“He did that to his own family?”
“Afraid so. I asked them to work for me at the villa until I get them set up in another advertising business I plan to run.”
“So that’s why you were in competition with Rini?”
“Yes. I wanted to buy out Ernesto so Paolo and Stanzie could go back to managing the business the way they wanted. But your brother saw a great business opportunity, and it’s still up in the air which way Ernesto will go. Please don’t say anything to your brother, who would have his own ideas about the people he wants to hire. It’s a private matter.”
“I wouldn’t interfere, but I admire you very much for trying to help.”
“Paolo and his wife are amazing people with real talent. While they’re living with me, I’ve arranged for someone to rent their house in Naples.”
“And I have to tell you that Paolo and Stanzie are darling with the babies.”
“It’s a shame they couldn’t have children of their own.”
“Maybe there’s still hope. I know people who had babies in their forties.”
“I’ve told them the same thing.”
By the time they decided to take the babies upstairs and bathe them, Valentina felt like they were a family.
The nursery had its own en suite bathroom. They took turns giving the babies their baths. Giovanni put Ric in the water first. “You like this, don’t you?” He washed his dark hair with the baby shampoo. Valentina handed him a big fluffy towel after he lifted him out of the water.
“It’s your turn, Vito.” She filled the sink with fresh water and then gave him his bath. He didn’t like his head shampooed, but he didn’t actually cry. “See. This feels good. You and your brother are being very brave.”
Valentina realized her mistake before Giovanni handed her a matching towel. His eyes were smiling at her slip. “That just came out.” She hugged him to her and carried him into the nursery.
Giovanni diapered Ric and put him in a white babygro for bed. Then he flicked her a glance. “If you want to know the truth, when we were in that hospital room, I kept thinking they were like our nonidentical twins.”
Our twins. Her breath caught at the thought.
“Well, tonight should be a lot of fun for them. Their first slumber party.” She heard him chuckle before she put a little blue babygro on Vito. After sitting in the rocking chair, she fed him his last bottle. Giovanni brought a chair in from his bedroom and did the same with Ric.
As long as they were both in the room with the babies, there were no tears. Only the sounds of the boys drinking rather noisily disturbed the peace and quiet. After being burped, Vito fell asleep first. She left him on her shoulder. He was her little angel. At this point she loved both babies so much she could hardly stand it.
Ric finally passed out with his bottle. Giovanni put him in his crib, then signaled Valentina to follow him into the bedroom. He patted the bed. She lay down on one side and put Vito in the middle. Giovanni stretched out on the other side. They turned toward the sleeping baby and smiled.
This was like playing house, except this wasn’t a dollhouse and none of them were dolls.
Giovanni was a full-grown, breathtaking male. Her bones melted with the way his eyes devoured her.
“Do you know this is the first time I’ve felt this content in years? How about you?”
She nodded. “Once I started undergraduate school, I put pressure on myself to succeed. The stress increased when I got into graduate school. Then I lost my mother, and her death devastated the whole family for a long time.”
“I can only imagine,” he commiserated.
“I could go to her about anything, Giovanni. She knew I suffered from an inferiority complex and told me I had to believe in myself no matter what.” Her eyes smarted. “I’m wondering now if she hadn’t died, would I have gotten involved with Matteo?”
Giovanni reached across to give her arm a squeeze. “But if you hadn’t, we wouldn’t be lying here with our little boy who has brought so much joy into our lives. It’s why I can’t be sorry about my marriage to Tatania even though it ended. Ric is a living miracle.”
“They both are,” Valentina whispered.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation.” His voice throbbed.
“I’m thrilled to be here, but it’s getting late so I’ll say good-night and take Vito with me.” She was loving this way too much. Using every bit of willpower, she rolled off the bed before gathering Vito in her arms.
Giovanni followed her out of his room to her bedroom down the hall. She felt his eyes on her as she put Vito in the crib. “Please remember this house is yours while you’re here.”
“I will. If you need help, I’ll hear the crying and come.”
“That works both ways, Valentina. Buonanotte.”
After this wonderful evening, she didn’t want to say good-night, but to have stayed on his bed any longer would increase her desire to stay with him all night. She wanted to lie in his arms and be kissed senseless by him. How crazy was that!
“Good night.”
* * *
Giovanni groaned to have to walk away from her. He wanted to stay and make slow, passionate love to her. In all his adult life he’d never known desire like this. But it was too soon to show her how he felt. She needed time to get to know and trust him.
Though the babies were the reason they were together at all, it was the woman herself he’d also been drawn to from the first moment she’d opened the door at the hospital. He loved the way she loved the babies with a fullness of heart.
Valentina had been fearless in defying hospital policy in order to make them happy. When it came down to the wire, she’d forgotten herself in the need to protect her children. Those actions told him reams about her character.
He got ready for bed and slept with one ear open. At ten after three he heard Ric start crying. Throwing on his robe, he hurried into the nursery to change his diaper and feed him. As he reached for a bottle from the fridge and put it in the microwave to warm it up, Valentina came in the room with a fussy Vito. She was a vision in a nightgown and pale yellow robe.
Her eyes searched his. “I’m glad you’re up. Vito must have awakened at the same time as Ric. Vito’s still looking for you. I heard Ric fussing and thought we’d join you.”
Giovanni grinned. If she only knew, he’d willed her to come. “Benvenuta al Caffetteria Laurito, signorina.”
Laughter bubbled out of her as she sat down to feed Vito. He plucked Ric from the crib and sat next to her, thinking this was the way marriage should be. Two parents who’d lost sleep, but were crazy about each other and their babies.
The children could hear both their voices. Long after the babies had dozed off again, he and Valentina were deep in conversation about his life. “Did you always want to work for the family business?”
“Not in the beginning. I went to Sapienza University in Rome, thinking I might pursue medicine.”
“What changed?”
“My father’s constant urging that I join the company.”
“Because he needed his son behind him.”
“My mother and sisters said as much.”
Valentina eyed him thoughtfully. “Are you sorry you didn’t become a doctor?”
“No. I’ve found there’s a strong bent for business in my blood. I derive a certain excitement from winning over a new account.”
“You’re probably sick of my asking you all these questions.”
“No, Valentina. You couldn’t be more wrong about that. It’s so easy to talk to you, I feel like I’ve known you all my life.”
“I feel the same way, but I’d better take Vito back to bed before I wear out my welcome.”
Lines darkened his striking features. “Don’t you know you could never do that?�
��
She looked away quickly and hurried out of the room with Vito, leaving him bereft. He went back to bed and slept till seven when Ric needed another bottle.
After showering and dressing, he took the baby downstairs and walked out on the patio, where he found his guest with Vito. She saw him coming.
“Good morning. I couldn’t resist coming out here this morning. All this lavender wisteria thrives in such huge clumps, it’s fantastic. And the smell is so heavenly, Giovanni. I’ve always heard that Ravello is the garden town of the Amalfi Coast, but in my opinion it could be the Garden of Eden. You should charge admission.”
He chuckled. “The last thing I want is a stream of people invading my inner sanctum.”
“I know that.” She smiled. “I was only teasing you.”
“The garden and sunroom are the reasons I bought this place. I spend most of my time in the sunroom, where I can wander outside on a whim. Every flower has its season to bloom. I’m constantly delighted myself.”
“I think you have an artist’s soul.”
“What makes you say that?”
“The painting in my bedroom by Gozzoli.”
“At Christmas our mother used to read to us from a storybook about the Magi with that same painting on the cover. I was always fascinated by it. Last year I happened to see the reproduction in a store, taking me back to my childhood. I bought it on the spot and put it in the guest room.”
“I love it. I love the way the room is decorated, the colors. The nursery is adorable with its charming touches. I love your villa, the setting, everything! Forgive me for going on and on about it, but I just can’t help it.”
“Your opinion means a lot to me. Shall I bring your breakfast out here?”
Color filled her cheeks. “You’ve done too much for me already by allowing me to mother your son a little longer.” The tremor in her voice tugged on his heartstrings. She swept past him and entered the house. It took every ounce of self-control not to reach out and pull her into his arms.
She put Vito in his carry-cot and sat down at the table. “Another feast,” she exclaimed when they’d finished eating.
“Wait till you eat the lunch Stanzie has prepared for us.”
Valentina’s gentle laughter warmed his insides. “You’re still hungry?”
“I will be because I’m taking you and the babies out for a picnic.”
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise. On the way we’ll stop in town for another carry-cot stroller so we can push the babies around.”
They went upstairs to get the children ready. While he dressed Ric in a yellow sunsuit, he flicked her a glance. “Do you know I’m having the time of my life?”
She’d put Vito in shorts and a blue-and-white-striped shirt. “Can you believe these are the same unhappy little boys of a few days ago? Vito isn’t fighting me this morning. I think you were inspired to suggest we work together to help them adjust.” She flicked him another glance. “You do know that your unorthodox methods explain why you’re running your family’s company. You get results!”
“Let’s hope it continues.”
“So far so good. Vito’s going to help me get my purse, then we’ll meet you downstairs.”
Before long they left the villa, loaded with a hamper full of food and bottles. Giovanni drove them along a road that led to town. After they’d made their purchase, they got back in the car and wound their way to the famous site of the Villa Rufolo.
“I’ve heard of this place.”
“An Englishman built a strange concoction of structures, cultural elements and mixed styles, but it’s the villa’s garden you’ll fall in love with. We’ll enter through the tower, then walk around first. Later we’ll come back to eat near the temple over there.”
* * *
Valentina couldn’t wait to get started. Once they fastened the babies’ carry-cots in their strollers, they were ready to go. The whole property filled with statues, fountains and an ancient cloister enchanted her. Giovanni was better than any tour guide and incredibly patient as she asked question after question.
Eventually they reached a terraced garden that offered fantastic views of the Church of the Annunziata and the brilliant blue water of the Mediterranean below. “According to Gore Vidal, this is the most beautiful spot on earth.”
“It’s certainly one of them.”
They walked back to the car. Giovanni got out the hamper and carried it to a grassy spot while she pushed both strollers behind him. He spread out a blanket, and they let the boys lie down on their backs while she and Giovanni ate.
Her gaze swerved to him. “Tell me something. You don’t mind showing me around when you’ve probably done this before with your ex-wife?” Valentina didn’t want to be jealous of her; still, she couldn’t help that she would have loved to know him a long time ago.
“If she came here, it wasn’t with me. She preferred my apartment in Naples when I had to stay there for business. She often told me how isolated she felt here in Ravello.”
“Some people need a big city.”
His dark eyes pierced hers. “What about you?”
“I’m a lot like my brothers. We love being on top of the mountains looking down to the sea.”
She changed the babies’ diapers, then got out two more bottles. Together she and Giovanni fed them while they soaked in the heavenly atmosphere. When her cell rang, it startled her. She drew the phone out of her skirt pocket. It had to be one of her family. Her dad’s caller ID showed up. She clicked on. “Papà?”
“How’s my daughter?”
“I’m great. How are you?”
“Missing you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” More than he could know.
“When am I going to see my grandson?”
“Very soon.”
“Carlo and Rinieri told me about the switch. They say he looks exactly like you. You always were our most beautiful baby.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Papà... I promise I’ll come to Naples.”
“Rinieri said he’d bring you and the baby tomorrow.”
Uh-oh. If Rini said that, then he was holding Valentina to her assurance that she’d only spend two days away to help the children adjust to the change.
“If all goes well, I’ll see you then. I love you, Papà.”
Until she hung up she didn’t realize Giovanni had gotten to his feet. His nearness and male potency assaulted her senses. “Is everything all right?”
She took a big breath. No. The thought of leaving him in the morning had disturbed her more than she wanted to admit. “Yes,” she lied. “It was my father. Rini told him he was flying me to Naples tomorrow so he could meet his grandson.”
His jaw hardened perceptibly. “So you’ve already talked to your brother?”
“No. But when I told him our plan about the babies, I said I would only be away a couple of days. Apparently he took me at my word and let my father know I’d be bringing Vito.”
He stood there with his powerful legs slightly apart. The light breeze disheveled his black hair. His coloring and olive skin made him too gorgeous. “I see. Naturally you don’t want to disappoint your father. In that case I’ll drive you back to Positano first thing in the morning. But until then, let’s enjoy the time we have.”
She lifted her eyes to him. “I am enjoying it.” Way too much. “So are the babies.”
He walked over to the hamper and pulled out a soda. “Do you want one?”
“Just water. Thank you.”
“Do you think our boys are going to handle another separation so soon?” He handed her the bottle and sat down by her.
“Probably not, but in all honesty, will there ever be a good time?”
Giovanni took a long swallow. “I’ve been ask
ing myself the same question and the answer comes up no.”
They needed to make the decision to separate for good and get on with their individual lives, but the thought upset her too much. “Still, we don’t have to worry about it today. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to make it possible for us to enjoy this fabulous time together.”
“Give me a minute to carry the hamper back to the car, then I’ll help you put the babies back in the strollers so we can leave.”
By nine that evening, the day out for the picnic had come to an end. They’d returned to the villa, where the babies had been bathed, fed and put to bed. After thanking Stanzie for the delicious packed lunch and the dinner she’d served upon their return, Valentina said good-night to Giovanni.
When she reached her room, she texted her brother.
Rini—I’ll be home tomorrow around ten. Spoke to Papà. I’ve told him to expect me and Vito tomorrow. Lov u.
She’d kept the message short. Rini would vet her on the flight to Naples.
Valentina looked around the bedroom and decided to get packed. Afterward she showered and washed her hair. A day at the Villa Rufolo meant she’d picked up some sun. It felt good.
Once she’d blow-dried her hair, she put on a nightgown and got ready for bed. A knock on the door prompted her to slip on her robe. She tied the sash and walked over to open it. Giovanni’s dark gaze drifted over her, sending her heart palpitating.
“I didn’t realize you were ready for bed.”
“We’ll both be up in the night. I thought I’d better catch as much sleep as I can.”
Lines darkened his handsome features. “When do you want to leave in the morning?”
I never want to leave.
“I texted my brother and told him I’d be back around ten.”
“Then we ought to get away by eight thirty.” She nodded. “Valentina?”
“Yes?”
“I had a wonderful time with you. It was an extraordinary day.” He stood too close.
“I agree. I’ve been hoarding the memories.”
The Billionaire's Baby Swap Page 7