Great snowy peaks disappeared into the clouds, and jagged pinnacles of stone jutted up like great stalagmites that looked like a set in a fantasy movie. Alessandro put his arm around Olivia’s shoulders and leaned back, her face the only scenery he needed.
She turned briefly from looking at the Dolomites through the window and gave him a smile that would have turned the bitterest man in the world to marshmallow. She made him realize he hadn’t been living the last few years, only surviving. With all his money, he hadn’t been happy. The Beatles had it right about money not being able to buy love.
His mind drifted back to their lovemaking the night before. Now that was living!
“You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?” she said. “What are you thinking about with that big smile on your face?”
“What I would do to you if I weren’t worried about that cockpit door opening,” he said. “But I also know we’re going to land in forty-five minutes, which is frankly far too short a time for everything I have in mind. Besides, I’d hate to tell the best chef in all of Venice we never got around to eating his lunch.”
“Okay,” she said, plucking a strawberry from the plate and taking a bite. “So long as I don’t have to wait all day.”
“Not a chance.”
His phone pinged with an incoming text. It was Pamela.
I heard from Columbo you’re in Paris with Olivia. You sure that’s wise? Anyway, I just spoke to Dino, and he’s close to making a deal. Says he can name Vanessa’s murderer too.
He texted back: Thanks. Let me know when you have an update.
She replied immediately: When this is over, you and I really need to talk.
Sure, he typed, wondering if what she wanted to discuss would explain her strange mood of late.
“Work?” Olivia asked as she handed him a heaping plate.
He nodded. “My partner.”
“Are you okay?”
“So long as you’re with me.” He smiled. “You should know Dino’s about to talk, and my guess is you’re about to be completely exonerated.”
“I don’t even think I needed to hear that to make this the best day of my life. I just worry this day is more for me than you.”
“You have that wrong. This is all for me. I can’t tell you how selfish I feel right now.”
“Then I’ll do my best not to disappoint you,” she said as Paris came into view.
After they landed, the plane taxied off the runway to where a limo waited for them. The uniformed driver opened the door for Alessandro and Olivia, and moments later they were making their way through traffic to the center of Paris.