Page 15 of Chasing Caine

“I told him he should do something different. Restoration is all old men, I said.” He winked. “Looks like I’m wrong!” His gaze rose at the sound of footsteps behind me.

Antonio’s muscular arms slid around my shoulders, and he kissed my neck. “Mario, leave my girlfriend alone.” His deep voice vibrated inside me, suffusing me with a warmth that soothed my nerves.

Girlfriend. We were already back to that. Despite the disappointment he likely felt over last night.

I smiled after him as he crossed to the counter with the espresso maker.

“Look at that smile.” Mario nudged my leg with his. “Antonio, I think this one likes you! Perhaps she’s not as intelligent as you said?”

“Quiet, Mario.”

I chuckled and picked up the cornetto, splitting it in half, a rich, dark brown filling oozing out. “Mmm, chocolate hazelnut.”

“Antonio used to prefer lemon custard.” Mario raised an eyebrow at me and took another sip. “But this is all he eats now.”

“Samantha has good taste.”

Mario nudged my leg again. “Except in men!”

Shaking his head with a grin, Antonio sat, placing his coffee on the table. He moved his chair closer to mine and took one of my hands, intertwining our fingers. Butterflies swirled around my stomach. Maybe he wasn’t upset over last night after all.

I took another sip of the cappuccino, barely able to look at the sexy man next to me. “I think I have pretty good taste.”

Antonio lifted our hands to his mouth and kissed the back of mine, smiling. “Sì, you taste marvelous.” He winked at me, and I spluttered, almost spitting out my drink.

Mario rocked back, laughing. This was going to be an exceptionally long ten days. He clapped his hands together. “Not to spoil the mood, but when are we leaving?”

“We?” I looked from him to Antonio.

“Samantha and I need to do some shopping first.” Antonio took a bite of his pastry.

“I hate shopping.”

He looked me up and down, pursing his lips. “We’re going to Pompeii today. You can’t wear your jeans and motorcycle boots, nor can you wear my clothes.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but stopped. He had me there. Thursday evening, I’d thrown one change of clothes and my passport into a backpack for an overnight visit to New York City. Then I’d gotten it in my head to fly to Naples with only that backpack. Southern Italy was scorching in summer, so I needed lighter clothes and walking shoes.

“Bella, we can pick up enough for today in Sorrento and head to the Park after that. Tomorrow, we can spend the day shopping in Napoli. Sound good?”

“Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”

He squeezed my hand, leaning over to kiss my cheek.

Mario said, “Some of the equipment has not been delivered yet.”

My head snapped toward him. “Really?”

Antonio made a low rumbling noise, but was smiling by the time I turned back to him. “My goal upon arriving had been to hurry the project along so I could see you again. And now with this missing equipment, we don’t expect to start for at least another week.” He nudged my shoulder with his and waggled his eyebrows. “But here you are, and I’m available to do your bidding.”

My heart sank into my stomach. Memories of Vincenzo flooded over me. Waiting for him to join me in the States. A string of postponements andone more monthpromises catching in my throat. I couldn’t go through that again. “That means you’ll be delayed coming back to Michigan?”

“Worry about that later, bella.” He brushed light fingers across my cheek, voice soft. “Today, we worry about essentials and Pompeii. Tomorrow, shopping in Napoli. After that, who knows? But trust me—we will have a wonderful holiday together.”

“I mentioned I hate shopping, right?”

He took another sip of his coffee and looked at Mario. Eyebrows rose, lips twitched, and they nodded. They communicated in some unspoken cousin language and ended with a shared smile.

Looking from one to the other, their two faces disturbingly similar, I asked, “What?”

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