Page 91 of Sinful Promises

My long, flowing skirt swished between my legs, my knee-high boots clipped over the terracotta pavers, and the mild ocean breeze caught in my hair. The suitcase made a terrible racket, and I wished I could stop it. Maybe that’s why everyone is turning to me?

The few restaurants that were open tempted me with offers of Chianti and house specials. People went about their business. Men were fiddling with boats that had been pulled up the main street and secured alongside doorways. The two women I passed were carrying groceries and pushing prams.

But after several people had looked at me with the same reaction the elderly woman had, I felt like I was on parade and people were keen to catch a glimpse of the stranger in town.

At the bottom of the hill, I stood on a small brick platform that represented the end of the street and stared out over the naturally curved marina. To my right was a pool made out of a series of giant rocks. To my left, a dozen or so small boats were tied up close to the shore. Kids played on the rocks, and despite there being nothing to stop them tumbling into the water below, there didn’t seem to be any adults watching them.

Following the elderly woman’s instructions, I headed to the left, walking up a steep, narrow path that ran parallel to the sea. Every house touched the house next door. The entire hillside was a kaleidoscope of colorful houses and terracotta rooftops.

The picturesque setting was one I’d seen in dozens of tourist brochures, and epitomized many towns dotted along the Italian riviera.

Two thoughts flashed across my mind simultaneously—one was that I wished I had more time to explore this region. The other was that with Roman as my guide, any time here would be special.

If he wanted to spend time with me, that was.

We hadn’t exactly left on good terms.

Shit!

Roman was probably still pissed at me for leaving him in the lurch like that. Maybe that was why he’d quit his job. Oh, God. I hadn’t even thought about that.

A pale-blue home in the distance caught my eye. It was at the end of the path and had white balconies just like the elderly woman had said. Shoving my unwelcome negativity aside, I aimed for it.

As I walked up the paved path, a few women came out onto balconies and waved at me like they knew I’d be there. It was as if a breeze filled with Chinese whispers had been dispatched, announcing my arrival. And just like with the elderly woman in the restaurant, I had a strange feeling they thought they knew me.

It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.

Anonymity had been my thing for nearly thirty years. Move to a new town. Make as few friends as possible. Move again.

This was so very different.

The end of the path led right up to the front door of the blue house. The home was clinging to the edge of the cliff like an oyster shell. A table was set up at the front of the home with a bright green umbrella and a sign offering homemade limoncello.

Roman helped his father make limoncello.

Could that be Roman’s house?

The enormity of what I’d done to get here, and what I was about to do, hit me like a freight train. I could barely breathe. My feet were frozen to the pavers.

This was it. I had reached the point of no return.

Not that I wanted to run. Hell no.

Let’s do this, Daisy.

I ran my hands over my dress, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles, and forced my feet to walk toward the door.

Just before I knocked, the door opened. A beautiful young woman stood in the entranceway. Her long, cocoa-brown hair spilled over her shoulders, and her dark lashes framed her honey-colored eyes like a million-dollar portrait. Her yellow dress made a striking impression against her olive skin.

“Ciao. You must be Daisy. Sì?” Her Italian accent was strong, but her English was perfect.

Adrenaline shot through me, and I reached for the doorframe before I keeled over. “Sì. Sì. I am Daisy.”

“I can tell.”

I touched my hair. “You . . . you can?”

“Yes. It’s about time you visited. I’m Maria, Roman’s sister. We were beginning to think Roman had made you up. Come. Come in.” She stepped aside.

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