Free Out of the Dark by April Emerson Page B

family.” His hand lingers in mine.
    “It’s very nice to meet you, Lorenzo.”
    He stops shaking my hand and puts an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close and whispering in my ear, “My whole family calls me Lorenzo. They always have. Between you and me, I can’t stand it.” He leans away then bumps his elbow playfully against mine. “Call me Enzo.” He winks.
    “Okay. It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Enzo.”
    “Mr. Lorenzo was just dazzling us with his amazing culinary ability.” Fabrizio chuckles and gazes at Bianca, who starts laughing all over again. “Miss Carina is a chef, you know,” he says.
    Enzo nods. “Yes, I know. My uncle told me. Cooking is a passion of mine, but as you can see, sometimes I win and sometimes I lose. I wanted to make lunch for everyone, but it doesn’t seem like that’s gonna work out.”
    “Do you all still have an appetite? I can make something.”
    Enzo smiles, and I realize he hasn’t taken his eyes off me since he introduced himself.  
    “What are you thinking? I can help.”
    “Maybe we should stay away from red meat. How about salmon? We can grill it.”
    Enzo rubs his hands together in a gesture of anticipation. “Perfect.”
    Fabrizio and Bianca recline by the pool for a change while Enzo and I prep the meal and fire up the grill. They seem happy to be waited on as Enzo refills their wine, and they chat while he and I sear the salmon.
    “So where did you study, Carina?”
    “At the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.”
    “I’m jealous.”
    “If you enjoy cooking so much, why didn’t you pursue it?”
    “My fate has always been written in the stars. Taking over the family business has always loomed on the horizon. It seemed silly to invest in a degree that I would never use professionally.”
    “Yes, but wine is your business. Food and wine go together. Going to the CIA would only enhance your c—”
    “The vineyard? The vineyard isn’t our only business, Carina.”
    His phone rings, and he stops to answer it before I can question what he means.
    “Hello, Uncle Stefan. Yes, we were just getting to know each other. She’s absolutely lovely.” He glances up to smile at me. “Oh? Well, that’s too bad. I can join you tomorrow then. Do you want to talk to Carina? Um . . . okay I’ll let her know.” He ends the call.
    “What’s going on?”
    “He got held up. He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
    “He didn’t want to talk to me?”
    “I think he was just busy.”
    “He’s always busy,” I mutter.
    Enzo flips the fish. “You’re right. I was hoping he would slow down now that he’s with someone.”
    “Yeah, well, I guess not.”
    Bianca chuckles again at Fabrizio, and Enzo plates the fish.
    “I’m not really hungry, Enzo. I’m going to go for a walk. I’ll see you later.” I descend from the veranda to the vineyard.
    “Are you sure?” he calls out. “Okay. See you later.”
    The evening is beautiful and fragrant. As I go deeper into the grapevines, I watch the moon rise higher.
    I’ve always been a loner. I’m an only child. With the exception of my parents and a few close friends, no one has ever really tried to get to know the real me. No one has ever taken much of an interest in me . . . until Stefan.
    But is he really interested in me ?
    I start to question why he goes away on business so often if his family is really important to him. We’re engaged, and I’ll soon become a part of that family. The same family he hasn’t actually seen in months.
    Stefan may have a way with words, but I feel more at ease with Enzo than I’ve ever felt with Stefan.
    I hear footsteps and turn to find Enzo jogging up beside me.
    His exuberant smile gleams, and he holds out a hooded sweatshirt. “It was getting chilly. I thought you might be cold.”
    I slip it on. “Thanks for thinking of me. How was dinner?”
    “Delicious and in no way burned. Saved you some.”
    He falls in step beside me, and I feel as if he’s