The Italian

“What’s on for you this week?” I ask as I mindlessly run my fingers through her hair.

“Just work.”

“I have to go away today.” I open my eyes.

“What?” She looks up at me. “For how long?”

“Until Friday.”

“Oh.” She lies back down. “Okay.”

I roll her onto her back and drop my lips to her neck. “Let’s go away next weekend when I get back.”

“I am away.”

“I’m not. I need a break. I can be back early Friday, and we can leave as soon as you finish work.”

“Really?” she asks.

“Yes, really.”

She smiles, and I drop my lips to her nipple to give it a hard suck. “I’ll look forward to it.”

15

Olivia

“So?” Giorgio sits back on the chair in my office. His mischievous eyes hold mine and I have a sneaking suspicion that he already knows. “What have I missed?”

“Nothing much.” I roll my lips to hide my smile.

“I’ve missed nothing?”

I pretend to type.

He lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Why must you torture me, my darling?”

“Torture?” I smile as I type. “How so?”

“Have you seen Mr. Ferrara?”

I turn my attention to him for the first time since he’s been in my office. “What do you know about Mr. Ferrara? How do you know him?”

“Rico and I have been friends for years. I knew his father.”

“And how exactly did it come about me coming to Milan?”

“Rico called me.”

“And said what?”

“He asked me if you had applied for a job there two years earlier. I said I would check it out. I found when I searched your name that you actually had a current job application in place. I called him back, and he asked me if I could arrange for you to be in Milan.”

“But why wouldn’t he call me himself? Why would he need the excuse of Valentino?”

He cringes. “I know, I thought that, too. How exactly did you two meet?”

“Our eyes met across a crowded room. He came over and translated the menu for me, and then he joined me for dinner.”