Ten Days in Tuscany by Annie Seaton Read Free Book Online

bright light. The faded pink stone had the aged look of an original Tuscan farmhouse, and the weathered shutters hung crookedly from some of the small windows. Other windows were missing their shutters. The only thing that was well maintained was the yard. From the other side of the gate, to the door that Gia had disappeared through, the lawn was dark and lush, but clipped neatly along the edges.
    A paved area next to the small building was filled with weathered, half wine casks and flowers spilled over their sides. Small circular gardens were planted around the bases of the tall spreading trees that dotted the lawn. It would make a wonderful subject for a still-life piece. Despite his mind being focused on the landscapes he had seen tonight, Nic’s fingers tingled with the need to hold a paintbrush and replicate what was in front of him. The moonlight made the scene even more enticing. What would make it perfect would be Gia as the focus of the painting, her classically beautiful face turned up to the moon. Nic jerked his thoughts back to reality and stifled a laugh. The moon . His mother would have been most impressed. Neither he nor his brother had held regard for her obsession with the star signs; but she’d made sure he knew all about the Cancerian behaviors she believed would guide his life. A pang of sadness ran through him. He thought he’d grieved long and hard enough, but memories of his mother had filled his thoughts since he’d arrived in Tuscany.
    Nic shook off his feeling as the door closed. He watched Gia walk slowly across the lawn to him.
    Or at least he thought it was her. The woman who opened the gate looked very different from the young waitress who’d left him waiting beside the sports car. Nic’s breath caught and he managed to ask, “All set?” before he dragged in a deep breath. The baggy clothes, the wild hair, and the black spectacles were gone.
    Gia looked at him from beneath her lashes as she closed the gate and slid into the passenger seat while he held the door open for her. “I’m not sure this is such a good idea.” Her voice was hesitant. “If Gabriel finds out I went out tonight after going home ill, I’ll be in trouble.”
    “But doesn’t your father own the restaurant?” Nic had regained his breath and his voice was steady. But not so the rest of him. A tremble ran down his spine. Gia was more than attractive; she was beautiful.
    “Gabriel is the manager. He wouldn’t be happy. They were very busy tonight. I should’ve stayed.” Her voice was resigned.
    “Do you like working there?” Nic fought the need to keep his eyes on Gia, so he focused on starting the car. Her sweet, delicate perfume—something fruity—drifted over to him. Strawberries.
    “No, I hate it.” She folded her arms across her chest and Nic tried to keep his eyes away from the soft shadow between the swell of her breasts. Despite her tall, slender build, there was certainly nothing lacking beneath her low-neck, fitted T-shirt.
    “So why do you stay there?” Nic put the car into reverse and backed out onto the narrow road. He put his arm along the back of the seat and his fingers accidentally brushed against Gia’s skin. She’d pulled her curls up into some sort of topknot, and it had left her neck bare. Nick ignored the urge to run his fingers down the slender curve to that sweet hollow at the base of her throat.
    “Sorry.” He put his hand back on the steering wheel and turned the car toward the village.
    “I have to pay my rent.’ She gave a rueful shrug. “Although it is not much, it’s an old farmhouse and it’s run down. I also have to buy my canvases and my paints.” Her reply was soft. “And it makes my father happy—having me work there with the rest of the family.”
    They didn’t speak again until they’d passed the restaurant and taken the last hill down toward the village. Gia pointed to a building on the left side of the crossroad. “Over there.”
    Nic parked the car