Our Italian Summer

by Jennifer Probst

  I stole another kiss, lingering a bit and relishing his delicious male scent, which I’d missed. “Come in. I’ll show you where you’re staying.” He quirked a brow. “Where your luggage will be,” I corrected, trying not to blush.

  For God’s sakes, I was in my midforties—I shouldn’t be blushing when inviting a man to stay over.

  I shook my head at his wink as he grabbed an overnight bag from the car and followed me in. Allegra and Mom were in the kitchen, making more lemonade, and I loved the way they hugged and kissed him hello, like greeting an old friend.

  “I heard you were taking us to Lucca on a mini tour,” my mother said. “Aren’t you getting tired of schlepping us around Italy?”

  “Never. You are my all-time favorite tourists,” he vowed, placing a hand over his heart. “I love the idea of showing you my home. Lucca is a beautiful medieval city surrounded by walls to protect our secrets. I appreciate your allowing me to crash your family time.”

  “We’re happy to see you,” Allegra said. A rush of gratitude shot through me. Her honest welcome helped make his visit more of a celebration.

  “I’m going to show Enzo upstairs, and then we can relax for a while before heading out.”

  I led him to the adorable loft, which had a fabulous view and a decent-size full bed. He dropped the bag at his feet, turned around, and pulled me into his arms, holding me tight against his body.

  Then he kissed me. Again and again, his tongue plunging between my lips, hungry for mine. I thrust my fingers into his hair and fell into the embrace, my body recognizing his and opening up in welcome. Slowly, he slid me back down, dragging my breasts against his hard chest until my toes hit the floor.

  “Now I can get through the rest of the day,” he teased, his thumb sliding over my slick lower lip. “I need my mind clear for the tour.”

  I tossed him a mischievous grin. “I’ll give you a better tour later. In my bedroom.”

  He groaned, but I was already back out the door, a giggle bursting from my chest. How nice it was to flirt and feel beautiful to the man you were giddy over. I’d forgotten why so many novels and poems and movies were made about love.

  It was like a hit of a sweet, wild drug that made you damn happy.

  We sat on the terrace, drank lemonade, nibbled on oatmeal cookies Allegra had made, and chatted. “Your mom said you’ve been making some amazing meals here,” he commented.

  Allegra looked surprised, then ducked her head. “Yeah, Nonni’s been teaching me since I was young. We’ve been experimenting with fresh ingredients from the market. Now I even know how to debone a fish.”

  “My mother said cooking is the most beautiful art you can create in the world. It provides sustenance and nourishment for the body and soul. If you’d like, I know a chef in Lucca who teaches a cooking class. It’s just for the day—he takes you to the market, shows you how to pick food, and then you go to the kitchen and cook. I can call him if you’re interested.”

  Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you kidding me? I’d love that! Mom, do you think there’s time for me to do it?”

  I turned to Enzo. “When does he offer the classes?”

  “Wednesdays and Thursdays—so if you can take her into Lucca either of those days, I can make sure she gets in.”

  “I think that’s a great idea. When is Ian coming, honey?”

  “Tomorrow. But I know he’d love to join me if there’s room. We were talking about how wicked cool it’d be to prepare food with a real chef here. Nonni, you want to come too, right?”

  My mother waved her hand in the air. “I think I’ll pass on that, sweetheart. I’ve cooked my whole life, and I’d rather take advantage of the grounds. You go ahead with Ian.”

  “Okay, I’ll text him now. Thanks, Enzo.”

  She grabbed her phone from the table and rushed out. “That was really nice of you,” I said quietly. “What an experience for her.”

  “Not a problem. It’s good to take advantage of every opportunity, no? I’m happy to help. It’s hard at her age. I was lost for a long time before I realized what career path I wanted to follow.”

  I sipped at my drink and sighed. “I still want her to go to an Ivy League school. She worked so hard on her grades and test scores. The idea of her leaving it behind to work in a kitchen makes me crazy.”

  “There are options,” Mom said. “The Culinary Institute is an excellent school in Hyde Park and extremely competitive.”

  “True. I’m trying to be more open.”

  Enzo smiled. “Whatever she decides to do, she’s smart and works hard. She will be okay, cara.”

  Allegra popped back in. “He said yes! Either day is fine—he’ll be staying for two nights, Mom. That’s okay, right?”

  “Yep, perfect.”

  “Then I’ll make the call,” Enzo said.

  He set up the appointment for the next day. “Eleven a.m. I can take you there.”

  Allegra jumped up and down with rare girlish excitement. “This is going to be sick.”

  Enzo lifted a brow. “I hope not. That doesn’t sound too good for a cooking class.”

  We all laughed and decided to head out. “Let me just grab my purse,” I said, going into my bedroom. My phone vibrated insistently and I grabbed it.

  Kate. I hesitated. I’d pulled way back these past two weeks, even though it’d been hard. Now there was a slight distaste at the idea of spending even a second on work when I had a perfect day planned with Enzo and my family.

  I ignored it. Kate was smart. She didn’t really need me—she probably just wanted to check in. I tucked my phone in my purse, slicked on some lip gloss, slapped on more deodorant, and met them outside. “Ready.”

  My phone vibrated again. And again.

  Frowning, I fished it back out and checked the screen.

  911. Emergency. You need to call me NOW.

  Ah, shit.

  I bit back a groan, torn. This didn’t seem like something I should ignore. Kate didn’t panic.

  “Guys, I’m so sorry. I just need a few minutes to take care of this, and then I promise we’ll go.”

  Allegra stiffened but shrugged. “Sure. We can hang for a few. Enzo, do you want to see the gardens?”

  “Yes, we’ll give you some privacy,” he said to me with a smile. “Take care of your work so you have no worries for this afternoon.”

  Relaxing, I nodded. He was right. I’d handle the problem, then enjoy a leisurely trip to Lucca.

  I quickly dialed Kate. “It’s me. What’s going on?”

  “Fuck, Frannie. We’ve got a huge problem here. Our long-term client Anthony Capelli is threatening to walk.”

  My heart began to race. I gripped the phone with sweaty fingers. “Impossible. He’s been satisfied with the results of his campaign—I haven’t heard a complaint!”

  “I know! But he showed up at the office, demanding to see you, telling us he wants a fresh angle and more punch.”

  “Sarah said the research numbers were good, though, right?”

  “Yes, but he doesn’t care. He wants you to call and get a whole new pitch together by Wednesday at five.”

  “That’s tomorrow!”

  “I know. Listen, I told him the team can handle it and that you’re on vacation, but he said if he doesn’t hear back from you personally, he’s walking. Layla and I are torn here. What do you want us to do?”

  The rush of adrenaline and satisfaction hit me like a familiar buzz. I’d left my prospective partners in charge, and I was still the only one who could keep one of our staple clients. I’d earned his trust and he refused to work with anyone else.

  It should have been a sweet victory. A reminder I’d been right all along—there was no way my company could remain the best without me involved in every step.

  “I’ll call him now.”

 
“Call me right back,” Kate urged.

  I charged into my bedroom and clicked open my laptop. Thank God the Wi-Fi connection was strong, and in minutes, I’d brought up his original campaign. I bet “more punch” meant he wanted edgier. He believed he could use sex to sell workout clothes, but I knew for a fact that would be a disastrous campaign. I needed to convince him to keep the flirty edge because women bought fitness outfits to feel good about themselves and get the job done—not to pick up guys for some hot sex.

  Unbelievable. First, Perry wanting less sex to sell jeans. Now, Anthony wanting more sex to sell athletic wear. Both demanding new campaigns within twenty-four hours.

  I needed to work with more damn women.

  Groaning, I brought up my contact list and called. He picked right up. “Hi, Anthony, it’s Francesca. I heard from my team you’ve got some concerns about our campaign?”

  He did. He laid them out in detail and basically said he wanted more skin, sexier models, and lots of water and sweat. Did he think we were filming a Flashdance movie? For God’s sakes, why had he suddenly changed his mind?

  “Tony,” I said, using his nickname for bonding purposes. “I’m on your side. I want to sell your sportswear, but every test and statistic comes back with one result: women buy the clothes and they’re offended if it’s marketed to them like a pickup line. I’ve seen the sales numbers and they’re solid. Good engagement, steady growth. I’d be happy to freshen up some social media ads, though, if you’d like.”

  “Well, tell that to Victor over at Sunny Days Marketing,” he said with a bit of stiffness. “Victor created an ad for their newest account and it’s blowing up everywhere. It shows a naked woman with roses covering her privates. I keep seeing it shared all over social media—it’s practically going viral. That’s what I want.”

  “Your product is different. Victor is selling perfume and that’s where sex truly does sell.”

  “Francesca, you’re the best. I’ve always told you that and I want to stay, but if you don’t give me what I want, I have to take my business elsewhere. Times are changing and I want to be ahead of the curve, not behind. I’m willing to work right now, all night if we have to, until we come up with a new concept that we like. Are you on board?”

  Shock barreled through me. “Tony, I’m in Italy. Can we wait just a few days? That will give me enough time to brainstorm and get you the initial prospectus.”

  “No. Today. I’ve got my own vacation to Turks and Caicos, and the wife will kill me if I bother her with this shit. You in?”

  I bit my lip hard, trying to contain the slight shakes beginning to seize my body. Crap. This was a nightmare. I couldn’t lose this account. It was huge. I couldn’t fail. Not like this.

  “Sure. Give me a bit to call you back and get my team on conference call.”

  “Always a pleasure to work with you. I knew you’d never let me down.”

  I clicked off and bent over. Sweat broke out on my skin. I had to get myself under control and deal with this. Enzo and my family were waiting for me, and somehow I had to find a way to get them to understand how critical this emergency was.

  Gritting my teeth, I tried to remain calm even though panic teased my nerve endings. I couldn’t have an attack—not now. I’d make Allegra understand. I’d make it up to her. This time, I really meant it.

  They were just coming from the gardens when I met them outside. “I didn’t realize Enzo loved flowers so much. He knew all the names,” Allegra said teasingly.

  Enzo shook his head. “It’s important that real men know how to cook, clean, and make flowers grow. Or maybe this is because I have four sisters who convinced me of this while I did all their chores.”

  Allegra giggled. “You ready, Mom?”

  I tried to speak but my voice got clogged in my throat. Why were my lungs so tight? “I’m so sorry, honey, I’ve got a big problem. The office called, and I’m about to lose an important client if I don’t revise his campaign. I’ll need a few hours, but I’m sure I can do it fast and then meet you in town? Enzo, maybe you can take Mom and Allegra and give them the tour, and I’ll knock this out quickly. You’ll never even realize I was gone.” The words babbled from my mouth, but I knew by her expression that nothing I said mattered. The betrayal was already carved out on her face.

  “You’ve said this before,” she said, her eyes hard and flat. “It’s never quick.”

  “This time I’ll make sure it is.” I shot a pleading look to my mother and Enzo. Enzo inclined his head, his dark eyes full of sympathy. But not my mother. She was solidly behind my daughter, her lips tightened into a thin line of disapproval.

  My lungs squeezed further and I tried desperately to remind myself to take long, deep breaths. I couldn’t allow them to see me break down. It would only solidify their opinion of my work obsession and how it was unhealthy.

  “I’d be happy to accompany these lovely ladies into town,” Enzo said, smiling.

  My shoulders slumped in gratitude. “Thank you. I swear, I wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t critical. I can’t lose this account, sweetheart. It would be disastrous.”

  “It’s always some important account, Mom. It’s always an emergency. I thought maybe you meant it when you promised not to do this to us again, but I was stupid. I believed you! You promised this wouldn’t happen in Tuscany, but you can’t even do that.”

  “Allegra, please—”

  “Just go. I don’t care anymore. I really don’t. I’m not going to give you a hard time. I don’t even want to fight.” She stepped away, but it was so much more than that. The wall between us that I’d worked so hard to take down had shot right back up. And in her gaze was a distrust that almost drove me to my knees.

  What had I done?

  She turned her back and headed toward Enzo’s car. “Let’s go, Nonni. I’m sure we’ll have a great time.”

  The words dropped on me like stones and sent shimmers of pain rippling through me. Mom didn’t respond, just shook her head and followed Allegra.

  Enzo closed the distance between us. “Cara, are you okay?”

  I gulped back a sob, torn and confused. “No. I can’t lose this client, Enzo. It’d be a big hole in my financials and I’d let the entire team down. If he walks, it will be a disaster.”

  He nodded, cupping my cheek. “You must do what you need to do and hope your family will eventually understand.”

  “I’m afraid my daughter won’t. If I do this to her, she may never trust me again.” My hand trembled as I clutched at him, his solid weight reassuring under my shakiness. “I can lose her.”

  “You cannot lose family, Francesca. She will forgive. But you must know in your gut it’s worth the sacrifice.”

  “But I told you—I can lose the entire account if I don’t stay!”

  His smile was full of gentleness. “Yes, you may. Would that be the worst thing that can happen to you at this point? Follow both decisions through, and you will come to your answer.” He placed a kiss on my mouth, then stepped back. “I’ll be waiting in Lucca—text me if you need anything. I’ll take care of them.”

  I watched him climb into the car and slowly drive away.

  Clenching my fists, I headed into the house, my mind furiously working on getting alternate plans into place. I texted Kate, ordering the team to drop everything and call me on the conference line in fifteen minutes. I sifted through my notes and began to prep for the upcoming meeting.

  But I couldn’t stop thinking about Allegra’s face. And Enzo’s words. And my mother’s crushing disapproval.

  I’d broken another promise. Yes, this was important. But had I ever considered not responding to any crisis at my company? My work ethic gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment nothing ever had. Knowing I was needed and had a clear role. This moment proved to me everything I’d always craved.

  I was needed. I was i
mportant. I was somebody.

  But wasn’t I all those things to my daughter and my mother?

  It began with a trickle, then built—the horrifying strangle of air, the trembling seizing my legs, the wriggle of anxiety and fear rushing from my gut to flood my weak body.

  No. Not now. Please, not again.

  The attack reared and launched, and I dropped my head into my hands, desperately seeking something solid to cling to. But there was nothing but choppy breath and gripping panic, my brain spinning out of control.

  Breathe, Francesca. Count to five, pause, then release. Listen to my voice.

  I heard Enzo’s directions vibrate through my mind, taking me back to Capri when he’d helped guide me through one of the attacks. As my heart thumped like a mad rabbit, I began to concentrate on my breath, counting down each digit, then slowly exhaling.

  Eyes closed, I fought my way out with tiny increments of numbers and breaths, until the panic began to slowly recede.

  I had no idea how much time had passed when I finally raised my head. Frustrated tears stung my eyes. I stared at the blinking cursor on my computer and the stacks of notes I’d furiously pulled out, and then my phone began to ring with a shrieking demand I’d once revered and now dreaded.

  I can’t do this anymore.

  The truth rose and exploded like a firecracker. I’d created the world I wanted to live in, but now things were changing. There was a man I was falling in love with, and he was waiting for me. My precious daughter had finally let me back in, and I couldn’t stand to see her behind that massive wall again. My mother had shared the secrets of her soul and deserved my focus during our final days in Italy.

  I can’t do this anymore.

  The mantra repeated. My heartbeat calmed. I stared at the phone and hit the button.

  “Frannie? It’s Kate, we’re all here, and we have Anthony on hold, ready to conference him in. I’ve got the last ad pulled up, and I’m here with Layla, Adam, and Sarah. Are you ready?”

  Yes. I was.

  “Kate, I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but I won’t be able to do this conference call. Tell the team to be on standby if Anthony decides to let you take over, but if you don’t hear from me, you can stop working on the campaign.”