Swept up in the romance of it all, Keira leaned slowly toward Cristiano, bold and excited for the kiss that had been a long time coming. She saw him reach his fingers up toward her jaw bone and a tingle of anticipation rocketed through her body, waiting as though in suspended animation for the moment their skin touched.

But the moment didn’t come. A tourist had accidentally barged into Cristiano’s back, and he turned. The young woman apologized to him, and Keira saw in her eyes that moment of wonder that must befall all hot-blooded women when first witnessing the beauty of Cristiano.

“Could you take a picture of me?” the woman said in a breathless American accent, looking utterly transfixed.

Keira saw herself in the woman and squirmed uncomfortably. It made her feel extremely awkward to watch another foolish American girl acting all weak at the knees in Cristiano’s company. Was that how she looked? Like a silly girl going gooey over the most handsome man in the world? It made her feel embarrassed to think that she’d acted just the same way when she’d first met him. This must happen to him all the time.

She watched on as Cristiano took several photographs of the young woman beside the fountain.

“Now, one with you too!” the woman cried brashly.

Keira’s heart began to beat harder as she watched Cristiano accept the woman’s offer, standing next to her by the fountain and posing up a storm. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking the two of them were an item from the familiarity with which they were taking photos together. Keira’s skin began to crawl as an icy feeling overcame her.

“So is it true?” the woman asked Cristiano as he handed her camera back to her. “About the wishing fountain granting you eternal love?”

Keira noticed the way her hands lingered on his, drawing out the amount of time their skin was in contact. And to her horror, she saw the twinkle in Cristiano’s eyes, the returned flirtation.

“Yes, it is true,” he said, locking his gaze with the woman’s intense one. A flirty smile played on his lips.

Heart pounding, Keira looked away. A moment of realization came crashing down upon her shoulders. There was nothing symbolic about the coins. Cristiano was just very good at his job, at making her feel important and cherished, well cared for and safe. None of it was real. Here, before her very eyes, was the proof that Cristiano would behave this way with anyone he’d been paired up with for work. She wasn’t special. She was just a client.

She was a fool after all for thinking anything could come of her infatuation with Cristiano.

The moment ruined, Keira turned away, hoping Cristiano would not notice the tears in her eyes.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

That night in her hotel room, Keira felt low. She’d come so close to a breakthrough with Cristiano, but it had been dashed in one moment.

She sat heavily at her desk and quickly checked her phone. Just the usual messages from Bryn, Shelby, Maxine, and her mother. Nothing from Shane. Nothing from Zach about the money he owed her. Curiously, there was also nothing from Viatorum magazine.