In Sickness and in Wealth by Gina Robinson Read Free Book Online Page B

hand through the dark, narrow alleyways of Sorrento. The pizzeria I was taking her to sat at the end of a narrow street that ended at the bay. It had a back terrace that looked across the water toward the sparkling lights of Naples. And hand-tossed, oven-fired pizza that melted in the mouth.
    "I hope you know where you're going!" she said. "This area looks sketchy."
    "No, it's fine. Just old. If we follow the light to the end of the alley we can't go wrong."
    Inside the pizzeria, the atmosphere was pure old country. A nearly wall-sized painting of a jester during carnivale , dressed in full ruffles and mask as he put a pizza in the oven, hung on the wall opposite us. The air was filled with the scent of baking bread. I asked to be seated on the open-air brick terrace.
    My timing was perfect. The sun was in the process of setting and the moon was rising silver over Vesuvius. We were given a view table. Strings of white lights crisscrossed and sparkled over our heads and the patio. We sat side by side on the same side of the table so we could both enjoy the view. On a bench seat with our backs to a brick wall that was slowly giving up its heat. A large, open window of the pizzeria released delicious aromas to the terrace. A bottle filled with a red rose sat in the middle of the table, along with an unlit candle. A local band played Italian folk music and love songs on the far side of the terrace from us.
    I was high on the success of my team that afternoon. We were advancing to the semifinals. I was also high on the adrenaline of the hunt. Damn that ID thief for threatening me. I was tense with both excitement and fear. If I kept ignoring her, would she make good on her threat? Did she have something I wanted? Or was she bluffing?
    I wanted her picture so I could flush her out. I needed more data points on her facial structure to hunt her down and shut her off. She was going to make a mistake soon. I could feel it the way I could feel it when my business competition, or a needy supplier, was about to make a desperate move.
    I was also high on Kay. As she sat next to me, her new Italian perfume teased my nose. I could feel her body heat next to me. Her breast skimmed my arm, driving me mad with lust.
    She was gorgeous, perfect as she studied the menu before her and laughed. "It's useless! Pointless. Like I can read Italian! I have no idea what this menu says. Except for the word pizza. Order me a cheese pizza, will you?" Her eyes danced.
    "Cheese, huh?" I teased. "Adventurous as a five-year-old?"
    She shoulder-bumped me. "I hear it's a specialty here. Nothing like a kid's pizza at home."
    "I'm hungry. We'll need more than one pizza. What else do you want?"
    "Anything served without eyes, legs, or shells," she said deadpan. "And no caviar, either. Fish eggs." She shuddered.
    "You're no fun." I bumped her back. "But because you were such a good sport today, your wish is my command." I ordered two pizzas and a bottle of red wine.
    "Keep the staff happy, is that it?" she said.
    "Always."
    Couples sat all around us. As if she was taking their cue, she looped her arm through mine and rested her head on my shoulder, gazing at the sunset, and the view.
    I'd pulled out the big guns and picked this particular pizzeria for its romantic atmosphere and view as much as for the pizza. My brothers had always taken their girls here. If it was good enough for the Casanovas of my family, why not for me?
    My love for Kay danced on the tip of my tongue, silenced by fear of rejection. I whispered to her, "I like what you're doing, but you don't have to act here. No one knows me or us."
    She smiled lazily. "I'm doing this for my own pleasure, Jus. I like being out with you."
    My heart lurched.
    "I'm growing used to this act." She squeezed my arm.
    I grinned, trying not to show how happy she made me as a waiter lit the candle on our table.
    "Italy has been wonderful so far," she said. "You spoiled me rotten in Milan."
    "Not so rotten, I hope," I said.