He continued to play tour guide as they wandered the halls of the Doge’s Palace but only gave the history of each site, saying nothing about his own experiences. His father had written several poems that featured a young boy much like Alec reveling in the floating city’s treasures. Lottie pictured him here in the square chasing pigeons, making friends with street performers, and gorging on sweets from charmed vendors until he was carried home fast asleep in his father’s arms. Did Alec know of the poems that described such scenes, or was it all too painful for him to even contemplate? Lottie had always found refuge in her memories of her parents, but it wasn’t the same for him. And perhaps never had been.

“Shall we take a gondola to my flat?” he asked. “We’ll have a lovely view of the Grand Canal along the way.”

She met his gaze for the first time since they had entered the square. Alec’s hazel eyes took on an amber glow in the setting sunlight as he stared back at her with his usual intensity. But there was an edge of vulnerability about him now that made him seem years younger. It was as if she was seeing Alec, the Alec she had known, once again. And, unlike his caresses this morning, this was intentional.

Lottie suddenly had trouble swallowing. In the space of a moment her throat had gone bone dry.

“Yes,” she said in a thin voice she barely recognized. “That sounds perfect.”

Alec helped Lottie into a gondola and took the seat across from her. She was avoiding his gaze again, just as she had for the last hour or so. She might have possessed a hearty streak of cynicism, but Alec acknowledged that Lottie was still too unguarded to be working for a man like her uncle. Learning to conceal one’s soft underbelly was of paramount importance in this line of work, though even Alec was finding it increasingly difficult to do so the longer he was in her presence. Showing her around the square, holding her so closely outside the basilica while she blushed under his touch, watching that look of curiosity melt into awe as she took in the sights—it was just the sort of thing a honeymooning couple would do. Just the sort of thing he had dared dream of once…

As the gondolier launched them into the bustling canal, Lottie’s eyes widened first with surprise and then delight. She shot him an excited grin as they sliced through the water. Alec’s lips curved as her head swiveled back and forth, eagerly taking in the busy waterway with her painter’s eye. Their gondolier began warbling a tune. Something about thwarted love. Normally Alec hated this bit. It was drivel for tourists. But being with Lottie made it tolerable.

No. Far better than that.