Chapter 4
Chapter Four
They were shown to an amazing table at the edge of the huge terrace overlooking the Bay. The best spot in the house. Parker thought she’d seen Nick discreetly slip the ma?tre-d’ some money but she wasn’t sure. Didn’t even want to know. Knowing might spoil some of the magic of the evening.
It was definitely magical.
The sun had just set behind Vesuvius, the clouds tinged with gold, setting the city aglow. Lights were turning on all over the city and the ornate streetlamps along the bay switched on.
Nick pulled out her chair, choosing for her the one that faced the bay, and then sat down to her right, which gave him a view over the entire terrace. He always seemed preternaturally aware of everything, whether walking or driving.
Professional paranoia, she assumed.
Parker sighed as she took in the magnificent view, reputedly the best in the city. She’d never been to Il Terrazzone, not because she couldn’t afford it—though apparently it was wicked expensive—but because she didn’t have anyone to go with.
She did, now.
She sighed again in happiness. Looked around, smiling. “This is gorgeous.”
His eyes had never left her face. “Yes, absolutely gorgeous.”
His meaning was very clear, but somehow non-skeevy. How did he manage that? He smiled, looked behind her. “The waiter is coming up. You said you wanted a drink first?”
She nodded. “Yes, please.”
The idea was enticing. Aperitivo on the terrace, enjoying the sunset, then a spectacular dinner. No hurry, no hurry at all. She was very much in a no-hurry mood.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
A waiter dressed like the butler to a prince glided up. Parker turned to Nick. “What would you like? Wine? A Negroni? A cocktail? A spritz?”
He continued watching her. “Whatever you have is fine with me.”
She frowned. “I was going to order a glass of rosé, which you might find boring.”
“Don’t worry.” Nick gave a slow smile. “I am so far from being bored it’s insane. A glass of rosé sounds great. You order the vintage.”
She had a brief consultation with the waiter, and they decided on a Sicilian rosé she was familiar with. “I hope that’s okay with you.” She smiled at Nick. “It’s a really good wine. Donnafugata from Sicily, an estate wine. But, again, if you’d rather have a brandy or a whiskey—”
He picked up her hand and held it. His hand was huge, warm, heavily calloused, and it felt like she plugged into something big, electric.
He nodded at the terrace and the view over the Bay.
“Please. This is all so wonderful. I’m absolutely certain you chose a fabulous wine and that I’ll enjoy the hell out of it. ”
“I hope so.”
Nick left her hand and lifted his big one to run his thumb between her eyebrows.
“There are a lot of things you should frown over. It’s a harsh world.
But me not liking a wine you’ve chosen is not one of them.
I can tell you, right here and right now, that this is the best situation I’ve been in, in years.
A beautiful view, in a beautiful city, sitting with a beautiful and fascinating woman… couldn’t ask for more.”
It was the second time he’d called her beautiful.
Without making it a big deal. Because it really wasn’t.
It was genetics. Her mother had been a beauty, at least in the photos Parker had of her.
And her father, miserable human being that he was, was very handsome.
Both had fine features she’d inherited. It didn’t have much to do with her.
What did have to do with her was her work—her books and the documentary and Nick had been very flattering and gratifying about those.
She enjoyed his compliments about the documentary more than she enjoyed his compliments on her looks. Though—those were nice, too.
“Signori.” The waiter, holding a bottle of Donnafugata. He deftly uncorked the bottle and held it up.
Nick waved a long finger at her, leaving it up to her to taste it and approve it. Well, at least she knew it was an excellent wine.
The waiter poured a finger, and she sipped. It tasted of sunshine, fruit and happiness. She nodded.
The waiter poured them both generous measures. Nick indicated that he should leave the bottle, and the waiter put it in a bucket stand with ice.
“Really good stuff,” Nick said after sipping. “Thanks. I wouldn’t have known to order it. The advantages of being with a local. I might have missed out on this.”
“Maybe not.” Parker smiled. “The waiter might have suggested this wine with the meal. It’s one of the pricier ones.”
Nick shrugged, as if that didn’t mean anything to him. Maybe it didn’t.
Nick took another sip, put it down. She liked that he wasn’t gulping it. It was definitely a wine to savor.
He cocked his head. “You said you were talking to your publisher. Are you writing another book?”
Oh man. The way to her heart. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
“Can I know what it’s about? The Etruscans again? Another aspect? I’ll buy it the instant it’s out.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll gladly give you a signed copy.”
His light blue eyes glowed. “Oh, man. I’d love that. So, what will it be about?”
She waited, looked at him. He didn’t seem to mind the scrutiny. What did she know about him? Well, that her Aunt Caroline, who was no one’s fool, had chosen him to advise the Consulate in a serious manner. He didn’t seem to be wanting for money, so he probably wouldn’t try to sell the idea.
More than all that, though, the impression he gave was that of a serious man. Not a light weight. Not someone who tried to charm his way through life. His entire body language was that of a fully grown man, serious and sober and reliable, unlike so many men who were adults in age but not behavior.
A man’s man. The real deal. She had to curl her hands to keep from touching him. He exerted some kind of force of gravity on her, as if he were a moon. It was hard to keep from leaning into him. Was she being swayed by that?
Whatever. She was going to tell him what her next book was about, whether that was wise or not. And even though her publisher had begged her not to.
“My—my publisher has asked me not to talk about the book. To make sure it has an impact upon publication that hasn’t been spoiled. I’ll have to ask for your discretion.”
He didn’t look offended. “Please don’t worry about that.
I spent most of my military career on classified missions that will remain secret till the end of time.
My companies—I am a part-owner of Go Solutions and am a part-owner of Black Inc.
—are known for being utterly reliable. So, betraying a confidence—particularly one that might harm you? Not going to happen, ever.”
Wow. Part-owner of Black Inc., which was the premier security company in the world. He wouldn’t be tempted by money. Certainly no one could buy him.
And…and she wanted to tell him. There hadn’t been anyone to talk to about it.
Aunt Caroline was friendly, but to her, the posting to Naples was a geopolitical consideration.
Naples was an important city in the Mediterranean, home to a major naval installation of the Sixth Fleet.
Aunt Caroline had no interest whatsoever in the past, let alone the remote past.
The only person she’d communicated with at her publishing house was her editor, who was enthusiastic, but looked and acted as if she were twelve. Parker didn’t know how great a grasp Emily had on history. For her, history started with Obama, when she was eight.
So Parker hadn’t been able to talk it over with anyone. And here was this huge man, who looked like he ate nails for breakfast, but had watched The Smiling People again and again. Who seemed so at ease in the world. Why not?
“Okay.” Parker leaned forward a little and so did he. His shoulders were so broad they blocked her view. But more than that, he exerted a sort of force field around him that pulled her toward him. She had to mentally nail herself to her seat not to tip over into his lap.
Sigh.
It was sort of a pity he was so immensely attractive, so utterly…male. And was so very unobnoxious. She was drowning in her own hormones.
But it also felt right. This beautiful evening, on the gorgeous terrace of a restaurant known for its exquisite food, in a city renowned for its beauty, with an interesting and fascinating man, seemed like the right setting to discuss her project, a project of the heart.
One thing she knew—he would listen carefully and not make fun of her obsessions. Most men she dated would listen to her for about five minutes before launching into long talks about themselves and would find some way to dismiss her passions as unimportant.
Nick was totally focused on her.
She folded her hands in front of her and prepared to essentially make a pitch for her idea, the first time since she pitched it to her agent and her baby editor. Maybe this was a chance to see if it flew with the general public.
“You know those billionaires buying mansions they turn into fortresses in places like New Zealand, preparing for the end of the world?”
His mouth quirked. “I was security consultant for three of them. Two tech bros and a hedge fund owner. The two tech bros basically wanted to make sure their game rooms would work forever, and the hedge fund owner was terrified of what would happen when his money no longer counted in a world brought back to the Dark Ages. He was seriously contemplating fitting his security staff with permanent shock collars.”
Parker’s eyes widened. “Wow. People go a little crazy when their status is threatened, that’s true. Well, all the books say that our modern world could disappear in a second. Technology—whoosh, gone.”