Her Italian Soldier. Rebecca Winters

with the other vehicles headed back toward Ravello.

      Through the rearview mirror she saw him blow her a kiss. Annabelle smiled. Italian men. Always open in their enjoyment of women. They were hilarious. Except for one Lucca Cavezzali. She frowned, needing to arm herself ahead of time for a dour reception from him once she returned.

      She’d seen his bottle of pills. He was almost out of them. They were the strongest painkillers one could take after surgery without going back to the hospital for a morphine cocktail. His fall in the hallway last night had been doubly unfortunate for him. It came from returning home the hard way, but it was his call after all, and his house. The injured man had every right to expect it would be empty.

      Before she arrived at the farmhouse, she made two stops on the outskirts of Ravello. One to a pizzeria for a light meal. The other to a gelateria that was a few doors down from a charming-looking bed-and-breakfast. She checked it out and found out there was a vacancy. With easy access to the main road, she couldn’t find anything better and held the room with a credit card for two weeks occupancy.

      Now that Lucca was back home, she couldn’t stay at the farmhouse and would check in after she’d gone back to pack. While she ate a delicious lemon ice, she returned her parents’ phone call, letting them know she’d left Rome and was now settled in Ravello.

      Considering the time difference between Italy and California, they’d already gone to work some time ago, so she left her message on their answering machine. Being the last of three children, she knew they worried about her and wanted her to be happy. The prerogative of parents.

      A familiar ache passed through Annabelle because the experience of having a baby had been denied her. But then she quickly brightened, refusing to dwell on it, and assured her folks she was having a wonderful time. How could she not after the sights she’d seen today.

      She left out mention of the owner of the farmhouse, who’d come close to giving her a heart attack last night when he’d decided to come home without telling his father. Guilio worshipped his son, but clearly there was some history between them that caused Lucca to hold back.

      Annabelle didn’t pretend to understand the family dynamics known only to the two of them, but she respected them. Nothing could be worse for her than to be caught smack-dab in the middle of father-and-son issues.

      Whatever Lucca decided to do or not do, tomorrow she would tell Guilio that the farmhouse was too isolated after all and she’d found a place with eating establishments next door that suited her. She wanted out of this precarious situation. It was up to Lucca to contact his father. He’d had a day to think about it.

      A minute later she pulled into the drive at the side of the farmhouse and parked the car.

      Twilight was fast fading into darkness. Combined with the soft, fragrant air, it was a magical time of night. But when she opened the door to the kitchen, reality intruded because she was met by a man holding on to the kitchen counter. His facial features were taut with pain. Even his knuckles were white.

      Without thinking she said, “You need to go to an emergency room.”

      “What I need are more pills,” he corrected in a gravelly voice.

      “Why in heaven’s name didn’t you phone your father?”

      “My original plan had been to show up at his house this morning, but the fall put me out of commission. I’d prefer to see him when I’m not writhing in pain.”

      It would be counterproductive to ask him why he hadn’t phoned someone else then. Unless he didn’t have a phone, but she didn’t believe it. The problem between him and his father was more grave than she’d supposed. “I’ve been given a car to use and will fill your prescription if you’ll tell me where to get it.”

      “I have to pick it up in person.”

      “Since you’re in no shape to get behind a wheel, I’ll drive you.” She saw the cane on the table and handed it to him. “After you.”

      She followed him out, locking the door behind her, then she ran ahead of him and opened the back door of the car. When he’d climbed in with difficulty and more or less lay against the seat, she shut his door and got in the driver’s seat.

      “Are you hiding, or is that position more comfortable?”

      “Both. Follow the road to Salerno.” His words sounded like they came through gritted teeth. “There’s a farmacia in the Piazza Municipio seven miles from here that will be open.”

      When she’d found the main road she said, “What would you have done if I hadn’t come when I did?”

      “I was on the verge of calling for a taxi when I heard the car in the drive.” He sat up, obviously not worried about being recognized now that they were on the road. Annabelle heeded his precise instructions to get them to the other town. Traffic was heavy. She knew he was suffering, but he’d chosen to be stubborn by hiding out in his own house unannounced and she refused to feel sorry for him.

      What was it Guilio had said about her being stubborn like his son? It had frustrated him when she’d told him she refused to intrude on him and his wife while she was in Ravello.

      Eventually she slowed to a stop in front of the store. “We’ve arrived.” There were no drive-thru pharmacies here.

      “Don’t move from this spot. With luck I won’t run in to anyone I know.”

      Maybe not, she mused, but he’d certainly be noticed. Lucca’s tall male physique would do wonders for anything he wore including the tan chinos and raspberry-colored polo shirt she hadn’t noticed until now. In uniform, he’d really be something.

      Knowing he was about to get the relief he craved, she noticed he managed to move quickly with that cane. While she waited for him, her cell phone rang. When she saw Cavezzali on the ID, guilt swamped her. If she didn’t answer, he might get worried.

      She clicked on. “Hello? Guilio? How are you?”

      “Molto bene, Annabelle. Basilio told me Giovanni is ecstatic about the pictures he took today.”

      Thank goodness. “That’s wonderful.”

      “I will come to Amalfi tomorrow. I have some new ideas for the shoot.”

      “I’ll look forward to seeing you.”

      “Are you comfortable at the farmhouse? Do you need anything?”

      Now was the time to tell him. “The farmhouse is a dream, but I’ve discovered modeling makes me tired and I don’t want to do any cooking. So I’ve made arrangements to stay at the Casa Claudia for the rest of my time here. There are the most fabulous food places all around it.”

      “That’s a good little family establishment. I was afraid the farmhouse might be too isolated.”

      “You were right after all. I’m sorry you went to that trouble for me. Please don’t send any maids. I’ve cleaned everything including the fridge and will give you back the key later.”

      “I’m glad you changed your mind.”

      Only because of Lucca’s entry into her life. She’d loved being by herself at the farm, where she could do exactly as she pleased, but a certain unexpected event had changed the situation.

      “In truth, I love all the little places to eat. Italian cuisine is the best! I could eat my head off here, but I know I’ve got to be careful or I won’t be able to fit in to the clothes Marcella has chosen for me.”

      In the midst of Guilio’s laughter, Lucca got back in the car. She decided to put the phone on speaker. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was talking behind his back with his father. Maybe hearing his father’s voice would influence Lucca to contact him.

      “I’m not worried, Annabelle. Don’t forget the party I’m giving a week from Saturday. You’ll be meeting our top Italian dealers. I’ve decided to