by Donna Alward
“She keeps me on my toes.”
“There is something between you then.” She put her hand on his arm.
He shook his head. “No, Gina. She’s the manager here and she’s good at what she does. And we work together. That’s it.”
Mari turned from the hostess and made her way to them. Luca tried to ignore the thrumming of his pulse at the gentle sway of her hips. Mari had legs. Yards of them, it seemed. Navy silk draped and clung in all the right places in the wrap-style dress, revealing shapely calves that curved elegantly into matching strappy heels. The neckline rose up from a “v” to cover her shoulders with barely an inch of strap.
“I see how you look at her, Luca. Trust me, you’ll be happy that I’m here to free up some of your time.”
Luca tore his eyes from Mari’s image and glared at Gina. “If you think you’re going to hang around here and be a thorn in my side…”
Gina smiled sweetly. “Dear brother, I consider it a family duty. She looks at you the same way.”
Mari stopped in front of them and smiled, and for a moment his heart stopped.
“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.”
It was Gina who replied when Luca remained silent. “Not at all. We just arrived ourselves. I had a refreshing nap and now I’m ready to sample your chef’s delights.”
Luca moved to pull out Mari’s chair first.
“Thank you,” she murmured, and he caught the first scent of her perfume.
“That dress is stunning. You have fabulous taste, Mari.” Gina smiled disarmingly. “I hope Luca’s not bullying you into making all his changes.”
Mari smiled. “Thank you. And he tries, believe me.”
Luca sat down. “I’m very fortunate to be sitting with the two most beautiful ladies in the room.”
Gina laughed lightly. “Only the room? Mariella, I think we should be insulted.”
But Luca’s eyes had locked with Mari’s. She’d left her hair down and his fingers itched to touch it, to be buried in the mahogany richness of it. It curved around her face and shoulders, and as she brushed a little of it back, he caught sight of her necklace, a silly little creation of silver and sapphire leaves.
He wanted to lift her tiny hand and press a kiss to it, but he knew she’d frown on it. “I can see I won’t stand a chance with the two of you.”
Mari smiled and her eyes twinkled at him. “I somehow think you can hold your own.”
Luca ordered champagne and sat back, listening to Mari and Gina speak as if they’d known each other forever. But Gina had always had that way about her. Open and interesting. She had the grace and ease about her that brought Mari out of her shell like he hadn’t been able to. And seeing Mari relaxed made her shine. She was open in a way she’d never been with him.
They were part way through the second course when one of the wait staff approached Mari with a problem.
“I’ll get it, you enjoy yourself,” Luca said, beginning to push back his chair.
“No, I will.” She smiled easily. “It is my job, after all. I won’t be but a minute.”
He stood while she rose from her chair and sat again, watching her as she followed the staff member towards the kitchen.
He looked over at his sister, who kept insisting she was happy in her marriage. Was Luca the only one who could see what she was doing? She kept saying Angelo was her happy ending and he wouldn’t be the one to shatter the illusion. He wanted it for her, after all they’d been through as children when their mother had abandoned them. He remembered holding her when she was little, when she cried for their mother in the night and didn’t want Papa to hear. Remembered the summer he’d suspected there was something between her and Dante. But then Dante had gone to Paris with him and when they’d returned, she’d been engaged to Angelo. And he’d known she was trying to make up for the life they hadn’t had and he’d been powerless to stop it.
He’d been by her side during the darkest time in her life. He’d been the older one. He’d understood more. He sincerely hoped Gina wasn’t in for the same heartbreak again. He certainly wasn’t in the market for a fairy tale happy ending. Neither were the women he usually dated, and that suited him just fine.
When Mari returned, he let his gaze fall on her as she and Gina spoke of the internal workings of the hotel business.
Mari was different. He couldn’t explain it, but somehow all the jaded thoughts from the past faded away when she was near. There could never be anything permanent between them, but the brittle sense of skepticism he usually carried dissolved when she was around. He’d seen her eyes light up as she spoke to Gina, laughing easily in a way he hadn’t seen before.
It was mesmerizing. This was Mari, unguarded. He’d wondered if she could be this way. Now he wondered if she could ever be this way with him.
“Luca, you must dance with me.”
Gina issued the command and Luca sighed. “Gina.”
“You know you want to. Besides, who else am I going to dance with? I don’t see you for months on end. And this really is a quick trip.”
Mari looked at Luca and a reluctant smile crawled up her cheek at his mulish expression.
She’d smiled more today than she could recall smiling in a long time. Seeing Luca being bossed around by his diminutive sister was enjoyable. She’d gotten so used to him giving orders that she was delighted he knew how to indulge his sister.
“Ah, the family guilt,” Mari teased him. “The same no matter what nationality you are.”
“Oh, we Italians are particularly well-versed in it,” Gina replied jauntily. “Let’s go, Luca.”
Mari watched, wishing she had the natural ease and grace that the Fioris seemed to possess. She’d insisted that Luca dance with Gina, and it was fun watching them. He took a wide step and spun his sister around, and the sound of her tinkling laughter reached Mari’s ears. This was a man she could warm up to. Like the picnic, dinner with Gina seemed to have released the tension he’d been holding in. It made him even more attractive. She wet her lips. Not in a million years, would she have expected to be feeling a physical attraction to a man. Especially not now, when she knew Robert was out there, and free.
She knew her mother must know that he was out on parole, and for the first time, she wondered what Anne was doing, where she was. After the trial Mariella had walked away, not looking back. She couldn’t. But through the years and silence between them, there was no denying that her mum had had to deal with the same thing. Perhaps even more than Mariella, she must be feeling like it wasn’t ever truly over. For the first time in a long time, she felt sorry for her mother.
Breathless, Gina and Luca returned to the table. Gina sat but Luca looked down at Mari. She forced a smile, but she knew it was too late. He’d seen her melancholy. His eyes softened with concern and he held out his hand. “Mari? Dance?”
Mari stared at his extended palm. Could she? The scene was eerily close to her musings just before she’d dozed off in the limo. But now, faced with reality, her stomach twisted in knots at the thought of being held so closely in his arms. She wanted to dance, she discovered. But she didn’t trust herself to handle it. Not when the mere thought of Robert caused the trembling to start. The last thing she wanted to do was have the proximity of his body trigger her panic. For once, she was unsure of her own reaction and she hesitated.
“Go on, Mari, dance. Luca’s actually a very good dancer.” Gina narrowed her eyes at her brother. “But if you repeat that, I’ll deny it.”
Mari let out a breath and carefully put her hand in Luca’s as she rose from her chair. Immediately she felt the warmth of his hand radiate up her arm. “I suppose I could dance, once.”
He led her to the dim floor. Her heels echoed on the parquet and he turned, pulling her gently into his arms. She felt like she was in a dream. Gone was the Luca of before, the man of casual flair, of style and flirtation. In his place was a gentleman. He seemed to know how she felt about touching and kept a polite distance between th
em. Knowing he did it out of respect for her drew her to him in ways that his innate charm never could. Even so, one hand was warm at her waist, and he cupped her right hand within his, a perfect fit.
He was dashing tonight, dressed in a dark suit, his tie precisely knotted, his hair slicked back, reminiscent of the golden age days he so wanted the hotel to represent. The song was slow and jazzy, the singer’s voice smooth and rich like melted caramel. Luca’s arm cradled her waist as he lifted their joined hands close to his shoulder. “Relax,” he whispered, and their feet started to move to the music.
Unlike when he danced with Gina, now Luca didn’t say a word. Mari swallowed, closing her eyes and letting the music guide her feet around the intimate floor. Their steps grew lazy and Mari drew his scent in, that expensive, man-scent that she knew she’d always recognize as his. Their bodies were closer now than before, and the trembling in her body wasn’t fear. Perhaps it was, she thought, but not fear of her safety.
Fear of Luca and the way he made her feel. Because he was making her feel things she’d never wanted to feel at all. Vulnerable. Wanting to give a part of herself to him, rather than closet it away.
His hips swayed against hers and she longed to rest her cheek against the fabric of his dinner jacket. His hand slid up her back, leaving a warm trail in its wake. This then, was what it felt like to feel cherished.
Breath caught in her throat. She’d felt safe once before only to have it go very wrong. As much as her heart told her she was safe with Luca, she couldn’t be sure. Couldn’t take that risk. She couldn’t survive it again.
It was very good he was a short-term complication.
The music ended and Luca pulled away. “Let’s walk.”
“But Gina…”
“Gina is gone.”
His voice was warm in her ear and goosebumps erupted on her skin. She jerked her head to look back at their table, but he was right. It was empty, save for the remnants of their dessert.
He took her hand and led her to the balcony doors. As they stepped outside, the cool autumn air assaulted them and Mari welcomed it. It would clear her head. This was crazy.
The music was muted as Luca shut the doors behind them. Mari walked to the railing, resting against the sandstone and looking down over the valley. The moonshine glittered over the winding river.
“Why did Gina leave? I thought she was enjoying herself.”
Luca’s voice came, deep and smooth, from behind her. “I believe she thought we could use some time alone.”
Everything in her dropped to her feet.
“Luca, I don’t think this is a good idea.” The words came out strangled, shaky.
“I know it’s not.”
She turned her head at his response. Having him admit it was wrong somehow made it all the more tempting. He was standing a few feet behind her, so tall and strong with the façade of the hotel behind him.
“Then what are we doing?”
“I brought you out here because...” He paused.
“Because…” Her voice was a fairy whisper.
He turned away, abruptly. “I’m sorry, Mari. It was a mistake.”
Disappointment cooled her warm skin, and she wrapped her arms around herself. Evenings on the terrace were very romantic, except for when it was only a few degrees Celsius above freezing and one was wearing a sleeveless dress. And when the man in question turned away. It amazed her to realize she didn’t want him to.
She shivered and he looked back at her. “You’re cold.” Without hesitation, Luca removed his jacket and came forward, draping it around her shoulders. For a moment she wondered if he’d pull her into his arms as his hands gripped the lapels. But he released them and stood back.
His shirt stood out, crisp and white in the moonlight, and Mari thought again how perfect he looked. And how looks could be deceiving.
“I thought you said Gina had children and couldn’t come.”
“She does. They are at our father’s, with their nanny.”
“I see.”
“Do you?”
She tilted her head to look up at him. “Not really.” She smiled. “What is clear is that you love her. And she loves you. I…” She broke off, wondering how much was safe to tell him. “I envy you. I never had a brother or sister, or much of a family at all.”
“Where’s your family now? What about your mother and father?”
He came to stand beside her at the balustrade and they looked out over the hulking shadows of the mountains together. “I never knew my father, and I haven’t spoken to my mother in several years.”
“Does it have something to do with why you’re so afraid of me?”
She bit on her lip. She couldn’t look at him, not now. He wouldn’t understand about Robert, and her mother, and it would only make things awkward between them. Her feelings might be changing but Luca definitely wouldn’t be interested in someone with so much baggage. He had a father and sister, and his whole business was based on family. They were from two very different worlds.
“It doesn’t matter, Luca.”
He linked his fingers with hers, and her heart soared. In ten minutes he’d treated her to more tender, caring touches than she remembered getting in her lifetime.
It would be too easy to fall for him.
“What about you? You must have a girlfriend…or girlfriends…lurking about somewhere.”
She thought he’d take his hand away from hers, but he didn’t. “Not really.”
“Oh that’s right. You like playing the singles game. Do you really think you can do that forever?”
He did pull away then, and his jaw tightened. She wanted him close to her so badly she knew she had to push him away. “I don’t particularly believe in love, Mari.”
She smiled, but it was barely a curving of her lips. “That makes two of us.”
His eyes, deep and dark, rested on her. The scent of his cologne wafted from his jacket so that she felt like he was touching her even when his hands were in his pockets. “What did it for you?”
He would walk away, but perhaps that was best anyway. He didn’t need to know the story, but he wouldn’t be here long enough for it to matter. “When the one person who should love you doesn’t, it tends to shape you whether you want it to or not. So I came here, and built my own life. It’s all I have, Luca.”
He nodded slowly. “And you think I will take it away from you.”
She confirmed it by simply remaining where she was, her gaze steady on his.
“I won’t.”
“I won’t let you.”
That tripped a ghost of a smile.
“What about you, Luca? Why don’t you believe in love?”
“My mother abandoned us…all of us…when we were children. I heard Gina crying herself to sleep every night. I saw my father’s anguish…and yet he still loved her. She divorced him and he gave her a settlement, but not once in all these years has she come to see Gina, or me. Or Father. She walked off to a whole other life.”
“You haven’t seen her since?”
“Not once. Not even when Gina was married, or when her children were born.”
“I’m sorry, Luca.” Mari’s heart ached for him. She knew what it was to feel insignificant in the eyes of a parent. “But your father…”
“He did a wonderful job raising us, and running Fiori. But in the absence of her, Fiori became his bride. He’s fierce about keeping it under his control.”
Mari reached out and touched his sleeve. “He doesn’t trust you.”
“I think he thinks he does.”
Luca wanted more. He wanted something for himself. Perhaps they had more in common than she originally thought.
“So you came here to prove something.”
He nodded, again slowly. She was mesmerized by the motion. The whole evening felt somehow like she was waking from a nightmare, complete with a sense of the surreal. He had touched her, and she hadn’t flinched or been afraid. He was only here for a short time, a
nd somehow being with him helped. She’d be a fool to question that, wouldn’t she?
“I never, never want to be in the position that Father was. I don’t need any great psychoanalysis. I don’t trust love, not the long lasting kind.”
“So you satisfy yourself with temporary flings.”
“I tried something more once. It only ended up hurting both of us. It’s better this way.”
“What happened?”
Luca hesitated and she saw it. Perhaps she shouldn’t pry. But an open Luca…it wasn’t likely to happen again. She wanted to know. It was so unlike her, but she wanted to know about him, the little details that had shaped him into the man he was. Here in the starlight, it was like she couldn’t get enough.
Luca met her eyes. “I had an affair with a woman I worked with. It didn’t end well.”
“Who did the ending?”
His lips tipped up slightly, but there was little warmth in the pseudo-smile. “She did. Unofficially.”
The quirk of his eyebrow told her as much as any words could. Her lips dropped open. “You mean you caught her…”
“Indeed.”
“I see.”
“It is just better for everyone to keep things up front and honest. No unrealistic expectations. Don’t you agree?”
At least they were on the same page. It should have been a comforting thought, but it wasn’t. Not in the least. Her brows puckered. She didn’t want a relationship, nor a fling. And yet there was something within her that wanted to explore this thing that was growing between them.
“What are you thinking, Mariella Ross, standing there in the moonlight?”
She swallowed. Held his gaze not because she wanted to but because she could not look away. “What are you thinking?”
His voice was rich silk. “I think I’m about to make a big mistake.” He took a step closer.
Mari saw immediately where this was heading and alarm bells started pealing madly. “Luca, I don’t think—”
“Relax, Mari. I’m not interested in falling in love. Love only results in people being hurt.”
She should be feeling relief. Those were her thoughts exactly. She didn’t understand why she was slightly deflated at his statement. “We can agree on that, then.”