“I promised Dino I’d never go to those places until we could see them together. Part of the visitation stipulation forbids me taking him out of Northern Italy. There was one time I broke the rules to go skiing with him in Switzerland. Dino paid for it by not being able to see me for two months.”
Irena threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “How cruel.”
She had no idea how cruel the powers working against him had been. He rubbed the back of her neck beneath her hair, needing this closeness like he needed water or light from a Mediterranean sun.
“If you haven’t been able to spend more than a week with him at any given time, how can we be gone two weeks?”
“Being divorced tied my hands. On Thursday I’ll be a married man and everything will change.”
He heard a few sniffs before she sat up. “For both your sakes I’m glad things will be different. Looking back on my life, I loved my father so much that to imagine I couldn’t have all the access to him I wanted while I growing up is incomprehensible to me.” To Vincenzo’s chagrin, she slid off his lap before he was ready to let her go. “I want to make this trip with Dino so enjoyable, he’ll remember it all his life.”
“The wedding day, too,” Vincenzo murmured. “He needs a suit. Since I’ll be tied up most of Wednesday with more legal matters, let’s go shopping tomorrow. I rather like the idea of my fiancée picking out my wedding attire.”
She flashed him a smile that came off mysterious whether she’d intended it or not. “You trust a Greek woman with a responsibility like that? Italian men are the best dressers in the world.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“You can fool some of the people.” When she laughed gently, it gave him a whole new reason to be alive.
“I need to eat something. Come with me and I’ll make you my own version of bruschetta. Dino can’t get enough of it.”
“I’m afraid I’m hungry again, too. The antinausea medication is working. Now all I do is eat and sleep.” She followed him to the kitchen. “Unfortunately, every meal I’ve had in Italy has been divine.”
Vincenzo chuckled. Her honesty was refreshing. When she liked something, she did it with her whole heart. While he got out the ingredients, she watched him. He liked that very much.
It didn’t take long until he had their appetizers ready. “I’d offer you some of that local sweet dessert wine you tried the last time you were here, but it will have to wait until you’ve had the baby.”
Their eyes fused for a moment. “The deprivation will be worth it.”
He brushed her mouth with his own before he let her reach for a sample. The satisfaction of watching the food disappear pleased him no end. She stood at the counter next to him, munching away. Every so often she made a sound of pleasure.
Vincenzo loved that she didn’t talk about how much weight she was going to gain. He liked every damn thing about her and needed another taste of her. This time when he claimed her lips, they were covered in extra virgin olive oil mixed with the tangy flavor of the herbs he’d added.
Divine didn’t cover it, or the feel of her body as he pulled her against him. “I’ve been craving this all day. You could have no idea how much I want you.” He kissed her long and hard. “The last two months were a desert after you left. Dino was the only reason I functioned. When are you going to admit you’ve missed me?”
“Isn’t that what I’m doing?” Her muffled answer thrilled him.
“Irena—” Consumed with desire, he cradled her face, the better to kiss her features and eyelids, the passionate flare of her giving mouth. Back and forth they gave kiss for kiss, each one deeper and more prolonged.
They both heard the peremptory knock on the front door at the same time, effectively interrupting something private and marvelous. Irena’s reaction was to pull away from him, but Vincenzo knew what the intrusion meant and clutched her to him possessively. The knocking grew louder.
She put her hands against his chest. “Someone isn’t going away.”
“News of our impending marriage has already leaked out through Mila’s attorney.” He kissed her palms one at a time. “One of my cousins has come to find out if it’s really true. Probably Gino. Do you feel courageous enough to meet him if I let him in?”
“Should I be frightened?”
“He poses no threat, but you do by virtue of becoming my wife.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve been out of his hair for years, but after we get back from California he and my cousins are going to be seeing a lot more of me. I’ll answer it before he breaks the whole place down. We’ll offer him what’s left of the bruschetta,” he added, smiling.
But when he walked through the apartment and opened the door, it was his stepbrother Fabbio himself standing there. Apparently he hadn’t trusted Gino or Luca to do his dirty work for him. Well, well…The whole nasty history between them flashed through his mind. Vincenzo could count on one hand the times he’d seen his flashy, dark blond stepbrother in the last seven years. “Entrate, prego.”
“I prefer to stay where I am. Is it true?”
Some things never changed. Vincenzo looked over his shoulder. “Innamorata? Come and meet my stepbrother,” he spoke in English.
Irena moved toward him. He knew he could count on her to remain calm in the face of surprise or an emotional storm, except when it came to the baby’s paternity.
Vincenzo didn’t miss the flash of stunned male interest in Fabbio’s narrowed gray eyes when she joined them. After being thoroughly kissed in the kitchen, she’d never looked more desirable.
He put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. “Irena Spiros, meet Fabbio. Among his many talents, he’s an avvocato.”
“That means an attorney, doesn’t it?” With the ease and unconscious dignity of a real lady she shook his hand. “How do you do, Fabbio.”
Totally thrown, his stepbrother had trouble articulating. It had to be a rare moment when Fabbio, an inch taller than Vincenzo, was at a loss for words. “I’ve seen you before.”
“People often say that to me. I must have the kind of looks shared by many women.” Vincenzo had never met anyone who could think on her feet as fast as Irena.
“No.” Fabbio wouldn’t let it go.
She said something else to brush it off. “Won’t you come in? Vincenzo just made us the most sensational food. If you don’t finish the bruschetta, I will, and I’ve already eaten too much.” With that voluptuous smile of hers, his married stepbrother’s seduction was complete.
“Since I dropped in without invitation, another time perhaps.” His eyes traveled from her glorious black hair down the curves of her body to her nylon-clad feet, presenting a picture of two lovers enjoying an intimate evening. He finally tore his gaze away to stare bullets at Vincenzo. Fabbio had wished him dead years ago. “If I could have a word with you.”
Irena pressed his arm. “I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about so I’ll disappear.”
Before she could pull away, Vincenzo pressed a kiss to her red, slightly swollen lips. “I won’t be long,” he whispered.
She nodded. “It was nice meeting you, Fabbio.”
Once she’d gone, Vincenzo lounged against the doorjamb, his hands in his pockets. “What’s this about? As you can see, I have other matters pressing.”
His