Surrender To The Single Dad. Michelle Douglas

your mother. She’s flying in from Taranto.”

      Thank goodness. Alessandra needed to talk to her. “Has Dea gone back to Rome?”

      “After our talk this morning I put her on the plane.”

      “You sound more calmed down. Is everything okay?”

      “There was a misunderstanding that was all my fault, but I’ve spoken with Signor Montanari and it’s been cleared up.”

      Except that Alessandra still knew next to nothing. She gripped her phone tighter. “I’m relieved for that. How did Dea seem? She was chilly with me.”

      “That’s because I upset her. After I apologized for minding her business, I explained it was my way of being protective to prevent her from being hurt in case Signor Montanari wasn’t being sincere. You did absolutely nothing wrong, so don’t worry about it. Now the main reason for my call. Do you have plans for the rest of the day?”

      “I’m working on my book.”

      “Would you have time to do me a favor?”

      “Of course.”

      “Signor Montanari is going to be our guest for the next few days.”

      What? Alessandra almost fell out of her chair. The change in his attitude toward the other man was astounding.

      “He needs someone knowledgeable to show him around today. Since I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone, you’re the only one I trust to drive him and answer his questions. Your work with the institute has given you vital insight into the importance of any changes or disturbances to the environment here in the south. Will you do it?”

      His compliment warmed her heart, but it was already getting a workout because it meant she would be spending time with a man whose name was renowned throughout Italy. Her father had yet to explain what he’d found out about Dea’s relationship with Signor Montanari.

      “Yes.” But Alessandra was so attracted to him, she would have to be careful it didn’t show. No way would she give her sister a reason to suspect her of coming on to him when she’d met him first.

      “Get him back in time, piccola. I’ve asked him to join us for dinner. Liona has put him in the guest apartment on the third floor. He’s probably eating lunch right now. Your mother’s plane is arriving so I have to get off the phone. A piu tarde, figlia mia.”

      * * *

      Rini had just finished a second cup of coffee when the beautiful woman he’d seen yesterday on the stairs walked in the dining room. He should have realized right away that she wasn’t quite as slender as Dea, but he preferred her curves. “Signor Montanari? I’m sorry if I’ve kept you waiting. I’m Alessandra.” She sounded slightly out of breath and looked flushed.

      Earlier in the morning, after the count had asked him about his relationship with Dea, he’d left the castle for the airport. Rini thought it odd to be questioned about her, but he let it go.

      At that point the count said that while he was gone, his daughter Alessandra would give him a tour of the property. According to him, she understood the impact of drilling on the environment better than anyone else and he would be in the best of hands. If she was an engineer, Rini had yet to find out.

      He got up from the table. “We meet again. I’ve never met identical twins before.”

      “Dea’s the older sister by three minutes.”

      “Which accounts for the difference,” he teased. “I can see that.” He smiled and walked toward her. “Call me Rini.”

      After a slight hesitation she shook the hand he extended. “Benvenuto a Posso, Rini. Papà told me you’d be our guest for a few days and asked me to show you around today.”

      “That’s very kind of you, but I don’t want to inconvenience you.” He couldn’t read her thoughts.

      “It’s all right. Papà said this was important.”

      She’d dressed in a simple short-sleeved peach top and jeans. Her tanned olive skin indicated she spent a lot of time in the sun. His gaze traveled from her cognac-brown eyes to her neck-length slightly tousled brown hair rippled through with golden highlights.

      As she pulled her hand away, he noticed she didn’t wear nail polish. The reason she looked so natural was her lack of makeup. Except that she did wear lipstick, a coral color that blended with the golden tone of her skin and drew his attention to her voluptuous mouth.

      He remembered Dea’s mouth being sculpted the same way before she’d kissed him. How remarkable that identical twins could look so much alike, yet on closer inspection were so different.

      “Your father said you’re the one who knows everything.”

      “Oh, dear. I hope he really didn’t say it like that.”

      Rini got the idea he’d embarrassed her. “He meant it as a compliment.”

      “I’m his daughter so he has to say it,” she commented in a self-deprecating manner. “If you’re ready, we can go now.”

      “Please lead the way.”

      He followed her ultrafeminine figure out of the castle to a Land Rover parked near the main doors. Rini had done his homework. Her island home was renowned as an Italian treasure. What a coincidence the castle was home to both women!

      Before Rini could credit it, she climbed in the driver’s seat. “You’ll need to move the seat back all the way to accommodate your legs,” she said after he opened the passenger door.

      One corner of his mouth lifted as he did her bidding and climbed in. They attached their seat belts and she took off across the causeway to the mainland. She drove with expertise, as if she could do it blindfolded. After leaving the small town of Metaponto, they headed for verdant hills that were covered in ancient olive groves.

      “My father explained why you’re here. Now that we’re on Caracciolo property, tell me why the CEO of Montanari Engineering wants to lease this particular piece of property in order to drill. A lease means taking on a lot of controls.” She didn’t mince words and was all business.

      “Your land may not be for sale, but a lease means compromise that benefits both parties and could be lucrative.” Rini looked out over the mountainous, sparsely populated province of Basilicata. “Hidden in the arch of Italy’s agricultural boot is the home to Europe’s biggest on-shore oil field.”

      “That’s what I’ve heard.”

      “Italy produces one hundred and twelve thousand barrels a day, one tenth the North Sea’s level. My goal is to double Italian oil production within the next five years. If not on your land, then I’ll find others because as you know, the south is underdeveloped.”

      “Your goals are very ambitious.”

      “Agreed, but the potential of this particular untapped oil field is huge. We’re hoping to drill for the billion-plus barrels of crude oil that lie beneath it. Your father and I are hammering out ideas to preserve the existing environment while drilling for oil to boost the suffering Italian economy.”

      “You sound like a politician.”

      “Everyone should be concerned over our country’s unemployment problems. I’m particularly anxious for us to bring down the country’s twelve-percent jobless rate through new employment. The goal will be to obtain oil, yet maintain sustainable development of agriculture that will offer real career paths for the future.”

      “I have to admit you make a good case.” She kept driving to the top of a ridge that overlooked the huge valley. Onorato Caracciolo was a clever man to send Rini out with his daughter first. Rini had a hunch it would be a smart idea to win her over to his idea since her father appeared to place great trust in her knowledge and intelligence. But after the misunderstanding involving his other daughter, he needed to walk carefully.