Truly A Match (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Book 4)

by Tamra Baumann

  Not sure how he’d eat dinner later with his stomach tied up in knots, he drew a deep breath for courage. He hoped Rachel would like the restaurant he’d had Stella buy out all the reservations for. The photographers were all waiting and had been told they’d not be allowed inside. The whole world would finally know that Rachel was the love of his life. It made him grin.

  The door swung open, and Rachel appeared wearing a silky green dress with the diamonds he’d bought her last Christmas sparkling at her neck. How was it possible she looked even more beautiful than the last time he’d seen her? Except for the panicked expression on her face.

  “Puppies? Are you kidding me? Not happening, Marcello.” Rachel slammed the door closed in his face.

  Okay, so maybe he should have left them in the car and gone in with the flowers first. He contained the squirming puppies and managed to poke the doorbell again. When the little wooden peephole door flew open, only her pretty green eyes were visible. “I’m barely holding it together with two babies. Puppies on top of that would push me over the edge. And I’m still mad at you, remember? The puppies aren’t helping.”

  “They were Stella’s idea. She needs a picture of you and the puppies to spin this. We’ll keep the kids secret for now. It’s what you asked me to do, remember? When I was apologizing for my genuine slip of the tongue? And begging you to give me a second chance because I love you and miss you so much it hurts? You look lovely, by the way.”

  “Thank you. I don’t recall you mentioning anything hurting yesterday, and you look very nice too.” Rachel’s eyes narrowed. “So they aren’t staying?”

  “Well . . . ” He hadn’t thought the possibility through in his excitement to see Rachel and the kids.

  The little wooden door started to close, so he said, “Wait. Fine. I’ll figure something out.” He laid the flowers on a bench, then held both puppies up to his cheeks. “But how can you reject these beautiful, homeless little creatures? They need your love as much as I’ve learned I do, Rachel.” Both dogs whimpered right on cue. They should be in the movies too.

  Her eyes closed, and she huffed out a breath. “You’re impossible.” Rachel slapped the little door closed and then opened the front door again. “Take them out back right away. I don’t want any accidents in my new house.”

  “Thank you, bella. Hello.” He laid a gentle kiss on her mouth. Her tightened lips slowly softened, opening for him, and he kissed her properly. Taking his time about it, nibbling on her bottom lip, he hoped to show her how much he’d truly missed her.

  Her hand slipped around the back of his neck to pull him closer, and it took all his restraint not to go for more. Instead, he leaned back and whispered, “Admit it. You miss me too.”

  She whispered, “I do. But I wasn’t the one who decided—”

  One of the puppies took the opportunity to escape his grasp, slowly slipping down his leg, and then he plopped to the floor. The dog took off down the wooden hallway, his little claws madly tapping. Rachel swiveled on her tall heels and took off after the pup. “Oh, no you don’t. Get back here.”

  He turned, retrieved her flowers from the bench, and closed the door behind him. He followed the sounds of baby laughter to the den. His twins were on their stomachs, on a blanket, giggling at the squirmy little puppy rolled on his back between them. Rachel knelt right beside them like a mama bear, ready to intervene if she had to. It made his heart melt in a very unmanly way.

  “See?” He glanced at Rachel, who was fighting to contain a smile. “They like the puppy.” He put the girl pup down beside her brother. “One for each. I read it’s good for children to take care of a dog. Gives them responsible.”

  “Makes them responsible. When they’re ten and old enough to take care of them.” Rachel crossed her arms. “I can’t, Marcello. There aren’t enough hours in the day as it is.”

  “But it makes the babies happy. I want to make them happy too. I never get the chance.” He held out her flowers. “These are for you, but their beauty is faded and washed out compared to yours.”

  “They’re lovely. Thanks.” She buried her face in the exotic blue flowers and took a deep breath. “But charm isn’t going to get you out of this one, buddy. I’m not changing my mind about the dogs.” The doorbell rang. “That’ll be Lori to babysit.” Rachel punched his arm lightly when she passed by to answer the door.

  The playful tap on the arm was progress. She was probably caving a bit, about the puppies and hopefully about him too, and if so, she’d be mad at herself. She prided herself on being tough, but she had a heart as tender as they came.

  When she plopped the flowers onto a hall table like they were her car keys, not $400 worth of flowers, he withheld a sigh. Rachel had asked him to stop giving her expensive gifts years ago and only reluctantly accepted them on her birthday or for Christmas. She’d never been one for romance. Most men would love a pass when it came to conjuring up romantic gestures for their women. It made him more determined to win her back.

  He knelt on the floor and laid kisses on his children’s foreheads. “Ciao, my babies. Your papa loves you. And your puppies will love you. I’ll talk Mama into keeping your new friends. You’ll see.” He reached out and ruffled the fur on one of the puppies, sending her onto her back as well. The kids were all gummy grins and drool, wriggling closer to touch the soft, gentle pups.

  When Lori walked into the room, her hand flew to her mouth. “Marcello, are you crazy?” Lori dropped to her knees, and the puppies raced for her lap. She was all smiles and giggles now too. “They’re awfully cute, though.”

  Rachel’s hand tightened on the back of his collar, and she tugged. “You have some serious ’splaining to do over dinner.”

  He stood and brushed off his slacks. “ ’Splaining?”

  “It’s . . . never mind.” Rachel slipped into a long, black leather coat. “We won’t be late, Lori.

  “Okay.” Lori glanced around. “But I’m going to have to call in some reinforcements. No way I can watch all four alone. Do you mind if my kids see Marcello?”

  That made his jaw clench. Not even all her family knew about him. She was that determined to keep him a secret and their children out of the spotlight that shone so brightly on him.

  He answered for Rachel. “It’ll be fine, Lori. We’re announcing Rachel’s existence to the world tonight. Just need one selfie.” He held his hands out to Lori for the puppies and placed one in Rachel’s arms. “Big smiles, please.” He lifted his cell and snapped a few pictures of them.

  As Rachel posed, she said through her forced smile, “We’re not releasing this picture until you and I talk.” The tough-lawyer voice was back.

  “Let’s take the pups out back while Lori makes her call, and we’ll talk.”

  He tucked his phone away and then leaned down to Lori’s level. “I haven’t said a proper hello. Thank you for watching our children tonight. I’m forever in your debt.” He kissed her cheek.

  Lori always blushed when he kissed her. It was endearing.

  “My pleasure. I mean. Watching the kids, not the kiss.” Lori fumbled in her purse and finally pulled out her phone. “Ignore my babbling. I’ll make the call, so you guys can get going.”

  “Thank you.” He laid his hand on Rachel’s lower back, resisting the urge to splay his palm over the swell of her gorgeous rear end as he accompanied her out of the den. Her shape was more voluptuous than it had been before the twins. He looked forward to when he could explore her curves properly.

  “See?” Rachel lifted her thumb over her shoulder. “Even my sister, Wonder Mom, admitted she couldn’t watch two babies and the puppies too.”

  “Perhaps the nanny I’m sending tomorrow will help?” Rachel had looked tired lately when they called on the computer. His assistant had been interviewing for weeks to find just the right person. Little did she know it was for his children. She thought it was for a cousin’s.

  “If I decide I want a nanny, then I’m going to have a say who that is, Marc
ello. We don’t allow the spoiled superstar act around here. We’re not like your yes-man assistants, always at your beck and call.”

  Rachel opened the back door, and they set the puppies down onto the stiff winter grass to play. It was cold enough to see their breath. He was glad Rachel had put her coat on. His suit wasn’t enough to stave off the chill. Give him California over Denver any day.

  But, spoiled superstar act? He wasn’t that way. Was he?

  “What’s beck and call?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Rachel placed her soft, warm hands on the sides of his face. “Marcello, I know you always have good intentions and that you have a big heart. Maybe too big sometimes. But, I’m a grown woman who got along just fine before I met you. Just because I’ve given birth to your children doesn’t make me suddenly incapable of making my own decisions. Please stop treating me like a damsel in distress.”

  That expression he understood. The leading lady in his last movie was described as one, and Rachel was anything but that. He should’ve asked her before he’d hired the nanny. And bought puppies for the kids. She was right. He never had to ask permission for anything anymore. He snapped his fingers, and it was done for him. “I apologize. If the nanny isn’t right tomorrow, you’ll send her away. And I’ll take the puppies to the pound, like the man said to do if I changed my mind.”

  “The pound?” A deep frown creased Rachel’s brow. “You mean the breeder, right? Where you bought them?”

  “He told my assistant no returns. He had too many he couldn’t find homes for.” His assistants would take them in, but the breeder had said that.

  Rachel turned and studied the two fur balls happily wrestling in the yard. “I guess they could stay out in the garage until I find homes for them. Maybe Lori’s kids would want one of them.”

  “Very kind of you.” He quickly touched his lips to hers. “Now, what’s on your mind?”

  While on the drive to her house, he’d mentally run through the list of demands she’d made the last time they’d discussed their future.

  He’d put aside his fear that he’d be a monster like his father and grandfather when they’d become angered. Abusive and cruel to their wives and children. Not to mention the atrocities they’d inflicted on others in his tiny village simply because they’d owned the factory where most of the townspeople were employed. Things that should have put both of them in jail. That was the very reason he’d never intended to have a wife and children he could hurt. His biggest fear was that it would run in the family like the books he’d read said. But he could be stronger than his cruel relatives. Had to be.

  No matter what Rachel asked of him this time, he’d do what it’d take to convince her to give him another chance.

  Rachel stared deeply into his eyes and whispered, “I know you’re keeping secrets, Marcello. I can’t be in a committed relationship with you unless you spill.”

  Her words were like a punch to the gut. He’d do anything for her . . . but confess those.

  Chapter Three

  Trust is like stained glass. Beautiful while intact but, when shattered, can cut deeply.

  In the freezing-cold backyard, with Marcello’s warm face still in her hands, Rachel stared into his troubled eyes, silently begging him to come clean with her. While she was still angry with him for outing the kids, accidentally or not, seeing him again had released all the pent-up feelings she’d tucked away to deal with later.

  Feeling the rough stubble on his sexy chiseled cheeks, breathing in his woodsy aftershave, along with sharing the amazing kiss earlier reminded her how much she’d missed him. Like an addiction, the craving for him came from somewhere deep inside.

  She whispered, “Please? Can’t you trust me?”

  “It’s not so easy, bella.” He blinked rapidly. “You can’t possibly understand. I’ve made promises I can’t break. I’m a man of my word. You know that.”

  If Marcello made a promise, which he didn’t often do, he always kept it. “Then let me ask you this. Do you have any other children beside ours?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Of course not.”

  Her stomach took a quick dive as she stepped away. Was he lying? Could the boy have been a relative? She wished she could ask about the kid Avery saw, but she couldn’t betray her friend.

  Marcello had kept their relationship a secret for over two years. Not even his publicist and agent knew about her. So he was good at covering up if he wanted to.

  Doubt overcame her again.

  After a few minutes of her silent pondering, Marcello said, “I know there are all kinds of rumors about me, but you can’t believe them, Rachel.”

  Rumors? That might work. She’d give him another opportunity. “There was one about a kid who looks like you. Who goes to some boarding school in Europe.”

  Marcello’s eye’s widened before he blinked the tell-tale guilty set of his eyes away. “I promise I do not have any children besides our own.” He moved closer and took her hands. “What else is bothering you?”

  The fact that he was probably lying about the kid, for one. “Are there people you take care of financially other than us?”

  He sucked in a deep breath. “There are people I help out each month, yes. But I cannot betray their confidence. Please don’t ask me to.”

  “Are they your mistresses?” God, her stomach hurt. She wanted to know the truth but dreaded his answer.

  “No!” His brow furrowed with temper. “You are the only woman I want. Your lack of trust is offensive, Rachel.”

  Now she’d pissed him off.

  She wanted to believe him so badly. “But you admit you’re keeping secrets from me?”

  “It’s too cold to argue out here.” He opened the back door. “Let’s go inside. Please.” The set of Marcello’s jaw wasn’t a good sign. She’d never seen him so upset.

  The dogs scampered past her and headed straight for the den. “Lori, the puppies are invading!”

  Her sister called out. “Got a box from the garage. It’s all under control.”

  Thank goodness her sister was there to deal with the dogs. And the kids. She feared her life was about to fall apart all over again. Just like the last time she’d talked with Marcello about their future together. The one that he’d said he couldn’t be a part of. “Let’s go to my bedroom and finish this.”

  Marcello held out a hand, indicating she should go first, and then he followed behind her. After she closed the bedroom door behind them, she crossed her arms. “I’m going to make this simple. Did you or did you not have a boy staying with you at your home in LA last Christmas?”

  He stalked across the room, muttering in Italian. Because of her advanced online classes, she understood he was wondering how she could possibly know.

  She answered his unasked question. “Haven’t you heard of helicopters and drones? The paparazzi are everywhere.” That wasn’t a lie.

  He stopped in his tracks and blinked at her. “You’ve been a good student.”

  “I have. A simple yes or no, Marcello.” She sucked in a breath and held it.

  Please don’t lie to me.

  Marcello moved in front of her and settled his hands on her arms. With a growl in his voice, he said, “Yes, I had a visitor last Christmas. Who is not my son! I had a life before I met you, Rachel. You have no right to question me like this. Do I ask about the lovers you had before me? I tell you truth when I say I’ve never had a relationship like ours before. Why you make it so difficult?” His anger made his accent thicker.

  His tone and demeanor should have pissed her off. Instead, it made her incredibly sad because she hadn’t ever had a relationship like she and Marcello had either. And she was afraid she’d never have another like it.

  After more blustering in Italian, he finally ran a hand down his face. “Bella, please. You ask me to trust you when you can’t trust me?”

  “I’m not the one keeping secrets. It’s a two-way street.”

  Blinking, and no doubt translat
ing, he finally said, “Yes. A street goes both ways. But you told me you don’t trust anyone but your sister. That’s not normal either. You need to take a chance on me, and all will be fine.”

  He hadn’t said one thing to convince her she should take a chance and trust him. “Based on your answer, I can only assume you don’t understand what courting me means. So, let me explain, and then you can decide if you would still like to pursue that.”

  He shook his head as if utterly frustrated with her. Then he crossed the room to the bed and sat. “Please. Explain.”

  “Courting means spending time with a person, getting to know them better, with the intent that if you both like what you see, you’ll end up married.”

  “Esattamente! I be trying to tell you this!” He tapped his forehead with the heels of his hands as if his point had finally gotten through her thick skull. “I want to make you fall in love with me, and then we’ll get married. Simple as that.”

  She slumped back against the closed door. “But married people don’t keep secrets. Married people work their problems out together. So, until you’re ready to share, we can’t be in a romantic relationship. I have the kids to think of. How do I know you aren’t in some kind of danger that could spill over to them?”

  “I would never let any bad happen to you and the children.” He dropped his head into his hands. “You no understand. I can’t ever tell no one. Not even you. Especially you. Don’t you see what I give up to be here? I have interviews. For the Oscar. Back to back that Lance and Stella want to kill me for missing. I’m show you how much I trying here!”

  His English was falling to pieces just as quickly as her heart was.

  Especially you echoed through her mind. Maybe love meant different things to her and Marcello. If he’d given her just a little something, she’d have taken the chance. What kind of relationship could they ever have without trust?