Rosamanti by Noelle Clark Page A

heart pounding, she quickly put both feet down onto the ground as she came to a complete, yet violent, stop.
    She heard someone clapping. Looking up, she saw Pietro grinning at her.
    “Don’t just stand there! Help me off this bloody thing.” She was shaking all over.
    A strong arm wrapped around her.
    “OK, I’ve got you. I’m holding the bike. You swing your legs through there.” He nodded at the step through area. Shakily, she climbed off. Pietro easily lifted the shiny red bike up onto its rear stand. Then he turned to her and wrapped her in his arms, hugging her tightly.
    “Ah, you’re still shaking. I think you did well. How brave is my girl?”
    “I can’t believe I went from being in bliss, riding along like a pro, and then could hardly stop . ” She was breathless from fright. “I forgot to stop gradually. Luigi told me to pull on the front and rear brakes together.”
    “Luigi?”
    “Yes, the old man at the bike shop. He said I could take it and try it first.” She shuddered. “And I very nearly crashed it on my maiden voyage.”
    He pulled his head back and looked into her face. “So, you have won over Luigi. High praise, bella.”
    “I didn’t ask him. He sort of insisted. Said he was a friend of Nonna’s.”
    “Yes.” His voice was tender. “I am touched that so many people were Nonna’s friend.” He glanced down at the ground. When he looked up, she saw his eyes were moist. “Forgive me, bella , but it is still so soon since I lost Nonna. I am still—in mourning.”
    Sarah put both her palms on his cheeks and kissed him on the lips. “I know.”
    He cleared his throat. “Well, let me look at your new wheels!” He ran a hand over the glittering red paintwork, played with the horn, and looked at the battery under the seat. “What a racy bike. Did you enjoy riding it?”
    Her laugh rang out across the little courtyard.
    “I loved it. Oh, except for having to stop.”
    His big booming chuckle made her laugh even more. He put an arm across her shoulders, and together they went inside to the cool of the kitchen. No sooner were they in the door, than Pietro took her in his arms and kissed her fervently.
    “I am so happy to see you again.” His eyes twinkled. “Did you miss me?”
    “Not at all. I barely realized you had gone.” Her eyebrows rose, and she lifted her chin. “I was too busy to miss you.” She flung her shoulder length hair, trying hard to appear cool.
    “Really?”
    “Most certainly.”
    “And today? You didn’t miss me today?”
    “Hey, I was flat out all day. I even took a bus to Anacapri.”
    “Oh, I know.”
    She turned to face him, the game was heating up.
    “You can’t possibly know, you were in Naples.”
    “Allora. That is so very true, bella. I was in Napoli.”
    So, round one to me then,” she said smugly, a triumphant smile breaking across her face.
    He let out a big sigh. “Si, you win.” He looked dejected. “So I won’t bother to tell you about how you got off the bus at Castella Barbarossa and took photos, and how you had to hurry to get back on before it took off. I won’t need to tell you that you ate lemon cake at Café Lisa— with a glass of limoncello. And I certainly will not even mention that you missed me so much that you went down to Marina Grande looking for me.”
    Her eyes widened and she drew in a big breath.
    “You rat! You cheated. Who told you, eh?” Attempting a rugby crash tackle, she went to grab him, only managing to trip over one of the cats, who let out a loud meow , causing Pietro to break into uncontrollable laughter.
    His merriment was contagious. He fell to the floor with a crash. Still holding her tight, he lay flat on his back on the slate tiles. A tangle of arms and legs, she ended up straddled across him awkwardly, jammed between the legs of the solid wooden table and the combustion stove. Together they laughed until they cried, still holding each other, their faces close. Eventually, the amusement