He leaned against the doorframe and waited for her. “My staff is very reliable. When you say yes to my proposal, we’ll get you a safe for all of your jewelry.”
She closed the drawer and her hand rested on her heart. “I don’t have much.”
Eventually she’d understand his world, and how innocent her words were. His entire body hardened so he stood taller to change his mood. “I’ll buy you plenty.”
There was a bounce in her stride as she stood in front of him at the door. “You don’t have to.” He stepped back and waited for her to walk beside him. Once they were in the hall again, she asked, “How did the meeting with Victoria go?”
Without intending to do more than talk, Gio and his sister had engaged in a fast idea exchange where they put together a mock-up of his suit with one of Caro’s dresses and they both made suggestions that were on par with symmetry and matching the shoulder angles of the shirts. He thought they’d sit and talk numbers, as Victoria claimed to not be a designer. However she had insight and if he’d known her growing up, they might have actually gotten along. Working with his half-sister could be very good if they respected each other, but for now he’d keep his focus on business.
Kiwi next to him made the world sweeter. They headed back through the small hall and toward the staircase. “I hope you don’t mind but I told her your idea, giving you full credit, to the limited edition concept.”
“Yeah?”
“She loved your idea as it builds word of mouth and exclusivity while giving our manufacturers two ways to use similar designs and but different fabrics. One for the limited editions and one for general casual wear where we’ll use cheaper material.”
Once they were on the bottom floor, Gio led her outside to the terrace as he needed to ensure the table was set. His usual maid needed the morning off and the chef wasn’t able to cook and put the food on the table. With usually just him around, he kept the inside staff numbers low, but he’d hire an army to return to work for the house staff if his home became more social as it had been the past few days. He stopped at the library door as she said, “Sounds great, though I need to know what type of materials we’re looking at so I can alter the designs based on the material strength for the limited editions and mass market versions.”
He pointed toward the door where his sister had remained after their meeting and directed Kiwi inside. “Agreed. Victoria wants to talk to you.”
Kiwi opened the door and saw Victoria and Caro were together. She turned toward him, nodded and said, “And Caro was faster than me today, it seems.”
She bounced on her feet again, clearly excited for her meeting. He stepped back, intending to go outside to help his staff. “I’ll leave you three alone.”
She waved for him to join her. “You aren’t coming in?”
Gio leaned forward and claimed her lips in a fast kiss that rocked him to the core. Everything even smelled sweeter. “She wants to talk to you about including me.”
Her eyes widened like she hadn’t thought about any extra work she’d have and that Gio was likely to be an extra boss. She wrapped one arm around her waist and asked, “Where will you be?”
He motioned toward the back of the house. “On the veranda. I’ll have a nice lunch served for everyone.”
“I’ll find you.” She stood on her tiptoes and then kissed his cheek.
Before he could say anything, she headed into the conference room.
His pulse still buzzed as he went outside. One of the staff had stacked the tablecloth and dishes on one end so he shook out the first dark red tablecloth and started on the first long table.
Setting everything up reminded him of helping his mother for one of her many dinners she’d host and how she required her children to help.
Anthony walked up the veranda steps from the vineyard carrying a basket full of wine from the warehouse. He set a variety of bottles on the table and then helped placing the dishes like their mother had taught them. “You and Kiwi seem happy.”
The afternoon sun was warm and Gio unbuttoned his top button on his shirt as he circled the table, setting the glasses for wine at every seat. “She makes me happy, Anthony.”
Anthony continued with the dishes, working with him. “I wish Jennifer realized she does that for me.”
Gio stopped short. He hadn’t realized his brother might be for real, and actually hurt. “I didn’t know you were in love.”
Anthony balanced the pile of plates in his hand. “Interesting. So you’re in love with Kiwi?”
Love? Gio went back to positioning the glasses properly. “I…” He had no answer so he changed the subject. “I haven’t thought about it.”
“But?” Anthony continued to place plates at all the seats.
Gio liked that they were working together but that didn’t mean Gio wanted to answer his brother’s question. “But what?”
Anthony pressed for an answer. “But do you trust her and want to spend the rest of your life with her?”
Soon his entire family would know the truth anyhow, so Gio straightened and met his brother’s gaze. “I asked her to marry me already.”
“Oh.” Anthony set the last plate and asked, “Is tonight an engagement announcement?”
The knot in Gio’s stomach grew. Perhaps he shouldn’t have said anything. He returned to setting the glasses as he said, “No. She hasn’t said yes.”
“And you let that fly?” Anthony took the forks and knives and began to circle the table, setting them correctly.
“She has a choice in her life,” Gio answered, centering the last glass.
His brother was four settings in front of him. Gio picked up the spoons and began to circle again.
Anthony then said, “She’s having my niece or nephew which gives you strategic advantage. You can’t give her that much latitude.”
“Anthony…” Gio had no answer for him. His brother clearly had a different philosophy when it came to women. Kiwi’s smile brought him pleasure and he’d do nothing to erase that. Kiwi had a choice in all things, including him, though he’d amp up his chase. She was his, and he intended to keep her. But she needed to agree of her own free will.
He didn’t argue any of this with Anthony, who probably wouldn’t understand. When they finished, he asked his brother, “Can you please tell the staff to have more grape juice for the table?”
Anthony nodded and left.
Gio took the bottles of wine and ensured every table had plenty to drink. His brother disappeared, and Kiwi tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned and instantly his entire body felt a jolt of electricity. However Kiwi’s arms crossed and her brow wrinkled as she glared up at him. “Gio, I heard you and Anthony.”
His mind raced. Had he done something to upset Kiwi? He couldn’t think of anything as the conversation with his brother was mostly just his brother’s opinions that he ignored. Perhaps she’d misunderstood? “You said you didn’t want to drink wine, so I asked for extra grape juice.”
“That wasn’t the conversation I was referring to.” Her stance widened.
Whatever Anthony had said clearly bothered her. Gio straightened the napkins and table settings so everything was in order. “What, then?”
She followed behind him. “Why did you tell Anthony you asked me to marry you?”
“Because he’s my brother.” This shouldn’t bother her. His heart began to beat a little faster as he continued to straighten every chair so everything was aligned.
She tapped her foot behind him. “About choices?”
Great. He turned, ignoring the imperfection of his table, and stared down his nose. “I meant what I said. The choice is yours. Why all the questions?”
Her jaw clenched but her arms were still crossed and she had the look of a mom about to scold him. “You didn’t tell your brother to mind his business when he talked about keeping me on a leash.”
Leash? Gio flinched though his muscles tightened in his shoulders. Perhaps he had spoken enough
but he’d wanted to end the conversation with silence. He returned to setting the table, ensuring everything was perfect and using the time to cool his own temper. “Those weren’t his words exactly, but I didn’t correct him because I didn’t want to argue with him. He’s already upset that Jennifer might choose Peter because she’s having his baby.”
Again Kiwi followed but this time her footsteps behind him grated on his nerves. “Which gives him strategic advantage. Do you think like him?”
“Absolutely not.” He stared at the line of glasses across the table to ensure everything was in order.
Her tapping foot stopped and through the reflection of the glass, he saw that her hands were at her side. “Then why not tell him?”
Trust was something they needed to work on before they got married. He turned toward her, needing to have this conversation in a direct manner. “Because he’s upset already, and his words don’t mean anything to me. Why don’t you trust me?”
Her eyes widened like he’d sucker-punched her. “Trust you?”
“Yes. Trust me.” He didn’t bat an eye.
They needed to clear the air, fast. His guests would be here at any moment, and no one needed to know about their personal lives, except what they wanted to share. He refused to ever cause drama. He’d never be his father or anything like him. Simple was better.
A memory washed through him when his father had invited the media into their lives to watch them eat dinner like they were actors in some television show instead of a family and all because he’d wanted his American family to see him on their televisions. Luckily it never aired. He blinked and swore he’d never do anything like that to his own child.
“I…” She looked down and then back at him with her shoulders slumped. She took a deep breath and nodded. “I don’t know. I swore I’d give you the benefit of the doubt.”
Gio was glad to know that she at least saw reason. He reached out and hugged her waist. “Then please give me that now and trust me a little.”
“I’m sorry, Gio.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, tightly holding him.
The wound-up clock he had for a stomach stopped spinning and he let her go. With a nod, he hoped this was the end of the conversation on Anthony. “It’s fine. How was your meeting with Victoria and Caro?”
She stood next to him, fiddling with a cloth napkin. “They wanted to know if I wanted to move my design department to Italy.”
If she was here, then they would have an easier time. Victoria was clearly thinking ahead. He smiled and fixed the last of the settings while he asked, “And you said?”
Kiwi looked down at her leather flats. Again his body tightened before she said anything. Finally when she looked at him, she twisted her nose a little as she said, “I hadn’t thought about any of that. I was upset that you’d talked to Victoria about moving my department here without talking with me first.”
Upset? He had no idea how to set her at ease and open up to him. This time he stood like a sentinel and watched her carefully. “I didn’t mention your job at all when I met with my sister.”
“You didn’t?” Her brow lifted in confusion.
A tingle slowly built and worked its way up his spine as he started, “Again, Kiwi-”
“Fair. I’m sorry,” she interrupted. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me! I’m trying to be open but I’m making tons of assumptions today.”
If he knew how to help her, he would. He turned toward the door and pressed his hand on her side to get her to walk beside him toward the house. “Let’s announce that lunch is served.”
“Okay.” Her steps were stiff.
Maybe he needed to be careful. He had no way to pry open her trust instinct, so she’d let him inside her heart. He shook off the thought. She was right that they needed time, and that was his best chance. He only had a few months until their daughter was in their lives so he chose to ignore his doubts and win her trust. This was a mission worth fighting for.
Chapter 13
Kiwi’s heart and soul were a hot mess. If she fell in love with Gio, was she making a mistake? Her mother would have said yes and not to depend on anyone. She tapped her royal blue clogs against the tiled terrace as dinner winded down.
The Morgans treated her like one of their own and Gio was sweet. She half expected fireworks between Peter and Gio’s brother, but nothing happened there. The disaster of her own thoughts and fears took most of her time, but the quiet gave her a chance to recoup her brain cells to at least think functionally after the spaghetti dish.
The wait staff cleared the table so they could serve the meat dish. If she stayed in Italy with Gio, then this could be her spot to have every meal.
The gentle breeze that swayed the grapevines caught her attention. She sat next to a sexy, handsome man who could be hers, forever.
Somehow, she needed to believe this was not just a dream. Love meant two people were together and depended on each other. At least in theory. She hadn’t seen that as a child, but it was in the books. Gio made her believe the impossible was possible.
Gio’s leg brushed hers under the table. He held out his wine glass and said to the gathered Morgans, “I hope everyone is having a great time.”
Kiwi lifted her wine glass of grape juice to toast with everyone as she said, “Your home is beautiful, Gio.”
“Thank you for all coming.” Gio glanced at Anthony and then at all their guests. “It’s been a pleasure to get to know a few of my half-siblings and I hope we continue to mend our broken family alliances. Our father wanted to keep us all separated though I now understand he wasn’t kind to any of us.”
“Now that’s the truth.” “May he rot in hell.” “Cheers.” And more quick answers were said too fast for her to catch them all.
Agreement was good. Now her own choice should be really easy. All she had to do was get that voice out of her head that always doubted any man. Gio was clearly a Prince Charming type and she needed to say yes.
Jennifer clinked her glass with Peter and coughed lightly so everyone turned toward her. Kiwi took a sip of her juice and quieted as she heard Jennifer tell Gio’s brother, “Anthony, I’m going to return with Peter to his house. We’re getting married.”
Kiwi almost choked on her juice and put it down.
Caro was the first to ask, “Are you serious? Does everything have to revolve around you, Jennifer? We’re having dinner.”
Peter Morgan’s face went unreadable and dark, though Kiwi had no idea why. She had the idea something else was going on with him but he didn’t say a word.
She let the impression pass. Kiwi glanced at Gio, whose dark brown eyes narrowed as he patted his brother on the back with empathy, though his muscled legs beneath the table were tight as fists.
Jennifer had no idea the reaction she’d just created—or maybe she didn’t care. Kiwi massaged his thigh to help Gio relax as Jennifer continued to publicly embarrass Anthony. “You’ve been wonderful, but I’ve loved Peter all my life.”
“What about Belle?” Victoria nudged Peter’s shoulder as she spoke to her older brother.
Peter placed his hand on his sister’s but shook his head. “She’s gone. And my son deserves his father.”
Kiwi’s stomach knotted. She didn’t know any of them really, but something in Peter’s voice made her pause. If she knew them better, she’d guess there was a lot going unsaid.
Victoria’s eyes widened like she too wondered if there was some secret. “Peter…” but then she said nothing else.
Peter nodded.
Kiwi held her breath and hoped whatever secret there was didn’t hurt Gio or his family too much. Peter said, “We’ll talk later, Victoria.”
This needed to end. Kiwi brushed her hand on her neckline, wishing she had her bird pendant. Gio was so tense and this was his home. She forced a smile and scanned the table. “Anything on the news that’s interesting enough to change this topic?”
Caro instantly picked up her phone and scrolled through. �
�Let me see if I can find something funny. I love sharing memes.”
“Caro, you’re sweet.” In the office, Caro often broke the uncomfortable silences with something funny.
Caro’s face drained of color. “Whoa.”
Kiwi leaned next to her friend and asked, “What’s happening?”
Caro tugged her phone back and shook her head, not looked at Kiwi. “Nothing. Let me find something else.”
“Caro, what?” Something inside her skin itched that whatever Caro saw was about her. Kiwi picked up her own phone and saw in full color Gio’s sexy muscular body on a bed with Piper Lacey and the headline: Cocky and Ready. The news continued with discussing how his manhood was bigger than the average porn star. Kiwi’s face heated. “Oh my God.”
Gio narrowed his eyes as he gazed at her. “What’s going on?”
Trust. Her heart raced. She never wanted to be part of a scandal or have to explain to her daughter what sex was for years and years from now. Her eyes watered as she tossed her napkin on the plate and shook her head. “How could you?”
“What?” Gio blinked and stared at her blankly.
She forced herself to be clear. “Yesterday you filmed a sex tape with Piper Lacey?”
“What?” He stood in confusion.
His brother and everyone at the table took out their cell phones.
Goodness. She didn’t need to be a part of this. The House of Morgan was for other people, not her. Her mother had always said men were temporary and not to believe they stayed. She pressed her lips together, tempted to run. Anthony tapped his brother’s shoulder. “Gio, is that you?”
Gio took the phone and paled beneath his olive skin as he watched a small video feed. His gaze flickered to Kiwi as he took a step toward her. “Yes, but-”
“I can’t.” She raised her palm. This was too much. She’d never wanted to be the other woman. Gio, rich and gorgeous, clearly had some feelings for the blonde Piper Lacey. Some things you couldn’t fake. She took a step back and turned on her heel. “I have to go.”
Secret Match Page 10