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The next morning, I heard an alert that someone was at the front gate as I exited the shower. The winery wasn’t open yet, so other than workers, who would have the code, no one should be entering Valentini at this hour. Whoever it was, I was sure would realize we weren’t open yet and leave.
I finished drying myself and getting dressed and was about to go to the kitchen when I heard a knock at the front door.
My mother, a night owl, wouldn’t be up this early, so I padded my way downstairs, puzzled by why neither Nonna Bella nor Nonna Carina had come to see who was knocking. I looked out the window, surprised to see Paolo.
“What are you doing here?” He called from time to time to check to see how I was doing, but I hadn’t seen him since we ran into each other at the hotel in London.
“Buongiorno, Pia.” He winked.
I smiled and lowered my eyes. “Buongiorno, Paolo.”
“Can I come in?”
“Of course.” I stepped aside and closed the door behind him. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted you to know that Donnatella and I never married.”
My eyes scrunched. “You woke up and decided that was important information to share with me at nine in the morning? In person, no less?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve wanted to see you…” I waited, but he didn’t continue. What’s more, he appeared pained.
I haven’t had any coffee yet and could really use a cup. “Vuoi un caffè?”
“Sì. Grazie.”
I went into the kitchen, surprised not to find Nonna Bella making breakfast. Instead, it looked as though she hadn’t been in yet.
I made us each a coffee, put some fruit on a plate, and met Paolo out on the terrazza.
“Grazie,” he said a second time.
“Why are you here, Paolo?” I asked for the third time.
“Ever since that night…seeing you in London…I told you then that I missed you.”
I took a sip of coffee and then a bite of strawberry. “When I saw you with…”
“Donnatella.”
“Right. I thought you’d moved on.”
He leaned forward, covered my hand with his, and looked into my eyes. “I don’t want to move on. I want you, Pia. We could be good together if you’d just give us a chance.”
I moved my hand away, scooted my chair back, stood, and walked over to the railing. “Why me?”
“What do you mean?”
“There are hundreds of other women in Tuscany more interesting than I am.”
He walked over and grasped my hand with his. “You’ve never realized how alluring you are, Pia. There is no other woman in all of Italy I’d rather spend time with than you.”
I laughed. “Sorry if this offends you, Paolo, but I cannot believe that.”
“Give me a chance to prove it to you.”
Was I being foolish? Paolo had been good to me. He’d worked hard at Valentini, and I knew he’d been disappointed when I told him I was ready to take over after I finished college. He’d asked then if I would consider a relationship with him, and I’d said I wasn’t ready to think about dating anyone. He’d accepted my rejection gracefully, and as I’d said, when I saw him in London, I thought he’d moved on.
“Go out to dinner with me. Spend time with me. Let’s get to know each again.”
