Page 38 of Giorgio

“Aren’t you afraid of that happening even now?”

He shrugged elegantly. “I never think about it.” His eyes drifted to her lips. “You have something…,” leaning forward, he used his napkin to dab at the sides of her mouth, his touch lingering. For a few seconds, they both went still, eyes connecting, breaths backing up as the tension mounted.

He was the first to move, snatching his hand away as if he had been near an open blaze. For the next few minutes, there was silence around the table.

“Dessert?”

“What?”

He pointed to the Tiramisù in the bowl.

“Oh. Yes, of course.”

They ate the rest of the meal in silence, only breaking it when he poured the coffee.

“I spoke to Julian today.”

“What did he have to say?” He asked sardonically. “More dire warnings?”

“Something like that.” She smiled at him whimsically. “He wants me to come home.”

He felt a sickening jolt at the thought of her leaving. “And what did you say to that?”

“I told him what the doctor said about my moving.”

“Let me guess, he wants to charge over here and carry you out bodily.”

She leveled a direct gaze at him, her smile widening.

“What?”

“You two really rub each other the wrong way, don’t you?”

“He hates me,” Giorgio muttered.

“And it doesn’t help that you act like a complete jerk whenever he speaks to you.”

“So, it’s my fault?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I think he makes you feel defensive. You are both trying to protect me and end up being at odds because of it. I should feel flattered, but each time the two of you have a conversation, I find myself holding my breath.”

“That bad, huh?” He asked wryly.

“Oh yes. So, I think the best thing for me to do is to be the mediator.”

“You are so good at it.” He told her teasingly.

“I have had to be,”

She was relieved that the tension was no longer surrounding them, and they were back to being easy with each other.

“Cold?” He asked when she shivered suddenly.

“A little.”

“Let me get you a jacket.” Pushing away from the table, he went into the room, leaving her to stare at the place he had abandoned. He was so attentive to even her smallest needs and she was beginning to rely on him catering to her.

“Here, let me…” Moving to her side, he helped her on with the jacket before returning to his chair.

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