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“Not yet.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me if I like my stepmother?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I know how much you loved your mother.”
“I adored her, but I’ve come to care a great deal for Maria.”
“I’m glad.” Wanting to know anything and everything about him she asked, “What’s Fortunato’s mother like?”
“Besides other girls, I dated Cellina before I joined the air force.”
Out of the frying pan, Annabelle.
She swallowed hard. “Is she another reason you didn’t want anyone to know you were home yet?”
“No.” was his blunt answer. “You know my reasons. I didn’t want my father to hear I was home before I could tell him myself. But to satisfy your feminine curiosity, if I’d been in love with her, I wouldn’t have left Ravello.”
Her fascination with him was so great, she couldn’t stop asking questions. “Has it made things difficult for you and Ruggero?”
“Not anymore. But in the beginning I think my stepbrother was glad I had a career that kept me away for long periods of time.”
“I thought it strange she sent those melons.”
“It’s not strange at all.” She felt his eyes impale her. “The whole family has to be intrigued by my father’s sudden affection for the American woman he met in California.”
The chemistry between them was palpable. “How about a little music?” She turned on the radio and grazed the channels until she found some soft Italian rock. After their conversation just now, she needed anything to help contain the feelings he’d aroused in her.
When she saw the sign for the marina, her heart leaped because they would be spending the afternoon alone on a boat. She pulled around past a string of launches and stopped near the office.
“I’ll be right back.” Before she knew what was happening, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her hard on the mouth. Annabelle was moaning by the time he finally relinquished her lips and
got out of the car.
CHAPTER SIX
ON Monday morning, Lucca heard his father’s car in the drive and walked out of the house to greet him. They hugged.
“You’re really home for good. I can’t believe it.” They hugged again.
When Lucca had arrived at two in the morning last week, he’d been in such a terrible place emotionally, he couldn’t have imagined feeling this good today.
“Come in the house, Papa. I’ve made Mama’s lemon tea for you.”
“I haven’t tasted that in years.”
No. Lucca didn’t imagine he had. “Everything’s waiting for us out on the terrace.” He’d prepared their favorite eggs, fruit, yogurt and pastry.
His father followed him. “You have a slight limp, nothing more. I thank God for that.”
“I do, too. Once all the pain is gone, you won’t even notice that. Come and sit.”
Guilio looked around. Lucca watched his eyes glaze over. “Daisies on the table, just like your mother used to do. As if there aren’t enough daisies surrounding the place.”
Lucca fought his own tears. “How is your work going lately?”
