“Why should I be friendlier?”
“Because you want them on your side.While you have the money and now you have lawyers, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to also have the island on your side.To have the community behind you.To have them fight against Vincent because they wantyouhere, not him.It’s a strange place with its own set of rules, and if you want to live peacefully here, you have to play by them—to a degree.”Her shoulder lifted on one side, and she gave a crooked smile.“That’s my two cents anyway.Now, back to the cannelloni.”Then she took another bite, moaned, and closed her eyes again.
I watched her enjoy that second bite, but it wasn’t my sole focus this time.
She wasn’t wrong.As much as I didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want towelcomestrangers onto my property, she had a point.The island was a wonderful place, but it had its own set of rules, and the Island Elders seemed to be sticklers for those rules.
“What do you suggest I do?”I asked, sipping my wine.
She continued to eat, but I could tell she was thinking.The cute little humming sound she made had every part of my body on high alert—particularly the part between my legs.
“You need to reach out to the Island Elders and tell them the situation.They’d know Erin’s parents, and possibly Erin.And have a greater insight into what her parents’ wishes might have been.They may even know Vincent’s mother.”
My head bobbed as I chewed.“You think that will help?”
“It won’t hurt.I also think—now hear me out—that maybe youshouldhave some kind of community welcoming.Perhaps put the gate further down the driveway and horse treats in a container at the top.So people know they can’t come any further, but that if the horseschooseto come to them, there is approved food they can feed them.Then put up a sign that the animals aren’t to be fed anything besides the food you supply.”
Also not a terrible idea.
“Do you foresee any genuine problems stemming from that?”
I gently tossed my head from side to side in thought for a moment.“Besides Piñata biting people?No.”
She giggled.“I kind of wish he did bite Clyde, not going to lie.”
“That can be arranged, you know?He could just ‘escape’ again.Tulips are cheap to get that kind of vengeance for Sam.”
“Let’s do things thelegalway first.If that doesn’t work, you and Piñata can rain down all the terror on them, I promise.”
“Thank you again for coming over tonight, Danica,” I said.“It has been a long time since … since I wanted to spend time with someone else this way.Since I’ve wanted to share my comfort zones and these parts of myself with another person.You are beautiful, on the inside, and the outside.”
A sexy flush raced up from her collarbone and into her neck and cheeks.She broke eye contact with me and glanced toward Portia in her bed in front of the fire.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“I … you …” She met my gaze.“Are all Italians like this?Do you justsaywhat’s on your mind?How you’re feeling?”
“Si.Many.Especially the handsome Italians.”I winked at her.
She smiled and rolled her eyes.“We don’t really talk like that in America.Just pour our hearts out and act so …”
“Passionate?”
“Yeah.”
“Italians are very passionate people.And I also believe that it is better to say how you feel, and how you feel about someone at the moment, because you never know if you’ll get the chance again.”
Her eyes turned sad.“I’m sorry about your wife.”
“So am I, but I am happy to be here with you.”
Genuine delight shone back at me from her expressive eyes.“I’m really happy to be here with you.”Then she glanced down at her cannelloni.“And I’mreallyhappy about this cannelloni.Would you judge me if I asked for more?”
Chuckling, I rose from my seat and took her plate.“I would judge you more if you didn’t.There is tiramisu for dessert, so you know.”
“You might have to roll me to my car at the end of the night.But I’m game.”
I glanced over my shoulder at her.“I would be more than happy tocarryyou,bella.Always.”
