The American Contessa (13 page)

“Yes?”
Gaby looked at him frostily.

“I
don’t know what to say,” he stammered.
 
“It seems I never get the words out right.
 
I open my mouth and my foot goes in every
time.”

“Well
that’s a start, I guess,” she replied, relaxing a little.
 

Looking
down at his hands, Luca continued, “I only know I don’t want you to leave.
 
I didn’t realise until you said there could
be no future for us, that that’s what I want more than anything.”
 
Luca ran a hand through his hair and
exhaled.
 
“I’m no good at this.”

“You’re
better than you think,” Gaby responded with a slight smile, bumping her
shoulder against his.

Returning
her smile he took her hand in his.
 
“So
you won’t go?”

“Oh,
Luca,” she said softly, “For me, it’s not just a matter of staying or
going.
 
I feel like I’m on a
rollercoaster.
 
Invigorating highs one
minute, lose-your-lunch dips the next.
 
It’s fun.
 
It’s scary.
 
But I have a horrible feeling I just may get
thrown off.”

“I
can understand your reluctance to want to be with me Gaby,” he said slowly,
carefully choosing his words.
 
“I know
I’m not perfect.
 
But for you, I want to
try and be.
 
You make me want to be a
better person, a better man.”
 
Squeezing
her hand he held her gaze.
 
“You’re
important to me Gaby.
 
I wanted you from
the moment I saw you.
 
Now … well, now I
don’t just want you … I need you.”

Gaby
shook her head and groaned.
 
“For someone
who supposedly suffers from foot in mouth disease, you certainly have a way
with words when you want to.”

“Will
you give me another chance?” he asked hopefully.

“Of
course I will,” she responded honestly.
 
“But you have to know, that I have a job and responsibilities back
home.
 
So whether you want me to stay
longer or not, I
will
have to leave
at the end of the summer.”
 

“I
understand.
 
But you have to know, that
I’m going to do everything in my power to make you want to stay –for much more
than a summer.”

“
Hmm,
” Gaby answered with narrowed eyes,
“We’ll see.
 
Let’s just take one day at a
time for now, shall we?”
           

Luca
ran the back of his hand down her cheek.
 
She had forgiven him … this time.
 
Taking her face in both hands he gently caressed her lips with his.
 
He had to take this slow and steady;
otherwise Gaby was liable to bolt like a frightened colt.
 
Hesitantly nibbling at her lips he waited for
a sign from her to continue more ardently.
 

The
honking of car horns halted their lovemaking and they both turned to look out
the window at the Villa’s driveway below.

“Some
of the volunteers have arrived to help sort the books for donation.”
 
Luca bit his lip pensively.
 
“My
Nonna
arrives in a few days.”

Gaby
looked down at the cars arriving and did a quick head count.
  
Maybe it was providence that the library was
soon to be under siege by so many people.
 
It was going to be now virtually impossible to locate the necklace.
 

Even
though she could acknowledge that there was now a distinct lack of opportunity
to look for it, Gaby knew in her heart that even if the necklace did miraculously
appear, there was no way that she could now take it.
 
Jeopardizing her burgeoning relationship with
Luca and friendship with Carmina was not an option.
 
She may have entered their lives under false
pretenses, but she would remain and/or exit with a clear conscience.
 

The
miserable thought of having to leave crossed her mind for a moment, but she
swiftly pushed it to the backburner.
 
Looking
at Luca, she couldn’t help but notice his apprehension with regard to his
Grandmother’s visit.
 
“Something tells me
your Grandmother is not some sweet old lady who spends her time baking pies,”
she tried to joke.

“No.
 
She’s hardly what most people think of, when
they think of a Grandmother,” he answered solemnly.
 
“In fact, she’s a lot like me.”

“Don’t
you mean you’re a lot like her?”

He
smiled somewhat sadly at her.
 
“I just
want to prepare you for her.
 
She’s what
you might call … formidable.”

“Do
we
have anything to worry about?” she
asked, searching his eyes to quell the sudden uneasiness in her stomach.

“Of
course not,” he replied rather too quickly, placing a kiss on her lips.
 
“I’d better go greet our visitors.
 
And then I must get to work.”

Gaby
watched as he made a hasty exit through the door.
 
Frowning, she looked again at the group of
people emerging from the vehicles below, wondering about the implications of
his
formidable
Grandmothers arrival.

Luca
paused outside the bedroom door.
 
He knew
he’d left Gaby too speedily.
 
With all that
had happened in the last twenty-four hours, his
Nonna’s
presence was the last thing he wanted to contemplate.
 
He knew one thing for sure.
 
She would most definitely not approve of
Gaby.
 

Having
lain witness to her only son’s heartbreak at the hands of Luca’s mother, her
hatred for Americans was profound and unyielding; and even outdid his own distaste.
 
Gaby’s last name could be
Kennedy
and she still would not be a
suitable match.
  

Perhaps
once she met Gaby her attitude would change, he thought with implausible hope.
 
Yes, once she discovered that she was the
sweetest, most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him, she would condone
them having a future together.
 

Who
was he trying to kid?

Luca
swallowed hard.
 
He knew
Nonna
would do everything in her power
to stop them being together.
 
He had two
full days before she arrived.
 
Two days
to enjoy with Gaby before they would both be subjected to the family
matriarch’s wrath.

Gaby
settled back against Luca’s chest and sighed contentedly.
 
As they lay on the picnic blanket in the
Tuscan countryside, the sun was warm and the gentle breeze made the sunflowers
wave at them from the nearby fields.
 

She
couldn’t help but think how perfect it all was.
 
When Luca had suggested getting away from Florence and having a picnic
lunch in the country, she had almost jumped for joy like a giddy
schoolgirl.
 
Just being away from the
Villa and out in the fresh air for the day was gift enough.
 
But spending it with Luca was a dream come
true.

“What
are you thinking about?”

Gaby
smiled.
 
“I’m thinking that life doesn’t
get much better than this.
 
Wine, cheese,
Tuscany, and you!”

“I
come
fourth
on your list of the good things in life?”

“
Hmm
, let me see,” Gaby pondered with a
thoughtful face.
 
“I guess as scenery
goes, you’re just as good to look at as the Tuscan countryside.”

“Why
thank you
Senorina,
” he replied
politely.

“And
you are pretty darn tasty, much better than cheese,” she teased, turning in his
arms and kissing his lips.
 
At her
invitation, Luca kissed her more fully, deepening their kiss and leaving her
breathless when their mouths parted.
 
Panting heavily, Gaby continued, “I must say that your kisses leave me
drunker than the finest wine.”

Grinning
at her, Luca caressed her face, “So are you saying that maybe I rank a little
higher than fourth?”

“Maybe
a little higher,” she replied sexily, running her finger over his full
lips.
 
“Kiss me again, and maybe I’ll
revise my decision.”

Groaning,
he did as she asked and suddenly Luca’s lips and hands seemed to be everywhere.
 
Pulling her under him, she could feel
their mutual arousal rising to the point of no return.
 
Gaby reluctantly pushed at his chest,
breathless and laughing.
 
She didn’t want
to get too carried away out here in the open.
 
Public exhibitionism was not something she fantasised about.
 
“Okay, okay,” she said shakily.
 
“You’re number one on the list!”

“As
well I should be!” he joked, puffing out his chest in superiority.

Rolling
her eyes at him, Gaby couldn’t help but smile.
 
My, but how he’d changed before her eyes in the last day or so.
 
She hardly remembered how much she’d disliked
him.
 
Who would have thought that someone
so unlikable could become so incredibly special to her in such a short time.
 
The niggling doubts she had about them
embarking on a relationship were pushed fully to the back of her mind.
 
All she knew was she wanted to spend every
waking hour with him; and all the non-conscious ones as well.
 

“You’ve
gone awfully quiet.
 
Not revising your
list again are you?” he kidded.

“No,”
Gaby answered with a smirk.
 
“But I would
like some more wine, how about you?”

“
Certo
.
 
I’ll pour.”

After
filling their glasses, Luca handed one to Gaby and raised his in salutation,
“To a perfect day.
 
Salute!
”

“I’ll
second that,” she replied, clinking her glass with his.
 

After
finishing their glass of wine, Gaby resumed her position lying in Luca’s arms.
It was quickly becoming her favourite place.
 
“If I told you there was no place else on earth I’d rather be than right
here, right now, with you, would you believe me?”

Lucas
kissed the top of her head.
 
“I know what
you mean.
 
If only there was some way to
make time stand still.”

Gaby
sat up and turned to him.
 
“Time may not
be able to stand still, but we can at least capture the moment.”
 
Grabbing her handbag she got out her phone
and set it to camera.

“Say
cheese Count Manetti!” she beamed as she leaned towards him and held the camera
as far as she could in front of them and pushed the button.

“How’d
it come out?” he asked trying to look over her shoulder at the small screen.

 
“Not one of my best efforts, I’m afraid.
 
In fact, I almost cut your head off.”

“Let
me see,” he laughed.
 
“It wouldn’t be the
first time someone in my family had that happen to them.
 
Some Manetti’s were in France during the
guillotine days, you know.”
 
Taking the
phone from her hand, he inspected the image.
 
The photo was a little blurry and somewhat distorted, making Gaby’s nose
look a little larger than it actually was, but it was the expression on his
face that he couldn’t tear his eyes from.
 
He looked –happy.

“Let
me delete it and take it again.
 
It’s
terrible!
 
You weren’t ready,” she
exclaimed reaching out to reclaim her phone.

“No,”
Luca replied emphatically.
 
He quickly
forwarded the photo to his laptop back at the Villa.
 
“It’s no
Ansel
Adams
, but I like it.
 
You may have
caught me off guard, but you caught me.
 
The
real
me.”
 
Handing her phone back to her, his eyes
shifted downward as if embarrassed by his admission.
 

“Well
the real you is a darn sight better looking than the real me if this picture to
be believed,” Gaby teased, lightening the mood.
 
“Is my nose really that big?”

Chuckling,
Luca leaned over and kissed her nose.
 
“Don’t worry Gaby.
 
I love you,
big nose and all.”
 

The
smile fell from both their faces as they both comprehended what had just left
his mouth.
 
Gaby saw that he was just as
shocked as she was, so blithely decided to let it pass and ignore the elephant
that had joined them on the picnic blanket.

“More
wine?” she asked with a small smile, lifting the bottle in the air.

With
a serious face, Luca shook his head from side to side.
 
Odio
!
 
He loved her!
 
She was graciously pretending that the words weren’t said, but he knew
she’d heard him loud and clear.
 
Was she
acting this way because she didn’t feel the same?

**********

“
Wa-la,
” Gaby announced removing the
cloche from the dinner plate.

“A
hamburger?” Luca raised his brows.
 
“You
sent our cook packing, took over the kitchen and you made hamburgers for
dinner?”

“It’s
the thought that counts,” Gaby said with folded arms. “Besides, the only other
dish I know is spaghetti and meatballs –and I am
not
feeding Italian food to an Italian.
 
That would be asking for trouble and possibly
deportation.”

Taking
the seat across from him, she also produced a bottle of beer to accompany her
cooking, which was likewise met with the same reaction.
 
“Well you can hardly have wine with a
hamburger,” she said in amusement, as though everyone should know
that
.
 
“Why not take a bite
then
judge me?”

“Okay,
okay,” he answered in retreat of her verbal attack.
 
Picking up his knife and fork, it was Gaby’s
turn to look incredulous.

“
You’re kidding
? You’re not really going
to use cutlery to eat a burger, are you?”
 
She was seriously starting to doubt that he’d ever even seen a
hamburger, let alone tasted one.
 
But no,
that couldn’t be possible –there were
McDonalds
all over the place –even in Florence.

He
gave her a look of confusion then burst out laughing, “Had you going there,” he
joked, putting down his cutlery and picking up the burger.

“Ha
Ha,” Gaby scowled with fun.
 
“You think
you’re so funny.
 
Maybe I
should
have subjected you to my pasta
after all.”
 

With
a look of horror he pleaded with her, “No, please, anything but that.”

“Keep
it up Count Manetti and you’ll be
wearing
your hamburger in a minute,” she warned.

Luca
sensibly held his tongue and began devouring his burger with relish.
 
“This is good,” he managed get out, in
between bites.

“You
sound surprised?”
 
When he didn’t answer,
Gaby watched him for a few more moments then added, “This
is
your first hamburger, isn’t it?”

He
stopped mid chew.
 
Swallowing, he gave
her a sheepish grin, “Yes, but don’t hold it against me.
 
If I’d truly known what I was missing –I
wouldn’t have waited so long.”

Gaby
shook her head in amazement.
 
He
certainly took his dislike for America to the extreme; banishing a whole cuisine
over prejudice.
 
She couldn’t help but
fear the commitment he had to his hatred.
 
It seemed he could cut and dispose of unwanted factors from his life
with the precision of a surgeon.
 
She
only hoped he didn’t parlay that talent onto people.
 

“Any
word from Carmina?” she asked cautiously, “Has she set up a meeting with a
counsellor yet?”

He
looked at her over his beer glass with steely eyes, “I’ll get around to it.”

“Good,”
she replied, not wanting to delve further.
 
You can lead a horse to water …
 
“It’s the sauce, you know,” she said
suddenly, shifting the subject back to a safer topic.
  
“I add a little mustard and hot sauce to the
ketchup –makes it spicier.”

Luca
gave her a warm smile.
 
He could tell she
was trying to keep it light.
 
Unfortunately he felt anything but buoyant.
 
A cloud hung over him heavy with impending
doom, and no amount of playing out scenes of domestic bliss could stop the
coming storm.
 
His life seemed to have
gone from one of ease and frivolity, to one of utter complication in days.
 
And yet, when he looked at Gaby all his fears
subsided and he was hopeful for the first time that his life had some
direction, some meaning.
 

He
loved her.
 
And she knew it.
 
It was frightening to say the least.
 
But the fact that they’d avoided talking
about what was said at the picnic had him worried.
 
Skirting and dancing around a topic didn’t
seem to be Gaby’s style.
 
From what
little experience he had with her, she usually confronted things head-on.
 
Perhaps she truly didn’t feel the same
way.
 
But that just couldn’t be.
 
Her reactions to his touch proved that he
affected her deeply.
 
There was no way
that sort of emotion could be simulated or misinterpreted.

“Leave
room for dessert.
 
I’m positive you’ll
love it too,” she said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

He
grinned suggestively, “I thought you were dessert.”

“No,”
she replied, ignoring his remark, “I made brownies.
 
With a scoop of ice-cream on top –heaven in a
bowl.”

“How
about I top you with ice-cream – that’s my idea of heaven.”

Gaby
wrinkled her nose, “Heavenly, … but messy.”

“I’m
game if you are.”

“Oh
you can count on that, Count,” Gaby said, then laughed uproariously at what
she’d said.
 
And Luca, for all his
misgivings and worries, couldn’t help but join in.