CHAPTER 9
The morning after. Kate looked over her shoulder at Enrico. He was still asleep, one arm slung around her waist, his body snug against hers.
Even though they’d made love twice that night, he was ready again. She wriggled back against him, his erection a delightful hardness. She heard the change in his breathing as he woke, and then she felt the change in how he was touching her. His grip on her waist tightened and he pulled her to him possessively.
“Good morning,” he murmured, kissing the side of her neck, his voice hoarse from sleep.
She turned her head to look at him again and he stretched to kiss her lips, the contact gentle and brief, but it stirred something in her. She rolled over in his arms and he pulled her flush to his chest.
God she loved kissing him. His early morning stubble rasped against her skin, a light scratching, but it felt good. He took her mouth slowly, his tongue exploring; he wasn’t rough and demanding the way some men were. The way Vince was. Enrico didn’t try to have it all with his kisses. They were just a prelude to the main course, a delightful tease.
His fingers caressed the hair from her face. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to touch you like this,” he said, running his fingers through the strands.
Kate smiled and reached up, brushing his hair back off his forehead. His black hair was thick and wavy, soft beneath her fingers. She remembered wanting to touch it, and now she was. He looked at her solemnly. “You’re awfully serious about something,” she said.
He was about to open his mouth when she stopped him, her fingers pressing into his lips. “Before you say anything, I want you to know I’m not going to stay for long. I don’t expect anything from you. As soon as I can, I’m going back to the States, and I’m going to stay as far away from men as possible.”
His brow furrowed. “Then what are we doing here?”
“Having a good time?”
“Kate, this, you, mean something to me. I don’t sleep with many women.”
“I like you, Enrico. A lot. But I’m not sure it goes further than that. I barely know you.” And you still love your wife.
He took her face in his hands. “I’d like to get to know you, to see if we can have a future together.”
She couldn’t meet his eyes. If he knew why she’d slept with him, he’d be hurt. The band of his wedding ring pressed into her cheek, and she reached up, tapping it with her fingernail. The ting of her nail against the metal seemed loud. “How can you say that when you’re still wearing this?” She searched his face, seeing him wince.
He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, his brown eyes turbulent. “Maybe you’re right,” he finally said, his voice thick.
She leaned forward and kissed him lightly. “Let’s think of this as a fling, okay?”
“Can we leave it open?” he asked. “Just entertain the possibility there could be more?”
She sighed and dropped her head back onto the pillow. “Let’s enjoy each other, and when the time comes, let’s not make it difficult.”
“Just consider it. Per favore?”
His eyes were unguarded, naked, vulnerable. Saying no would be a slap in the face. “Okay. But I’m not making promises. Do not misunderstand me.”
He smiled broadly, his face relaxing. “I understand.”
The joy on his face made her bury her worries in a smile. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. Not after what he’d done for her. But she’d been clear. When she decided to go, he’d have to accept it.
They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the dining room, trading sections of the newspaper like an old married couple. Kate looked over at Enrico, his dark eyes roving over the business section as he sipped a cappuccino. Vince didn’t like to read the paper, but they’d shared plenty of breakfasts together, many of them like this one, quietly companionable ones where little needed to be said. Some little part of her missed Vince and thought it strange she was here with this other man, a man who was definitely not her husband. “Excuse me,” she said to Enrico, folding up her napkin and setting it beside her plate. “There’s something I need to do.”
Her voice must have betrayed her somehow. He looked at her for a moment, concern in his eyes. “Is there a problem?”
“No. I just need to check my voice mail.”
“Ah.” His face tightened, and she left before he could say anything. It really was none of his business.
Kate retrieved the phone from her purse. She’d been dreading hearing from Vince, but maybe he’d calmed down and seen how he’d overreacted. Maybe he’d agree to let her leave and get a quick divorce. Of course, if he knew what she’d done last night…. But there was no video after all.
She turned on the phone as she walked out to the terrace behind the house, trying to enjoy the view of the garden, the rolling lawns that led down to the lake. What a gorgeous day, she thought, with the sky clear and blue, the sun glittering on the water, the craggy peaks of the Alps rising high around her. But her stomach filled with butterflies as she waited for the phone to come to life.
A beep told her she had voice mail. No surprise. She pressed the button to check it, and sure enough, Vince’s voice greeted her. “You fucking cunt,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “I’m gonna slit your throat.”
She deleted the message, her fingers trembling as she pressed the buttons. There was another from him; she deleted it too as soon as she heard the anger in his voice.
So much for the quick divorce. What the hell was she going to do? She couldn’t stay with Enrico forever. She shouldn’t be staying with Enrico at all. Not if she knew what was good for her.
She had to get the hell out of Dodge. This minute.
Kate found Enrico typing on the laptop in his study. He was so absorbed she had to cough to get his attention. He started to smile but stopped. “Kate, what is wrong?”
She fidgeted for a second, not sure she wanted to ask him for help. “Vince called.”
“What did he say?”
Her heart started pounding. “He threatened to kill me.”
Enrico’s eyes sharpened. “What exactly did he say?”
Her throat closed up, strangling her next words. “He said he was going to slit my throat.” Her knees turned to jelly and she collapsed onto the chair in front of his desk.
Enrico jumped up and came around to her. He sank down on his heels, taking her hands in both of his. “Everything will be all right.”
She shook her head, grateful for the warmth of his touch, the strength of his fingers around hers. She tried to keep herself calm, but a tide of worry overwhelmed her. “What am I going to do? Where am I going to go? How am I going to live?” She pulled a hand from his grasp, covering her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks. Her eyes swam and blurred; she could barely breathe.
“Try not to jump ahead.” Enrico’s voice was low and soothing, and he rubbed his palms up and down her thighs. “There is no sense worrying.”
“How can I not worry?”
His hands stilled and he looked at her closely. “I know it is difficult. But when did worry ever solve anything?” He paused, then squeezed her knees. “You need to keep your head, Kate. Panic never helps. I am here; I will help you. You can count on me.”
She took a deep breath, then expelled it slowly. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”
He leaned forward and kissed her, one of his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. “Anytime you need me, I will be there.” His voice was almost a whisper.
Such promise in those words, enough to send nervous flutters through her. Could he really live up to them? There was one way to find out. “I need to get away from here. Somewhere Vince can’t find me. I don’t want my parents to worry, so I can’t tell them about Vince or ask them for money—”
“Say no more. I do not want you to go, but if that is your wish, I will help you.”
“I don’t want to owe you.”
“You will not.” After a moment, he added, “Your rings should yield more than enough to cover your expenses for quite some time.” He cocked his head and looked at her. “You do not like depending on anyone.”
“After Vince, do you blame me?”
“Not all men are bad.”
She stared at him without comment, then said, “How soon can I leave?”
Enrico straightened, then sat on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms. “Your husband has someone watching the house.”
Fear spiked through her, leaving her chilled. “He does? How do you know?”
“There is a man watching the front drive. No doubt there is another watching the dock to make sure you do not leave by boat either.”
“Oh God.” Kate rubbed her arms. “He sounded so horrible on the phone. He scared me, but I was hoping it was just posturing.”
Enrico frowned. “We would be fools to dismiss him.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I can’t stay here forever.”
“It would be best to wait a few days. Let them get bored. Then we leave at night by boat, no motor, travel up the shore a ways, meet a car.” He paused, then continued. “I am not sure it is wise to take my private jet, in case your husband has staked out the airstrip, but there is no paper trail if we do. At least, not one that cannot easily be faked.”
She looked at him, considering. “You’ve done this before.”
“Not exactly. But it is best to think about these matters beforehand.”
“You really are afraid of them, aren’t you?”
“Not afraid. Cautious.”
“I don’t believe you. Who wouldn’t be afraid of the Mob?”
Suspicion ruled Kate’s gaze. Of course. The only people who wouldn’t be afraid of the Mafia were people in the Mafia. “Okay. I am a little afraid,” Enrico said.
“Only a little?” she teased.
He smiled, just a slight curving of the mouth. “Maybe more than a little.”
“Good.”
His brows shot up. “Good?”
“Now I know you’re not crazy. Or one of them.”
He was careful to hold her eyes. “If I was one of them, would we be having this conversation? Would I not have left you to your fate?”
She studied him for a second. “Perhaps. Still, you’re way too good at this.”
He grinned. “I am a businessman. I have to lie to people all the time. It is the way of things.”
She leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms, not breaking eye contact. “You should know now I hate lying. More than anything.”
Enrico felt a tremor in his gut. Her words implied a possible future for them at the same time that they damned one. “I will never lie to you about anything of consequence.” He regretted the words as soon as he said them, wished he could take them back, could tell her there and then who he was. But she’d bolt.
“You’d better mean that.”
“Every word.” Dio, please forgive me.
“We do it your way then.” He started to turn away from her, when her voice, a brutal punch to the ribs, stopped him. “If I ever find out you’re lying to me, I will never forgive you.”
He kept his face still, twisted half away from hers. When he thought he could keep his dismay inside, he turned to her. “I know.”
“Then we understand each other.”
He hoped to hell she could understand—and forgive—him when she found out the truth. If she rejected him, he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
Or how he’d keep her alive.