Page 22 of Burning Caine
“Good idea.” She smiled, nodding. “One of the Drs. will have to look at it, but it’ll be about two weeks for the repair. Do you have anything for me to sign?”
“I do.” I withdrew an envelope with the papers from a pouch inside the case, and we filled everything out. “I also have a second painting I’ll be bringing in. I’m hoping on Friday.”
“Let me check the schedule.” She sat at her desk, hit a few keys on the computer, and hmmed to herself.
A door opened and closed in the space behind the reception wall. I couldn’t see behind the wall, but I heard his voice clearly. “Sorry I’m late, Alice. Did you still need a hand?”
Deep male voice, thick Italian accent, so familiar. Surely not. But the way the sound rumbled in my core and the hairs stood on my neck—it was him.
Sofia leaned back from her desk, craning her head to see into the space. “Antonio! I need you out here!”
“Coming, Sofia!” He rounded the corner and stopped mid-step when our eyes met. He wore a pair of faded jeans and a white polo shirt hugging his biceps. The buttons were undone, low enough to provide a view of the upper slope of his pectorals. I put a hand to my hair to make sure it was in place, while I fought to keep my mouth closed. As he smiled, that perfect smile with those kissable lips I’d been trying to put out of my mind, my breath caught.
Easier to find than I’d expected. Three times in four days.
And an art conservator, not a lawyer. Wow.
Behind me, Lucy whispered, “Holy crap.” She almost knocked me over as she rounded me and extended her hand. “Lucy Chapman from Foster Mutual Insurance. Dr. Antonio Ferraro, I presume?”
He dragged his eyes from me and smiled at her, shaking her hand. “You presume correctly.”
“This is my partner, Samantha Caine.”
He nodded to her and approached me. Strode. No, this time he stalked. I held my breath as he took an hour to reach me, running a hand through his dark brown hair, the gentle wave fanning back into place perfectly when he finished. At least he didn’t trace his lips like at the restaurant.
No wonder Hailey was so eager to handle the claim.
I held out my hand, which he looked at briefly before taking, his joke clear between us.
His grip was strong yet gentle and so soft. “Ciao, Samantha Caine.” His baritone added a music to my name I’d never heard before. A tingle ran up my arm, and I reflexively pulled away, but he held fast.
Sofia crossed her arms. “Antonio, I need you to—”
He ignored her, keeping his eyes on me. “It only took two days.” He stepped closer, still holding my hand. Could he feel the tremble in it? He lowered his voice. “What shall it be? Dinner? Tonight?”
“Have you forgotten everything I said?” I wrenched the hand away and stepped back, clenching my jaw to keep my teeth from chattering. It was bad enough I could feel the heat in my cheeks. Let alone all the other places.
Chapter 9
Antonio
“Iremembereveryword.”I closed the distance again, wanting to remove space between us, and to keep my voice down. The gentle music in the background was just loud enough. “But, I’m stubborn.”
“Antonio!” snapped Sofia. “I need you to authorize this painting.”
I turned to her and gave the painting a cursory glance. “Whatever you say is right, I’m sure.”
She handed me a sheet to sign, which I didn’t bother reading, and she filed it away. There were more pressing matters at hand. My future was in front of me.
“So.” I returned my attention to Samantha. “Where were we?”
Lucy said, “We were booking an appointment for Friday.”
Not only had I found her, but she would be back soon. She still trembled but she was looking at me this time. It was progress. “And what are you coming in for?”
“I have another artwork claim. The police have the painting in custody, but I expect they’ll release it any day.”
“What work is required?”