“You got that right. Now get back to work.” She grabbed Tuck’s hand. “Come on, you good-looking Texan, I want to hear all about the millions you’ve made on those oil wells. Maybe I can convince you that I’m the perfect woman for you.”
Tuck laughed as he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Darlin’, you don’t have to convince a man of something he already knows.”
John Rossi stood in the doorway, his hands curled into fists as he watched Angelina standing with the tall stranger, a man she seemed all too familiar with.
Together, the couple had started across the room when Angelina looked up and noticed him. She seemed shocked at first, then she smiled as they continued toward him.
Angelina was dressed in a pair of gray wool slacks with a wide belt that showed off her narrow waist. A fitted blue sweater accentuated her full breasts under her navy pea coat. “Hello, John.”
“Hello, Angelina.”
“I see you made it back all right.”
He nodded as his gaze flashed to her blond companion in jeans and cowboy boots. “We finished up last night. I flew out the first thing this morning. My plane landed an hour ago.” Who the hell was this guy? he wondered.
“John, this is Leo Tucker,” Angelina said. “Tuck this is John Rossi. Our new boss.”
John took the hand Tucker held out.
“Nice to meet ya, John,” Tucker said.
“Tuck is one of our partners in Covelli Enterprises, the downtown redevelopment company.”
John should have been relieved, but wasn’t.
“I’m just a silent partner,” Tuck said. “I’m a wildcatter by profession. Since my partner, Rick, has retired, I’ve been thinking about doing the same. And Angelina convinced me that there are a few good investment opportunities here in Haven Springs.” He pulled her close to his side and John tensed.
John captured Angelina’s blue-green gaze. “She has a way of doing that,” he said, feeling he was being swept away. He blinked, then looked back at Mr. Tucker. “There are a lot of opportunities here. Hope that means we can work together to bring the tourist trade to southern Indiana.”
Tuck grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”
Angelina’s heart was racing in her chest. She couldn’t take her eyes off John. He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and printed tie. He looked as if he’d just come out of a high-powered business meeting. His coffee-colored eyes locked with hers, mesmerizing her, making it hard for her to breath. She didn’t want to admit how much she’d missed him.
They stood there for what seemed like an eternity, until they were forced to move aside for workers carrying out some of the debris.
“I guess we should get out of the way,” she said as the power saws started up again. “Do you need to talk to me about anything?”
John shook his head.
Angelina was a little disappointed. “Then I should get back to the office,” she said.
“Nice to have met you, John. I know Rafe and Rick have been anxious to get hold of this place for years. Glad things worked out.”
“Well, Covelli and Sons deserved the job.”
John turned to Angelina. “How are your skinned knees?”
She tried not to blush. “They’re fine. Almost healed, thank you. if the weather warms up, I was going to start running again.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Need company?”
Not if she had a brain in her head, she thought. Outside of business, she didn’t need to be anywhere close to this man. “We’re expecting snow in the next few days.” She slipped her arm through Tuck’s. “We’d better be going. If you need anything I’ll be at the office.”
John nodded. “I’ll talk with Rafe, then get back to you later.”
Angelina nodded. “Okay, then I’ll be seeing you.” She held on to Tuck as they made their way out of the room, then down the steps. It wasn’t until they were out on the street that she took a breath.
“Whew, I wasn’t sure I was going to get out of there alive,” Tuck said.
She gave him a puzzled look.
“If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s not to stand between a man and the woman he wants. And I’d say that John Rossi wants you.”
Surprise shot through her. “You’re crazy.”
He smiled. “I may be, but that man didn’t want me anywhere near you.”
“John and I are just business partners,” she insisted.
“John Rossi doesn’t think the same way.”
“Listen, Tuck, there’s nothing personal between us. There can’t be. You know that. I don’t want a relationship with anyone else....” She looked away.
Tuck hugged her. “I know, darlin’. Life has dealt you a tough hand so far. But one day that’s all going to change.”
She shook her head in denial.
He brushed back her hair. “Yes, darlin’. You got too much love to give. Once you realize that, guys are goin’ to be lining up outside your door wanting your affections.”
She tensed her jaw. “All I want is a career. When this project is finished and John opens the hotel, I’m hoping he’ll consider me for a management position.”
Tuck studied her for a moment. “There’s more to life.”
She took a long breath as they stopped next to the truck at the curb. “Not for me. It’s time I was on my own. I’ve been out of college for two years, now. After Dad’s death we all needed to hang together because of the business. But, it’s time now. Rafe and Rick have moved on with their lives, and they’re still trying to run mine.”
“It’s only because they love you.” Tuck let out a breath. “I don’t have family, so I envy you—having people who care. And if you were my sister, I’d guard you like a hawk. You’re a beautiful woman, Angelina.”
She felt herself blush. “Thank you.”
Tuck touched her cheek. “Stop chasing off any man who wants the chance to love you.”
The next morning was cold and gray when John stepped outside at six in the morning. He hadn’t slept much the night before, and had decided to get out and run off some of his frustration.
He did his stretching exercises and took off down the alley, then turned up Vine Street and headed north with no particular destination in mind. He wanted to clear his head of everything, and that meant pushing his body to the limit. But this morning, it wasn’t working. Angelina had interrupted his sleep last night.
After being gone nearly a week, he’d returned to town anxious to see her, but when he’d gone to the hotel she was with another man. John picked up his pace as he came around the corner and headed down another street.
Damn it! Why had that bothered him? He was in town for a job and to get a closer look at the family that had hurt his grandfather years ago. Then he was back to New York. The Covellis wouldn’t even know who he really was. He couldn’t get distracted by a woman who would hate him the second she discovered he had Valente blood running through his veins.
His speed increased as he crossed the deserted street, his lungs starting to burn. He ran to the parking lot, then ended up in the city park. Arriving on the dirt trail, he took off through the bare trees, when he noticed another runner about thirty yards ahead of him.
A woman. She wore stretch leggings over nicely shaped legs. A big sweatshirt with a hood pulled up. When he got closer he realized the woman was Angelina. With a groan, he nearly turned and went the other way, but he was never a man to run from a challenge. And somehow Angelina Covelli managed to push his restraint to the limit.
Angelina sensed someone was behind her and moved to her right to let him pass. After her last spill on the track, she wasn’t about to overdo.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught the runner moving up on her, but he hadn’t passed her. A slight discomfort engulfed her, remembering a college friend who had been attacked on a trail.
She picked up speed, trying not to let her fear take over as she ran, but he’d been following her for about a half mile
and he hadn’t passed her.
She tensed, trying to remember something she’d learned in her self-defense classes. She’d better think quickly because the runner was gaining on her. Angelina picked up speed, heading for the end of the trail when her predator came up behind her. Too close. Suddenly she felt his hand on her shoulder. In a swift motion, she elbowed the guy in the ribs and took off as he dropped to the ground with a groan.
Then she heard her name called. She stopped and turned around to see John Rossi sitting on the edge of the trail, clutching his midsection.
She ran back to him and knelt down beside him. “Oh, John, are you all right?”
He looked up at her, his face filled with pain. “I guess this is what I get for sneaking up on you.”
Her hands trembled. What had she done? “Why didn’t you call to me?”
“I did, but I guess you didn’t hear.”
“Are you hurt?”
“Where did you learn to punch like that?”
“I took a self-defense class. A woman’s strength is to catch her attacker off guard.”
He groaned. “I’d say you got an A plus in the course.”
She managed to push his hand away from his ribs and raised his shirt. His flat stomach appeared, then she spotted the red welt on his rib cage. “Oh, John. I’m so sorry. I’ll take you to the doctor. Please, let me help you.”
He placed his hand over hers. “I’m all right, Angelina. My ribs hurt a little, but nothing is broken.” His brown eyes met hers. “And you had every right to hit me. I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that.”
She was so embarrassed. “I just got frightened...”
“You don’t need to apologize.” He smiled through his obvious discomfort. “I’ll just know better than to ever sneak up on you again.”
She finally smiled and sat down.
John knew he was in big trouble. He was quickly becoming mesmerized by this woman. Her eyes...her mouth... And she continually surprised him. “I thought you weren’t going to run.”
“I needed to clear my head.”
“If I’d known, we could have run together.” His gaze searched hers, probing the seductive depths of her blue eyes.
“We’re dangerous together. One of us seems to always get hurt.”
“Maybe we’ve gotten all the accidents out of our system,” he said. He took her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. She gasped as he placed a kiss against her palm.
She tried to pull away, but he held fast. “John, you shouldn’t do that.”
He leaned closer. “Why, cara?” His breath caressed her face.
There were so many reasons. But at the moment she couldn’t think of any. This was a colossal mistake and she could get hurt.
“We work together.” She rose to her feet, trying to ignore the deep ache in her stomach. There could only be one thing she could take from John Rossi. And it wasn’t love.
Chapter Six
The following Monday, Angelina rushed into the restaurant and headed for the table where both her sisters-in-law sat eating breadsticks.
“Okay, I’m here. What’s wrong?”
Jill looked up and smiled sweetly. “It wasn’t an emergency, Lina. Shelby and I just wanted to run something by you.”
Angelina plopped down in the chair beside the petite blonde. “Why didn’t you say that over the phone? I practically broke every speed limit getting here.”
Shelby placed her hand over Angelina’s. “We’re sorry, but lately every time we’ve tried to get together, you’re busy working.”
“You can stop by the office anytime.”
The women exchanged glances. “We did,” Shelby said. “Twice. You were out, or at the hotel. So we figured you needed a break. Besides, you ought to be eating lunch. Rafe says you’ve been skipping too many meals.”
“Mom’s got him spying on me.” Great, her family had been talking about her.
“No, we’re worried about you.”
“I’m just trying to do my job. I am the project manager for the hotel.”
“We know,” Jill said. “And you’re doing a great job. But we don’t want it to be your entire existence. You should make time for some fun, too.”
“Oh, no,” Angelina groaned. “You two didn’t fix me up with another blind date, did you? I told you the last time never again.”
Jill raised a calming hand. “No, we didn’t fix you up with a date. We learned our lesson. This time Shelby and I have been putting all our energies into planning a party.”
Angelina knew that it wasn’t anyone’s birthday. “A party?”
Jill exchanged another glance with Shelby, then nodded.
Angelina loved her sisters-in-law, but sometimes they drove her crazy. What in the world could they possibly want to celebrate? She froze. Could Shelby be expecting? A twinge of envy took her by surprise. Angelina would love to have another niece or nephew to spoil.
“What are you and Rafe celebrating? Maybe an addition to the family?”
Angelina watched as the slender brunette’s face turned a bright red. “Right now we’re just thinking about having a party at Stewart Manor in honor of John Rossi.”
Angelina’s mouth gaped open. “Why?”
“Come on, Lina,” Jill began. “There are several reasons. Mainly, his company has taken on a big project in our town. He should meet everyone, like the mayor and the historical society committee. After all, he is refurbishing the most prominent landmark in our community.”
Angelina didn’t want any more social situations with John Rossi. It was bad enough working side by side with him every day, but to have to deal with a social affair and try to act as if she weren’t affected by him... The man could make any woman tremble.
Of course for John Rossi, it was business as usual. Still, since that day a week ago in the park, he’d made no more attempts at trying to touch her, to kiss her. So why was she worried? The citizens of Haven Springs should meet him. “It sounds all right,” she conceded.
“Oh, good,” Shelby breathed. “I can’t wait to show off the house.”
“So it’s going to be at Stewart Manor?”
“Don’t you think it’s the perfect place?” Jill asked.
Angelina nodded. Shelby and Rafe lived in one of the largest older homes in Haven Springs, home to the former mayor. They’d worked hard to bring the landmark back to its original grandeur. “Perfect,” she murmured.
“And I bet you can’t wait to see how John Rossi looks in a tux,” Jill said. “He’s such a handsome man anyway, but all dressed up...”
Angelina already knew how good-looking John was. “Does Rick know you’re ogling other men?”
Jill grinned. “Makes him crazy.”
“Rafe, too,” Shelby added. “It’s wonderful.”
There was that twinge of envy again. “You two are just too sickeningly happy.”
Jill tossed her a knowing smile. “I bet if you tried you could make John Rossi a little crazy. When I stopped by the hotel the other day to see Rick, I talked to Harry. He said that John had Gus Norton by the shirt collar after he’d said something about you. Sounds to me like John is a little protective.”
Angelina remembered that day. The same day she and John had ended up at the fountain in the park. The same day he’d kissed her.
“Gus said something about Dad.”
Jill turned serious. “Then I’m glad John was there to handle it for you. And speaking of being there when you need him.” She nudged Angelina and pointed toward the door.
Angelina glanced up to find John coming toward them. He was dressed in pleated navy trousers and a burgundy dress shirt. Even coming from a construction site, he looked like he’d just stepped out of a men’s fashion magazine.
He smiled as he reached their table. “What a lovely sight. Three beautiful ladies.”
“Hello, John,” Jill said, smiling. “We were just talking about you.”
Angelina’s heart raced as he raised an eyebrow and his
brown-eyed gaze settled on her. “I hope it was all good.”
“Very good,” Jill said. “We’re planning a party, and you’re the guest of honor. Please say you can make it a week from Friday.”
John looked around the table, taking in the expectant gazes. Except for Angelina’s. He suspected she had nothing to do with the party plans. Though it hurt, that was probably for the best. After realizing how infatuated he was with her, he had worked hard to stay clear of her this past week. But, like an enchantress, she only had to look at him and he was under her spell again.
“I’d love to attend,” he said, even though he had planned on finishing up his part of the project by then and leaving town for the weekend. He could postpone his trip.
“Oh, wonderful.” Jill and Shelby stood. “Now, we’re off to make out the invitations,” said Shelby.
When Angelina started to go with them, John touched her arm. “Would you care to share a late lunch with me?”
She hesitated, watching as Jill and Shelby hurried out the door, then finally nodded as she sat back down. John joined her. The waitress came by the table and they both ordered.
Once the girl had left, Angelina looked up at John. “You know, if you can’t attend the party, Jill and Shelby will understand. Everyone knows how busy you’ve been and you probably need to get back to New York.”
He watched her fidget. “The company won’t fold if I stay a few more days.” He leaned back and smiled. “You seem to be the only one who wants to rush me out of town.”
She blinked those gorgeous blue eyes at him. Did she have any idea of the effect she had on him? How every night he lay awake aching for her?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said indignantly.
No matter that he had promised himself to stay away from her—or that he was staying on in Haven Springs mostly out of curiosity. It didn’t seem to matter. He wanted Angelina Covelli, and he didn’t like it—didn’t like the lack of control she caused in him whenever she was anywhere near. She was a temptation he couldn’t seem to resist.
“There’s something happening between us, Angelina. You know it, and I know it.”
The Man, The Ring, The Wedding Page 7