“Sometimes when I’ve exhausted every idea to ace out an opponent on the track, a good night’s sleep restores me and I come up with a killer strategy.”
She bit her lip. “It would have to be that good to make a dent in his armor.”
“The Duchess triplets have a reputation for doing the impossible under the most improbable circumstances. If you can’t figure out a way to get to my brother, then it can’t be done.”
“I think I’m crazy about you, Cesar de Falcon.”
“Now she tells me!”
While they smiled at each other with a perfect understanding, Olivia heard Cesar’s cell phone go off. His gaze flicked to hers. “My bet it’s big brother trying to find out where you are because he can’t stand the suspense any longer. What do you want me to tell him?”
Her heart was racing. “What does your caller ID say?”
He pulled it out of his pocket to look. “It’s Max.”
Olivia didn’t know whether to be glad or devastated. She watched Cesar click on. As soon as he’d said ciao, he handed her the phone. “It’s Greer,” he mouthed the words.
Not again—
She turned her back on Cesar. “How did you know I was here?” she demanded of her sister in a hushed tone.
“Maybe because I’ve lived with you for twenty-seven years and know exactly how your mind works,” Greer whispered back. “Olivia Duchess— don’t you know you’ve done the worst thing you could ever do to run straight to Cesar? Any hope you might have had with Luc has flown straight out the window!”
Olivia couldn’t stand it when her sister was right, which was ninety-nine percent of the time. “You’re supposed to be on your honeymoon instead of minding my business.”
“I’m afraid your getting involved with the Falcon brothers has made this all our business! Piper phoned Nic because she was desperate to know where you were.
“You promised to phone her and you never did! She thought you were going to fly home from Genoa, but Nic said you were taking the train to Colorno. When she called there, the maids reported that you never arrived, so she phoned Nic who phoned Max to find out if we knew anything. Piper’s frantic!”
“I couldn’t call her. Luc and I were marooned on Monte Cristo without a phone.”
“That’s not true, Olivia! You know very well Luc had one with him, otherwise how would Nic have known to come and rescue you, let alone where to find you!”
Olivia’s blue eyes rounded in wonder.
Luc had his cell phone with him the whole time?
Then that meant he’d hidden it…
And that meant he hadn’t wanted to be rescued yet, which meant—
Excitement charged her body like a bolt of lightning. This changed everything!
“Thank you for calling me, Greer. I promise to phone Piper right away. Give my love to Max. Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon.”
“Olivi—”
She clicked off.
“Is everything all right?” Cesar inquired.
She whirled around and handed him the phone. “Everything’s fine! Cesar? Will you do me a favor?” Her plan had to work.
“Bien sûr. Anything.”
“Walk me to the foyer and call for Bianca. When she comes so she can be a witness, tell me to get out of your house.”
“Comment? What did you say?” he asked incredulously.