My morning starts off just as it did yesterday. Nonna hollers for me to get up at 6:30, and I've barely slept. I kept waking up and looking at my phone, hoping Asher would call me, but it never happened. All the same, I have to get moving, or Nonna will drag me out of bed.

Wearing another dress from my closet, I head down to the kitchen. I help Nonna with breakfast and set the table outside. I'm not the only one who seems to know the drill this morning; everyone emerges from their villas at a decent time, even my brother.

After we eat, I return to the kitchen to clean and help with the preparations for tonight's big dinner. My grandmother isn't letting us return to the tour unless our bellies are full of traditional Italian food. I don't get far in my chore before she hands me the picnic basket and tells me to enjoy my afternoon.

I find Kade sitting on the blanket under the same tree as yesterday. His back is to the trunk with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. The white cord of his earbuds hangs down the sides of his face, and the tattered copy of Romeo and Juliet lies next to him. His fingers tap the cover to the beat of the music. I take my phone from the picnic basket and angle the lens toward Kade. His image appears on the screen, and I click the picture.

"You better not plan on selling that to TMZ," he says, opening one eye.

I blush and put my cell in the basket.

"That won't happen. I'm under a confidentiality agreement, Mr. Slone." I sit across from him. "Come to think about it, I'm in breach of my agreement right now."

"Well, since I'm the one who pushed for the stupid thing, I think I have the right to override it. Plus, we're not on the road, so you're not breaking any rules." He ends with a big cheesy smile.

"Damn, I thought I was rebelling." I toss him a bag of grapes from the overabundant supply of food Nonna has packed us.

"That's how you would rebel—by hanging out with me? That's kind of pathetic. I would have guessed you capable of much worse." He arches an eyebrow and shoots me a sly grin.

"You've seen how Nonna works. Do you think that woman would let me get away with anything she didn't approve of?"

"I guess not." He takes a grape out of the bag and throws it in the air. With his mouth wide open, he catches it inside.

I enjoy watching him eat. The way the muscles of his jaw flex when he chews is intriguing. There is this look he gets like he is paying attention to the way the food tastes, savoring every bite. Not to mention, his table manners which are impeccable and never rushed. Coming from a family where food is the focus of every gathering, it's kind of important that I surround myself with people who enjoy eating.

"These are incredible," he says, popping another grape in his mouth.

"I haven't had a grape from here since I was little."

Kade closes one eye and aims the small purple orb at me.

"Are you planning on throwing it into my mouth?" I ask with dismay.

"Yeah, open up."

I open my mouth as wide as I can, and he throws the grape. I move my head to catch it, but it bounces off my forehead.

Kade laughs. "Okay, try again, but this time keep your eyes open and on the grape."

I nod, taking this very seriously. I will catch that little piece of fruit. With my mouth hanging open, he tosses it up and this time, it hits my chin.

"You have to keep your eyes open." He laughs, holding his stomach.

"I did! You're not throwing it right."

"Are you blaming me for your inability to keep your eyes open and move your head at the same time?"

"Yes. Do it right this time," I say with a smirk.

Kade gets up on his knees across from me and steadies his hand, aiming for my mouth. He closes one eye and concentrates on my lips. "Are you ready?"

I nod.

He leans closer and places the grape in my mouth. "Good job."

"You suck," I say, throwing a grape at him.

"Awe well, you aren't the first to have that opinion of me, sweetheart." He leans back on the blanket.

I flush and turn my head to the side. Kade has only called me by my given name like he's separating himself from everyone else I get along with. The pet name is so much more than a slip of the tongue; it's a shift in our dynamic.

Kade holds up the book. "Are you ready to finish this?"

I shift to sit next to him against the tree trunk. "Will it be less depressing with an English accent?"

"Absolutely not. I hope you brought tissues." He nudges me with his shoulder and takes off the flannel over his t-shirt.

The warmth of the sun travels down my body, wrapping me in a cozy cocoon. The deep tone of Kade's voice envelops me and my eyelids grow heavy. I struggle to focus on the story, lulling in and out of consciousness until my head touches down on Kade's arm. I jerk awake and glance at him from the corner of my eye.

"You look exhausted; do you want me to continue?" he asks.

"Yes, please keep going. I just haven't slept well the last couple of nights," I say, finishing with a yawn.

"Here." He slouches into a reclining position and pats his thigh.

"I don't—"

"For Christ's sake, Ariella, lay down and stop being so stubborn. I'm offering you a place to rest your head—that's all."

I roll my eyes and lay on my back; my head resting on his thigh. I might be delirious from the lack of sleep, but I don't shy away from watching him read. My gaze stays trained on him as I fight to keep my eyes open, but it's a losing battle and I succumb to my fatigue.