Compromising Positions

Chapter One

Blue skies dotted with clouds that looked like cotton candy made a canopy above her, rolling green hills--Nature’s idea of wall to wall carpeting--stretched out around her, and brightly colored boats bobbed like jewels on the water before her. Waves beat against the shore in counterpoint to the beating of her heart. The sun kissed her skin leaving it warm and lightly gold. The scent of the ocean rekindled some ancient connection in her, echoing a time when the ocean guaranteed survival with food, and work, and trade. A simpler time. Not easier--oh, she’d never believe it was easier--but it was simpler.

It was so different from Miami. Miami had sun and beaches, but the city masked the pulse of the land. It never slept. Neon lights and music had long since replaced the rhythm of the ocean. But there was something about Portofino--the old fishing village rubbing shoulders with the bright lights of the restaurants and cafés--that managed to keep both the old and new alive.

Everywhere Mina looked her art historian eyes found another treasure. There were frescos on shop walls, and churches that took her breath away. Tiny carvings decorated the simplest things. Art was part of life here. It was paradise.

Well, it should have been paradise. And it would have been… if it weren’t for the shouting.

Mina shifted on her lounger and tried to block out the sounds coming from the villa behind her, but it was no use. They’d been shouting for three days, and every day she got closer to throwing in the towel and hopping the first flight she could catch back to Miami.

“It will not last forever.”

The voice startled her out of her reverie. First, it was speaking English--thank God!--and second, it sounded like it was laughing.

Mina took her sunglasses off and looked at her new companion. Laugh lines crinkled at the corners of dark eyes, and a slash of white teeth grinned at her. He looked a little older than her, but his expression belonged on a naughty ten year old boy.

“I don’t know about that,” she sighed and the man laughed again.

“Trust me,” he said. “I have listened to them fight my whole life. Mamma will give in soon enough.” He sounded almost jealous. “She always does.”

Mina sat up straight on the lounger, and grabbed a towel from the stack beside her. Mamma? That would mean…

The stranger squatted down beside her, dark eyes level with hers. The laughter was still there, but it now had curiosity as a companion. Mina felt her cheeks redden as his gaze took in her too tiny bathing suit and her pile of paperwork. She must look like Debbie Does Her Doctorate.

“You said Mamma,” she said, trying to get things back on a more even footing. “I assume that makes you…”

“The younger brother,” he nodded. “Giovanni.” He stood up, the move graceful even from such an awkward position, and picked up her cover-up. He shook imaginary dust from it and held it out with a gallant air. “And you must be the mysterious Mina. It is a great pleasure to finally meet you.”

The Mysterious Mina? She choked back a laugh. She was about as mysterious as non-dairy creamer. Less, if you thought about it--nobody knows what’s in non-dairy creamer.

She stood and allowed him to help her shrug into the short robe, juggling papers from one hand to another, trying not to lose any in the gentle breeze. Giovanni’s hands were light on her shoulders and she couldn’t help but notice how different he was from his brother. Oh he was tall and dark and handsome, but where Marco had hard edges that exuded strength and a raw sexuality that made her heart beat faster just thinking about it, Giovanni radiated a cheerful, fun-loving nature. There was something innately cheerful about him, and Mina smiled.

“I’m hardly mysterious. I’m here at your brother’s invitation to manage the cataloging and display of your family’s collection of Etruscan art.” Mina had repeated that phrase so many times over the past few days it sounded like a recording.

The twinkle reappeared.

“Ah, yes. The collection. I must admit that Marco’s decision to finally have it displayed is something of a mystery in itself.” Giovanni looked at her, curiosity shameless in his eyes. He cocked his head slightly to one side and raised one shoulder in a Gallic shrug. “He has denied requests from local institutions for years. I’m sure you’ve noticed his rather, hmmm… shall I say possessive nature concerning things he values?” Mina nodded, but didn’t meet his eyes, preferring to focus on gathering her papers and tucking them into their file. “The collezione has been a passion of his for years. “

Mina nodded. “He is very passionate.” Giovanni’s eyes widened a fraction and she swallowed. “About the collection. He’s been very passionate about the collection.” She knew she was babbling, but she couldn’t help it. Her relationship with Marco was so new, so different, that she was still very insecure about it, and the collection… well, Mamma Genovese had made it very clear that she didn’t approve of Mina being in charge of anything, especially not the treasured collezione. At least that’s what it seemed like. Mina couldn’t be certain because Mamma also made it clear she wouldn’t be speaking English any time soon, either. If Marco’s brother tried to undermine her as well--well, that didn’t bear thinking about.