Princess in Lingerie (Lingerie 12)

“I’ll call Vanessa, then.”

He hung up without saying a word, just like yesterday.

I called Vanessa next. Mia answered right away, knowing she was the person I wanted to speak to. “Hey.” Her voice was always soft when she spoke to me, not filled with the sass and hate like when we first met. It was brimming with affection, like she’d been thinking about me constantly, waiting for this phone call to take place.

“Hey, sweetheart. Griffin tells me the two of you have been having fun.”

“Oh my god…there are no words.” She turned cheery instantly. “We’ve been to restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, clothing stores…everything. I haven’t been outside like this in years. It’s so nice.”

I was grateful Vanessa had taken the time to show her around, especially when Griffin was breathing down the back of her neck. “I’m happy to hear that.”

“Your cousin is so nice. I love her.”

“Yeah…she’s pretty cool.”

“I understand why you love your family so much. Griffin is a little tense, but he’s great too.”

“He’s just possessive of Vanessa.”

She chuckled. “I noticed that. So…when am I going to see you?”

She should hate me for the deal I made with her. I only gave her freedom in exchange for her submission. I wasn’t willing to risk everything just for her. No, only when I got something in return. In business, that was fine. But this wasn’t business…because she was a human being. I could make it right by letting her go, but I didn’t want that. I wanted her to fulfill her end of the bargain. “Today.”

“Today?” she asked happily.

“Yes. In a few hours.”

“Really? Did you get the house?”’

“I did. It’s about thirty minutes outside Florence. Close to my family but not too close.”

“I’m sure it’s lovely.”

“I’m gonna swing by and drop off my things with the movers. Then I’ll come get you.”

“That’s great,” she said. “I’ve loved staying here, but I want Griffin and Vanessa to have their privacy back. They’re so in love, and I feel like I’m getting in the way.”

I didn’t tell her about Griffin’s frustration. He was like a caveman who could only speak in anger and nothing else. “They’ve enjoyed having you. But I’ll enjoy having you more.” After this time apart, I was eager to be with her again. I’d risked everything for this woman, and I wanted to cash in my reward.

Mia didn’t say anything to that. “Any update on Luca?”

“Still doing paperwork. It’ll be at least a week before I can pick him up.”

“One more week,” she said under her breath. “I can go one more week…”

I knew Luca was the main thought in her mind right now. Maybe she did miss me, but her affection for me would never compare to her need for her son. I understood that. “It’ll be over soon, sweetheart.”

“I know…thanks to you.”

I drove with one hand on the wheel, my eyes focused on the road ahead of me. The fields passed on either side of me, and I hung on the line even though there was nothing else to say.

“I’ll let you go, Carter. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“Alright, sweetheart.” I hung up.

I considered calling my father to tell him the truth. It was something I should man up and do, but it seemed wrong to do it over the phone. A face-to-face conversation was a lot more respectable. I called him anyway, to tell him something else.

He answered right away. “Son. What are you doing?” He breathed heavily over the line, like he was in the middle of moving something massive at work. He growled when he set something down then turned his attention to me completely. “I just finished loading the barrels into the truck.”

“Are you at the main winery?”

“Yep. What are you doing?”

“Driving.”

“To Tuscany, I hope?”

“Actually, yes.”

He paused, his happiness becoming palpable. “You’re staying with us for a visit?” My father was usually abrasive and difficult, but when I was coming to stay, he became audibly happy. “Your mother will be so thrilled. How long will you be staying?”

“Actually, I won’t be staying with you guys.”

“If you think you’re gonna stay at a—”

“I bought a place. It’s about fifteen minutes away from you and Mom.”

Speechless, he sat on the line.

“I’ve decided to make the move. I do most of my business virtually anyway.”

He still struggled to find the right words to say. “Carter…I don’t even know what to say. You have no idea how thrilled I am. I miss you so much…” My father didn’t get sentimental often, so when he showed his emotion, it was profound. “I see Carmen a lot more often, but the idea of having both of you here… It’s a dream come true.”

I was only moving there because it was easier to hide Mia, so I felt bad for letting him think I was doing it to be closer to family. “I got a great deal on a house that I couldn’t pass up. I’m a few hours away.”