didn’t give Theo a chance to say anything, she just turned and headed for the stairs, telling herself she should be grateful the call had come when it did. The trouble was she didn’t feel grateful.
Theo cupped her elbow with his hand when she paused at the bottom of the steps.
Trish climbed the steep incline, knowing her unsteadiness had far more to do with Theo’s touch than wobbly shoes on narrow steps. Only with Herculean effort did she manage to cover the last few feet to the back patio without collapsing into a mass of quivering jelly.
Sally was waiting when she got to the outdoor dining area. “Bruno has the motorbikes all ready. Where have you two been?”
“Motorcycles?” Trish took a step back, bumping into Theo. Her father had been seriously injured on a motorcycle when she was a small girl. Trish still remembered going up to the hospital to see him. “I’m not getting on one.”
“These are not motorcycles,” Bruno said. “They’re Vespa motorbikes, scooters.”
“I don’t care,” Trish insisted. “Count me out.”
“C’mon, Trish,” Sally said. “It’ll be fun.”
Trish crossed her arms over her chest. “You remember how long it took my father to recover from that accident. I’m not doing it, Sally. End of story.”
Trish saw Theo and Bruno exchange glances.
“Trish, I really want to do this,” Sally said, not giving up. “Bruno says there are some great places we can explore on the bikes.”
“I didn’t say that you can’t go. I’m just not going to do it myself.”
“I have an idea,” Theo said. “How about if Trish and I take the rental car and check out the street market while you and Sally take the motorbikes for a spin. We can meet up back at the dock.”
“No,” Trish objected. “You go with your friend. He’s the one you came to see. Please, don’t spoil your fun because of me.”
Theo took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I spent the morning with Bruno. I want to spend the rest of the day with you.”
“If you’re sure…” Trish said.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
CHAPTER TEN
“G REEKS FOUNDED the city of Naples in the seventh century, B . C .” Theo whipped the tiny Smart car into a miniscule parking place on the city street, relieved it fit into the small space with room to spare. “In fact the ancient design of the city still exists and can be seen today.”
Back in the garden, he’d almost let the moment override his good sense. Though he hadn’t appreciated the interruption at the time, he was now glad Bruno had called. He’d wanted to show Trish a good time today, and kissing her could have ruined the fragile truce between them.
“Three long parallel streets cross the center of Naples, with a series of small, narrow streets connecting them.” Theo pulled the key from the ignition, dropped it into his pocket and reached for the door handle. “Wait. I’ll open the door for you.”
“I can do”
But Theo was out of the car and around it before she had a chance to finish. His grandmother had taught him from a young age what it meant to be a gentleman.
“Thank you, Theo.” Trish took his hand and stepped out of the car. Once on the sidewalk she turned completely around, taking it all in. “So many people in such a small area.”
“Space is at a premium.” The narrow street was crowded with vendors selling everything from shoes to fresh fruit and flowers.
“I’m glad you suggested coming here,” Trish said, excitement in her voice.
He gestured toward the vendors lining the streets. “Shall we check them out?”
But Trish hesitated. “Are you sure Gladys is going to be okay?”
Theo couldn’t help but chuckle at the name she’d given the car on the short drive down the hill. “Gladys will be fine.”
“If Sally and Bruno hadn’t decided to meet us at the dock, we would have had to call a cab to take us back to the ship.” Trish glanced at the
Theo cupped her elbow with his hand when she paused at the bottom of the steps.
Trish climbed the steep incline, knowing her unsteadiness had far more to do with Theo’s touch than wobbly shoes on narrow steps. Only with Herculean effort did she manage to cover the last few feet to the back patio without collapsing into a mass of quivering jelly.
Sally was waiting when she got to the outdoor dining area. “Bruno has the motorbikes all ready. Where have you two been?”
“Motorcycles?” Trish took a step back, bumping into Theo. Her father had been seriously injured on a motorcycle when she was a small girl. Trish still remembered going up to the hospital to see him. “I’m not getting on one.”
“These are not motorcycles,” Bruno said. “They’re Vespa motorbikes, scooters.”
“I don’t care,” Trish insisted. “Count me out.”
“C’mon, Trish,” Sally said. “It’ll be fun.”
Trish crossed her arms over her chest. “You remember how long it took my father to recover from that accident. I’m not doing it, Sally. End of story.”
Trish saw Theo and Bruno exchange glances.
“Trish, I really want to do this,” Sally said, not giving up. “Bruno says there are some great places we can explore on the bikes.”
“I didn’t say that you can’t go. I’m just not going to do it myself.”
“I have an idea,” Theo said. “How about if Trish and I take the rental car and check out the street market while you and Sally take the motorbikes for a spin. We can meet up back at the dock.”
“No,” Trish objected. “You go with your friend. He’s the one you came to see. Please, don’t spoil your fun because of me.”
Theo took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I spent the morning with Bruno. I want to spend the rest of the day with you.”
“If you’re sure…” Trish said.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
CHAPTER TEN
“G REEKS FOUNDED the city of Naples in the seventh century, B . C .” Theo whipped the tiny Smart car into a miniscule parking place on the city street, relieved it fit into the small space with room to spare. “In fact the ancient design of the city still exists and can be seen today.”
Back in the garden, he’d almost let the moment override his good sense. Though he hadn’t appreciated the interruption at the time, he was now glad Bruno had called. He’d wanted to show Trish a good time today, and kissing her could have ruined the fragile truce between them.
“Three long parallel streets cross the center of Naples, with a series of small, narrow streets connecting them.” Theo pulled the key from the ignition, dropped it into his pocket and reached for the door handle. “Wait. I’ll open the door for you.”
“I can do”
But Theo was out of the car and around it before she had a chance to finish. His grandmother had taught him from a young age what it meant to be a gentleman.
“Thank you, Theo.” Trish took his hand and stepped out of the car. Once on the sidewalk she turned completely around, taking it all in. “So many people in such a small area.”
“Space is at a premium.” The narrow street was crowded with vendors selling everything from shoes to fresh fruit and flowers.
“I’m glad you suggested coming here,” Trish said, excitement in her voice.
He gestured toward the vendors lining the streets. “Shall we check them out?”
But Trish hesitated. “Are you sure Gladys is going to be okay?”
Theo couldn’t help but chuckle at the name she’d given the car on the short drive down the hill. “Gladys will be fine.”
“If Sally and Bruno hadn’t decided to meet us at the dock, we would have had to call a cab to take us back to the ship.” Trish glanced at the
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