Romance In The Tuscan Hills: A New Beginning Read Online Free

existence on a whim to be close to her heritage and her last piece of Nonna's love,  but, instead,  Dani got lost looking at Carlo's near-perfect profile. Seriously, the guy could be on a romance novel cover. 
     
    “If you want to stay, stay,” Carlo said when she was quiet for too long.  “Why must you run off if you feel the pull of the land?  If it's this strong already, think how much you will grow to love it by the time your two weeks are up.”
     
    “I never told you I was staying for two weeks.”
     
    Carlo looked at her briefly and grinned – his white teeth a sharp contrast to his tan face.  “News travels fast.  Or, should I say, Nonno Alberto sniffs out the news fast.  You may not remember, but we used to play together as children.”
     
    Dani tried to pull up any memory of a pint sized Carlo running around with her the handful of times she visited Nonna. Nothing. “I think I'd remember you.”
     
    “I remember you.”  He pulled into the circular driveway and parked the car before going around to open Dani's door for her.  “I would never forget you.”
    “You don't have to see me to the door or anything, Carlo,” Dani protested when he started to do just that.  “I know Alberto expects you to report back, but I'm fine – really.”
     
    “You may be fine, but the villa isn't.”   Carlo roamed the villa as if he was a familiar with it as he claimed, pointing out everything that was falling into disrepair.   Termite holes there, drywall needing touch up there, retaining wall needing shoring up in the garden.  
     
    “There's a lot of work to do,” he said after the impromptu home inspection.  “And I'm going to make sure you don't have to worry about anything going wrong in the villa once I'm done.”
     
    “I don't want you to go through any trouble,” Dani protested.  “I can hire someone from the village.”
     
    “Nonsense,” Carlo said.  “It's the least I can do for Catalina's granddaughter.  I'll see you tomorrow.”  He winked.  “I'll be the one with the tool belt.”
     
    What a strange guy ,  Dani thought as she watched him climb into the car and drive the short distance to his grandfather's villa.  Maybe something is lost in translation.
     
     

9. Chapter Seven
     
     
    Dani heard the rumble of a tractor as she was finishing breakfast the next morning.  She picked up her coffee mug and went into the garden to investigate.  Carlo sat high atop Alberto's tractor.  The rising sun cast a golden halo around him. 
     
    “I didn't think you vineyard owners actually rise with the sun,” Dani said.  “I thought you weren't serious about fixing up the place.”
     
    “Nonno Alberto is very insistent on taking care of you just as we took care of Catalina.” 
     
    Carlo hoped down from the tractor before reaching back and pulling out a tool belt.  Dani couldn't help but watch as his shirt rode up over his trim hips and well defined abs.  Picking grapes did a body good. 
     
    Carlo finished buckling the tool belt around his waist before grinning at Dani.  “See anything you like?”
     
    She shook her head to scatter thoughts of a shirtless Carlo or – better yet – Carlo in the shower.  The water would boil once it touched him because he was so hot.   Geez, Dani, get a grip , she told herself.  You're leaving in a week.  You don't need to get all hot and bothered by some local that you'll probably never see again.
     
    “Just come what you came to fix and go home.”
     
    “Such hospitality,” Carlo teased.   “I can see why you are not married with that attitude of yours.”
     
    “I can see why Alberto wants to pawn you off on me,” Dani shot back.  “You're so full of yourself.”  She turned on her heal and headed back inside.  “Just make this quick, okay?  I'd rather be alone.”
     
    “No you don't.”  Carlo followed Dani inside.  “No one really wants to be alone.  It's just something you say to make it hurt