Page 46 of My Fake Italian Marriage

No, not yet, but soon, when the time was right.

The candlelight flickered on Cleo’s face as she laughed at something Dino’s wife said, then she raised her eyes and looked straight at him, and a tidal wave of longing washed over him. Not merely desire for the physical pleasure that could be had with a woman, but a longing for more. He just wasn’t sure what that more was.

Maybe to prove that he wasn’t the same as Uncle Luciano.

He sighed. Even if he was no better, even if it didn’t last, love was worth the experience, as Birgitta had said. Three weeks with Cleo would be worth the fall-out when she left. His family would be convinced, more than ever, that he was as faithless and untrustworthy as Luciano, but for three weeks he could show this magnificent woman what she was worthy of. Maybe, when this adventure was over, she would stop chasing men like Evan Courtenay, and find herself a man she could really be happy with, a man who would value her.

She cocked her head, inviting him closer, and he stepped into the light, circling around the table to stand behind her. He rested his hands on her shoulders.

“I’m opening another bottle of Lambrusco.” Camillo stretched and rose from his seat. “I never thought I’d see little Luca become a married man. That’s worth celebrating.”

“You’re not driving back to Pienza tonight?”

“Non ci penso proprio. We stay here tonight and drive back tomorrow.”

“Butwestill need to drive back to Montalcino tonight.”

“Why not stay here tonight too?” Camillo suggested. “It’s not as if this villa doesn’t have enough rooms.”

Luca didn’t look at Cleo. She’d insisted on separate beds, and that was not going to go unnoticed in a house full of servants and guests. “We want some time alone, don’t we,cara?” He squeezed Cleo’s shoulders.

She looked up at him, eyes dancing. “But since you’re the one driving,Ican enjoy one more glass.”

She held out her empty flute to Camillo, and he laughed. “I like your bride. She’s going to fit in very well with this family.”

Dino raised his glass in a toast. “Evviva gli sposi!”

ChapterEighteen

Il fine giustifica i mezzi.

(The end justifies the means.)

It was well past midnight when they drove to Montalcino. Cleo closed her eyes, humming along to the car radio and enjoying the buzz of sparkling wine, excellent food and good company. Luca’s cousins reminded her strongly of her own brothers: loud, teasing, opinionated, and full of unspoken love for one another. She leaned her head against the window and smiled. At the first opportunity, she wanted to go to Dorset to visit her family. It had been far too long since she’d seen them.

“You did well tonight,” Luca said, his voice soft in the darkened interior of the car. “Thank you.”

“It was easier than I expected. They’re nice people.” She giggled. “Even your mother. She really thawed tonight. I guess she was that desperate to see you married.” She closed her eyes again. Wouldn’t it be nice to be married into a family like this one for real? Clearly the sparkling wine had gone to her head.

Luca eased the car through the narrow back streets of Montalcino, deserted at this hour. Lights shone in a few windows and the storefront of a pharmacy, but the town was quiet. He slowed to a stop in a narrow street, outside a tall, thin house with exposed stonework and dark green shutters. She admired the skill Luca exhibited angling the car into the narrow garage. Then he unloaded their suitcases from the boot, and gestured for her to proceed him through the arched wooden door off the street. The stairwell was dimly lit, with just enough light for her to make her way up to the apartment, a homely, welcoming living room that was as different from the Fioravanti villa as she could imagine. Where his parents’ home was grand, formal, and filled with antiques, this apartment was cosy and lived-in. There was a bright-coloured rug on the bleached-wood floor, pot plants on the window sill, and piles of books on the coffee table.

He led her up another flight of stairs to the bedrooms, and showed her the guest room that would be hers. The room was small but neat, with crisp white bedding, and cushions and a soft throw in steel-blue.

“There’s only one bathroom,” he apologised. Since they’d shared a bathroom for the last few days, she figured she could cope with sharing for a few more weeks. At least this one had a solid door. And she already knew enough about Luca to know he didn’t leave wet towels lying all over the floor and mostly remembered to put the toilet seat back down.

She set her laptop bag and handbag on the pale oak dresser. “Thank you.”

He crossed to her, smiling, and took her hands. “I know you hate dishonesty, but tonight you made my parents so happy. This is just the medicine my father needs.” He raised her right hand to his mouth, placed a kiss on her open palm, and left the room. She stood, rooted to the spot, long after he’d closed the door behind him, her legs feeling suspiciously liquid after that tender, intimate gesture.

* * *

When she woke in the morning, bleary-eyed and the teensiest bit hung over, Luca was already awake. Once again, he wore only his grey sweatpants, and—oh my!—those abs were a treat to see first thing in the morning. Even better was the steaming cup of fresh tea he handed her as she stumbled into the compact galley kitchen.

“Buongiorno.” His eyes kindled as he gave her a once-over, raking over her sleep shorts and tank top. Usually, she found getting checked out by a man a tad creepy, but the appreciative look in Luca’s eyes didn’t feel creepy at all: it made her feel beautiful and made her stand taller.

They took their mugs and a plate of fresh pastries – which Luca had already collected from the bakery one street over, proving how late she’d slept in – out onto his balcony, where the wrought-iron railings were overgrown with a riot of purple bougainvillea. In companionable silence they shared breakfast and watched the unhurried traffic on the street below, neighbours heading to work or school on foot, who waved at them or called out a greeting as they passed.

Luca rocked his chair back with a satisfied sigh. “This is why I like to live in town. I feel part of the community.”

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