Chapter 88
GIULIA
Excited shivers ran through my body as I left my room and skipped down the stairs, calling for Kenzo. I couldn't tell what his surprise meant when he asked me to have my bathe and meet him downstairs, but I could tell it was something important if it had him grinning from ear to ear when he urged me to get ready.
"Kenzo?" I called out for the third time when I didn't receive a response from him. My slippers made sounds on the marble floor as I hurried to the sitting room, thinking he would be there, but he wasn't. "Kenzo!" I yelled, loud enough for him to hear, should he be in Mark's study.
"Here!" His cheerful voice boomed from upstairs as he rushed down, smiling. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting. I had some things to take care of for Mark," he explained, grinning sheepishly. "Have you been sticking around for long?"
"Nah, I just came down." I skipped towards him, the excitement I felt when I raced down the stairs returning. "So…. What is it you wish to show me? I'm ready!" I twirled around for him, letting him know I was good to go, in my washed blue jeans overall and black long-sleeve turtleneck.
He whistled, smirking as he applauded me. "You look wonderful. Makes me want to steal you and stuff you into my pocket."
"Come on," I whined, playfully punching his chest. "I'm not that small, am I?"
"You are not small, just cute." He reached over to ruffle my hair.
"I have always been cute." I smiled up at him, acting as cute as he said I was. "So, what surprise do you have for me?" I tried to look behind, to know if he was hiding something from me.
"Let's go." Grinning, he took my hand in his and led me towards the kitchen.
"Where are we going?" I demanded, barely containing my excitement. "To swim?" I asked when he opened the exit that led towards the swimming pool, his steps silent, unlike mine. The flip-flops I was putting on kept on making stepping noises as we walked.
The moment we stepped out, and he closed the door behind us, the warm evening air caressed my skin, carrying with it the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the subtle hint of chlorine from the pool.
"Don't tell me we are going to swim?" I looked up at him, a puzzled frown marring my features as I wondered where he was taking me. Kenzo had never been as secretive as he was at the moment.
"To swim?" He chuckled. "You are the only one that can have such a thought, Lia. Don't worry, you will know when we get there."
The glint in his eyes as he said those words and the subtle smile that played on his lower lip made me raise a brow. However, before I could ask what he meant by his remarks, my gaze was drawn to a flicker of light from the distance.
Seeing it, the thrill returned once more. This time, as we resumed our walk towards the light, I knew what I would be expecting.
The soft, silvery glow of the moon was enough to guide us to our destination since, for whatever reason, Kenzo switched the light off.
Had I not known who Kenzo was, I would have been a bit terrified. Instead of being scared, I held on to his arm, smiling as he led me forward, towards the table with the flickering light.
The sound of gentle lapping of water against the pool's edges and the occasional chirping of crickets created a soothing melody that calmed my mind as I walked with him, my excitement growing by the second.
As we approached the pool, my breath hitched as my gaze landed on the dinner table. Adorned with candles, fine china, a beautiful arrangement of flowers and covered plates, it was the most beautiful dinner setting I had ever laid my eyes on.
"Wow," I whispered, my eyes glistening with unshed tears as I gazed at the most romantic table setting of my life. "When did you have the time to do this?"
"When you were bathing." Winking, he pulled out a chair, and I sat down, feeling the soft breeze on my skin. "Do you like it?"
"Of course!" Grinning, I looked up at him, at the sharp outline of one of the men I trusted with my entire life. "This is spectacular."
"I'm glad you like it." Smiling, he checked the time on his wristwatch before whispering, "Relax a bit. I will be back." Grinning, he left me to admire the table and the covered plates.
Nervous, I kept my gaze on the flickering candles, that somehow kept on shining despite the subtle breeze blowing on them. I would have thought they would go out, but they didn't. The soft ripples on the pool's surface reflected the moon's gentle light, creating a sense of shimmering beauty. The setting screamed exotic.
Kenzo certainly knew what he was doing when he set things out here. It was so romantic, it made me wish Mark were the one that did this for me.
A soft paddle of feet on the floor interrupted my thoughts. "Kenzo, you-"
"I'm sorry, I'm late," someone apologized behind me, but it wasn't Kenzo. I turned, surprised to see Mark, when I expected Kenzo to show up.
"Mark?" Puzzled, I looked behind him.
"Looking for Kenzo? He's taking care of something in the house," he explained, walking over to the opposite chair. "Pardon me for being late. I had to take care of an urgent matter."
"It's okay." I smiled, secretly pleased that he was the one sharing this romantic dinner with me. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have minded if Kenzo was the one with me, but having Mark with me was a bonus to the romantic atmosphere.
As he sat across from me, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight, I felt my heart flutter. Though he looked rugged, there was something about him that always made my stomach clench with excitement each time I saw him.
Sitting under the moonlight, with a crystal clear pool next to us and the only man I loved sitting across from me, I took a deep breath, savouring the moment. This was more than I expected. And when he smiled, I almost died. Somehow, I felt like I was dreaming. This would be the first official date I was having with Mark, and it was beyond perfect.