Gia was shoved out of the way with such force that her foot landed on the edge of the sidewalk. She lost her balance. She flung her hands out to break her fall as she tumbled back.
She’d managed to turn herself midair and land on her hip. The air was knocked from her lungs. It took her a second to collect herself. Limb by limb she made sure everything was still working properly. Thankfully she could move everything.
When she went to stand up, Ric appeared in front of her. He knelt next to her. Concern etched across his handsome face. “Are you all right?”
“I think so. I just lost my balance.” She struggled to get up.
Ric placed a hand on her shoulder, holding her in place. “Maybe you shouldn’t move. I can call for help.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m fine.” She lifted a hand to him to help her up. It was then that she noticed the ugly red scrape on her elbow. “Just a couple of scrapes.”
He took her hand in his. His grip was warm and steady. In no time she was back on her feet and feeling like a total klutz.
Ric lifted her arm and frowned at the oozing scrape and the cut on her palm. “We have to get you looked at.”
She glanced around. A sinking feeling came over her. “Gin?” She continued turning in a circle; with each step her heart sunk lower. “Gin, come here. Gin?”
The puppy was nowhere in sight. How could she have let this happen? All she had to do was hold on to the leash. That was it. And yet she hadn’t managed to do it.
Guilt pummeled down on her. Poor Gin. The little guy had to be so scared after that rush of people. But where could he have gone? She pulled away from Ric. She had to find the puppy.
“Gia, you need medical attention,” Ric said firmly.
“What I need is to find Gin.” When Ric didn’t move, she turned to him. “Please. I can’t go anywhere until we find him. He’s scared and lost.”
To her surprise, Ric didn’t argue with her. He turned and started searching around their immediate vicinity. He walked to the nearby alley, looking behind garbage cans and in discarded boxes. She rushed over to join him. He looked on one side while she searched the other. No sign of the little guy. They retraced their steps to the park. Gin wasn’t there either.
“I’ll alert Marta,” Ric said. “She can get people on social media involved. We’ll find him.”
Gia turned to Ric. “With his leash still attached, he could get hung up on something and not be able to get loose.”
A rush of protective emotions pumped through her veins. She couldn’t think of anything else but finding Gin, not even tending to her cuts and scrapes.
They kept moving—kept calling Gin’s name. There was no sign of him. How could that be?
“Don’t worry,” Ric said. “We’re not giving up. Maybe we should check the beach.”
“I don’t know,” she said. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. “He wouldn’t even know to go there.”
“Actually, we go there almost every morning.”
She blinked away the moisture gathering in her eyes. “You do?” When he nodded, she asked, “How do I not know this?”
“Because we go very early in the morning.”
“While I’m still asleep?”
Ric nodded.
“Then let’s go.”
They race-walked to the beach. Gia called for Gin until her voice was hoarse. He wasn’t here. He wasn’t anywhere they’d looked. And she was starting to wonder if she’d ever see him again.
The thought of never seeing that impish, loving puppy again was her total undoing. The world in front of her blurred. A tsunami of emotions engulfed her. Ric wrapped his arms around her. He held her as grief washed over her, leaving her raw and vulnerable.
She didn’t know how much time passed when she pulled herself together. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to fall apart.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“But I’m not a crier. When my parents died, I didn’t cry. When I found out I wasn’t a Bartolini, I didn’t cry. So why am I crying over a stray puppy that’s not even mine?”
“That’s a whole lot to hold inside.”
“I’m strong. I’m a—” She stopped herself from saying she was a Bartolini like her...her father had taught her to say when she was young.
“Even strong people cry,” Ric said.
“You don’t.”
He arched a brow. “How do you know that?”
She shrugged. “Ah...well, do you?”
They started walking along the beach as the sun set, sending splashes of color over the water. “I’ve cried,” he said. “But I never told anyone because I was a jumble of emotions.”
“What happened?”
Ric was quiet for moment. “It was a long time ago.” His voice was soft as though his thoughts were caught up in the past. “The reason I’m so protective of my uncle and needed to prove he wasn’t your father didn’t have anything to do with his estate.”
“You wanted to save his reputation?”
He nodded. “But more than that I needed to preserve the image that he wasn’t like my mother—that he put other people’s feelings ahead of his own.”
“I take it you and your mother still aren’t close.”
Ric shook his head. “I haven’t seen her in years. She prefers it that way and so do I.”
“Wow. And here I thought I was the only one with parental issues.”
“Trust me. You don’t corner the market on parent problems.”
“I’m here. If you want to talk about it.”
He stopped walking and turned to her. “Has anyone ever told you how easy it is to talk to you?”
“No.” A smile pulled at her lips. “But thanks for saying so.”
Ric started walking again with her hand nestled in his. It felt so natural as though they were always this close. All the while, Gia’s gaze searched their surroundings. She knew finding little Gin in this seaside city was a long shot, but she couldn’t give up.
“My mother shouldn’t have been allowed to have a child. She’d even tell you that herself. I was a mistake—one she reminded me about often.”
Gia gasped. Not even her own mother ever mentioned in her journals that she thought of Gia as a mistake—even if she had been an unintentional result of an affair.
Not having anything positive to say about Ric’s mother, Gia remained silent. This was his tale to tell. She was just here to listen—even though her heart went out to the image in her mind of Ric as a sweet little boy, a young child who didn’t get the love he so rightly deserved.
“My mother wanted an easy life, and she was willing to do whatever it took—even sleeping with every man she thought could give her that lifestyle. And I just happened to be the result.”
“But your father—”
“Didn’t know about me. As I told you before, my mother doesn’t even know who he is—if you can believe her.”
“And you don’t?”
He shrugged. “I think if she does know who it is, she’s never going to tell me.”
“But why wouldn’t she tell you if she knew?”
He shrugged. “The only thing I can surmise is that it would complicate her life—her very cushy life. The man she married when I was young didn’t like kids. And that’s how I ended up living with my aunt and uncle. Nothing was going to come between my mother and the lifestyle she thought she deserved.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t even imagine what that must have been like for you.” She squeezed his hand tighter.
“After my aunt died, my uncle still hung in there—never giving up on me. I could tell that he wasn’t thrilled to be a single parent, but he never pushed me out the door.”
Ric stopped and turned to her. The sun’s last lingering rays shrouded him in light. As she stood there looking at hi
m, she saw him completely different now. And she knew why. That reinforced wall around him had come down. He let her see a vulnerable side to him that she never would have thought existed. And that made him even more attractive than ever before.
And then they were gravitating toward each other. She wasn’t sure who moved first. Was it her? Or was it him? Either way, their lips met in the middle. Oh, did they meet. It was as though the stars in the sky had lit up just for them. Or maybe it was sparks of desire lighting up the evening.
There was no hesitation as his tongue delved into her mouth. A moan swelled deep in her throat. He tasted sweet like wine. And she was already intoxicated by his touch.
She knew exactly where this passionate kiss would lead them. And in that instant, she didn’t care about the right or wrong of it. She wanted to live in the moment. And that was a first for her.
In Ric’s arms she was content—no, not content, exhilarated with the here and now. She wasn’t worried about the past. And she wasn’t anxious for the future and the answers she might find. Right now, in this moment, she had everything she could possibly want—and a little more.
She leaned into Ric. His muscular chest pressed against her soft curves. Could he feel the pounding of her heart? Did he know how he made her feel—
Buzz. Buzz.
The vibration of his phone in his pants pocket tingled her leg. It was like a wake-up call. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. Not now. They had Gin to find.
Gia pulled away from him. She couldn’t quite meet his gaze. The guilt of losing herself in the moment was too great for her.
“I’m sorry,” Ric said. “I should get this. It might be news about Gin.”
Gia nodded. She hoped it was good news.
Ric checked the caller ID and then pressed the phone to his ear. “Marta, have you heard anything?” Silence ensued. “Where?” More silence. “Thanks. We’ll check it out.”
There was news. Gia’s heart filled with hope. “What is it?”
“The puppy has been spotted, at least they think it’s Gin, near the south shore.”
“Really?” When Ric nodded, her mind started racing. “That’s so far away.”
“I sent them a photo of him. We’ll know soon.”
Gia retraced her steps. Her strides quick. Short. All the while, she was thinking. Where would Gin go? Someplace familiar?
Ric’s phone dinged with a message. He frowned. “It wasn’t him.”
“I know where he went.”
* * *
What happened back there?
As Ric maneuvered his car toward his uncle’s villa, he replayed the scene on the beach. What in the world had gotten into him to open up about his past? He never spoke of that time.
It wasn’t so much the pain of his mother’s rejection—because he’d dealt with that long ago, when he told his mother to her face that he never wanted to see her again—but rather it was the vulnerability attached to the memory. Who admitted that their own mother rejected them?
And yet there was something about Gia that made him want to comfort her—even if it meant revealing more of himself than he’d ever meant to. He cared about her. He knew that was a dangerous admission. The women he’d cared for in the past had hurt him deeply.
But Gia wasn’t like those other women. She was kind, thoughtful and caring. If he had any doubts about that, they wouldn’t be rushing to his uncle’s place to find a stray dog that had stolen Gia’s heart.
And then the memory of the kiss they’d shared on the beach came to mind. Okay, she was very special. But what happened when she found her biological father?
A frown pulled at his face. He knew the answer. She would leave here. She would return to the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany and the boutique hotel that she ran. Her whole life was far from here. And everything he’d ever known—ever wanted—was here.
And he wasn’t going to fool himself about a long-distance relationship. His assistant had tried that once before she’d met her husband, and it had been nothing but misery and loneliness. No, he wasn’t going to subject himself to that.
“We’re here!” Gia practically had the car door open before he pulled to a stop in front of his uncle’s villa.
She didn’t wait for him. She jumped out of the car, calling the dog’s name, and running to the back of the house. He was only a few steps behind her.
As much as he wanted to portray that he was strong and didn’t get attached to people or things, there was something about Gin that had gotten to him. He didn’t know if it was the sadness in the puppy’s eyes when he wanted attention or the rapid swish of his tail when they were playing ball, but that dog was special, just like the woman who loved him—loved the dog that is.
And Ric was silently praying there was a reunion tonight. Because he didn’t want to think of how crushed Gia was going to be if they went home without Gin. He refused to consider how he’d feel. He would be fine. He was used to people coming and going from his life. Oh, who was he kidding. He was worried. He missed the little guy.
He turned the corner of the house in time to hear, “Gin, there you are.”
Gia was headed for the back corner of the garden that was only now partially cleared. What in the world would Gin be doing back there again? Ric would have thought the puppy would never return to the garden.
Gia knelt next to the spot where Ric had originally freed Gin from the wire. “Aw...”
What was she fawning over? The puppy? Ric stepped up behind her and peered over her shoulder. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He blinked, but it was still there.
A mirror image of Gin.
There were two of them.
“Where did he come from?” Ric asked.
“It’s a she.” Gia lifted her head and glanced around the yard that was still very much a work in progress. And then she pointed. “It must have come in and out of the hole in the fence. It’s why no one has seen her until now.”
Ric looked at Gin. “You didn’t tell us you had a sibling.” Then he frowned. “Do you think it has a home?”
She shook her head. “Nothing about her appearance says that she has a home. But the vet can check for a chip just to be sure.”
“So we’re keeping her?” Ric asked, already knowing the answer.
Arff. Arff.
Gia smiled. “Okay, Gin. We’ll take her home too.” And then realizing she hadn’t actually consulted Ric, she glanced over her shoulder at him. “You don’t mind, do you?”
His formerly quiet, spotless home was quickly being overrun by one messy but beautiful woman and one—scratch that, now two talkative dogs. Oh, boy!
“No, I don’t mind.” What was he saying? Of course he minded.
His home was his oasis from the craziness at the office. It was his sanctuary where he regrouped and strategized. And since Gia and Gin came into his life, he didn’t know how lonely he’d been.
“Here.” Gia held out Gin’s red leash. “Can you hold on to him while I try to catch her?”
Ric took the leash. Gin came over to him and sat down without being told. He was a smart little guy. Now they’d see if his sister was smart enough to let Gia get ahold of her. That little dog had no idea what treats were in store for her. If she did, she’d leap into Gia’s arms instead of running from her.
It took Gia a little bit, but finally she had her arms around the barking puppy. It was dirty and a bit on the thin side, but other than that she looked okay.
“Let’s go home.” Gia smiled.
He’d never seen her look happier. Who knew finding not one but two strays could make someone so happy? He supposed they both were rather cute. He smiled. And then he realized that Gia was rubbing off on him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
RIC WASN’T THE only one with contacts.
Gia had some of her own.
And so after the disastrous dinner with Mr. Grosso, she’d made a phone call. Her mother’s family had been vastly wealthy with old money. With great wealth came numerous contacts, and there was someone who had been in Gia’s life as a child. He was more like an honorary uncle.
However, when she’d initially made the phone call to his office, as she didn’t have his personal contact information after all these years, she was informed that he was out. So she’d left a message for him.
Today, he’d gotten back to her. He was willing to meet with her and Ric to discuss Ric’s program. She hadn’t given out any specific details about it, per Ric’s prior request, just enough to pique the man’s interest. But the catch was that they’d have to meet with him in Rome. Would Ric be agreeable?
She hoped to catch him before he left for work. She rushed out of her bedroom and practically ran into him in the hallway. She came to an abrupt halt on her tiptoes to keep from crashing into him.
His hands immediately wrapped around her waist as though to steady her. As her hands came to rest on his broad shoulders, her heart pounded harder. It was then that time seemed to suspend itself as they stared at each other.
They’d been here before, but it felt like a lifetime ago. She missed him touching her, feeling his lips move over hers. Her gaze dipped to his lips. It’d be so easy to lean forward and press her mouth to his. Every cell in her body longed to do just that.
And then she heard his voice echo in her head: Can you just give me a little time?
The memory cooled her mood. She pulled back, breaking the connection between them. She swallowed hard and struggled to regain her composure.
Her gaze didn’t quite meet his. “I was just coming to find you.”
“Funny. I was looking for you, too. I have news.”
Her heart leaped into her throat. Could this be it? Could this be the moment she’d been waiting for what felt like a lifetime to hear?
“Is it my father?”
Ric smiled. “It is. We found him.”
“You did?” She didn’t wait for his response, she threw herself at Ric, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her body molded to his body as though they were two halves of a whole.
The CEO, the Puppy and Me Page 13