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Chapter 10

Elizabeth woke up in Jason's arms. She had fallen asleep on the plane last night, and only vaguely remembered being carried off. Everything after that was gone. In fact she didn't even know where they were staying. She was still in her shirt and underwear which meant he hadn't undressed her for bed, he was probably afraid he would wake her.

"Morning." Jason said pulling her closer.

"Good morning." Elizabeth said turning to face him. "Are we in Salerno?"

"Yeah." He said leaning forward and giving her a soft kiss. "In Amalfi."

"Where are we staying?" She looked around the bedroom and that didn't help. The space was appointed with what her artist's eye could clearly see were well cared for antiques. So she was thinking it was another villa, but the hotel rooms Jason could afford to stay in would have such furnishings.

"In Villa Torreggianti. I rented it for the month. The space is divided into three apartments so the guys are staying with us." Jason wanted the guards closer since this was the height of tourist season in the area. Security needed to be a bit more obvious. "But they are in their own apartment, so we will only see them if we want to." He explained. "The villa has a beautiful garden, a private pool in case you don't want to go to the beach, and ocean views." Last night after putting Elizabeth in bed he had come out and looked at the water. He wanted to share that view with his girl.

"I am looking forward to exploring." Elizabeth said smiling. "What time is it?"

"Not quite eight." Jason told her. He had noticed that since coming to Europe his girl had been getting up earlier. She probably didn't want to waste the days, but he wanted to make sure she relaxed as well. "You can go back to sleep for a bit if you like."

"I'm too excited." Elizabeth said laughing at herself. "Will we be staying in Amalfi for the entire month, or will we visit some of the neighboring towns too?"

"I figured we would take some day trips." Jason confirmed. "Since you are so excited I think we should get to it."

"Okay." Elizabeth said rolling out of bed. "Have you showered?"

"I did." Jason had been up for a while already. So he got cleaned and then cuddled up with Elizabeth again. She was too irresistible not to.

"I won't be long." She said grabbing her bathrobe.

"Would you like to go to the beach today?" Jason asked sitting up in bed. If she said yes he'd put on swim trunks.

She just had to smile at the picture he made. His upper body was bared to her and the blanket was pooled around his waist hiding the fact that he was in his shorts. He looked inviting and tempting. "Not today." She said trying to get her mind out of the gutter.

"I'll go down and start breakfast." Jason said watching her walk into the bathroom. He had left her in her t-shirt last night and a lot of leg was on display. When she turned and walked into the bathroom he enjoyed the view of her round bottom. It was a wonder he wasn't drooling. "Breakfast." He said to get himself moving.

They stayed in Amalfi on the first day in Salerno. After breakfast they set out on a walking tour. Hand in hand they walked up and down the streets of the coastal town. Stopping to look closer at anything that caught their attention. It was a nice and relaxed way to get acquainted with their home for the next month.

One of things Jason made sure to do was stop off and get them tickets for the Historical Regatta that was being held in the coming weeks. It was an annual rowing competition held between the four historical maritime republics of Amalfi, Venice, Genoa, and Pisa. It was hosted by a different city each year and it just so happened that this year was Amalfi's turn. It promised to be a great day.

"Will we be here for the feast days of Saint Andrew?" Elizabeth wanted to know. It was later in the month.

"We will be in Spain by then, unless you want to stay." Jason would adjust their plans for her.

"No, that's fine. I am looking forward to seeing the Bilbao Guggenheim. However that is not for a month, so I will focus all my energy on Italy." Elizabeth said smiling.

"We are not far from the Museo della Carta." Jason told her, he said it in Italian because he knew she liked it when he spoke the language.

"Are you going to translate that?" Elizabeth asked to resist the urge to fan herself.

"The Museum of Handmade Paper." Jason said smiling. "It is only a short walk from where we are now."

"I recall reading that Amalfi was one of the first paper making centers in Europe. If I am remembering correctly the paper was made using skills learned from the Arabs." Elizabeth told him. "The Milano family owned the mill, and they donated the building that houses the museum."

"You're smart. That's sexy." Jason said leaning forward and kissing her.

She couldn't help but blush. "If I had known that was what turned you on, I would have shown you my grades from school. We could have been together much sooner." She joked.

"I don't regret the time we spent getting to know one another. They say friends make the best lovers." He said linking their fingers again. "I took the time to get to know you, and I think that is what makes our relationship so strong. We have already seen the best and worst of each other."

"I think you are correct." Elizabeth said looking up at him. "There is no need to pretend or lie. I have no illusions about who you are, and you don't have any about me. You've seen me when everything is going great, and at times I really wished you hadn't. If that didn't scare you off nothing will." She said making light of a serious subject.

"I was worried when I got shot. That is not something that happens to most people, but it is a very real threat in my job." He took precautions, but it still happened. "I was afraid you would decide it was too much to deal with. I was worried you would see a friendship with me as being too dangerous." Jason put the focus back on him. He knew when she mentioned a time when she wished he hadn't been present she was talking about the fact that he sat in court when she testified against the man who hurt her.

She hadn't expected anyone to show up for the trial since Em was in the hospital. Not only did Jason come, but so had Edward, Lila, Sonny, Lily, Johnny, Francis, Diane, and Cody. Monica and Alan also attended when their schedules allowed. It had left him feeling angry, and helpless to listen to her describe the hell she had survived. It also made him proud that when she needed a shoulder to cry on after her testimony was done that he was the person she turned to.

"I was scared." Elizabeth admitted. "Not because of what happened, but because I wasn't sure you were going to make it." The fact that Jason was in the mob was just another facet of him. He was in the mob before they met so she didn't think much of it. Which might seem odd, but for her it was nothing more than his job. It wasn't who he was.

"Thank you for sitting with me." Jason hadn't ever said this to her. "When I woke up and saw you it made all the difference." He was already most of the way to being in love with her, and seeing her sleeping by his bedside made him fall all the way. It took another year before she was in a place where a relationship was possible, but he didn't mind the wait. She was worth it.

"I couldn't have been anywhere else. I know how much being stuck in bed sucks." She said bumping his hip. "I do have to say you are the worse patient ever."

Jason just huffed and looked at her.

"Don't look at me in that tone of voice. Jason I really did think that Nadine was going to suffocate you with your pillow." Elizabeth said laughing. The nurse had been hired by Sonny to manage Jason's care and he drove her up the wall with his refusal to behave. "Johnny had to come over and tell you that if you pissed off his girlfriend one more time he was going to hurt you."

"It sucks having to stay still." Jason said defending himself.

"Yeah it does." Elizabeth said taking a deep breath trying not to think about her own recovery. She had been on her own for the first part of it, which truly sucked. Being the hospital and not getting a single visitor had been hard on her moral.

"We're here." Jason said quietly. His girl was thinking troubling thoughts so he would keep an eye on her for the rest of the day. What they had been through in their lives made them who they were. They didn't talk about what happened to her a lot, but from time to time it did come up. He always tried to make sure she knew he was here if she needed him.

"I'm looking forward to learning the history of paper making." Elizabeth said shaking it off. It had happened, she survived it, and now was not the time to dwell on it.

"I've never really given it much thought." Jason said grinning. "But paper is an important thing. I think most people just take it for granted that it's around." He said as they got in line to purchase tickets. "Now we will get to learn how that came to be."

"I'm feeling smarter already." She said smiling as they walked into the building.

The museum was fun. They followed a tour group and learned about paper making through the centuries. Elizabeth even tried her hand at the process when they asked for volunteers. The master paper maker said that she had a very good touch for making paper. He told her that hers was one of the best he'd seen in many years.

She beamed at the praise. While Jason glared at the man who was flirting with his girlfriend.

After they walked over to the Arsenal of the Maritime of the Republic, or the Gli Arsenali della Repubblica. They learned that in the Middle Ages Amalfi war galleys were among the largest anywhere during that time frame. The main purpose of the arsenal was to build, store, and repair warships. They saw several models of the ships that were built and they also got to see one of the barges used in the Historical Regatta.

"What shall we see now?" Elizabeth had picked the arsenal, so it was Jason's turn.

"We need to head back to the villa." He told her. "I made dinner reservations for us." Unlike Naples, where they ate in their first night, he wanted to take her out tonight. There was something that he wanted to share with her.

"You did." Elizabeth knew just what she was going to wear. "Then we should head back so that I have time to get ready."

"I think I'm the one who needs to get ready." Jason said flirting. "If you look as good as you did in Naples I might not survive it."

"I think you'll be up to the challenge." Elizabeth said before walking away from him.

Jason took a moment to watch her ass in her jeans. "Yeah, I certainly will." He said before following.

He was waiting on the terrace drinking a bottle of water and watching the sea just like he had been in Naples. It was a warm summer night so he was in a light weight suit, and he was looking forward to seeing another of his Elizabeth's pretty dresses.

"Jason?" Elizabeth wasn't sure if he was still upstairs.

"Out here." He called back standing up. "Wow." He said as a slow smile came to his face.

"Since we are by the beach, I wanted something that had a more laid back feel to it. At the same time I wanted to make sure it was nice enough to wear out to a restaurant." Elizabeth said coming out. She was taking a huge step out of her comfort zone with this outfit, but she wanted to use this time away with Jason to grow. The pale green tea length strapless dress with flower embroidery on the skirt was daring for her. Leaving her shoulders bare was not something she usually did, but the fitted top wasn't going to slip. The seamstress at the boutique made sure of that. Liz was going to pass it up but remembered Jason saying that he liked her in green. "I really like the shoes." Normally you would only have one statement piece in an outfit, but she wasn't passing these stilettos up. The peep toe heels screamed 'look at me.' They were a deep red made of featherweight mesh with a satin trim and lace overlay. Diane had given the ensemble her seal of approval, so Liz knew that she hadn't gone too far.

Jason was grinning and nodding. "That dress will be perfect for where we are eating."

"Which is where?" Elizabeth wanted to know.

"Do you know what this area in Italy is famous for?" Jason said testing her trivia knowledge. "Besides the coast line."

Elizabeth smiled up at him. "Lemons."

"Did I mention how sexy it is that you are so smart?" He said laughing. Dating a woman who couldn't hold a conversation was painful. He really did appreciate Elizabeth's intelligence. "We are going to a local orchard and dining under the stars. A local chef is making us a dinner using Sorrento Lemons. We are also going to try some Crema di Lemoncello." Jason asked to sample that because the alcohol content was lower than traditional Lemoncello. The beautiful brunette in front of him was a lightweight where alcohol was concerned.

"I've never had Lemoncello before. Diane said it's good." Elizabeth didn't really drink much.

"We can certainly sample more after tonight." Jason told her. "Almost every restaurant around here has it, some even make their own." He explained as they went downstairs to where the limo he rented was waiting. Tonight was going to be wonderful, and he couldn't wait to get started.

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