Page 148 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

‘Sorry.’ She gave her head a shake, wishing she could retract what she’d said. She was about to flee to the kitchen, but Gio was speaking again.

‘No doubt he is here in Lucca to check up on me.’

‘I live here,’ Dante said, removing his suspicious gaze from Susie as he addressed his grandfather.

‘No,’ Gio said, rummaging through the jewels in front of him. ‘You live in Milan; you have a property here that stands mostly empty. You forgot about home a long time ago.’

‘That’s not true, Gio,’ Dante said.

There was a slight husk to his voice, and he closed his eyes. Both weariness and pain flickered across his features, and then he spoke on.

‘I was here at Christmas, and I’m here now.’ His eyes opened then, and he stared at his grandfather. ‘Where’s Mimi?’

Gio gave no answer.

‘I’ll sort out dinner,’ Susie said into the tense air, and was more than happy to go into the small butler’s kitchen. Trying to pretend he didn’t affect her so, she attempted to be polite. ‘Are you staying to eat?’

‘No,’ Gio answered for him. ‘I’m sure Dante has a date to keep.’

‘Yes,’ Dante said, his eyes still on his grandfather. ‘I shall be staying for dinner.’

‘Sure.’

Susie worked quickly, putting on water for the pasta before she’d even removed her scarf, then preparing Gio’s Moka pot for the morning, filling it with water and coffee and putting it on the little burner.

She was just unbuttoning her coat when Dante came into the kitchen.

‘What’s going on?’ he asked.

‘Sorry?’ She gave a nervous half-laugh.

‘Why is he here alone?’ he demanded in a harsh whisper.

She could hear the accusing tone...as if it were her fault.

‘Why didn’t you call me?’

‘Call you?’

Under his vivid scrutiny she was perplexed by his question, and trying not to notice that his eyes were as brown as chocolate. A very dark chocolate... Certainly they weren’t sweet.

‘How?’

‘You pick up the phone.’ He snapped his gaze away and commenced walking around the small kitchen, opening cupboards. ‘He’s clearly sleeping downstairs; he shouldn’t be here alone.’

‘I agree, but—’

He wasn’t waiting for explanations. Instead he peered into the rather empty fridge. ‘There’s barely any food in the place.’

And suddenly Susie, who rarely spoke up for herself, decided an exception might well be called for. ‘He’syourgrandfather, not mine.’ Her voice came out a little more harshly than she’d intended. ‘I’m doing what I can.’

She took off her coat, hung it on a hook and felt his eyes drift over her attire and down to her black apron.

‘Whoareyou?’

‘I work at Pearla’s. I’m here delivering an order,’ Susie told him.

He didn’t respond—just stalked off.