If anyone is going to be alone with Mia, it’s going to be me.
Chapter 9
Mia
* * *
Italy is like a breath of fresh air. Better than I ever could have imagined. I’ve always dreamed of visiting Italy, just never made it here.
Mainly because my life is dictated by my father. He never lets me travel. Keeps me under lock and key at home with security always watching.
My only reprieve is at work, but then I feel like I’m always under Sebastian’s scrutiny there.
Here I’m free.
Being here under the ruse as Sebastian’s daughter is strange. All during dinner I had to watch Lucia thrust her big breasts in his face. I had a hard time keeping my pasta down watching him flirt with her while Enzo told me all about his boring life.
“So, this house has everything you both should need while you’re here,” Enzo says, turning the key into the lock of the charming little cottage home. He opens the door with a grand gesture, moving into the entryway of the house and flips on the light. “Gorgeous, right?”
It is. The cottage is bigger than most people’s homes. The entryway is large and breezy, and a staircase ascends up on the left.
“The kitchen is back there. It’s fully stocked.” Enzo points toward the back of the house. “Anything you need, just call me.” He pulls out a card and places it on the entryway table.
“Thank you. We can take it from here,” Sebastian grumbles out.
“Right, ok, sure.” Enzo fumbles with the key as he hands it off to Sebastian. “Thank you, sir.” Enzo smiles at me as he steps through the door. “Bye, Gia. It was nice meeting you.”
I smile, although hearing someone call me by the wrong name takes a bit of getting used to. “Night, Enzo. I enjoyed meeting you, too.” I walk him out and once he’s headed back to the main house, I shut the door.
“Thought he’d never leave,” Sebastian says, yanking at the tie around his throat. “What are you doing trying to flirt when you know we have shit to do?”
I park a hand on my hip. “Flirt?” I step closer. “I’m just trying to be nice. I figured I could cozy up to Enzo to get some info about Oliver.”
Sebastian makes me so angry sometimes.
Sebastian’s face looks like he’s in pain at the thought, but then he relaxes, blowing out a deep breath. “Yeah, ok. I guess that’s smart.” He tosses his tie onto the entryway table, right next to Enzo’s card. “I didn’t enjoy watching him paw all over you.”
“Paw? He had his hands nowhere near me.”
“You know what I mean.”
Sebastian’s obvious frustration confuses me. Is he mad because he thinks I like Enzo?
“No, I don’t know what you mean. You were flirting with Lucia.” I know my tone sounds like a naive girl who sounds jealous. And maybe I am a little.
Sebastian laughs. “Not my type.”
“Desperate isn’t your type?”
Sebastian steps closer, our noses nearly touching. “I’m not looking to get laid while I’m here. I’m here to clear my name, and to sort shit out because that’s the only thing that matters right now.”
“You’re right.” I move to the kitchen, tossing my purse onto the granite countertop. “This place is really nice,” I add.
Sebastian follows me. “It’s ok.”
“Someone sounds grumpy. Maybe you should rest up. We have lots to do tomorrow.”
Sebastian doesn’t move a muscle as he stares at me.
It makes me nervous and I fumble with my hands as I grab a water bottle from the fridge. “I’ll take the master bedroom.”
Sebastian crosses his arms over his broad chest. “And why would you do that?”
I pop the top of the water and take a sip. Once I’m done I smile. “Because.”
“No, I’m taking the master.”
“Master? Why do you get it? I think I should get the master. I mean, you abducted me.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrow as he corners me between the counter and fridge. “Let’s get something straight. This isn’t up for discussion. We’re playing a part here, and what father do you know who wouldn’t take the master?”
“You plan on having someone in your room who would notice?”
Sebastian lifts his hand, running his finger down my cheek slowly. “Don’t test me, Mia.”
“Or what?” I challenge him with my eyes.
“Or I’ll bend you over my knee and spank you.”
“We start with a grape. A single Sangiovese grape that breathes life into the wine.” Enzo smiles, staring off at the rolling hills of the vineyard.
It’s breathtaking here. The green hills, the mountains off to the east of the property ricocheting the breeze from the ocean back to us.
Enzo plucks a light-berry from its vine. “Try this.”
I take it from his hand. “Ok.” I pop the grape into my mouth and bite down on it. “Wow, so good.”
Enzo laughs a little. “No, suck the juices, feel the flavor. Like this.” He plucks another grape, and instead of handing it to me, he brings it closer to my lips. “Take a bite, slowly.”