from this trip, I’ll come and spend a few days with her to give you some relief.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve had a breakthrough with Gemma.” He’d always told his cousin everything. For the next little while he explained what had gone on this evening. The part about her conversation with their grandfather Emanuele came as a shock to him.
“You’re right. That gave Mirella more ammunition. But I’m worried. You sound too excited, Vincenzo. The zebra doesn’t lose its stripes.”
Vincenzo didn’t want to hear that. “But she has agreed to go on vacation with me.”
“Just be warned. You’ve been in hell for years. Two weeks with her might still not be enough to make her see the light.”
His breath caught. “Thanks for your optimism.”
“I just don’t want you to end up in more pain that could last for the rest of your life.”
He didn’t want that, either, and worried about his cousin. Vincenzo wished there was more he could do for him. Dimi had relationships with various women, but his prime concern was to take care of his mother.
“I love you for caring, Dimi. Talk to you soon. Ciao.”
WHEN MORNING CAME Vincenzo dressed in chinos and a sport shirt, then met early with Cesare and Takis to tell them his plans. With everything settled, he phoned Gemma to say that he was on his way to Sopri in one of the hotel service vehicles. He’d parked his Maserati around the back of the castello.
When he pulled up in front, she came out with her suitcase. His heart rate picked up speed. She looked fabulous in white sailor pants and a sleeveless white top. He wondered how long it would be before the sight of her didn’t send adrenaline pounding through his blood.
He jumped out of the car to help her in and put her case in the back. Those luscious lips of coral were too much of an enticement. By the time he’d finished kissing her, there was no more lipstick left.
“The padrona was watching out her window.”
“Are you ever going to stop worrying about being with me?”
Her chest heaved. “I promise to try not to let my fears get the best of me.”
“That’s all I can ask.” He tucked some strands of honey-blond hair behind her ear.
“Where are we going?”
“First we’ll fly to someplace I haven’t been before. Have you ever traveled to Bari along the Adriatic?”
“No.”
“Good. I want to explore the coast.”
“Ooh. That sounds exciting. Are we taking the ducal private jet?”
“No. We’re flying commercial, like two ordinary people.”
Her head turned toward him. “Are you teasing me?”
“Does that mean you’re disappointed?”
She blushed. “Of course not.”
“We’re simply two people on holiday together, doing whatever we feel like.”
By two in the afternoon, they’d arrived at Bari international airport and rented a car. Vincenzo was starting to feel in the holiday mood. They stopped at a deli to buy some wine and a bag of Italian sausage and egg pies.
He looked over at her. “Having a good time?”
“This is the best. Can you imagine how much fun we would have had if you’d been able to drive us around years ago?”
“I’ve tried hard not to imagine what joy that would have been. In truth, if I’d driven off in a car with you, no one would have seen us again. My father knew that if I got behind the wheel of any car, I’d disappear.”
“No, you wouldn’t have. Like you told me, you’d never leave your mother.”
He squeezed her thigh. She remembered everything.
“When did you learn to drive?”
“After I got to New York and bought my first car.”
“What kind?”
“A white Sentra, perfect for a college guy. I have pictures I’ll show you.”
“I want to see and know everything that happened to you.”
“We’ve got the rest of our lives, Gemma.”
She didn’t respond, but he wasn’t worried. She’d come with him and today was only the first day. They whizzed along, chatting and eating. They explored Puglia before coming to the medieval town of Polignano a Mare, scattered with white buildings.
“Oh, look, Vincenzo. This whole area is built on sheer cliffs.”
“This is where we’re staying tonight. Years ago the guys told me about this place. I’ve been anxious to see it ever since.” He turned in to the Grotta Palazzese Hotel built from the local stone. “We can’t see it from here, but there’s a cave restaurant below where we’re going to eat tonight.”
“I’ve heard about it. I can’t wait to see it! A real cave.”
“Yes. Seventy or so feet above the water. Let’s check in and get our room, then walk around some of those narrow streets until we get hungry.”
* * *
Gemma’s heart raced when Vincenzo asked the concierge for a key to their room. Except for the night she’d crept up to his room all those years ago, and last night, she’d never been in another man’s bedroom.
There were several couples checking in. She wished she could be nonchalant about their situation. After they reached their room and closed the door, Vincenzo put their bags down and pulled her into his arms. They kissed hungrily.
“Relax. It’ll get easier.” He knew everything going on inside her. “Go ahead and freshen up.” She passed the queen-size bed on the way to the bathroom. This was all so new to her, she had to pinch herself.
Before long he took her out to play tourist. She had the time of her life as they meandered through the ancient streets hand in hand. No woman they passed could take their eyes off Vincenzo. One of the clerks in a tourist shop fell all over herself to get his attention.
But he’d fastened his attention on Gemma. He constantly teased and kissed her all the way back to the hotel, where they dressed for dinner. In their youth they’d had to plan every move to be together so no one would find out. It had been as if they were caged. Little could she have imagined a night like this with him. To be free and open to show their love was intoxicating.
A cry escaped her lips when they went down the steps to the limestone cave restaurant below. In the twilight, the individual tables had been lit with candles. The whole ambience had a surreal feeling with the warm evening breeze coming off the Adriatic.
They were shown to a table for two and served an exquisite meal of prawns and swordfish. She looked into his silvery eyes. “You can hear the water lapping beneath us. This is an enchanting place.”
“The guys were right. You can’t find a more romantic spot anywhere in Italy.”
“I agree. A restaurant without walls. It’s incredible.” Near the end of their meal, the waiter came over. “No more wine for me,” she said. “One glass is all I can handle.”
Vincenzo declined a second glass, too. “Shall we take a little walk before going to bed?”
The thought of being with him all night sent a wave of delight through her body. “I’d love it.”
An