Page 72

Giovanni listened. He granted her liberties to speak to him in ways no one else in the family besides Lorenzo dare try. When he didn’t give his sister the response she wanted she went for his balls.

“Did you know Mira Ellison is engaged to be married to some rich Chinese man in America? It’s in one of my magazines upstairs. I can show you the article.”

“I thought you were going to see to breakfast?” Giovanni asked.

Catalina rose and crossed her arms in front of her. “Promise me you will speak to Franco about Palermo? I don’t want to be away from you and Lorenzo. You are all I have, no mama or papa, just you and Lorenzo.”

“I will talk to him,” he promised. “I want you to be respectful and gracious to our guests. Don’t disappoint me.”

“I won’t,” she smiled sweetly.

Mira woke. He returned very quietly. She listened a moment longer and heard him release a deep sigh. The morning rays were beginning to pour in through the open doors of his balcony. She found the large double mattress bed soft as a cloud, and she usually didn’t like soft beds. After playing, talking, eating and finishing two bottles of wine he made the sweetest love to her under the covers. Slowly she turned her head to see if he had closed his eyes. He stared straight ahead, deep in thought.

“Morning?” she rolled to him and he opened his arm in welcoming.

“Did I wake you?” he asked his voice hoarse and gruff.

“No. I was waiting for you,” she lied.

“Forgive me Bella. I promised to be here when you woke.”

She looked up at him. The joke fell flat. In fact it kind of stung. She wasn’t so needy that she’d pitch a fit if he weren’t there, though she did give him a hard time before. “What is it? What has you leaving the room constantly and looking so worried? Can’t you share your troubles with me?”

“No.” He scooted down the covers and faced her on his pillow. “I have a question for you.”

“Mmkay,” she said kissing his nose.

“Are you engaged to be married in America?”

Mira double blinked. “Wha-um-no. No. Who told you that?”

“Doesn’t matter. I believe you.” He then kissed her softly. “Are you ready for a trip out to Tuscany? Just you and I?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s shower and make love. Then we can join everyone for breakfast.”

“I thought breakfast wasn’t a tradition in Italy?”

“My mother is Irish. Breakfast was always served from her table. Besides my little sister loves America. She spends a lot of my money in New York City. Breakfast is her favorite meal of the day. Catalina knows what is proper; she will feed you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “After breakfast I will show you another side of my life. Remember my goal is to keep you with me,” he kidded.

“I can’t wait.”

Fabiana sashayed out of the bathroom and paused. Lorenzo placed the receiver back on its cradle. It was the third phone call he’d accepted that morning. She knew something was wrong. She could feel it. But her guy told her nothing. He showered her with gifts and sweet talk but gave her little of himself. In the harsh light of the new day, their arrangement didn’t feel as appealing as before.

“I’m thinking I might go to Napoli. Visit the boutique today to check in. We have two floors with employees running our business, and we haven’t been back since the show in Milan.”

“No.” he rose. He wore dark slacks and no shirt.

“No?”

“We have such a short time together. I don’t want you to go.”

Fabiana cut her eyes. Not believing his bullshit.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“Yes. With you, not me. We get close and then you shut down. You can trust me Lorenzo. Talk to me. I can see you’re stressed. Maybe I can help.”