Bite Me if You Can (39 page)

“If they could. We haven’t been able to reach them either. They’ve checked out of the hotel and not left a forwarding address, or number, or anything. That just isn’t like Mom.”

Lucian frowned, then squeezed Leigh to his side. “Have you ever been to Europe?”

Leigh blinked. “No. I’ve never been out of the U.S... . Well, besides Toronto, I mean,” she added wryly.

“Hmmm... How do you feel about croissants for breakfast?” he asked.

Leigh smiled slowly. “You mean real French croissants from France?”

Lucian nodded. “We could grab a company plane, hop over, check on Marguerite and tell her she’s a grandmother.” He grinned at the word. “Grandmother. That ought to freak her out a bit.”

“You’re a cruel man, Lucian,” Leigh said solemnly, and he grinned.

“Actually,” Greg commented, “I think she went to Italy.”

“Italy?” Lucian said with surprise.

Greg nodded. “The guy she’s working for is named Christian Notte. I’m sure it was Italy.”

“Notte,” Lucian said slowly, and frowned as something twigged in his memory.

Leigh eyed him curiously, then said, “Italy sounds good, too. It might be fun to try real pizza from Italy. Or—Oh! Gelatos!”

“Gelatos?” Lucian asked.

“Italian ice cream. It’s supposed to be very good.”

“Yeah?” he asked with interest.

Leigh nodded.

“Okay, Italy it is,” he announced, and glanced at Lissianna. “Stop worrying. You’re a new mother, you have enough to worry about. Besides, you’ll produce sour milk and give the baby a stomachache.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s an old wives’ tale,” Lissianna said with amusement.

“Well, old wives ought to know, right?” he said. “So stop worrying. Leigh and I will head to Italy and find your mother and tell her she’s a grandma. She’ll be back here on the next plane.”

“I need to go down to Kansas before we go, Lucian,” Leigh said as he steered her toward the door. “I have to make sure Milly—”

He silenced her with a kiss and asked, “Have I told you I love you today?”

She shook her head.

“Well I do. You brighten up my life and make me laugh, Leigh. I love you.”

“I love you too, Lucian,” she murmured, and rested her head against his chest as they walked along the hall. They had reached the elevator when she suddenly asked, “Do they have bidets in Italy? I’ve always wanted to try one of those.”

“Can I watch?” Lucian asked with a lascivious grin, and Leigh smacked him in the arm.

“God! All you think about is food and sex,” she accused as they stepped onto the elevator. She then turned into his arms and kissed him lightly on the lips before murmuring, “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”