The Scent of Rome Read online

  “Come on, let’s go a bit farther, otherwise you’ll lose me.” Nadine pulled her along toward the front where it was a little less crowded. They walked down the marble steps onto a platform that formed a half circle around the spectacular fountain and looked up at enormous sculpted roman gods and horses, rising from the water. Rome felt sweat dripping down her back, but she wasn’t sure if it that was caused by the heat or the fact that Nadine was now standing close behind her. She was alarmingly aware of her visceral reaction, as if suddenly she had zero control over her limbs—every synapse in her body on high alert.

  “This is the famous Trevi Fountain. It’s beautiful, don’t you think?” Nadine’s voice was low and sultry, as if she was sharing a secret. “It’s one of the oldest water sources in Rome.”

  Trying to steady her breathing, Rome hoped Nadine couldn’t feel her sudden shift in energy as her body did crazy things. She told herself to create some distance but for some reason she did the opposite, leaning back against Nadine, who in return, put her hands on her hips and rested her chin on her shoulder. Minutes passed as they stood there in silence; Rome pretending to take in the wonder of the fountain, which by now was the last thing on her mind, and Nadine perhaps doing the same. Fueled with adrenaline, she almost jumped when Nadine spoke again and pressed something into the palm of her hand.

  “Here. Turn around and throw this over your shoulder.”

  Rome looked down at the Euro in her hand. “Why?”

  “Because it’s a tradition and it ensures a safe return to Rome.” Nadine pointed at dozens of other people who were doing exactly that. “And I really want you to come back.”

  “I think most of all, you just want me to turn around.” Rome could have kicked herself for the tremble in her voice when she spoke. She felt Nadine’s body shake against hers as she chuckled, knowing she’d been caught out.

  “Maybe. But I’m also a little superstitious, so I think you should do it regardless.”

  A lot of things went through Rome’s head in that moment. She was scared to turn around, to come face to face with Nadine who was standing so close to her but at the same time, an urge to do so tugged at her. Nadine had her curious, fascinated, and right now, Rome wanted to see the look in her eyes. Slowly, she turned around, her arm brushing against Nadine’s stomach and breasts before they were facing each other. She felt Nadine’s chest heaving as her soft breasts pressed against hers when a tour group arrived, pushing them even closer together. Looking up, Rome met her eyes that now had an amused twinkle in them.

  Nadine tilted her head and smiled. “Are you scared of me?” She grinned and licked her lips when Rome didn’t answer. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to kiss you.” Her smile widened. “Not unless you want me to.”

  Rome froze and was unable to stop her gaze from lowering to Nadine’s mouth. White teeth behind wide and full peachy lips, the top one curling up, just a little. The coin in her hand reminded her of what she was doing, and she threw it over her shoulder without taking her eyes off Nadine. “I don’t want you to kiss me,” she said, knowing that was a lie.

  Suddenly, it was all too much. The crowd, the heat, Nadine so close, looking at her in a way that stopped her from thinking clearly. She tried to leave the platform and was close to panicking when no one would move out of the way.

  Nadine noticed her distress, grabbed her arm and started yelling in Italian for people to let them through as she dragged Rome out of the crowd and onto the steps of a church by the piazza. “I’m so sorry,” she said, handing Rome a bottle of water from her purse. “I didn’t mean to scare you and I shouldn’t have flirted with you like that.”

  “It’s fine. It was just a little too busy for me there. I get claustrophobic sometimes,” Rome lied. She took a sip of water, cursing herself for being out of control.

  “Are you sure it was just that?” Nadine bit her lip and looked regretful as she continued. “I really will stop flirting with you regardless; I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me in any way. I just thought you liked me flirting with you.”

  Rome remained silent as she had no idea how to reply to that. She didn’t want to chase Nadine away. In fact, she loved being around her, and she loved the sexy teasing more than anything. But she wasn’t ready to admit that she was physically attracted to her because that would make everything she thought to be true about herself a lie. Rome wasn’t into women. She’d never been attracted to one before and therefore it just didn’t make sense. Why now, at the age of thirty-two? When Nadine took a step away though, she realized she wanted her close. “Wait.” She took her hand and pulled her back. “You weren’t wrong. I like that you’re flirtatious with me, even though I don’t understand why as I’m not…” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

  “You’re not gay, I know.” Nadine sat down next to her and leaned back on her elbows, raising her face toward the sun. “You’re not gay and I don’t do relationships, so don’t worry. Nothing more than a bit of fun can come from this.” Her laid-back attitude had returned, and it put Rome at ease. Nadine made everything sound so simple, as if it their undeniable attraction was no big deal and completely normal and natural. “Let’s just go with the flow and see where this day takes us, okay?”

  “Okay,” Rome heard herself say. “But maybe we could go somewhere less busy?”

  Nadine nodded, then finished the rest of her water. “You got it, babe.”

  10

  “Can I take you out for dinner to thank you?” Rome asked as they were at the end of their tour. They were standing by the beautiful and iconic Spanish Steps, not far from where Nadine had parked her scooter.

  “Yes, you can. I’d hate to say goodbye already, I’m having fun.”

  “Me too.” Rome looked around, trying to spot somewhere quiet. There were hundreds of restaurants in close proximity, but they were all overflowing with tourists. “Any recommendations?”

  Nadine pointed toward the top of the steps, where little lights were twinkling in the pergola on a long roof terrace. “I’ve never been there, but someone told me they do good pizzas.”

  “Perfect.” Rome smiled. “I can’t believe I didn’t see that.”

  “You should look up more. The most amazing sites are high up in this city. Take for example the colors of the buildings against the blue sky, it’s simply stunning. People just tend to look at their phones and they miss so much.” Nadine took her hand as they walked up the steps and Rome didn’t resist. She’d stopped resisting hours ago and had been wandering around in a dreamy haze, enjoying the charming woman’s company so much that she didn’t want to go back to her hotel yet. Apart from two calls to her lawyer, who had assured her everything was in order, she’d ignored her phone all day, which was something that would have been unthinkable last week. It had all gone so fast, and she was still trying to get her head around the new life she was about to lead. She was so full of energy at the prospect of her dream coming true and finally having an income, that the hundred-and-thirty-eight steps they were climbing seemed like nothing.

  “Do you need to go into the Nero office to sign?” Nadine asked.

  “No, we’re using electronic signatures. They’ve signed their end, and I’m signing tomorrow afternoon through my lawyer. I’m flying back on Tuesday to pack my things.”

  “Are they arranging an apartment for you for when you get back?”

  “No. Matteo offered to help me with it, but I kindly declined.” Rome chuckled. “Technically, I’m not employed by Nero; I’ll be there as a consultant with shares in the project. I’m sure the HR department would help me out though, if I asked them.”

  “I can help you,” Nadine suggested.

  Rome shook her head. “Thank you, but you’ve done more than enough for me already.”

  “But it’s not a problem. I can read the ads, you can’t. And yes, you could go through an English-speaking realtor, but you’d still want someone to see it, right? I know the neighborhoods, convenient places close
to the metro, and I can go over and take some pictures for you if we have a look online together and narrow down your selection.”

  Rome thought about that. If anyone would be able to find her something nice, it would be Nadine, who seemed to know the city inside out. “Are you sure it’s no trouble for you?”

  “I’m sure.” Nadine squeezed her hand. “I’d love to do it.”

  “Okay. But you definitely need to let me thank you properly when I’m back.”

  “That’s a deal.” Nadine’s small smile told Rome she wasn’t thinking of dinner or a present, and she ignored the innuendo as she simply couldn’t handle that thought. “So, I take it you’re not on a tight budget anymore? For the apartment, I mean.”

  “No. I’ll have a very nice lump sum in my bank account by tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll also have ten percent of the Carbon app share after roll-out.” Relief washed over Rome as she said it out loud. There would be no more debt, no more juggling credit cards, paying one off with the other, and she was going to live in a decent apartment in a nice neighborhood, instead of a tiny studio on the outskirts of town.

  “Ten percent doesn’t seem like much.”

  “Well, it’s normal in cases like this. Without investors, my product would never see the light of day, and Nero’s the one taking a risk with a huge investment upfront. The intellectual property still belongs to me; it always will. Our contract stands for seven years following the launch and after that, I can renegotiate with them.”

  “Sounds like you know your stuff.”

  “I do.” Rome followed Nadine through the ornamental cast-iron gates and onto the roof terrace. “And my lawyer is one of the best in his field. I’m glad I’ll finally be able to pay him.”

  “You haven’t paid him yet?”

  “No, he’s an old friend.” Rome shook her head. “Actually, we’re not even friends, we just went to college together for a year. But I asked him for advice one day, and he was genuinely excited about my product and offered to help me out until I had funding. I doubt he expected it would take two years, though, so I’m sure he’s just as happy as I am right now.”

  “I’m sure he is. Anything else you need to do while you’re back home, apart from packing, paying people and deciding on an apartment?” Nadine asked as they were led to a table by the edge of the terrace. They were lucky to be early, as places with a view in the city center usually had a long queue.

  “Not really.” Rome shrugged. “I need to say goodbye to my father, but it’s not like we see much of each other as it is. I don’t have any siblings, and I’m not close to anyone else, apart from one childhood friend.”

  “That sounds like a lonely life.”

  “I guess so.” Rome paused as the waiter put down the bottle of red wine she’d asked for and handed them the menus. “But I never saw it that way. I mean, I never felt like I missed out on anything socially.”

  “Do you think it will be strange for you to lead a team, after working by yourself for so long?”

  “Yeah, it will take some getting used to, I think. But I’m also looking forward to it. I’ve spent ten years of my life behind a desk, trying to figure this out, then another two pitching the product. The last time I interacted with people on a daily basis was in college, and that was a long time ago.”

  “You’ve been on a one-woman mission.”

  “Exactly. And now that I’ll have my own team, I’ll also have time to do more fun stuff.” Rome poured the wine and sat back, enjoying the beautiful view that stretched over the roof tops of the historical city center. The sun was low, and the warm light enhanced the earthy tones of the buildings, resulting in a beautiful sepia palette. Below them were the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna with crowds gathered around Bernini’s charming boat fountain centered in the long, triangular square. Behind them was the huge Trinità dei Monti church, and a big park, where they’d walked earlier. There was so much rich history here, and she could even see Shelley House, John Keats’ old home, from where they were sitting. “I wasn’t sure if I was capable of relaxing,” she continued, keeping her gaze fixed on the view. “But it’s easy with you.”

  “Well, I happen to be an expert when it comes to that.” Nadine held up her wine in a toast. “I learned it from the Italians, and so will you.”

  11

  “Do you want to come up?” Nadine asked when they were back at her apartment. They’d ridden back to her neighborhood, where she’d chained up her scooter before they’d walked to a bar close by.

  “I ehm… I don’t know.” After the wine over dinner and the Campari cocktails they’d just enjoyed, Rome was feeling a little tipsy, and she wasn’t sure if sticking around was the best idea right now.

  Nadine leaned seductively against the doorpost and shamelessly raked her eyes over her. “Or I could give you a ride back… it’s up to you.”

  Rome’s heart started beating so fast that she was worried it would fly out of her chest. Taking a deep breath, she tried to clear her mind before deciding, aware that this wasn’t just an innocent coffee invite. There had been sexual tension between them all day, and although the idea of going upstairs with Nadine scared her, it also set her body on fire. Why won’t it just go away? She kept looking at Nadine’s lips, imagining what they would feel like on hers, and if she was honest with herself, she really, really wanted to kiss her. Of course, it was possible that Nadine just wanted to talk over coffee, but their intense chemistry told her otherwise. “Thank you, but there’s no need to give me a ride back; I can take a cab,” she said with a tremble ringing through her voice. She hesitated for a moment before she added: “I’d love to see your apartment first, though. I’m curious.”

  “You’re curious, huh?” The double meaning in Nadine’s comment did not go unnoticed, and neither did the look in her eyes when she held her gaze for a few electrifying moments, making Rome shiver with anticipation.

  “Yes…” Rome felt like clarifying her statement, but there was nothing left to say. She simply had no choice. Nadine was gorgeous, captivating, seductive and had something about her that made her irresistible, like she had the ability to take away her free will.

  “Excellent… follow me.” Nadine opened the door and walked upfront as they climbed the four flights of stone stairs. The hallway was dark and chilly, the smell of damp and mold rooted into the old, cracked walls. On the top floor, she let them in and turned on the lights, exposing a large space with a dark wooden floor and a beautifully painted ceiling, the old plaster showing a scenic panorama of an Italian landscape.

  “This is incredible.” Rome forgot about her nerves for a moment, astonished by what she saw. She felt like she’d walked into a different world, and in a way, she had. This was Nadine’s world and it was mind-blowing. The eclectic and bohemian apartment was spectacular in every way, filled with antique furniture and chandeliers, rich tapestries and disheveled looking footstools and cushions that only added to the charm. The deep red of the wallpaper subtly resonated with the color of the cushions and the vintage Persian rugs, but nothing about it was contrived. There was an abundance of exotic plants too; large and bold, placed in ornate ceramic pots. In front of a large quilted velvet couch stood a low coffee table with chunky, half-burned candles and a pile of books. An enormous gold framed mirror hung above a marble fireplace, with a pair of life-sized golden lions on each side. Anywhere else, they would have looked ridiculous but here, they blended in seamlessly. “Did you create this amazing room?”

  Nadine smiled proudly. “Creation is a strong word. The beautiful ceiling, the floor and the wallpaper were already here. I fell in love with this place the first time I walked in to view it because well, how could I not?” She gestured to the couch for Rome to sit down. “All the rest, I found at flea markets throughout the city. I love visiting them at the weekends, you should come with me some time. Now that you’ll be spending more time here…”

  “I’d love that.” Rome sat back against the cushions, taking in the pal
atial surroundings, and only then noticed the floor-to-ceiling doors that opened onto the balcony. It looked so much grander from the inside than it did from the street. “I’m sorry if I took up your flea market time this morning.”

  “Nonsense.” Nadine left the room and came back with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. “I’d much rather spend time with you than strolling the markets by myself. Wine? Or would you rather have a coffee?”

  Rome swallowed hard and nodded, her pulse racing. “Wine is fine, thank you.” She was in Nadine’s apartment and it wasn’t hard to figure out where this was heading. Her hand was trembling as she reached for the glass, and she took a small sip while Nadine lit the candles and put on some music.

  “My Alexa is the only modern thing in this room; I don’t even have a TV. But I can’t live without music, so something had to give,” Nadine said as she sat down next to her. She put her glass on the table, kicked off her shoes and propped one leg under the other, turning to Rome as she draped her arm over the backrest. “Are you okay?” she asked, reaching out and running her fingers through Rome’s hair.

  Rome shivered, unable to hide her intense physical reaction. Knowing it was intentional, just that simple gesture was enough to drive her wild with desire. She leaned into Nadine’s touch, deciding now was not the time to think because there was no explanation for how she made her feel. “I think so,” she whispered, gathering the courage to turn and face Nadine. “I don’t know what’s going on between us…”