He laughed and shook his head. “Damn, you’re good at challenging me. You’ll set the world on fire one day, Allegra.”

“You didn’t answer the question,” I said teasingly, my cheeks flushed with pleasure at his compliment.

“Because I’m not perfect. I still doubt. And I don’t think I could have done this without you, so maybe you’re my good-luck charm.”

At that moment, a car veered around the blind curve and swooshed past the bus. It seemed like barely an inch of space remained between the vehicles, causing our bus to suddenly swerve closer to the right. Where the cliff was.

Ian made a high noise like a whimper and frantically reached out for my hand. I gripped his tight, our fingers entwining, and a slight vibration tingled up my arm on contact. I glanced at him, expecting anxiety, but his gaze slammed into mine, and suddenly I was breathless and my skin itched over my bones and everything fell away from my vision and thoughts except for Ian.

The bus bumped along and we continued holding hands.

He didn’t look scared anymore.

When we safely arrived, he reluctantly broke contact. “Thank you,” he said in a low, husky voice.

“Welcome.”

“I’m still not going on the chairlift.”

I grinned and so did he, and I knew something had shifted between us for good. I just wasn’t sure where it would lead.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Sophia

There was something magical about Capri, and my heart broke a bit when we left. It was hard on my body with the intense amount of walking, but to sit in the shade of a lemon tree, feast on gelato, and enjoy the hum of the crowds was a memory I’d never forget.

I was proud of completing the famous chairlift, which brought us to the summit of Mount Solaro. The stunning view as the ground fell away under my dangling feet was thrilling. I had one small moment of panic when Allegra fished out her phone to click some pictures and I worried she’d fall out, but even Frannie had laughed at me for my worry. My fingers were so tangled up with arthritis, I doubted I’d be able to hold an object up in the air for too long.

We were heading through Tuscany on our way to Florence and stopping by a family farm in Volterra where they made mozzarella. I’d mastered pasta and bread but never tried to make my own cheese at home. I was looking forward to watching the process.