Ultimate Romance Collection. Rebecca Winters

my mother’s Sicilian cooking. Your desserts were divine.”

      She kissed his cheek. “Little did I know I would come face to face with Vincenzo when I thought he’d disappeared from my life forever.”

      Her husband put his arm around her nonexistent waist. “None of us will forget that day. I too thought I’d lost the love of my life. Grazie a Dio we found each other.”

      While his friend chose that moment to kiss Gemma thoroughly, Cesare went back inside the apartment. Tuccia had come in the small living room looking so appealing he’d have liked to do the same thing to her. He was in serious trouble because he knew he couldn’t hold back much longer in showing her how he felt.

      “They’re coming,” he said, after answering the question in her misty gray eyes, which were more noticeable because of her black fringed lashes and black hair. She had the most remarkable coloring and light olive complexion. With her oval face and alluring mouth, she looked so irresistible he had to force himself to look away or he’d make her uncomfortable.

      He heard the others file inside. “Princess Tuccianna, allow me to present two of my dearest and closest friends, Vincenzo Gagliardi, the Duc di Lombardi, and his wife Gemma.”

      “It’s a real honor for me.” Tuccia shook their hands.

      “We’re the ones honored, Princess,” Vincenzo declared. Cesare could tell his friend was bowled over by her beauty, a feat that didn’t happen often.

      “Please, just call me Tuccia. Won’t you sit down? I feel a fraud inviting you into this pensione Cesare not only found for me, but is paying for until I can reimburse him.”

      Cesare noted she was always grace itself. The spoiled princess as reported in the news wasn’t the same person he’d pulled against his body a few nights ago for fear she would fall.

      “Your desperate situation has called for drastic measures. I had a similar experience in my late teens and was anxious for any help I could get.” Leave it to Vincenzo to make her feel comfortable.

      “Nevertheless I’ve put all of you in a dangerous position simply by being here and want you to know I’m ready to leave after we’ve talked.”

      Gemma got up from the couch. Cesare noticed that she was a little slower these days. “Tuccia? Before there’s any talk like that, why don’t you and I go in the kitchen where we can be private and let the guys talk business in here.”

      Cesare nodded. “That’s a good idea.” He watched Tuccia follow Gemma into the kitchen. She might be nervous now, but before long she’d realize she couldn’t be in better hands than Gemma’s. His gaze swerved to his friend.

      “How does your wife really feel about this?” he asked in a quiet voice.

      “She ate one of the tarts I took back to our room. When she’d finished, she said, ‘I know this was Cesare’s recipe, but if Tuccia can make all his Sicilian desserts as exquisite as these, the castello is going to gain a new following.’”

      “That’s high praise, Vincenzo.”

      “Gemma is nothing if not truthful.”

      “If by any chance this works out, I’ll insist Tuccia live here and make each dessert in the kitchen first. It will help her feel confident before she leaves for the castello every morning to manage her assistants. But I’m afraid that without the right disguise, someone will recognize her and the police will descend.”

      Vincenzo flashed him a subtle smile. “Meeting her explains a lot. She’s a genuine knockout, Cesare. Gemma will be hard-pressed to come up with something that hides her beauty.”

      “Tell me about it.”

      “I don’t think I have to, amico.”

      No. And the second Takis laid eyes on her, Cesare was in for it. “Was there anything on the morning news I should be concerned about yet?”

      “Nothing. The police are at a standstill. Her parents have offered ten million euros for the person who finds her.”

      “Only ten for their precious daughter?” he bit out in disgust.

      “No doubt the comte’s reward will be forthcoming before the day is out.”

      Cesare looked over his shoulder at Tuccia who was deep in conversation with Gemma. “I wonder how much he’d be willing to pay for her safe return. But it won’t matter when he gets her letter explaining why she ran away.” Cesare confided that he’d couriered it to his attorney in Barbados who would send it on.

      “That was excellent thinking.”

      “She’s been suffering terrible guilt.”

      “Understandable.”

      “But that part is done. When I arrived here this morning and saw that she’d already been up three hours making the recipe again, I knew for a fact that no amount of money would ever induce her to go back to him.”

      Vincenzo’s brows lifted. “How did she do?”

      “Hold on. I’ll show you.”

      Cesare got up and walked into the kitchen. “Scusa, ladies.” He plucked one of the round pans off the counter and took it into Vincenzo.

      His friend reached for an iced tart and ate it in two bites before nodding in satisfaction. “After Gemma and I leave here, we’ll drive into Milan and take the rest of these to my cousin and his wife to taste. Dimi will be in shock when we tell him what has happened.”

      “Who will be in shock, mia cara?” Gemma had just come back in the living room with Tuccia. Both men stood up.

      “I thought we’d visit Dimi before we go back to the castello and let them sample Tuccia’s nun buns. Did you get your business done?”

      “We’re off to a good start, aren’t we, Tuccia?”

      “Your wife has encouraged me to give it a try for which I’m very grateful.” The relief on her face was tangible.

      “Meraviglioso!” Vincenzo picked up the pan and helped his wife out the door to his car. Cesare knew how happy his friend was that someone else was going to be doing the work Gemma had done for so long.

      He shut the door and turned to the woman who was transforming his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined days ago. “I’m sure you have a great deal to discuss with me.”

      She nodded. “Thankfully Gemma is going to work two more days while I keep cooking desserts here at the apartment. Then it’ll be my first day in the castello kitchen. She’ll acquaint me with everything and stay long enough to introduce me to the staff before I’m on my own.”

      “You won’t be alone. I’ll be there in the background until you get your bearings. But tell me what it is that concerns Gemma the most?”

      “A disguise for me, especially for my hair.”

      Her crowning glory was a dead giveaway. “Why don’t you freshen up. Then we’ll drive to the uniform shop in Milan used by the kitchen help. We’ll find something that works. You’ll have to wear your scarf and sunglasses.”

      “It’ll be wonderful to get out for a little while.” He could imagine. “I’ll hurry.”

      After she disappeared, he reached in the fridge for a soda. Their shopping spree would include a stop to the grocery store. Once that was done they’d pick up some takeout and bring it back to the apartment for a meal. Toward evening they’d get busy working on a couple of new desserts. He loved being alone with her.

      * * *

      Tuccia hurried out to his sports car. Once again she had that sensation of being spirited away where nothing could hurt her. But this time she wanted Cesare to be more than her protector. Though he’d kissed her several times, she wanted... She wanted the impossible.

      He drove them