put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to an empty, candlelit table. The romantic ambience made her feel feverish. Rini seated her and asked for wine from the waiter who recognized him. “Will you trust me to order for you?”
“If you’ll trust my cooking when we eat along the trail tomorrow evening.”
“I can hardly wait.” After the waiter walked away, Rini reached for her hand and pulled her onto the small dance floor, where another couple was dancing.
“There’s no room for anyone else.”
“That’s the whole idea,” he whispered before biting her earlobe gently. They danced in place, sending her body temperature skyrocketing. “If you knew the dreams I’ve had about holding you like this. Tonight there’s no wet suit to separate us.”
She chuckled. “I noticed.”
“I never want to be separated from you,” he admitted in a husky voice and crushed her to him. Alessandra closed her eyes and rocked in place with him. Never sounded like forever. Was it really possible? But that question led to the troubling question about Dea still hanging over her head, shooting more pain to her heart. So it was better not to think, just relish this night under the stars with Rini.
“I could stay this way indefinitely,” she murmured, “but I can see our food has arrived. Let’s get you fed.”
“How lucky am I to be with a woman who understands me.” He walked her back to their table and they plunged into an exquisite meal of octopus on creamed potatoes and prawns, followed by vegetables and carpaccio of swordfish with a dessert of salame de chocolat.
“If we keep eating like this, I’ll have to buy me a larger wet suit,” she quipped.
His dark eyes glinted with amusement. “We’ll hike it off tomorrow. For now you need to get home to bed. It’s been a long day for you.”
“I have to admit bed will feel good tonight.”
“I knew it.” He paid the bill and ushered her out of the restaurant. “Careful as we go down the stairs. Hold on to me.”
She didn’t need his urging as she clung to him. He walked her to the car, keeping her hugged against his side. Before he opened the door, he lowered his head to kiss her. She’d been dying for it. The passion he aroused in her was so powerful, she almost fainted. Someone in a car driving by let out a wolf whistle, causing her to blush in embarrassment. Rini only chuckled and opened the door so she could hide inside.
“Sorry about that,” he murmured as they drove back to his villa.
“No, you’re not.”
“Would you believe me if I told you I couldn’t help myself?”
Yes, if his desire for her was half as great as hers for him. She rested her head against the back of the seat. “This has been a wonderful night. I rarely drink wine and am afraid I drank too much.”
His hand reached out to give her thigh a squeeze, sending rivulets of desire through her body. “One glass?”
“Already you’re a corrupting influence on me.”
Male laughter rang inside the confines of the car. “Didn’t you know you’ve become my addiction? You’d better lock your door tonight.”
She rolled her head in his direction. “I trust you, Rini.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t.”
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be going camping with you. Where are you going to take me?”
“Along the footpath of the gods.”
“Did you just make that up?”
“No. It’s the name of a trail formed by man years ago along the Amalfi Coast. In my opinion it’s one of the most striking panoramas of this world. You’ll know what I mean when we get going. We’ll follow it part of the way through gorges and precipices, then veer inland into the mountains.”
“You’ve given me goose bumps.”
“When you uncovered the mouth on that head, it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.”
She eyed him with longing. “I can’t believe how you just happened to know where to dive.”
“Pure selfishness. I wanted you to myself.” He pulled into the courtyard and escorted her inside the villa to her bedroom. Putting his hands on her shoulders he said, “Tonight was the perfect way to start our vacation. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll get going whenever you’re ready. Sleep well.”
He gave her a brief kiss before exiting the room. It was a good thing. If he’d lingered, she wouldn’t have let him leave.
Before she went to bed, she hung up a few things in the closet, then checked her phone. Her mother had texted her to find out how she was feeling since her hospital stay. There was no mention of Dea, who was probably still there. Alessandra texted her back, telling her she felt fine and that they were going hiking tomorrow. She sent her love to her parents. But when she climbed under the covers, her heart ached for Dea, whom she knew was in deep pain.
The ringing of the house phone at the side of the bed awakened Alessandra the next morning. She checked her watch. Seven thirty a.m. He was a morning man who loved fish. Little by little she was learning those precious things about him. With a smile she reached for the phone. “Buongiorno, Rini.”
“Hot coffee is waiting for you in the kitchen when you’re ready, but there’s no hurry.”
The excitement in his voice was contagious. She swung her legs over the side of the bed. “If I told you I couldn’t make it until noon, you know you’d have a heart attack.”
“Please don’t tell me that.”
“You’ll have to be patient with me,” she teased. “Ciao.”
She hung up the receiver and raced around the room getting ready, once she’d taken a shower. After diving into her suitcases, she pulled on jeans, a T-shirt and hiking boots. She packed a cloth bag she’d brought in her suitcase. Quickly she filled it with extra clothes, socks, a hoodie, a flashlight, matches, cosmetics and a brush—all the little things needed for their hike. She’d attach it to the backpack they were going to buy her.
When she hurried through his elegant home to the kitchen, she discovered she’d only taken eight minutes to get ready. Not bad considering the gorgeous male drinking coffee had assumed she would keep him waiting for hours.
The look of surprise on his handsome face was so comical, she thought he would drop his mug. Alessandra grinned. “Got ya.”
His eyes blazed with intensity. In the next breath he wrapped her in his arms and whirled her around. “I figured five more minutes and I was charging in to get you.”
“Now I wish I’d waited.”
A bark of laughter escaped his throat before he kissed her fiercely. He didn’t let her go until she struggled for breath. “I’ve made breakfast. Go ahead and eat
