“This is beautiful. And I love how it’s decorated for Christmas already. I didn’t even realize we were nearing December. Time here has stopped for me, except for this morning.” She did not go on, and I got the feeling it was because she did not want to start the same conversation from before again.
“Come.” I took her hand and kissed it. “We will go for a walk.”
“Yeah, that sounds nice. My ass is asleep from sitting on the bike.”
I laughed and she stopped walking, looking up at me. “You have to stop doing that.”
“What am I doing, my little birdie?”
“Laughing.” She motioned to my eyes. “Paired with those hypnotizers you call eyes, you could lead me to my death and I wouldn’t even blink.”
My movements were slow as I leaned down and kissed her. As I moved away, she blinked at me.
“There,” I said. “You are working properly now.”
She laughed, and we both grinned as we continued our walk.
Ava pointed ahead at a villa. “Must be doing some work. Oooh, I wonder if it’s one of those Italian villas you can buy for one euro if you fix it up? This place seems small, but it’s so quaint. Actually…romantic.” She started to sing “That’s Amore,” her hip bumping mine while she swayed to the sound of her own voice.
The villa’s doors were open, and workers were coming in and out. The sound of a saw buzzing met us from outside, and the scent of fresh paint lingered in the air. We strolled past and she glanced inside.
“What a beautiful—” She stopped short, her eyes narrowing, before they popped open in surprise. She looked up at me, and the next thing, she was pushing against my chest to get my back against the wall. “You did this,” she whisper/hissed.
“Sì.Your sister—”
“I know about my sister! Both of my sisters are here. So is Lilo. The thing is…your family…kissedhis uncle.”
I could feel the strain in my face. I did not understand this. Perhaps the first thing in my life, and I had spent time all over the world, including America.
Ava must have sensed it. “Kissed his uncle goodbye, Nazzareno, as in…the kiss of death.” She lifted on her toes and whispered in my ear, “Stole his heart.”
“Tigran,” I said.
“Yeah.”
“I was not the one who stole it.” I took her hand and led her inside. The work continued, as if no one new had entered.
Except for one man who noticed.
His dark eyes went to Ava before they locked on me. He was somewhat shorter, but his muscles filled out the shape of his plain white shirt. He was wearing jeans and work boots.
I knew right away there was something dangerous about him.
“Lilo,” Ava breathed, and I could feel the tremble of her hand.
His eyes swung back to her. “Italy looks good on you, kid.”
Her smile trembled and her eyes filled with tears. I released her hand, and she ran to him. He wrapped his arms around her, absorbing the blow.
A low growl vibrated deep in my throat. She knew this man and had history with him. I could tell they were close.
I wanted her closer.
I stepped behind them and set my hand on her back as she pulled away from him. His eyes and mine met again.
“Nazzareno, this is Brio Valentino, or Lilo, my sister’s husband. Lilo, this is Nazzareno Fausti.”
He nodded at me. I nodded back. Neither of us offered a hand. Time would tell if we would.
