My grandmother’s single arched brow tells him all he needs to know regarding her opinion of his ability to keep secrets.

“Fine, don’t tell me. It’s not as if I won’t find out anyway. Will he be here this week?”

She gives him a single reluctant nod, which only excites him more.

“This is absolutely delicious. Oh, I can’t wait for dinner tonight.” He points a finger at me and narrows his clear blue eyes. “I’ll be watching you like a hawk.”

“Wonderful,” my grandmother clips. “Now, may we see our room, or have you left your manners back in the States?”

He barks out a laugh. “God, you can be so acerbic sometimes. It’s what I love most about you. Come, come. I’ll show you to your rooms then I’ll ask one of the servants to give you a tour of the villa and the grounds. Have you been here before?”

“No, but I already know I prefer Villa Ponti,” my grandmother says with a note of disapproval.

He barely conceals his eye roll. I love it. Very few people stand up to my grandmother and live to tell the tale. On the contrary, in this situation, she seems to appreciate that he gives her a challenge.

“Of course. Villa Ponti is lovely. Unfortunately, the McConaugheys are there this week, and I didn’t feel like turning the lovely Matthew out onto the streets. No, this palatial villa will have to do, I’m afraid.” He winks at me conspiratorially before taking my grandmother’s hand, resting it on his crooked elbow and escorting us through the main hall. “The villa is an obvious jewel. It’s the largest private residence on Lake Como, and it’s filled to the brim with antiquity pieces, some of which date back to the original owner, Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. They also acquired quite a few spectacular pieces to help fill the halls, some of which I helped them source while I was still with Christie’s.” He turns back to me. “There’s a 17^th-century fresco painted by the Recchi brothers that you two will love. I’ll show you later. For now, come upstairs. I’ve put you two on the second floor, in a suite overlooking the lake.”

A suite? As in just one?

I barely stifle the urge to groan. I didn’t realize my grandmother and I would be sharing a room for the week we’re here.

Victor must sense our unease with the arrangements. “Don’t worry, the suite is large, and you’ll actually have your own small room and bed, Lainey. It’s just that you’ll need to access it through your grandmother’s room. Odd, I know, but these old villas were built for different times. I suspect it was once used as a nursery.”

“It’s more than enough,” I assure him, guaranteeing an approving nod from my grandmother.

I know better than to complain about the accommodations. He could have stuck me out in the backyard with a threadbare sleeping bag and I would have smiled and thanked him profusely. My grandmother didn’t drill good manners into me for nothing.