The American Contessa

by Noni Calbane

  “My, but aren’t I popular today,” Carmina mocked. “Come in brother.”

  Gaby and Luca eyed each other warily. Standing up, Gaby made a charge for the door. “I was just leaving,” she said on her way.

  “Please. Don’t. This really concerns you too,” Luca solemnly stated.

  Pacing the floor, he looked from one woman to the other, stopped to speak, didn’t, then continued pacing.

  Carmina finally spoke, “Luca, you’re going to wear a hole in the rug. Say what you want to say, for goodness sake.”

  Stopping in the middle of the room, he looked down at the floor, unable to meet their eyes. “I know … I know that I have a problem. With anger and well ... a lot of other things. And I know that … Carmina has wanted me to see someone who could possibly help for a long time.” He let out a long breath. “Well … I’m ready.”

  Gaby and Carmina swapped looks. Luca then turned to face his sister. “So arrange it please Carmina. Just let me know when and where, and I’ll be there. I don’t want to be this way anymore.”

  Carmina moved towards him and hugged her brother tightly. “Luca, I’m so glad,” she sniffed, the tears welling up in her eyes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my car is waiting, and I think you two have some talking to do.”

  Grabbing her suitcase and heading for the door she winked back at them with glistening eyes. “You two behave. And if you have any making up to do –use your own room! Ciao!”

  Gaby snorted in a most unladylike way at Carmina’s comment.

  “Gaby, can we talk?” he asked softly.

  “All right. Why don’t we sit down?” As Luca made a move towards the bed she stopped him. “Not on the bed, buster,” she snapped.

  “Okay. Where?” he asked patiently.

  “Over there,” she replied sternly, pointing to the window seat.

  Gaby took a seat on the bench and Luca sat meekly down beside her, careful not to brush his knees against hers. He was going to do whatever it took to win her over again. Glancing at her, she looked distant and aloof. This wasn’t going to be easy. “Um …,”

  “Yes?” Gaby looked at him frostily.

  “I don’t know what to say,” he stammered. “It seems I never get the words out right. I open my mouth and my foot goes in every time.”

  “Well that’s a start, I guess,” she replied, relaxing a little.

  Looking down at his hands, Luca continued, “I only know I don’t want you to leave. I didn’t realise until you said there could be no future for us, that that’s what I want more than anything.” Luca ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. “I’m no good at this.”

  “You’re better than you think,” Gaby responded with a slight smile, bumping her shoulder against his.

  Returning her smile he took her hand in his. “So you won’t go?”

  “Oh, Luca,” she said softly, “For me, it’s not just a matter of staying or going. I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster. Invigorating highs one minute, lose-your-lunch dips the next. It’s fun. It’s scary. But I have a horrible feeling I just may get thrown off.”

  “I can understand your reluctance to want to be with me Gaby,” he said slowly, carefully choosing his words. “I know I’m not perfect. But for you, I want to try and be. You make me want to be a better person, a better man.” Squeezing her hand he held her gaze. “You’re important to me Gaby. I wanted you from the moment I saw you. Now … well, now I don’t just want you … I need you.”

  Gaby shook her head and groaned. “For someone who supposedly suffers from foot in mouth disease, you certainly have a way with words when you want to.”

  “Will you give me another chance?” he asked hopefully.

  “Of course I will,” she responded honestly. “But you have to know, that I have a job and responsibilities back home. So whether you want me to stay longer or not, I will have to leave at the end of the summer.”

  “I understand. But you have to know, that I’m going to do everything in my power to make you want to stay –for much more than a summer.”

  “Hmm,” Gaby answered with narrowed eyes, “We’ll see. Let’s just take one day at a time for now, shall we?”

  Luca ran the back of his hand down her cheek. She had forgiven him … this time. Taking her face in both hands he gently caressed her lips with his. He had to take this slow and steady; otherwise Gaby was liable to bolt like a frightened colt. Hesitantly nibbling at her lips he waited for a sign from her to continue more ardently.

  The honking of car horns halted their lovemaking and they both turned to look out the window at the Villa’s driveway below.

  “Some of the volunteers have arrived to help sort the books for donation.” Luca bit his lip pensively. “My Nonna arrives in a few days.”

  Gaby looked down at the cars arriving and did a quick head count. Maybe it was providence that the library was soon to be under siege by so many people. It was going to be now virtually impossible to locate the necklace.

  Even though she could acknowledge that there was now a distinct lack of opportunity to look for it, Gaby knew in her heart that even if the necklace did miraculously appear, there was no way that she could now take it. Jeopardizing her burgeoning relationship with Luca and friendship with Carmina was not an option. She may have entered their lives under false pretenses, but she would remain and/or exit with a clear conscience.

  The miserable thought of having to leave crossed her mind for a moment, but she swiftly pushed it to the backburner. Looking at Luca, she couldn’t help but notice his apprehension with regard to his Grandmother’s visit. “Something tells me your Grandmother is not some sweet old lady who spends her time baking pies,” she tried to joke.

  “No. She’s hardly what most people think of, when they think of a Grandmother,” he answered solemnly. “In fact, she’s a lot like me.”

  “Don’t you mean you’re a lot like her?”

  He smiled somewhat sadly at her. “I just want to prepare you for her. She’s what you might call … formidable.”

  “Do we have anything to worry about?” she asked, searching his eyes to quell the sudden uneasiness in her stomach.

  “Of course not,” he replied rather too quickly, placing a kiss on her lips. “I’d better go greet our visitors. And then I must get to work.”

  Gaby watched as he made a hasty exit through the door. Frowning, she looked again at the group of people emerging from the vehicles below, wondering about the implications of his formidable Grandmothers arrival.

  Luca paused outside the bedroom door. He knew he’d left Gaby too speedily. With all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, his Nonna’s presence was the last thing he wanted to contemplate. He knew one thing for sure. She would most definitely not approve of Gaby.

  Having lain witness to her only son’s heartbreak at the hands of Luca’s mother, her hatred for Americans was profound and unyielding; and even outdid his own distaste. Gaby’s last name could be Kennedy and she still would not be a suitable match.

  Perhaps once she met Gaby her attitude would change, he thought with implausible hope. Yes, once she discovered that she was the sweetest, most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him, she would condone them having a future together.

  Who was he trying to kid?

  Luca swallowed hard. He knew Nonna would do everything in her power to stop them being together. He had two full days before she arrived. Two days to enjoy with Gaby before they would both be subjected to the family matriarch’s wrath.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Gaby settled back against Luca’s chest and sighed contentedly. As they lay on the picnic blanket in the Tuscan countryside, the sun was warm and the gentle breeze made the sunflowers wave at them from the nearby fields.

  She couldn’t help but think how perfect it all was. When Luca had suggested getting away from Florence and having a picnic lunch in the country, she had almost jumped for joy like a giddy schoolgirl. Just being away from the Villa and out in the fresh a
ir for the day was gift enough. But spending it with Luca was a dream come true.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  Gaby smiled. “I’m thinking that life doesn’t get much better than this. Wine, cheese, Tuscany, and you!”

  “I come fourth on your list of the good things in life?”

  “Hmm, let me see,” Gaby pondered with a thoughtful face. “I guess as scenery goes, you’re just as good to look at as the Tuscan countryside.”

  “Why thank you Senorina,” he replied politely.

  “And you are pretty darn tasty, much better than cheese,” she teased, turning in his arms and kissing his lips. At her invitation, Luca kissed her more fully, deepening their kiss and leaving her breathless when their mouths parted. Panting heavily, Gaby continued, “I must say that your kisses leave me drunker than the finest wine.”

  Grinning at her, Luca caressed her face, “So are you saying that maybe I rank a little higher than fourth?”

  “Maybe a little higher,” she replied sexily, running her finger over his full lips. “Kiss me again, and maybe I’ll revise my decision.”

  Groaning, he did as she asked and suddenly Luca’s lips and hands seemed to be everywhere. Pulling her under him, she could feel their mutual arousal rising to the point of no return. Gaby reluctantly pushed at his chest, breathless and laughing. She didn’t want to get too carried away out here in the open. Public exhibitionism was not something she fantasised about. “Okay, okay,” she said shakily. “You’re number one on the list!”

  “As well I should be!” he joked, puffing out his chest in superiority.

  Rolling her eyes at him, Gaby couldn’t help but smile. My, but how he’d changed before her eyes in the last day or so. She hardly remembered how much she’d disliked him. Who would have thought that someone so unlikable could become so incredibly special to her in such a short time. The niggling doubts she had about them embarking on a relationship were pushed fully to the back of her mind. All she knew was she wanted to spend every waking hour with him; and all the non-conscious ones as well.

  “You’ve gone awfully quiet. Not revising your list again are you?” he kidded.

  “No,” Gaby answered with a smirk. “But I would like some more wine, how about you?”

  “Certo. I’ll pour.”

  After filling their glasses, Luca handed one to Gaby and raised his in salutation, “To a perfect day. Salute!”

  “I’ll second that,” she replied, clinking her glass with his.

  After finishing their glass of wine, Gaby resumed her position lying in Luca’s arms. It was quickly becoming her favourite place. “If I told you there was no place else on earth I’d rather be than right here, right now, with you, would you believe me?”

  Lucas kissed the top of her head. “I know what you mean. If only there was some way to make time stand still.”

  Gaby sat up and turned to him. “Time may not be able to stand still, but we can at least capture the moment.” Grabbing her handbag she got out her phone and set it to camera.

  “Say cheese Count Manetti!” she beamed as she leaned towards him and held the camera as far as she could in front of them and pushed the button.

  “How’d it come out?” he asked trying to look over her shoulder at the small screen.

  “Not one of my best efforts, I’m afraid. In fact, I almost cut your head off.”

  “Let me see,” he laughed. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone in my family had that happen to them. Some Manetti’s were in France during the guillotine days, you know.” Taking the phone from her hand, he inspected the image. The photo was a little blurry and somewhat distorted, making Gaby’s nose look a little larger than it actually was, but it was the expression on his face that he couldn’t tear his eyes from. He looked –happy.

  “Let me delete it and take it again. It’s terrible! You weren’t ready,” she exclaimed reaching out to reclaim her phone.

  “No,” Luca replied emphatically. He quickly forwarded the photo to his laptop back at the Villa. “It’s no Ansel Adams, but I like it. You may have caught me off guard, but you caught me. The real me.” Handing her phone back to her, his eyes shifted downward as if embarrassed by his admission.

  “Well the real you is a darn sight better looking than the real me if this picture to be believed,” Gaby teased, lightening the mood. “Is my nose really that big?”

  Chuckling, Luca leaned over and kissed her nose. “Don’t worry Gaby. I love you, big nose and all.”

  The smile fell from both their faces as they both comprehended what had just left his mouth. Gaby saw that he was just as shocked as she was, so blithely decided to let it pass and ignore the elephant that had joined them on the picnic blanket.

  “More wine?” she asked with a small smile, lifting the bottle in the air.

  With a serious face, Luca shook his head from side to side. Odio! He loved her! She was graciously pretending that the words weren’t said, but he knew she’d heard him loud and clear. Was she acting this way because she didn’t feel the same?

  **********

  “Wa-la,” Gaby announced removing the cloche from the dinner plate.

  “A hamburger?” Luca raised his brows. “You sent our cook packing, took over the kitchen and you made hamburgers for dinner?”

  “It’s the thought that counts,” Gaby said with folded arms. “Besides, the only other dish I know is spaghetti and meatballs –and I am not feeding Italian food to an Italian. That would be asking for trouble and possibly deportation.”

  Taking the seat across from him, she also produced a bottle of beer to accompany her cooking, which was likewise met with the same reaction. “Well you can hardly have wine with a hamburger,” she said in amusement, as though everyone should know that. “Why not take a bite then judge me?”

  “Okay, okay,” he answered in retreat of her verbal attack. Picking up his knife and fork, it was Gaby’s turn to look incredulous.

  “You’re kidding? You’re not really going to use cutlery to eat a burger, are you?” She was seriously starting to doubt that he’d ever even seen a hamburger, let alone tasted one. But no, that couldn’t be possible –there were McDonalds all over the place –even in Florence.

  He gave her a look of confusion then burst out laughing, “Had you going there,” he joked, putting down his cutlery and picking up the burger.

  “Ha Ha,” Gaby scowled with fun. “You think you’re so funny. Maybe I should have subjected you to my pasta after all.”

  With a look of horror he pleaded with her, “No, please, anything but that.”

  “Keep it up Count Manetti and you’ll be wearing your hamburger in a minute,” she warned.

  Luca sensibly held his tongue and began devouring his burger with relish. “This is good,” he managed get out, in between bites.

  “You sound surprised?” When he didn’t answer, Gaby watched him for a few more moments then added, “This is your first hamburger, isn’t it?”

  He stopped mid chew. Swallowing, he gave her a sheepish grin, “Yes, but don’t hold it against me. If I’d truly known what I was missing –I wouldn’t have waited so long.”

  Gaby shook her head in amazement. He certainly took his dislike for America to the extreme; banishing a whole cuisine over prejudice. She couldn’t help but fear the commitment he had to his hatred. It seemed he could cut and dispose of unwanted factors from his life with the precision of a surgeon. She only hoped he didn’t parlay that talent onto people.

  “Any word from Carmina?” she asked cautiously, “Has she set up a meeting with a counsellor yet?”

  He looked at her over his beer glass with steely eyes, “I’ll get around to it.”

  “Good,” she replied, not wanting to delve further. You can lead a horse to water … “It’s the sauce, you know,” she said suddenly, shifting the subject back to a safer topic. “I add a little mustard and hot sauce to the ketchup –makes it spicier.”

  Luca gave her a warm smile. He coul
d tell she was trying to keep it light. Unfortunately he felt anything but buoyant. A cloud hung over him heavy with impending doom, and no amount of playing out scenes of domestic bliss could stop the coming storm. His life seemed to have gone from one of ease and frivolity, to one of utter complication in days. And yet, when he looked at Gaby all his fears subsided and he was hopeful for the first time that his life had some direction, some meaning.

  He loved her. And she knew it. It was frightening to say the least. But the fact that they’d avoided talking about what was said at the picnic had him worried. Skirting and dancing around a topic didn’t seem to be Gaby’s style. From what little experience he had with her, she usually confronted things head-on. Perhaps she truly didn’t feel the same way. But that just couldn’t be. Her reactions to his touch proved that he affected her deeply. There was no way that sort of emotion could be simulated or misinterpreted.

  “Leave room for dessert. I’m positive you’ll love it too,” she said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

  He grinned suggestively, “I thought you were dessert.”

  “No,” she replied, ignoring his remark, “I made brownies. With a scoop of ice-cream on top –heaven in a bowl.”

  “How about I top you with ice-cream – that’s my idea of heaven.”

  Gaby wrinkled her nose, “Heavenly, … but messy.”

  “I’m game if you are.”

  “Oh you can count on that, Count,” Gaby said, then laughed uproariously at what she’d said. And Luca, for all his misgivings and worries, couldn’t help but join in.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  With the arrival of Luca’s Nonna imminent, the Villa’s servants were in a panic, busily cleaning and readying themselves for the event. Fresh flowers were delivered and displayed on every surface that could hold them. It was like the Queen was coming to call, and Gaby couldn’t comprehend all the fuss being made over what really amounted to little more than a visit from Grandma. Clearly, Luca wasn’t exaggerating when describing his Grandmother; it was obvious from the worried looks on the staff that she was a force to be reckoned with.