has my favorite meat and cheese pies on hand. We’ll pack some to take with us.”
“I’m salivating already.”
She reached for a ham roll and grapes. After swallowing coffee, she hurried out to the car. Rini locked up the house and they left for the town to pick her up a backpacking frame. He knew exactly what he wanted for her and soon they were on their way to the outskirts of Positano, where he parked the car in an area reserved for hikers.
Rini was a master at assembling all the gear, which included a tent, fishing gear plus all the other things they’d brought. “How does that feel?” he asked after helping her adjust the straps. “Is it lopsided?”
“It’s perfect and the day is absolutely glorious.”
Through her sunglasses she stared at the striking male specimen standing before her wearing his own pack. He carried the bulk of their equipment as if it was nothing and smiled back at her through his sunglasses. “Get ready to be astounded by the sights.”
“After you, Captain.”
They were off. She followed him along a well-worn path for about a mile. Before she knew it they’d come to a section with a thousand-foot dropoff and no railing. “Rini,” she squealed in awe.
“We’re at the top of the cliff. You’ll notice that people live up here and use this path coming and going.”
“It’s a miracle. Unbelievable.” They continued walking and ran into farms and terraces that grew fruits and vegetables.
“Some people come here for a hike and decide to live here in one of the little houses on these mountains.”
“I can see why. It’s so peaceful up here, unconnected to anything else.”
“You should be here during a storm. The clouds drift in from the sea and literally collide with the cliffs.”
“The view from this spot is breathtaking. That water is so blue, I have to take a picture.” She pulled the phone out of her pocket and insisted he get in it. They took turns so he could capture her, then they trudged on.
Alessandra really did feel she was walking on the footpath of the gods. One of them was right in front of her. He took such wonderful care of her every step of the way, she felt cherished.
They stopped at noon to eat lunch under a tree, then made a turn into the interior. Rini was an encyclopedia on the flora and fauna, let alone the history of the region governed by Byzantine rule from the third century when Amalfi was a trading post.
He took her past gorges and caves until they came to a mountain stream. “How are you at fly fishing?”
“I’ve only trolled for fish in the sea. You’ll have to teach me.”
“You’re going to love it. Let’s have a snack, then I’ll set up our fishing poles and I’ll show you how to cast.”
It felt good to sit down and relax for a little while. He told her to look in his tackle box and see what kind of fly she’d like to use.
“Do they all work here?”
“Most of them. Look for a gray spider fly.”
Alessandra rummaged around until she found one of that color. “This?” She held it up.
“That’s it. I’ll attach it and we’ll walk down to the edge of the water to catch our dinner.”
She watched him put her fly on the line before he chose a spot. “Show me how to cast.”
He demonstrated five or six times so she could get the hang of it. “Okay. I think I’m ready to try.” But it wasn’t as easy as he made a look. She hit too low, too high and was too jerky. On her last cast she put the fly rod too far back and her line was snagged by a shrub. “Oh, no!”
Rini didn’t laugh outright, but she knew he had to be chuckling as she scrambled up the side of the ravine to retrieve the fly. She made several attempts to no avail. “Help! I can’t get it out!” He joined her and carefully extricated it from the prickly bush. “You’re so good at this I bet you’ve never done that.”
“You have no idea the mistakes I’ve made,” he confessed after pressing a hungry kiss to her mouth. “Come on. Let’s try it again.”
“I’m embarrassed and want to watch you fish for a while.”
He reached for his pole and aimed for a spot near a rock where the water pooled in the stream. On his third attempt to catch something at the same place, she saw a little fish grab his fly and he reeled it in.
“That was poetry in motion, Rini. I’ll never be able to do that.”
“Keep at it and you’ll become an expert like you are at everything else.” He got out his fish knife and removed the hook before throwing the fish back in the stream.
“Why did you do that?”
His eyes lit on her. “It was too small. Maybe he has a big brother or sister swimming around. Now it’s your turn to try again.”
She reached for her pole. “I’ll aim for the same place you did.” This time she threw it so hard, her pole landed in the water. “Diavolo!” she cried and jumped into the fast moving stream to catch it. But her boot tripped on a rock and she felt flat on her face. Her pole was carried farther downstream and got stuck around a bunch of rocks.
Like lightning Rini was there to help her up. By now they were knee-deep in the water. She lifted her head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. His body was shaking with laughter, but being polite, he held it back. She loved him so much, she couldn’t stay angry and started to laugh.
“Apologies for the slip.”
His smile enveloped her. “Which one?”
“Both!” She broke free of his arms and made her way carefully downstream to recover her pole. “Ooh—a big trout just swam past me. I wish I could have grabbed it!”
Rini’s deep male laughter poured out of him in waves. He moved toward her.
“No, no. I can make it back to shore myself. You’re probably thinking, is this the scuba diver?” To her horror, the moment she said the words she slipped on a moss-covered rock and fell on her face, making another big splash.
When she stood up sputtering, there was Rini taking a picture of her. “That’s not fair.” Alessandra made a face. “This is ridiculous.” She raised her rod and stomped out of the water, flinging herself down on a grassy spot. “Don’t you dare laugh again.”
Rini raised his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I was hoping we could hike farther to a small lake, but under the circumstances we’ll camp here. I’ll set up the tent so you can change out of your wet clothes.”
“I’m all right. Let’s keep going. Maybe I’ll have better luck at the lake. I’ll just troll for a fish by walking through the water and trailing my line.”
One dark brow lifted above eyes that were dancing in amusement. “You’re
