When she walked out to the car beneath a semicloudy sky, she found him waiting for her with his own backpack. It had been years since she’d felt this alive around a man. This time when she unlocked the door with the remote, he opened her door and relieved her of her duffel bag so she could get in. He walked on around and put their things in the back before climbing inside.
“Our cruiser is docked on the other side of the island.” She started the engine and drove them the short distance.
“It’s right in your backyard!”
She smiled. “I know. Can you believe how convenient?”
Once she’d pulled up to the pier, they both got out. He obviously knew his way around a boat. After depositing their bags, he undid the ropes while she got on board and found them both life preservers. She put hers on first.
“Who’s the scuba enthusiast?”
“You’re looking at her.”
His piercing dark brown eyes scrutinized her. “How long have you been a diver?”
“Since I was nineteen. Have you ever done it?”
“I learned at fourteen. It’s probably my favorite activity.”
His admission excited her no end. To scuba dive with him would be like a dream come true. “Mine, too,” she admitted. “Excuse me for a minute.”
She disappeared below and pulled out a special oceanography chart of the area for him to look at. When she came up on deck she discovered he’d climbed on board and had put on his preserver. “Here.” She put the rolled-up chart on the banquette next to him. “You can look at this as we proceed.” Alessandra started the engine at a wakeless speed and drove them toward open water.
“This cruiser is state of the art.”
She nodded. “A huge change from our old boat I took everywhere until my father bought this for me so I could go on longer trips.”
“For pleasure?”
“It’s always a pleasure, but I’m part of a team working for the Institute of Archaeological and Monumental Heritage.”
Her response seemed to surprise him. “Where did you go to college?”
“I received my master’s degree from the University of Catania. Our job is to identify and retrieve buried structures of archaeological interest.”
“Living on an archaeological wonder, you come by your interest naturally.”
She nodded. “My area of academics is to study the advanced techniques for nondestructive testing and remote sensing. Hopefully our work will expand our knowledge and help restore the historical buildings above and below the water in this area of Italy.”
He sat on the banquette across from her with his hands clasped between his knees. She felt his eyes probing her with new interest. “It’s no wonder your father told me I would be in good hands with you. You’re an archaeologist. I thought maybe you were an engineer.
“Your father knew that you’re exactly the person I need to consult while I’m here. Like you, I’m anxious to identify where the drilling will cause the least amount of destruction to the environment, both on land and water.”
“Tell you what. After I give you a tour of the coastline, we’ll go to my office at the castle. Since you’re an engineer, you can watch a series of videos we’ve produced that will open your eyes to the many roadblocks you’ll have to consider in order to drill and transport oil.”
“I’m indebted to you, Alessandra.”
“You have no idea what kinds of snags you’re up against, so don’t get too excited, signore.”
“Call me Rini,” he urged for a second time in his deep male voice that affected her insides. “I like snags. They make life exciting.”
Though she agreed with him, she needed to be careful not to let this man get under her skin. Alessandra had a hunch he wasn’t just talking about the search for oil. He had a way of infiltrating her defenses no matter where she turned. She had a feeling that if she got involved with him, he had the power to hurt her in ways that she would never get over.
“Why don’t you consult the map I brought up? It will explain a lot as we go.”
As they cruised along the coast, she glimpsed a half smile that broke the corner of his compelling mouth before he did her bidding and unraveled it for his perusal. He was such a breathtaking man, she could hardly concentrate.
It was hard to believe he wanted to be with her and not Dea. For some reason Rini Montanari hadn’t been interested in her sister. She couldn’t comprehend it.
Probably Dea hadn’t been able to comprehend it, either. But Alessandra didn’t know what went on in her sister’s mind and would be a fool to make any more assumptions about anything.
Just be excited that he wants to be with you, Alessandra.
BY FIVE IN the afternoon Rini had seen as much as he needed for a preliminary assessment. Alessandra had been a fountain of knowledge. Depending on Onorato’s willingness to continue their talks, he wanted to bring out a team from the Naples office to begin an in-depth exploration.
But at this point business wasn’t on his mind. During their outing he’d grown hungry. She’d brought along water and snacks, but he wanted a big dinner and intended to surprise her by taking her out for a meal. He’d seen a helipad at the side of the castle and went below deck to call for a helicopter.
With her expertise she guided the boat to the pier and shut off the engine. He discarded the life preserver and jumped to the dock to tie the ropes. In a moment the rotors of the helicopter sounded overhead.
Alessandra looked up. “I guess my parents are back. That’s a surprise. Mother told me they could be gone for several days.” She removed her preserver.
“I think that’s my helicopter.”
She blinked. “You sent for yours?” Did he see disappointment in her eyes?
“I chartered one to take us to dinner. Last night you turned me down. Tonight I decided not to take any chances on another rejection.”
Her eyes slid away from his. “Where are we going?”
Good. She’d decided not to fight him. “That’s my surprise. Bring what you need and leave the rest in the boat. We’ll retrieve everything later.”
“You don’t want to change clothes?”
“There’s no need.”
She nodded. “I’ll only be a moment.” Before long she came back up on deck having applied a fresh coat of lipstick.
Avoiding his help, she climbed out of the boat and they made their way to the helicopter in the distance. But she couldn’t refuse him when he opened the door to assist her into the back. Their arms brushed and he inhaled her light, flowery fragrance, which made him more aware of her.
Within seconds they lifted off and the pilot flew them due east. For the next little while her gaze fastened on the landscape below. When they started their descent to the city of a hundred thousand, she darted Rini an excited glance. “I love Lecce! It’s a masterpiece of baroque architecture.”
“I haven’t been here in several years, but I remember a restaurant near the cathedral and hope it’s still as good.”
He’d arranged for a limo to drive them into the city nicknamed the Florence of the South. They got