Stealing Luca's Heart (14 page)

Ally took the opportunity to speak to Ian and stuck her head next to her dad’s. “Hello, Governor. I should thank you for dispatching Saren to my house. It was very considerate and very…government-like.” She put her arm around her dad’s shoulder. “He’s lucky to have such good friends.”

“Ally, it was the least I could do. I don’t know what I’d do without Saren, that’s for sure.” Ian wiped his mouth and set his napkin on top of his plate. “Speaking of Saren, Cal, did you know her divorce was finalized last month?”

“Is that a fact?” Ally noticed her dad’s mouth curve up slightly. “Well, send my regards, will you?”

“Absolutely. Plan on me coming down to see you at the Tetari’s after the conference. I hope that will be okay with them.”

“He’s welcome to stay with us,” Luca offered.

Cal nodded. “Sounds good. Have a safe trip, Ian, and we’ll see you in a few days.”

When her dad ended the Skype call, Ally gave him a long hug. “You look and sound great. The word is you’ll be joining me at the farm soon?”

“That’s the rumor. Luca, good to see you,” he said to Luca, who was pulling the containers out of the paper bag. “So you’re my daughter’s taxi service today? I thought Simone was dropping her off.”

“I had a change of plans this morning, and it just worked out this way.” Luca handed out the personal pizzas and sodas.

While they ate, Ally was fascinated at the interaction between her dad and Luca. Luca seemed at ease, but she had caught her dad giving him a few long looks. She suspected he’d seen the newspaper today.

When Cal finished off his mini supreme, he asked her to go down to the gift shop and pick out some new magazines to keep him busy. She did as she was told. When she stepped into the hallway, she hesitated and then leaned her ear against the door, not bothering to hide her curiosity. She hated it when her dad tried to shield things from her. Her dad spoke first.

“Let’s just get a couple of items out of the way, and then I’m done. I’m not upset about the photo. I’m going to assume you knew what you were doing when you made a complete scene out of pulling Ally from the back of a 747. Just some fatherly advice, if I may. Ally can handle just about anything. She doesn’t take most things too seriously. She may even get a kick out of a little publicity, as it’s all new to her. But don’t play with her, Luca. Don’t put her out in the public unless you intend to see it through. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Well, shit
. Ally didn’t know if she should be grateful or pissed at that comment. She heard Luca’s name whispered nearby and glanced across the hall at the nurses’ station. Two young women were looking her way and then quickly diverted their eyes to the files in their hands. She leaned closer to the door when she heard Luca’s voice.

“You’ve got a great daughter. If she lets me, I hope to show her as much of the area I can while she’s here. That’s all.”

“Yes, I can see that,” her dad said, sounding weary. “She’ll shoot my other arm if she hears I told you this, but after her mother’s death…” He struggled with his words. “Just don’t hurt her.”

Ally’s eyes filled with tears. Leave it to Dad to just lay it all out there to a man she’d just met.

“I enjoy her company, Cal. We seem to have hit it off. I should probably thank you for lying in this bed.” Luca had managed to lighten the conversation.

She’d heard enough. How was she supposed to waltz back into that room pretending she hadn’t eavesdropped on that whole conversation? Ally hustled down to the lobby gift shop. When she reappeared in her dad’s room carrying a handful of newspapers and magazines, she did her best to look unfazed.

Her dad reached out, taking the load from her. “Thanks. Tara should be here in a couple of hours to check on me. I think she’ll be heading out to the farm for dinner after that. Is Phillip still meeting her at the airport?” he asked Luca.

“Yeah, and I think he’s also arranging for her flight back up to Auckland tomorrow morning. So she’s all set. Sorry you’re missing the barbecue tonight, Cal. Wish we could move you out of here today, but the doctors were having none of that. I’ve got a game in two days and then the conference, so we’re not able to reschedule the party.”

“Thanks, I’m fine. I’ll be underfoot soon enough. Why don’t you two get on with the farm tour, and I’ll let Tara know if I hear the specifics on when I’ll be sprung.”

When Ally and Luca left the hospital room, they were met in the hallway by a few nurses and doctors. Word had apparently circulated through the hospital that Luca Tetari was there, and patients were requesting visits and autographs.

Luca turned to Ally, whispering in her ear, “I don’t have to. We can just leave.”

Surprised by his offer, she simply nodded for him to go. She tagged along and was more than impressed at how he maneuvered gracefully from the elderly to sick children, always with a thoughtful or witty remark. He seemed genuinely pleased to meet everyone. Life, it seems, was easy if you were handsome and friendly.

The appreciation he garnered from the women was blatant. Many glanced over to her in judgment, clearly wondering what the connection was between the two of them and why they were together. She wondered that herself but enjoyed an “eat your heart out, ladies” feeling when walking together out the hospital exit and up to the roof. How would she ever go on a date again and not compare the poor guy to Luca?

Finally, they were back in the helicopter, headphones on and seat belts fastened. Today was the first time she had ever flown in a helicopter, and she could definitely get used to traveling this way.

Once the pilot had cleared the roof, she noticed that some of the hospital staff had filtered out into the parking lot to get a glimpse of them leaving. Thinking back to the scene at Auckland’s airport yesterday, she could only imagine how long it would have taken them to get out of the baggage area if Luca hadn’t met her outside. People wanted a glimpse of or to meet their hometown hero. Who could blame them?

It didn’t take long to put Queenstown behind them and make their way over to the expansive Tetari land. She thought she’d be able to reach down and touch the rushing rapids as the helicopter skimmed inches above the Shotover River, following its course back up into the mountains. From the air she could see where it emptied into the eastern banks of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown.

The beauty outside her window left Ally speechless. They passed over hidden mountaintop lakes, jaw-dropping waterfalls, and scenic views that defined the term “God’s country”.

“I can’t get over how there aren’t more people living out here,” she said into her headphone mic. “In the States, if you had areas like this, there would be chain hotels and condos all over the place.”

“That would pretty much ruin it, now, wouldn’t it?” Luca commented. “New Zealand only has four million people to begin with, and just one million live in the entire South Island. That’s why people say there are more sheep than people.”

She was disappointed the afternoon sky had clouded over, but even the gray clouds couldn’t dull the unspoiled beauty. The pilot informed Luca about a radio report notifying them of an approaching rainstorm.

“We’re going to do a wide sweep of the property with a short stop at the end,” Luca explained, resting his right arm on the seat behind her. She was acutely aware of their proximity. For a moment she imagined sliding in comfortably under that strong arm until Luca’s voice snapped her back to reality.

“So, by now you know that my parents’ house sits north of the Shotover River and just east of The Remarkables. We’re in the northern hills up the valley from their house. If you look out your window, you’ll see my house, straight down next to the little creek with the horses out the back.”

She pressed her face to the glass, surveying the ground below. She made out a tin-roofed building resembling a long shed. That couldn’t be his house. Not sure what to say, she turned to him, “It’s a lovely location.” He had to be messing with her.

There were lush green paddocks all throughout the valley, either dotted with sheep or waiting for sheep to be moved into them. Just north of his house, he pointed out the main sheep-shearing station. He explained that Phillip’s office was there, and it was the hub for animal operations.

“We have our cattle tucked into some protected fields further north of here.”

The helicopter banked right and climbed up another broad mountain range. “This area is where we keep the majority of the Merinos. It’s close to the shearing shed, and the altitude is perfect for them. We don’t want to scare them, so we’ll keep our distance.”

Ally saw what seemed like thousands of sheep scattered in large herds along the range. They appeared to be gray marshmallows with some having horns curling around their ears.

“The main breed of sheep farmed in New Zealand is Romney, an English breed,” Luca continued. “Those are known for their strong wool and for consumption. New Zealand is the world’s largest producer of strong wool, also known as crossbred. We contribute twenty-five percent of the world’s total. That wool is used for bedding, rugs, upholstery, just to give you an idea. We have those sheep down in the lower pastures.”

Luca sounded like he’d given this tour hundreds of time. She was enjoying his lecture and realized he was anything but a dumb jock.

“Now, take the Merinos down there.” He leaned next to her and pointed out her window.

The sudden close proximity gained her the opportunity to admire the beauty that was Luca, from those mesmerizing emerald eyes, to the angles and planes of that face, down to his full mouth. Maybe her dad should have given her a lecture instead of Luca. Damn, if she wasn’t drawn to this guy. Probably like every other female he encountered.
Focus!

“There are around two million of those sheep in the country, and they are the only ones hearty enough to thrive on the grass up here, even in the winter.”

“This is a massive operation, Luca. So, are there sheep and shearing sheds scattered all the way out to the outer boundaries of your land?”

He seemed pleased at her interest. “Pretty much. Some of the property is just too remote or rugged. The eastern edge is where the landscape isn’t as dramatic, at least by New Zealand standards. The mountains give way to rolling hills before reaching the ocean. Having said that, I should note that this entire region is volcanic. There are hundreds of dormant volcanoes all around us, and at least one small earthquake takes place in the country daily. If you ever go on a bus tour around here, the guides always make a point to scare the visitors by saying how New Zealand is overdue for another ‘big one’.”

“Are you overdue?” That was a sobering thought.

“That’s what they say, but who knows.” He nudged her shoulder to look out his window.

“The hiking trails around here are stunning, and something you should do before you leave. We’re lucky that the Department of Conservation maintains all of the trails. There’s one right down here, running along the edge of that mountain. That’s called the Milford Trek. You’ve probably heard of it. It’s said to be in the top ten treks in the world. It will take you from here all the way to Fiordland National Park on the Tasman Sea over on the west coast.”

She leaned over Luca to have a better look, realizing his focus remained on her. It was a heady feeling.

“Tara did that last year, so I know all about it. The pictures she sent me were incredible. Look at that!” She pointed out his window. “The walking trail is literally on the edge of that cliff! How can you have trails, or roads for that matter, that are so dangerous?” She was coming to the conclusion that if you had a fear of heights, you better get over it quickly before coming to New Zealand.

“I keep forgetting you’re from the flat fields of Iowa. Around here no one is going to protect you from yourself, Ally. If you decide to take one step too close to the edge and topple over, well, that’s your mistake. You want to jump off a cliff with a rope tied to your ankle, then go for it. If you want to ride balls to the walls in a jet boat, have at it. Just be sensible.”

She leaned back down into her seat and decided the people in this country were either nuts or just smarter than the rest. Being sensible would be a refreshing change back in the States.

When they cleared the animal pastures, the landscape suddenly opened up to expose an area with a very steep canyon running down the middle. Luca motioned for the pilot to put down in a clearing nearby.

The pilot had just barely grazed the surface when Luca opened the door and jumped out, holding his hand for Ally to follow. Taking it, she ran with him away from the blades, head down.

Laughing, Ally stopped and dropped his hand, catching her breath. “Okay, I give, now we’re in the middle of nowhere. What’s up?”

Luca hesitated for a moment, but she could see the excitement in his eyes.

“Your dad is the only person outside our family who knows what I’m about to tell you.” He shot her a quick grin. “I think you’ll enjoy this, c’mon.” He took her hand again and led her up to the canyon’s rocky edge.

Looking down at their hands, she realized that spending the day with Luca was no chore. He was so easy to talk to. He no doubt was an excellent ambassador for the farm and their brand.

No thanks to her dad, he already knew more about her than most people. She walked by his side, eager to see what he was talking about. Even as a few drops of warm rain were starting to fall, she felt very content being right where she was. There was clearly something going on between the two of them, she was sure. She just hadn’t decided what she was going to do about it yet.

As they neared the edge, the helicopter took off behind them. “Where is the pilot going?” Ally asked.

“He’ll be back in half an hour. There’s a steady wind up here, and today there’s a chance for lightning, not a good combo for the chopper.”

She nodded. It was really windy where they were standing. The air was warm and thick with humidity from the approaching rain.

Luca dropped her hand. “You asked me what’s up, but the real question is what’s
down
?” He pointed toward the canyon below.