Reunited with Her Italian Billionaire

by Nina Singh

  “I already apologized for taking you sailing, Brianna.”

  She gave an exasperated huff. “You think that’s what this is about?”

  “What else? You must blame me for not realizing you would get sick.”

  “That’s a ridiculous notion, Marco. It’s not your fault I got sick.”

  “Maybe not directly.” The truth was, he should have at least asked her about her past experiences on the water.

  “Or indirectly,” she countered. “I got sick because I’ve never really been on a boat before. But my husband’s an avid sailor.”

  He blinked. “Is there supposed to be some kind of logic behind that statement? A metaphor perhaps?”

  She slammed her hands against her hips. “The fact is I’m completely out of my element here at times. I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

  She was clearly referring to more than just being on a boat. “You’re saying we’re not a good match.”

  “Can you deny it?” she demanded to know. “We never would have even gotten married if it wasn’t for Enzo.”

  He studied her. She seemed absolutely certain of what she’d just said. “You can be so sure?”

  His question shocked her, as if she’d never really entertained an alternate possibility.

  “If that’s wrong. Then why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why are you so distant? So guarded? You refuse to open up to me about anything. Not even what you were dealing with that week we met.”

  So she’d found out about his mother and the news he’d gotten right before traveling to the States that first time.

  But before Marco could come up with a response, they were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

  It was Carlo; he’d gone deathly pale. “Signore Marco, come quick. It’s your grandmother.”

  * * *

  “What happened?” Marco demanded to know as she chased behind him to Marie’s suite. Brianna’s heart thudded in her chest at the thought of what they might find.

  “I don’t know exactly,” Carlo answered then followed up with something else in Italian.

  Marco barked something in response to the other man who quickly turned and dashed the other way down the hallway. Presumably to call medical attention, Brianna figured.

  When they got to her suite, Nonna didn’t appear at all well. She was breathing heavily, her skin the color of ash. Marco immediately ran to her side and crouched down next to her.

  “Nonna? Can you speak?”

  Marie made a futile attempt to brush away his concern with a wave of her hand. “I’m fine. Just trying to catch my breath. I must have overdone it in the gardens earlier.”

  Brianna’s mouth had gone dry. Whatever was happening to Marco’s grandmother appeared to be much more than simple overexertion.

  “I’m sure it is.” Marco was trying to reassure her. “But we’re going to have you checked out just in case, okay?”

  Nonna made an attempt to sit up, then gave up and settled back into the cushion. “That’s just silly. I wish you hadn’t called them.”

  Brianna uttered a silent prayer of thanks that Enzo was asleep and not around to see his great-grandmother in such a state. She was having enough trouble taking in the scene herself. Nonna had never been anything less than formidable since Brianna had first laid eyes on her.

  Marco took his grandmother’s hand, whispered softly to her in Italian. Brianna’s eyes began to sting. He looked so tender, so concerned. Nonna had been the one to bring him up, more a mother to him than his actual parent. Brianna didn’t want to imagine what it would do to Marco if he lost her.

  Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, they heard the sirens outside.

  The next few minutes went by in a blur. A team of medics fitted Nonna with an oxygen mask, started checking various vitals, and then carried her down the stairs. Brianna didn’t even realize it, but at some point she’d reached for Marco’s arm with both hands and was holding on to it tight.

  “I’m going to go with her,” he told her as they watched Nonna being carried away.

  He started to pull free but Brianna didn’t loosen her grasp. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to come with you.”

  He nodded once then turned and looked at her for the first time since she’d summoned him earlier. His eyes held such apprehension, such downright fear. For one surreal moment, she imagined she might be looking at Enzo after a particularly nasty nightmare. Her strong, formidable husband looked anything but. Right now, he looked like a scared little boy.

  Brianna thought her heart might break at the thought.

  “I’d like that,” he told her.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  MARCO WATCHED BRIANNA just outside the emergency clinic entrance as she spoke into her cell phone. She was calling to check on Enzo. A glance at his own device told him it was almost 10:00 p.m. They had pulled Nonna out once more about twenty minutes ago to run yet more tests. He’d never been a terribly patient man, and waiting for such long durations under these circumstances was just about driving him pazza.

  Brianna stepped through the doors and made her way back to the seat next to him. “Violetta says Enzo is still asleep. The sirens and all the activity didn’t even stir him.”

  “Good. That’s good.”

  “Everyone back at the mansion is terribly concerned. Violetta bombarded me with questions. I tried to tell her we just don’t know much yet.”

  Marco rubbed a hand down his face and tried to focus on her words. He hated this clinic. Though it had gone through several renovations over the past few years, the overall setting and the pungent smell of antiseptic hadn’t changed.

  “I told them Nonna’s personal doctor was here,” Brianna was saying. “That he was nice enough to come in to oversee her procedures. That seemed to reassure everyone somewhat.”

  “Yes. Dr. Gia is also a dear friend.”

  “Did he mention Nonna having issues recently?”

  Marco shook his head. “No, in fact he appeared as shocked as the rest of us. Nonna had just recently been in for a routine physical and he declared her fit as an ox.”

  “Let’s hope that means this isn’t anything terribly serious.”

  Marco rested his elbows on his knees. He suddenly felt beyond tired, utterly weary. Brianna edged closer to him. Hesitantly, she reached for his hand. He let her take it then squeezed his fingers around her small palm. He allowed himself to just breathe for a moment and enjoy the warmth of her touch. They were the only two people in the waiting area. A family of four with a crying baby had left within the hour. For several moments, neither of them bothered to speak.

  “I’m glad you’re here, cara,” he finally admitted. She had no idea how much he meant it. Being here a little over a decade ago was one of the worst experiences of his existence.

  “I wasn’t going to make you wait for word here alone, Marco.”

  “The last time I was alone.”

  She turned to him. He felt her studying his profile. “The last time?”

  “My father was rushed here several years ago before being lifted to the main hospital in the city. Nonna and Nonno were away in Greece for a family wedding. I was the only one to accompany Papa when he fell ill. He never made it back home.”

  “Oh, Marco.” She sighed his name and he felt her soft breath against his cheek. “How old were you?”

  “Barely nineteen. I hadn’t started university yet.”

  “That’s an awfully young age to not have either parent.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe. But in truth I’d lost the better part of him long before that. Twelve years before to be exact.”

  “When your mother left.”

  “They may as well both have left that day. I never got my real father back after that. If he was ever really there to begin with. He j
ust couldn’t seem to recover from her loss.”

  “A broken heart can be impossible to recover from for some people.”

  Marco studied the tile between his feet. It had been scrubbed to a high shine. Was that the same tile he’d stared at ten years ago? Or had it been one of the things that had been changed? He’d tried hard not to think about those hours he’d spent worried and scared. He’d wondered if he should try to find his mother. To tell her what was happening to the husband she’d deserted. But he hadn’t had a clue where to start to try to locate her.

  “A broken heart coupled with the sting of betrayal.” He rubbed his eyes. “I think it’s actually what killed him. Slowly. He ignored his responsibilities at Dirici Foods. The company suffered terrible losses for months until Nonno took over the reins again. And Nonna was sharp enough to realize the same neglect was probably being suffered by his child.”

  He’d never spoken of these things. Not even to Nonna. Definitely not to any other woman. Had no idea why he was doing so now.

  But it felt good to have her next to him, to feel her soft skin against his. And to know that whatever the doctors came out to tell him, she would be there with him when they did. So he let himself continue.

  “I blamed myself that night,” he told her. “Felt consumed with guilt.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would you feel that way?”

  “Because maybe the demands of a child had been too much for her to deal with. Maybe she would have stayed if it wasn’t for me and he would have remained the vibrant, happy man he’d once been.”

  “But you were just a child.”

  “I know. It made no sense. And then I blamed myself for not trying harder to find her when I was older. Maybe if I had just convinced her to at least see him again before he’d gotten sick.” He sighed.

  She leaned into him; he could smell the lavender scent of her shampoo. It had a soothing effect on his frazzled nerves. Whether it was the scent or her closeness he didn’t even know. Nor did he care. He was just grateful.

  “You asked me earlier this evening about being guarded.”

  He heard her suck in a breath. “Yes?”

  “You’re right. I was so afraid of becoming like my father—losing control of his whole grip on life—all because of an ill-fated relationship. I did everything in my power to avoid it at all costs.”

  Brianna didn’t respond. Just nuzzled closer into his shoulder. He found himself leaning into her as well.

  That’s how Dr. Gia found them an hour and a half later.

  * * *

  She’d somehow dozed off. Brianna jolted awake when Marco suddenly gripped her shoulders then stood. The doctor was approaching from the patient area down the corridor. Marco strode to meet him halfway with Brianna fast on his heels.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, Marco,” Dr. Gia said as they reached him. A short thin man with kind eyes and silver-gray hair, he had a soft soothing voice that must have served him well given his profession. “You can breathe easy. She’s stabilized now and breathing without the aid of an oxygen mask.”

  Marco blew out a loud sigh. His shoulders visibly dropped.

  “The better news is that there appear to be no signs of a cardiac event.”

  “Oh, thank God,” Brianna said, and a surge of relief nearly had her knees wobbling beneath her.

  “Then what caused all this?” Marco demanded.

  The doctor pulled off his glasses and started wiping them with his lab coat. “Her blood pressure when she came in has me quite concerned. She responded to the medication given to lower it. But it’s still not anywhere near within normal parameters.”

  “What could have possibly caused that?” Marco wanted to know.

  “That’s what we’ll need to figure out. But it certainly could have caused the shortness of breath and the heart palpitations.”

  “I see. May we take her home?”

  “Yes. She’s free to go. But I want to see her tomorrow. There are some lifestyle changes we need to discuss. And that blood pressure needs to be monitored going forward.”

  “Lifestyle changes?” Brianna asked.

  “I’m afraid Signora Dirici’s days of Gusto espresso are over,” Dr. Gia declared with finality.

  “You’ll have to be the one to tell her,” Marco told him with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  By the time they got Nonna home and tucked into her bed, Brianna felt like she’d run a half marathon. Between holding herself so tense as they’d awaited news and the hard plastic chairs in the waiting room, her body actually ached. She and Marco had parted ways at Nonna’s suite when he’d gone to reassure the staff who had stayed awake to hear about her condition. Brianna had sworn she could hear their sighs of relief all the way up on the second floor as she’d been checking on Enzo.

  As tired as she was, she knew she wasn’t going to get any sleep. The adrenaline surge of the past few hours wouldn’t abate any time soon. She made her way to the kitchen. Her throat felt dry and scratchy and Violetta always kept fresh lemonade on hand.

  She found Marco standing in front of the fridge with the door open. The kitchen was dark save for the small lightbulb in the door of the appliance. For a moment she could do nothing but stare. He still wore his suit pants and work shirt. His sleeves were rolled up and his hands were jammed into his pockets. Brianna’s heart lurched in her chest. He’d been so worried about his grandmother. And when she thought about the things he had confided in her, she wanted to weep for the young man who’d had to grow up way too soon.

  What would he do if she gave in to the urge to go wrap her arms around him? Would he turn around and reciprocate? So much had happened between them in such a short amount of time. She honestly didn’t know how he would react to any kind of gesture right now. Yes, he’d been very open at the clinic. But that was an entirely different circumstance. They were back home now.

  She couldn’t bring herself to risk it.

  “You must be hungry,” she said instead. “I’d forgotten we missed dinner.”

  He turned slightly over his shoulder. “Actually, I was going to make sure to remove the pitcher of iced coffee Nonna keeps in here and drinks throughout the day. Based on what the doctor said, it’s now off limits.”

  He was still worried. For all his strength and hardness, she’d never seen the vulnerability he’d shown while at the clinic.

  “Then I want to go check on Enzo,” he continued. “Unless you’re concerned I may disturb him.”

  “No. But I’ve just left his room now. He’s sleeping soundly.”

  “Good. Maybe I’ll wait till morning then.” He still hadn’t shut the fridge door, still stood staring into its depths. She would bet he wasn’t actually looking at anything.

  “Are you sure you’re not hungry? Can I prepare something for you? I can make a mean omelet.”

  “Your expert chef skills?”

  She shrugged. “More that I just load it full of bacon and gooey, fatty cheese.”

  He let out a small laugh. “Maybe some other time.”

  Finally, he turned to face her. Against the backdrop of the light, shadows fell across his face. Even with such little light, she could see the tenseness of his features. He was barely holding on.

  “Brianna?”

  The timbre and longing in his voice sent a shiver down to her toes. “Yes?”

  “You don’t know how much it means that you were by my side tonight.”

  “Your grandmother is one of a kind, Marco. I was as scared as you were.”

  “Everything I know about love and acceptance I learned from that woman.”

  “I know.”

  “That is, until you and Enzo came along.”

  Brianna couldn’t help her gasp. It was the closest Marco had ever come to admitting any kind of affection toward her. She had to wonder
how much it had taken him to do so.

  “Brianna?”

  “Yes?”

  “Would you please come here?”

  Her feet seemed to move on their own. When she reached him, she knew she’d stopped breathing. Her pulse pounded in her veins. He lifted her chin gently with his finger and leaned in close. She didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t the soft, featherlight touch of his lips against hers. His kiss was gentle yet somehow full of passion at the same time.

  Her hands moved up to his upper arms.

  She knew what he was asking for. A respite from the world and all it had thrown on his shoulders when he was still too young and years before he was ready. He was asking for solace, for comfort.

  She wanted that too, with him. With the only man she’d ever really cared for. He’d just admitted how much he cared for her too.

  Warning bells rang in her head. After all, this was how it had all started, hadn’t it? The first time they’d become intimate, Marco had turned to her for soothing and comfort. History was about to repeat itself, no denying it. Her heart might not be able to handle the fallout this time around. But she shoved those thoughts aside. Maybe she was being foolish, naive even. So be it. She loved him, she always had. She couldn’t deny that fact any longer either.

  Her husband needed her now. She wouldn’t turn him down.

  Her legs left the ground as he picked her up and cradled her in his arms. All the while, he maintained the soul-shattering kisses she knew she might never recover from. Then he carried her upstairs.

  * * *

  “Good morning.” Brianna opened her eyes to see Marco already showered and dressed. How did the man manage to summon so much energy? Particularly after the night they’d had? She herself could use a whole other night’s sleep.

  “You let me sleep late.”

  “I figured you needed it.”

  “But Enzo.”

  “Enzo is fine. I fed him his breakfast as soon as he awoke. And now he’s playing quietly in his pen.” He indicated the baby monitor across the room. Blessedly, all she could detect were the sounds of toddler play.