Page 29 of His to Keep
“Ah, but he can,” Lorenzo says. “The men in our family are protective. We think we should be able to protect all the innocents of the world.”
“Including me,” I say quietly.
Gio grabs my hand and squeezes tightly. “Especially you, kitten.”
For the first time I realize just how big a deal it is when Gio says he’s going to marry me to protect me. It isn’t just some whim he’s acting on. He’s on a mission of sorts. That will make it harder to persuade him we shouldn’t take such a drastic step when we barely know each other.
I return my attention to the window as we drive along one country road and then another, eventually turning off when we come to a set of gates in a high wrought-iron fence. They swing open for us, and we drive through. After a minute or so. a house comes into view, a gorgeous, sprawling villa with terracotta tiles on the roof.
“My brother Gabriele actually owns the house,” Lorenzo tells me as we draw closer. “He bought it for the summer months when Rome becomes too hot and is overrun with tourists, but he’s never used it.”
“That seems like a waste.”
Lorenzo shrugs lazily. “It’s provided a useful base for our American cousins.”
We pull up at the front door of the villa and Gio gets out of the car first. I slide across the back seat and accept the hand he offers me. As I jump down onto the gravel driveway, I detect a pleasant floral scent in the air. Breathing in deeply, I step to the side to admire the view.
“What do you think?” Lorenzo joins me and Gio. “Have you ever seen anything more spectacular?”
Dunblair Castle, my family home, is surrounded by acres of farmland and forests. As far as I’m concerned it’s the most beautiful place on Earth, but I have to admit there is something special about the Tuscan landscape.
“It’s magnificent.” My remark earns me another of Lorenzo’s megawatt smiles. I can’t help but wonder what ruthlessness his affable personality masks. I’m not sure how far I can trust a man like him. It’s something Gio has in his favor, I suppose. He doesn’t try to pretend he’s anything other than what he is. He wears his assholery like a badge of honor.
As we head inside, walking into a tiled entrance hall dominated by an impressive wooden staircase, a young woman with long, dark hair comes to greet us.
“Buongiorno.Welcome to the Volante residence.”
“This is Rosalia,” Lorenzo says. “She is the housekeeper here.”
Housekeeper? She appears to be younger than I am. Looking after a place this size seems like a hell of a task for a teenager to oversee.
“Nice to meet you, Rosalia. I’m Eilidh.”
“Yes,Signorina, I know.”
“Rosalia will take care of your every need, so for now I will leave you in her capable hands.” Lorenzo pulls Gio into a hug and pats his back. “We will see you tonight,cugino.”
“What’s happening tonight?” I ask as Lorenzo leaves.
“A family celebration,” Gio replies. “Now, Rosalia, could you show us to our room.”
“With pleasure,Signore.”
Rosalia leads the way upstairs.
“Do you think housekeeper is a euphemism?” I whisper to Gio.
“You think she’s one of my cousins’ playthings?” Gio asks.
I wrinkle my nose up. “I wouldn’t have put it like that.”
“How would you have put it?” Gio asks as we follow Rosalia along the corridor.
“I don’t know. Live-in lover?”
“My cousins don’t live here.” Gio chuckles as I grunt irritably. “But no, I think she really is just the housekeeper. My cousins don’t shit where they eat.”
“Fuck, Gio.” I slap his chest. “You are obnoxious at times.”
