is nothing if not truthful.”
“If by any chance this works out, I’ll insist Tuccia live here and make each dessert in the kitchen first. It will help her feel confident before she leaves for the castello every morning to manage her assistants. But I’m afraid that without the right disguise, someone will recognize her and the police will descend.”
Vincenzo flashed him a subtle smile. “Meeting her explains a lot. She’s a genuine knockout, Cesare. Gemma will be hard-pressed to come up with something that hides her beauty.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I don’t think I have to, amico.”
No. And the second Takis laid eyes on her, Cesare was in for it. “Was there anything on the morning news I should be concerned about yet?”
“Nothing. The police are at a standstill. Her parents have offered ten million euros for the person who finds her.”
“Only ten for their precious daughter?” he bit out in disgust.
“No doubt the comte’s reward will be forthcoming before the day is out.”
Cesare looked over his shoulder at Tuccia who was deep in conversation with Gemma. “I wonder how much he’d be willing to pay for her safe return. But it won’t matter when he gets her letter explaining why she ran away.” Cesare confided that he’d couriered it to his attorney in Barbados who would send it on.
“That was excellent thinking.”
“She’s been suffering terrible guilt.”
“Understandable.”
“But that part is done. When I arrived here this morning and saw that she’d already been up three hours making the recipe again, I knew for a fact that no amount of money would ever induce her to go back to him.”
Vincenzo’s brows lifted. “How did she do?”
“Hold on. I’ll show you.”
Cesare got up and walked into the kitchen. “Scusa, ladies.” He plucked one of the round pans off the counter and took it into Vincenzo.
His friend reached for an iced tart and ate it in two bites before nodding in satisfaction. “After Gemma and I leave here, we’ll drive into Milan and take the rest of these to my cousin and his wife to taste. Dimi will be in shock when we tell him what has happened.”
“Who will be in shock, mia cara?” Gemma had just come back in the living room with Tuccia. Both men stood up.
“I thought we’d visit Dimi before we go back to the castello and let them sample Tuccia’s nun buns. Did you get your business done?”
“We’re off to a good start, aren’t we, Tuccia?”
“Your wife has encouraged me to give it a try for which I’m very grateful.” The relief on her face was tangible.
“Meraviglioso!” Vincenzo picked up the pan and helped his wife out the door to his car. Cesare knew how happy his friend was that someone else was going to be doing the work Gemma had done for so long.
He shut the door and turned to the woman who was transforming his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined days ago. “I’m sure you have a great deal to discuss with me.”
She nodded. “Thankfully Gemma is going to work two more days while I keep cooking desserts here at the apartment. Then it’ll be my first day in the castello kitchen. She’ll acquaint me with everything and stay long enough to introduce me to the staff before I’m on my own.”
“You won’t be alone. I’ll be there in the background until you get your bearings. But tell me what it is that concerns Gemma the most?”
“A disguise for me, especially for my hair.”
Her crowning glory was a dead giveaway. “Why don’t you freshen up. Then we’ll drive to the uniform shop in Milan used by the kitchen help. We’ll find something that works. You’ll have to wear your scarf and sunglasses.”
“It’ll be wonderful to get out for a little while.” He could imagine. “I’ll hurry.”
After she disappeared, he reached in the fridge for a soda. Their shopping spree would include a stop to the grocery store. Once that was done they’d pick up some takeout and bring it back to the apartment for a meal. Toward evening they’d get busy working on a couple of new desserts. He loved being alone with her.
* * *
Tuccia hurried out to his sports car. Once again she had that sensation of being spirited away where nothing could hurt her. But this time she wanted Cesare to be more than her protector. Though he’d kissed her several times, she wanted... She wanted the impossible.
He drove them into Milan with expertise and parked in front of a shop labeled Uniforme di Oggi. “Remember to keep your head mostly down.”
“I will.”
She couldn’t get over the huge selection of chef apparel at the back. While she was taking it all in, Cesare seemed to know exactly what he wanted.
“Here. Try this on.”
Cesare handed her a short-sleeved white lab coat that fell above the knee. After she put it on, he shook his head. “It needs to be larger to cover a T-shirt and chef’s pants.” He handed her a coat two sizes bigger. She tried it on.
“That will do fine. We’ll take six of them. Now for six sets of pants and T-shirts that fit. Everything white.”
Once she’d pulled the clothes off the racks and handed them to the clerk, they walked over to the counter to look at the chef hats and beanies of all kinds. Again, Cesare already had something in mind and reached for the traditional white floppy hat.
He handed it to Tuccia. “Go in the changing room and try it on where no one will see you. If it’s not the right fit, call outside the door to me and I’ll get the right one.” They walked down the little hall. “Don’t get any ideas about slipping out the back way, or you’ll be on your own, Principessa.” He said it with a slow smile that sent a river of warmth through her body.
Once inside, she removed her scarf and tried on the hat. It was too big. She told him as much. He returned in a minute with a smaller version. This one was just right. It would keep her hair snug inside and prevent any strands from slipping.
She put the scarf and glasses back on before emerging. “This one is the right size.”
“Good. We’ll take six of them.”
He walked her over to the counter and before long they left the shop for his car with her new clothes. Talk about fun. Being with Cesare like this was turning out to be the happiest day of her life. To know the two of them would be working together for months and months was her idea of heaven. She didn’t care how hard she had to work.
He drove her around to another store featuring eye glasses. “Stay in the car. I’ll be right back.”
With
