“Would I steer you wrong? Didn’t I teach you everything you know about women?” Max grinned.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Jack teased, but he was raw with nerves. If Maddie wouldn’t have him…
“Just tell her what’s in your heart and it will be fine. I wish you all the luck,” Max said. “And every happiness.”
Jack knew he’d need every bit of luck he could get. Then he heard Maddie’s voice in his head. He didn’t have to work to prove himself; he had to work to be happy. And he’d work the rest of his life to make her happy, too.
Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE
FOR as long as she could remember, Maddie had dreamed of seeing Florence, but her dreams had never included seeing the beautiful city alone. And she hadn’t realized that part until Jack had shown up.
Pain sliced through her and it was all his fault. He was irritating and sweet in equal parts. Tracking her down. Pleading his case. Then disappearing. Actually, she’d walked away, but he’d said he would see her again and he hadn’t shown up all day. What was he playing at? And no matter what he said, she couldn’t afford to believe this wasn’t a game to him. But a part of her couldn’t reconcile the fact that he’d come all the way to Florence to see her. It was nothing more than a man who wasn’t used to taking no for an answer.
Now she was in the back of a car riding through the city thanks to the hotel’s outstanding customer service. Just because her room-service breakfast had been late, they’d insisted on making it up to her with dinner at one of Florence’s most highly recommended restaurants. As they drove she looked at the buildings—historic churches and their ornate architecture, statues, palazzos and piazzas. All dressed up in bright lights.
It was everything she’d expected it would be and yet she’d never experienced quite this depth of loneliness. She didn’t know where Jack was, but she carried him with her in her memories. Everywhere she looked there were reminders of him. The hotel suite—the last time she’d stayed in one, he’d been with her. Having a car and driver at her disposal was a Jack Valentine touch. Though she’d tried to protect herself from the type of men who were bad for her, she’d fallen for the rogue who’d been right in front of her.
“At least I’ll always have Florence,” she said softly as the car turned into a lot.
She looked at the white building with the red-tiled roof. In the distance was a panoramic view with the lights of Florence and the Arno valley that took her breath away. The sight distracted her for several moments and she didn’t immediately realize that the parking lot was deserted.
Maddie sat forward and said to the driver, “Paolo, are you sure this is the right place?”
“Sì,” he said in his heavy accent. He was a very handsome, thirtyish Italian with all the charm Italian men were reputed to have. “The hotel concierge personally gave me the address. This is Carpe Diem.”
“Seize the day,” she whispered. The name reminded her of Jack.
Paolo opened her door. “Shall I go in with you, miss?”
“I’ll be fine.” She slid out. “But it doesn’t look like the place is open so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t leave.”
“Never,” he vowed. When he grinned, his teeth were very white against his olive skin. “I am happy to drive such a beautiful lady.”
He was charming; she was immune. And this was weird. It was time to find out what was going on. She expected to find the restaurant door locked, but when Paolo pulled it swung open easily.
Inside, the dark-haired, dark-eyed hostess in the chocolate-brown jersey dress smiled. “Miss Ford, I am Sophia.”
“How did you know who I am?”
“The hotel told us to expect you.”
It was dinner time at one of the city’s top restaurants, yet the place seemed empty. “Where is everyone?”
Sophia’s smile was friendly. “Follow me.”
Maddie followed through the dimly lit corridor and several arched doorways. Somewhere there was a fountain and the trickling sounds drifted to her. The scent of flowers permeated everything and the sheer romantic ambience tugged at her.
The hostess stopped beside a table set only for two, covered with silverware, white linen, and a crystal vase containing a single red rose.
Maddie turned to Sophia. “I don’t understand—”
“Hello, Maddie.”
It was déjà vu. She whirled around—heart pounding. “Jack!”
He smiled at the young Italian woman. “Thank you, Sophia. I’ll take it from here.”
When they were alone, Maddie glared at him. “What’s going on? You disappear without a word, then scare the wits out of me.”
“I didn’t mean to.” He picked up the open bottle of wine on the table and poured some into the two glasses. “Let’s drink to Florence—the city, not a person.”
With the words came memories of Christmas in London and a whole lot of pain. “No.”
He slid his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks. The cream-colored knit sweater highlighted the contours of his wide chest. “All right. Then, tell me what tourist attractions you’ve seen so far.”
She was about to tell him what he could do with his tourist attractions, then thought better of it. If she knew anything about Jack, it was that he was stubborn. She would get this over with quicker if she went along with his program.
“I’ve seen the Piazzale Michelangelo with its reproductions of the Medici chapel statues from San Lorenzo and Michelangelo’s David. I toured the Ponte Vecchio, which is a wonderful bridge that was the only one spared by the retreating Germans at the end of World War II. I saw Santa Maria del Fiore and the Duomo, which dominates the skyline of the city.” She stopped to take a breath.
“So you’ve been busy in my absence,” he commented. “Is the city everything you hoped it would be?”
No. And that was all his fault. He’d taken the joy out of her world and she didn’t know how to get it back. “It’s a beautiful city.”
His eyes darkened. “Not as beautiful as you.”
“Let’s cut to the chase, Jack. Why is the restaurant empty?”
“I reserved it for our private use. And before you ask, I did conspire with the hotel concierge to get you here. I wanted to surprise you.”
Maddie knew he wasn’t mean-spirited and couldn’t imagine what reason he could possibly have for tricking her. “Why go to so much trouble?”
“Because I have a lot riding on what happens.” His eyes locked on hers until heat settled low in her belly.
“Such as?” Her voice was a raspy whisper that had nothing to do with the echo in the deserted restaurant.
“My life and happiness.” He took her hands in his warm ones and glanced at the rosebud. “This time I don’t want to end with flowers. I want to signify the beginning of our relationship. It’s a single red rose, a single everlasting love. Despite what you believe, I’ve never said this to any other woman. I love you, Maddie. I want to marry you.”
She didn’t get it. He’d had his chance and sent her away.
“Just so we’re clear, I fell into your bed once, but it won’t happen again.”
He dropped her hands. “That’s not what this is about.”
“No? What other reason could you have for showing up here and using the L-word? And the M-word.”
“I suppose I deserve that.” His mouth thinned for a moment. “And, yes, I want you in my bed. I want you now as much as I wanted you when we were in Ireland. But it’s more than sex, Maddie. I want you in my life. I want to have children with you. I want us to grow old together. I want to make you happy.”
She couldn’t take it all in and seized on the first thing he’d said. “You wanted me then?”
“Innocent, Maddie.” His smile was fleeting as he tucked her hair behind her ear. “You have no idea how hard it was for me to let you go that night.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because you shocked the hell out of me when you dr
opped the bombshell that it was your first time. Because you are an awesome responsibility and a profound gift. Because I’m not good enough for you.”
For so long he’d wandered around alone and scared and trying to prove to his father that he wasn’t a loser. It was time he started believing in himself. “I don’t ever want to hear that again, Jack. You’re a good and decent man.”
“Not good enough for you.” He let out a breath. “If I were, I’d walk away right now. But I can’t do it, Maddie. I need you.”
“You’re not talking about business.”
“That’s the last thing I want to talk about,” he said angrily. “This is very personal. I realized after you quit and left me in London that I’ve been in love with you for a very long time.”
Maddie had seen the many faces of Jack Valentine— from charming to tormented—but never this desperation. She could hardly believe—was afraid to believe—this wasn’t a wonderful dream. “If this is a line—”
Anger flashed through his eyes again, turning them dark blue. “I’m not being smooth or charming. I don’t have the reserves left to pull that off. Besides, it wouldn’t work because you’d see right through me.”
That was true. And this angry Jack convinced her more surely of his sincerity than charm or smoothness could have done.
Jack shoved his fingers through his hair. “I’m simply stating the honest truth of my feelings. I love you and I want to marry you. And I won’t settle for less. No compromises.”
“You really do understand me.”
“No man could ever love you the way I love you. No man could possibly love you more than I do and will for as long as I live. You’re perfect for me.” He cupped her face in his palms and his gaze captured and held her own. “You have every right to torture me, but I know you love me.”
“You do?”
Tension rolled from him in waves. “You were ready to give yourself to me. I’ve never respected a woman more than I do you. You have expectations that I find myself wanting to meet. If I hadn’t been so stupid and clumsy… I’d give up everything I own to take back the hurt I caused you, Maddie. Give me a chance. Let me make it up to you.”
She smiled at him as happiness surged through her. “You already have, Jack. And you’re right. I’m in love with you. I love you with all my heart.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them his gaze was clear and carefree and… happy. “This is the most important venture of my life and I want to do it right.” He went down on one knee as he dug in his pocket and pulled out a ring with the biggest diamond she’d ever seen. “Madison Ford, will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Will you marry me here? In Florence? And let me take you on a honeymoon in the city you always wanted to see?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Maddie had never really believed it possible that she could have everything she ever wanted and still stay true to herself. But when Jack stood and took her in his arms, then settled his lips on hers, she knew her bad-boy boss would make all her dreams come true.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6780-4
CRAZY ABOUT THE BOSS
First North American Publication 2006.
Copyright © 2006 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Teresa Ann Southwick for her contribution to The Brides of Bella Lucia series.
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