VINA IN VENICE (THE 5 SISTERS) (6 page)

Vina dropped her purse on
the
coffee table
and studied him for a moment.  “Are you okay with this, Travis?”

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”

“I’m not talking about the dance lessons. 
A
re you okay with everything else?
”

Travis grinned. 
“You mean an all expenses paid trip to Venice with a beautiful woman that I
just happen to adore?  It’s going to be tough, but I think I can manage.”

“
You’re being very cavalier, but it
is
an awful lot to ask
of you
,” Vina replied
.
  “With the business booming at Malone’s and the opening of the new restaurant
, I know you can’t really afford to take off for a month.
  So, if you want to…bow out, I’ll understand.”

“
I made a promise to your parents, Vina, and I intend to keep it.”

Vina visibly bristled.  “
If you’re only doing this because you feel
obligated
to, I’m sure I can find someone to take your place.”

Jealousy
wasn’t an emotion Travis was familiar with, but he recognized the
sharp pang of
green
spear
ing
through hi
s chest f
or what it was
.
  He hadn’t liked it when Vina went out on dates, but
she rarely went out with the same man more than twice.  And since she’d never
expressed a real interest in
any of them, there had been no reason for the possessive kind of jealousy he was feeling now.

“Are you saying you don’t want me to go?”
Travis forced the words out.

“
Of course I want you to go.  But it won’t be any fun for either of us if you resent being emotionally blackmailed into doing it.”

Travis arched a brow.  “Who said anything about being blackmailed, emotional or otherwise?”

“
You said my
parents made you promise
, and the only way they could get you to take that much time away from your business responsibilities was to guilt you into it.”

“
If that’s what is bothering you, then you’re worrying for nothing.  I
wasn’t coerced into making the promise.  They
asked me to watch over you because
they trusted me
, and I
accepted because
I
wanted
to.” 
  

“
You really mean that?”
Vina asked with a tremulous smile.

“You know I do,” he said softy.

“Are you still up for those dancing lessons?”

“Madam,” Travis bowed gallantly, “I am yours for the entire evening.”

***

Vina flopped down on the sofa next to Travis.  “I have to confess, I didn’t think you were being completely honest when you told me you knew the minuet.”

“You thought I lied to you?”

“Quit with the injured look,” Vina nudged him with her elbow.  “I didn’t think you lied…exactly. 
I’d call it more of a fib.”

“
If that’s an apology for doubting my word, it leaves something to be desired.”

“You’re right.  I’m sorry for doubting you.  I had a lot of fun tonight, Travis.  You really are an excellent minuet dance instructor…even if you didn’t wear the tights.”

His deep, rich laughter poured over her, warming Vina from the inside out.  She liked it when Travis laughed, and she liked it even more when she was the one responsible for it. 
She didn’t have to guess why he wore such a solemn expression most of the time. 
There was so much going on inside that
brilliant head of his, always too much to do and not enough hours in the day to do it in.

“So, Mr. Malone, who’s going to be keeping an eye on business while
you
’re away?”

“My brothers.  Each of them volunteered to take a week, and Lydia said she’d handle the work schedules and whatever else the boys needed her help with.”

“
How is Lydia?  I haven’t seen her for ages.”

“
Not nearly as ornery as she used to be. 
Do you remember
me telling you
how horribly she behaved every time one of my brothers got engaged?”

Vina couldn’t help smiling. 
“I believe you said your little sister
was
like a she-bear protecting her cub
s because s
he was so sure their prospective brides were gold-diggers
.
  You know she
only
acted that way because she wanted them to be happy
, right?
”

“
I know.  Lydia’s
sharp tongue
can tear the hide
clean
off of you, but her
heart
is
in the right place
. 
I think it was Derek’s wife, Emily, that finally mellowed Lydia and turned her thinking around.”

“What do you mean?”

“Derek’s first marriage was a disaster
and he was incredibly unhappy until he found Emily.  Now Lydia thinks marriage is the cure-all for
the remaining bachelors in the
family.  S
he’s been hounding Brent and
me
to
find ourselves a good woman and
settle down.”

Vina’s stomach roiled as if she’d eaten something that didn’t agree with her. 
Travis
didn’t do
serious relationship
s
so there
had never been any
danger of her encroaching on another woman’s territory.  A jealous girlfriend
Vina could handle because she knew they wouldn’t be around long enough to cause a rift between her and Travis.  But a wife would resent any time he spent with another woman, no matter how innocent the relationship.  Travis woul
dn’t
jeopardize
his marriage by going against his wife’s wishes
, which meant V
ina would lose the closeness she shared with him now, and that scared her to death.

Was it selfish to want things to remain the same between them?  And what right did she have to feel this way when
the
sole purpose of flying off to Venice was to find the love of her life and marry him?
  Obviously, Travis
wasn’t concerned that her
future husband
might pose a threat to their relationship, or maybe he hadn’t given it any thought at all.

“Do you
want
to get married
and have kids?” Vina asked, disconcerted by the way his expression softened.

“Y
eah, surprisingly enough, I do.  It would be nice coming home to someone you loved and enjoyed spending time with.  Eventually, I’d want children, but not right away.  I think a couple should establish themselves as husband and wife, have fun, maybe travel a little, before jumping into the role of parents.”

“I thought you liked playing the field, doing what you wanted, whenever you wanted, not having to answer to anyone.”

Travis shrugged.  “I’ve done my running around.  I want more out of life than twelve hour work days and an occasional fling.
  Who knows,” he leveled a
rakish grin at her, “
maybe we’ll both find what we’re looking for in Venice.”

***

As Travis dressed for work the next morning, he recalled their conversation with a satisfied smile.  He’d been watching those expressive doe eyes of hers when he planted the seed inside her head that he was on the lookout for his soul
-
mate.  Whether she realized it or not, Vina didn’t care much for the idea, and that gave him hope.
  Now all he had to do was nurture that seed and make sure it grew.

Grabbing up his cell phone, he dialed Vina’s number.  “Good morning, Miss Moore,” he said when
she
answered.  “
This is Travis Malone.  We met last night at dance class, remember?”

“Malone, you say?”  Vina played along.  “Hmmmm, are you the short skinny guy that kept stepping on my feet?”

“No, I’m the tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome one that couldn’t keep his eyes off
of
you.”

“Yes, of course,” there was laughter in her voice, “I think I remember you now.
  What can I do for you, Mr. Malone?
”

“
I realize it’s short notice, but I
would
be
deeply honored if you agreed to
have
dinner
with me
t
onight.”

“I’m flattered.  It’s not often that I get asked out by a devastatingly handsome man. 
I think I could manage to make myself presentable by seven o’clock if you
would
like to pick me up then?
”

“Perfect.  I look forward to seeing you again.”

Travis caught Vina’s bubbly giggle just before she disconnect
ed
the call.  He’d already made
dinner
reservations for eight-thirty
and was having his Ferrari detailed this afternoon because he knew how much Vina enjoyed riding in it.  But this was an all out campaign to win her heart, and that required taking additional steps to impress her. 

Scrolling through the address book of his cell phone, Travis located the number he was looking for and ordered an elaborate spray of flowers.  After giving them Vina’s name and rattling off the address
of her company, he headed for his new restaurant to iron out some issues that had developed over the past few days. 
It wouldn’t be easy focusing on work when he was only hours away from his first real date with Vina, but he
would
muddle through it somehow.

A little after one o’clock, Vina called. “Travis, the flowers are breathtaking,” she exclaimed.  “Everyone that has seen them wants to know who my admirer is.  I love them, but you really shouldn’t have gone to
so much
trouble.  They must have cost of a fortune…”

“Lesson number one,” Travis cut in, “is to
blush with pleasure when a man sends you flowers
.  T
hank him without mentioning the trouble he went to
,
or
the amount of money he spent.
  Lesson number two…”

“Should I be writing this down?”

“Cute.  Lesson number two:
a man doesn’t send a woman flowers unless he’s
hoping to get
something in return.
  It may be a way of letting you know he
is
interested in developing a relationship with you.  It could also mean he’s working on getting you in the sack.”

“Are you serious?”

“Deadly.”

“Well…how can I tell the difference?  Good grief, Travis, I don’t want to be suspicious every time I receive flowers.”

“Not suspicious, just cautious.
”

“Anything else I should know before I
cautiously
proceed with our date tonight?”

“Yes.
  Wear the green dress you bought for the Emerson’s party.  You look stunning in it.”

“Thanks for the fashion tip,” her voice dripped with sarcasm.  “Any particular way I should fix my hair?”

“Yeah,” Travis chuckled, “wear it down.  It makes you look soft and feminine.”

“As opposed to when I wear it up and look like one of the boys?”

“Trust me, sweetheart, no one could
ever
mistake you for one of the boys.”

***

“I don’t know why you’re so nervous.  It’s not as if it’s a
real
date.”

Vina eyed her reflection in the mirror before turning to face Sophia.  “Technically, it
is
a real date.  I mean, Travis and I have gone to dinner together plenty of times, but
as
friends
. 
And
I know he’s just role playing
, but it feels…exciting, like I really am having dinner with someone I’ve just met.  You think I’m crazy,” Vina said, noting Sophia’s arched brows.

“
Are you sure that’s all there is to it?”

A slow blush began to work’s its way up Vina’s neck.  “What else could there be?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Sophia grinned.  “Could be, you finally noticed what a hunk Travis is
and
want
this to be a real date.”