his own thing, with little or no regards for anyone else. He had been carefree and careless. Partying, traveling the world, going anywhere when the urge took him, never having to account for anyone. He did not know how to be anything else. And the last thing he wanted was to hurt her.

It would kill him to do so.

He knew instinctively that she was falling in love with him. He felt it. He was wondering if he was falling for her too. He certainly could not keep his hands off her. She filled his mind. Every waking moment was about her. Even when he was away from the house, he would be eager to come home to her.

Home. A grim smile touched his lips. Had he just associated the word with her? And if so, what the hell did that mean?

Leaning back against the tree, he tilted his head and dragged the cold air into his lungs. She would be expecting him to join her for breakfast, but he needed to stay away from her for now. He needed time to think and whenever he was near her, that was impossible.

*****

Determined not to let the disappointment of not seeing him get to her, she graciously thanked the maid for bringing her breakfast.

She had dressed carefully, donning a stunning burnt orange sweater dress, and had applied the moisturizer to her curls to give it that extra bounce. Large hoop earrings were at her lobes, and she was wearing cherry lip gloss.

She had gained some weight and apparently, the night of lovemaking had put a glow on her face. Lucia had commented on her general appearance and said she looked very lovely. But she was eating alone, and Giorgio was not answering his phone. When she casually asked after him, she was told that he had left early this morning.

Her phone rang, just as she was having her second cup of coffee and she had to conceal her acute disappointment when she realized it was her brother, who insisted on switching to video call.

“You look well.” He scrutinized her face closely before adding. “And you are all dressed up. Going somewhere?”

“No. I am having breakfast in the library.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. How are you?”

“Any idea when you will be returning?”

Putting the cup down, she picked up an apricot and bit into it.

“I am still not fully recovered, remember?” She asked patiently. “My memory is still not back.”

He frowned at her. “I am wondering if that is just an excuse. You seem perfectly fine to me.”

“I am healthy otherwise, but I still can’t remember anything.”

“Where is the playboy?”

“Please don’t call him that.” The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them and had his frown deepening.

“Why the hell not? Isn’t that what he is referred to as? I sincerely hope you are not harboring any kind of conflicting feelings for him.

When I bought you that ticket and advised you to indulge in a holiday romance, it was not with someone like Giorgio Russo. He is not the type of man who is going to offer you marriage. And darling, you have a poor track record when it comes to men.”

“Thanks for that.” Her appetite had disappeared, and the feeling of doom was settling over her. “And what I do is none of your business. I happen to be an adult.”

“An adult who has had her heart broken too many times to count. Look…,” he sighed impatiently. “I am your only family and am just looking out for you.”

“Please remind me. Do I meddle in your affairs just as much as you do in mine?”

“I am not the one who consistently choose the wrong person.” He shook his head. “I just miss you Jules and want you to come home. And I am worried. You were never one to care about fashion and here you are dressed to kill this early in the morning. Like you are trying to impress someone.”

“Or I might just be doing this for myself. I am trying my best to give a positive spin on things and I don’t want you or anyone else to question my motives.”

“You are right,” he conceded. “I am sorry. I am pissed that I am still dealing with this damn trial and unable to make a move. I also feel guilty that you were involved in an accident, and I am this far away from you.”

Her anger evaporated. “I am fine. They treat me very well and staying here is better than any five star hotel.”

“It’s the consequences I am worried about.” He muttered.

“Please stop worrying. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, no matter what you think.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, before she hung up with the assurance that she would call him later in the day.

When she hung up, she realized that her appetite had disappeared. The meal wasn’t enticing anymore, the fruit which had been so delicious before was no longer appealing. Her brother’s words had brought up some unwelcome thoughts.

Like the one about Giorgio being an ‘international playboy.’ That had not escaped her. She had read several captions and in every one of them, that was how he was characterized.

He was seen with a different female in every single photo, each one more beautiful than the previous. And they were from the upper echelon of society. Women who were articulate and possessed the necessary social graces.

Ones she was positive were lacking in her. He was also highly educated, an overachiever. She had read his bio, a very detailed one. He had been to Oxford and Cambridge, no wonder his English was so precise. He spoke five languages and was in possession of two degrees.

He was highly intelligent and could probably hold conversations with the brightest of them all. He was friends with Prince Harry and Prince Francesco of Ricci Island. He was fabulously wealthy, the family owned several yachts, two private planes and a fleet of other boats. They had a couple of vineyards.

There was a photo of him at the villa in Tuscany with a group of friends, having a winetasting party. His date had been a European princess, and the woman was clinging to him as if he was the best thing that ever happened to her.

He wouldn’t want her. Juliana Campbell was a simple American editor who probably went to college. She had not asked her brother if it was an Ivy League or just a community college. Probably the latter.

She was out of a job and had no prospects in sight. He wouldn’t just choose her over all the eligible women he had been with. It didn’t work that way. Yes, she had read up on several of the ‘wives’ of members of his club and some of them were otherwise simple women, but it didn’t mean that was going to happen to her.

From her brother’s comments, it appeared that she had never been a fashionista. He had laughingly told her that her sense of fashion left a lot to be desired. And she had seen that for herself. The ones she had packed for her trip were outdated and off the rack. Apparently, until now, it had not mattered to her.

No wonder she was not in a relationship. She had studied herself critically in the full-length mirror in the small powder room behind the library.

She was dark skinned, too skinny, although she had put on some weight since the accident. Her eyes were too large for her face, and she had no idea how to apply makeup. She wasn’t his type. He had made love to her last night out of pity because she had begged him.

And she had done the worst possible thing by falling for him. He probably knew, that’s why he was avoiding her. It had been just sex for her, and she was making a big deal out of it. He was probably feeling remorse, that’s why he wasn’t answering her calls.

She had told him there would be no regrets, but she had lied. What she would do however, was leave here with her pride intact.

She was not going to beg him to love her. If he comes to her room tonight, she would open her arms to him, because she wanted more. She was not going to be stupid and deny herself of the sweetest and paradoxically, the most violently intense lovemaking she was ever going to experience in real life.

She had read several of his mother’s historical fiction and it was clear to her that the author had tried to put on paper what the male and female characters had experienced when their fleshes met, but she had fallen short.

How could she describe the sizzle, the heat and the beauty of Giorgio’s lean male body driving into hers with any accuracy? Or how her heart had filled to bursting when he brought her to a climax that had lifted her off the bed and had her wanting more of him?

With a serrated sigh, she pushed off the sofa and hobbled over to the bookshelf. The library had become her place of comfort. She loved the well-thumbed books and the lived in atmosphere. She could swear she could feel his mother’s spirit in the cast room. Would that beautiful woman had approved of her?

She wondered as she picked out a title. She would not be calling him again. She had her pride after all, and he wasn’t going to accuse her of stalking him. If he chose to ignore her then that’s up to him.

*****

Alfredo watched with a spark of interest as his son made the journey from the window to his desk and then back again, the drink in his hand all but forgotten. He had arrived at the corporate headquarters early this morning for a meeting, surprised to see that Giorgio had beaten him to it.

Plans for the gala were well underway and it was time for new billboards to be displayed. Giorgio was the face of the company and had arrived early for a photoshoot. But usually, he would do the shoot and be on his way.

But he was lingering.

“You are going to wear a hole in that very expensive carpet.”

“Pardon?” He stopped and turned to look at his father as if just realizing where he was.

“What’s on your mind?”

“The shoot went well and despite it being a Sunday, everyone turned out.”

“Yes.” Alfredo continued staring at his son. “You left the party prematurely. People were asking after you.”

“I apologize for shirking my duties.”

“Where were you or should I hazard a guess?”

Tossing back the drink, Giorgio made his way over to one of the sofas in the corner of the room. He was planning on going to his club as soon as the shoot was over. She had called twice, but like a coward, he had not answered and had not called her back. What the bloody hell was he going to say?

“I had to check on her.”

“Had to?”

Lifting his head, he gave his father a brooding look. “Yes Papa, I did the unthinkable and slept with her, although sleeping was being used euphemistically.” He dragged his hands over his face in despair.

“Are you going to continue to ‘sleep’ with her?”

“No. Yes. Cristo! I don’t know. I have conflicting feelings for her. I am ambivalent where she is concerned. She makes me want to wrap her in my arms and shield her from everything bad, including me.” His handsome face was a study in confusion. “I don’t know what the hell to do.”

“Are you in love with her?”

The question was like a slap on the face and had his head jerking up. “No.”

“You don’t sound too sure.”

“It does not matter. I do not know how to be in a relationship anyway. I would only end up hurting her. She is vulnerable, has stars in her eyes and the thought of diminishing that has me in a cold sweat. I am sending her back home.”

“When?”

“As soon as I clear it with Edoardo.”

“I see.”

Giogio laughed harshly. “Do you? She has forced me to face myself, to look at myself in the mirror and what I saw there wasn’t very appealing. She never comes right out and says anything, that’s not her style.

She would just stare with those large dark brown eyes and that would do it. I have never met anyone like her.” He shook his head in puzzlement.

“Sounds like love to me,” his father said calmly.

“For how long? Until the novelty has worn off? I am shallow. My sexual experiences are legendary and numerous. I flit from one woman to the next, without batting an eye. Oh, I convince myself that I am a generous lover and insist on being friends after, I have certainly left them with expensive gifts, but the fact remains that I am selfish.

I have been handed everything and never had to ask for anything. Ever since I realized the power I have over the fairer sex; I have used it to my advantage. I would never be the man she deserves.”

“You haven’t attended the usual gatherings since you met her,” his father pointed out.

“No. But that’s because I wanted to be there for her. I felt guilty, knowing I almost cost her life.”

“It’s been three weeks.”

“I know.” He rubbed a hand over his scruff. The photographer, Giovanni, an annoying and hyperactive unapologetically gay and spritely dressed man had oohed and aahed over the shadow on his face and insisted that it was just what was needed for the shoot.

“That sexy just tumble out of bed look is going to set the female shoppers into a tizzy. Male shoppers like me as well.” He had trilled. Giorgio wondered what the man would say if he knew how accurate he was. He had just stumbled out of bed, her bed and wanted so much to be back there with her, he was avoiding going home.

“Giorgio?”

“Yes?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea.”

*****

Her memory will come back. The doctors had warned her that it would probably return without any fanfare.

“It does not have to necessarily be something significant, a familiar item or word, something you have seen before. It might just simply return when you least expect it.”

One minute she was wrapping herself in her robe and sliding into bed and the next she was going still as the memories tumbled over themselves inside her brain.

It might have something to do with the fact that she was pissed off at Giorgio. He hadn’t returned her calls all day and she had ended up having supper in the library. When she asked Lucia where the men of the house were, she had been told that as it was Sunday, they were no doubt at the club.

He didn’t even have the decency to tell her he wouldn’t be home. But then again, he didn’t owe her anything, did he? She was just the willing flesh that had made herself available to him last night and this morning.

But thoughts of him had fled. She remembered everything and most of all, the most excruciating memory of them all, was the fact that she had lost her dad.

She recalled the funeral. The local church had been filled to capacity, because Cecil Campbell had been well-loved and very popular. The cancer had eaten away at him and before he succumbed to the illness, his usual robust frame had been reduced to almost skeletal proportions.

She had hated seeing him like that and yes, he had tried to hide the fact that he was suffering badly, but she had seen it in his eyes, because she knew him and loved him so much.

She had begged God not to take him away from her but had realized that her prayers had been selfishly motivated. She had been thinking about the loss she would feel instead of taking his feelings into consideration.

Dragging the pillow across her chest, she buried her face into the softness of the Egyptian cotton and felt the keening loss all the way to her toes.

“Oh daddy,” she whispered aching, the tears coming. “I miss you so much and now is the time I need you to most. I have made such a mess of my life and I…” Her throat thickened with emotions and for a minute, she felt as if she was drowning.