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Gina shivered in reaction as she thought of those nights with him. Seb was an amazing lover. Intensely sexy, he seemed to know even before she did what her body needed—how to maximise and prolong her pleasure. He was' demanding and hungry, but incredibly generous. Sometimes she thought she would expire as he devoted hours to her pleasure, teasing and tormenting her until she couldn't bear it another moment. At other times it was hot, wild, excitingly rough as they gave in to their raging desire. Seb was full of contrasts, adventurous and deliciously naughty. Being with him was the most fantastic experience of her life.

Seb had set her free, releasing the sensual side she'd kept hidden.. .not that she had ever been as alive and uninhibited with anyone as she was with him. She'd surrendered to him totally, her body glowing and humming from his lovemaking. All she could think about was being with him. She craved his touch, the unbelievable sense of fullness and rightness as she welcomed him inside her, the indescribable pleasure only he had ever given her. His own body was exquisite, and she enjoyed every opportunity of exploring him and bringing him pleasure in return.

'Ready to go?'

His question cut through her reverie and she drew back with a sigh. 'Yes. Let's do it,' she agreed, hoping she sounded more certain and together than she felt.

On the journey west, around the coast and back towards the villa's secluded cove on Capo Sant'Andrea, Seb chatted to her grandmother. But Gina was grateful for the comfort and support of his fingers curled with hers.

All too soon they arrived at their destination. Paolo was discretion itself and he gave them privacy, ducking below while Seb assisted her grandmother.

'What do you want to do, Maria?' he asked, helping her to stand and steadying her on the gently swaying deck. 'Do you need to be nearer the shore? Or do you wish to scatter Matthew's ashes here, by Neptune's Spear?'

'I had meant to go to the beach, but I think the water would be a lovely idea—given my Matteo's love of the sea,' her grandmother decided, her voice shaky with emotion, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Gina had to struggle to hold back her own. 'Are you sure, Nonna?'

'Yes,
ragazza mia,
I am.'

'Whatever you want,' she conceded.

She felt choked as her grandmother made a short but emotional speech about meeting her true love here and their love together. Then Seb helped her to the side of the boat. The breeze was behind her as she uncapped the urn and tilted it, the ashes floating away on the water.

'I want to come here, too, when my time comes.' Cheeks moist, but her expression determined, her grandmother faced her. 'Promise me, Gina.'

'I promise, Nonna.'

Gina barely got the words out before she had to turn away again, the tears she had tried so hard to hide now escaping. It was difficult enough being here to say goodbye to her grandfather, the man she had loved and admired so much. She couldn't bear to think of repeating this in time to come for her grandmother.

Seb came up behind her, one arm wrapping around her waist, one around her shoulders, cocooning her in his warmth. She leaned back against him and he pressed a kiss to her temple, giving her strength and comfort without voicing any unwanted platitudes. There was nothing anyone could say to make this easier to bear. It was enough that he understood, that he gave her his support.

With the wind picking up, and the sea turning choppy, the atmosphere increasingly thick and airless, it was time to head back to the harbour. Paolo was respectful, maintaining silence as he guided the boat towards Marciana Marina. Gina glanced at her grandmother. She looked pale and tired, but she exuded a peaceful serenity that implied this had, indeed, been the right thing for her to do.

Back at the port, Gina walked down the gangway and watched as Seb and Paolo aided her grandmother safely to the shore.

'Thank you for all you have done for us.' Gina shook Paolo's hand in gratitude. 'I really appreciate you helping my grandmother like this.'

'It is my honour to assist,
signorina.
Besides, my family owe Seb a huge debt after all he did for our daughter,' he announced, taking her by surprise.

'Paolo.'

Gina heard the warning in Seb's voice, but was unable to decipher the silent message that passed between the two men. Curious, she bit back her questions...for now. They said their goodbyes, leaving Paolo to secure his boat to ride out the coming storm.

Back at the villa, her grandmother went to her room to replace the now empty urn and have a quiet moment alone before lunch, while Gina followed Seb to the kitchen.

'Thank you again for what you did today, Seb.'

'I promised,' he replied simply. 'It was what Maria needed... But it upset you, and for that I am sorry.'

'It was what my grandparents wanted.' She paused a moment, thinking of all that had happened in a few short days. 'I wish I could thank the Linardis for their help and hospitality.'

Seb looked awkward. 'They would not have had it any other way.'

Gina remained silent for a few moments, uncertain whether to press him further. Then she remembered what had happened when they had come off the boat.

'What did you do for Paolo's daughter?' The words bubbled free, and she saw Seb stiffen, his back to her as he opened the fridge and took out some fresh fruit juice. 'Seb?'

'It was nothing, Gina,' he excused, clearly uncomfortable.

'Paolo doesn't think so.'

Pouring two glasses, he pushed one across the counter towards her. 'His child had an accident. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.'

His tone told her that the subject was closed. A flicker of unease rippled through her, one she couldn't explain, but shadows darkened Seb's eyes and she knew something was troubling him. Something he refused to discuss with her. It hurt to be shut out. And it made her realise how little she knew about him and his life, despite their intimacy...an intimacy that, for her, had gone far beyond the physical.

Before she could try to find out more, her grandmother joined them in the kitchen and the moment was lost.

The predicted storm hit the island during the afternoon. Torrential rain kept them inside the villa. Thunder rocked and rumbled across a blackened sky, streaks of lightning casting unpredictable flashes in the unnatural darkness, the wind battering the trees and threatening to carry off anything not well anchored down. But the freak weather passed within hours, leaving the air clearer and fresher, fragranced with the warm dampness of the earth, and the foliage glistening and beaded under the moonlight.

After she saw her grandmother settled later that night, Gina went out onto the terrace, alone for a few moments with her thoughts. Niggling doubts and unasked questions continued to prey on her mind. Her grandmother spoke romantically of history repeating itself, of Gina meeting Seb on the same spot where her grandparents had found each other fifty years ago. But could she trust her feelings, the speed of it, the fairytale nature of what had happened these last days? What of the things she didn't know about Seb? Why was he so reluctant to talk about himself?

It had been an emotional day. Maria had retired earlier than usual, and Seb stopped off to see her, anxious to ensure that she was not suffering any reaction. He tapped on the door of her room.

'I am awake.'

Smiling, he went inside, pleased to see good colour in her cheeks as she rested against the pillows. '
Buonasera,
Maria. I wanted to check that you were all right.'

'Seb,
buonasera!'
she greeted him, patting the bed and waiting for him to sit down beside her. 'Thank you for thinking of me, and for all you have done for me. I am very grateful.'

'I was glad to be able to help. It was obvious how important it was for you to lay Matthew to rest here. But it can't have been easy,' he acknowledged, taking her hand.

'No. Not easy. Yet now it is done I feel a real peace and lightness.' Hazel eyes shimmered with tears, but her smile was strong. 'Wherever I go, whatever happens, my Matteo will always be with me.'

Seb found himself uncharacteristically affected by the depth of Maria's love and inner contentment. 'You are a very special lady.'

'A lucky one, I think, for having lived a happy life. Today I was more worried for Gina than for myself,' she continued after a moment's pause, her smile fading. 'She has supported me always, but I know this was hard for her. Her grandfather meant the world to her.'

'As do you,' Seb pointed out, continually struck by the deep relationship the two women shared.

'For Matteo and me, Gina has been a joy. We have always been proud of her. I don't know what we would have done without her. But I worry she takes on so much responsibility for me, feels she has to protect me. I know money is more of a problem than she will admit, that she struggled to get us here at all, and I know that she goes without things for herself to make sure I am comfortable.'

'Gina loves you.'

Maria's smile was wide and warm. 'I know. And I love her. But I don't want her giving up her own life for me. She hasn't dated at all since we went to live with her.'

Yet Gina had come to him with a freshness, honesty and eagerness that continued to take his breath away, blooming like a flower feeling the heat of the sun after a long winter.

'You are very professional doing that, Seb.'

Maria's words hit home, and he looked at her in confusion. 'Sorry?'

'You're taking my pulse. Gina does the same thing all the time and she thinks I don't know,' she confided with a teasing smile.

Startled, Seb glanced down, realising that unconscious force of habit had indeed led him to do as Maria claimed. 'I—' He broke off, unsure what to say, but as he went to remove his hand, Maria's fingers closed around his.

'A little advice from an old woman. Do not leave it too long to tell Gina whatever you need to.'

'Maria...'

'You are not simply the caretaker of this villa, are you? Or an artist?' she asked softly, and there was no judgement in her tone, just understanding and gentleness.

Seb sighed, unable to tell her anything but the truth. 'No.'

'I'm sure you have your reasons for keeping things to yourself.'

'I did. In the beginning,' he admitted, running a hand through his hair in agitation. 'Now things have just become complicated, and that's my fault.'

'Maria patted his hand. 'I believe you care very much for my Gina.'

'I do. For the first time in my life I've met someone who sees the me inside, Maria. The real person, not the outer trappings.' He hesitated, trying to put his feelings into words. 'I am scared that what I have to say will change how Gina feels about me, that she will judge me harshly and find me wanting.'

'As you do yourself?' she queried with stunning perception.

'Yes.' Taken aback, he looked away, unable to meet her gaze. His own fell on the scars on his right wrist and hand where Maria's fingers rested. 'Meeting Gina has caused me to re-evaluate things and see where I was going wrong. Now I have to decide how to put things right... with her and my life.'

'I know her, Seb, and I have never seen her so happy as when she is with you. My heart tells me you belong together.' A note of warning crept into her voice. 'Gina has a big capacity for understanding and for compassion—but she does value honesty. Whatever it is you are holding back, it will be better coming from you. Tell her yourself—soon.'

He nodded, but Maria's words filled him with anxiety. She was right, but that didn't make telling Gina any easier. How much time did he have left? Now that Maria was well enough to travel, and they had achieved what they had came to Elba to do, what more was there to keep them on the island? They were booked to return to Scotland in a couple of days, and Gina would be starting her new job the following week—unless he faced up to the truth and devised an alternative plan. Never before had he allowed himself to need anyone, to trust and depend on anyone but himself. He had even kept a part of himself detached from Zio Roberto, Zia Sofia and Rico. In an impossibly short time Gina had come to be as important and essential to his very existence as air and water. He couldn't let her walk out of his life— but would she want him when she knew the truth?

'Think on what I have said,' Maria advised now.

'I will. Thank you.' Full of affection for the elderly lady, he leaned down and kissed her cheek before rising to his feet. 'Is there anything I can get for you?'

'No, I'll be fine,
earn. Buonanotte.'

'Goodnight, Maria. Sleep well.'

Troubled by his thoughts, he left Maria's room, returning to his own to make a few preparations before going in search of Gina. He was uncomfortably aware that he hadn't handled things well earlier, that he had upset her by cutting off her understandable questions. But he hadn't wanted to talk about Paolo's daughter. That would have meant explaining the corrective surgery he had performed for free on the little girl after her nasty accident.. .and how could he do that when he had still not told Gina about his former career?

Maria's advice and her blessing of their relationship took root inside him. He knew what he had to do. Tonight he would show Gina in every way he could how much she meant to him. Tomorrow he would sit her down and tell her everything.

'What are you thinking,
amore mia?'

Gina stifled a gasp of surprise, a tremor running through her as Seb moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling into her, his lips, teeth and tongue tormenting her lobe and the hollow below her ear. Her body reacted instinctively the moment he touched her. It was hard to believe that anything else mattered when he made her feel like this, devoting himself to her pleasure, cherishing her as no one else had ever done.

'Nothing,' she whispered, unable to voice her nagging worries about the way he evaded talking about himself.

It was magical here, and she was caught up in the romance of the island. The enchantment of being with Seb, his nearness, was affecting her powers of thought and her concentration.