Font Size:  

We sit down and savor the meal that’s delivered to us. Instead of Italian, the staff has prepared several delicious French dishes. A savory stew with braised meat, red wine, pearl onions, carrots, and other vegetables called Beef Bourguignon. Roast chicken and duck alongside potatoes seasoned with herbs. Some delicious garlic shrimp in a creamy sauce of butter, shallots, wine, and what tastes like cognac.

I smile a little as the ripe note of cognac reminds me of Gio. We move on to a soufflé so light and airy, it’s achingly good. Try as I might, being the foodie I am, I can’t eat another bite. I set my utensils down and dab my mouth with the cloth napkin.

Amusement dances across Gio’s handsome face. “Eat all you can?”

“For once. Plus, I figure I should go easy after this afternoon.”

“This was your first time on a boat?”

I nod. “But I still enjoyed it. Thank you for taking me.”

The amusement only deepens in his expression. His voice takes on that huskier inflection, like when we’re about to have sex. “Trust me, the pleasure was mine. But I didn’t mean for you to get sick. I wouldn’t have taken you out if I’d known.”

“It was probably just a fluke. But is everything else okay? Back in Vegas…”

“How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t concern yourself with the business. Your only job here is to relax and have a good time. You don’t need to worry about anything going on stateside.”

“Gio…” I pause and practically gulp. “I’ve been thinking. What if…what if the assassin was after me? I was the one who—”

“Nobody knows that. As far as everyone alive and breathing knows, it was me. I killed him. I was always going to kill him. Just like they were always going to attempt revenge.”

I don’t push that line of discussion any further, but I’m not ready to give up on the topic altogether. As Gio plucks his glass of wine off the table and moves around to take hold of my hand, it’s the only thing on my mind. We stroll over to the balcony’s edge and admire the dark waves and open skyline.

“I still want to learn to protect myself,” I mutter.

Gio’s arms anchor me to him. He kisses me behind the ear. “You will. In time. But not now. Tonight’s for relaxing. Our entire trip is. Okay?”

Even though it’s too dark and shadowy on the balcony, I smile at him. “Okay.”

We stay up late. Not for sex, but simply to lay together and talk. Gio’s insatiable, and so am I, but I sense he’s giving me more time to recover from my bout of nausea. Our time curled up in bed with the glass doors open and the wind soughing into the room is just as intimate. The only light comes from a few melting candles and the moonlight over the sea.

“Why here?” I ask. “Why Portofino?”

Gio’s hands smooth along my bare shoulder before he drops a kiss on the tip. “I have a lot of childhood memories here.”

“Wait…you’ve lived in this house as a kid?”

“One of our summer homes. That sandy trail behind the house leading to the beach? My brother and I used to race back and forth until our legs ached.”

I hum as he places a few more kisses along the line of my shoulder. “That sounds nice.”

“It was. I may have my bad memories from growing up in the life I have, but there are good ones too. Summers here are some of those.”

“Your dad used to bring you here to escape. It’s what you’re doing now.”

“Very astute observation. I suppose it’s true. We all take after our parents even if we don’t want to.”

I roll over and press my breasts against his solid bare chest. My arms slip around his waist. “You really think that’s true? We’re destined to become our parents?”

He considers his answer for a moment. His fingertips trace the pattern of my curls. “Yes,” he finally says and stops there.

“So you’re like your father?”

“In some ways. He’s tough and emotionless. He wasn’t affectionate with us. He believed it’d make for stronger sons.”

“And do you agree?”

His gaze dips to me for a second of study. “I don’t know anymore.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like