Pregnant by the Italian Count

Author:Christina Hollis [Hollis, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePub Bud (www.epubbud.com)
Published: 2007-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

KATIE was one OF the first to leave the celebration. She was also one of the last to get home. The Bacchari family invited her back to their farm and she had been unable to resist. The family’s sow was due to give birth and they wanted to make sure the animal was not alone for the big event. Six people, including Katie, piled into an unstable old Fiat and clattered three kilometres to their holding. Nature had beaten them to it. Rosella the pig was already busy with half a dozen little ones by the time her audience arranged themselves around the low walls of her sty. Katie was treated to some home-cured salami and a drink that tasted as if it had been brewed from apricots and iron filings.

Eventually, young Pino was given the task of getting her back to the villa. This he did in record time, while Katie hung on with her fingertips and tried to keep smiling. The Fiat finally skittered to a halt outside the ancient walls of the original Antico enclosure. Katie got out and saw that Pino had parked beside a wooden door almost as old as the wall. When they finally wrestled it open, Katie realised she was entering the villa grounds by way of the swimming pool terrace. Beyond the illuminated stretch of water, the Villa Antico rose like a fortress. Only one light showed on its craggy stone face. With a tingle of excitement, Katie realised it must be coming from Giovanni’s suite. What was he doing in there? Just ordinary things, she told herself, but that didn’t stop her wishing she could see him doing them. She watched for a moment, but there was no movement from within the bright, but closed, French windows. After saying goodbye to Pino, she started to cross the grass, but her feet were on fire. Taking off her borrowed sandals, she padded over to the pool in bare feet. There was no one about. No one would see.

Hoisting the beautiful green lamé dress up above her ankles, Katie stepped delicately on to the first level of the spray pool. The relief was wonderful. With a sigh, she sat down on the edge and dangled her feet into a deeper section. Sounds of the countryside at night stole over the high grey walls and into her sanctuary. Nightingales in the olive grove sang lullabies to cicadas and crickets out in the scrub. A warm breeze brought the fragrance of roses from climbers clothing the walls. It would be such a wrench to leave this place. Everything about the Villa Antico was so special. The people were wonderful, too.

And one person in particular, she admitted to herself. It was no use denying it. Work had always been her refuge from real life. Now things had changed. One word, one glance, from Giovanni Amato and work was no longer enough to satisfy her.

She would be leaving tomorrow afternoon. All they had shared was a few moments in moonlight, and only one proper kiss.

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