Sweet Italian Christmas: Three Christmas Romances

by Helen Scott Taylor

  Savino's housekeeper had prepared chicken with vegetables and ricotta-filled pasta for their Christmas lunch, and left it in the fridge. All Savino had to do was follow the cooking instructions she'd left.

  "I'll check on dinner," Emily said.

  "No. You sit and rest. Enjoy your Christmas Day." Savino led her to the sofa and passed Giorgio to her once she sat down. "I even bought you a Christmas tree." Savino touched one of the fragrant pine branches of the small tree he'd set in a ceramic pot and decorated with baubles in deference to English custom.

  "This is my first Christmas tree. My family normally has the traditional Italian presepi instead." Every Italian home displayed a nativity scene over the Christmas period. All Savino had this year were Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in his manger on the mantel above his fireplace.

  "Look, Giorgio. Do you like the Christmas tree?" Emily held him up and smiled as his gaze wandered across the tiny lights on the tree.

  "Thank you, Savi. We both appreciate the trouble you've gone to for us."

  "Of course. It's my pleasure." Savino kept his voice even, but he hated when Emily spoke as though she and Giorgio were guests in his house. It made it sound as though they were only here for a short while, and he wanted them to stay forever.

  He'd planned to romance Emily and win her back, but it was impossible to romance a mother with a newborn. She was either asleep, or occupied with Giorgio. Most of the time when she was awake, exhaustion left her in a daze.

  Instead, Savino had done his best to help her in every way he could, to demonstrate by his actions that he cared for her and his son.

  "Would you like a drink before lunch?"

  "A cappuccino would be lovely. It's so nice to drink coffee again and enjoy it."

  "Your wish is my command." Savino stroked a few strands of hair back off her face and she turned wide, uncertain eyes up at him. He longed to kiss her like he used to.

  The way she'd hugged him in the early hours of the morning gave him hope. He'd been so patient and given her space. Now it was time to tell her how he felt, and pray she believed him this time.

  Savino went to the kitchen, checked the oven and the pans on the stove, then made them both a cup of coffee. Before he returned to the living room, he went to his office and pulled out the top right drawer. He took out the ring box and lifted the lid. He'd carried this engagement ring all the way to England and back, waiting for his moment. What better time to give it to Emily than Christmas Day?

  Chapter Eight

  After Christmas lunch, Emily relaxed on the sofa in front of the fire. What an unusual Christmas Day this was. She was used to an English Christmas at her aunt and uncle's house with Seth and Marc—unwrapping Christmas gifts in front of a log fire, a lunch of roast turkey with all the trimmings, followed by a family walk through the frosty English countryside, wrapped in a thick coat, wool hat, and gloves.

  She stared out at the cerulean-blue Italian sky and the flowers still growing on Savino's veranda. It wasn't as warm outside as it looked; they had heating on in the villa. But it was a world away from England.

  A pang of homesickness hit her, and she drew in a deep breath and cuddled Giorgio closer. Savino had done his best to make her feel at home, even putting up a Christmas tree for her, but sometimes it felt like a dream.

  Savino returned from the kitchen with two cups of coffee and set them on the end table. Then he gathered a few presents from beneath the tree and sat beside her. "I know Giorgio won't appreciate them yet, but I wanted to give him these."

  After unwrapping the presents, Savino held up the soft toys for Giorgio, squeaking and rattling the gifts, so eager for his son to interact with him that it made Emily smile. It didn't matter how much she told herself to be careful and keep her distance so she didn't get hurt again; her heart ached with love for this man. He was so kind and considerate, so gorgeous and desirable. He was everything she ever wanted.

  On impulse, she leaned closer and kissed his cheek. Immediately, Savino turned that intense dark gaze of his on her and gave her his undivided attention.

  He lifted a hand and touched her cheek. "I have a gift for you as well, amore mia."

  He took the sleepy baby from her arms and settled him in his bassinet beside the sofa. Then he joined her again and pulled something from his pocket, keeping it hidden inside his fist.

  "I love you, Emily. I fell in love with you in Brussels and I never stopped loving you. Now I love you more than ever. I want you, tesorina. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

  He uncurled his fingers, revealing a ring box, and lifted the lid. A beautiful cluster of emeralds and diamonds sparkled in the Christmas tree lights.

  Emily touched a hand to her earring, her heart thundering. He'd bought a ring that matched the precious earrings her grandma had left her. He was so thoughtful. She wanted so much to believe he loved her, but…

  "You left me." The words that circled endlessly in her head and tore at her heart fell from her lips like drops of ice.

  "I made a mistake. I was wrong." Savino rested his head in his hand for a moment. Then he returned his gaze to her, contrition drawing lines between his eyebrows. "I was frightened of how you changed me."

  He gripped her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. "I don't want to lose you and Giorgio. I want you here with me."

  Yes, yes. She desperately wanted to say yes. A tiny niggle of doubt held her back for a second, but it was time to let the past go or she would continue to make herself miserable. "Yes," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

  "I'll make you happy, I promise." Savino pulled her into his arms. She sank into the warmth of his embrace as his lips found hers. All her doubts faded as she lost herself in the familiar warmth of his kisses and the pleasure of being in his arms.

  The feel of his hair beneath her fingers and the fragrance of his skin brought back a flood of passionate memories.

  "I've missed you so much, darling." She whispered the words between kisses.

  "I've missed you too. But we're together now."

  The afternoon slipped past as Savino pulled Emily onto his lap and they kissed for hours, making up for lost time. Eventually they were dragged back to reality by Giorgio's hungry grunts as he woke up and started sucking his fist.

  "Duty calls," Savino said.

  Emily pressed her face against his neck and immersed herself in the dreamy pleasure of being close to this man for a few moments more, before she slid off his lap and went to her crying baby.

  After Giorgio was fed, bathed, and settled again, they had some pasta. As Emily put away the washed dishes in the kitchen, Savino came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed the ticklish spot beneath her ear.

  "I've been longing to do this again. It's been torture being with you and not being able to kiss you and touch you like I used to. Will you let me share your bed now?"

  Emily turned within the circle of his arms and laid her palms on his chest, gazing up into his sultry gaze. "I want you too, but I'm not ready for that yet."

  "I know. Just let me hold you."

  "Hmm." The truth was she didn't want to be parted from him for even a second.

  Savino carried Giorgio's bassinet through to Emily's bedroom. Once she'd changed into her unsexy pajamas, he knocked and came in, looking sleek and sophisticated in his blue silk dressing gown and matching pajama pants.

  The light gleamed off his dark hair as he untied the robe and dropped it over a chair. Muscles flexed in his naked torso as he approached the bed. Emily's heart nearly beat out of her chest when he slid beneath the covers at her side.

  He gathered her in his arms and kissed her temple. It was heaven to be snuggled in bed with him again. Her darling little Giorgio had worked a miracle, bringing them together and giving them a second chance.

  • • •

  Emily finished translating the document she'd been working on when she went into labor and e-mailed it off. Her laptop had been ruined by the flood
water, but she always saved her work to cloud storage, thank goodness.

  After Christmas, Savino had taken her to Naples to buy a new laptop. Now she had it set up how she wanted it, although she didn't plan to take any more translation work for a while. The next three months of her time belonged to Giorgio.

  With a sigh, she leaned back in her chair, turned her face up to the sun, and closed her eyes. Sitting on the veranda outside her bedroom in the sun in December was a luxury. The temperature was cool in the early morning and evening, but during the middle of the day it was so warm she even took off her sweater.

  "Emily."

  "I'm still in my bedroom." She answered Savino's call and smiled over her shoulder. He came into the room holding their son. He'd been watching Giorgio to give her peace to work.

  The warmth of his answering smile sent tingles of pleasure through her. Now that she'd let go of the past and accepted that Savino loved her, the tension between them was gone. Life was so much more relaxed, and Giorgio seemed to sense the change. He had finally started sleeping better at night.

  Savino laid Giorgio in the middle of the bed and stepped out of the glass doors to slip his arms around Emily and kiss her temple. "Have you finished your work?"

  "All done."

  "Would you like to take a walk? There's something I'd like to show you."

  "Sounds wonderful. It's such a beautiful day again."

  They prepared and strapped Giorgio into his baby carrier for Savino to wear on his chest.

  With the warm sun on their backs, they walked hand in hand up the narrow streets, following ancient winding walkways past white stucco houses with green and blue shutters and flowers in bright ceramic pots. They climbed many flights of stone steps cut into the steep hill, worn by the innumerable footsteps that had trodden them over the centuries.

  "Buon giorno, Signore Marin. Buon giorno, signora. Ciao, ciao." Many times they were greeted by local people who stood chatting in the sunshine, old women wearing aprons with brooms in their hands, men in groups smoking, and young mothers with happy children running about.

  Some of them seemed surprised when Emily answered in perfect Italian and commented on the beautiful weather.

  Puffing and wobbly-kneed from the exertion after her recent lack of exercise, Emily finally followed Savino up the last flight of steps to a small park in front of a beautiful church, the stucco tower roofed in blue and yellow tiles.

  Emily sat on a wooden bench with a panoramic view over the Bay of Salerno and massaged her thighs.

  "Worn out?" Savino asked.

  "I need to get fit again."

  "Just walk up here and back home every day," Savino said with a laugh.

  Home. Emily gazed down the hill at the white houses with terracotta roofs clinging to the slope, the winding roads, the curved sandy bay, and blue Mediterranean stretching all the way to the horizon.

  In many ways this was an Italian version of Robin's Cove—with slightly better weather. Could this ever feel like home in the same way?

  Savino put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. She leaned in and kissed Giorgio's head, and touched her lips to Savino's before laying her cheek on his shoulder. Maybe it wasn't a place that was home so much as the people. Her cottage had been important to her because she associated it with her grandma, but the dear old woman was long departed.

  She loved Seth and Marc and wanted to see them often, but her future was with Giorgio and Savino. She glanced down at the diamonds and emeralds in her engagement ring, sparkling in the sun.

  She'd traveled all over Europe and knew there was nowhere prettier than Italy. The language wasn't a problem for her. And truth be told, Savino's villa was far more luxurious than her cottage.

  "Where's your place?" she asked.

  "You see that road there." Savino raised a hand and pointed. "And the house with the huge satellite dish on the roof that we've all complained about."

  "Yes."

  "Just below that is Villa Con Spirito. You can see the new SUV parked behind it."

  The dark purple vehicle was easy to pick out. Savino didn't waste time. He'd bought the car right after Christmas and it had been delivered yesterday, in time for them to strap the baby car seat in the back to visit his parents for dinner on Epiphany.

  "You said you wanted to show me something. Was it the view?"

  "No." Savino gave her a mysterious smile and glanced over his shoulder. "Behind you."

  She looked around and frowned. There was nothing there.

  "The church, Santa Trinita."

  "Oh." Emotion swept through her as realization hit. She pressed a hand to her heart and rose slowly to face the beautiful white building decorated with the blue and yellow tiles. "Do you want to get married here?"

  "It's a suggestion. If you'd rather marry in the church at Robin's Cove, then I'm happy to do that."

  The thought had occurred to her, but Robin's Cove was still closed off to visitors after the flood. Seth had texted that the emergency services were still clearing up, and the residents had been found alternative accommodation. It was unlikely her cottage would be dry and ready to repair until the weather warmed up in the summer.

  There was no way she could invite Savino's family to Cornwall for a wedding. But it would be easy for Seth and Marc and her aunt and uncle to come to Italy.

  "Can we look inside?" she said.

  With a grin, Savino took her hand. He led her up the three steps and in through an unusual old brass door surrounded by blue and yellow tiles. The cool interior of the building had plain stone walls, the seating rows of polished wooden chairs.

  "The paintings are Renaissance, and this is thirteenth century." Savino drew her towards a stone triptych with the Madonna in the middle. "People travel from all over the world to see it."

  "Wow."

  Savino released Emily's hand, and she walked down the aisle to examine the paintings and the altar with its huge display of flowers.

  The church was small but perfect. She didn't want a big wedding. She just wanted to exchange her vows with Savino before God and their close family.

  "I like this." She leaned into Savino's side and clutched his hand.

  "Are you sure," he whispered beside her ear.

  "Yes. If my life is going to be here, it seems like the right place to get married."

  Chapter Nine

  "This is Leo's place."

  Emily stared at the impressive modern villa as Savino drove his new SUV through the electric gates and followed the drive around the side of the building, through an entrance to a parking garage beneath the house.

  Nerves and excitement churned in Emily's stomach as she climbed out and checked they had everything in Giorgio's diaper bag. Savino lifted their son out of the back of the vehicle and settled him in his stroller.

  When he'd finished, he put his arm around Emily's shoulders and kissed her temple. "Ready, amore mia?"

  Emily held up her left hand and stretched out her fingers, staring down at her emerald-and-diamond ring. Today they would announce their engagement to Savino's family. He'd assured her they would be delighted, but she was still nervous. She had only met them once when she first arrived in Italy, and she'd been groggy from lack of sleep then.

  Savino hooked the bag over his shoulder and pushed the stroller into a small elevator as Emily followed, holding a panettone cake in a box, and a bag containing wrapped gifts that Savino had bought for his family.

  From her experience traveling in Europe, she already knew that the Italian custom was to exchange gifts on January 6th, but it seemed strange to still be celebrating. In England, the Christmas and New Year holidays were over and everyone was back at work.

  The elevator door slid open, and they stepped out to be greeted by tiny feet slapping on the tile floor.

  "Zio Savi, I want to hold your baby again." Violet scampered up, clad in a blue velvet dress and matching tights, her hair in a neat French plait fastened with gold baubles.

&nb
sp; "You can hold him later, Violet. He's sleeping now." Savino set down the diaper bag and crouched to hug his niece.

  "Ciao, Violet." Emily put an arm around the child and kissed both her cheeks.

  Violet stood beside the stroller, her small fingers curled over the edge, and stared down at her cousin with huge, inquisitive eyes. A moment later Leo strode along the hall with Claire at his side.

  "Gently now, piccolina. Remember what I told you. Giorgio is not a doll."

  "I know that, Papa." Violet pouted and took Claire's hand with a mutinous glance at her father.

  Gina and Signora Marin emerged from the kitchen clad in aprons. They all exchanged welcome hugs and kisses on the cheek.

  "You're just in time," Gina said. "We're setting the dishes on the table."

  The next few minutes were busy as Emily and Savino found their seats and parked Giorgio's stroller nearby so they could watch him.

  Once Emily sat down and had a chance to relax, she admired the room. Leo's house was very grand with huge picture windows giving a fantastic view over the Bay of Naples. The dining room furniture was modern, the tabletop marble, and the chairs a honey-colored wood with tall seat backs.

  Once they all had loaded plates of seafood and pasta, Savino glanced at her and flicked up his eyebrows in question. She nodded. It was time to make their announcement.

  "We have some news," Savino said.

  The cheerful chatter around the table quieted, and everyone gazed at him.

  "I asked Emily to be my wife and she agreed."

  Gina squealed. Scraping back her chair, she dashed around the table and hugged Savino, then pulled Emily close, kissed her cheeks, and examined the ring.

  "Beautiful. Both my brothers have good taste in jewelry. This is such wonderful news. We were all worried about Savi. He never brings girlfriends here. We'd started to think he had married one of his robots."

  "Gina!" Savino swiped at her bottom and she deftly avoided his hand and danced back to her place, grinning.

  "Congratulations." The chorus of good wishes came from all sides. Leo rounded the table to shake his brother's hand and kiss Claire's cheeks. Signora Marin did the same thing, while Signore Marin stretched a hand across the table to his son.