could lend me a penny for the fountain. It’s supposed to be a penny or some other little coin. Only then your wish will come true, according to my grandpa. He should know, because his came true.’
Jon searched his wallet and produced a perfect little coin, Abraham Lincoln ’s face staring at her from its coppery glory. ‘Let me guess, it had something to do with your grandmother, didn’t it?’
‘You’re clairvoyant just like your friend .’ She grinned as she accepted it. ‘Are all of your friends so perceptive?’
H e nodded, his mouth twitching in sudden amusement. ‘‘Most, but I am the best, believe me. I can even guess what your wish might be…’
‘O h, really?’ He couldn’t, could he? She could only hope he was kidding. The idea of him knowing what she wanted was extremely embarrassing. Ever since they met last evening, she’d been fighting a losing battle against her attraction to a man she knew nothing about save the fact Pete wanted him as far from the Spitieris as possible, at least for the time being.
‘You want Pete to be extremely busy so you can spend some more time exploring Italy,’ he continued, his voice playful. ‘I could see the word “freedom” written all over your face when we left the villa earlier today.’
‘O kay, you win.’ He couldn’t see it all, but he got the big picture right. Suddenly she felt tired of the entire pretense. Her inborn honesty made it impossible to continue.
‘Look, Jon ,’ she started, her voice faltering slightly as he watched her face, his gaze intent and way too wise. ‘I need to tell you something. It’s kind of a confession.’ God, but being totally honest was hard. Still, she couldn’t imagine spending the whole day in his company carrying around the knowledge she was leading him on. Pete or no Pete, Jon deserved some truth.
‘I am ready for the worst .’ He grinned, his smile taking her breath away temporarily. Nobody should have the right to be so good looking.
‘This sightseeing thing, it was Pete’s idea.’ She was ready for his anger. ‘He wanted me to kind of get you out of the picture for a few hours.’
He looked a bit clueless , so she continued, eager to get it off her chest.
‘S ee, he’s been looking forward to his week with Daniel for quite a while now. When he found out about you staying over, he was very disappointed. He worried that you and Daniel might have your own plans that would cut into his schedule with him. I know it sounds silly, but it’s the truth.’
‘So he used his beautiful assistant to lure me away .’ Jon didn’t seem angry. If anything, he looked rather amused, his jet black gaze warm as he glanced at her heated cheeks. ‘He is rather smart, I’ll give him that much. Who could complain about his treacherous ways with you as a prize?’
‘W ell, that’s not exactly how it’s supposed to go.’ Did he really think she was ready for more in depth “distracting”? She had to set things straight and fast, before she actually enjoyed the idea. ‘I thought you were totally different, so I agreed…’
‘Different? How?’ H e kept watching her with those eyes that seemed to look straight into her soul.
‘Well, older , for one.’ She started to regret her honesty as his twitching mouth told her perfectly well that he found her confessions amusing. ‘Kind of a scholar type, like Daniel. I just imagined you as some old professor who might enjoy a walk or a cup of tea while they work. Pete asked me to keep you happy so you won’t disturb them.’
‘Now that’s a loaded offer .’ Jon was openly grinning, his black eyes merry. ‘I am open to all possibilities, you know. I won’t apologize for my age, though. Does being a ripe thirty-four make me old enough to still be considered in your cunning plans?’
‘All right, laugh as much as you like .’ She felt stupid, but she felt better too. Lighter and cleaner. The thought of lying to this man who so visibly trusted her
Jon searched his wallet and produced a perfect little coin, Abraham Lincoln ’s face staring at her from its coppery glory. ‘Let me guess, it had something to do with your grandmother, didn’t it?’
‘You’re clairvoyant just like your friend .’ She grinned as she accepted it. ‘Are all of your friends so perceptive?’
H e nodded, his mouth twitching in sudden amusement. ‘‘Most, but I am the best, believe me. I can even guess what your wish might be…’
‘O h, really?’ He couldn’t, could he? She could only hope he was kidding. The idea of him knowing what she wanted was extremely embarrassing. Ever since they met last evening, she’d been fighting a losing battle against her attraction to a man she knew nothing about save the fact Pete wanted him as far from the Spitieris as possible, at least for the time being.
‘You want Pete to be extremely busy so you can spend some more time exploring Italy,’ he continued, his voice playful. ‘I could see the word “freedom” written all over your face when we left the villa earlier today.’
‘O kay, you win.’ He couldn’t see it all, but he got the big picture right. Suddenly she felt tired of the entire pretense. Her inborn honesty made it impossible to continue.
‘Look, Jon ,’ she started, her voice faltering slightly as he watched her face, his gaze intent and way too wise. ‘I need to tell you something. It’s kind of a confession.’ God, but being totally honest was hard. Still, she couldn’t imagine spending the whole day in his company carrying around the knowledge she was leading him on. Pete or no Pete, Jon deserved some truth.
‘I am ready for the worst .’ He grinned, his smile taking her breath away temporarily. Nobody should have the right to be so good looking.
‘This sightseeing thing, it was Pete’s idea.’ She was ready for his anger. ‘He wanted me to kind of get you out of the picture for a few hours.’
He looked a bit clueless , so she continued, eager to get it off her chest.
‘S ee, he’s been looking forward to his week with Daniel for quite a while now. When he found out about you staying over, he was very disappointed. He worried that you and Daniel might have your own plans that would cut into his schedule with him. I know it sounds silly, but it’s the truth.’
‘So he used his beautiful assistant to lure me away .’ Jon didn’t seem angry. If anything, he looked rather amused, his jet black gaze warm as he glanced at her heated cheeks. ‘He is rather smart, I’ll give him that much. Who could complain about his treacherous ways with you as a prize?’
‘W ell, that’s not exactly how it’s supposed to go.’ Did he really think she was ready for more in depth “distracting”? She had to set things straight and fast, before she actually enjoyed the idea. ‘I thought you were totally different, so I agreed…’
‘Different? How?’ H e kept watching her with those eyes that seemed to look straight into her soul.
‘Well, older , for one.’ She started to regret her honesty as his twitching mouth told her perfectly well that he found her confessions amusing. ‘Kind of a scholar type, like Daniel. I just imagined you as some old professor who might enjoy a walk or a cup of tea while they work. Pete asked me to keep you happy so you won’t disturb them.’
‘Now that’s a loaded offer .’ Jon was openly grinning, his black eyes merry. ‘I am open to all possibilities, you know. I won’t apologize for my age, though. Does being a ripe thirty-four make me old enough to still be considered in your cunning plans?’
‘All right, laugh as much as you like .’ She felt stupid, but she felt better too. Lighter and cleaner. The thought of lying to this man who so visibly trusted her
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