last holdouts at the party were beginning to contemplate taking their leave. Adam was looking forward to having Elena to himself soon. And he especially anticipated losing Gino’s unwelcome company.
The man had dogged him for the entire evening. It was only later that he found out that Elena had told him in no uncertain terms that he was not to sleep on her couch, no doubt adding fuel to his resentment.
Adam had amused himself a few times making slightly disparaging remarks about Niroli just to see Gino rise to the bait like an angry shark. Elena had stepped between them twice before the evening was over, and Gino was obviously boiling.
“I’ll be back first thing in the morning and I expect a full report,” he said fiercely as he prepared to leave.
“A report of what?” Natalia whispered at Elena’s ear.
“Never mind,” Elena whispered back.
Natalia laughed. “Poor Gino. He’s afraid of losing his little protégé.”
But he did leave, and so did the others, calling out their last good wishes as they went. Adam turned to Elena. Her cheeks were pink and her lips were rosy and he wanted to kiss her right there with her friends still in sight. But he didn’t.
“I liked your party,” he said instead. “It was very urbane, very sophisticated. Very continental.”
She smiled, obviously aware he was half teasing, so he went on.
“For living in such a small town, you all seem so … big-city European.”
“European?” She laughed. “How would you know what ‘European’ was like?”
“I’ve traveled in Europe. Many times.”
“Really?” She laughed again. Everything he said was amusing her. “And how did our little gathering compare to your Hollywood parties?”
He turned away in disgust. “Oh, please. Hollywood is full of phonies. I hate Hollywood parties.”
He picked up a couple of stray dishes and began to carry them into the kitchen. “There are real people living in Los Angeles, you know. If you’ve got to go to parties, go to real people parties. Like this one.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, following him with a pair of wineglasses she’d found.
He turned and looked at her, leaning against the kitchen counter, while she rinsed out the last few things. “Gino seemed to resent the air space I take up just by breathing,” he noted. “I thought you implied he was gay.”
“He is.”
“Then why does he always look like he wants to fight me to the death over your naked body?”
She turned toward him, her mouth open in mock outrage. “Explain to me why my body would be naked in this fantasy scenario of yours.”
He shrugged. Wasn’t it self-evident? “You’d be the trophy, of course. The prize.” He grinned, contemplating the scene and liking it. “Prizes are always better naked.”
She pouted. “Couldn’t I have just a little scrap of clothing?”
He shook his head sternly. “No. Not allowed. This is my fantasy. I make the rules.”
“I see.” She turned back to the washing up with a slight smile. “Remind me to keep my distance from your fantasies in the future.”
“Too late.” Reaching out, he touched her hair and she went very still. As he continued his voice became very low and husky. “You’re becoming the star attraction in my dreams, you know.”
Her breath caught jaggedly in her throat and she pulled away from his touch. “To get back to Gino,” she said quickly, drying her hands on a towel and starting out of the room, “he and I are very close. We have been for years. So be nice to him, please.”
“Be nice to Gino?” he muttered skeptically, but not loud enough for her to hear. He followed her out into the living room. Speaking of people it’s not easy to be nice to, he added to himself, and aloud he said, “Thanks for taking care of Jeremy while I was gone. How did your evening with him go? Was he civilized?”
“Civilized?” She turned to face him, standing at the piano. “He was a perfect angel. He helped me get ready for the party and then.” She smiled, remembering. “Then he negotiated his way into getting me to give him another piano lesson.”
“Really? He’s sitting still for lessons?” That surprised him.
She nodded. “He loves them. He asked me to teach him.” She let her fingers trail over the piano keys. “He’s learning very quickly. A natural.” Her smile was impish. “He has something he wants to show you tomorrow. Don’t let me forget.”
Adam frowned. This did not sound like any son he knew. “Was that his idea or yours?” he asked cynically.
Her head came up and she looked disapproving. “Why do you ask that?”
The impulse to defend himself overcame his good sense. “Because I’ve never seen any sign that my son gives a damn about me, that’s why.” It was the first time that he’d ever put the feeling into words. The pain and resentment hung in the air as the sound of his statement evaporated. Her face was registering the shock of it and he wished he’d kept his feelings to himself.
“You’re his father,” she said at last. “He loves you.”
He grimaced and looked around to see if there was a bottle of something strong left out he could take some solace in. “I’ve known that kid for a long time, Elena,” he said quietly. “Where’s the evidence?”
She stood where she was, very still. “I think you’re looking for it in the wrong places.”
He twitched. “And I think you’re dreaming.” He grabbed a mint out of a bowl set out for the guests and popped it in his mouth. A mint wasn’t exactly a good stiff drink, but it would have to do until one came along.
Meanwhile, he wanted to get off of this subject. “Anyway, my evening at the palace was mostly a waste of time. They wanted me to stay for dinner, meet some people. But I’m not sure it was worth the effort. I got the distinct impression that all the important people are still out of town. They just wanted to feel me out a bit.”
She frowned, her head bent as she listened to him. She wished she could hear some small sense of an understanding of the history and majesty and wonder of this island and this job he was taking on in his voice. Was it really just a vehicle for money in his eyes? Did he really not care at all?
“Too bad,” she said. “And you didn’t get to meet with your grandfather?”
“No. He’s got a cold or something. I’m pretty sure they are making excuses to keep me from him, but that’s hardly important. The contract is the crux of the matter and they haven’t let me see it yet.”
“Ah.” There it was. The money. That was his whole focus.
“Yes, they seem to be balking. Tomorrow I figure
