“Had enough of Rome?” he asked with a wide grin as he snaked his arm across her shoulders.
Feeling tired but more relaxed than she’d felt since arriving in Italy, Arie returned the smile. “For today, yes,” she said as she leaned against him. “For now I’ve had enough of Rome, the city, but Rome, the tour guide…” she turned her face to nuzzle his neck, “…I can never get enough of that one.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said, then he placed a finger under her chin and raised her face to his and there, in the middle of St. Peter's Square he kissed her soundly, sending all her cares sailing away on the breeze.
“Let’s go back to the hotel,” he said, his voice suddenly husky. “We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
She knew exactly what he meant. Since arriving in Italy they’d had issues on their minds, chief of which was the frosty welcome Arie received from the Milanos. Now, though, they were miles away from that bunch and free to do whatever they so desired. And if Arie guessed right, what they both wanted would leave them even more exhausted than they already were…but blissfully so. She could hardly wait.
But when they got back to the hotel she realized that she had to exercise just a little bit more patience. She didn’t have much of an appetite but Rome was starving so after a quick shower they dressed and went down to The Brunello Restaurant for dinner.
“I want you,” Rome whispered as they headed for the elevator, “real bad. But for what I want to do to you I have to build up my strength. It’s going to be a long night.”
Arie laughed. She was all for long nights as long as they included Rome. And tonight, for the first time, she’d be enjoying her Rome in the city of Rome. What could be better?
After a meal of pumpkin stuffed tortelli, veal with frosted pears, and warm puff pastry with cinnamon cream, Rome relaxed with a cup of coffee while Arie sipped herbal tea. Then, as she took her last sip and laid her cup back down, he reached across the table. “Time to fulfill my promise,” he said as he lifted her hands to his lips and kissed her, softly and seductively, in the middle of her palm.
Arie smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Just as the words left her lips, out of the corner of her eyes she saw the maitre d' heading toward their table. They both turned as he approached.
“Excuse me sir, madam.” The man gave an apologetic bow. “I’m very sorry to disturb you but Mr. and Mrs. Milano are here to see you.”
Confused, Arie looked at Rome. “You invited your parents to join us?”
Looking almost as confused as she felt, Rome shook his head. “No way. After what happened last night?” And then, as if remembering the man standing right by their table, he drew his lips back in what was obviously a forced smile. “Let them know we’ll be right out.”
“Of course, sir.” The man gave Rome a polite nod, turned and did the same to Arie and then he was hurrying away, back to their unexpected visitors.
As soon as they were alone again Arie grabbed the chance to make her position clear. “You go talk to them. I’m going back to the suite.”
But Rome was having none of it. “We can’t run away from this, Arie. If they think they’ve got you running scared they’ll think they’ve won. We can’t give them that satisfaction.”
Arie tightened her lips. He was right. She could just imagine the way they would gloat if Rome went to them alone while she scurried away like a frightened doe. Vittorio Milano was a master intimidator but he would soon learn that he couldn’t intimidate her.
She got up and went to stand by Rome’s side. “Let’s go,” she said, her voice so steady that no-one would guess her heart was beating a staccato rhythm against her ribs. “I want this over with fast. You made me a promise and I'm holding you to it. I don’t plan on waiting long, either.”
That said, she set off, leaving Rome in her wake. The Milanos had not come all this way to see her, of that she was sure, but like it or not she would face them head on. They would never be able to accuse her of being a coward.
Together, Rome and Arie arrived in the lobby area of the restaurant to see Lily and Vittorio waiting for them, Lily looking anxious and Vittorio looking like Vittorio – solemn and stubborn, with a scowl darkening his brow.
Rome was the first to speak. “Mama, Papa, to what do we owe this visit?” As he spoke he put an arm around Arie’s shoulders and drew her close, his gesture protective.
Vittorio gave her a brief nod but then he turned his attention to his son. “Can we speak privately?”
Rome shook his head. “Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of Arie.”
“You misunderstand me,” Vittorio said, looking almost impatient. “What I have to say concerns Arie more than it does you.” As he said her name he glanced at her but then his gaze skittered away.
Arie would not have thought it of Vittorio but he almost seemed embarrassed to be in her presence. So where was Vittorio, the overbearing lord over all?
Vittorio looked back at Rome. “I simply meant that I don’t wish to discuss private family business while standing at the front of a restaurant. There’s got to be some place we can go to talk.”
Please don’t invite them to our suite, please don’t invite them to our suite. Arie was so desperate she almost mumbled the words out loud. She bit her tongue just in time and hid her consternation behind a tiny plastic smile.
“I guess the quickest place would be our suite,” Rome said, his tone so nonchalant that Arie felt like slamming her heel on his toe. How had he not read her mind? Didn’t he know he’d just made her worst nightmare a reality?
Lily looked doubtful. “We don’t want to intrude-”
“Yes, let’s go to your suite,” Vittorio said, ignoring his wife’s hesitation. “What we need is privacy and that would be the perfect place.”
Rome shrugged then, as if reassured that Arie no longer needed protection, he released her and led the way with his father right behind. The two women brought up the rear but although Lily gave Arie a tiny smile they did not speak, not as they walked along the hallway nor as they rode the private elevator to the Ludovisi Suite on the seventh floor.
It wasn’t until they got to the suite and Rome ushered his parents into the living room that any of them spoke again. Vittorio was the one who broke the near-solid ice. Even though his wife sat, he didn’t. Instead, he stood with his back to the large bay window, his hands clasped behind his back in an almost submissive posture. But Vittorio was anything but submissive.