places with him that would require her to wear certain clothes, shoes and accessories. Maybe it shouldn’t be that way, but it was. He never wanted her to feel out of place. The women in his family would surround her with their protection, but he knew that she would meet many others just like Eloisa who would just wait for a chance to tear her self-esteem to pieces.
“I’m glad you like it, gattina. It suits you.”
Her eyes shone so brightly he couldn’t stop himself from leaning in for another kiss. This time, she kissed him back immediately, letting him take her over. Letting him deepen the kiss, accepting his going from gentle to a takeover without any reservation. Like before, she gave herself to him, surrendering, and this time he felt her tentative return, the foray of her tongue chasing his, sliding along his, sending spirals of heat down his spine, centering in his groin and racing through his bloodstream. She was the one. His only. He knew it with every fiber of his being.
Vittorio sat a distance from the two women, giving Grace space to conduct business and entertain her friend. He needed to be close enough to calculate just how tired Grace became during their conversation, or if she wanted out of the meeting. She didn’t realize just how much she’d done just by getting up, showering and getting dressed. She’d been up for several hours already.
This would be their first test. Grace had no idea it was coming, that she would have to make the decision whether or not to allow him to dictate to her for the sake of her health. He chose something big right out of the gate, because if she could find it in herself to trust him to look after her when she needed it, she would trust him on much smaller things.
Merry brought out a tray with fresh strawberry lemonade and then left them with a brief, friendly smile toward Grace. Katie glanced his way, but he sat close to the glass doors, giving them the view of the pool and lake while he had a good side view of both of the women.
“I was so worried, Grace,” Katie said. “I received an update every day, but not seeing you was very scary. There was so much false information.” She glanced again at Vittorio. “Everywhere I look I’m seeing headlines that the two of you are engaged. He spent two weeks straight at the hospital. Now you’re here. How would I not know?”
Grace looked at him a little helplessly. Immediately Vittorio got up and crossed to them, distracting Katie so his woman wouldn’t have to answer. He perched on the arm of Grace’s chair and lifted her hand, showing off the ring. “I asked Grace not to tell anyone at all, not even her closest friend. We would have been in the spotlight and you know how glaring and disruptive that is to a new relationship. I didn’t want to chance losing her.”
Katie gasped when she saw the ring, but when she lifted her gaze to Vittorio, he could see the wariness on her face. “I’m Grace’s partner, not just her friend. I look out for her. Not saying anything for a year certainly allowed you to be with whomever you felt like.”
“Katie,” Grace cautioned.
“No, bella, she has a perfectly good point. The tabloids write all kinds of things about my family. They make two acquaintances walking together down the hallway of a hotel seem sleazy. Having lunch with a friend can turn into a love affair. That’s what you’re facing being with me. Every moment of your day, everything you do, will be scrutinized. I wanted to keep you away from that for as long as possible, and I’m grateful you have a friend who looks out for you.”
Katie seemed to regard him with a little less suspicion and Grace hadn’t had to lie to her. He kissed her fingertips. “I’ll let you two get to it. I have some work to do, but I’ll be right over there, if either of you need anything.” He sauntered back to his spot, took out his phone and looked for all the world as if he was completely absorbed in what he was seeing on his screen.
“I didn’t want to freak out too soon, but I didn’t have any of your notes for the Midnight Madness—Locals Helping the Elderly fund-raiser,” Katie said. “We’re three weeks out and I need to know if