Stealing Luca's Heart (22 page)

“Me and Molly already ate,” she said, looking down at the dog. “I didn’t know what the plan was this morning, but I’ve learned that mornings start very early around here. I was hungry and figured you would be too.” She took a sip of coffee, continuing to stare at the swirls on his body.

He put his fork down. “What?”

“What?” she repeated innocently.

“Your stare is clinical, Ally.” He took a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Something on my face?”

“No, actually just your arms. I’m admiring those tattoos and trying to figure out what they are.”

He took a drink from his mug. “You haven’t seen a man with tattoos before?”

“Not like those, no.”

He looked down on the markings. “That’s because they’re Maori tattoos. If you saw designs similar to these on a
pakeha
, it would be insulting to the Maori people. Stealing a design is like stealing an identity.

“
Pakeha
?”

He seemed to struggle for the words. “Simply put, someone of non-Maori blood lines.”

Nodding, she motioned for him to continue.

“The Maori tattoo, or
moku
, used to be placed on the face with the design literally describing who you were. It would say what tribe you were in, rank, and ancestry. They used to use bones to carve out the designs.” He shivered. “That’s quite an endurance test if you ask me, taking a chisel to your face.”

Ally winced. “So every design is created specifically for that person? What do the waves mean?”

“They’re not waves. They’re
koru
, a fern found here that grows in a tight coil before extending outward toward the sun. It’s said that it represents new life, new growth, and new beginnings. It suggests constant movement or something unending,” he explained, waving his fork. “The design you see on the tail of Air New Zealand planes are the
koru
.”

“Now that you mention it, that’s the design on so many of the necklaces I see in gift shops, and I’m sure I saw those ferns on my run yesterday.” She told herself she should pick up one of those necklaces.

Luca’s phone rang. He stood up, finding it on the table next to the front door. Looking at the number, he said, “It’s my dad. Looks like everyone’s up and moving this morning.”

After a brief conversation, he hung up. “Ugh, we need to get shakin’. Your bags are on their way down here as we speak.” Raising an eyebrow and swiping a hand over his chest, he added, “Maybe you’d like to touch them when we have more time.”

Ally rolled her eyes for show.

Their bags were delivered by both their dads, who helped themselves to coffee while Ally and Luca showered and changed. Ally asked George to thank Simone for packing up her things. She resisted the urge to explain that nothing happened last night; it really was none of their business. They each received last-minute instructions for the conference before the helicopter arrived and carried them to the airport.

The flight crew appeared accustomed to having Luca on board the commercial flight. They casually escorted them to a secluded holding area until it was time to close the plane’s doors, and then they were ushered to their seats. Ally heard Luca’s name whispered when they came on, but for the most part, it was a quiet flight.

Luca made a few calls to confirm a car rental along with a few other details about their day that she couldn’t hear. He refused to offer up any other specifics about what they were doing. Ally figured they’d be staying at a hotel close to the convention center so they could just walk over tomorrow morning. Maybe they’d go shopping on Queen’s Street and have a posh dinner at a restaurant on the Viaduct overlooking Waitamata Harbor and the America’s Cup yachts. All of those would be wonderful options, she decided, looking out her window.

“Have you been to Lake Taupo?” Luca asked.

She shook her head. “I know that it’s a large lake in the center of the North Island and that there are active volcanoes around it. That’s about it, though.”

“Not bad. We’re passing over it now if you want to take a look. The lake covers a caldera created by a super volcano that went off thousands of years ago. The eruption was so great that Romans and Chinese recorded the sky going dark at the same time.”

Ally peered out her window. “So the mountain ridge that I see above the town and surrounding the lake is actually the rim of a super volcano?” She was stunned. “It’s massive!”

“Yeah, most of us try to forget that baby is dormant, not extinct. A couple of the mountains are excellent for snow skiing. It’s a fresh water lake, and the rivers are the best in the world for trout fishing,” Luca proudly continued.

She turned her head to simply take him in for a long moment, admiring the entire package in the seat next to her. She hadn’t figured out what they were doing together yet and, if necessary, would worry about it later. Why hadn’t some lucky lady scooped him up and tied him down? For some reason, this gorgeous man was hers, at least for today, and she would enjoy him as long as she could. She reached out and placed a palm on his cheek, turning him in for a slow kiss. When she pulled back, she saw his dark brows raised.

“I love listening to you talk about your country,” she said simply. “I’m glad we’re spending this time together.”

When they touched down at Auckland International, Luca told her to stay with him as he took down their luggage from the overhead bins. She put on her backpack and rolled her suitcase behind her, as they were the first ones off. Once they made it into the main terminal, they were immediately greeted by an Air New Zealand employee who led them to a nearby door leading back down a flight of stairs to the runway. Ally was hardly surprised to find a man in a golf cart waiting for them.

“Do you ever just travel like normal people do?” she yelled over the jet engines.

“What’s the fun in that?” he shot back.

The man in the cart whisked them past the domestic gates to an open field along a runway where a helicopter waited, blades already propelling.

“Naturally,” Ally mumbled.

Once they were in the air, she turned to Luca. “How about you telling me now where we’re headed?”

The pilot spoke into his headset, “I’ll tell you where you are, Ms. Edwards. We’ve just passed over the South Auckland area and are entering the Hauraki Gulf. The bay below us is Cockle Bay. We should be at our destination in ten minutes.”

Ally could see they had put the mainland behind them. “We’re not staying downtown?”

“No. I was thinking something more private.”

She knew she had a stupid grin on her face, but this was turning out to be way more than she could have expected. She resisted the urge to text Tara and chose to focus instead on where they were heading. She knew the large island in front of them was Waiheke. Could he be taking her there?

The helicopter traveled up past the steep coastline and pristine beaches to the center of the hilly island. Ally recognized the ferry dock and the narrow road winding up to the main town of Oneroa. They passed one vineyard after another until they came to the eastern side of the island, which was virtually uninhabited.

“What’s down there?” she asked. They banked over a wide open peninsula dotted with large rocks.

“That’s Stony Batter, an old WWII coastal defense battery to protect Auckland from a Japanese invasion,” Luca replied, motioning for the pilot to land. “I heard only one shot was ever fired from that area, and after the war, the guns were sold to the Japanese for scrap iron. Pretty ironic, really. The farmland and vineyards on this end of the island, something like four thousand acres, are privately owned by one family.”

“Sounds familiar,” she muttered.

“Have you been down in those tunnels?” the pilot asked.

“I have, but that’s not on the agenda for today,” Luca answered, glancing at Ally.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Let’s just say I had some inside information that you liked this place a little bit. Besides, I happen to love it here too,” he confessed.

The pilot touched down in a clearing next to the battery. “Here we are, the island of wine,” the pilot announced.

Luca said something to the pilot before jumping out. “He’s taking our bags on ahead of us.”

When the helicopter flew out of sight, she looked around at the farm field they were standing in the middle of. “Hmm, I hope you have a car lined up, or is this a trekking trip?”

“Such a smart ass,” he said before he turned and started walking away.

She trailed after him while he made his way to a nearby dirt road. It appeared to be the main drag going in and out of Stony Battery. All around them were the fascinating rocks she’d admired from the air. They were of varying sizes, partially buried into the grassy hillside. She assumed they must have been shot out of a volcano in Auckland and landed here millions of years ago. Hard to believe.

They had only been on the dirt path for a moment when a quad came roaring down the road away from the battery. When it reached them, Ally read
Department of Conservation
on the employee’s shirt. Actually, given his age, he was probably a volunteer. “Need a lift?” he asked, eyes twinkling, clearly enjoying his errand.

They barely had time to make his acquaintance and thank him for meeting the chopper before they reached the front of his small office. Ally noticed Luca slip a bill in the man’s hand when they shook, thanking him again for his help. Luca seized her wrist excitedly, leading her behind the building, stopping next to a motorcycle parked in the backyard.

He sent her a mischievous look. “Game?”

“Why not?” she heard herself say. She felt like she was on
The Amazing Race
; every day in this country was a new adventure.

*

There were moments in Luca’s life that stood out. His first kiss, age nine. The day his rugby coach told him he had real talent, age twelve. First beer, age thirteen. First fight that ended up with the loser in the hospital and a school suspension for him, age fifteen. Lost virginity, age seventeen. Joining the South Island Crusaders professional rugby team, age seventeen. Thinking back, the last two probably had something to do with one another. He’d joined the All Blacks at nineteen, and since then his life was a blur of rugby, traveling, the farm, and more than his share of women along the way. He knew today would be etched in his brain as one of those days.

He felt Ally tighten her grip around his waist, slipping her fingers through the belt loops in his jeans as he gave the bike more gas. It felt great being back on a bike. He skillfully navigated the hilly roads, careful not to scare Ally when the road skirted some serious drop-offs. He caught her profile in the mirror, the high cheek bones, full mouth, and long hair blowing. Shit, this was as good as it got. He knew why he hadn’t settled down for very long with anyone in the past. He needed to explain those reasons to Ally when the time was right today.

*

Ally thought back to the one other time she had been on a motorcycle. She must have been in junior high and her dad’s friend had offered her a short ride on his Harley. They had only cruised around the neighborhood, but at the time she was sure she was cheating death. This time her driver looked like he belonged on a
GQ
magazine cover: mirrored sunglasses, white T-shirt, and faded jeans. She wondered if he always went for that signature look or just happened to throw it all together. Either way, it was working for her. He handled the bike as if he’d been riding his whole life. She relaxed, taking in the scenery and trusting Luca with her life.

Less than an hour later, Luca turned off the main road and slowly navigated through thick weeds and bushes, heading downhill. She looked closer and realized they might be on an animal trail, but they were definitely heading somewhere hidden and remote.

“How do you know where you’re going?” she asked, ducking branches and tall weeds.

“When I want privacy or just to get away, this is one of the spots that I come to.”

“I don’t suppose you own this?”

“No, but not because I haven’t tried to persuade the owners to sell their bach to me. If I was them, I wouldn’t sell it, either. Hang on,” he warned.

The bike slid quickly down a steep hill, landing them in a grassy, manicured lawn. In front of them sat a small, tidy white house overlooking a private beach. It was just yards from the ocean. They both sat on the bike admiring the view. It could have been taken at any Caribbean island hideaway. The ocean was full of blues and greens accented by the lush summer landscape around them.

Ally rested her chin on his shoulder. “Oh, Luca,” she whispered. “This is beautiful, and you were right about remote. Who does this place belong to?”

“The owners are a couple who own a restaurant and winery here on the island called Mudbrick.”

“I’ve been there! That place is amazing, the best views of the Auckland skyline anywhere.”

“I agree. I’m glad you said that because we’re having dinner there tonight, and I arranged for us to stay in their other rental, called the Owners House.”

“Really! I’m surprised these places are available this time of year.” She tried to contain her emotions, but the reality was she was overwhelmed. This amazing man had done all of this for her. She thought she heard him mumble something about how money talks but didn’t press it.

She hiked her leg over the seat. “Do you have your own motorcycle?”

“I did all through high school, until I almost crashed it coming down that hill you ran on. It was stupid kid stuff. I was racing a buddy of mine, and the bike just lost traction, maybe because it was pouring rain. I just managed to dodge a massive tree and fell off while the bike carried on, flying down those wooden stairs. Mum got wind I was racing with my mate and put her foot down. Said she’d boot my butt from the farm if I didn’t sell it. I could manage on my own just fine, but I saw what a wreck she was, worrying about me. The decision was easy, but man, I loved that bike.”

“Good for Simone.” She couldn’t imagine trying to contain a handful of Tetari teenagers.

Luca pushed the bike up to a wooden shed next to the house and parked it inside. “Let’s have lunch. I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.” He took her hand and led her around to the other side of the house.