Gaining Visibility by Pamela Hearon Page B

smile.
    â€œMost important thing, person just know.”
    They rode again in silence a few minutes.
    â€œVitale.” She decided to broach the subject again. “I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I really do appreciate all you’ve done for me and your hospitality . . . offering me a place to stay. But I don’t think it’s a good idea. I mean, for all I know, you could be a serial killer.” She flinched as a tree branch missed her window by mere inches.
    â€œI do not eat the cereal, but I do not kill it. I will get you the cereal if that is what you eat for the breakfast. I am the good host.”
    Even his offended look couldn’t keep her from smiling at the thought of Vitale plunging a knife into a box of Special K. “I’m not worried about breakfast, and I’m sure you’re a very good host.”
    He took a long, exasperated breath. “Julietta, there is no room. I try to find, call many places. The tour, she take everything. Do you worry because I am a man?”
    â€œOf course not.” She waved away the absurdity. “I mean, I’m not afraid that anything will happen. But it doesn’t look right. It’s not proper to stay with a man I hardly know.”
    â€œWe will not have the sex. Unless you want it,” he added.
    His tone was matter-of-fact, but the mention of the word hurled Julia way over the edge of her comfort zone. “Have sex?” she sputtered. “Who said anything about having sex?”
    â€œVitale say it.”
    â€œI know who said it . . .”
    â€œBut you ask who say it,” he replied flatly.
    â€œIt’s just an expression. I meant that it hadn’t even occurred to me to have sex with you,” she lied, trying not to let her face show that she actually had envisioned it pretty graphically numerous times since first seeing him. “You’re too young. How old are you?”
    His quick laugh inferred her fears were inconsequential. “Thirty-four. I am a man. You are a woman. And the breasts say—”
    â€œYou can’t believe my breasts,” she countered, still reeling from the realization that a thirty-four-year-old had obviously thought about having sex with her. “They lie.”
    â€œBreasts no lie. The woman lie.” He brought the car to a grinding halt in front of a house and shot her a triumphant smile.
    She opened her mouth to protest again but dropped her next comment, choosing to use the time to gather her wits about her so Vitale’s family wouldn’t think she’d been thinking about having sex with him.
    The quintessential two-story Italian farmhouse surrounded by olive and cedar trees remained tranquil for all of two seconds before someone inside must have noticed their arrival. Then it became a beehive of activity with men, women, and children flying out from every direction shouting, “Vitale! Vitale!”
    A young boy of eight or so bolted up first and jerked open the door on Julia’s side, brown eyes wide with wonder. His expression faded to exasperation when her toe and the crutch kept her from vacating the area as quickly as he wanted. But once she cleared the path, he dove into the seat, giddy with excitement.
    She stepped back out of the way as more and more family members joined the throng, buzzing like bees swarming around their gigantic yellow and black queen.
    They talked excitedly, running their hands across the smooth leather interior and sleek exterior curves.
    â€œ Non, non. Non ho comprato l’automobile, ” Vitale protested in response to the rapid-fire questions aimed his way. At last, he quieted the group long enough to point toward Julia.
    Seventeen pairs of eyes turned toward her in unison, seeming to see her for the first time. “Julietta, la mia famiglia .” He smiled warmly as he came around the car to stand by her, placing a hand at the small of her back. She was sure it wouldn’t have happened