Chapter 4- Lunch Companions

‘Bella, honey, who’s your friend?’

Bella jumped backwards as if she had just been electrocuted- and she might as well have been, considering how her nerve endings were shot to pieces. She surreptitiously wiped her wet fingers- courtesy of the gorgeous man standing next to her- on her towel. ‘Oh, err, right- Mum, this is Leo. Leo, this is my mother Melanie Walters.’

Melanie smiled widely and offered her hand for him to shake but, instead, he bent over it and brushed his lips against her finely tanned skin. She fluttered her eyelashes madly and Bella felt like sighing; her handsome Italian stallion could never have the willpower to turn down Melanie in favour of Bella. It would be complete insanity to do that!

Bella closed her eyes and groaned inwardly. When she opened her eyes, she realised that Leo had angled himself so that he could kiss Melanie’s hand and stare passionately at Bella. And I thought men couldn‘t multi-task!

Leo’s lips left Melanie’s hand and he then said throatily, ‘It is my pleasure, Melanie. Although, if I did not know better I would have thought you were sisters.’ These words that should have sounded cheesy and clichéd, surprisingly they didn’t. It appeared that when uttered by a sexy piece of Italian man-flesh they seemed valid and almost- almost- sincere. And it did say something for Melanie’s new anti-wrinkle cream…

When Melanie had finished shamelessly giggling at the compliment Leo had paid her, she looked over Bella’s attire disapprovingly. ‘Now, Bella, honey, a bikini is one thing, but to receive guests in what may as well be a hand towel…’ she placed a hand on her hip, trying to strike an imposing figure.

‘I’m sorry, Mum, but wouldn’t you be a little hypocritical if you told me off for answering the door in a towel?’ Bella tapped a finger to her bottom lip, imitating thoughtfulness. ‘Yes, wasn’t it just the other week that you answered the door to the postman dressed like this?’ she gestured to the material covering her form. ‘And then before that, to the milkman in your barely-there nightie?’

Melanie face was now flushed with pink while Leo tried to both avert his eyes and contain his laughter. Mother/daughter relationships were so strange. ‘Don’t you say another word, young lady! You’ve had an attitude ever since we arrived here and I’m fed up with it. Now go to your room and think about how you’ve humiliated me in front of a guest.’ There might as well have been steam coming out from her ears.

Bella acknowledged her mother’s words with a mock curtsy and dip of her head, before turning to Leo. ‘You now know my familial relations, not just my name. Happy?’ And with that said she turned and exited through the nearest door on the right. Leo couldn’t help but grin at her parting words any more than Melanie could fume at how her daughter had slighted her methods of discipline.

‘Ah, Bella, my daughter! How have you been?’

Bella stood in front of her father, Antonio Cardinale, surprised. She has been readying herself for a bombardment of questions, including ‘Have you been eating properly?’, ‘Are you sleeping well?’, and, ‘Have you been practising your Italian?’ which would then be followed by a big bear hug after which she would have to be admitted to the nearest hospital from at least three cracked ribs.

‘Erm, fine Dad, thanks. And you?’

Antonio smiled down at his daughter from his superior height of 6’4 to Bella’s 5’5. ‘Yes, grazie, business has been extremely well of late, due to Robbie’s sharp mind in the boardroom! He sends his love, by the way.’

Robbie- Roberto- Rosini was Bella’s Godfather, though he was more like actual family than anything else. He was Antonio’s business partner of twenty-three years. ‘Oh, I haven’t seen him in ages! It’s a shame he couldn’t come for lunch with us- I would have liked to see him.’ Bella’s face fell; she was slightly hurt that she wouldn’t be able to see her ‘Uncle’ until next summer because he had lots of paperwork.

She noticed, though, out of the corner of her eye, that Melanie dipped her head fractionally while Bella and her father were talking. She had brought her hand to her face, to trace the small white line that resided on the normally porcelain skin, now more noticeable because of her tan. Bella had never asked about the scar, fearing that she would wish that she had not asked afterwards.

‘So, I have found us a nice table in the garden to sit around. A nice bit of fresh air to do you lovely ladies some good.’ Antonio smiled at Melanie, who smiled back half-heartedly. It was still a mystery to both father and daughter as to Melanie’s reasons for the divorce three years ago.

Antonio escorted them to the set of double doors that led out onto the restaurant’s veranda. The sun beat down upon them, and Bella suddenly became thankful for the white and blue striped parasol that hung above their table. It was such a beautiful day, everyday was beautiful in Italy, but today was especially so because she was sat opposite her father, whom she hadn’t seen in almost a year.

A waitress came to take their order for starters just as Bella noticed that she had caught the attention of the one person she hadn’t thought would be here. A lazy smirk graced Leo’s lips as he slid from his seat and started to walk gracefully to their table. It was at this moment in time when Bella began to panic; if Melanie saw him she would have a field day playing the matchmaker.

‘Excuse me; I really need to go check my phone. A friend said she’d phone and it could be urgent. I’ll only be a minute.’ Before her parents could so much as protest to her rudeness of leaving the table she had shot out of her seat, met Leo half way, and had dragged him inside where Antonio and Melanie could not see them together.

‘What are you doing here?’ She hissed at him at the same time as her insides turned to jelly from the look his piercing green eyes gave her.

‘I am merely…eating lunch, at a beautiful and popular restaurant that just so happens to be a favourite of mine. Did you know that they make the best mozzarella and Palma ham calzone?’

‘Yeah, and I’m the President of the United States! You followed us, didn’t you?’

Leo shrugged his shoulders and grinned at her. She looked so adorable standing there scowling at him. ‘I may have gotten into my car at the same time as you and your mother, who, by the way, cannot compare to you in any way possible-‘ Bella’s temper lessened at this comment, ‘- and I may have taken the same route to get here as you, but-‘

‘Bella! The starters have arrived-‘ Melanie stopped as she saw Bella talking to Leo. Her grin became wider as she walked towards them and placed her hands on her hips. ‘Well, if it isn’t Italy’s resident charmer! Sorry for our little mother/daughter spat earlier- I do so hope that Bella has apologised for being so rude.’

Leo had to hide a grin. This part of the conversation could go two ways, both to his advantage, but as he noticed the scowl on Bella’s beautiful face he made his choice. ‘I am sure that I am not the only, err, charmer in Italy. And yes, she had already expressed regret over your earlier argument. She is a lady, as I am sure her mother is.’

Bella tried not to look too disgusted as Melanie giggled and mentally lost about twenty five years. She might as well have been standing before them in a denim mini-skirt and crop top for all the teenage girl-like giggling.

‘Oh do stop!’ She was actually flapping her hand to her face, imitating a fan, to cool the flushed skin! ‘All the same, to send out the right vibes for the future I insist that you join us for lunch. Antonio won’t mind at all, dear, and I’m sure that Bella will feel the same.’ Melanie sent her daughter a meaningful look and Bella crossed her arms defensively across her chest and made a ‘harrumph’ sound deep in her throat.

Before Leo could so much as reply, Melanie had spun on the spot and walked back outside to the table. Bella glared up at Leo before stomping after her. When he didn’t follow but simply stood in the exact same spot he was in before, watching her rounded hips sway and admiring the delicious curve of her backside, she turned and came back to him. She grabbed his hand and pulled him after her, the sooner this ordeal was over with, the better…

‘Dad, I would like you to meet Leo. Leo, this is my father Antonio Cardinale.’ With the brief introductions over, Bella dragged out her seat and sat down in it roughly.

Antonio sent his daughter an odd look and then stood up to receive their new lunch companion. He frowned at Leo, even as he shook his hand. ‘Buongiorno, Leo. Have I, by any chance, met you before?’

‘No, Signor Cardinale, I do not think so, but I do believe that we have a common acquaintance. You are business partner to Robbie Rosini, are you not?’

Bella widened her eyes in shock. ‘You know Uncle Robbie?!’

Three pairs of eyes turned her way, two widened with shock at her outburst and one emerald pair that twinkled in amusement. ‘Yes, I know him. He was a friend to my parents before they passed away and gave me financial support when they did. He’s a good man.’

Antonio smiled at Leo and inclined his head in agreement. ‘He is exactly that. I have lost count of how many times he has helped me out of a tight spot, both personally and professionally.’ Was that a shade of regret Bella saw pass over Leo’s face briefly, or was it her imagination? Surely not, why would Leo feel regret at what my father had said? And yet…

‘So, Leo, what brings you to Tuscany?’ Melanie’s question interrupted Bella’s trail of thought and once broken, it couldn’t be retrieved. This was a shame, really, because she’d been onto something...

‘Well, I needed a relocation to clear my head of my problems, and I was given a recommendation of the resort by a friend. They said that the views were spectacular, the food exquisite, and the company really rather…compelling.’ Emerald orbs clashed with chocolate brown as his eyes found Bella’s. Goosebumps spread up her arm at the intensity in his gaze and she suppressed a shiver that had nothing to do with the light breeze stirring the wisps of her fair hair.

She could not think of anything to say and tuned out of the conversation as she yanked her eyes away from his to concentrate on the by now cold food in front of her. She might as well have been eating sawdust; the dryness of her mouth caused by Leo’s comment made it very hard for her taste buds to work their magic.

Soon after all the starters had been eaten, Sophia, our waitress, came to take our orders for the main course. I ordered the mushroom risotto, and Leo, of course, asked for the mozzarella and Palma ham calzone he had been raving about earlier on. Watching Leo interacting with her parents, Bella had to admit that no matter how infuriating he was she didn’t want him to go. And it was aggravating to have to admit that to herself, but she was sure that she could get the upper hand in all of this.

She observed him, watched the way his hands moved through the air, gesturing wildly, emphasising certain words and phrases of his animated speech. Bella didn’t think it would have mattered what he was talking about at that moment, any female within a five mile radius would be wiping drool away from the side of their mouths at the sight of his long, lean, brown fingers jabbing the air excitedly.

Time at the table passed too quickly for her liking. She just wanted to sit and watch him talk about the things that interested him all night long. His face lit up, his accent was even more pronounced now, because he was talking rather faster than he usually would. His English remained impeccable, though, and no one would have been able to fault it. He charmed both Melanie and Antonio, asking them questions about their careers, seeming particularly interested in Melanie’s modelling contracts and where her job had taken her in the past.

The sun had slowly retreated to the far horizon by the time that the main course was cleared away and the dessert menus were left. Bella’s brain was muddled, full of thoughts that shouldn’t be thought when in the company of parents and she picked the simplest thing on the menu that also happened to be the most familiar. Strawberries and pineapple.

Bella tried not to talk too much throughout the wait for Sophia and their puddings; for fear that she would stumble over her words when she caught Leo looking at her with that glitter to his eye that made her heart skip a beat. After all, a temptress couldn’t be seen as moronic by her prey.

She could see Leo studying her face out of her peripheral vision while she answered Antonio’s question about university as monosyllabically as possible. She shifted to the side and said her thanks when Sophia placed her favoured fruit in front of her. She picked up her dessert fork and stabbed at the almighty offering sitting on her placemat. Flavour burst onto her tongue and she closed her eyes at the exotic juice of the combined fruits as they danced not so fleetingly across her taste buds.

When her eyes opened once more she found that her parents were chatting amiably about the resort where she and her mother were staying and that she was on the receiving end of a smouldering stare from- yes, you guessed it- Leo. She could feel the heat rushing up her throat to fill her cheeks with a rosy hue. It made her skin tingle and she felt like the centre of attention for the first time in her life. She liked that feeling.

He leaned in close and she could smell something delightfully musky. It smelled wonderful.

‘Your eyes sparkle when you enjoy something, your skin glows and your lips part delicately.’ His breath fell upon her ear, her sensitive skin tingled sensually and her hormones started working overtime. ‘I wonder, do your eyes sparkle, your skin glow, your lips part delicately when you are in the throes of passion?’ Bella couldn’t breathe; her heart was beating erratically, waiting for his next words. ‘I would certainly like to find out.’

Time stood still. It was just her and Leo, sitting at a restaurant table. She was wondering if he meant what he had said, and he wanting to know what she was thinking.

The moment passed, as did all sense of time.

One minute they were sitting at the table and the next Bella was kissing her father goodbye and climbing into the car beside her mother, staring after a six-foot-three Italian male as he fluidly sat in the driver’s seat of his flashy red car.

The drive back to the resort was filled with Melanie’s chatter over how Antonio had looked well and what a nice boy Leo was. But Bella wasn’t listening to any of it- she was still trying to convince herself that the intimate conversation back at the restaurant had actually happened. She had weighed all the pros and cons of having a fling in Italy with Leo, and the pros had far exceeded the cons.

The rental car slowed before it crawled into their reserved parking space. It was at the moment when Leo’s headlights shone onto Bella as she awkwardly stepped out of the car that Bella made up her mind.

She slowed down and Melanie turned to her. ‘Aren’t you coming?’

Bella swallowed, trying to produce enough saliva to sound convincing enough that her voice wouldn’t break. ‘Uh, yeah, I’ll be up in a minute. It’s just that I think I left my sunglasses by the pool earlier and I don’t want to have to buy a new pair.’

Melanie raised her eyebrow, a move that she had perfected over the years in front of the camera. It was a look that said, I may be blonde but not I’m oblivious to everything that goes on around me.

‘No, really, they’re the ones that Dad got me last year for my birthday!’

She shrugged and turned away, saying, ‘Whatever you say,’ over her shoulder.

When she was out of sight Bella turned around knowing what she would see. Leo was leaning against his car, his long legs crossed and his dark hair gently lifting and falling in the breeze. Before she could say anything, however, he spoke in an amused voice. ‘Of course, you know that you were wearing your sunglasses when you left the poolside?’

She sidled up to lean against the rental car, not once looking in his direction. ‘I had wondered, thanks for clearing it up for me. Still, better safe than sorry, right?’

Leo grinned, showing two full rows of perfectly white teeth as he did so. He pushed himself away from the red car and came to stand in front of Bella. When he was in such close proximity to her, she felt obliged to look up into his laughing eyes. She flattened herself against the back of the car, but he followed her until his body was mashed up against hers. His lips were inches away from hers as he rested his forehead to hers. ‘Better safe than sorry? But how would anyone ever experience anything…exciting if they did not take risks?’

He didn’t wait for her answer- not that she had one- and instead he leaned in the last few inches and claimed her lips with his own. Her sigh of pleasure mingled with his breath and he took advantage of her parted lips to slip his tongue inside her mouth. His wandering tongue stroked hers, sending shivers of sensual delight down her spine.

Her arms snaked their way around his neck, and she fed her fingers into the silky mass of his hair. His hands swept down from her shoulder blades to the indent of her waist and back up again, his fingers trailing a blaze of heat in their wake. On the journey back down to her waist, his strong fingers pressed into the shallow hollows of her ribcage making her gasp. He deepened the kiss and their breathing became ragged and harsh in the quaint almost-silence of the night air.

The very tips of his fingers probed the expanse of exposed flesh at the hem of her blouse and dragged the material upwards excruciatingly slowly, her little gasps of pleasure at his touch driving him crazy. He slipped his hands under her blouse and rested them at the sides of her breasts, not quite touching, but close enough to make her breath quicken even more and moan at his restraint. His fingertips traced small circles on her flesh, inching towards where she most wanted him to touch.

But this was too agonizingly slow for Bella, as she removed her hands from his hair and begun frantically unbuttoning her blouse. She got half way down before realising that that was all she needed. She grabbed his hands from their position at the sides of her breasts and placed them where she most wanted them to be. As his hands made contact with her heated flesh she moaned audibly and broke the kiss to flop her head onto the back of the car. Leo nibbled, sucked and licked his way down her throat while gently squeezing her breasts, trying to maintain some degree of control. He almost came undone when he felt her nipples harden against his palms through the lace bra cup.

Bella groaned as Leo pushed away the unwanted material of her bra and even louder she moaned when there was no barrier between his palms and her body. This feeling- this exquisite feeling- was both familiar to her and yet completely different to anything she had ever felt before.

The sound of a door opening nearby made them jump apart and Bella remembered where they were. They were in the very visible parking lot of the resort where they and several families were staying. She quickly begun trying to re-do the buttons of her blouse whilst pulling up her bra cups to cover her breasts. But her hands were trembling from the feel of his hands on her and she fumbled over the buttons.

‘Let me.’ Dear God, his voice would be her undoing, it was so sinfully masculine. His talented fingers took over the buttoning up of her blouse and the task had been completed in seconds. He stared into her eyes for a few moments before pulling away.

Before she knew what on earth he was doing, he reached up and tweaked her still-stiff nipples. As she gasped, he caught her lips in a last lingering kiss before whispering, ‘Sleep well, cara mia,’ in her ear. She closed her eyes, intending to inhale his musky scent again, and he slipped away quietly, leaving her with her thoughts of what could possibly happen between them and how it would be.