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and her discovery would convince the board where his interest lay. Without someone supporting her, she would spend her life painting in this rustic village, undiscovered and unknown. Warmth flooded him. It would be great to help her achieve success. Because he had no doubt she had the talent. But did she have the staying power to make it?
    None of his previous protégés had as much talent as he’d seen in those four small landscapes. And not one of them had the dedication to develop the talent they did have…not when the money flow had stopped.
    Go carefully. Don’t get too excited.
    He let go of Gia’s arm and stepped back to give her some space, looking past her down to the village. The tall tower of the Fortress of Castellina was lit up by a spotlight, providing a beacon to the center square of the village. A soft blue light played on the high tower.
    Gia folded her arms. Despite the shadows, he could see the frown that wrinkled her forehead again, and then her glasses slipped down her nose. She pushed them up impatiently with a paint-stained finger.
    “I have an eye for art, Gia. And you are exceptionally talented.”
    “Really? Do you really think that?” The uncertainty in her voice almost broke his heart. Her family had done a real number on her confidence.
    “And what do you mean, you dabble?” She tipped her head to the side and stared at him curiously as though dabbling and art did not go in the same sentence
    “I mean I love to paint, but I don’t get much time for it.” Nic’s laugh was slightly bitter as he shook his head. If only he could live in this countryside and paint all day, every day. “I’m here on vacation and I will paint while I’m here. Like many tourists who come to visit this region.” He stepped to the car and opened the passenger door. “Look, why don’t you come with me, and we can go back down into the village for a drink? I’d love to hear more about your techniques.”
    “Uh-uh.” Gia shook her head and turned around, pointing to her stained clothes. “I’m in no state to go anywhere.”
    “So how about I drive you home and you can change?” He stood back as she observed him, and he knew he was being summed up.
    “Where are you staying?” she finally said.
    “I am staying at a place a few miles along the road.”
    “Where?” She was persistent and although he should say the Baldini villa—Mauro’s reaction had been enough for one night—he admired her caution.
    “I’m…er… renting a holiday place up that way.” He waved toward the hill in front of them. “So what do you say? Will you trust me enough to go for a drink in the village?”
    Gia stood back and Nic watched as one scarlet-tipped finger tapped her bottom lip. He smiled. He was more used to escorting women who had long fingernails scarlet from expensive manicures, not because they’d dipped their fingers into paint.
    “Please? I’d really like to show you how sorry I am for causing you that fright on your bike. I was going to look for you tomorrow in the village, but finding you tonight was meant to be.” He didn’t want to be too pushy, so he waited while she looked at him.
    “Okay, but how about some gelato instead of a drink? I haven’t eaten yet today. I’ve been too busy.”
    “How about dinner, then?”
    Gia laughed and the sound was attractive. “I thought you had dinner already? Vegetable soup?” Her face broke into a grin, and the interest that had been stirring in Nic’s chest firmed into something more tangible. Her lips were softly parted, and even as he chuckled, he appreciated the sweet cupid shape of her top lip. In all her glorious disarray, she was quite lovely. If you took away the ghastly spectacles and tamed the wild mane of hair that was standing in a messy cloud around her head—she’d pulled the braid undone—she’d be downright gorgeous. The smile softened her serious face, and Nic was pleasantly surprised by the change in her attitude.
    “Okay, ice