Miracle for the Girl Next Door by Rebecca Winters

my pleasure. Domani , Tino.”
    He waited until she’d entered the farmhouse. She couldn’t seem to get inside fast enough. By the time he took off for Rosa, he was convinced Clara had been playing some kind of game with him from the beginning. He didn’t like it. She flitted in and out of his life like a hummingbird, driving him mad.
    Evidently she and Leandro weren’t an item. If she were still afraid of Silvio’s opinion, why risk more grief by being with Valentino at all? Her behavior raised more questions than it answered because he knew she enjoyed their time together. So did he.
    All the subterfuge and time limits had to end. When he asked himself why he cared so much, the answer hit him smack in the gut. Every time you’re with her, it’s harder to say goodbye.
    It came as a shock to discover that when we was with Clara, the thought of chucking it all in and whizzing back to Monaco held less and less appeal. This had never happened to him before.
    Valentino drove in the alley at the side of the restaurant and pulled up to the back door behind the Ferrari. He got out of thetruck and undid the tailgate to carry the baskets of produce into the kitchen. When he unlocked the door, Giorgio smiled at him and came out to help him bring everything inside.
    “The Ferrari is sweet,” he said in a low voice, kissing his fingers. “The paparazzi chased me everywhere.”
    “Better your picture than mine showing up in the newspaper. Many thanks for the use of your truck, Giorgio.”
    “My pleasure.”
    “I wasn’t harassed once and would like to use it again sometime soon.”
    “No problem at all. We can make a permanent trade any time you want,” he teased. “Look at the size of this!” He picked up one of the lemons. “The olives are big, too. Where did all this wonderful-looking fruit come from?”
    “The Rossetti farm.”
    “Ah. I’ve heard of it. Did you sign a contract with them?”
    Valentino had a hunch the type Giorgio was talking about would have to be done over Silvio’s dead body. “That’s up to my father. Has he been downstairs tonight?”
    “No. I haven’t seen him.”
    “What about Isabella?”
    “She’s out in front setting up for dinner.”
    “Then I won’t disturb her. I’m going back to the villa. When you see her, tell her I’ll be over tomorrow.”
    “ Bene , Valentino.”
    They traded keys before he left Rosa and rocked up the mountainside in the Ferrari full of his plans for tomorrow. Clara posed an intriguing challenge, but no one loved meeting one more than Valentino.
     
    When Clara entered the kitchen, her mother had already started cooking breakfast. She looked over at her. “Up so soon? Do you feel sick?”
    “No.” Just weak. She rubbed her palms against her hips in a nervous gesture.
    “That’s good. Your papa will be happy to hear it. He worries on these days.”
    “I know.”
    “Sit down and I’ll serve you now.”
    “Not today, Mamma.”
    “But you have to eat!”
    “I know. I’m having breakfast in town early.”
    “Are you getting together with Gina?”
    “No.” She hadn’t talked to her friend in several weeks. “Valentino asked me to meet him at Bonelli’s. He’s trying to help expand his father’s restaurant business.”
    “Why would he want to do that? It’s been doing well, hasn’t it?”
    “Between us, his father is in debt.” Her mother made a tsking sound in her throat. “We had dinner at a competitor’s yesterday. This morning we’re going to discuss what worked and what didn’t. If he can find a way to increase tourist traffic, it will be good for his family…and him.”
    Clara had seen suffering in his eyes yesterday. She hadn’t realized he’d had serious problems with his father. Evidently the breach between them went back years. The pain in his voice had haunted her all night.
    A worried look crossed over her mother’s expressive features. “Do you think it’s a good idea to get this involved with