To Catch a Groom (5 page)

Greer tensed at the unmistakable innuendo. “All we re
quire is that you follow the itinerary we worked out with Signore Moretti.”

She felt his slight hesitation before he said, “Naturally,
señorita.
” The assurance rolled off his liquid tongue, almost as if he’d sensed her misgivings and could read her mind. Almost as if he was mocking her. “But we will make one slight exception.”

Greer
knew
it!

“Before we dock at Monterosso tonight, I thought you might enjoy a visit to the port town of Lerici. There’s a castle you should see.”

When Greer didn’t say anything, Piper filled in the uncomfortable silence. “That sounds exciting.”

Normally it would have sounded exciting to her, too, but for some reason she couldn’t shake, Greer wasn’t sure she trusted the captain completely.

“I don’t remember hearing your name,
señorita.
”

Really. It was on the tip of her tongue to play the same game the stranger had played with her last night and ask the captain to guess, but she restrained herself. “It’s Greer.”

She saw intelligence reflected in those dark brown eyes studying her with such unusual intensity it made her suspicious. Perhaps it was her imagination, but the captain still reminded her a little of the stranger from last night.

“Greer is an obscure yet charming diminutive of Gregorio, the first Greek pope, yet you all have the gilt-blond hair of the Saxons,” he observed. “Why were you not given commensurate names?”

Commensurate? Who
was
this man?

“If our mother were alive, you could ask her.” Ignoring her sisters’ frowns she said, “If you’ll excuse us, we’d like to freshen up.”

Signore Moretti who’d been oddly silent throughout their exchange said, “There are three staterooms ready for
you with your own queen-size beds and private bathrooms. Before I leave you in Nic’s capable hands, allow me to show you.”

Without casting another glance at the captain, Greer took the lead behind the owner of the
Piccione
. Her sisters might be blinded by the captain’s charm, but Greer wasn’t!

For a seaman, he possessed an amazing grasp of etymology. Too amazing in her opinion. She felt like they’d jumped out of one proverbial frying pan into a fire where things were threatening to get a lot hotter.

As if to add to her concerns, their plan never to be separated was foiled when she realized the light, airy staterooms were located in three different corners of the catamaran.

Each one contained fabulous oversize baskets of flowers, fruit and chocolates, plus a well stocked minifridge with every kind of drink from mineral water to soda and wine.

Everything was lovely. She had no complaints.

But by the time Signore Moretti had wished them a happy trip and disappeared, she had the premonition something was wrong. When she detected vibrations running through her feet, she jumped. They were moving!

It was too late to get off.

P
IPER SIGHED
. “I think Vernazza is more beautiful than Portofino, if that’s possible.”

Greer’s sisters had scrambled on top of the bed and were looking out the porthole at the receding harbor.

“Admit the captain’s the most beautiful man you’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Greer knew of one exception to Olivia’s observation, but she wisely chose to remain quiet on that subject. “Don’t get too excited about him,” she cautioned.

They both swung around, darting her a vexed glance. “What’s wrong with you?” Piper chided.

Olivia folded her arms. “You were rude to him a few minutes ago, you know.”

“That’s because something about him doesn’t ring true.”

“For heaven sake’s, Greer. Just because he’s attractive doesn’t make him a predator.”

“I’m not talking about his looks, though they are exceptional. It’s his whole demeanor. Your eyes, Señorita
Piperrre—
” She did a faithful representation of the captain. “They are like aquamarine waters. Your name, Señorita Greer, is obscure yet
charming
— My gosh— The man’s a menace!”

Piper grinned. “You mean he reminds you of the way the stranger talked to you last night. I thought we decided that European males come on to women much more directly, so we just have to learn to deal with it.”

“Piper’s right,” Olivia argued. “The captain may be Spanish, but they all have Mediterranean blood flowing
through their veins. It makes them different from the men we’re used to dating.”

“I don’t know, guys. I’ve a feeling our captain plays by a set of rules we’ve never heard of.”

“That’s what you said about Signore Mysterioso.”

“They remind me of each other.”

“Greer—do you have any idea how paranoid you sound?”

“
He’s
the one who sounds too educated to be doing work like this. If he were a real sea captain, he would be running a naval vessel or a passenger ship or something.”

Olivia hunched her shoulders. “Maybe he does this for fun when he’s on vacation. What do we care? We came to the Riviera for ten days of fun, plus the hope of meeting some authentic playboys.”

Greer shook her head. “Technically we came with a definite plan to get them to
propose!

“Can you honestly picture that three-tongued Don Juan above deck bringing himself to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage? Even if he knew the Hope diamond could be his?” she exploded.

“Probably not,” Piper admitted. “But then he’s the captain, so he’s not in the running.”

“Then somebody needs to tell him that. I saw the way he was devouring you with his eyes, as if you were a feast and he couldn’t decide which dish to try first.”

“That stranger last night really freaked you out,” Olivia said softly.

“The captain freaks me, too. Let’s face it, guys. When we thought up our absurd plan, we’d just gotten home from Mr. Carlson’s office. It was grief that made us delusional.

“I vote that when we dock at Monterossa tonight, we say ‘thanks, but no thanks,’ and head straight for the train station. I don’t care if we have to stay there all night. Once
we’re back in Genoa, we’ll wait on standby for a flight home.”

“Home?” Piper’s brows knit together. “No way, Greer. It’s too big a waste of Daddy’s money.”

“We paid a trip cancellation fee,” Greer reminded them. “I say we ask for a refund. Of course we won’t get all the money back, but it’s better than nothing.”

“I came to see the Grand Prix.”

“I realize that, Olivia, but there’ll be another car race next year. You can come again for the right reason, and on your own money. I just think we’re in over our heads here.”

Olivia eyed her soberly. “You’re serious.”

Greer nodded. “What kind of a vacation will it be if the whole time we’re trying to have fun on this catamaran, we’re fighting off a captain who thinks he’s God’s gift to women and believes we’re titled and dripping in money and jewels? If you think Signore Moretti withheld that vital piece of information from his crew, then you’d believe we’re sailing on the Caribbean!”

“You don’t have to be sarcastic,” Piper murmured, sounding hurt.

Olivia trained concerned eyes on her. “With all of us protecting each other, the captain will be helpless to do anything, so I don’t see the problem. It’ll be three against one. If we stick together, he can’t make a move we won’t know about.”

“Don’t be so sure. He’s runs this boat. You heard him say he knew of places where we could be virtually alone. He wasn’t kidding. We’re out of our depth here. They’re not ordinary men. They know how to seduce a woman.”

“Then we’ll have to be on our guard.”

“You say that now, Piper, but they have ways of getting you to do things you never planned to do.”

Olivia drew closer. “Are you saying something else happened last night we don’t know about?”

Greer’s heart pounded in her ears. “No,” she confessed shakily, “but—”

“But you think you won’t be able to hold out against him if you were ever to see him again.”

After her experience last night, she knew it would take a strong woman to resist a man like him or the captain and secretly she just didn’t know if she could.

“Let’s just say I don’t want to find out.” If she gave the dark stranger one inch, he’d take ten thousand miles. There would be a price to pay for carrying on a passionate ten-day affair with him. After it was over she would return home alone where she would stay in pain for the rest of her life.

No way… She was a Duchess, and a Duchess girl held out for marriage and everything that went with it.

“Guys—we’ve enjoyed our moment of insanity pretending to be duchesses. Now it’s over.”

“But not the whole trip.” Piper stood firm. “We won’t let the captain take advantage of any of us. We’ll room together the whole time. One of those sun mattresses will work for an extra bed.”

“I was just going to suggest it,” Olivia murmured. “Now what do you say we go up on deck in a few minutes and enjoy the view until dinner? I don’t know about you but I’m thrilled we have a French chef on board who’ll guarantee us a fabulous meal.”

To lighten the mood she handed everyone some chocolate and pears, one of their favorite fruits. “I figure we need a snack before the first mate gives us the boat drill.”

“I just hope
he
isn’t anothe—”

“Give it up, Greer!”

At Piper’s admonition, Greer bowed her head, not wanting to entertain the possibility there could be another one
like the shark from last night swimming anywhere loose around this boat.

It was such a troubling thought, she sat on the bed covered in a blue print spread and munched away. In a few minutes she got up to dispose of the wrappers and cores.

When she emerged from the spotless white bathroom loaded with all types of soaps, perfumes, lotions and shampoo, she announced, “I’m going to go to the stateroom on the other side of the boat where I saw my suitcase. I’ll be right back with it.”

“Mine’s in the other one. I’ll go with you,” Olivia said. Together they slipped into the passageway and parted company by the stairs.

The vibrations had stopped, which meant it was the air in the sails, not the engine, that was propelling them. Greer loved the gentle rocking motion of the boat. Under other circumstances, this would have been the dream trip of a lifetime.

What an imbecile she’d been to touch the money their father had left them. They’d
all
been imbeciles. Look what had happened because they’d gone along with his ridiculous stipulation to try to find a husband!

Furious with herself, she flung open the door to the stateroom, which had been left unlocked. When she entered, she expected to see her suitcase on the floor, but it was nowhere to be found. The first mate must have put it in the closet. She crossed the expanse and opened it.

A surprised cry sprang from her lips to discover her clothes on hangers, her shoes neatly placed in separate compartments.

Her
gold
shoes.

Greer felt the blood drain from her face. There was the faint sound of a click behind her. She didn’t have to turn around to know who was standing a few feet away, blocking her only escape route with the greatest of enjoyment.

I know Vernazza well. Since you show no fear of the water, I would be happy to take you to a secret grotto, which can only be reached by swimming a short distance beneath the sea.

Noooooooooo—
It couldn’t be. She’d known he would show up at some point on their trip, but not as a member of the crew aboard the
Piccione
! This couldn’t possibly be happening.

“
Buona sera,
Greer.” His haunting voice sounded like the night breeze swishing through the cypress trees, carrying the scent of lemon and jasmine down to the sea.

“I couldn’t sleep all night anticipating being with you again. It’s the only reason I was able to let you slip away, although I’ll admit I came close to carrying you down to the sea for a moonlight swim.”

Get a grip, Greer.

You can’t let him see what this has done to you. Brazen it out till later. Play it cool.

She could hear her father’s encouraging whisper, “Play it like a Duchess.”

The thought of her loving parent gave her the courage to turn around and present an imperious smile to the one man who could be her total ruination if she didn’t put an ocean between them in the next eighteen hours.

She steeled herself not to react to the devastating sensuality he emitted wearing one of those short-sleeved black crew necks. He’d tucked it inside thigh-molding jeans that rode low on his incredible male body.

Greer flashed him an imperious smile. “
Buona sera, signore.
So the first mate is last night’s man of mystery.”

“Life plays many tricks, does it not?”

“How did you know I would be aboard the
Piccione
?”

“As soon as you told me you were coming to Vernazza, I asked a close friend of mine to keep an eye out for you. It must be fate that brought us together without my having
to lift a finger to find you. Especially when I distinctly heard you tell me goodbye through the hotel room door. That was cruel,
bellissima.
”

Fate my foot!

She raised her chin to combat position. “You spend a lot of free time at the Splendido?”

“Actually I haven’t been there for over a year. If I hadn’t noticed you on the grounds, I would have left the premises and we would have been like ships that never passed in the night.”

“What if I hadn’t gone to the pool?”

“Then I would have made inquiries until I found you, wherever you were.”

Though she willed it otherwise, her heart ran away with her. “Are you always this persistent?”

“About something I want? Yes.”

Such an electrifying answer delivered in that deep tone, immobilized her. “You want me?”

“Si, signorina,”
came his low velvety voice. “In every conceivable way.”

His stark honesty was so shocking, she couldn’t think, let alone breathe normally.

“But then you already know that, Greer, because you feel the same way about me,” he added.

“You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you,
signore.
”

His black gaze studied her features relentlessly. “You would understand if you could see your eyes.”

“What about them?”

“You’ve heard the expression ‘mirrors of the soul’?”

“So you believe my soul has been speaking to yours?”

“Loud and clear from the moment I saw you watching me do laps in the pool.”

Greer couldn’t refute that statement. The second she’d laid eyes on him, she hadn’t been able to look away. “Do
you use this same approach with every female stranger who looks at you?”

“I’ve never said it to another woman in my life.” His voice throbbed the way it had done at the pool last night when he’d asked her to swim with him.

Greer threw her head back and laughed. “I bet every American woman you’ve spoken to like this has believed you.”

“American?”

“Yes. They say the Italian accent to the American ear is the most provocative sound in the world. I have to admit I find it pretty irresistible.”

Lines darkened his handsome face. “But you don’t believe me.”

“There isn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t want to. After all, you
are
every woman’s fantasy come true.”

“Even yours?”

“Especially mine.”

“Why is that?”

“My love affair with Italy began when I first found out I was part Italian.”

“You mean through Maria-Luigia’s husband.”

Greer kept her smile in place.

This man had known exactly who the Duchess of Colorno was, which meant he was playing dumb with her now
on purpose.

Any serious student of European history, of Italian history in particular, knew the Duchess of Colorno had
two
husbands, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Count Von Reipperg.

She’d been on the verge of telling him she was talking about the granddaughter of Maria-Luigia who allegedly had an Italian lover. But she thought the better of it because this man was toying with her for a definite reason.

“What about your ancestry?” she asked, effectively changing the subject.

He cocked his head. “You didn’t answer my question. Tell me more about the Italian side of your family. You have me completely enchanted, Greer. I want to learn everything about you.”

Everything?

Beneath the ardency of his words she could tell he was driven by a curiosity separate from his desire for her. Of what real interest could Greer’s roots be to him?

She gave him the benefit of a full, unguarded smile. “I’m afraid I left little to the imagination when I joined you in the pool. You’ve already learned I can be impulsive, and that I love to swim.

“Isn’t it nice that in this new century, the working class can enjoy their time off at the Splendido in exactly the same way as the aristocracy?”

She’d posed the question while he pulled a life jacket from the footlocker.

He flashed her a mystifying smile. “That all depends on what you mean by enjoy. The worker is there on borrowed time and limited funds which adds a certain…edge to the experience.” He moved toward her.