Brides Of Summer

“You looked so adorable standing there in your shorter hair and man’s shirt that didn’t cover up your bikini. Tanned, no makeup, bare-legged, full of energy, duffel bag in hand. I thought, I’ve got to get to know this exciting woman! I told your aunt I felt a connection so powerful with you, I couldn’t wait to get back to the castle the next morning to see you again.”

He felt Alessandra’s anxiety before she eased out of his arms. “Thank you for being so honest with me.” She was shivering.

“Now that I have, do you want to tell me what’s going on in your mind?”

“After I entered the castle, I heard a voice call out signorina. You’ll think I’m out of my mind, but when I saw you walk toward me, it was like seeing the prince who’d haunted my dreams come to life before my very eyes. I felt your imprint on me before you said a word.

“But the second you started talking, I realized you thought I was Dea and my dream was crushed to grist. She’d had a history with you. She’d been there first. I’d never experienced such envy in my life. I’ve heard of love at first sight, but I never imagined it would happen to me. My pain that she’d met you first was too excruciating to bear.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Until I learned the truth of your relationship with Dea during our drive, I’d been forced to keep my feelings bottled up and pretend nothing was wrong in front of my father.”

Her words shook Rini. “Adorata.” He reached for her, but she took another step back. “I haven’t finished. There’s something else you need to hear.”

Rini couldn’t take much more and attempted to get his emotions under control. “What is it?”

“When Dea and I were little girls, we had many of the same likes and dislikes that in some cases baffled everyone. One of the things we had in common was to talk about the princes we would marry one day. We played our own form of house with a miniature castle and all the characters Papà had made for us.

“Our mother and aunt gave us beautiful clothes to dress our dolls. Dea always had the most glamorous and stupendous outfits because they knew how much she loved fashion. I was given a fabulous boat that would sail me and my prince around the castle and the world.”

The lump was growing in Rini’s throat.

“We played for hours about living in the castle all our lives and being happy forever with our princely husbands and children. In our case it wasn’t pure fiction considering the lives of our titled parents and heritage.”

“Alessandra—”

“Let me finish,” she interrupted. “You were there when she first laid eyes on you. You saw what I can’t see. Rini, I’m convinced that when Dea met you on the yacht, she had the same experience I did. She saw you sitting there and knew you were the prince of her dreams. It was one of those times we were both the same person. By the expression on your face, I can tell I’m right.”

He closed his eyes tightly for a minute. Incredibile! This talk with Alessandra answered the questions that had lingered in his mind about Dea. In view of what he’d just learned, the way she’d linked her arms behind his head and the ardent kiss she’d given him when they’d stopped dancing as if she’d been claiming him for her own made a strange kind of sense. Her actions had borne out Alessandra’s theory.

Guido had acted nonchalant about it, but Rini had seen the glint of envy in his friend’s eyes. That was the only time he’d ever known him to show a side of emotion that surprised him. But Rini couldn’t be that cruel to Dea or Alessandra by telling her what Dea had done that night to show her attraction to him. It had to be a secret he would take to the grave.

His head reared. “What you’re saying is, Dea is now the one devastated.”

“Maybe.”

“Then we’re back to where we were before. If your guilt is going to keep you from enjoying this vacation with me, then I’ll fly you back home in the morning.”

“No, Rini—that isn’t what I want. I just needed to have this conversation with you.”

“But it doesn’t solve anything, does it?”

“I guess I want you to tell me what we should do.”

“If you mean that, then I suggest we table our concerns and enjoy our vacation. We’ll just have to hope that time and work will help Dea get over whatever disappointment she’s feeling.” But that wasn’t going to be easy since he still hadn’t forgotten the conversation with her aunt. He’d been burdened by it. “As for you and me, I’d hoped to take us on an overnight hike tomorrow.”

“You know I’d love that.”

“Then we’ll pick you up a lightweight backpack and sleeping bag in the morning.” She nodded with a smile. “How are you feeling now?”

“Much better. I’m getting hungry and know you are. Why don’t we go out to dinner someplace in Positano.”

“I’ve been anxious to show it to you. If you’re ready, we can go now.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

AS RINI HELPED Alessandra into the black BMW parked in front, he squeezed her waist and kissed the side of her neck. When he reached for her hand and held on, her heart pounded with anticipation of the night to come. He started the car and they wound through the lush greenery toward the town center. She could see the twinkle of lights from the fabulous villas half hidden behind cypress trees and palms.

The interior of the car smelled of the soap he used in the shower. She was so in love with him it was impossible to hide it from him. If she didn’t put Dea out of her mind, she could ruin this incredible time for them.

“Whoa. We’re right on the edge of the cliff.”

Rini flashed her a smile and parked the car along the side of the narrow road. “We’ve arrived at my favorite place. You’ll love the view from here.” She could hear soft rock music as he helped her out. They walked up the rock steps lined with flowers growing out of the vegetation to the little restaurant perched high up. The view from the terrace, where a band was playing, opened to the sea below between two mountain sides.

She gasped and clung to him. “That’s a steep drop.”

“Kind of like dropping eighty feet with you in our own private world.” Trust him to remind her. “Come on, bellissima.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to an empty, candlelit table. The romantic ambience made her feel feverish. Rini seated her and asked for wine from the waiter who recognized him. “Will you trust me to order for you?”

“If you’ll trust my cooking when we eat along the trail tomorrow evening.”

“I can hardly wait.” After the waiter walked away, Rini reached for her hand and pulled her onto the small dance floor, where another couple was dancing.

“There’s no room for anyone else.”

“That’s the whole idea,” he whispered before biting her earlobe gently. They danced in place, sending her body temperature skyrocketing. “If you knew the dreams I’ve had about holding you like this. Tonight there’s no wet suit to separate us.”

She chuckled. “I noticed.”

“I never want to be separated from you,” he admitted in a husky voice and crushed her to him. Alessandra closed her eyes and rocked in place with him. Never sounded like forever. Was it really possible? But that question led to the troubling question about Dea still hanging over her head, shooting more pain to her heart. So it was better not to think, just relish this night under the stars with Rini.

“I could stay this way indefinitely,” she murmured, “but I can see our food has arrived. Let’s get you fed.”

“How lucky am I to be with a woman who understands me.” He walked her back to their table and they plunged into an exquisite meal of octopus on creamed potatoes and prawns, followed by vegetables and carpaccio of swordfish with a dessert of salame de chocolat.

“If we keep eating like this, I’ll have to buy me a larger wet suit,” she quipped.

His dark eyes glinted with amusement. “We’ll hike it off tomorrow. For now you need to get home to bed. It’s been a long day for you.”

“I have to admit bed will feel good tonight.”

“I knew it.” He paid the bill and ushered her out of the restaurant. “Careful as we go down the stairs. Hold on to me.”

She didn’t need his urging as she clung to him. He walked her to the car, keeping her hugged against his side. Before he opened the door, he lowered his head to kiss her. She’d been dying for it. The passion he aroused in her was so powerful, she almost fainted. Someone in a car driving by let out a wolf whistle, causing her to blush in embarrassment. Rini only chuckled and opened the door so she could hide inside.

“Sorry about that,” he murmured as they drove back to his villa.

“No, you’re not.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I couldn’t help myself?”

Yes, if his desire for her was half as great as hers for him. She rested her head against the back of the seat. “This has been a wonderful night. I rarely drink wine and am afraid I drank too much.”

His hand reached out to give her thigh a squeeze, sending rivulets of desire through her body. “One glass?”

“Already you’re a corrupting influence on me.”

Male laughter rang inside the confines of the car. “Didn’t you know you’ve become my addiction? You’d better lock your door tonight.”

She rolled her head in his direction. “I trust you, Rini.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t.”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be going camping with you. Where are you going to take me?”

“Along the footpath of the gods.”

“Did you just make that up?”

“No. It’s the name of a trail formed by man years ago along the Amalfi Coast. In my opinion it’s one of the most striking panoramas of this world. You’ll know what I mean when we get going. We’ll follow it part of the way through gorges and precipices, then veer inland into the mountains.”

“You’ve given me goose bumps.”

“When you uncovered the mouth on that head, it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.”

She eyed him with longing. “I can’t believe how you just happened to know where to dive.”

“Pure selfishness. I wanted you to myself.” He pulled into the courtyard and escorted her inside the villa to her bedroom. Putting his hands on her shoulders he said, “Tonight was the perfect way to start our vacation. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll get going whenever you’re ready. Sleep well.”

He gave her a brief kiss before exiting the room. It was a good thing. If he’d lingered, she wouldn’t have let him leave.

Before she went to bed, she hung up a few things in the closet, then checked her phone. Her mother had texted her to find out how she was feeling since her hospital stay. There was no mention of Dea, who was probably still there. Alessandra texted her back, telling her she felt fine and that they were going hiking tomorrow. She sent her love to her parents. But when she climbed under the covers, her heart ached for Dea, whom she knew was in deep pain.

The ringing of the house phone at the side of the bed awakened Alessandra the next morning. She checked her watch. Seven thirty a.m. He was a morning man who loved fish. Little by little she was learning those precious things about him. With a smile she reached for the phone. “Buongiorno, Rini.”

“Hot coffee is waiting for you in the kitchen when you’re ready, but there’s no hurry.”

The excitement in his voice was contagious. She swung her legs over the side of the bed. “If I told you I couldn’t make it until noon, you know you’d have a heart attack.”

“Please don’t tell me that.”

“You’ll have to be patient with me,” she teased. “Ciao.”

She hung up the receiver and raced around the room getting ready, once she’d taken a shower. After diving into her suitcases, she pulled on jeans, a T-shirt and hiking boots. She packed a cloth bag she’d brought in her suitcase. Quickly she filled it with extra clothes, socks, a hoodie, a flashlight, matches, cosmetics and a brush—all the little things needed for their hike. She’d attach it to the backpack they were going to buy her.

When she hurried through his elegant home to the kitchen, she discovered she’d only taken eight minutes to get ready. Not bad considering the gorgeous male drinking coffee had assumed she would keep him waiting for hours.

The look of surprise on his handsome face was so comical, she thought he would drop his mug. Alessandra grinned. “Got ya.”

His eyes blazed with intensity. In the next breath he wrapped her in his arms and whirled her around. “I figured five more minutes and I was charging in to get you.”

“Now I wish I’d waited.”

A bark of laughter escaped his throat before he kissed her fiercely. He didn’t let her go until she struggled for breath. “I’ve made breakfast. Go ahead and eat while I take your bag out to the car with the food I’ve packed.”

“You made food for our hike? I could have helped.”

“Bianca always has my favorite meat and cheese pies on hand. We’ll pack some to take with us.”

“I’m salivating already.”

She reached for a ham roll and grapes. After swallowing coffee, she hurried out to the car. Rini locked up the house and they left for the town to pick her up a backpacking frame. He knew exactly what he wanted for her and soon they were on their way to the outskirts of Positano, where he parked the car in an area reserved for hikers.

Rini was a master at assembling all the gear, which included a tent, fishing gear plus all the other things they’d brought. “How does that feel?” he asked after helping her adjust the straps. “Is it lopsided?”

“It’s perfect and the day is absolutely glorious.”

Through her sunglasses she stared at the striking male specimen standing before her wearing his own pack. He carried the bulk of their equipment as if it was nothing and smiled back at her through his sunglasses. “Get ready to be astounded by the sights.”

“After you, Captain.”

They were off. She followed him along a well-worn path for about a mile. Before she knew it they’d come to a section with a thousand-foot dropoff and no railing. “Rini,” she squealed in awe.

“We’re at the top of the cliff. You’ll notice that people live up here and use this path coming and going.”

“It’s a miracle. Unbelievable.” They continued walking and ran into farms and terraces that grew fruits and vegetables.

“Some people come here for a hike and decide to live here in one of the little houses on these mountains.”

“I can see why. It’s so peaceful up here, unconnected to anything else.”

“You should be here during a storm. The clouds drift in from the sea and literally collide with the cliffs.”

“The view from this spot is breathtaking. That water is so blue, I have to take a picture.” She pulled the phone out of her pocket and insisted he get in it. They took turns so he could capture her, then they trudged on.

Alessandra really did feel she was walking on the footpath of the gods. One of them was right in front of her. He took such wonderful care of her every step of the way, she felt cherished.

They stopped at noon to eat lunch under a tree, then made a turn into the interior. Rini was an encyclopedia on the flora and fauna, let alone the history of the region governed by Byzantine rule from the third century when Amalfi was a trading post.

He took her past gorges and caves until they came to a mountain stream. “How are you at fly fishing?”

“I’ve only trolled for fish in the sea. You’ll have to teach me.”

“You’re going to love it. Let’s have a snack, then I’ll set up our fishing poles and I’ll show you how to cast.”

It felt good to sit down and relax for a little while. He told her to look in his tackle box and see what kind of fly she’d like to use.

“Do they all work here?”

“Most of them. Look for a gray spider fly.”

Alessandra rummaged around until she found one of that color. “This?” She held it up.

“That’s it. I’ll attach it and we’ll walk down to the edge of the water to catch our dinner.”

She watched him put her fly on the line before he chose a spot. “Show me how to cast.”

He demonstrated five or six times so she could get the hang of it. “Okay. I think I’m ready to try.” But it wasn’t as easy as he made a look. She hit too low, too high and was too jerky. On her last cast she put the fly rod too far back and her line was snagged by a shrub. “Oh, no!”

Rini didn’t laugh outright, but she knew he had to be chuckling as she scrambled up the side of the ravine to retrieve the fly. She made several attempts to no avail. “Help! I can’t get it out!” He joined her and carefully extricated it from the prickly bush. “You’re so good at this I bet you’ve never done that.”

“You have no idea the mistakes I’ve made,” he confessed after pressing a hungry kiss to her mouth. “Come on. Let’s try it again.”

“I’m embarrassed and want to watch you fish for a while.”

He reached for his pole and aimed for a spot near a rock where the water pooled in the stream. On his third attempt to catch something at the same place, she saw a little fish grab his fly and he reeled it in.

“That was poetry in motion, Rini. I’ll never be able to do that.”

“Keep at it and you’ll become an expert like you are at everything else.” He got out his fish knife and removed the hook before throwing the fish back in the stream.

“Why did you do that?”

His eyes lit on her. “It was too small. Maybe he has a big brother or sister swimming around. Now it’s your turn to try again.”

She reached for her pole. “I’ll aim for the same place you did.” This time she threw it so hard, her pole landed in the water. “Diavolo!” she cried and jumped into the fast moving stream to catch it. But her boot tripped on a rock and she felt flat on her face. Her pole was carried farther downstream and got stuck around a bunch of rocks.

Like lightning Rini was there to help her up. By now they were knee-deep in the water. She lifted her head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. His body was shaking with laughter, but being polite, he held it back. She loved him so much, she couldn’t stay angry and started to laugh.

“Apologies for the slip.”

His smile enveloped her. “Which one?”

“Both!” She broke free of his arms and made her way carefully downstream to recover her pole. “Ooh—a big trout just swam past me. I wish I could have grabbed it!”

Rini’s deep male laughter poured out of him in waves. He moved toward her.

“No, no. I can make it back to shore myself. You’re probably thinking, is this the scuba diver?” To her horror, the moment she said the words she slipped on a moss-covered rock and fell on her face, making another big splash.

When she stood up sputtering, there was Rini taking a picture of her. “That’s not fair.” Alessandra made a face. “This is ridiculous.” She raised her rod and stomped out of the water, flinging herself down on a grassy spot. “Don’t you dare laugh again.”

Rini raised his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I was hoping we could hike farther to a small lake, but under the circumstances we’ll camp here. I’ll set up the tent so you can change out of your wet clothes.”

“I’m all right. Let’s keep going. Maybe I’ll have better luck at the lake. I’ll just troll for a fish by walking through the water and trailing my line.”

One dark brow lifted above eyes that were dancing in amusement. “You’re sure?”

“Let’s go.” She put on her backpack, deciding to carry her pole as is.

Rini started out first. All along the way she heard him chuckling, but he never turned around. A half hour later they dropped into a dark green gorge. With night falling fast, she was reminded of a primeval forest. The water from the stream emptied into a silvery narrow lake maybe a soccer field long. “It’s shaped like a fat eel!”

“Spoken like a scuba diver. My father always thought it looked like a cigar.”

“What about your brother?”

“A long blimp.”

She laughed. “And you?”

“The Veil Nebula.”

Alessandra blinked. “You love astronomy?” He nodded. “Did you ever consider becoming an astronomer?”

“No. The universe is too far away. With engineering I can get my hands on something once I design it.”

“You like the tactile.”

He nodded. “We’ll set up camp here.”

“I love this spot.”

“Tomorrow we’ll explore the other end of the lake. The water trickles down to become a waterfall and cascades to the sea.”

“I wish we didn’t have to wait.”

His gaze trapped hers. “You know the old saying. All good things come to those who wait.”

“But I don’t want to. Aren’t I awful?”

“Later tonight I’ll tell you what I think.”

His words filled with promise almost caused her legs to buckle. In seconds he’d found them a grassy area and pulled out the blue-and-white two-man tent. She helped him erect it. They worked along in harmony. Finally she was able to go inside and change into warm gray sweats and tennis shoes. All her clothes needed to be dried outside, including her boots.

While he built a small campfire, she laid their sleeping bags side by side. The whole time Alessandra worked, she feared he could hear her heart thudding through the walls of the tent. Tonight they’d be sleeping together. This was the kind of heaven she never imagined could happen to her.

The light from the flames flickered, revealing his tantalizing male features. He’d thrown on a tan crewneck sweater over his jeans. His beautiful olive skin and dark coloring had been bequeathed by his Neapolitan ancestry. She could feast her eyes on him all night.

He watched her approach. “Come and sit down. I’ve made coffee to go with our pies.”

“You’re wonderful.” She kissed his jaw before making a place next to him. “I’m sorry I couldn’t contribute anything for our dinner. I’ll do better another time.”

“I’m counting on it,” he murmured.

Her pulse raced as she sipped her coffee from the plastic mug. “Did your mother camp with you when you came out here?”

“Many times. Valentina, too. It’s dark in this part of the mountains. She would bring her hand telescope and pass it around. I remember the hours she taught us about the constellations. Then she and Papà would slip into their tent and leave the three of us to enjoy the wonders of the universe. When I grew old enough, I understood they sneaked away to enjoy the wonder of each other.”

“Oh, I know all about that.” Alessandra chuckled. “Our family went on expeditions to Sicily. One time at the Valley of the Temples, we’d set up our camp. I thought we’d explore that first night while there was still light. But our parents told us to run along and enjoy ourselves.

“My sister and I eyed each other. We could always amuse each other. But it was another one of those times when we were both thinking exactly the same thing. You could say that night contributed to our enlightenment. I never looked at my parents the same way again.”

Rini ate another pie. “I can relate.” He let the fire burn down.

She sat cross-legged in front of it. “You’ve never told me where you went to school.”

“University of Naples, then MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.”

“You didn’t meet a special woman during those years?”

He swallowed the rest of his coffee. “Yes, but I had a goal to finish my education and didn’t let anything get in the way.”

“Still, you know what I mean.”

“She didn’t matter enough to distract me from my agenda since I knew I couldn’t give her a baby.”

“I’m glad it didn’t work out. Otherwise I wouldn’t be with you now.”

Rini stirred and got to his feet. “I want to continue this conversation, but would rather do it in the tent. Give me a minute to put out the fire.” While he went over to the stream half a dozen times for water to douse the flames, Alessandra put the food away, then found her flashlight and took a trip behind a fat bush.

She kept the light on for Rini. Once she’d removed her tennis shoes, she entered the tent and lay down inside one of bags. Before long he joined her having exchanged his sweater and jeans for a dark blue sweatshirt and pants. His dashing smile took her breath. “I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”

“So am I.”

He zipped up the tent flaps and opened the little screened window for air. Then he stretched out on top of his sleeping bag and turned toward her. “Do you mind if we keep the light on for a little while? I want to look at you while we talk.”

She rolled on her side to face him. “I love looking at you, but you already know that.”

“Alessandra?” He reached for her hand and kissed the palm. “Though I want to make love to you and never stop, I can’t wait any longer to tell you what’s on my mind first.”

“What is it?”

“I’m helplessly in love with you, adorata, and want to marry you.”

A cry escaped her throat. “Rini—”

“That couldn’t be news to you.” He sat up to face her. “I fell in love with you that first day. You weren’t the only one who had a surreal experience.”

Joy permeated her body. “I hoped you felt that way, but I hardly dared to dream I would ever hear those words.”

“I’ve been afraid to say them because of the burden it puts on you.”

She raised up on one elbow. “What burden? If you’re talking about the fact that you can’t give me babies, we’ve already had this conversation. It doesn’t matter.”

He shook his head. “Of course it does. But putting the reality of adoption aside, I’m talking about something else that I should have discussed with you weeks ago.”

Weeks?

With that word Alessandra got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and sat up. “This has to do with my aunt, doesn’t it?”

Lines marred his features, letting her know she was right, and her frustration grew. “Instead of going diving that morning, you drove us back to the castle because you said you had business with Papà.”

“I did,” he muttered.

“That’s interesting. When I came down to the office later to find you, he told me you’d gone. I heard the helicopter. According to him you were no longer interested in drilling for oil on our property. As a footnote he said you thanked both of us profusely for our time.” Her voice quivered, but she couldn’t stop it. “I thought I was in the middle of a nightmare.”

Rini was quiet so long, she couldn’t stand it. “What went on with my aunt behind closed doors that caused you to leave without even having the decency to say goodbye to me in person? If what happened was so terrible, why didn’t you tell me immediately?”

“I held back because I didn’t want to betray a confidence that could bring pain.”

“You’ve said that before. To whom?” she demanded.

He stared her down. “Everyone involved.”

“I don’t understand.” Her tears had started. He brushed them away with his thumbs.

“My feelings for you ran so deep, I was afraid to spend another moment with you. The only thing to do was get away and never see you again.”

She shuddered. “Don’t you know how cruel that was to me? I’d fallen hopelessly in love with you and you knew it.”

“Listen to me.” He grasped both her hands. “I slipped away because I thought it was the best thing to do considering that I never intended to see you again.”

Alessandra couldn’t take much more. “Then why did you come back?”

“You know the answer to that. When I heard about the earthquake and knew your diving team had been affected, I came close to having a coronary. Nothing could have kept me away, not even my reason for leaving you the way I did in the first place.”

“The accident didn’t turn out to be that serious.”

“It could have been deadly,” he argued. “Don’t you know you were the most important person in my life? To think of losing you was so terrifying, I flew out of my office and left for Crotone. I had to search for you at two other hospitals before I found you. The moment I saw you again and your doctor told me you would recover, I realized I couldn’t walk away from you a second time.”

“Even if what you’re about to tell me will hurt everyone?” Her question rang inside the tent.

“Yes. I have to risk it because I’ve just asked you to be my wife. But I was premature and don’t want your answer until you’ve heard the whole truth from me.”

A groan came out of her. “How long are you going to make me wait? Please just tell me what it is and let it be the end of all the secrets.”

The sick look on her face devastated Rini, but she needed to hear everything. He drank part of his bottle of water first, then screwed the top back on. “Did you know that Dea flew to Taranto to see your aunt the morning after being on the yacht?”

A delicate frown marred her features. “That’s news to me. I thought she told you she had some fashion shows that kept her in Naples.”

Rini nodded. “That’s what she told me. Does your sister have a special bond with your aunt?”

“Yes. Many times over the years she’s gone to stay with her. My aunt took care of her after she was born so Mamma could have a break from two children at once. I usually spent time with our mother. I adore my aunt, but I’m pretty sure Dea developed a deep attachment to Zia Fulvia that has lasted. Our aunt is very glamorous and exciting. Naturally it meant the world to her since she couldn’t have children.

“I’ve always appreciated that Dea and I were raised to be individuals. Neither Mamma or Fulvia played up our twin status. We were never dressed alike or put in the same classes at school. They wanted us to be able to express ourselves in our own way and have our own friends. Dea gravitated to Fulvia.”

“Yet interestingly enough, in some ways you’re more like your aunt than she is.”

“You told me that before.” She took a ragged breath. “You still haven’t told me why Dea went to see her.”

After listening to the explanation of Alessandra’s background, Rini was beginning to understand a great deal. “Your sister wanted to talk to her about me.”

A haunted look crept into her lovely face. “I’m surprised my aunt would reveal something that private to you.”