along once in a lifetime. She and Dea weren’t twins for nothing.
“Why do you say that?”
“If their chance meeting had been so insignificant, how come she flew home last night?”
“Because your father was worried.”
“He was,” she conceded. “But she didn’t even come in my room to talk to me.”
“Alessandra—during dinner I got the impression that the CEO of Montanari Engineering is a force to contend with. If he’d been interested in your sister, he would have made future plans to let her know how he felt.”
“You’re right, but what if she finds out I’m showing him around?”
“What if she does?” After a silence, she asked, “You’re attracted to him, aren’t you? Otherwise you wouldn’t think twice about this. There’s nothing wrong with that! I’ll admit my heart skipped several beats when I met him at dinner last night.”
Her mother’s instincts were never wrong.
“He said he truly enjoyed being shown around by you. I could tell he meant it. Don’t blow up a simple misunderstanding your father has apologized for into something major.”
“You’re right. I’m being foolish.”
“You are. Go ahead and show Signor Montanari around until we get back from Taranto. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Okay. Love you. Give Zia Fulvia a hug from me.”
Alessandra hung up, realizing she was transparent to her mother, who understood the situation completely. She felt better after their talk. The longing to be with Signor Montanari again was all she could think about.
She pulled on a pair of pleated khaki pants and a blouse with a small tan-on-white geometric print. Once dressed, she went downstairs to the kitchen for coffee and a roll. The cook made her some eggs. While she ate, Liona poked her head in the door. “Alessandra? Did you see Alfredo when you came down the stairs?”
“No.”
“He ate his food, but now I can’t find him. He usually stays on the main floor while I’m working around. Maybe he’s gone off sick somewhere.”
“I’ll look for him.” She ate a last bite, thanked the cook, then began a search, wondering if Signor Montanari was around. “Alfredo—” She called his name several times. When she reached the front foyer, she worried that he’d slipped past some visitor at the entrance.
She opened the door and almost ran into the gorgeous man who’d haunted her dreams. He was just coming in. The sight of him made her heart leap. He held the big marmalade cat in his arms.
“Buongiorno, Alessandra,” he said with a white smile. “I’ve been waiting for a limo and found him lying outside the door wanting to get back in.”
“Liona will be so relieved. Here. I’ll carry him to the kitchen.”
“I’ll be happy to do it.”
“I don’t mind.”
She could tell he didn’t want to give up the cat, who seemed perfectly happy to be held by him. It surprised her because Alfredo didn’t like many people. “Then follow me.” She opened the door and showed him the way.
Liona was thrilled to see them walk in the kitchen. The housekeeper reached for her cat.
“He found Alfredo outside the castle,” Alessandra explained.
“The poor thing is getting confused. I’ll take him back to my apartment. Grazie, signor.”
“Prego, signora.”
Alessandra trailed him out of the kitchen. “That was very nice of you. Her cat is getting old.” She followed him to the entrance, but there was no sign of a limo yet, only three tour buses bringing tourists to tour the part of the castle open to the public. “I hope the driver didn’t already come and leave.”
“I’ll call to find out.” He reached in his jeans pocket. Her eyes traveled over his rock-hard body. His blue crewneck shirt had the kind of short sleeves that only looked good on a man with a well-defined physique. In a minute he clicked off. “It’ll be a while due to an accident near the causeway.”
“What were your plans?”
His veiled gaze slid to hers. “To charter a boat.”
“There’s no need to do that,” she said on impulse. “Since my father isn’t here to take you, he suggested I drive you where you want to go in our cruiser.”
“But that means interrupting your work.”
“It’s all right. As Papà reminded me, you’re a busy man. Since you’re here, you need to make the most of the time. I’ll do my own work later.” The talk with Alessandra’s mother had taken away the guilt she’d been harboring over Dea. There was nothing she wanted more than to spend more time with him.
“Then I’ll call off the limo.”
“While you do that, I have to run in and get a few things. I’ll meet you at the Land Rover in five minutes.”
Alessandra hurried inside and up the staircase to her room. Her heart raced abnormally hard to think they were going out on the boat together. She filled her duffel bag with some necessary items, then rushed back down to the kitchen and stashed water and snacks in the top of it. She never knew how long she’d be gone, so she never left without being prepared.
When she walked out to the car beneath a semicloudy sky, she found him waiting for her with his own backpack. It had been years since she’d felt this alive around a man. This time when she unlocked the door with the remote, he opened her door and relieved her of her duffel bag so she could get in. He walked on around and put their things in the back before climbing inside.
“Our cruiser is docked on the other side of the island.” She started the engine and drove them the short distance.
“It’s right in your backyard!”
She smiled. “I know. Can you believe how convenient?”
Once she’d pulled up to the pier, they both got out. He obviously knew his way around a boat. After depositing their bags, he undid the ropes while she got on board and found them both life preservers. She put hers on first.
“Who’s the scuba enthusiast?”
“You’re looking at her.”
His piercing dark brown eyes scrutinized her. “How long have you been a diver?”
“Since I was nineteen. Have you ever done it?”
“I learned at fourteen. It’s probably my favorite activity.”
His admission excited her no end. To scuba dive with him would be like a dream come true. “Mine, too,” she admitted. “Excuse me for a minute.”
She
