Free Italian Romance by Jayne Castel

tiring of her aunt's worried looks and fussing,
Luisa offered to pick up some provisions from the local supermarket. Dressing
in a light cotton skirt and t-shirt, and slipping on some ballet pumps, Luisa
made her way downstairs. She pushed open the main door to the building and
stopped in surprise.
    Valerio
Catanese was waiting for her.
    He
had parked his blue Alfa Romeo, Italian-style, across two parking spaces and
was leaning against his car, arms across his chest, deep in thought. Luisa
wondered if he was summoning the courage to buzz the intercom but then
discarded the thought.
    Inspector
Catanese wasn’t the sort of man who had to dredge up the courage to do
anything.
    However,
upon seeing her he started slightly and took off his sunglasses.
    “Luisa,”
he began, “ Signorina Durasanti, I just wanted to make sure you were
fine.”
    “It's
okay – you can call me Luisa,” Luisa replied with a wry smile, “and yes, as you
see I'm fine.”
    “I
apologize for not checking on you. I meant to arrange for someone to drive you
home but after the mess at the station, I had a lot of questions to answer,”
Catanese explained.
    “I
imagine you did,” Luisa replied, “it doesn't matter.”
    Valerio
Catanese gave her a searching look before raking a hand through his dark hair.
    “Well...
actually it does matter. I shouldn't have left you there. Shock made me act out
of character – it tends to make me a bit manic. It doesn't matter how much
violence you witness in a job like mine, having to fight for your life and then
kill a man, still upsets you.”
    “Of
course it does,” Luisa approached him and offered a timid smile, “I know what
you did must have been awful. However, you were protecting your own life and
you saved mine – for that I’m grateful.”
    Their
gazes met and held for a few moments, and a silent understanding passed between
them. Slowly, Luisa saw the tension ebb out of Valerio Catanese's shoulders.
She suddenly realized that she made him as nervous as he did her. Instinct took
hold of Luisa then and, stepping forward, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
    “ Grazie Valerio,” she murmured.
    But
when she attempted to pull back, he gently took hold of her arms and drew her
towards him once more. Their lips met for a long lingering kiss – and the kiss
deepened as Catanese let go of her arms and slid his fingers into her hair. The
last remnants of any restraint Luisa might have had dissolved then, and she
linked her arms around his neck, drinking him in.
    When
they broke apart, they were both out of breath.
    “Wow,”
Luisa put her hand up to her bee-stung lips, “that was quite a kiss!”
    Catanese
laughed. It was a wonderful sound, and Luisa realized it was the first time she
had seen him do it. It was very different from the serious police inspector she
had first met.
    “Yes
it was,” he agreed, “and I'd like to give you plenty more, if you'll let me.”
    Now
it was Luisa's turn to laugh.
    “What
was it I was saying about Italian men?”
    “I
meant what I said about us not all being the same,” Catanese's smile faded,
“please let me show you a gentler side to Naples.”
    “It
was a harsh, judgmental thing for me to say,” Luisa admitted, “I was tired and
scared – but that's no excuse. I would love for you to show me your Naples.”
    Valerio
Catanese's smile returned.  He stepped back and opened his car door with a
flourish.
    “Well
then, step inside my lady – your carriage awaits.”
    Luisa,
her shopping forgotten, slid into the Alfa Romeo's passenger seat and tried to
wipe the grin off her face. Her Neapolitan adventure had just taken another
twist – and this time it was one that she would enjoy.
     
     
    The End
     
     
     

About the Author
     
     
    Jayne Castel writes both contemporary romance set in
Italy and historical romance set in Anglo-Saxon Britannia. She was born in
Lincolnshire, England, grew up in New Zealand, and spent many years living in
Italy (Rome and