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That’s how Gio caught her, standing in the hallway, looking at her phone, first baffled, then furious and then with a goofy sant Italian would’ve kno et that command from him

And he couldn’t have orchestrated it any better if he had stood there and kissed her

When Gio had inquired who had made her smile, Pia had instinctively ducked the phone behind her Realizing Gio was exactly why she’d begun this, she’d reluctantly shown him the phone

Her grandfather had stared at the phone for a long while Which had caused her to wonder if she’d made a horrible mistake When he had finally looked at her, Pia had expected a hundred questions, un to realize, could be like a little boy sometimes—temperamental, impulsive

But Gio had said nothing Asked nothing

She’d have thought he didn’t approve if he hadn’t uttered, “He is a good man, but hard Do not let him break you like I broke Lucia, si?”

He’d been worried at her revelation, but on the drive to Raphael’s sister’s house, Pia had sensed Gio’s relief too Almost as if he had known this would happen

As if it hat he’d wanted

The growing unease that she’d started soy only deepened as Pia sed air-kisses with a crowd of curious, but mostly friendly faces as soon as they arrived at his sister Teresa’s house—a posh Mediterranean-style villa with colorful ivy cli decoratively up its white walls

Golden sunlight washed over the villa The early dinner was al fresco with people spread all over the house and the immense backyard hite tables spread around A festive at each other and people talking in groups But thefaces

She tried not to cringe as attention focused on her More than a few faces were familiar, even a couple of men who had attended her ball Suddenly, her plan sounded ridiculous, even stupid

She was going to pretend to be familiar with Raphael in front of all these people? Pretend like just the thought of being romantically involved with him didn’t make her feel plain and dull? Didn’tat the same time