She could get through this. She would get through this; because she had to. She had her whole life ahead of her and she was going to overcome this one setback. At that point she didn’t even care what Nick could or would do to her. It didn’t matter anymore because as far as she was concerned, he’d done his worst.
Every time she thought of his cold, distant words, she flinched. She couldn’t forget that first time at Mark’s party when he’d made those unfair comments. And then to hear him talk about her like she meant nothing, and at their own wedding, it had cut her to the bone. She should have known better than to think he would grow to have feelings for her. Whatever he had going on with his stepmother Lena, Keyonna decided had nothing to do with her. Keyonna told herself she didn’t care if those two got together. Nick was nothing to her now and if she had her way, she’d never see him again.
Understandably, Keyonna was in no state to be thinking of romance, not even in the most romantic country in the world. She’d been getting a lot of attention both at the hotel and much to her surprise, whenever she went out sightseeing or shopping. Keyonna knew she couldn’t hide away from the world forever, but while she was here it felt good to just have some time for herself, with no one to bother her. So she grew very adept at brushing off unwanted admirers or offers. She knew that being alone in a strange city would make her susceptible to seek company to ease the loneliness but Keyonna just wasn’t interested.
But then three weeks into her stay, she was having dinner in the hotel’s beautiful restaurant and lounge, with its splendid 14th century arches and innovative regional cuisine. Being surrounded by such contemplative beauty as well as enjoying the fine dining available, would have been enough to improve Keyonna’s mood but it only made her sadder. She’d have been on her honeymoon with Nick in another beautiful and romantic city, but now she was here, alone and still caught up in the way he’d made her feel.
He’d touched her like no other man could. That one time, spread over her kitchen counter she’d let him take her to a place she’d never dreamed she’d see. A man who could make a woman feel like she was walking on a cloud of bliss wouldn’t be so easy to forget. But then it wasn’t just physical the way she felt about him. He switched on something inside her heart that made her feel weak and yet bold at the same time. He made her feel like a woman. But that was then, before she discovered just how shallow and unfeeling he really was. She’d felt like nothing but an object manipulated to fulfill his self-interested uses. How could she have stood another second of that?
Glad now that she’d walked out of the situation without a backward glance, she sighed deeply as she sipped on her wine, just before a shadow fell over her table.
For some reason, her heart simply froze, unable to function. Until she looked up and saw a strange man standing there, a charming smile on his face as he asked if he could join her. From his strong, classic good looks, she could tell he was Italian, especially from his smooth, flowing accent. He was dressed impeccably in a suit, and something in his broad, friendly smile endeared her to him. He looked a few years older than she was and Keyonna had a sudden sensation that he reminded her of someone. Like Nick, he had a strongly carved jaw and dark, lustrous hair, and he stood around the same height. But unlike Nick’s dark, brooding gaze, this stranger’s brown eyes were warm, almost boyish.
Keyonna found herself agreeing with a smile of her own. He seemed like he’d be nice company and she really was kind of lonely, having a solitary dinner in the stately lounge where everyone else seemed coupled up or with friends or family.
“My name is Sergio. Sergio Battista,” he told her as a server appeared to offer him some wine. “And you, beautiful lady?”
“Keyonna…Hayes,” she said slowly, unable to use her married name. she’d stopped feeling like a “Vitale Bride” long ago.
Sergio took a drink of his wine, his eyes appreciative as they ran over her face. “You are very lovely.”
“Yeah, you already said that,” Keyonna murmured, her smile wry. He’d called her ‘beautiful lady’ and now he said she was lovely. Nice. These Italian men weren’t stingy with her compliments, she’d noted. Since she’d arrived she’d had a few propositions and even made some casual acquaintances. She’d never have imagined attracting so much attention; she’d never been vain about her looks or figure but it was somewhat a morale boost to find that if she was interested, she could get in a fling or two with someone totally hot.