“Minx,” he murmured and topped up her glass with some more wine.
“Would you like to try some?” She held the glass to his lips.
“Only a sip. I’m driving, and with the beer, I don’t want to be over the limit.” He sipped from the glass. “It’s good.”
“I love how the house wine here is as good as a twenty- or thirty-dollar bottle at home.”
“Right?”
By the time they’d finished their main course and the plates were cleared away, Gunnar was happy, mellow, and chilled out. “I have an idea, if you’re game?”
“If it involves running or anything more than rolling me down a hill, I don’t think I’m gonna make it,” Jorja replied. “I’m stuffed. Happy, but stuffed.”
“No room for dessert?” he teased.
“Um…”
“Give me a sec. I’m going to ask Luciano for something.” He swept the hair back from her face and rested his forehead against hers for a heartbeat and got to his feet.
“Everything is okay?” One of the servers, Luciano’s grandson, was right there almost as soon as he stepped through the door from the terrace to the main restaurant. “Are you ready to order dessert?”
“Yes. I promise everything is good.” This right here was why he loved coming here. They treated every guest like they were family. He was hoping that extended to his request. “About dessert, is it possible for us to take it down into your beautiful garden and eat it on the grass while we look at the stars?”
“Your woman would enjoy this?”
He nodded. “Yes, very much.”
“This is problem. She may ruin her pretty dress.” The server tapped his chin with his fingers. “I will ask my nonna for a blanket. One moment.” He didn’t wait for Gunnar to agree but hurried off to find his grandmother.
Gunnar leaned against the counter. From here, he could see Jorja through the window. She sipped on her wine and smiled to herself. He wondered what put it on her lips. Was it too much to hope that he was the cause?
The server returned with a bundle in his arms. “My nonna, she told me the perfect place for you in the garden. If you follow me, we can collect your lady.”
“Thank you very much.” Gunnar smiled to relieve Jorja’s uncertainty; he could see it on her face as they walked to the table. “Will you come with me?” He held out his hand with his palm up. “I have something I’d like to share with you. I promise it’s not far.”
“Yes.” She placed her hand in his and he helped her to her feet. But this time, instead of releasing her, he tugged herinto his side and placed one arm over her shoulders. He felt her shiver. “Are you cold?”
“No, I promise,” she reassured him. “Just a weird feeling.”
Yeah, he felt it too.
They followed Luciano’s grandson out into the family’s own private garden. Gunnar whistled when he saw the view all the way down the valley to the coast. “Wow.”
“It’s beautiful, no?”
“It is,” he agreed and took the blanket from the boy. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked Jorja. “Pick your spot.”
She pointed to a spot where they could see the lights of La Spezia laid out before them. “Here, please.”
“Perfect.” He shook out the blanket and laid it on the ground, then helped her sit. “Want me to take off your shoes?”
“I’m not sure if I should. I may not want to put them back on again.”
“I’ll carry you back to the truck if that happens,” he promised. He picked up her legs and put them in his lap before working on first one buckle and then the other. “You can see my house from up here.” He took off the shoes and held them up to study the heels. “You were correct,” he told her seriously, “these aren’t stabby heels, but you forgot to mention that they are stompy ones.”
“They are good for stomping, aren’t they?” She took the shoes from him and tossed them to one side. “I haven’t needed to make sure of that yet, though.”
“Good, because if it gets to you needing to stomp someone with your pretty shoes, then I’m going to need weapons, and that might mean you’ll have to be the one to call Remi and ask him to bring me bail money.” He massaged her feet, then cursed himself for being an idiot when her happy sigh made his balls ache.
