“I can handle that,” he said. “It’s just paperwork. Though I will tell you that technically I can charge you for six months’ rent on breach of contract.”
“Do you want the six euros now, or can I wire them to you?” she asked, a smile forming.
“Maybe I’ll take the cash. You won’t need euros after today anyway.”
“That’s true. Only Swiss francs for this girl.” She tapped the countertop as if finalizing a thought. “The keys.” Sheturned back to the table and reached into the pocket of the blazer, then handed them to him.
“Thanks,” he said, taking them from her. “There’s one more thing I feel it’s my obligation to tell you. I went with the realtor this week to show Ivo’s property, and it seems like the potential buyer is very interested. There’s a long way to go and sales do not happen quickly here, but I did want to let you know in case—in case you changed your mind.”
“Changed my mind about what?”
“The property is considered abandoned, but you have the right to challenge that legally.”
“Why would I ever want to do that?”
“You know why,” he said. “And it makes sense to think about it. You never know when—”
“This again?” She cut him off. “Andrea, I don’t want to own a horse farm. And I honestly do not want to talk about this anymore.”
“It’s fine. I get it, no problem. Forget I said anything.” His phone chimed several times in rapid succession, which usually meant his sister was bombarding him with texts. He slid his phone out of his pocket, just to be sure. That morning, Carla had already sent him a photo of them as children, the three siblings on a toboggan the winter their parents took them to Cervinia, and wrote about how fun it would be to live near each other again. Itwasher again, this time telling him that she’d heard that thesagrawas a smashing success, which was clearly a testament to his ability to “turn a turkey into a peacock.” He sighed.
“So, when are you planning on making your big announcement?” she asked, folding her arms.
“When you decide what you want to do with the money Ivo left you,” he said, setting the keys down on the counter next to her.
“Oh, that’s great, really mature.”
“Yeah. Itfeelsgreat,” he said, circling to the other side of the island. “In fact, I am feeling awesome!”
“Me too!” She whirled around at him. “In fact, I have never been better!”
“Questa è roba da matti,” he said, pointing to the space between them to indicate that they were both nuts. “And I won’t miss this.”
“Me either.”
“I won’t miss you,” he said, shaking his head. He took a step toward her. “It’s a waste of my time.”
“You’re right. It is a waste.” She nodded, stepping closer again. “I won’t miss you either.”
He rested his hand on her hip, then pulled her to him.
“You should just go,” he said, resting his forehead down to hers.
“Don’t worry, I’m leaving.” She squeezed his bicep and breathed out, her eyes closed. He felt her soft breath on his face, and she leaned up to graze her lips against his. His fingers tightened around her waist and she pressed her body closer to his. All at once, their mouths met in a flash of heat and want. He pulled off his glasses, tossing them so that they skidded across the counter. Lora tugged at the bottom of his shirt, running her hands up his abdomen to his chest. He pulled at the top button of her jeans and slid her T-shirt up and over her head. She grasped onto him as he reached under her legs to sit her up on the counter, dragging her jeans andunderwear off her legs. She undid his belt and the zipper of his pants, then reached down to feel him hard and hot in her hands. He groaned, then dipped his head to trace his tongue down from her collarbone, pulling aside her bra to take her nipple into his mouth. She leaned back on the counter, opening her legs wider to fit him closer to where she needed him. Her hand moved slowly around him while his fingers drew a path of heat to her core until finally he grasped her hips and sank deep inside her. She cried out, the sound bouncing off the walls of the nearly empty house. They moved together; her arms clasped across his back as he held her around him. He felt his arms strain as his knees hit the cabinet, but he could not stop trying to get closer to her. Their bodies pushed and pulled, her soft cries against his ear. Finally, when he could not stand the pressure, when his heart felt swarmed with a thousand bees, she broke and sent him breaking along with her. He shuddered, suddenly exhausted, and set her back down on the counter. Her breathing was ragged, her chest red and splotchy as she looked in his eyes. She drew her hand to his face, then dropped it down to pick up his wrist.
“I have to go,” she said, looking at his watch. “I can’t miss this train.”
He nodded, his own breath still raw in his chest.
“I can drive you over to the station,” he said, reaching down to pull up his pants. She hopped off the counter, bent down to grab her clothing that lay in a heap on the floor.
“No, it’s OK,” she said, pulling on her T-shirt. “I’d rather say goodbye to you here.”
“And if you’re late?” he asked.
“I’ll run.”
Chapter 25
