Vanni spoke to Niki using a hands-free headset during his very swift drive between his villa near Saint-Jeannet and the airport on Sunday morning. An emergency had called him away from a planned meeting with some top officials in regard to the race in two weeks’ time.

At least if felt like an emergency to Vanni. Others might disagree.

“Just smooth things over for me, won’t you? Make something up. You’re good at that,” Vanni was saying as he took a hairpin mountain turn with the ease of long practice.

“I resent that,” Niki told him, his unconcerned, mild tone at odds with his words.

“Only because you assumed I meant making up stories to your various women,” Vanni said with a distracted smile. “In fact, I meant you’re a natural diplomat. It’s in your genes.”

“We are talking about smoothing royal feathers here. That’ll cost you double for the favor,” Niki replied, referring to one member of the Montand French-American Grand Prix planning committee who was a relation to the neighboring state’s monarchial family.

“You can do it. You’re part of their family, after all.”

“I’m a tacked-on leaf of a very disreputable branch,” Niki replied dryly. “And I can think of one non-royal bird who is going to be extremely ruffled by your absence. No amount of Dellis diplomacy is going to smooth that over.”

“I have complete faith you’ll make her forget I even exist,” Vanni said drolly as he plunged down the mountain, the sun-infused Mediterranean sparkling like liquid turquoise beneath a sky as smooth and blue as a robin’s egg. The particular committee member Niki was referring to was a very beautiful, married socialite who had been vying for Vanni’s attention since he was first introduced to her at her own wedding six years ago.

“You must give Estelle credit,” Niki mused, and Vanni could almost see the glimmer of humor in his friend’s black eyes. “She remains convinced after all these years she can change your mind about taking a married woman as a lover. I myself was always a little confused by this American fastidiousness of yours.”

“You know it’s got nothing to do with being American. It’s got everything to do with being Michael Montand’s son.”

He didn’t recognize how bitter he’d sounded until he noticed the silence on the other line. He’d seen firsthand what his father’s frequent infidelities—what the ultimate betrayal—had done to his mother. No, Vanni was selfish, but he wasn’t cruel like Michael Montand.

“What is this emergency, Van?” Niki asked, his Greek accent almost disappearing with his sudden, focused concern. “Does it have to do with that lovely nurse you brought to Cristina’s funeral? I recognized what she was wearing around her neck. How did you manage to get Prisatti to give her one? Or did you mislead him somehow as to the identity of the receiver?”

“Do you think Angelo Prisatti thought it was for me?” Vanni asked sardonically.

“No, not a chance,” Niki chuckled. “I’m just desperate to know what in the world you told him in order to get him to part with it. That’d be excellent knowledge for any single man.”

“Only you would use a Prisatti angel to get a woman into bed.”

“I don’t need to. But isn’t that why you used it?” Niki challenged glibly.

“Why don’t you mind your own business?”

“You sort of are my business, unfortunately. Are you sure you’re not more . . . unsettled by Aunt Cristina’s death than you’re letting on?” Niki asked.

“It has nothing to do with Cristina,” Vanni said in a hard tone. “As for the reason I’m leaving, it relates to the fact that I can’t sleep, and leave it at that,” Vanni said, rounding a mountain pass.

“You never can sleep,” Niki said with an air of stating the obvious.

“Now it’s for a different reason, though.”

He was telling the truth. He’d hardly had a moment’s rest since landing in France. Memories of making love to Emma would pop up at the most inopportune moments—on a walking tour with the rest of the grand prix committee of the race circuit, at a luncheon hosted in Cannes for the press, at an exclusive dinner he’d hosted at La Mer for the drivers that had started to dribble in from all over the world.

He’d think of her incessantly in his empty bed at night.

Her dark eyes haunted his dreams when he did catch a few hours. His sense of restlessness and hunger had mounted as the days passed. All he could seem to focus on were memories and fantasies of touching her, of breathing her unique scent, of holding her while she shook in climax . . .

Yesterday, Neil Parodas had called and informed him that Emma had been one hundred percent correct in saying she was completely healthy.

I’m not saying she experienced a miracle cure, of course, Neil had cautioned. There must have been some mistake if she was ever diagnosed with thalassemia. The most important thing, though, is that without a doubt, that girl is as healthy as they come.

A strange sensation had gone through Vanni at the news. It was like someone had mainlined adrenaline into his blood. The world took on a lucid, vibrant cast that hadn’t been there before, the brilliant colors of the flowers on the terrace of his villa, La Mer, the bright blue sea below the cliffs shocking his brain. If he didn’t know himself better, he would have sworn that swooping feeling had been pure relief . . . euphoric joy?

The rush of feeling had been so sharp and overwhelming, and so unfamiliar that Vanni wasn’t sure he trusted it. That didn’t diminish the emotion any, however.

“Can you do me a favor?” he asked Niki presently as he turned onto the road to the airport.

“Of course,” Niki replied.

“Call Vera and let her know I’m returning a day early. Have her send a car over to the airport. I’ve tried to reach her several times and failed.”

“What car do you want delivered?”

“A fast one,” Vanni replied grimly before he signed off.

On Sunday morning, Emma almost ran down Amanda on the way out the door. The meeting was unexpected. Both of them were startled and flustered, given their new, strained relationship and sudden close proximity, laughing and trying to get around each other. She noticed Amanda’s heavy backpack slung over her shoulder

She had to give her sister credit; Amanda had been incredibly dedicated to her schoolwork so far. Emma had been a little worried this new thing with Colin would distract her just when she needed to focus the most as she started medical school. It had pleased her to see that didn’t appear to be the case. Amanda had been up at dawn to go to the library to study since she had to work the evening shift at her waitress job tonight.

“Where are you off to?” Amanda asked breathlessly, leaving the front door open for Emma.

“I thought I’d go downtown and do a little shopping.”

“You’ve certainly grown uncharacteristically interested in clothes lately,” Amanda said, her expression friendly and amused, but curious as well. “It’s nice. I could never get you interested,” she laughed. She focused on the angel at Emma’s throat. “I suppose it all relates to Vanni?”

Emma shrugged. Several times this week, Amanda had tried to broach the topic of Vanni Montand, but Emma hadn’t been willing to share much except to say that she’d met him on her last work assignment and that they’d begun seeing each other on a casual basis. Given everything that had happened recently with Amanda and Colin, she felt hesitant sharing intimacies with Amanda. It was a fact that she hated, but that didn’t make it any less true. She prayed for the prickly, uncomfortable atmosphere to ease between Amanda and her, but it certainly hadn’t yet.

Besides, since discovering that Vanni had inexplicably bought her apartment complex, Emma was especially agitated on the topic of him. She wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that the man who made love to her with such ruthless precision and yet made it clear he didn’t “do” long-term relationships now owned her home. The whole scenario had left her bewildered and anxious. Talking about it with Amanda in the past would have probably helped her to clarify. All of that had changed, though.

What had Vanni intended by it all? It certainly left her in debt to him . . . not in debt, but responsible to him, somehow. He could drop her and forget her anytime he chose, but she couldn’t remove him from her life so easily. Not when he owned the very rooms where she walked, ate, and slept.

Besides the issue with her apartment, she was still very heartsore over the news about his young wife dying. She’d tried to find more information about his marriage and the identity of his former wife, but there hadn’t been anything online. Had Michael Montand Sr. used his influence, perhaps, to silence the news of his heir’s unapproved marriage and his wife’s untimely death?

“It would be hard to see a man like him and not want to look good,” Amanda said, interrupting her chaotic thoughts. “I still can’t believe it. Vanni Montand. You always did have all the family luck.”

Emma blinked. “I did?”

“Sure,” Amanda said, giving her a slightly startled glance before she set her backpack down on the entryway bench.

Emma gave a short laugh. “You’re the gorgeous one. You’re the brilliant doctor-to-be.” You’re the one who my ex-boyfriend preferred.

Amanda’s smile faded as she took a step toward her. “Do you ever really see yourself in the mirror, Emma?” Emma just stared back at her. “You’re beautiful. And what’s more, you don’t even have to try and you are. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that you snagged Montand’s attention.”

“Thanks,” Emma muttered, avoiding her sister’s stare.

“And you know you’re every bit as smart as me. You took that incredible load in nursing school and still aced all your classes and clinicals. And lucky?” Amanda shook her head incredulously. “You beat death, for God’s sake. Mom used to call you her little miracle.”

“I didn’t beat anything,” Emma said. “It just . . . happened.”

“You walk in grace.” Amanda shrugged when Emma gave her an incredulous glance. “Colin said it—after all this stuff with you finding us . . . you know. Together. And it’s true, Em. No one would have handled this situation as gracefully as you. You’ve been so reasonable about the whole thing. I have a feeling you’re being so patient because you’re thinking of what Mom would have wanted. But no matter what the reason, I know it took a very big person to react the way you have. And I appreciate it. I just . . . wanted you to know.”

“Thanks, but I think you’re both being a bit too generous with the praise,” Emma said shortly, taking a step toward the door.

She glanced back when Amanda grabbed her hand. “I’m not being too generous,” Amanda said steadfastly, her lower lip trembling slightly. “Emma . . . I’m so, so sorry.”

“For falling in love with Colin?”

“No. For falling in love in this way. It’s the last thing on earth I wanted.”

It was Amanda who stepped forward and hugged her. Emma stood stiff in the embrace at first. Something in her gave. She returned the hug every bit as warmly as her sister gave it. She shut her eyes and squeezed tight as emotion flooded her.

Abruptly, she backed away and reached for the door.

She’d missed Amanda so much.

It was going on two o’clock by the time she got off the subway and took the stairs up to State Street. She paused in the lobby of Macy’s when a woman offered to spritz her with a brand of perfume that she knew she liked, but couldn’t afford. She was in the process of rubbing her wrist on her neck, when her phone began to ring in her purse. Plucking out her phone in a distracted, unhurried fashion, she noticed the number.

“Hello?” she asked quickly, worried she’d taken too long and he’d hung up.

“It’s me,” Vanni said. “Where are you?”

“Downtown,” she said, her voice ringing with amazement not only at hearing his voice, but also at his brisk question. “I’m at Macy’s.”

“I know,” he said. “But where?”

“How did you know I was at Macy’s?”

“Emma? Where?” he growled softly.

“Okay,” she said, hearing the amused warning in his tone. She looked around the setting of the vintage, huge department store. “I’m in the perfume section on the first floor. Why?”

She glanced up, noticing that the salesgirl who had sprayed Emma’s wrist was staring in wide-eyed fascination over Emma’s shoulder.

“Because I’m looking for you,” Vanni said.

Emma’s mouth fell open in shock. She’d heard him speak in addition to hearing his voice on the phone. She looked over her shoulder.

He was hanging up his phone and slipping it into his back pocket.

“There you are,” he said briskly, blue-green eyes lowering over her in a satisfied manner. It was as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to approach her in the middle of a bustling department store. “I was worried I’d have trouble finding you.”

Emma spun around all the way, sure for several seconds she was hallucinating. But no, he didn’t disappear. He looked very vivid to her stunned eyes, not to mention indecently gorgeous in a sexy, light blue T-shirt that sexily skimmed his lean, muscular form, and a pair of jeans. His tan had grown deeper since she’d last seen him. The color of his shirt, the sun-gilded skin, and the dark brows and lashes all combined to make his aquamarine eyes even more striking looking than usual.

“Vanni . . . what are you doing here?” she mumbled, her brain vibrating with shock—shock and something else even more powerful and primal. A thrill of pure excitement had gone through her at the vision of him, leaving her body tingling.

“I came back from France early.” He stated the obvious. He looked behind her, quirking his dark brows, and Emma glanced over her shoulder. The salesgirl was still staring at him with that goofy grin. She seemed to come to herself at Vanni’s glance and muttered an apology before she walked away, silly smile still in place. Emma rolled her eyes at the show of female weakness he inspired.

“But how did you know I’d be here?” she asked.

“I stopped by your place. Amanda told me you’d gone shopping here.” His gaze flickered over her face and landed on her lips. He glanced aside distractedly when a woman with several large bags bumped into him. “Is this what you came shopping for? Perfume?”

“No,” Emma said, still staring at him. She still couldn’t believe he was here. She had an almost uncontrollable urge to touch him. Memories of sleeping in his arms when they were last together flooded her consciousness. She’d lain against his solid chest all night and stroked him whenever she chose, which was often. She’d allowed him to tie her up and spank her. They’d made love with savage abandonment.

Now he stood here so unexpectedly, and it was all so unbelievable. Her longing for him was still there—in fact it felt doubled. But the idea of touching him suddenly made her shy.

Idiot.

His eyebrows arched. His head lowered and she realized he was waiting for her to speak. “What are you shopping for then?” he prodded quietly as a group of shoppers rushed past them.

“Oh . . . you know. Just looking,” she managed. “A dress, maybe. Possibly a swimsuit.”

His steady stare seemed to swallow her whole.

“Dammit,” he said suddenly under his breath. He stepped forward and his arms encircled her. “When are you going to stop going shy around me?” he asked, his mouth slanted in amusement.

“I’m not—”

His mouth cut her off. All her awkwardness and uncertainty evaporated in a second beneath his kiss. She forgot where she was as he pierced her lips with his tongue and his taste flooded her consciousness.

“God you smell good,” he mumbled a stretched, delicious moment later, nuzzling her ear and neck. Emma shuddered in pleasure. “Is that the perfume you just put on?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Did Dr. Parodas contact you about our test results?” he asked, his nose in her hair, his lips brushing against her ear and making all the hairs stand on end along her neck.

“Yes,” Emma managed, finding his kiss and the topic both highly intimate in these mundane surrounding.

He looked at her, his expression shifting ever so slightly. If Emma had to guess, she’d say he was very satisfied by her answer.

“I have an idea,” he said.

“What?” Emma asked. He might have suggested they jump naked off the Willis Tower together, and she would have done it she was so momentarily enthralled by his eyes and deep, quiet voice.

“I’ll take you to a place where we can shop for a few items you’ll need. Then I’ll take you to bed and keep you there until we’re too weak to get out of it.”

A lightning flash of arousal went through her.

“A few items I’ll need for what?” she asked, choosing to focus on the safer topic.

“For your trip.” He arched his dark brows significantly. “To the Côte d’Azur?” he prompted as if he was gently reminding her of something she’d forgotten because she was so clearly befuddled by his kiss and nearness.

“To the French Riviera?” she asked skeptically.

He smiled, slow and brilliant. She felt that smile at the very pit of her being.

“Now you’re getting it. We leave on Tuesday.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said bemusedly as he took her hand.

“It’s simple. I have to be back in France soon for the buildup to the race and the race itself. We’ll go back in a few days, but when I go, you do. I want you there with me.”

“You do?” Emma asked. She blinked and glanced around at the familiar surroundings of the department store, trying to ground herself. She’d been flying around in his eyes for a moment. “I can’t. I have work.”

“You’ll take a vacation,” he said, pulling on her hand. She fell into step beside him. “You can call the office tomorrow, ask for time off.”

“Maybe, but it might be kind of tricky getting it on short notice,” she said, scurrying to keep up with his long-legged stride, her heart starting to pound with excitement in her chest despite the craziness of his proposal.

“It’ll be fine. You need a vacation. You’ll love the Côte d’Azur . . . and my house there.” He gave her a gleaming sideways glance.

“Maybe,” she hesitated, swept away by the sheer force of him. “It’s possible I could figure out something for work . . . but what about—”

He shook his head and pulled her in front of him as they neared the revolving doors. “I’m not going to this damn race without you,” he stated flatly. “Now . . . let’s go finish your shopping so that I have you to myself,” he said with grim determination, nodding toward the door.