Page 74 of Greed

She rubbed her eyes and stared into Riker’s smirking face. She could get used to waking up to that look. “Did I sleep the entire way?”

“You did, which is perfect since you will be well-rested for dinner and whatever the night has in store.” She smiled wide and placed her hand in his as he helped her to stand. She paused as they reached the bottom of the stairs, and she stared at yet another sports car. “Don’t worry, it is a short drive, and then we will have to walk or be in a boat for the rest of our time here.”

“That’s good, or lunch wasn’t going to stay down.” She laughed as he mocked a hurt expression.

“Shilo keeps telling me I’m a terrible driver, but I thought he was just being a fussy old ang…man.”

She knew what he was going to say. Her secret wasn’t the only one that was being kept between them. It was the second reason she’d been able to convince herself that not saying anything about what she knew was fine. It wasn’t like he was jumping up and yelling who and what he was.

“I don’t know who Shilo is, but I already like him,” she teased.

Riker laughed, flooring the fancy Ferrari into action, the car leaping with eager abandon out of the private airport. She stared in wonder at the landscape. Even in the dark, the little bit she could make out excited her. Now that she was here, she felt like she was a kid on the edge of her seat at an amusement park.

Riker was true to his word because they were crossing a bridge toward Venice less than twenty minutes later. She stared out the window taking in the lights of the boats on the Adriatic Sea. She could barely contain her excitement as they stepped out of the vehicle.

“We’ll be taking a boat to the restaurant, and then we’ll come back tomorrow for the gondola tour.”

“We’re not staying here?”

“No, I have a villa in Padova. We’ll go there for the night. It’s not far,” he said as he helped her down to the area where all the boats were docked. She couldn’t get over how busy it was, the area was brimming with activity, and it was easy to tell that most of the people were not locals because of the cameras in their hands. No one took that many photos when they lived there.

“Signora, signore.” The man at the boat said. She stared down at the long narrow boat and then around at the dark water. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but this seemed like a dangerous idea.

“Francesco here has been manning a motoscafi for the past thirty years. He is the best driver I’ve ever had. We will be fine Minny,” Riker said as he stepped in the boat, but she hesitated. She may be sick yet. She took Riker’s hand and stepped into the black boat.

“What is a motoscafi?” She asked as they got settled.

“It means water taxi. Are you comfortable?” Riker wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her to sit between his legs on the little seat. She had to admit as Francesco pushed the boat away from the dock that she did feel safe and was extremely comfortable in his arms. She nodded and looked up at him. His eyes glittered in the darkness, the blanket of stars above not able to compete with them.

He laid a chaste kiss on her lips that felt like it meant so much more than the simple gesture. She snuggled into the warmth of his muscled chest and stared in awe at the buildings they passed. It was one thing to see these amazing structures on television or on the computer, but to see them in person was breathtaking. It took no time at all, and she was disappointed as the surprisingly smooth ride glided up to their location.

“Aspettero qui. Buonanotte.” Francesco said as Riker helped her out of the boat.

“Grazie,” Riker answered. His accent was exactly the same as the man that lived here, and she had to wonder just how many languages he knew.

Her heels clicked along the sidewalk, all too aware of the stares Riker was getting from women and men alike. He had a commanding aura. You couldn’t help but stare. She wondered how much of that was him and how much of it was the fact he was more than human. Did humans all instinctively know when they came across the immortals? Is that why she’d been drawn to Penny?

His hand was warm as it sat on the lower part of her back, and she could admit to herself that having him touch her like this made her feel special. They stopped outside a weathered dark door, the sounds and smells from inside already assaulting her senses and making her stomach growl.

“Signore, che meravigliosa sorpresa!” The man inside the door said, a massive infectious smile on his face. The glasses he wore only accentuated his brown eyes that could light up any room with joy.

“It’s good to see you too, Giuseppe. I trust the business is doing well?” Riker responded, holding out his hand for the man to shake. She didn’t know Riker well, but the little she did, she knew that he didn’t spend any extra time with those in which he didn’t see the value. To honor someone with the shake of his hand meant he thought highly of this man.

“Couldn’t be better. I’ve saved your table as requested, but you did not tell me that you were bringing such a ravishing beauty with you.” Giuseppe turned his eyes to her. “Signora, it is a pleasure.” Giuseppe held out his hand, and as she put her hand in his, he leaned in to place a chaste kiss on each cheek. “You are quite the lucky man. One day maybe you will tell me your secret.” His thick eyebrows wiggled comically at Riker.

“I do not believe Maria would like it if I shared that particular secret.” Riker looked down at her as Giuseppe laughed. “Maria is his wife of thirty years,” Riker explained.

“Almost thirty-two my friend, and I fear she will beat me to death with a rolling pin one of these nights, and I will certainly deserve it. Better not let her hear you speaking to me of beautiful women. It will only seal my fate sooner. Come let me show you to your table.”

The place was right out of a magazine, picturesque and authentic in every way possible. And it was packed and filled with laughter and smiles from all around. She stared at the dishes, her mouth watering. Giuseppe stopped in front of a booth, and she couldn’t help thinking of the last time they shared a booth together. She slipped out of the long light coat and handed it to Riker to hang up before sliding into the seat.

As soon as Riker was beside her, she jumped as his hand gripped her thigh. She looked over at him, and he looked at her out of the corner of his eye, a smirk on his lips.

She picked up the menu, stared at her choices, and tried to ignore the sensation of his thumb as it rubbed circles on the outer part of her thigh or the fact that his action was slowly pulling her dress up her leg. She bit her lip as heat spread all over her body, suddenly wishing she had a fan. She glanced around the room, and no one seemed to notice her unease.

“You don’t give up easily,” she whispered.

“Never.”