9) A day in Rome
Logan stirred early the next morning, just as sunlight began to creep into the room. He tried to move, but then became aware of another body, pressed against his own. He opened his eyes and saw that in the middle of the night, he and Max had curled up together, his arms draped across her waist. They were both facing the window and Logan lay as still as possible so as not to wake Max. He simply enjoyed the moment - the sun was rising and Max was in his arms.
Max squinted her eyes as the sunlight began to creep onto her face. She opened her eyes and watched the room, as it slowly grew brighter. She became aware of another presence against her body and looked down, finding Logan's arm draped across her waist. She stayed still, so as not to wake him and she watched the walls as the sun hit their rings and reflected light around the room. She just lay there and enjoyed the simple pleasure of Logan's warm body, wrapped around her own.
******
Logan woke a few hours later to find the bed empty and the shower running. He reached for his glasses and squinted at the clock, which told him it was just after 10. Logan reached for the phone and dialled room service.
Max emerged from the bathroom dressed in a pair of grey trousers and a black polo neck to find that Logan, who was sitting at the table to one side of the room, had already started eating the blueberry pancakes he had ordered.
"There better be enough for me," she cried as the walked towards the bed.
Logan grinned at her. "You are just in time - I was just about to start eating your share"
Max raised an eyebrow at Logan as she sat down across from him. "Logan, do you value your life?"
Logan laughed. "I'll keep that threat in mind. Besides, you probably used up all the hot water!"
"You'll manage. What are we doing today?"
"Well I'm in the mood for being a tourist and doing some shopping. You up for it?"
Logan didn't even wait for Max to respond. The excited look on her face was answer enough before he headed to the bathroom to make use of what little hot water was left.
******
The couple spent all day, wandering the streets of Rome. The wind was sharp and cold, but the sun shone like it was the middle of summer. They began with a coffee in the Piazza Venezia, then a snack in the Piazza Barbanna, lunch in the Piazza del Popolo. neither could believe how much they were able to eat. Neither was interested in old ruins, but rather both wanted to simply take in the experience of a Roman holiday. Conversation flowed and they laughed til their sides hurt. Logan had brought a camera, yet Max continued to refuse having her picture taken.
"Come on, I want to show you something" Logan announced after another snack stop, reaching down and pulling Max to her feet. He guided her through the streets until they turned a corner and colour caused Max to cover her eyes.
"Where are we?" Max asked, straining to look.
"The Spanish Steps" Logan announced, pulling Max towards the steps. The reds of the flowers were bright in the sunlight and Max ran up the stairs, allowing Logan to follow at a slower pace behind her. Logan smiled and pulled out his camera.
"Max!"
She turned, flashing him a smile of absolute joy, and Logan quickly snapped, capturing the moment. Max's look of horror made Logan laugh.
"Why you." she cried, laughing as she gently attacked him. Logan managed to trap both her arms behind her back, pulling her into him with no way of pulling away. They stood there, smiling at each other, all other thoughts blocked out.
How does he have this effect on me? How is he able to make me feel as if there is no one else in this world except for him and me? There is no Lydecker, no South Africans, no drug lords, nothing. All that matters is his arms around me, pulling me closer and closer.
"Hold that thought" Logan whispered as he reached over and tapped another man on the shoulder.
"You wouldn't mind taking a photo, would you?" Logan asked politely.
The man obviously didn't understand a word Logan said, but glanced at the camera Logan was offering and smiled.
Logan offered a re-assuring arm to Max and wrapped it around her shoulders. They shared a glance, before turning to the man, who took their photo.
"E bellisima, si?" the man quietly said to Logan as he handed back the camera.
"What did he say?" Max asked curiously, tugging Logan around to face her.
Logan smiled. "He said you were very beautiful" Logan replied, staring deep into Max's eyes.
Max blushed. He has done it again, she thought, he has made me feel so special and beautiful with just a glance. Logan, you gotta stop doing this to me.
"Signore and Signora Gordiani, what a pleasure to see you!"
Max and Logan both turned to find Josef making his way up the steps towards them. The two men shook hands and began to discuss the party the previous night.
"So he was there?"
"Yes, we met on the balcony"
"How did you manage that?"
"Well Max and I were outside and he was having a meeting with some men."
"What were you and this beautiful woman doing on the balcony when the party was inside?" Josef teased, bringing a slight blush to both of the couple's cheeks.
"Keeping up appearances" Logan replied, a smile playing at his lips
"Have you been shopping yet?" Josef asked
"I'm exhausted Josef, I was actually hoping to go back to the hotel room"
Catching the hint of disappointment on Max's face, Josef made a suggestion. "Well I was actually hoping to do some shopping. Max, would you like to accompany me?" Josef asked.
Max looked at Logan. "Do you mind?"
"No, not at all" Logan reassured Max. "Take my card, you may need it." he began, reaching into his coat for his wallet.
"Logan, I'm not going to spend your money" Max said, trying to force Logan to put his wallet away.
"Max" Logan said gently, causing her to stop her actions and look him in the eye. "I know you don't have the money. You have no idea how expensive clothing is here. Please Max, I asked you to come here, knowing you may not have the right clothes. At least let me do this for you" Logan pleaded. He didn't begin to pull out his wallet again until Max, admitting defeat, removed her hand from his.
He handed her the card and their fingers brushed slightly upon doing so.
"I'll have her home by dinner time" Josef called over his shoulder as he hustled Max down the steps towards the shopping precinct.
******^^^^^^******^^^^^^******
Logan stirred early the next morning, just as sunlight began to creep into the room. He tried to move, but then became aware of another body, pressed against his own. He opened his eyes and saw that in the middle of the night, he and Max had curled up together, his arms draped across her waist. They were both facing the window and Logan lay as still as possible so as not to wake Max. He simply enjoyed the moment - the sun was rising and Max was in his arms.
Max squinted her eyes as the sunlight began to creep onto her face. She opened her eyes and watched the room, as it slowly grew brighter. She became aware of another presence against her body and looked down, finding Logan's arm draped across her waist. She stayed still, so as not to wake him and she watched the walls as the sun hit their rings and reflected light around the room. She just lay there and enjoyed the simple pleasure of Logan's warm body, wrapped around her own.
******
Logan woke a few hours later to find the bed empty and the shower running. He reached for his glasses and squinted at the clock, which told him it was just after 10. Logan reached for the phone and dialled room service.
Max emerged from the bathroom dressed in a pair of grey trousers and a black polo neck to find that Logan, who was sitting at the table to one side of the room, had already started eating the blueberry pancakes he had ordered.
"There better be enough for me," she cried as the walked towards the bed.
Logan grinned at her. "You are just in time - I was just about to start eating your share"
Max raised an eyebrow at Logan as she sat down across from him. "Logan, do you value your life?"
Logan laughed. "I'll keep that threat in mind. Besides, you probably used up all the hot water!"
"You'll manage. What are we doing today?"
"Well I'm in the mood for being a tourist and doing some shopping. You up for it?"
Logan didn't even wait for Max to respond. The excited look on her face was answer enough before he headed to the bathroom to make use of what little hot water was left.
******
The couple spent all day, wandering the streets of Rome. The wind was sharp and cold, but the sun shone like it was the middle of summer. They began with a coffee in the Piazza Venezia, then a snack in the Piazza Barbanna, lunch in the Piazza del Popolo. neither could believe how much they were able to eat. Neither was interested in old ruins, but rather both wanted to simply take in the experience of a Roman holiday. Conversation flowed and they laughed til their sides hurt. Logan had brought a camera, yet Max continued to refuse having her picture taken.
"Come on, I want to show you something" Logan announced after another snack stop, reaching down and pulling Max to her feet. He guided her through the streets until they turned a corner and colour caused Max to cover her eyes.
"Where are we?" Max asked, straining to look.
"The Spanish Steps" Logan announced, pulling Max towards the steps. The reds of the flowers were bright in the sunlight and Max ran up the stairs, allowing Logan to follow at a slower pace behind her. Logan smiled and pulled out his camera.
"Max!"
She turned, flashing him a smile of absolute joy, and Logan quickly snapped, capturing the moment. Max's look of horror made Logan laugh.
"Why you." she cried, laughing as she gently attacked him. Logan managed to trap both her arms behind her back, pulling her into him with no way of pulling away. They stood there, smiling at each other, all other thoughts blocked out.
How does he have this effect on me? How is he able to make me feel as if there is no one else in this world except for him and me? There is no Lydecker, no South Africans, no drug lords, nothing. All that matters is his arms around me, pulling me closer and closer.
"Hold that thought" Logan whispered as he reached over and tapped another man on the shoulder.
"You wouldn't mind taking a photo, would you?" Logan asked politely.
The man obviously didn't understand a word Logan said, but glanced at the camera Logan was offering and smiled.
Logan offered a re-assuring arm to Max and wrapped it around her shoulders. They shared a glance, before turning to the man, who took their photo.
"E bellisima, si?" the man quietly said to Logan as he handed back the camera.
"What did he say?" Max asked curiously, tugging Logan around to face her.
Logan smiled. "He said you were very beautiful" Logan replied, staring deep into Max's eyes.
Max blushed. He has done it again, she thought, he has made me feel so special and beautiful with just a glance. Logan, you gotta stop doing this to me.
"Signore and Signora Gordiani, what a pleasure to see you!"
Max and Logan both turned to find Josef making his way up the steps towards them. The two men shook hands and began to discuss the party the previous night.
"So he was there?"
"Yes, we met on the balcony"
"How did you manage that?"
"Well Max and I were outside and he was having a meeting with some men."
"What were you and this beautiful woman doing on the balcony when the party was inside?" Josef teased, bringing a slight blush to both of the couple's cheeks.
"Keeping up appearances" Logan replied, a smile playing at his lips
"Have you been shopping yet?" Josef asked
"I'm exhausted Josef, I was actually hoping to go back to the hotel room"
Catching the hint of disappointment on Max's face, Josef made a suggestion. "Well I was actually hoping to do some shopping. Max, would you like to accompany me?" Josef asked.
Max looked at Logan. "Do you mind?"
"No, not at all" Logan reassured Max. "Take my card, you may need it." he began, reaching into his coat for his wallet.
"Logan, I'm not going to spend your money" Max said, trying to force Logan to put his wallet away.
"Max" Logan said gently, causing her to stop her actions and look him in the eye. "I know you don't have the money. You have no idea how expensive clothing is here. Please Max, I asked you to come here, knowing you may not have the right clothes. At least let me do this for you" Logan pleaded. He didn't begin to pull out his wallet again until Max, admitting defeat, removed her hand from his.
He handed her the card and their fingers brushed slightly upon doing so.
"I'll have her home by dinner time" Josef called over his shoulder as he hustled Max down the steps towards the shopping precinct.
******^^^^^^******^^^^^^******