“I can do my engineering anywhere.”
“I think you’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“It’s called self preservation, but let’s change the subject. I haven’t thanked you yet for rescuing us.”
“I was happy to do it, but I must admit your phone call took me by surprise.”
“That storm sneaked up on us.”
“It made the search more difficult. The mist hung in patches out there this morning. I was beginning to get nervous when we couldn’t see any sign of the boat. You’ll never know my relief when we suddenly found a hole in the clouds and spotted Olivia waving to us.”
“I appreciate your coming. I can always count on you.”
“You’ve come to my aid more times, but seriously Luc. Though Olivia got you into that mess, you have to give her credit for trying to get you out.”
“Who’s side are you on?”
“Yours. Always.”
While they’d been talking, the limo had reached the house and driven into the courtyard. Luc felt for the door handle. “Let’s get inside and eat. I want to hear about your next move to catch our jewel thief.”
“I wish I knew where to start. I need your input.”
Luc’s hand tightened on his cane. “In a few more days I can throw this away. Then I’ll be free to drive us wherever the trail leads, unhampered.”
All bad things were finally coming to an end.
CHAPTER SEVEN
BY THE time the taxi had deposited Olivia at the foot of some steps leading up the steep cliff to the Varano villa, night had fallen over Positano. She asked the driver to wait while she found out if anyone was home.
Though cloud cover hid the sky, it seemed as if all the stars had dipped below it to light up the picturesque town with its cubed-shaped houses built into the sides of two mountain slopes.
Wherever she looked, she had an unexcelled panorama of the Mediterranean bordering the Amalfi Coast.
On the way from the train station the driver charmed her with his account of Hercules, the pagan god of strength who loved a nymph called Amalfi. But she died early, and he buried her in the most beautiful place of the world. To immortalize her, he gave it her name.
How would it feel to be immortalized like that by Luc? The man she loved with every breath in her body…
Her heart heavy, Olivia rang the bell at the side of the door. She didn’t have to wait long before a sixtyish-looking housekeeper answered.
“Signorina?”
“Hello. Forgive me for dropping by so late, but I just arrived on the train. My name’s Olivia Duchess. I’ve come to see Cesar. Is he here?”
“Olivia?” a male voice called out from the interior. Suddenly the man in shorts and a T-shirt she’d traveled all this way to visit materialized behind the other woman.
Cesar’s curious eyes played over her. “This is an unexpected pleasure. Come in.” He bore more than a superficial resemblance to his brother. It caused Olivia’s heart to bleed all over again.
“The taxi that brought me here is still waiting below.”
“Bien. I’ll take care of everything while Bianca shows you where to freshen up. Afterward you can join me on the terrace. I was eating supper. After your trip here, I’m sure you must be hungry, too.” He disappeared down the steps with the agility of an athlete.
“Signorina?”
Olivia followed the housekeeper through the fabulous Mediterranean-styled villa to a guest bathroom. Coming directly from the train it felt good to wash her face and comb her hair.
Feeling a little more presentable, she found Bianca, who walked her out to a veranda filled with flowering plants of every color. Lavender bougainvillea over-flowed the balcony. Between the fragrance and the soft night air, the scene was one of enchantment. With the right man…