Engineering would make a generous donation to the hospital if they’d let me in to see you.”
There was no one like him, her heart cried out. “Rini Montanari. That was a naughty thing to do.”
“It worked. That’s all that mattered to me. To find you alive means everything. These last three weeks without you have been a hell I never want to live through again,” he admitted, his voice breaking.
His pain was tangible. “Now you’ll have to make good on your offer and work all hours of the day and night to recoup the loss.”
“It’ll be worth it since the hospital helped save your life. You’re the most precious thing in my world. I love you, bellissima,” he said in the huskiest voice she’d ever heard. “Now go to sleep and don’t worry about anything.”
When Alessandra woke up in the middle of the night, she decided she’d been dreaming that Rini had come to visit her. Had he really said he loved her? There was no sign of him. The night nurse came in and helped her to the restroom, then walked her back to bed.
THE NEXT MORNING Alessandra awakened to find her parents in the room. They’d brought her a fresh change of jeans and a soft top, which she slipped into. At 11:00 a.m. the doctor discharged her with the proviso that she rest, stay hydrated and do no diving for at least fourteen days.
It felt good to be wheeled outside to her parents’ limo. They made her comfortable before driving her back to the castle. Yet not at any time had they or the medical staff mentioned that Rini Montanari had been a visitor.
She’d really experienced a whopper of a dream to imagine he’d left his office to fly to Crotone in order to find out if she was all right. Alessandra was terrified it would take years, maybe a lifetime, to get over him. But what if she couldn’t? The ache in her heart had grown acute.
Instead of going upstairs, she told her mom she wanted to stay in the day room and curled up on the couch under a quilt to watch television. Supplied with water and nuts, she didn’t lack for the creature comforts. Alfredo wandered in and jumped up on her lap. He supplied the love she craved.
“Alessandra?” She lifted her head to her mother. “Are you up for company?”
“If it’s anyone from the diving group, could you tell them I need a few days?”
“It’s Rinieri Montanari.”
She reeled in place.
“He said he visited you at the hospital, but the nurse put something in your IV and you fell asleep. He’s anxious to know how you are.”
Rini had been there!
She hadn’t dreamed it after all and couldn’t believe it. Thrilled, yet tortured by what her mother had told her, she couldn’t concentrate on anything else. “I—I look terrible.”
“That would be impossible,” her mother assured her, “but if you want me to send him away, I will.”
“No—but don’t tell him to come in yet. Could you hand me my purse? It’s over on the credenza.”
Her mother did her bidding. Alessandra’s hand trembled as she brushed through her hair and applied a coat of lipstick.
“Ready?”
Alessandra nodded. While she waited, she checked her phone to find a dozen texts from friends, one of them from Bruno, who wanted to know how soon she’d be back. Fulvia had sent her love and condolences. She wanted a good talk with her when she was feeling better.
Alessandra’s editor was thankful she was all right and told her not to feel pressured about delivering the book. He hadn’t given her a deadline. But there was no message from Dea, the one person Alessandra wanted to talk to. The pit grew in her stomach as she realized her own sister hadn’t tried to contact her. Why?
“You don’t look like you’ve been sick,” said the deep, familiar male voice she was dying to hear.
She looked up at the sinfully gorgeous man. “You’re right. I’m a fraud.”
Rini walked over to her. He’d dressed in jeans and a pullover sweater in slate blue. Combined with the soap he used in the shower to assail her, his presence had put her senses on overload. He reached down to scratch behind the cat’s ears. “You have the right instincts, Alfredo. I’d trade places with you if I could.”
In the next instant he leaned down and pressed a warm kiss to her mouth. “Welcome back to the land of the living. Your doctor told me you lost consciousness down there.”
“Only for a moment. My buddy Gino knew exactly what to do. It all happened so fast.”
“We can be thankful the divers with the institute are experts.” He stood there looking down at her with an intense expression.
She squirmed. “Rini?” Her voice shook. “Why are you here?”
“Though I had my reasons, I treated you badly when I left here the first time without saying goodbye. My behavior was worse when you flew to Positano to see me and I wouldn’t explain myself. I thought I was doing the right thing both times, but your accident has changed the way I feel about everything.
“I love you and I’ve never said that to another woman in my life. Almost losing you has made me realize I could no longer let my reason stand in the way of being with you, so I’m back to find out if you’d be willing to start over again with me.”
While she sat there in shock, Liona wheeled in a tea cart laden with a meal for them. “If Alfredo is bothering you, I’ll take him out.”
“Oh, no. I love him right here. Thanks, Liona.”
After she left, Rini got up and served both of them a plate of food and her favorite iced tea. His gaze found hers. While they ate he said, “Life has given both of us a second chance. What I’d like to do is invite you to my villa for a week where we can spend real time together.”
Alessandra couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She said the first thing that came into her head. “Can you take a vacation?”
“Of course. I want to get to know you without work or interruptions getting in the way. The nice thing about being CEO is that I can arrange it when I want. The doctor told me you shouldn’t dive for at least two more weeks. You’ve shown me your world. Now it’s time I showed you mine.”
She smiled. “Like fishing?”
“Only if you’d want to.”
“Rini, I adore the outdoors. Hiking, camping, all of it.”
“The mountains are beautiful this time of year. Could you talk to your editor and ask for an extension to turn in your book?”
“He already told me to take all the time I need.”
If only Rini knew she loved him so much she felt like she could move mountains for him, but she was afraid. “When the week is over, then what? Will you consider you’ve done everything possible to obtain my forgiveness?
“Will we say goodbye like sensible people who’ve enjoyed their interlude together but knew it had to come to an end? You’ll go your way because you can’t offer me any more than what you’ve already done? I’ll go mine?”
His jaw hardened. “Why don’t we stop worrying about the future and just take things one day at a time? I need help because I’ve never done anything like this before.”
She took a deep breath, surprised to hear the vulnerability in his voice. “Like what?”
“Invite a woman I care about to stay at my house.”
“I’ve never done anything like it, either.” Talk about needing help...
“The