Runaway Love Read Free Page A

it's your business.”
    “Truly, I--”
    He held up his hand in a ‘Stop’ gesture. “Now you are here, you can’t live in this straw for the winter.” He stepped forward, lowered his hand and held it out to her. “It would be better if you came to my home.  It’s warmer in there, and the aroma is more pleasing.”
    She took his hand after a brief hesitation.  His grip was firm, sparking off little electric shocks rippling up her arm. “I feel I'm imposing,” she said. 
    He nodded. “Si.  You are.” He softened his stark words by resurrecting a half-smile on one side of his mouth. “But, even if you are an axe-murderer, being chased by the police, we'll have to put up with such impositions.”
    At least this Italian farmer had a sense of humour. “If it'll make you feel any safer,” she offered as she started to make her way out of the straw with his help, “I wouldn't know one end of an axe from the other.”
    “All axe murderers say that.”
    “Do they?  You've met some, have you?”
    “Probably - and, when I am certain that you really don't know one end of an axe from the other, I'll teach you how to use one.”
    “Great.  I always wanted to be an axe murderer.”
    He released that delicious chuckle of his. 
    Which, in turn, released unmentionable things inside Genie.
    “Now fate has forced us together, perhaps we should share our names.  I am Lorenzo Calderone.  How are you called?”  
    Fate, is it?  Well fate must be laughing at her right now.  Here she was, running away from men, only to end up trapped with one – with no escape.  It will be interesting to see how 'fate' played out this capricious game of hers.
    “Pleased to meet you, Lorenzo Calderone.  I am Genie.  That’s spelt with a G.”
    “With a G?  You spell Jeannie the Italian way?”
    “No,” she said, shaking her head. “It's spelt , G-e-n-i-e.”  She resisted offering her family name.  Just in case, even in this isolated spot, it meant something.
    “G-e-n-I-e, ” He laughed a deep, breath-stopping laugh. “Ah una Genia.  I thought Genii came out of bottles.”
    “True - and I did - in a way.”
    He kept his grin in place, ready for additional amusement.
    “I'm a test-tube baby.”
    His eyebrows shot up in surprise and the grin faltered. “You joke.”
    “No.  I'm serious. Since a test tube is a sort of bottle, my mother thought it would be fun to christen me Genie - with a G.”
    “You English,” he said. 
    “It's different,” Genie said. “I like my name.”
    “Brava,” he said.  He formed a brief thoughtful expression. “I think...so do I.”  
    Genie steeled herself against the smile she knew would come.
    It did.
    Her steel melted under its heat.
    “Andiamo,” he said.  We'll go to my home now.” 
    Genie released his hand to rummage in the straw for her backpack. “Lead on Lorenzo Calderone,” she said, grasping his hand once more.
    “I think, since I am in the company of a Genie, forse, I should make three wishes.
    “Hmm,” Genie responded.  “Be careful what you wish for.”  
    “Vero.”
    In for a penny-- Correction.  In for a snowed-in Italian Euro.  A penny, a Euro - either will do - and a beautiful Italian farmer.  Fate has played her a fascinating hand. 
    This is going to be a bit like one of those end-of-the-world movies with us playing the last two people on earth.
    Just what do the last two people on earth do with themselves for a month or two?
    Genie supposed fate would provide the answer – in time.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Lorenzo put his daily chores on hold to prepare breakfast for Genie while she undertook, as she called it, “a major transformation”, in the bathroom.  A myriad of thoughts, doubts, decisions, and worries tumbled through his mind as he worked.  His unexpected guest had turned his comfortable world upside down.
    For some time now, he had not wanted, nor had he sought company.  Nevertheless, he was