Sassy in Lingerie (Lingerie 8)

I knew she didn’t want to talk about this, but the silence over the last few days had been too much for her. It was eating away at her, piece by piece. “We need to be patient.”

“I don’t mind being patient. But it seems like they aren’t even trying.”

“They don’t know where to begin.”

“I understand that…but all my father does is insult you.”

“I can handle it, baby. Don’t worry about that.”

“That’s not the point. I can’t stand to listen to him talk to you that way…it hurts me.”

I tugged her closer to me and kissed her on the mouth, making her feel better with my kiss.

“I told my mom how much you mean to me…that we have to make this work. I need you to be happy. She seemed to listen. Her eyes light up so brightly every time she sees me because she misses me so much. I see it every single time. I know how much she loves me. I know how much she wants me to be happy. I’m just not sure if that will be enough.”

I recognized the look Vanessa had mentioned, but I saw it on both of her parents’ faces. Vanessa was the center of their universe, and anytime they got to be with her, it brought them such joy. I knew they hated being five hours away from her. I knew they wanted to spend more time with her.

That gave me an idea—even though I didn’t like it. “Baby?”

“What?”

“What if we got a place in Tuscany? Somewhere close by?”

Her eyes didn’t soften in hope. “You know I would love that. But I don’t want to plan for the future right now…it’ll just make it harder.”

“I meant now. Your parents love seeing you. So what if we got a place down there, and they got to see you all the time? We could show them what it would be like if they accepted this relationship. It would make them happy, even if that sense of joy has nothing to do with me. I could go to the winery and help out, spend time with them every day even if we don’t talk much. It might work.”

“You would do that…?”

She shouldn’t be surprised. “I’ve already put up with a lot. You know my love has no limit.”

“But what about work?”

“I don’t have to be in Milan. If I get called out for a mission, I’ll fly out of Florence.”

“Where would we live?”

“I’m sure we could rent a house nearby.”

She moved her hand to my chest, a touched expression in her eyes. “Well, I would love to do that, but I don’t want to ask you to do something you don’t want to do.”

“You didn’t ask me. I offered.”

“I know, but…”

“This is the only thing I can think of. Unless you have a better idea.”

“I don’t.”

“Then let’s do it.” I didn’t want to be five hours away from home. I didn’t want to see her parents every day while I helped out at their winery. I didn’t want to be insulted and called trash on a daily basis.

But I wanted this woman so damn bad.

Finally, a smile formed on her lips as she moved closer into me. “Thank you.” She wrapped her arm around my neck and kissed me, her soft lips aggressive against mine. “Thank you.”

Vanessa didn’t hear from her parents for the rest of the week, and by the time the following Monday arrived, I’d found a villa for us to rent just a few miles away from the Barsetti mansion. It was a short-term rental and already furnished, and that was perfect for us since this experiment wouldn’t last long.

Even if her parents finally got on board, we wouldn’t live in that rental. We’d return to Milan and my penthouse on the top floor. I liked that building because it gave me all the space I needed, along with privacy and powerful fortifications. In the center of the city, people were always around, so it made it difficult for anyone to touch it. For a man like me, it was the perfect place to live.

But out in the middle of Tuscany, there was nothing. Just soil, fields, and vineyards. The only reason I found it beautiful was because Vanessa incorporated the landscape into most of her paintings. The place was special inside her heart—because it was where she grew up.

We pulled up to the house then explored the inside.

“It’s nice.” Vanessa examined the living room and kitchen, seeing the Tuscan-style furniture that was in the photos online. Her eyes kept moving to the open windows, to the green fields that stretched beyond.

I couldn’t help but hate this place. Wide open with nothing surrounding it, it was like being in a gunfight completely naked. There was no protection or cover. Anyone could approach the property from the front or behind.