won’t shudder at the sight of us fresh off the boat?”
At seventy-seven Fulvia was still all woman and would probably faint when she saw the gorgeous male Alessandra had brought with her. “No. She’s used to my showing up a mess after a day at sea.”
Rini helped her out of the limo. “Lippo,” she called to the older man who opened the ornate front door at the same time. “Come stai?”
“Bene, grazie, Alessandra.”
“Please meet Signor Montanari.”
“Piacere di conoscerla.”
She looked at Rini. “Lippo and Liona are cousins. Our families couldn’t live without them.”
“Your families are close-knit in many ways,” Rini murmured. “Does he have a cat, too?”
Alessandra chuckled. “He would, but my aunt has allergies.”
“Signora Fulvia is in the drawing room, but she’s tired since your parents left and is still off her food.”
“We won’t stay long.”
“After you’ve spoken with her, dinner will be served in the small dining room.”
“Grazie, Lippo.”
Alessandra led Rini through hallways of marble floors and walls lined with gilt-framed portraits to her aunt’s favorite room. Still a beauty, she sat in a wheel chair surrounded by the mementos of her deceased husband, who’d enjoyed a distinguished military career.
“Buonasera, Zia. I’ve missed you.” She hugged her aunt. “I’m so sorry about your hip.”
“A hazard of old age. Don’t let it happen to you, cara.” Her brown eyes flicked to Rini, assessing him with uncommon interest. No woman could help it. “Your fame as an engineer precedes you, Signor Montanari. Alessandra, why don’t you see if your dinner is ready while I have a chat with him? Then I’ll ask the nurse to take me to my room.”
Her aunt had to be more miserable than she looked in order to get down to business this fast. “You poor thing. Please don’t overdo it. I’ll be right back.” She shared a private glance with Rini before leaving the room. Though she felt the slightest bit apprehensive, he seemed perfectly at ease.
She didn’t think anything could throw him. If he couldn’t achieve his goal with her father, Alessandra knew he’d look elsewhere for oil because he was a man on a mission.
* * *
By nine thirty the bad weather had turned ugly. Rini felt the rain as he helped Alessandra into the limo and gave the driver instructions to return them to the private dock. Though she’d told him they could stay the night at the palazzo, the illuminating conversation with her aunt had turned him inside out and he’d wanted to leave.
Her aunt had told him something that had nothing to do with his business meetings with the count. She’d brought up an alarming personal issue that had a direct bearing on Alessandra and her sister. He needed to think long and hard about it for the good of the Caracciolo family before he shared it with Alessandra, if he ever did. The only solution was to kill his feelings for her. In order to do that, he needed to leave the castello and search for hydrocarbons elsewhere in the south.
“I’d rather get back to the cruiser. It will do fine while we wait out the storm.” He imagined it would last all night.
“Well?” she asked with a smile after they’d gone below deck to the small room she used as an office. The rain pounded down outside. He stretched out in one of the chairs and extended his legs, crossing them at the ankles. Across from him sat the woman he considered the greatest beauty of the Taranto family bar none.
The humidity had curled the tips of her delightful hair. With her pink cheeks, she reminded him of one of the adorable cherub faces from Lecce. Her physical looks were a given. But what he found truly exquisite was her spirit—she had decided to give him a fighting chance to carry through with an idea, although it would never see the light of day now.
“I loved the tour of the palazzo and the meal was superb.”
“It always is, but I’m talking about your chat with my aunt. How did it go? She was too tired to talk to me before she went to bed.”
None of it was meant for Alessandra’s ears. “I thought I was talking to a strong minded woman.”
Laughter bubbled out of her. “She’s tough all right.”
Choosing his words carefully he said, “We talked pro and con. Her knowledge and directness impressed me before she asked to be excused to go to bed.”
She eyed him curiously. “That’s all you can tell me?”
Tight bands constricted his chest. “There isn’t anything else.”
“Oh, dear. It doesn’t sound like it went well.”
“I have no idea. But be assured I enjoyed meeting her and I’m indebted for your help. Since it’s getting late, why don’t you go on to bed? I’ve got business calls to make. Sleep well.”
* * *
After they’d left her aunt’s palazzo the night before, Alessandra couldn’t believe the change in Rini. He seemed to have turned into a different man, and was aloof, preoccupied. What on earth had they talked about that made him so unapproachable?
She went down to her cabin and cried herself to sleep over the way he’d just shut her out. She’d been waiting for him to kiss her again, but it never happened. What he and her aunt had talked about had changed him in some way.
When Alessandra woke up the next morning, Rini was already at the wheel. The weather had to be better, otherwise the cruiser wouldn’t be skimming across the water with such speed.
Why hadn’t he knocked on her door to waken her? Anything to let her know he was aware of her.
She couldn’t understand it and got out of bed to dress. After making coffee in the galley, she went up on deck with her duffel bag in the hope he would be in a better frame of mind to talk to her.
But the second she saw the set jaw of that handsome face, she knew instinctively that now wasn’t the right time. He was in no mood to confide in her. She walked over him. “I thought you might like this.”
He eyed her briefly before taking the cup. “Thank you. You’re an angel. As you can see, the storm has passed over. We’ll have you home soon.”
Home?
Her fear that something terrible was wrong had come to fruition. She frowned. “I thought we were going to dive. It’s a great morning for it.”
“I’d like to, but I’m afraid something came up while I made some business calls last night. I need to discuss them with your father. Please don’t let that stop you from joining your group once you drop me off.”
Diving was the last thing on her mind. She moved around and straightened the scuba equipment. They were almost to the island. Soon he eased the cruiser to the dock. When it was safe, she jumped out with her duffel bag and tied the ropes, leaving him to shut down the engine.
He joined her at the Land Rover. Their silent drive to the castle only took a minute, proof he was surprised she hadn’t stayed in the boat before taking off again. Alessandra had the impression he couldn’t wait to get away from her.
Sure enough, as soon as she’d parked the car, he reached for his backpack and got out. Alessandra followed him inside the foyer of the castle. He looked back at her. “I phoned your father earlier. He’s waiting for me. Thank you for showing me your world. I loved every second of it.”
So did I. Why are you acting like it’s over? Rini—what’s going on?
But he kept her in the dark. Without lingering, he walked toward her father’s office.
With