“You are beautiful,” he said. “Let us take that picture now. A deal is a deal. A favor for a favor, ah?”
I nodded, thankful for the turn in conversation. He took out his camera and situated it in front of us, adjusting it so we were both in the frame. I stood next to him, but instead of standing next to me, he took my waist in his hands, pulled me close, and before I could pull away, the camera snapped the photo.
“This is nice,” he said, pleased, looking it over. “So nice.”
My phone rang, and I excused myself to answer it. Rocco made a motion that meantgo ahead, his attention back on the picture.
It was Brando.
“Hey, baby,” he said.
“Hello.”
The line went quiet. A moment later, “You’ve been drinking.”
“A little.” I laughed, but then I looked back at his…Rocco, and the humor melted into a frown.
How was I supposed to tell him? As far as he knew, he was an only child. How would he take the news? Would he turn away from him? Embrace him?
“Tell me where you are.”
“A farmhouse in Siena.”
Technically it wasn’t a lie.
“By yourself.”
“No. Rosaria Caffi showed me the place.”
“The opera singer.”
“That’s the one.”
“You’ve had too much to drink.” His voice became suspicious.
“Yes.” I blew out a hot breath. I threaded my finger around a curl that fell over my forehead, and the truth hit me again. It was a sucker punch to the gut, stirring up nervous butterflies.
I had a new house and new hair and…a new brother-in-law. I almost broke and told him. But the house—it meant so much to me to surprise him, to give him something to come home to. Something he could call his own.With me. Ours.
“Come see,bella,” Rocco called, his voice seductive even when he wasn’t intending it.
“Scarlett.”
“There are people here.” Also true. Two equaled more than one—plural—people.
My husband blew out a frustrated breath. He wasn’t happy.
“What’s wrong,mio marito?” I moved further into the yard, out of earshot. He was quiet for a few minutes.
“You didn’t tell me you were going.”
“So…?”
“You always tell me.”
“I decided on a whim.”
“You’re there. Alone. I like to know where you are.”
