Chapter 30

Vic and Reba had a wonderful rest of the week together and Vic didn't mention the bet again so Reba figured he had forgotten about it or was being nice enough to just let it go. Reba couldn't believe the week she had while in Rome. She and Vic were having a wonderful romantic time and Vic was so attentive to her. If she ever felt tired or just couldn't go on anymore he would immediately take her back to the hotel, without question. Reba couldn't ask for someone better to be with.

They went to the Vatican City like Reba wanted and she was just in awe of it all. It was such a beautiful place and the artwork in the Vatican museum was simply beautiful. She had seen the ceiling and altar wall that was painted by Michelangelo but Reba loved it all. They devoted an entire day to visiting the Vatican City and Reba highly enjoyed everything they had to offer. She really enjoyed the small yet satisfying lunch they had. Reba couldn't ask for a better day.

Reba had to admit Rome was beautiful, gorgeous, and she enjoyed the time she spent with Vic visiting the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and many other museums and wonderfully famous sights but she also had to admit that she enjoyed the time spent in the hotel room the most. It was just being able to be with Vic alone and having those private moments together that really made the trip special.

A perfect example of this was Friday, they had stayed in for most of the day, just watching movies and spending some…or most of the time in bed but it was the fact they had beautiful alone time that Reba truly enjoyed. They ordered in and Vic decided to get truly romantic and feed her strawberries and they had to have sparkling grape juice of course, to replace the champagne Reba wasn't allowed to have. She enjoyed the day and she couldn't help be extremely excided about the next day when she fell asleep in Vic's arms that night.

Reba awoke the next morning again to find that Vic was up before she was. She liked it better when she would awake in his arms rather than waking up alone. She sat up yawning and it was then she heard the voice at the end of the bed. "It's about time you awoke. I was afraid I would have to wake you up."

Reba smiled when she saw Vic standing there with a tray. "I'm sorry. I was just so tired after last night." She said smirking.

Vic chuckled and walked around the bed, setting the tray down across her lap. He gently kissed her cheek and then lifted the silver covering of the food. "Breakfast is served." He said smiling.

Reba grinned at the plate of eggs and fruit, no bacon this time but he was kind enough to drizzle a little chocolate sauce over everything. How did he know that's what she wanted? She picked up her fork and began eating. "Nothing for you?" she asked curiously as he sat down next to her.

Vic shook his head. "I had some biscotti before you awoke. I want to make this morning all about you."

Reba grinned as she took a bite of her yummy chocolate scrambled eggs. "I can't wait to see what you've have planned." Reba said excitedly. "Unless you tell me." She said giving him puppy dog eyes.

Vic chuckled. She knew that those eyes of hers always got to him but he had to hold strong, at least for a little while. He knew she would love the surprise, well, BOTH surprises. "You will just have to wait. Now eat." He said standing up and heading toward the bathroom.

Reba pouted a little but listened, only because she was hungry of course. She heard the shower go on and she suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. She had a wicked idea and set the tray down. She didn't bother to put her robe on. She snuck into the bathroom and was happy Vic's back was turned from the clear glass door, not only so she could sneak in more easily but she also got to admire his backside for just a moment.

She stepped into the shower and wrapped her arms around him, giggling when he practically jumped out of his skin. Vic turned around and smiled. "I thought you were eating."

Reba shrugged. "I was but then I became hungry for something else." She said with a suggestive smile. She gave a deep chuckle as Vic brought her into a passionate kiss.

After their shower Reba and Vic dressed quickly, well, Reba was confused as to why they needed to rush but Vic seemed to be in a hurry. Now she was certainly curious as to what he was going to do with her. What was the surprise? "Are you going to tell me?" Reba asked as they headed downstairs.

Vic shook his head and for the millionth time said, "No."

Reba pouted. She wanted to know where they were going. He insisted that she leave her purse and things. He said she wouldn't need them and he said it didn't mattered what she wore when she asked him what clothing she should dress in. "I wish you would just tell me."

Vic sighed. "We are not leaving the hotel. I will tell you that much."

Reba pondered this new information and was still puzzled. What could they possibly be going to where they wouldn't need to leave the hotel? The restaurant they had already been to. That wouldn't be much of a surprise. Reba didn't have much time to think for she soon found out where she would be going when they walked up to the front desk. Emilio smiled at them. "It's is the lovely newlyweds. What can I do for you today?' he asked.

Vic cleared his throat and smiled. "Our previous discussion, my wife and…"

Emilio smiled. "Ahh, yes. Lia…" he said nodding toward a striking black haired woman behind them, "Will escort Mrs. Mariano."

Reba was still confused. "Where am I going?" she asked

Vic chuckled. "I am letting you have the morning to yourself. You're going to get the full spa treatment and I am going to leave you alone."

Reba frowned. "But, it's our honeymoon. You're not supposed to want to leave me alone." She said as her frown turned into a smirk.

Vic smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I want to do this for you. You will get the spa treatment and then I will come back down this afternoon to escort you to your other surprise."

Reba's eyes lit up. "There's another surprise?"

Vic nodded and kissed her on the cheek before stepping away. "Enjoy yourself."

Reba watched as Vic walked away and then she turned to this Lia person and smiled. "Are you ready?" she asked smiling. Reba just shrugged and smiled as she followed her to the spa area in the beautiful hotel.

Reba was going to have to thank Vic a million times over because she had a wonderful morning. She had a wonderful full body massage, had facials, and other assortment of beauty treatments. She was completely relaxed when she was done with her morning. She could only imagine what he had planned that afternoon.

Reba sighed as she relaxed in a long white lounge chair while Lia brought her an assortment of fruits, cheeses, toasted Italian bread with chocolate sauce, and of instead of champagne, sparkling grape juice.

"I wish I had a husband that did this for me." Lia said breaking the silence as she handed a glass over to Reba. Lia had been with Reba all morning. Reba found out that Vic had paid extra, a lot extra, for someone to stay with her at all times and keep her completely relaxed. Reba had to make conversation with this woman. She had learned Lia was born in Italy but raised in America. She had moved back to Italy when she was sixteen when her parents past away and she had to come live with her grandmother. Reba thought she was just the sweetest girl.

Reba smiled and removed the cucumbers from her eyes. "Vic is wonderful. I can't believe how lucky I am."

Lia smiled as she sat down and began to massage a very special lotion into Reba's hands. "When he was planning this for you he said he was the lucky one."

Reba couldn't help but giggle. She paused for a moment, realizing she had been doing a lot of giggling lately. "I never thought I would ever find someone special again after my husband left me." Reba had taken a point to make conversation with Lia and she had been quite interested to know that Reba had actually accepted her ex-husband's mistress as her best friend.

Lia shook her head and started on Reba's other hand. "You American's are crazy. If I was married I would never have done that."

Reba shrugged. "I had to forgive them sometime. Brock and I were having trouble long before she entered the picture so it doesn't matter." Reba smiled and glanced over at Lia. "Do you have anyone special in your life?"

Lia shook her head. "Not yet. I am still looking."

"Don't worry, you will eventually find someone. You are very young and very pretty. You should have no trouble." Reba said with a smile.

Lia gave her a warm smiled and nodded. "I know I will find someone eventually." She then joked, "And if I don't I will just…buy some cats." She said with a giggle. Reba laughed right along with her.

Reba smiled when she saw Vic approaching her later. She had finished her morning spa treatments and Vic was right on time. She immediately kissed him full on the mouth. She broke apart only to breathe and thank him. "Thank you so much for this morning. I can't believe you did this. I had such a relaxing time."

Vic smiled and held her close. "I am happy you enjoyed it."

"I don't know what I did to deserve such treatment." She said smiling.

Vic smirked. "This morning's shower might have a lot to do with it."

Reba put her hands on her hips. "You already had this planned before this morning's shower."

Vic shrugged and led her back upstairs. "I just wanted to do something special for you."

Reba smiled and kissed his cheek once they were in the elevator. "It was a lovely gift. I had such a wonderful time. I had a full body massage, facials and…"

"Wait…" Vic said stopping her. "You had a full body massage?" Reba grinned and nodded. Vic didn't like how happy she was about a full body massage. "How full of a body massage are we talking here because I don't need any males doing anything that is already being taken care of by me?"

Reba rolled her eyes. "You planned it. Let it go and it was only a massage." She said stepping off the elevator.

"Was it at least done by a woman?" he asked as she walked away. Reba just ignored him and waited for him to open the door. Vic sighed and decided to let it go. He had another surprise he needed to get ready. "You need to change into that." He said pointing to the lovely off white turtle neck sweater dress that was lying on the bed.

Reba walked over and held it up. "It's gorgeous but why do I need to wear it?" she asked hoping he would cave and tell her wear he was taking her.

"We are going away and we might be outside a lot, it's supposed to be chilly this evening."

Reba shrugged and changed from her jeans and t-shirt to the beautiful dress. It fit but it seemed to show off her baby belly. "It shows off my stomach."

Vic smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Why would you want to hide it? You look gorgeous and being pregnant is nothing to be ashamed of. You look hot." That earned a laugh from Reba. "I'm serious. If we weren't running a little late I would be all over you right about now."

Reba shook her head and kissed his cheek. "You sure do know how to make a girl feel better."

Vic chuckled. "It makes me feel better knowing you are feeling better. Now get to packing." He said smiling.

Reba frowned. "We're leaving?"

Vic nodded. "Don't worry." He said when he saw her pout face. "I am going to take you to a very special place. Now hurry up and pack. We are running late."

Reba rushed through packing again and they were ready to leave within the hour. They checked out and were escorted out by the same bellboy who helped them in with their luggage except this time they weren't going in a limo, they were leaving in the rental car they had been using the past week to get around. Reba was confused but didn't want to press the issue of Vic telling her where they were going for fear he would change his mind and they would leave for home.

"I hope you are still interested in that book you were reading on the plane." Vic said as he turned away from the hotel. "It's going to be a long ride and you might get bored with just talking to me."

Reba eyed him curiously. "How long?"

"About two hours."

Reba's eyes widened. "Where are you taking me?"

Vic chuckled and patted her knee. "Don't worry. I am not kidnapping you, not that the police would suspect me considering I am your husband. I am taking you some place special and that is all you need to know, trust me, you will love it." He said with a grin. Reba shrugged. She only hoped the two hours went by quickly. Reba had to wonder though what could be two hours away that would interest her. She was supposed she would find out soon. She sighed and rested her head against the seat. She was completely tired and just so relaxed from her morning that she was ready to fall asleep again…and she did.

End of Chapter