The Heart of Tuscany

Welcome to Negri

    Cece stretched her legs as she stepped off the plane and into the airport in Rome.  It had been one of the longest flights in her life, with a layover between to get on another plane.  She couldn’t remember if it had taken this long as a child.  She was at least glad to be on the ground again.

“Wow, even the air smells fresher here.” Eryka said.

“I agree.” Cece replied.  “Come on let’s get our luggage.  We will have to get Jack’s too.”

“Where did Jack go?” Eryka asked adding “Not that I care.”

“Eryka be nice, he went to get the rental car.  We still have a long drive ahead of us.” Said Cece.

              They grabbed their luggage and walked through the airport to the entrance.  Jack was there waiting with the car.  Once they were outside in the sun Cece closed her eyes, lifted her head, took a deep breath and let the sun warm her face.  Home she thought, I’m finally home.

“A Panda Fiat?” Eryka giggled “How utterly Italian.”

“Yeah that’s pretty much all they offered.” Jack said as he started helping Eryka put her luggage in the back and held the door to the car open for her.

“Umm, thanks Jack.” Eryka said eyeing him skeptically

“What? I can be a gentleman even to you, when I want to be that is.” Jack said as he put the rest of Eryka’s luggage in.  Eryka had so much that it took the entire trunk area to fit all her suitcases.  Instead of trying to cram his and Cece’s things into the trunk area he just put them in the back seat.  

Cece laughed and got into the car as Jack held her door open. 

              The drive from Rome to Follonica was breathtaking.  A long winding road surrounded by green hills and massive trees, every color of browns and greens as far as the eyes could see.  Cece had forgotten how beautiful Italy was.  What was supposed to take a 3-hour drive ended up being 4 ½ hours, because they would stop and take pictures of Tuscany’s countryside.  Finally, about 30 miles from Follonica they spotted the road that would take them to Negi, her grandparents villa and vineyard.

              The small dirt road wound up and around the hills.  About 5 miles up the road, beautiful tall Italian cypress trees lined both sides of the road.  Cece’s stomach was full of butterflies the farther down the long road they went. 

‘Wow, this is gorgeous.  How far does the road go?” asked Eryka as she looked out the window, her camera phone pointed at the landscape and taking a video.

“It shouldn’t be that much further.” Just as Cece said that the trees opened to a cobble stone courtyard.  She heard the gasps from her two friends in the car as they entered the large courtyard.  In the center of everything was a giant fountain.  The stone of the fountain was carved out so that it looked like ivy and vines of grapes were wrapped all around it.  In the center of the fountain was a man and woman embracing in front of a waterfall, the water pooling at their feet.  On the front of the fountain wall was the name Negri. A circle drive went all around the fountain so that the fountain was the center of attention.

              A long cream-colored stone fence went from one side of the entrance all the way around the circle drive and back to the other side of the entrance.  Just beyond the fountain was a massive villa, her grandparents’ home.  There were 6 small cottages, 3 on each side of the circle drive and all the buildings were made of the same cream-colored stone as the fence.  The roofs were made of terracotta half circle shingles that gave everything such an authentic feel and look.  All the cottages had plaques over the doors with names on them.  To the right of the main villa was Luna, Celeste, and Spirituale.  To the left was Sole, Leggero, and Amore. 

Jack had stopped at the entrance of the courtyard. “Which cottage is yours?”

“Oh, umm do you see that dirt road to the right of the main house? That road takes you to the to the small villa.  You can park in front of the main house for now.” Cece gestured toward the large house beyond the fountain.  “That’s my grandparents Villa.”

“So, what are all these other cottages for?” Eryka asked. “They actually look bigger than I thought a cottage would be too.  Cottages aren’t two story, are they?”

“All of them are 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom cottages.  Its where the staff and their families live.  I’ve always heard them referred to as cottages.  Maybe they are just large ones.” Cece said

“How big is your grandparent’s vineyard?” Jack asked

Cece chuckled. “Many miles and acres, you’ll see.  My grandfather is very proud of his vineyard.  I’m sure he will take you out on the grand tour of it soon.”

              Jack pulled the car around the drive and parked in front of the large house and walked around the car to open Eryka’s door.

“Jack all your gentleman gestures are starting to make me feel like I’ve stepped into the twilight zone.” Eryka eyed him skeptically.

“Hey, I’m just holding up my end of the truce.” Jack said as he walked around the car and opened Cece’s door for her.

“Mmmmmhmmmm.” Eryka said.

Jack walked around to the trunk. “Should I get the bags?”

Cece shook her head. “No, we will get them when we get to the villa we are staying at.”

              Cece turned towards the path that lead up to the front door of her grandparents’ home and stopped dead in her tracks.  Walking out from around the back of the house was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.  He was lean, tall and tan, with wavy black hair that just brushed the tops of his shoulders.  He was shirtless and sweaty like he had been working out in the heat all day.  His chest was beautifully detailed, muscular pecs and the most perfect 6 pack of abs that looked like they were airbrushed in a magazine.  His body looked as if it didn’t have a single ounce of fat on it, he was all hard muscle, everywhere.  His torso was nearly bare of any hair until just below his belly button.  Dark black hair trailed down into the waistband of his jeans.

“Cece?  What are you…” Eryka couldn’t finish her sentence because she had noticed exactly why Cece had stopped.  “Oh My God, they certainly don’t make them like that in Kansas.”

              Cece watched as the man walked up the cobble stone path towards them.  As he got closer, she saw his eyes.  They were deep brown, almost black.  She flushed red, not because of his beauty, but because the eyes this stranger had looked as if they could pierce her to the depths of her soul, like he could read all her secrets, her wants and her desires.

              Cece quickly looked away so that he wouldn’t catch her starring.  Slowly she looked back at him and saw that he was smiling at her.  Damn!  He must have caught her she thought.

“Buon pomeriggio, you must be Cece, Eryka and Jack.” The stranger said.

              Cece’s mouth went dry.  All she could do was stare at this handsome man standing not 5 feet away from her. Jack cleared his throat and stepped forward to shake hands.

“Hi, I’m Jack Andrews and this is Cece and Eryka.” Jack said gesturing to each of the women.

“I’m Paolo, Welcome to Negri.” Paolo looked down at Cece and pierced her with his eyes “and to you Miss Cecilia, Welcome home.” Then he took her hand and kissed it lightly.  She instantly felt a jolt that shot straight from where their hands touched to the lower regions of her body. “If you need anything, I stay at the Luna cottage.”  His voice was a caress with a beautiful deep Italian accent.  He released her hand and she instantly felt the jolt through her body come to a halt, and she wanted it back.

Jack looked over at the other cottages “I guess I didn’t notice driving in that all the cottages had names on them.”

Paolo smiled. “Si, its kind of an old Italian tradition around here.”  He looked down at Cece again.  “Your nonna is expecting you Cecilia.”  He looked at Eryka and Jack “It was a pleasure meeting you two.” Then he returned his gaze to Cece. “I hope to see you soon Cecilia.”

Cece’s heart fluttered in her chest “Thank you Paolo.” Was all she seemed to be coherent enough to say.  What was wrong with her?

“Yes Paolo, thank you, the pleasure is all ours of course.”  Eryka winked at Paolo.

Paolo smiled and then walked away, heading to the Luna cottage.

“Seriously?” Eryka whispered.  “I thought Italian men like that were only in the movies.  He can’t be full blooded Italian though, aren’t Italian men, you know, ummm hairy? He barely has any hair! I’m not complaining of course of, but Damn!”

Jack rolled his eyes overhearing Eryka’s assessment. “Are we gonna stand out here all day? Oh, there’s Stella.”