by Nina Singh
“How did you find out?” she asked.
He let out a deep breath. “I can hardly remember. During one of our Italy visits when a distant uncle didn’t realize I was rather fluent in Italian. I was fairly young, but not too young to understand what had just been revealed.” There’d been no point in anyone denying it wasn’t true. His mom had taken off one day, leaving nothing but a note behind that she’d found someone else. Gianni had never been told all the details, but something had made her return to Franco even as she carried another man’s child.
“Everyone just sort of ignored it,” he told Laney. “And I was just a kid. So I followed along.”
“And you’ve kept it to yourself? All these years?”
“Not really. After college, I visited Aunt Rosa. She was the one person who I knew wouldn’t lie to me. She confirmed my suspicions in not so many words.”
Laney reached over the arm of her chair to rub the top of his hand. A small gesture, but one he found oddly soothing. “She clearly loves you, Gianni. I can tell just from these past few hours that she loves you deeply. I have three aunts. None of which I can say I’m particularly close to.” She pointed back toward the house. “Not like what I witnessed in that house between you and that lady in there.”
Huh. Maybe she did understand, after all. Who would have thought?
“Did you ever approach your mother for answers?”
He released a deep sigh. “I tried. My mother wouldn’t even breach the subject.
“And you stopped bringing it up.”
He shrugged. “What choice did I have? What would have been the point in confronting anyone?”
“How brave of you.”
He had to chuckle at that. “How in the world is any of that being brave?”
Her hand tightened around his. “It is. You never hurt either one of your parents by confronting them. You even work for your father.”
That last part was almost certainly about to change but she didn’t need to know all that. He’d divulged enough to her already.
More than enough.
“We should probably drop it,” he said, tilting his head in the direction of the house. “I don’t want Zia to hear any of this conversation.”
“Of course,” she said, immediately dropping his hand. Gianni felt the loss of her touch right down in his center.
He lifted his glass. “Here’s to family,” he said in a toast that was meant to be ironic. “And to this gorgeous sunset.”
Laney took the cue and remained silent for several minutes. For a good part of the hour, they simply sat and admired the changing colors of the sky and the ocean below it. Eventually, the passersby in the street below slowed to a trickle. The sound of children kicking around a ball had already ceased.
It was probably time to call it a night and get Laney back to her hotel. But when he turned to tell her so, he stopped short. She had her arms folded in front of her. Her chest rose and fell in a steady, slow rhythm. Her head lay tilted on her shoulder.
She was sound asleep.
With a sigh, he stood and went to her, then gently lifted her out of the chair, taking care not to wake her. She really had looked tired. The best thing for her now was just to get some rest. Rosa had a spare bedroom she usually kept clean and ready given all the various visitors she was accustomed to. And he certainly wasn’t any stranger to crashing on a couch now and again. He knew his aunt wouldn’t mind the company.
Walking back into the house, he made his way toward the hallway and back to the spare room. He set Laney down on the spare bed, and threw one of Zia Rosa’s hand-crocheted covers over her.
For one long moment, he simply let himself indulge by watching her. They’d known each other only a short time but had gone through quite a bit together already. No wonder he’d felt at ease enough to share his family’s deep-seated secret with her. Something about her had called to him from the moment he’d laid eyes on her.
Too bad it couldn’t go anywhere. She was the first woman to have him even so much as reconsider his stance about a long-term relationship. Laney Taytum had him thinking all sorts of scenarios he would have previously never considered for himself. But it was all just wishful thinking. They were from completely different worlds. She came from a strong lineage of overachievers and knew exactly who she was. While he was a man who didn’t even rightfully belong in his family and had no idea who’d sired him. She was much too far out of his league.
Finally, he turned to leave, taking care to step softly over the creak he knew was there on the wooden floor under the plush rug.
He was about to shut the door behind him when he heard her low voice in the darkness.
“Please stay.”
He hesitated for just the briefest second. But then resigned himself. He wouldn’t be able to turn her down. Pulling off his T-shirt, he slipped under the blanket and took her in his arms.
He couldn’t even explain what happened next. He meant to give her just a small quick peck on the cheek as a good-night. But she turned her head at just the right moment. Or maybe it was the wrong moment. But his lips found hers. Then he was tasting her mouth, a low groan rumbling in her throat. Her arms wrapped around him, her chest tight against his own. He simply savored the taste of her, blanketed in the warmth of her body. Gentle yet untamed. Full of yearning. He might not ever get enough.
It was over all too soon. Gianni didn’t even know which one of them pulled away first. Both of them remained silent for several beats, the kiss hanging heavy in the air between them. Finally, Laney released a deep sigh, whether from weariness or regret for the unplanned kiss, he didn’t know and wasn’t sure he wanted to find out. But she didn’t ask him to leave. So he simply held her as she fell asleep, until the morning light woke them both.
* * *
So this was goodbye. Gianni cursed under his breath and tried not think about their kiss that night. He’d been a fool for thinking even for a moment that it might have meant anything more than a temporary lapse in judgement. Laney was leaving for Florence. And he would just have to find a way to forget about her.
Easier said than done.
Now, Gianni watched Laney’s retreating back as she made her way down the platform at the Nocera Inferiore train station, her dark curls bouncing along her shoulders. Rushing because she was convinced she was late.
On her way to sunny Florence.
Amazing just how fast three days had gone by. During his weaker moments over those days, he’d been tempted to offer to travel there with her. Luckily, those temptations passed quickly. For it was better this way, better to make a clean break. He hadn’t spent much time in Florence, thus had no excuse to accompany her as any kind of guide or expert.
He would be of no use to her. Moot point. Not like she’d asked him to accompany her.
Laney Taytum was off on her next adventure. An adventure that had no room for him. He’d set her up to meet one of his distant cousins, just so she wasn’t alone when she first arrived. His part in her travels was over. As was any part he had in her life. Anyway, he had to get back to the States. So much there needed to be attended to. For one, he had to figure out a way to buy out his share of Martino Entertainment Enterprises in case he was no longer wanted as part of the company. His father had been eerily quiet since Gianni had so openly defied him about pursuing Laney’s club. The gym-and-fitness arm was his brainchild. He’d developed and grown that piece and had no intention of letting it go easy.
Starting over with a competing business was always an option but one he’d rather avoid. He just had to get the old man to agree. He almost chuckled out loud. Piece of cake. Trying to convince that man of anything once he made up his mind was like putting out a four-alarm fire by blowing on it.
So much of Gianni’s professional life was up in the air at the moment. Yet another reason he had to forget Laney Taytum existed. Maybe they’d
run into each other on the streets of Boston. Who knew? Perhaps next time he saw her, she’d be accompanied by the man she was meant to be with. Someone more appropriate, who would fit better in her world and with her family.
A rage of emotion he refused to acknowledge as jealousy rushed through his midsection at the thought before he shoved it aside. Any regret he may feel was his burden to bear.
Still, he couldn’t help the deep longing he felt when she turned back to wave at him one more time, then disappeared from his sight completely. That was it, then. No more looking back for either of them. He’d check with his relative to make sure she arrived in Florence safely and that she was settled in well at her next hotel. His cousin Zara had promised to set her up with a reputable tour company who would make sure she was well taken care of.
He hoped she had the time of her life. And he hoped life for her afterward continued to be adventurous and full of happiness. It was no less than what she deserved.
* * *
He really was a lovely specimen. The perfect man, actually. Every muscle chiseled and perfect. His tall imposing frame sent a shiver of excitement up her spine. How long had Laney waited for this moment? Probably her whole life.
Yep, the statue of David was everything she had expected and more.
Just looking at him took her breath away. That had to be the reason for the quaking in her stomach. Pure adrenaline begotten by finally setting her eyes on one of the world’s greatest artistic creations. Only, it didn’t explain the mild nausea that had plagued her since boarding the train from the Amalfi Coast. She pushed back the memories that threatened to assault her mind as she thought about her time there. Gianni hadn’t asked her to stay, not even for another day or so. Nor had he offered to travel with her to Florence. How foolish of her to think even for a moment that he might. He’d felt bad about what had transpired between them in Boston and he’d made up for his mistake by playing tour guide in Positano. Now that his conscience was clear, he was moving on.
Enough. Laney had to move on too. She couldn’t think about Gianni Martino. She was here on the second part of her bucket-list trip, darn it. And she was going to make the most of her time here. Starting with an attempt to sketch the marvelous work of art that stood before her now. Drawing and painting weren’t exactly her strongest creative skills, but she thought she had more talent than what was currently being shown. It seemed to be taking a lot of effort to drag the pencil across the page to form any semblance of a depiction of the statue.
Maybe she should have had more for breakfast. Being in Italy certainly made her ravenous.
Visiting the statue first clearly wasn’t a good idea. She should have started with the paintings farther down the hall. The Madonna with Child would no doubt be breathtaking.
Child. A nagging suspicion crawled into the back of her mind and she almost swatted the thought away. But it persisted.
It couldn’t be.
The sketch pad fell out of her hands. Slowly standing up, she felt the blood rush to her limbs. Several deep, even breaths didn’t do much to settle her nerves.
Could this really be happening? The constant hunger, the fatigue, the mild nausea that hit her without warning. All the clues of the past few weeks started coming together. What if her suspicions were founded? What then? It was too much to think about.
Her sketching was going to have to wait. Right now, she had to get back to the hotel and ask about the nearest pharmacy or medical center. Time seemed to flow into another dimension as she slowly made her way out of the museum. Disoriented and scared, she turned the wrong way before fixing her mistake and turning in the right direction.
An hour later, she had her answer. Laney couldn’t seem to move, blindly staring out the window at the piazza outside. Her mind was a complete scramble. She had bought two tests just to be sure. Both results were the same. She shuddered at the thought of telling her parents. But she would do so and she would make sure everything that came from now on would be her decision and hers alone. She had more than herself to think about now.
And Gianni. Her heart did a little somersault in her chest as she thought of how she would tell him. One of the first things he’d announced about himself was just how much he wasn’t interested in things like getting married or having a family.
She was all alone in this. Same as ever.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SHE REHEARSED HOW her end of the conversation might go one more time before picking up her cell phone. Laney had started the practice during her long trip back to Boston. Somehow, all the rehearsing didn’t seem to be making it any easier. With a frustrated huff, she threw her phone back down on the sofa. She couldn’t do it, couldn’t sum up the courage.
How in the world was she going to tell Gianni that she was pregnant with his baby? Would he blame her?
She could only hope he’d be a better man than that.
There was a very real possibility he’d want nothing to do with her when she told him. Or their child. She would just have to accept that and learn to live with it somehow. Though the thought that Gianni would turn his back on her when she was the mother of his child sliced her with a searing hurt.
Only one way to find out. This was going to be the most important and probably the most nerve-racking phone call she’d ever have to make. And she absolutely couldn’t put it off any longer. She’d been back in the States three days already.
To think, she’d almost deleted his number from her phone. After he’d dropped her off at the train station and said goodbye as if they were never meant to see each other again, it had seemed the most prudent thing to do. Why in the world would it have occurred to her that she’d need to call that number in a few days? They’d been careful. Or so she’d thought.
Her hand shook as she picked the phone up and called up his contact info. Without giving herself another chance to chicken out, she hit the dial icon. And puffed out a sigh in frustration as soon as it went through.
Voice mail.
Or maybe it was a sigh of relief. She hardly knew her right from her left at the moment. She hadn’t even considered she’d get his voice mail. Hormones must be scrambling her brain, given that the possibility hadn’t even occurred to her during all those rehearsals she’d gone over in her mind. She practically flung the phone across the room over onto the love seat.
It rang the second it landed on the cushion. She knew without looking that it had to be him, though it was the standard ringtone. Walking with heavy steps to retrieve it, she clicked on the call without giving herself a chance to chicken out. But no words would come out of her mouth.
“Laney? Is that you?” His voice washed over her like the smoothest waterfall. It had only been a few days since she’d seen him, but it seemed so much longer. A lot had happened.
She’d missed him.
“Laney? Did you just call me?” he asked.
For an insane moment, she thought about lying that it had been a pocket dial. But that would just be putting off the inevitable. She forced her mouth to work. “Yes, it’s me. Hello, Gianni.”
“Hello. Are you calling from Florence? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I mean, no.” Oh, Lord. This call was going so poorly. “I mean I’m calling from Boston. Just decided to cut the trip short a little bit.”
I don’t know if everything is okay.
“Oh. I see. Weren’t you enjoying your trip?”
Not after we parted, she almost said out loud before she caught herself. “Something came up. Something you should know about. It’s why I’m calling. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered you.”
Nothing but silence came through the tiny speaker for several beats. Finally, he spoke. “Sounds serious. Maybe you should just tell me.”
“Well, you might want to sit down. If you’re standing, that is.” Wow. She really wasn’t handling this well at all.
�
�Laney, tell me, sweetheart.”
“Well, it just so happens, that I’m pregnant,” she blurted out, just like ripping off the proverbial bandage. An adequate analogy, given the pain she was experiencing. “I found out in Florence.”
She heard him suck in a breath. “Our weekend in Boston?” he asked.
“Yes. It had to be.”
“Okay. I see.”
“I thought you should know.”
“And you’re absolutely certain?”
What a question. She wouldn’t be calling him otherwise. This wasn’t the kind of news a woman broke on a hunch or guess, after all. “I took two different tests in Italy. Then confirmed with my doctor once I arrived back in the States.”
“Guess that settles it. Are you feeling well?”
“Yes. For the most part.” Physically, she was hanging in there. Her emotional state was another matter entirely. “Just hungry a lot. You know what they say about eating for two.” She chuckled at her own rather lame attempt at lightening the moment.
“Well, uh, thank you. For letting me know.” He paused for what had to be a second. But on her end, it may as well have been a lifetime.
“Uh, you’re welcome?” For the life of her, she couldn’t come up with anything else to say. She’d been right. This really was the most awkward phone call she’d ever made.
“But I thought we were—”
She cut him off. “Yeah. I did too. I guess not enough.”
“Huh. Okay. I see.”
He really had to stop repeating that or she was going to lose her mind completely. Only what he said right after was even worse.
“Yeah. So, listen, can I call you back?”
“Call me back?”
“Uh-huh. I’m actually in the middle of a rather important meeting.”
A meeting? He wanted to interrupt this earth-shattering news she was delivering because of a business meeting? “Oh. Of course. Sorry.” Why in the world was she apologizing? “For interrupting the meeting, I mean.”