Mariano stopped walking after we stepped inside the villa. The air was cool and smelled clean—rainwater and fresh herbs. “What was the number one reason?” He quirked up one of his thick eyebrows at me.
I sighed. He wasprosciutto. Aham. “He is not you, my husband.”
My husband set me on my feet and pressed his body against mine, and I took steps backwards as he took steps forward, until I set my hand on his chest and he stopped.
“That’s all it fucking takes,” he said. “One lift of your hand to stop me.”
It was my turn to quirk an eyebrow at him. “Would this—” I tapped my hand against his chest “—work if I ran from you?”
“Nah, Annie,” he said, his voice smooth and cool. “You run from me, no matter how far, I’ll find you—I’ll find you and bring you home.”
“You will make me fall in love with you again?”
“Again.” He made a sarcastic noise. “You won’t stop loving me—ever. I won’t fucking allow it.”
“Neither will I,” I whispered. “I do not believe this is possible.”
“Even if I smelled like Chili and was poor?”
“Sì,” I said without hesitation. “Your heart. If your heart was in his chest—it’s mine. However.” I lifted a finger. “I would have to teach you how to bathe properly. There is no excuse forstankypits.” This was how Atta said stinky,stanky.
A beat passed between us before he roared with laughter again. He wrapped his arm around my neck, pulling me in, andkissed my forehead. Then I realized…I shoved him again, but he refused to budge.
“I know you do not smell, Mariano Fausti!” He was attempting to get me to sniff his armpits. In all seriousness, even if it made me a freak for him, I did take a few sniffs. He smelled…delizioso.
He lifted my arm and stuck his nose in mine. I was trying to get away from him. He laughed. “You smell…” His face lost all humor, and his head moved back as if the scent of me had slapped him in the nostrils.
“What?!” I tried to smell myself. “What?! Did Chili get me?”
He exploded with laughter, and I realized…
“You are messing with me, Mariano Fausti!” I slapped hisculoas we entered the kitchen. “Your sense of humor has returned to the village, and I was not prepared for it. A sneak attack!”
He pulled me in again, kissing me, forever kissing me, touching me, bringing me close. We held each other, then he kissed my head again. He opened the refrigerator. I ordered him out of the kitchen, pointing at the table.
He took a seat, watching me with a grin on his face. Apollonia had cooked plenty of meals for us. I asked Mariano which he would prefer, and he only shrugged and said, “Your choice, Annie.”
We ate a feast by candlelight, and the taste of the food gave me inspiration—I wanted to cook meals such as these for my husband. Our family. The conversation flowed. We spoke about the horses Apollonia had adopted for her property. He said after dinner he was going to check on them.
While he did so, I prepared for bed. I found another white cotton pajama dress in my suitcase. I pulled out a pair of grey sweatpants for my husband. We would bathe together, and then I wanted nothing more than to get comfortable in bed with himwhile he pulled me close, my head on his chest, his scent in my nose, and discuss the situation with Iggy in more detail. The meeting was to take place the next day.
Ifmy husband would speak to me about it. I was not sure if this business with the Russians would be a welcome subject.
I went to the window, moving the lace curtains to the side. The world was entirely silver, even the tributary running from Apollonia’s home to my in-laws’ home. On my in-law’s property, a small bridge was built over it. It led to their massive pool.
The stream seemed angry, creating swirling eddies with its temper.
The weather.
It was gaining in strength.
Lightning flashed, almost as if the sky was holding a camera over earth, and thunder barreled through the atmosphere, shaking it.
“Mariano,” I whispered.
Where was he?
The weather did not bother me any longer, but my husband being lost out in this storm did. I grabbed a sweater from my suitcase and pulled it over my head. Snatching the rubber boots from Louisiana, I carried them down instead of putting them on. I did not want them to trip me down the stairs. Once on the bottom level, I slipped them on.
