Page 32 of Ciao, Amore

Clasping her hands together, she pondered him. “Did he ask you for a decision?”

“Nah. We talked about what’s been going on in Italy in general, but not about that. Anyway, me and my brothers are taking him and Pop out for our first lunch. It’s a ritual thing. Speaking of rituals, do you have everything you need for tonight? The dress, the shoes? If you don’t, I can still take you to find something when I get back.”

“I’m good. Terri made sure I was hooked up. Will you be out all day?”

Ugh, that sounded weak, like she wanted him to drop everything and everyone and spend the day holding her hand the way he’d done in Rome. That special day seemed like a year ago.

“For a few hours.” Nico hesitated, giving her a searching look from beneath his long lashes. “Will you miss me?”

That smile on the lips that had been about to devour hers made her shiver. Hiding the effect it had on her, the insane effect he had on her body, and the even crazier shit he was doing to her head, she raised her chin. “Nope. I’ll be fine.” She grabbed her kit and sashayed to the bathroom like he hadn’t bothered her in the slightest.

In a half hour, she was ready. Nico was waiting for her while chatting with Cetta when she came downstairs, and the look on his face when he saw her made her tingle. She switched out that feeling for anticipation about her first full day in town.

“I’m ready to rock and roll.”

10

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

NICO

Nico was flooredby Dani’s appearance when she came down the stairs in her pretty sky-blue sundress that seemed more like a collection of gauzy scarves that floated around her ankles. He wasn’t usually a foot guy, but he admired hers in her strappy sandals. Complete with her canvas beach bag with “Swim ’N Slay” painted on the side and her shades clutched in her hand, she looked ready for the beach. Even before the sun, her skin had a healthy glow.

God, she was gorgeous.

It had taken every fucking ounce of self-restraint to pull away from that body and close her robe that morning, but he was determined to make her be the one who gave in first and tell him…

Tell him what? That she wanted another round of hot sex? She had admitted that, more or less, by tugging on his towel. Could she want more than that? What exactly was “more” for two people who didn’t want or need relationships?

Unaware of his internal puzzling, Dani reached the bottom of the stairs and grinned.

“Everybody’s gone, except for the nanny, who’s outside working on her tan while the kids are out. Got everything you need?” He gestured to her bag, and she nodded. “You look super cute today. Wish I could take a look at that bathing suit underneath.”

Her face heated, and she softly murmured, “Stop,” when he tweaked her cheek. “You look nice too, although I almost didn’t recognize you without that Yankees cap.”

“Gotta let the sun shine on my face occasionally,” Nico replied, pleased that she liked how he was dressed.

In his everyday life, he was all about tee shirts, jeans, sweats, sneakers, and boots. But here, it felt more natural wearing polos, button-down shirts, khaki shorts, and loafers. Maybe a little preppy but still comfortable.

Nico led her to the driveway and then to the garage. When he showed her what was in there, she grinned.

“Oh my God, my friend Melody would fucking faint in here.”

“She’s a gearhead?” Nico asked.

“She loves cars. Driving them, tinkering with them, collecting them.”

There were four sweet cars and a bunch of scooters lined up on the side. She was all set to hop into the Ferrari when Nico pointed at the sky-blue Vespa with a “Ta-da.”

Dani gasped. “Are you serious? I’m not gettin’ on that thing.”

“Come on. How can you spend time in Italy and not ride on a Vespa at least once? That would be the crazy part.”

“No way. That is not happening.”

But it did happen. After another five minutes of convincing arguments, Nico got her on the seat, strapped a helmet on her, and grinned in her face with a wink before climbing on in front of her. Immediately, his entire back was bathed in her heat as she snuggled in close behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He’d love it if she squeezed him somewhere else a bit further south, but realistically, they’d probably end up crashing if she did.

“Hold on,” he called. Then he took off at a nice, slow pace that was comfortable until he sped up and she screamed with laughter.