“Some of my happiest memories were out camping and fishing with my friends. I want to teach the boys to love the outdoors.”
“Whenever you want to go, I’m your man.”
A broad smile broke out on his handsome face. “What a man!”
She laughed.
“Being with you makes me want to become a house dad so we can do everything together.”
“That would work for about a week, then you’d need the stimulation of applying that amazing brain of yours to the business you love. My mother understood that about my father. She was a very smart woman.”
“You must miss her a lot.”
“Oh, I do. She would have loved Vito and teaching me how to be a good mother.”
“Trust me, Valentina. You already are because you’ve put his happiness before your own. That takes a very special person. If she were alive, she’d be tremendously proud of you.”
His praise caused her throat to swell. “I could say the same thing about your fatherly virtues, even if you do love business.”
“I love exploring new markets, but not the administrative duties.”
“Well, your company is depending on you to go on doing great things for them.”
“What about you?”
“I’ve made up my mind to take classes this winter semester to finish my degree.”
After a long silence, he said, “You can fly to Naples with me on the days you have classes. I’ll fly you home after.”
She raised herself up on one elbow. “Giovanni? You and I will be partners forever. But when I told you I’d live with you, I didn’t mean forever and neither did you. Once August is over, the boys will be better able to handle the separation. I’m planning to find an apartment in Naples near the university and put Vito in day care attached to the university. I’ll always want you to come by and bring Ric, but I need to make my own way.”
His brows furrowed. “If you’re thinking of doing this to protect my reputation, then forget it, Valentina.”
“Giovanni—this isn’t about you. It’s about me becoming independent. The women in the Montanari family don’t have careers. I’ll be the first.”
“You can do that. I’ll help you.”
“That’s the problem. I’ve been helped all my life. Now that I have a baby, I need to do this by myself.”
“How will you finance everything?”
“A student loan. If I’m careful, I can get through school. After that I’ll find a job and pay it back like thousands of other husbandless women do. You have no idea how much it would mean to me to make something of myself. Rini and Carlo have done it. So can I.”
“Your brothers got help, too. With your name being Montanari, the university won’t give you a loan.”
“You’re probably right, so I’ll apply under my mother’s maiden name.”
“That’s illegal. If you need a loan, I’ll give you one.”
She slid off the bench. “You’re a man in a million, Giovanni. I’ve always been given help, and now here you are offering to pay my expenses so I can finish school. As if I’d let you do that. I have to do this by myself, even if I have to get an entry-level job first and take another couple of years to get my degree. Please tell me you understand.”
He exhaled slowly. “I do. You’re the woman born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. My admiration for you just keeps growing because you want to make your own way.”
Valentina hadn’t expected an answer like that. He always had a way to distill a potential problem. “Thank you for taking me seriously and for offering to help me financially.” She took another drink of water, then lay back down.
“You’re welcome. How soon are you going to look for a job?”
“In a couple of weeks.”
“Good. Then let’s forget those plans and enjoy the time we have together. How does that sound?”
Giovanni was being so kind and agreeable she hardly knew what to say. “I don’t deserve your kindness.”
“Deserve is an odd word. Why do you use it?”
She bit her lip. “I went against the principles I was brought up with by getting involved with Matteo. If I try hard to be the best mother and provider I can be for the rest of my life, then maybe I’ll be able to forgive myself.”
“That’s a lot of guilt you’re carrying around. I’m sure your family doesn’t make you feel that way. You’re an amazing woman. You need to be kind to yourself.”
“Thank you for saying that. You’re a terrific listener. It explains why your family looks to you for leadership.”
“I’ve noticed you have trouble accepting a compliment. You’d better get used to it because as I told you, I’ve never been so attracted to a woman.”
This wave of euphoria with the children would pass for him. However Valentina feared her attachment to him went much deeper than that. She buried her face in her arms until she knew no more.
CHAPTER SEVEN
VALENTINA PROPPED THE babies in their swings by the pool while she looked for a job on her laptop. Since Giovanni had taken them down the coast on the cruiser two weeks ago, the time had flown by and she needed to get busy.
He’d gone to work each business day, but had come home early to play with the children. They’d settled down to a routine and last weekend had spent time touring the grounds of the Villa Cimbrone, for which Ravello was famous.
Their long walks and talks while they enjoyed the babies had been heavenly. But pretty soon she needed to register for school if she was going to go at all.
“Valentina?” She looked up to see Giovanni walking toward her. “I missed you at breakfast. What’s going on?”
She was always so thrilled to see him, she could hardly breathe. “I got up early to look for a part-time job that will fit with my studies.”
“I’m glad you’re going ahead with your plans.”
“You really mean that?”
“Of course. I know how important getting that degree is to you. Have you decided where you want to live?”
“I’ve already found an apartment online, but I need to see it in person and visit the day-care center I have my eye on. Rini told me he’d give me enough money until I receive my first paycheck from the job. Then I’ll pay him back.”
“Good for you.”
“Giovanni—you have no idea how much your support means to me.” Her voice caught. “You’ve done everything for me and I’ve done nothing in return.”
“What are you talking about?” He gripped her upper arms, pulling her out of the deck chair. Lines had darkened his face. “You’ve helped me transition from being a robot into a flesh-and-blood human being and father. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Don’t you understand?”
He pressed a kiss to her lips and shook her gently before his hands slid away with seeming reluctance. The contact sent her pulse racing. “A-are you leaving now?” she asked, her voice faltering.
“Yes. I’ll see all of you after I get home from work and we’ll talk some more about your plans.” He acted like he wanted to say more, then changed his mind and walked back in the house. Before long she saw the helicopter fly off, taking her heart with him.
No sooner had he gone than she heard a voice. “Valentina?” She turned her head in time to see Giovanni’s mother-in-law walking toward her.
“Violeta—how nice to see you.” Both she and Giovanni’s mother had come by twice in the past two weeks. Valentina had missed her mother horribly and enjoyed both women’s company.
“The babies are adorable, but it’s you I need to talk to.”
“Please sit down, Violeta. How are you?”
“I need to tell you something because I know you are a good person and a wonderful mother.”
Valentina’s
brows broke into a delicate frown. “I think the world of you, too. What’s wrong?”
“If my husband knew I was here to tell you this, he’d have grounds to divorce me. The mood he has been in since the baby switch has been very hard on me.”
“Why has it upset him so much?”
“He’s convinced that if it hadn’t happened, Giovanni would have been to see Tatania by now and help her to get better emotionally.”
“I see.” Knowing how Giovanni really felt made this uncomfortable for Valentina.
“Giovanni’s preoccupation with both babies has changed him. His mind isn’t on the pressures of his position as CEO. He told me he has no intention of suing the hospital for the mishandling of the babies. For that decision my husband blames you for living in this house and your influence over him.”
She shook her head. “I have no influence, Violeta. He loves both babies. That love has prompted him to make certain decisions. I—I love both babies, too,” she confessed. “This has been hard on everyone. We’re trying to do the right thing.”
“Nevertheless my husband has been in conference with Giovanni’s father, and there’s a groundswell from the board to ask Giovanni to step down as CEO. Were you aware of that?”
“No—” Valentina clutched the edge of the table. She felt like she’d been shot. “But you can go home and tell your husband he has nothing more to worry about. I’ll be living in Naples by the end of the week.”
“You mean at Giovanni’s apartment there?”
Valentina knew he kept one, but he’d never pushed it on her. He understood she wanted to be independent. Something about his calm, caring demeanor made her want to do things his way.
“No. Winter semester is starting at the university. I’ll be living nearby in an apartment I’ve found and putting Vito in day care. I hope to graduate in the spring and get a job.”
“You’re going to work?”
“Yes. I plan to be an engineer like my brothers.”
“Oh—” She looked shocked. “You must be very brilliant.”
“I wish.” She’d never felt she could measure up to her brothers, but having given birth to Vito had given her a new sense of self-worth, never mind that Giovanni had contributed to that feeling. “But the point is, I’m convinced that the babies are happy now and that they’ll be able to handle the separation so Giovanni and I can get on with our lives.”
She stared at Valentina through eyes reflecting torment. “So you and Giovanni—?”
“We’re not lovers, Violeta,” she answered the unasked question. “We’re friends who’ve been through a terrible ordeal and are doing our best to work things out.”
Violeta looked downcast. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s all right. Giovanni loves you and loves it that you’re Ric’s grandmother.”
Her brown eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. I love him, and I love both your babies.”
Now Valentina was weepy. “They’re hard not to love.”
“You’re easy to love, too.” Valentina hadn’t expected that confession from Tatania’s mother. “No matter what you say, I see it in Giovanni’s eyes.”
“What you see is a man who has fallen in love with fatherhood.” He was still in that state of euphoria, and it made his gorgeous black eyes shine. “In that respect he’s unique.”
“I agree,” she whispered and got up from the table. “I’m going to tell my husband what you said. It will give him hope that Giovanni and my daughter will get a second chance.” Valentina’s heart sank, but it wasn’t her place to disabuse the older woman. “I know it will stop all the talk over asking Giovanni to step down.”
Valentina kept a smile on her face. “That’s good for the Laurito company. Now, why don’t you stay for a while. You can feed Ric his bottle.”
“You’d let me?”
“Of course. He loves his nonna.”
Violeta walked around and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll come again, but your news is too important. I need to get back home and talk to my husband.”
Valentina walked her to her car. When she’d disappeared, Valentina found Stazie in the sunroom putting flowers in a vase.
“Stazie? I need to fly to Naples. I know this is a great imposition, but could you tend the boys until I get back? Giovanni might get home first. I’m just not sure.”
“Of course I’ll tend them. You rarely let me help.”
“Thank you so much.”
She hurried back out to the children and phoned Rini. Luckily he was in his office. “Rini? Could I ask a great favor?” So much for her independence.
“Of course. How are you?”
“I’m ready to check out the apartment and the day-care center. Could you send the helicopter here?”
“You mean now?”
“If it’s convenient. I’ll fly to your office. From there I’ll get a taxi and check out those places. Maybe you can drop me back here this evening?”
“Tell you what. I need a break. When you arrive I’ll ask my driver to take us where you need to go. We’ll have dinner with Papà before we leave Naples.”
“You’re the best, Rini.”
“Hey—I’ve missed you and Vito. I bet he’s gained ten pounds since the last time I saw him.”
She chuckled. “Not quite. Love you.”
While she waited for the helicopter, she brought the babies into the sunroom and put them on the floor on a quilt. It was hard to leave them, but this was an emergency.
* * *
At 6:30 p.m. Giovanni jumped down from the helicopter, anxious to be with Valentina. He would ask Stanzie and Paolo to watch the children while he took her to a great restaurant for a night of dinner and dancing.
He’d kept his distance over the past two weeks. But while he’d been at work today, his thoughts had been totally focused on her. After the close quarters they’d shared on the cruiser, he’d go mad if he didn’t get her into his arms.
This time of evening he usually found her in the sunroom with the babies. Instead he discovered Ric and Vito in the kitchen. Stanzie had put them in their swings while she cooked dinner. He smiled at her and kissed the boys. “Is Valentina upstairs?”
“No. She flew to Naples. Her brother will bring her home tonight.”
That revelation sucked all the air out of him. “Any other news?”
“Si. Signora Corleto came over this morning.”
Uh-oh. “What time did she come?”
“About eleven.”
“What time did Valentina leave?”
“Around noon. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Thank you, Stanzie. I’m going to take the boys for a short walk.” He put them in their strollers and left the villa.
Whatever conversation had gone on between Valentina and Violeta, it had prompted his houseguest to take off. She didn’t have to tell Giovanni her schedule, but the fact that he hadn’t heard from her let him know something had alarmed her.
Violeta was not a vindictive woman. Quite the opposite. “Hey, guys—we’re on our own until Valentina comes home.” He kissed their heads. “Let’s go back and eat. Stanzie has made something that smells good.”
Later that night after giving them a bath and putting them to bed, he started down the stairs just as Valentina was coming up. In the dim light her classic features and gleaming blond hair emphasized her beauty.
“Welcome home,” he said in a quiet voice.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“You don’t owe me any explanation. Stanzie told me where you’d gone.”
She nodded. “After Rini and I returned to the villa, he drove me here. How are the children?”
“I put them down. Why don’t you tell me about your day?”
> He walked with her to the nursery. After she peeked at the boys, they tiptoed out of the room and went back downstairs to the sunroom. The night called to him. She must have felt it, too, and followed him out to the garden, where the roses were in full bloom.
She leaned over to smell one. “Their scent lies heavy on the air.”
“My parents have a garden in Naples, but the fragrance here is much more powerful.” His gaze wandered over her. “Did you accomplish a lot today?”
“Yes. Rini went with me. I like the apartment I’m going to rent, and I was impressed with the people who run the day-care center. They only allow ten children. Two of the four workers look solely after the babies. Both have had nursing experience. I’m sure Vito will get the attention he needs.”
“Have you had success finding a job?”
“Not yet, but I’m hopeful. Rini and I had dinner with my father. It was a good day.”
“I heard that Violeta dropped by.”
“Yes.”
“Want to tell me what you two talked about, or was it confidential?”
“She said her husband is suing the hospital.”
“We already knew that. What else did she say that caused you to leave so fast?”
She turned to the view of the sea. “Whatever we talked about is no longer important.”
“Why? Because you’re going to move to Naples, therefore you’re no longer a threat? I’m not unaware that Tatania’s parents would like us to get back together. With you out of my villa for good, that removes the biggest roadblock to effecting a reconciliation. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
Giovanni grasped her shoulders and pulled her back against his chest. He buried his face in her hair and felt her tremble. “When I got home from work, I was planning to take you out for a night of dinner and dancing.”
“At this point that would be a mistake.”
“Explain what you mean.” He turned her around. Their mouths were only centimeters apart.
“I can’t. You’re holding me too close to think.”
After expelling his breath, he let go of her, but it took all his strength to do so. “Is that better?”
The Billionaire's Baby Swap Page 11