She didn’t envy Nick. Shortly after she’d arrived four years ago, Lia had convinced her family to buy an old sixteenth-century estate and turn it into an agriturismo, a working farm that doubled as a bed and breakfast for visitors. Nick’s brother, Giovanni, revived the ancient Sangiovese vines and started producing a wine that was already getting rave reviews from tasters. Nick took over the accommodation part of the business, seeing to the guests’ needs and making sure the rooms were booked well in advance.
It also involved appeasing the diva chef on site.
“I’ll start a diary for you,” she said and stretched the fresh dough out on the sturdy wooden table. “We’re ready for the filling, Carolina.”
Her mother’s cousin cradled the bowl like a child, unwilling to part with it. “You promise not to make any more changes to tonight’s dinner?”
Lia crossed her fingers behind her back so only Nick could see them. “Of course.”
She just wouldn’t let Carolina know about the fresh summer savory and tarragon that she’d added to the rub for the chicken they were planning on roasting.
Nick drew them together, his arms around their shoulders. “I’m the luckiest man in the world to have two such talented cooks working for me.”
His compliment soothed his mother’s ruffled feathers, and Carolina began dropping spoonfuls of the filling on the dough. When she came to the end of the sheet, Lia covered them with another sheet of dough and pressed the two layers together, carefully removing any air from them that could cause the ravioli to explode during cooking.
Carolina glanced down her nose and nodded in approval when Lia had finished. “Yes, that will do. The basil might even balance out the pepper.”
Lia grinned and ran a pizza cutter along the sheet, cutting it up into individual squares. One battle at a time.
She was just finishing up the third batch of ravioli when she heard a familiar voice asking in stilted Italian, “Dov’è Lia?”
Her heart stutter-stepped to a halt. She turned to the stairs that led to the lobby of the manor house just in time to see a pair of polished black leather shoes descend into view. A second later she saw Adam, immaculately dressed in a tailored suit that made his shoulders seem broader than ever.
Their eyes met. He stopped a few steps from the kitchen, staring at her as though he hadn’t seen her in years.
Her pulse pounded in her ears, and her hands suddenly felt clumsy. She wiped them on her apron, fully aware of the audience of relatives who’d filtered in around them. “Adam, what are you doing here?”
“I—” His voice cracked, and he turned away to grab something from his briefcase. “I wanted to talk to you about this.”
He held out a folder, and something collapsed inside her chest. He was here for business, not her. She looked down at her flour-covered hands. “Give me a moment to clean up, and I’ll meet you outside.”
He nodded and retreated up the stairs. Unfortunately, the family didn’t follow. Carolina’s two daughters crowded around her at the sink. “Who’s he?” Sophia asked in Italian.
“Yes, he’s hot,” Estella added. “If you don’t want him, can I give him my number?”
“The American is here to see Lia, not you silly girls.” Carolina shooed them away and held out a clean towel. “Remember that pride often closes our eyes, our ears, and our hearts. Don’t forget to ask and to listen.”
Lia took the towel and dried her hands, wondering how much her mother had shared with her cousin while Lia was on the plane. Her breath calmed, and a new feeling of peace surrounded her. Surely, Adam wouldn’t have come all the way here just to deliver the termination of her contract. “Grazie mille, Zia Carolina.”
She took the steps one at a time, bolstering her courage as she rose into the lobby. Nick was trying to engage Adam in a lighthearted conversation while Sophia and Estella pretended to be cleaning, their dark gazes fixed on Adam as they worked. When they saw her, they stopped and giggled, retreating into the next room. Carolina hobbled up the stairs and leaned against the wall. They were all watching her to see what happened next.
Adam glanced at the audience gathered around them. “Is there some place where we can talk privately?”
“This way.” She led him out the back door toward the farmyard, casting one glare over her shoulder at her family as she closed the door behind him. If they dared follow, she’d give them a tongue-lashing that would make even Carolina blush.
Three chickens dashed past Adam, stopping him in his tracks. He raised his briefcase up to his shoulders, far out the squawking poultry’s reach. “What kind of place is this?”
“An agriturismo. The livestock are part of the whole working-farm thing.” She led him to barn and sniffed the air before inviting him in. The hay was fresh, and the cows had been in the field all day. Nothing that could offend Adam’s rich city-boy senses. “Now what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Why did you leave without telling me?”
He wasted no time getting to the point, but she wasn’t quite ready to give him the answers he wanted. She thought she could forget about him, but every night since the fire, she tossed and turned, wishing he’d been there to hold her in his arms. The ache was just beginning to dull. But now that she’d seen him again, it returned full force, along with the longing, the desire, and the emotion she feared to name. To do so would only add to the weight of her heartbreak.
She strolled to one of the massive columns supporting the barn and leaned against it, her back to him. “I didn’t know you owned me.”
“Damn it, Lia.” He was behind her faster than she realized. “What kind of game are you playing? There I was, trying to comfort you after your loss, and then you up and disappeared without a word.”
She spun around, her gut churning like Lake Michigan on a windy day. “You’re the one who told me give up my restaurant and move in with you.”
His brows drew together. “No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. I distinctly remember you telling me to move in with you and let you take care of me. Well, here’s a newsflash, Adam. I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”
“That’s not what I meant at all.” A spark of anger flared in his deep blue eyes, and his shoulders formed a stubborn line. “I was merely trying to relieve you of the burden of dealing with the fire damage.”
“By forcing me to give up the restaurant.”
“Ugh, I can’t believe you’d think that.” He turned away from her and paced the length of the barn several times before remembering the folder in his hand. “Just take a look at this.”
She opened the folder and skimmed the first page. Her chest tightened, and a warm glow ignited in the pit of her stomach. “You’re renewing my lease?”
“Yes.”
“B-but what about Schlittler and that man threatening to sue you?”
His eyes narrowed. “How did you know about that?”
She let the contract dangle from her fingers. As much as she still wanted it, she didn’t want to have Adam deal with the repercussions. “I’m sorry, Adam, I can’t sign this.”
He took the papers and heaved a deep breath. “Let’s start from the beginning, Lia. It seems we’ve both fallen victim to yet another misunderstanding, and I’m not leaving until we lay everything out on the table. Let’s start with this. I want to renew your lease.”
“I don’t want to cause any trouble for you.” She lowered her eyes, staring at the terra-cotta-colored dust on the ground. If he wanted honesty, then she at least owed him that. “I accidentally saw that e-mail about the lawsuit thing.”