A Taste of Romance

by Rhonda Laurel

  “Here’s the charcuterie.” Tobias laid a wooden plate on the table.

  “Wow,” she said. “Where do I start?”

  “I suggest a little savory first, followed by sweet then a sip of wine.”

  She tried the prosciutto-wrapped fig and was not disappointed. “This is awesome.”

  “I thought you’d like it.” He popped a slice of pepperoni and a grape into his mouth. “Now try the Parmigiano Reggiano. I bet you’ve never tasted anything like it.”

  “I’ve tasted parmesan cheese before.”

  “Sii ancora il mio cuore.” He put a hand over his heart. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  “What?”

  “There’s a big difference. Taste, then we’ll talk. This is far superior to any other parmesan you’ve ever tasted.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “That’s a bold statement.”

  “Trust me.” He cut a slice of the cheese and put it up to her lips.

  Trina bit into the slice of the cheese. She knew people were sometimes in love with a certain food because it had its origin in their culture but… Her mind went blank as the flavors danced on her palette. This cheese was not the run-of-the-mill parmesan she’d eaten in the past. It had a sharp, fresh flavor that played like a trumpet on her tongue. It would go perfectly atop spaghetti and meatballs.

  She saw him sitting there with a satisfied smirk. He wanted her to admit he was right. “It may be better than any parmesan I’ve had in the past.”

  “May be?”

  She rolled her eyes. “OK. I’ve been in a cheese fog all my life.”

  “That’s more like it.” He took a bite from the sliver. “A friend of mine makes it and sells it at a store in town.”

  “Everything is so fresh, it explodes in your mouth.” She groaned and closed her eyes.

  “All of our food is locally sourced and delivered daily from the farmer’s and fish markets.”

  “Good food. Good wine. Marco sure runs a nice racket here.”

  “He does what he can.”

  “He does everything except greet his guests. Which is a shame. Because everyone I know speaks so highly of him. I was in danger of having some romantic view of him being this Italian gentleman with noble, old-world values.” She let out an exaggerated sigh. “I bet all that refinement is a show for the tourists. You know, reveling in their assumptions about Italians. Turns out he’s just a phony with poor manners.”

  “About that—”

  Just then, Tobias came to the table with the halibut. He topped off both their wine glasses and left again.

  “Before you taste the halibut,” Marco said, “I want you to think of a fish swimming in the ocean this morning, and now he’s sitting on your plate. From fishing rod to plate in under five hours.”

  “I’m nearly stuffed from the appetizers.” She rubbed her stomach.

  “Just a few bites. I guarantee it’s the most delectable fish you’ll ever eat.”

  He watched as she put a forkful of the fish into her mouth. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled. He knew she liked it. “You were right again.”

  Her cell phone rang. She retrieved it out of her purse and looked at the display.

  “It’s Alex.” She flashed a smile as the color drained out of his face. “I have to take this. Unless there’s a reason why I shouldn’t?”

  Marco’s eyes widened. This would be the perfect time to come clean. But all he could muster up was, “Of course not. Take your call.”

  She did. “Hi, Alex. Everything’s fine. I’ve been here for over an hour.” Trina glanced at Marco, smiling. “No, I haven’t seen him yet. I know, right? Your friend Marco has the manners of a sewer rat. He hasn’t checked on me once since I arrived. I guess he’s too busy. I’ve been getting an earful from his employees. Poor Giuseppe here has been keeping me company for the past hour. Sure, no problem.” She disconnected the call. “He’s going to call me right back.”

  As if on cue, Marco’s cell phone started ringing.

  She tapped her fingers on the table. “Your phone is ringing.”

  “I’ll let it go to voicemail.”

  “It could be important.”

  “Probably not.”

  Portia came running into the café. “Marco! Sorry to interrupt, but Kendall was here, and she left you a gift. I wanted to make sure you got it before you went back to your office.”

  His expression was chagrinned. “Thanks, Portia.”

  “No problem.” Portia looked at the plates. “How was the halibut?”

  “Delicious,” Trina replied. “Great recommendation.”

  “Told you.” Portia smiled and walked out of the restaurant.

  “Marco, eh?” Trina squinted at him. “You really should answer Alex’s call. Maybe you can explain to him how you’ve developed a split personality, Giuseppe.”

  “Katrina, ti prego perdonami. I can explain.”

  “Explain what?” She scooped up her purse and stood. “Explain why you’ve been pretending to be a warehouse worker for over an hour?”

  Trina sauntered out of the café. It was all she could do not to take another bite of that scrumptious halibut before she left. She wasn’t voted “best dramatic exit” in high school for nothing. She had a flair for these things. It would teach the gorgeous vineyard owner about playing pretend. The nerve of him flirting with her and letting her believe he was someone else!

  It was too bad. She was beginning to like Giuseppe. What was there not to like? He was hot, charming, and that accent was working for him. Too bad he was a deceptive little weasel. There was nothing he could say that would make her forgive him for his little trick.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Marco stood to chase after Trina, but his cell phone kept ringing. If he didn’t answer, Alex might think something was wrong. Marco took a deep breath and hit the answer button on the screen. “Alex.”

  “Marco. What’s going on? Trina’s at the vineyard looking for you.”

  “There was a little bit of confusion when Katrina arrived, but I found her and have been entertaining her ever since.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s been a crazy day. I didn’t realize how much Wesley does around here.”

  “Oh.” Alex laughed. “Your top man is gone, and you’re doing hard labor.”

  “Wesley’s hard work allows me to spend my days gazing at my grapes.”

  “I’m sorry if Trina’s visit has put you out in any way.”

  “No. No. It’s what friends are for.” He looked around for her. “Alex, I hate to cut you short, but I have to take care of a few things before I finish up for the day.”

  “Are you sure everything is OK?”

  “Everything is fine. I just need to get my bearings,” Marco said in a high tone. “I just got a little distracted.”

  “That’s not like you.”

  “Tell me about it.” He sighed.

  “Well, Trina will be out of your hair shortly.”

  “Too bad.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know. I always have time for a beautiful woman.”

  “OK. And Marco?”

  “Yes?”

  “Try not to fall in love.” Alex laughed.

  “What?”

  “I know how you get when you’re around a beautiful woman. Remember, she’s family.”

  “I will be a perfect gentleman.” Marco ended the call. He’d just lied to his friend. The horse had already left the barn. He was intrigued by the beautiful Katrina Reed, and they’d only known each other an hour. But he knew he had to tread carefully. She was a relative of Alex and Channing. Talk about a double whammy.

  Marco went outside and looked around the parking lot for the convertible. He found it, but Trina wasn’t inside. So he walked the exterior of the building, and there was still no sign of her. He ventured up the steps to the veranda, and when he reached the landing, he saw her sitting in a wicker chair looking out at the landscape. She looked so pretty sitting there, he stood for a moment
watching her. She must have been tired from the long car ride from Los Angeles. She seemed to be deep in thought. He hesitated about disturbing her, but he needed to clear the air.

  “Thank goodness I caught you before you left.”

  “I changed my mind about leaving at that moment. I make a point not to drive angry. I start making gestures behind the wheel, and it looks like road rage.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Good thing I did. Nice view up here.”

  “It is. Isn’t it?” He smiled, but she didn’t smile back. “I just spoke to Alex. I told him you were in good hands.”

  She gave him a wicked side-eye. “Did you tell him about your little deception?”

  “No.” He cringed. That wasn’t going away any time soon. “May I sit?”

  “Sure. It’s your furniture.”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t give me permission to sit with you. I’d never do anything you didn’t want.”

  He was disappointed when she looked away. This was a rough way to start their friendship. He had to make things right.

  “First of all, I apologize for not telling you my real name. I was having fun talking to you. Everyone around here treats me a certain way when they find out who I am. It was nice to be a regular guy flirting with a beautiful woman who’d just graced me with her presence.”

  “So you decided to lie instead,” she replied.

  “I know it was a cruel joke that I should have stopped the second I knew who you were, but I was having fun, in a good way. I thought it was refreshing to not have to deal with that preconception, even if it was for just a moment.”

  “I know the feeling.” She motioned for him to take a seat. “Let’s have a do-over.”

  If that was an olive branch, he’d take it. He sat down and extended his hand. “Hi. I’m Marco Di Giovanni.”

  “Trina Reed.” She shook his hand.

  The moment their hands connected, a jolt went right through him. Her skin had a satiny texture that felt good on his hand. It had been a while since he’d been in contact with a woman. Sure, he’d greeted the women he knew and gave the occasional kiss on the cheek. But this was different. Trina had a soft touch that made him think of other places on his body that he’d like to feel her hands. He’d been missing that craving for intimacy and was beginning to think he was becoming a stoic cynic who’d given up on love and romance. But her touch made him feel like those feelings weren’t hibernating within him as he’d thought.

  “I am the owner of the Paloma Vineyards. I am also a good friend of Channing and Alex.”

  “Wow. You know a Blake and a Popovich.” She laughed. “I have the craziest family tree.”

  He smiled. “I guess that means we have double the connection.”

  “I suppose so.” She broke his gaze and looked back out at the landscape. “You have a lovely vineyard. The view is breathtaking.”

  “What you see before you is my life’s work. This is who I am.”

  “I’m from Philadelphia. I’m here in California to launch my music career. Or at least that’s what I’m supposed to be doing.”

  “What happened?”

  She looked at her watch. “It’s a long story, but I don’t really feel like talking about it right now. I have to be leaving soon.”

  “We’ll have plenty of time to talk since you’ll be staying here in Napa tonight.”

  “Here?” She bit her lip. “What are talking about? Alex is expecting me in Harper’s Grove this evening. I’m going to call him and let him know I’m on my way.”

  “You’ve had a long drive from Los Angeles. You had a delicious lunch and a few glasses of wine. I would be remiss if I didn’t insist you stay the evening and get some rest.”

  He’d said the words before he knew it. She did look tired, and getting back on the road could be disastrous on the winding hills she’d have to navigate for part of the trip. And more importantly, he wanted her to stay.

  “I can manage.” She held her hand up to suppress a yawn. “I just need a strong cup of coffee.”

  “I disagree,” he countered. “You should be alert for the final leg of your trip, and you are not. Remember, I told Alex I would look after you. Your life is in my hands.”

  “Aren’t you being a tad dramatic?” She rolled her eyes.

  “No, I take my promises to my friends very seriously. What does a man have if he doesn’t have his word?”

  She looked at him for a minute. “All right. I can stay at a nearby hotel. Do you have a recommendation?”

  “Non farai niente del genere!”

  “What?”

  “You’ll do no such thing. It would be an insult to stay at a hotel. I pride myself on being a top-notch host.”

  “Are you sure it won’t be an inconvenience? What about…the other people who live in the house?”

  “It’s not a problem. I live with my Mama, and she’s away visiting her sisters. Like you said, it’s a big house. There’s plenty of room for the two of us.”

  “Are you one hundred percent sure?”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He reached for her hand. “I’m sorry for the deception earlier.”

  “I guess you’re forgiven. If it was all harmless fun.”

  “And Giuseppe brought a smile to your face.”

  “I’d been driving in a car for six hours. I welcomed the human interaction.”

  “Grazie.” He kissed the back of her hand.

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled. “And before you ask, that’s all the Italian I know.”

  “I can teach you more.”

  “I bet you could.” She eased her hand away. “But I won’t be staying long.”

  “Then let’s make the most of it.”

  “Great. Let’s go.” She braced herself on the chair to stand, but he stopped her.

  “Let’s wait for another fifteen minutes.”

  “For what?”

  “The view of the sunset as it slowly disappears behind the hill over there is gorgeous. It would be nice for you to see it.”

  “Sure.” She leaned back in her seat, then whipped out her cell phone and began tapping away.

  “Katrina, presta attenzione.” Marco gently tugged the cell phone out of her hand and placed it on the table next to her. “Look at the sunset.”

  “I know. I know. I just want to tell Alex my plans have changed and send a few quick texts. You don’t know the number of people I have to check in with so they don’t send out the Marines to look for me. I promise I’ll have my eyes glued to the big event.”

  “There will be time to call Alex. It’s not just the big event. It’s a process which must be watched from the beginning.”

  She gave him a look.

  He stared back evenly. “Would you walk into the middle of a movie?”

  “No. I’d feel ripped off. Especially since going to the movies costs about one month’s rent these days.”

  “Exactly.” He winked at her.

  As they sat there in silence, he could tell she was anxious to say something. She loved to talk, but she wasn’t so keen on the quiet moments. This truly was his favorite part of the day, and he’d come up here if he was working in the main building.

  The sun’s glow spread across the valley, emanating one last blast of the sun’s rays before it retired for the evening. It was a natural wonder, and Peyton had photographed the scene many times. He wanted Trina to let the tranquility envelope her. Maybe it would help her resolve some of the tension he saw on her face.

  He looked over at her. She’d curled her legs up underneath her, head propped up on her hand and her eyes glued to the sky.

  Once the sun was finally tucked behind the hills and the twilight began to show its face, he glanced at her again to find she’d closed her eyes.

  “Katrina.” He gently nudged her. “You ready to go?”

  “Do we have to?” She stretched. “This is the most peaceful I’ve felt since I came to California.”

  “See, it’s easy to get
hooked on the surroundings when you don’t have a phone in your hands.”

  “Not a fan of technology?”

  “Let’s just say I’m a reluctant user. The world has become awfully impersonal. I like intimate, face-to-face conversations.”

  “Well, this doohickey is my best friend.” She held up her cell phone. “It keeps me up to date on work and family. Both of which are probably wondering where I am.”

  “We can call Alex when we get to the house. And work will be there tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, right.” She sprang up out of her chair. “Thanks for making me take the time to enjoy the view.”

  “You are welcome. I promise it will happen again tomorrow. Shall we?” He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the steps. She was so much shorter than he was, and the top of her head barely reached his shoulder, even in the sexy heels she was wearing.

  Marco let out a silent sigh of relief. She’d forgiven him for the Giuseppe thing and had even agreed to stay with him. He sensed she was still troubled about what had happened in Los Angeles and he intended to find out more. He loved hosting friends, but it had been some time since someone like her stayed under his roof. He was attracted to her. Who wouldn’t be? She was beautiful. It was only natural that he’d react to her that way. Still, he hadn’t been that blatantly flirtatious for some time.

  He needed to tamp down the lustful thoughts for the time being. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable around him. But when they touched, the spark was like none other he’d ever felt. And when their eyes connected, it was as if they were communicating without saying a word. It was going to prove to be an interesting evening being in the same house with her.

  * * *

  Trina nestled into the seat of the convertible and strapped on her seat belt. She’d called Alex while Marco was finishing things up at his office to let Alex know she’d be staying the evening in Napa. Alex was glad she’d decided to get some rest before getting back on the road. She had to tell him it was Marco’s idea. She would have stubbornly trudged on, but Marco picked up on her fatigue and insisted she stay.

  Marco gave a signal as he turned on his sports car and pulled out of the parking spot. She followed Marco out of the parking lot and down the road a couple of miles to his home. As soon as she drove up to the house and saw the expertly manicured exterior, she knew the interior would be just as fabulous. He retrieved her bags from the car and led her into the house. She wasn’t disappointed.