So that was what was wrong. But the news couldn’t have made her happier. “How long have you been outside waiting?”
“About an hour. I walked to the gate in case he couldn’t get in and shoveled, but I didn’t see him. There were no cars going in either direction.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he can. Have you eaten yet?”
“No. I’d planned to take you to brunch after we got back to the city.”
He had no idea how delighted she was to have to stay here longer. “Since we don’t know how long we’ll have to wait for him, I’ll fix us some frittata.” Lanza loved an omelet eaten with the kind of crusty Italian bread he had on hand. “You have a generator, right?”
He blinked. “You noticed—”
“I can even cook when I have to.”
The first real smile she’d seen broke out on his handsome face. So...food played an important part in his life, if he didn’t have to make it. Or maybe he did like to cook, having been on his own all these years.
“I’ll go downstairs and turn it on.” Soon she heard the sound of the generator. They had power.
She removed her coat and walked through to the kitchen to put her apple core in the wastebasket. Next, she made coffee. After finding a bowl and pan, she reached for eggs and other ingredients out of the fridge to start their meal. Before long she’d made large, fluffy ham and cheese omelets cooked in butter.
Because he’d stocked the fridge with items for salad, she added mushrooms, red peppers and chives. Once everything was ready, she prepared two plates that overflowed with chunks of the bread and put them on the table.
Stefano appeared in time to carry the coffee and silverware to the dining room. He eyed the food. “These look fabulous.”
“The palace kitchen staff taught me and my sisters how to cook from the time we were little.”
They both started to eat. His food disappeared in a hurry. “They taught you well. This is the best omelet I’ve ever tasted.”
“Thank you. You want me to make you another one?”
“Would you?”
They were good if she said so herself. “I want another one, too. I’m starving.”
Quickly, she went to the kitchen and whipped up another batch. He brought their plates to the stove, and she slid the cooked food onto them. “Uh-oh,” she cried. He chuckled because one of the omelets almost slid away from her.
Lanza happened to look up at him and caught the intense way he was staring at her out of those beautiful black eyes. She quivered in reaction, wishing he would kiss her. She wanted to feel his mouth on hers. What was happening to her?
Back at the table they dug in once more. But she could only eat half of hers and shoved her plate toward him so he’d finish it, which he did, as well as the rest of the bread.
When she saw him pull out his cell phone to make a call, Lanza got up to clear the table and do the dishes. He followed her into the kitchen. “There’s still no service.”
“Do you often have blackouts here in winter?”
“No. This is very unusual.” He put the leftover ingredients back in the fridge while she loaded the dishwasher. “I’ll check to see if Enzo has emailed me.”
“That’s a good idea.”
He returned to the kitchen a minute later. “No message yet. Something tells me Enzo won’t be coming today.”
CHAPTER SIX
YES! LANZA DIDN’T want to leave.
She was loving this time with Stefano and didn’t want anything to change. “It’s so beautiful out. Do you have some winter clothes for outside I could borrow?”
Her question seemed to take him by surprise. “There’s a closet downstairs with my sister, Carla’s, ski outfit and skis. She’s a little taller than you, but I’m sure they’ll fit. You’re welcome to use them.”
“Thank you.”