Free Amore and Pinot Grigio - a Guido la Vespa Christmas Tale [Guido la Vespa] (BookStrand Publishing Mainstream) by Veronica Bell

saying something Sigrid couldn’t quite make out in hushed Italian.
    “My father would like to know what your plans are for Christmas.”
    “Well, I was going to ride my Vespa down to St. Peter’s, I guess, take some pictures, tweet them back to my family. After Bethlehem I would guess St. Peter’s would be the Christmas-y-est place on earth, right? Then I figure I’ll call or Skype my parents, of course. Stuff like that. It will be a nice, peaceful day—my landlord and his wife will be away as well. They’re off to New York to visit their daughter.”
    Giuseppe looked upset. “That is not acceptable. You must come up to Tuscany and spend Christmas with us. You simply must. My wife will love you and I can show you our animals and our vineyard. And Sandro here will be moping about if you aren’t there, wondering about all the men in Rome chasing after the pretty blonde lady alone on Christmas Day.”
    “ Pap à !”
    Sigrid giggled. But she didn’t want to be in Tuscany with the Tottis if Sandro didn’t want her there. It would be horribly strained. They had agreed their relationship was of the fun-and-sex-and-no-commitment variety and spending holidays together seemed like something serious couples do.
    “Well, I think Sandro and I should discuss it and…”
    “Nonsense. You will spend Christmas with us. Sandro wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, he suggested it, earlier, when we were in the kitchen together getting the—”
    “ Pap à !”
    Sigrid looked over at Sandro, who was blushing. “I only wanted to make sure you weren’t alone at Christmas. So yes, I suggested it. Just so you won’t be alone but for no other reason. No one should be alone at Christmas.”
    Giuseppe smiled at his son and winked at Sigrid. “My son will drive you up to Tuscany on the twenty-third in his Lancia. But since I know how you two love your Vespas, I will arrange to have them brought up separately by train. You will stay a few days, after all, and Tuscany is a perfect part of Italy to see on a motorcycle, as there are open spaces and greenery—well, not so much green in December but at least nature—and far less traffic than in Rome.”
    “I guess it’s settled then,” said Sigrid.
    Sandro looked embarrassed. “I should take Sigrid home now. It is getting late and tomorrow we are taking some auction items out to the animal hospital.”
    Sigrid thanked her host and, with Sandro, walked out back of the restaurant to where their bikes were parked.
    Sigrid reached for the keys to her Vespa and Sandro stopped her. “You have had three glasses of wine. You should not drive. Leave Guido la Vespa inside the restaurant patio area—you can pick him up tomorrow—and I’ll take you back to your B&B on the Vespone.”
    “You had wine, too!”
    “I had one glass and I am taller than you, bigger and I certainly weigh more. And I certainly ate more, though you gave me some competition.”
    “Well the food was wonderful and I didn’t want to offend your father and…”
    “No need to make excuses. I like a girl with healthy appetites.”
    Sigrid took the bait.
    “Then you’d better take me home, subito .”
    “Get your helmet on and sit behind me, and above all, hold on tight.”

Chapter Six
     
    Even through his winter coat, Sandro smelled like excitement, like spice, like sex, like a real man, not like status-obsessed, boring, lawyer-y, Anglo-Saxon, cheating, lying Doug. Sigrid was slightly tipsy and grateful for the extra size of the Vespone’s seat. It didn’t feel as precarious as being a passenger on a Vespa. She leaned against Sandro’s strong back and tight buttocks and drank him in. As he requested, she held on tight, putting her arms around his chest, though she would have done the same, she had to admit, without the request.
    She’d been on enough motorcycles to know to follow his body, lean when he leaned, sit up when he sat up, arch when he arched. Riding together was much like making love and,