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deep breath, she exhaled loudly. “When do you want to leave?”
    The smile grew, became even more devastating, if that was possible. The man wielded a power he seemed unaware of, which was scary, especially for the well being of her extremely fragile heart. “I can have my assistant make travel arrangements first thing tomorrow. Whenever you can get away, we’ll leave.”
    “My schedule is completely clear,” she said wryly. “I have no commitments.”
    “Good to know. I have a few, but I can rearrange them. Fortunately, it’s a quiet period for me.”
    “My luck, then.” She smiled wanly. “Yours as well, I’m assuming. So. Have you ever been to Italy?”
    He shook his head. “I’ve never been to Europe at all.”
    That was surprising. He had a sophisticated air, urbane and immaculate in appearance, what with the precisely tailored suits, elegant in cut and style, the perfectly cut dark hair, the expensive watch that circled his wrist. She believed him the typical attorney who had too much money and spent it on luxurious trips across the continent. She’d known quite a few of them. Had dated some as well. Yet every last one of them had been too slick, too shallow for her to consider them long term.
    Gavin, though, had that untamed air about him. As if it wouldn’t take much to reveal the real man beneath the smooth mask.
    “You have a passport?” she asked.
    “Of course.” Ah, there was her irritated lawyer, though he seemed to realize his mistake quickly. His expression smoothed, his voice returned to that calm, modulated tone. “I figure we can leave by Wednesday at the latest.”
    “Sounds perfect.” She sipped from her glass of water, refusing to have any more wine. Too much alcohol and this man would be a heady combination, one that might leave her open and vulnerable to just about…anything.
    A thought she shouldn’t be having. He was her attorney. She’d hired him to help her discover the truth about her heritage. No way could she entertain thoughts of indulging in some personal time with the deliciously handsome, secretly sexy Gavin Westmore.

Chapter Five
    Gavin felt as if he’d been transported to another world, where the sun was more intense, the colors more vibrant and the native language lyrical and mysterious. Everywhere he looked he saw couples that appeared happy, full of love. He’d never been what he considered a romantic man, nor one who entertained fanciful thoughts. Hell, he hadn’t realized the word “fanciful” was in his vocabulary until this very moment.
    Perhaps spending too much time with a too beautiful woman did that to a man.
    They’d left New York first thing Wednesday morning, as planned. Seven hours later and they were in Italy, specifically the Amalfi Coast, Stasia behind the wheel of a tiny red car driving way too fast for his comfort.
    The roads wound tight around the mountains, the sheer cliff that shot straight down into the ocean on the other side giving him a minor panic attack, not that he’d ever admit it. He’d grown up tough, had carried a knife on him walking home from school when he was in junior high, for Christ’s sake. He thought he’d seen it all, could endure anything.
    Yet he wasn’t sure if he’d survive the drive to Stasia’s family estate, what with the reckless speed she was going, how she whipped the car to and fro on the narrow road. She was a spectacularly shitty driver.
    “Slow the fuck down,” he muttered, finally vocalizing what he’d been chanting in his head since the moment she got behind the wheel.
    She flashed him a cheeky smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Did I just hear what I thought I did?” When he ignored her, she burst out laughing. “I’ve been driving these roads since I first got my license. Trust me. I’ll get us there in one piece.”
    “Yeah, right.” He said it under his breath, but the look she shot him told him she’d heard it. Not that he cared. She drove like a crazy woman, the