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.
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