Chapter 2

"Yeah, she said she'd had a feeling I would be needing these!" Josh reported.

Both the older men shook their heads resignedly; there was just no way to get away with anything having a physic in the family.

They settled down to watching the game and eating. During the commercials talk turned to Tom's coming trip to Italy and the anti-terrorism classes he would be holding at the base there. He also mentioned that Francesca, AJ's daughter, had made him promise that he would let her know when he got into town so she could show him around.

AJ frowned at his oldest friend remembering that when Tom and Francesca had met at his wedding Tom had referred to her as a 'hottie'. "I don't think that's such a good idea," AJ grumbled.

"Don't sweat it squid! I know she's off limits now, but it would be nice to have a guide while I'm there and maybe she has a friend she can introduce me to!"

"It would be better if you avoid her all together," he muttered.

"She knows when I'll be in town and that would just be rude. Can't you take my word that nothing will happen?" Tom asked him with a hurt frown.

"I guess," AJ admitted reluctantly, he was also remembering how Tom and Francesca had danced together at the reception. There had been no space between them at all!

After that, talk turned to Josh and Nora's plans for having another child. Josh told them that they wanted to have at least one more child and wanted to do it soon so Randy and the baby would be close enough in age to be playmates.

Tom smirked and commented, "So you were working on that when I got there to pick you up today?!"

"Yeah!" Josh grinned proudly.

"How does Randy feel about the idea of a baby in the house?" AJ asked.

"Oh, since he couldn't play with it for a long while, he informed us that he would rather have a puppy!" Josh laughed.

Tom and AJ laughed at that as well. They were just getting hungry again when the ladies and Randy arrived home. AJ offered to grill some steaks for dinner, but Randy insisted that he'd rather have a hot dog!

Saturday, September 10, 2005

1630 EST

Tom's quarters

Naples, Italy

True to his word, after Tom had arrived at the base and gotten settled into his quarters, he picked up the phone and dialed Francesca Paretti's number. She answered the phone with the Italian, "Pronto," but quickly switched to English when Tom told her who was calling. "Thomas! It's so good to hear from you! Have you arrived safely?"

"Yes I did Francesca, and my classes don't begin until Monday morning so I have all day tomorrow free if you have any time to give me the guided tour we talked about at the wedding?" Tom was happy to hear the pleasure in her voice when she had found out who was on the phone and even though, because of who she was, nothing could come of it, his ego was still stroked by having a beautiful young woman attracted to him. And she was attracted to him! He remembered their dance at AJ's reception like his friend had. Francesca had been pressing her body into his and had let him know she was interested in him. He had reluctantly pulled away and for the rest of the evening made sure that he was busy dancing with other women. She had returned to Italy the next afternoon.

"Now why must we wait until tomorrow to meet? Do you already have plans for this evening?"

"No, I just got into the country, how could I have plans? I figured you would probably have a date," Tom told her.

"Thomas!" she exclaimed. "You wouldn't be presuming! I knew you were coming into town so I have kept all my evenings free for the next two weeks."

He was stunned that she would clear her schedule just to show him around, and oddly honored too. Tom knew that he would be envied anywhere they went together for having such a beauty on his arm. He only wished she weren't the daughter of his oldest friend or he would try and find a way to have her in his bed as well!

To be continued…