He nodded approvingly. “Texas. That explains your charming accent.”
Sabrina snorted. “I wouldn’t call it charming.”
“It is to me.” Lorenzo laughed. “I’ve passed through the States a few times, but I haven’t yet stopped in Texas. This last time, I stopped over in Atlanta. The homemade biscuits and sweet tea were, as you Americans say, ‘out of this world.’ Are those popular in your home state?”
“In Texas, barbecue rules the roost, but yes, you can still find biscuits and sweet tea.” Her body shook with laughter. “What’s the most popular street food in the Cinque Terre?”
Lorenzo maneuvered the car into the car park just outside Monterosso al Mare, the largest and oldest of the five towns, and turned off the engine.
He angled his body toward Sabrina. “That would be fried anchovies with some lemon and vinegar.”
She winced. “I’m not the biggest fan of seafood, but I won’t knock it until I’ve tried it. My food palate is sorely lacking.”
“Fair enough.” He unlatched his seat belt. “Did you spend much time in the Old Town of Monterosso this morning, or did the New Town capture your fancy?”
She followed his lead and released her own seat belt. “I rushed through it. I thought when I picked up my bags, I’d give Monterosso a proper walk through.” Sabrina bit her lip. “To be honest, I left Naples late and it was already noon when I arrived here. Everything was crowded. I headed straight for the hiking paths.”
They opened their car doors and stepped out.
Lorenzo stroked his jaw. “Why don’t we do an abbreviated tour of Monterosso? Of all the towns, there is the most to see here.”
“Can you spare the time for a tour?” Sabrina rubbed her hands together. “I’m more than happy to stroll the back alleys on my own on a different day. We can just pick up my bags and head straight to Riomaggiore.”
“I don’t have anything pressing. Normally, I would be at the market until sunset. This is a refreshing change of pace for me.”
“Right on,” Sabrina said.
Lorenzo clicked the alarm on the car. “There is a stall near the central piazza in the Old Town area where I normally pick up fried anchovies for lunch when I’m here. I’ll order some takeaway for us to enjoy on the way to our next stop. It’s about a thirty-five-minute drive. That way, you can see if they’re to your liking. Nothing will be wasted.”
They walked toward a large red gate that blocked any vehicles from entering the village.
Are all Italian men so generous and considerate? I thought they only existed on the pages of my Regency novels. I should’ve come to Italy sooner.
* * *
Tightly packed, cheerful buildings in pink, yellow, and orange pastels with forest-green shutters lined both sides of the main street. Clotheslines hung above and interlinked the buildings like cobwebs. Covered boats sat in front of the homes, shops, and restaurants as if they were a part of the décor. Steep stone steps led through a dizzying maze of narrow back pathways.
“I can see why you prefer the Old Town. It has so much more charm and character. I could spend all day uncovering its secrets,” Sabrina said.
They walked through the black-and-white-striped Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista—a fourteenth-century church—and up to the top of the oldest road in the town to admire the thickly fortified medieval walls and ruins of the castle. Sabrina sucked in a breath. They had reached a vista point where the scenery reminded her of a quintessential Italian postcard.
“It’s beautiful.” She leaned against the railing. “Is that a statue carved out of the rock?”
“Si. It’s modeled after the likeness of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.”
Aquamarine water dominated the horizon dotted with birds in flight. Waves crashed against a semi-circle set of rocks that formed the barrier to the harbor. To the left, groups of people stood on the sandy beach. To the right, canoes and kayaks danced with the tide.
“I should’ve saved my swimming adventure for Monterosso. The beaches here actually have sand. The rocks in Vernazza were painful on my feet.”
“Unless you are here early in the morning, the public beaches are near capacity by midmorning.” Lorenzo shifted his weight onto the protective railing and leaned on his elbows. She sized up the corded muscles of his forearms.
“One of the best-kept secrets in the area are the numerous deserted beaches and caves that dot the coastline between the cities. If you rent a kayak or hire a boat, they’re easily accessible. The water can become your own private playground.” He recounted several of his favorite hidden gems.
Sabrina ran a hand through her hair. “I haven’t been in a kayak before. Do you think a complete novice like myself would be able to pick it up without much instruction?”
“Absolutely.” The lines around his eyes crinkled. “Although, if you don’t have the confidence, there are guided group kayaking tours that leave from each city around eight every morning.” He turned and casually leaned his back against the railing so he faced her.
“I think, Lorenzo, you may have just talked me into trying it. Aside from hikes, I’m normally not a big outdoor person, but being here has massively changed my outlook.” Sabrina pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the view.
