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Chapter 13

Diana

Iwould have thought that Levi would be grateful for the opportunity to put an end to this fake relationship and to get back to his life without me. So then why, as soon as we greeted the other ladies with the obligatory cheek kisses, did he wrap his arm around me, setting his hand casually on my hip bone? My skin heated where he touched me, and I was suddenly hyperaware of how large his hand was. I tried to discreetly remove it only to find Helen Harris watching my every move.

“Signora Visconti, Diana was telling me about a fundraising weekend that your foundation organizes. I’m intrigued.” My head snapped in his direction. Why was he being so direct? I’d planned on easing my way into this conversation, not diving right in.

“Ah yes, we’ve been organizing it for years. We present the latest research from the foundation, our latest museum exhibition, and there is an award ceremony.”

“Who attends this event?” Levi prodded, and I elbowed him.

“Well, our donors, of course. Giancarlo’s archaeology teams. During the day we organize fun competitions between the teams. It’s always so amusing to see Reginald and Bruno Marcangeli go head-to-head. Always so competitive.”

Helen chuckled. “Yes, they are. Giancarlo always picks one of his archaeology teams to give presentations. This year it’s the Marcangeli group in Bologna, but Reggie is hoping that next year it will be his project.”

I was confused. “Oh? He never mentioned it to us.”

“I believe it’s a secret project he has in the works. I’m surprised that he didn’t invite you, Diana, to the weekend.” Helen cocked her head, and then she and Signora Visconti exchanged a meaningful look. “You should both come.”

“Yes, both of you!” agreed Signora Visconti.

“Uh,” I sputtered. This was happening faster than I had anticipated. I’d rehearsed a whole speech in my head to convince Signora Visconti to invite me. Only me. I didn’t expect her to invite us as a couple and now I had to improvise. “Levi has to work.”

“Oh? Does that mean you’re engagement is back on?” Helen clapped her French-manicured hands together and her charm bracelet jingled. “I just knew that throwing the two of you together would work its magic. And it has!”

Signora Visconti gestured at Giulia across the room and she ran over obediently. “They’re back together! You see, I was right to have brought it up.”

Giulia squealed. “Oh, I’m so happy. You belong together, you know.”

“What a pity you should both have to miss out because Lev,” Helen Harris said, and I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes at the use of his real name, “has to fly out on a mission.”

“Ah,” I squeaked. Here I was so close to getting what only to have it snatched away because I sucked at improv.

“You know, I’m sure I could get out of it, Helen. I would hate for Diana to miss this opportunity. She’s been telling me all about the fellowship that the foundation offers every year, and well, I may be biased, but I really think they couldn’t find anyone more deserving than her.” Levi brought our clasped hands to his chest as he spoke, his very hard, warm chest. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heart and it calmed me. “You do still want to go, babe?”

Everyone stared at me expectantly. I couldn’t remember how to speak so I nodded vigorously, and when Helen bent her head to retrieve something from her purse, I stared at Levi and mouthed, “Babe?”

“Too much?” he mouthed back. I nodded harder and found Helen staring at me like I was deranged.

“Wonderful! I’ll arrange everything. The other couples are going to be delighted to have new players for our games.” That settled, the ladies dispersed to practice the steps they’d learned yesterday.

Levi’s eyebrow quirked up, and he whispered, “Games? Did we just get ourselves invited to an elderly swingers’ weekend in the country?”

“Oh, shut up!” I whispered fiercely. I was at once grateful to him for getting me invited and I wanted to punch him at the same time. And, why oh why, were there suddenly a thousand butterflies in my stomach at the idea of spending an entire weekend with Levi? I didn’t want this! “You’re not going! We’ll talk about this later.”

Oh god, it was going to be even more difficult to get out of this mess. But I had to. I could not spend an entire weekend with Levi and concentrate on winning over Signore Visconti.

I couldn’t fall for him again. I’d spent most of the night thinking about my conversation with Ashleigh and remembering the two of them together. I’d wallowed in those memories to get rid of the lingering impression of Levi’s arms around me, of his fingers entwined with mine.

When that hadn’t worked I remembered what he’d told Frankie Fiero. He never thought of me that way and never would. I was just Indy and always would be.

If this weekend happened, I didn’t know if my resolve would hold. So I had to figure out a way to keep him here, and I needed to make sure not to touch him today.

No sooner had I made that vow to myself then Signora Visconti took hold of me and shoved me toward Levi while Helen said, “Diana, I remember you telling me that you and Levi had spent an entire summer working on a dance for your parents’ anniversary. Would you do it for us?”

I cursed myself once again for having such a big mouth. The problem was when I was nervous, I talked and talked. And I was always nervous around Helen.

“No, my foot still hurts.” I limped around in a little circle.