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for help—had not thought to ring him so he could drive them to the hospital. OK, she had no idea about his medical knowledge, but given everything that had passed between them, albeit in less than twenty-four hours, he would have liked her to trust him, to want him with her.
    Leaving her the night before had been the most difficult thing he had ever done. Back at the villa, unable to settle, thinking about her, wanting her, needing her, he had discovered a message on the answer-machine from Rico. His cousin had informed him he had the information he wanted from Scotland. He had phoned back right away.
    'Everything checked out,' Rico had confirmed. 'Nic knows them—something to do with their dog and Gina's new job. He says they are one hundred per cent genuine in every way.'
    It hadn't been a surprise—not after meeting Maria and spending the evening with Gina—but the relief after his experience with Antonella had been huge. 'Thank you.' In his heart he had known, and he had felt guilty for doubting her, disgusted with himself for being so cynical, especially when Gina herself was so open, so giving.
    'How was your evening?' Rico had asked, and Seb hadn't been able to halt the smile that had spread across his face.
    'Great.' He'd filled his cousin in on Maria's mission to scatter Matthew's ashes. 'I thought Zio Roberto and Zia Sofia would have no problem with me helping her.'
    'Count on it. Do what you think is right, Seb. No one but us will know if there isn't an official permit—and it's our private beach. It's a really touching story.'
    He'd been glad to have Rico's backing and understanding. 'It is.'
    'So, what's she like?'
    'Frail, not in bad health for seventy—although she has arthritis and a few niggling problems. Especially with her breathing. She didn't feel well enough to come to dinner.'
    Rico had laughed. 'I meant the granddaughter —Gina!'
    'Oh.' Seb hadn't been able to make sense of his reaction to Gina himself, let alone try to explain them to his cousin. 'She's...'
    '... got to you,' Rico had finished for him when he'd hesitated. 'If she's a tall curvy blonde I'll come over to Elba and check her out for myself.'
    'Well, she's not. So you can keep away.'
    Seb had cursed the tell-tale snap in his voice, the defensiveness he had been unable to mask. As much as he loved his cousin, he didn't want Rico here, exuding his renowned charm, good-looks and sex appeal on Gina!
    'Message received. But now I am even more curious,' Rico had teased. 'Gina must be something else if she has you, always so cool and uninvolved, all possessive and tied in knots after a couple of hours!'
    'I'm not possessive—or tied in knots,' he had lied.
    'Right!' His half-hearted protest hadn't fooled Rico. 'I can hear it in your voice cugino. And you had a cosy dinner for two! Tell me you told her the truth about your identity?'
    'I'm not ready to say anything yet.'
    'You mean you're worried how Gina will react if she finds out you have money and fame,' Rico had interjected, with alarming insight.
    He hadn't known how to explain. 'Being with Gina today made me realise that I don't like what I've been the last few years. I'm not sure I'll ever come to terms with losing surgery, but I never should have moved so far from my roots.'
    'It's clear she's made an impression on you.'
    'I've only known her a few hours.'
    'Sometimes these things happen that fast,' Rico had counselled. 'Just don't leave it too long to tell her, Seb. Not if you want to take things further with her. Or this is going to come back to bite you.'
    There had been genuine worry in his cousin's voice, and Seb had experienced a few lingering doubts that he was doing the right thing. 'I'll think about it.' But he was scared that the truth would change Gina's view of him.
    Now, at the hospital, as he found out where Maria had been taken and went in search of Gina, he knew he was walking a fine line. People here knew him, and it was a risk if he wanted to keep Gina from