"Really?" She watched as he opened a door and peeked inside.
"Oh, sorry." He'd interrupted someone at work. He strode down the hall to the next door. "We can always work on the Apollo case later. I've already made a lot of progress, don't you think?"
"Yes, you have." She frowned as he opened the door to a storeroom and peered inside. "Did you lose something?"
"I just don't want us to be seen. Come. This will do."
He caught her arm and dragged her into the storeroom.
Was this his idea of a date? Making out in a closet? She had a brief glimpse of shelves filled with office supplies before Jack shut the door and enclosed them in darkness. "Whoa. I thought we were going someplace special."
"We are, bellissima. I have it all planned out." He wrapped his arms around her. "Gianetta and Mario are very eager to meet you."
"Who are they?"
"They take care of the palazzo for me."
She swallowed hard. "But that's in Venice."
"Yes." He brushed her cheek with his knuckles. "That's where we're going."
Her mouth fell open, then snapped shut as she shook her head in disbelief. "We can't go to Venice. It's about a ten-hour flight, isn't it?"
"We'll need to hurry. We have about three hours at the most."
"Before the plane leaves?" The reality of the situation finally caught up with her. "Then what are we doing here?" Her heart started to race. This was so sudden. And so exciting. "I need to go home and pack. I need my passport." She pushed away from him to get to the door.
He pulled her back so suddenly, her handbag tumbled to the floor. "Bellissima, we're leaving now."
A sudden suspicion snaked through her, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck rose. "What—what do you mean?"
"I need you to trust me." He wrapped his arms around her tight.
Her skin chilled in spite of the warmth of his body. "Why are we in this closet?"
"So no one will see us teleport."
Lara gasped. "No."
"Yes. You saw me do it before. It's perfectly safe."
"It's perfectly crazy!" She pushed against his chest.
"Lara." He held her by the shoulders. "I would never do this if it could hurt you. I care for you too much to let anything harm you."
He cared? Her heart melted. Unfortunately, the rest of her was still freaked out. "I don't know how to teleport. It scares me. What if I get put back together all wrong?"
"You'll be fine. As long as you're in my arms, you'll be safe."
She swallowed hard. "Wouldn't a plane be safer?"
"Cara mia, we could be in Venice in two seconds."
"That seems hard to believe. And for someone who's been pretending to be normal for the last two weeks, you're suddenly okay with showing me your true self?"
"Yes." He eased his arms around her. "It's a step forward, don't you think?"
He was finally ready to be honest with her? How could she refuse that? "I–I want to move forward."
"Then come with me." He embraced her tightly. "Hang on to me, and don't let go."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and gripped her hands together. "Are you sure this is safe? There aren't any weight restrictions or—"
Everything went black.
She stumbled and blinked as brightly lit candles spun around her, reflecting off gold walls.
"Easy, love." Jack steadied her.
The room stopped spinning, and she realized there were paintings on the walls and ceiling, all outlined with gleaming gold-leaf stucco work. Candles glowed in golden wall sconces and from three ornate chandeliers. Antique furniture was clustered around an enormous fireplace with a marble mantelpiece.
Her feet were firmly planted on a polished terrazzo floor. This sure wasn't Kansas. "Wow."
Jack released her. "Are you all right?"
She looked around the room again. "Wow."
Jack chuckled. "Welcome to my home." He strode toward some French doors and pushed them open. "And welcome to Venezia."
CHAPTER 13
Jack smiled at the expressions that flitted over Lara's face. Shock transformed into wonder as she gazed around the Great Room. He felt a surge of pride, for the room was impressive when all lit up. Mario and Gianetta weren't very nimble in their old age, so it was probably their grandson, Lorenzo, who had lit all the candles before leaving on his assignment.
A cool breeze swept through the open French doors, causing the flames to flicker and the gold to gleam.
Lara gave him a wry look. "Just a small palazzo, huh?"
He shrugged. "There are over two hundred palazzi in Venezia. It's no big deal."
"Right. Everybody has one." She followed him onto the balcony. "I can't believe it. We're really in Venice?"
"Yes. Venezia." He breathed deeply of the cool, humid air. Candles glowed behind beveled glass on each side of the French doors. A bistro table with two chairs was nestled in the corner of the balcony.
He glanced over the balustrade at the water below. Lights sparkled on it, reflecting the moonlight and lights from neighboring palazzi. The water gate was directly below him on the ground floor. The lamps from the water gate illuminated the red-striped poles in front of his home.
Jack always loved coming home. And now he had someone to share it with. "How do you like it?"
"It's incredible. Very… old." Lara gave him an odd look, then shivered.
"Are you cold?" He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "I was afraid it might be too chilly for you. I'll have Gianetta find you something warm."
"Thanks." Lara looked around curiously. "It's not just the cooler weather that's bothering me. I'm in shock that we're actually here, and I'm still freaked out by our mode of transportation."
"It was quick and painless, no?"
"The moment of sheer terror was over quickly, but my confusion is greater than ever. How are you able to do such a thing?"
With a sigh, he stroked her hair. "I really don't know how it works. It's simply a gift, and I'm grateful for it."
"Well, it does beat ten hours on a plane." She turned in his arms so she could look over the balustrade. "I didn't realize the canals were this big."
"Most of them are not. This is the Grand Canal."
"Oh. Nice address." She glanced back at his home. "Not too shabby for a palace."
He grinned. "Unfortunately, many of the palazzi are in bad shape. This one dates from the sixteenth century, and there is always something that needs repairing."
"But you love it," she said quietly.
"Yes. I do. It's my anchor. A constant that is always here for me and never changes."
She regarded him, her eyes narrowed. "There's something so old-fashioned and… noble about you."
That was high praise for someone born a bastard. "Cara mia, thank you." He kissed her brow.
"Giacomo! You have arrived," a voice said in Italian.
Jack turned to find Gianetta at the open French doors. "Bellissima." He gave her a hug and kissed her plump cheeks. She was wearing a thick bathrobe over her nightgown, and her long gray hair lay in a braid against her ample bosom. He responded in Italian, "I'm sorry you had to get up in the middle of the night."
She patted his cheek. "It's always good to see you. And I'm thrilled you brought a girl with you. I've waited so long for this."
About fifty years, Jack figured. That's how long Gianetta and her husband, Mario, had been taking care of the palazzo. They'd started out as servants, but over the years, they'd become loyal and treasured friends.
"She's mortal, no?" Gianetta whispered in Italian.
"Yes, she is. Her name is Lara Boucher," he answered in Italian. "She's American."