Chapter 12
T his is a bad idea. This is a colossal, inescapably bad idea. I shouldn’t have probed. I shouldn’t have encouraged Giuliana, and I sure as shit shouldn’t have volunteered to come with her. Because thanks to Isabella needing the Fiat to run errands, here we are again in a painfully familiar situation… Giuliana’s nestled between my thighs on the Vespa as we wind through the Italian countryside. But this time I have to pray I don’t get too excited by her being pressed against a certain part of me—one that doesn’t understand she is OFF LIMITS.
Fighting the urge to wrap one of my arms around her body, I keep my distance as much as possible. Navigation and driving are her focus. My only task is keeping my grip stiff and professional on her waist. Now is not the time to reminisce on how the swell of her breast felt in my palm.
We meander around twisting roads and hills, passing through a few small towns on the way. Far enough for Giuliana to be less recognizable. The drive takes around an hour, and by the time we both shift off of the Vespa and onto solid ground, I have to adjust myself. It doesn’t help that my arms are half numb from the bike’s vibration combined with me keeping them so rigid. The backpack I’ve brought along with water, my journal, and our chargers hangs on my back.
The villa rises up in front of where we’ve stopped in the semi-circle turn-around. It’s light brown, almost golden in some parts, and stands tall in front of us. Terracotta tiles adorn the low-pitched roof, and inviting us in is a large, arched entryway leading into a small courtyard.
I’m so caught up in my physical discomfort and trying to distract myself with the scenery I nearly miss Giuliana’s unease. She wrings her hands together, keeping her breaths measured and deep.
“You okay?”
Giuliana looks over at me, almost startled to hear me speak, as if she forgot I was here for a moment.
“Uh… this feels kind of wrong. Like corporate espionage ,” she whispers at the end, and I have to fight off a chuckle.
“Trust me, this sort of thing happens all the time. We’re not here to do anything but have an experience. An experience which, I might add, is not only public, but advertised. If it happens to be inspiring, then that’s a bonus.”
Letting out a huge sigh, her face pinches in conflict.
“Matteo… What should I say? If I come across so nervous, they will know I am lying.”
“Let me take care of it. No one will expect me to be anything but an American tourist.” I give what I hope is a charming grin, trying to bolster my courage even though I know I’m quickly falling down a treacherous slope and every minute with her makes the descent quicker.
“What if they recognize my name? Abundantia is a much smaller farm and we aren’t really competition… but what if it backfires?”
“What if it works out perfectly? Look, I won’t use your name. Just leave it to me. We need to come across as normal as possible.”
Our shoes crunch on the gravel walkway. The arch opens up to a beautiful garden of plants lazy with heavy heads of blooms exploding in riotous color. A fountain sits at the center, babbling water soothing to me and I clasp Giuliana’s hand in mine before walking toward the open door off to the side.
“What are you?—”
“Trust me,” is all I say before I plaster a smile on my face and greet the receptionist.
“ Buongiorno. Come posso aiutarla? ”
“Hello, you don’t happen to speak English, do you… Francesca?” I ask, reading her nametag. It takes everything in me not to feel like a dick for what I’m about to do, but I have a part to play.
“Yes, of course. How can we help today?”
“I saw online you offer tours of the grove. My girlfriend and I were passing through the area and were hoping to be added to your list.”
“Ah, I’m very sorry sir, today’s tour is unavailable as the villa is booked for a private event.”
Figures. Making decisions on a whim rarely pays off. I’m in the biggest mess of my life because of an impulsive decision to come to Italy and claim an olive grove that technically (partly) belongs to me.
Shit. What the hell do I do now? Gotta come up with something, and quick. They’re not going to give two shits about some American and his girlfriend. We’ll have to up the stakes. I’m not smart enough to outwit anyone but I can be pretty convincing if I play into the emotional aspect of things.
Here it comes. Another fuck up.
No. This will work. It has to.
Schooling my face into the appropriate disappointment, I give Giuliana a sad look and shrug. Her expression of confusion melts into one of similar sadness and I have to tamp down a smile at her willingness to play along.
“I’m sorry, darling. That’s what I get for trying to be spontaneous.” I plant a soft kiss against Giuliana’s temple, and feel super proud for only spending like two seconds breathing her in.
Yeah, the fucking paragon of restraint.
“Do you have a restroom? I know it’s inconvenient but we drove an hour to get here so I’d appreciate it if—” I ask the receptionist and she agrees, gesturing toward a door off to the side of the lobby.
“—thank you, I’ll just be a minute. Giuliana, why don’t you enjoy the garden?”
She raises her eyebrow at me but nods, leaving without questioning my motives and I know this is my last opportunity.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to say anything in front of her.” I lean forward over the desk as if getting ready to impart a secret. Francesca comes in closer, curious.
“I feel like a total idiot. I knew I should have made reservations but I just got permission from her father and I didn’t want to waste another minute.” It’s breathless, the fake excitement undercut with sheepishness.
Jesus Christ, you’re actually going for it, you crazy son of a bitch.
“What are you saying?” She’s invested, I can see it on her face.
“It’s our anniversary. I was hoping to propose to her after the tour. Out in the olive grove during sunset—it seemed romantic. We’re here on vacation and we leave at the end of the week. It was supposed to be this perfect moment and now it’s a total screw up.”
Okay, way to lay it on thick. Why don’t you conjure a tear or two, to go along with your little sob story. You know Giuliana will never go for it.
Francesca thinks on it for a moment, pulling away to type furiously into the computer.
“Okay, so. We do not have any spots for public tours this weekend, but we do offer an exclusive VIP package.”
She turns the screen toward me to show me the digital brochure. Which is in Italian, so my confusion isn’t fake.
“It includes a night at the villa, a private tour of the grounds and the process, as well as a tasting. Since it is your engagement, I will also add in a bottle of prosecco and chocolate-covered strawberries. The only trouble is we have sold out of the single rooms because of a wedding tonight. We have one room remaining, but there’s two beds you could push together. Would that be okay?”
It’s ideal. But she doesn’t have to know.
“You’re saving my life, Francesca. I don’t know how to repay you.”
She laughs, turning the screen back. “You can repay me by leaving a large tip.”
“It’s a deal!”
“I’ll get you checked in while you tell Giuliana the good news.”
I find her pacing along the flowerbeds, whispering under her breath to herself. When she hears me coming, she turns and starts toward me, words already spilling out of her mouth.
“I knew this was a bad idea. I don’t do stuff like this. I don’t drive off spontaneously. This is why I plan. This is how I avoid issues.”
“Giuliana…”
“And now, we have to go all the way back with nothing to show for it except failure. I feel like such an idiot, I?—”
“ Giuliana ,” I say again, framing her face with my hands to get her to still and look at me.
“You have a private tour planned for tomorrow, as well as a place to stay the night. It’s all taken care of.”
“How?” She doesn’t pull away from my touch, just stares up at me with those beautiful brown eyes and makes me feel like I’ve managed a miracle.
“I may have told her a little lie. But don’t worry. It’s handled.”
Her wonder turns to skepticism, her eyes narrowing.
“ Matteo …”
“Sì, bella .”
She huffs at the endearment, stepping away from me and the tightness in my chest gets even worse.
“Multiple nicknames in one day. Your cheeky grin can’t be good. What did you do? You know I don’t like lying.”
“We’re just pretending to be here together so they don’t suspect anything. We may have to play that up a little but it’ll be fine. You get settled in the room. I’m going to run into town for a change of clothes, okay?”
“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you? I’ll need clothes as well.”
“I—uh—I’ll take care of all of it. Just trust me.”
Ha! Fucking rich request considering you are actively screwing her over.
But not today. Or tomorrow. Possibly not ever? I’m so torn on this fucking thing. It’s my weekend off from trying to steal the grove. Right now, we’re exploring her business plan.
My GPS brings me to the closest town, a mere fifteen minutes away. Finding the nearest clothing store, I grab outfits for tomorrow for each of us and some things to serve as pajamas for tonight. I’m guessing at her size—can only hope the clothes will be okay. Since I’m not as well versed in women’s clothing when I’m not taking it off, I figure a dress is the best bet. More forgiving if I get the sizing wrong. I can’t afford to have her know what an idiot I am, how reckless I was in my deception, and how far I’m going for this ruse.
Not your first rodeo, pal. You’re halfway through another con… one you keep trying to pretend isn’t happening but she’s going to find out at some point and you’ll ? —
SHUT UP.
Clothes and toiletries rung up, some more nicotine patches and gum tucked into the bag, I find what I need next. The jewelry store is nestled between a bakery on one side and a law firm on the other. Kind of fitting.
Lawyer…
Fuck.
I haven’t checked in with Alan since that phone call in the grove and I haven’t convinced myself to take a real step toward betrayal. The biggest blessing since then is we’ve gotten rid of the real volunteer. Otherwise, it’s been long days in the grove learning and long nights in bed yearning. Giuliana’s had me all knotted up, twisted until I barely recognize myself anymore. The thought of her is enough to pull my mind from Alan and the lies piling up behind me like a car wreck.
Back to the task at hand. I make my choice within ten minutes, as if I knew the moment I saw it. This time they accept my card—no small purchase limit here. Swiped for an obscene amount of money—the biggest perk to having it, getting what I want when I want. I head back toward the grove before the hour is out. Not bad. Not bad at all.
When I make it back Francesca hands me my own room key and points me toward the room I’ll be sharing with Giuliana. She waits inside.
Although “waits” is an understatement. Giuliana paces the thin passage between the two beds, stopping short when she hears the door click with my entrance. I hold up the bag as a peace offering.
“Clothes and some toiletries.”
“Where have you been ? And what have you gotten us into? I can’t afford this room! It was supposed to be a lowkey group tour to get a feel for things.” The words tumble from her, as if she’s been ruminating on them for a while and can’t keep them inside anymore.
“Look, I’m sorry. I had to put up a bit of a show for Francesca. I told her I messed up and this was supposed to be a very special outing for us. The tours were all sold out today because of a wedding happening at the villa tonight. She was nice enough to offer a package including the tour, so I booked it.” I settle down on my bed, the one closest to the door, and fight the urge to recline. Lying is tiring.
“So, you decided to make me your girlfriend in this little “show” of yours?” She slumps down onto her bed, facing me, knee bouncing in what I assume is irritation.
“It was easier than admitting the alternative: you’re technically my boss and we’re here to spy on them.”
“You said it wasn’t spying!”
“It’s not. I just didn’t want to take the chance of having her misunderstand me.”
“Instead, you lied to her and we have to spend the time pretending.” Giuliana folds her arms across her chest, pushing those plush breasts up and I swallow. Her mouth turns down and her eyebrows pinch into a frown.
“It’s one day. We’ll be gone by tomorrow afternoon. Surely you can manage to endure my company for one day?”
She’s done it before and to my recollection she hadn’t complained then. Contrarily, Giuliana had made a good show of very much enjoying it. Pulling in a deep breath, air huffing out of her nose as she exhales, some of the tension drains from her body.
“That’s not how I mean it. It’s just… unprofessional. And I don’t like deceit!”
“No one knows but us. You don’t even have to talk to anyone about us. It’s just some hand holding every now and then, maybe a peck on the cheek. Think you can handle it?”
She nods, her mouth turning up in a reluctant smile when I reach out my hand. Giuliana slips her palm into mine and I give a little squeeze.
“I should warn you, I may have said it was our anniversary. And I brought you here to surprise you. Just remember to trust me and go with it .”
You’re the worst, you know that? Asking her to trust you when you haven’t decided whether or not you’re going to fuck her over… pulling her into another falsehood you know she’d never go along with.
I ignore the inner asshole, though at this point I’ve got to wonder if he’s making too much sense. Giuliana starts to tug her hand away, but I hold on gently.
“Matteo, sarai la mia morte .” She rolls her eyes, her shoulders slumping a little.
“I don’t know what you said, but I’m going to pretend it was good! For now, let’s see what they have for food options because I don’t know about you, but all that excitement has me starving.”
I rise, bowing to place a kiss on the back of her hand before heading downstairs to bother Francesca again.
This is either going to go very well, or Giuliana’s going to kill me. Regardless, things have just gotten a lot more interesting.