Summer Romance with the Italian Tycoon

by Jessica Gilmore

  ‘I am so sorry.’ Maddie slipped her hand into his, clasping him tightly. Her hand felt so comfortable, so right. He clung on with no idea how to let go.

  The fact he didn’t want to let go was the most terrifying thing of all.

  ‘I made a vow that day that Arianna would never suffer for my mistakes. That I would always put her first, be father and mother to her. And I also vowed that I would never be so foolish again, never let lust blind me. You want romance, Maddie? You’re not alone. Oh, those people looking at that balcony yesterday, like you, they believe in love, in fate and destiny. But love blinds you, makes you act like a fool. It’s not beautiful or perfect, it’s cruel and demanding. It’s capricious, temporary. Be careful it doesn’t hurt you. You might decide your Earl wasn’t such a bad bet after all.’

  Maddie halted and turned to him, her eyes full of compassion. ‘She really did a number on you, didn’t she?’ she said, her mouth quivering. ‘It’s absolutely fine to learn from our mistakes, Dante, but we shouldn’t dwell on them. And learning means we do better next time. Don’t shut yourself off because of one bad experience. You have a lot to offer the right woman. A lot beyond the castle and the title and the rest.’ She stood on her tiptoes and pressed one light, sweet kiss onto his mouth. He wanted to grab her, consume her, but stood motionless as she pulled away.

  Because she was wrong. He had nothing to offer beyond the castle and the title. The rest had been buried with his wife—and it was no more than he deserved.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ‘DANTE SEEMS VERY taken with you.’ Luciana slid a sly smile Maddie’s way. ‘A sister can tell these things.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ Maddie protested. ‘It’s still just...’

  ‘Still just early days. I know. He keeps telling me the same—as if that will change anything. Just like he thinks he’s doing his best not to look at you when other people can see. But he can’t help it. He thinks I don’t notice but I do.’

  Maddie hid a wince. Luciana was noticing things that definitely weren’t there. Things had been decidedly cool between Dante and Maddie over the last week. It was as if he had shown her too much on the walk through the mountains and it had spooked him—which was probably for the best. Maddie could manage the haughty Conte, could just about handle the passionate man who made her body tremble—but Dante opening his heart, showing her his vulnerabilities was too much for her. She wanted to make things better, to heal him, to show him that love didn’t have to hurt.

  Which was ironic, because seriously, what did she know about love? Besides, Dante was exactly the kind of man she had sworn to steer clear of: rich, titled, owner of the kind of ancient house she could manage in her sleep. She was bred to wed a man like Dante and the whole reason she had left England was to forge her own destiny, not revert to type.

  ‘What a beautiful day.’ Luciana stretched luxuriously. ‘I could lie here for ever.’ It was a perfect day, with the sun delivering exactly the right degree of heat, the light illuminating the mountains and the water so they almost hurt with their intensity and vibrant colour. Maddie and Luciana had brought Arianna down to the small lakeside beach and were lying on sunbeds, toasting themselves, while she splashed around in the shallows with the insouciant resistance of youth to the chill of the water.

  ‘Me too. I can’t believe my next bride arrives tomorrow and my vacation is over.’

  It had been an action-packed few days. They had explored more of Lake Garda, visiting several of the villages and towns along its banks, and spent another day trekking high into the mountains, before taking Arianna to a thrillingly long summer toboggan run. The night before, Dante had carried out his promise—or threat—to take them to the opera and, to her surprise, Maddie had found herself absorbed in the tale of passion and tragedy unfolding on the stage in front of her, swept away by the music and performance.

  Luciana was sharp and funny, Arianna delightful. And Dante the consummate host. Everything would have been perfect if it weren’t for the undercurrent of uncertainty that ran between Maddie and the Conte. That knowledge of something hot and powerful. If only she didn’t know how his muscles felt under her questing fingertips, didn’t know how his skin tasted. Didn’t know the precise shade of blue his eyes darkened to when passion consumed him. She was on edge around him, every nerve attuned to his touch, jumping in response to a casual hand on her arm, her body reacting to the most polite smiles.

  And Luciana watched it all. Of course, she thought they were hiding a real relationship from Arianna. She had no idea they were covering up a real temporary relationship from each other.

  Luciana turned to look at Maddie, her expression hidden behind her oversized sunglasses. She was a formidably beautiful woman, tall and voluptuous with an air of complete certainty that everyone wanted to be near her, would indulge her. And they did. She was a universal favourite with all the castle staff, could coax Dante into anything. Maddie envied her poise, her appetite for life. ‘Do you get much time off when there are weddings here?’

  ‘Not much.’ Maddie closed her eyes as she felt the sun soak straight into her bones. ‘There are always other people on duty, of course, but I like to know what’s going on at all times.’

  ‘But your guests don’t stay for the full week? The castello is back to normal two days a week?’

  ‘They usually arrive on Friday afternoon and are gone by lunchtime on Wednesday,’ Maddie confirmed. ‘It gives us plenty of time to set up for the next family.’

  ‘Hmm. That gives me an idea, but I need to speak to Dante. Talk of the devil. Dante, cara, over here.’

  She waved and Maddie’s heart jumped at the sight of the tall figure walking towards them. She suddenly felt exposed in nothing but her bikini, even though the sensible black design covered far more of her body than Luciana’s flamboyant leopard-print confection.

  ‘Ciao.’ He stood in front of them so Maddie would have to crane to look up at him. Instead she focused her gaze firmly out on the lake, watching Arianna practising her dives off the jetty. ‘Luciana, I meant to ask. Do you want me to drive you to the train station tomorrow or are you hiring a car and driving to Lucerne? I’d lend you one of the castello four-wheel drives but you’re flying back from Switzerland, aren’t you?’

  ‘In a hurry to be rid of me, mi hermano?’

  ‘Not at all,’ he said. Maddie could feel his gaze on her and could almost read his mind. When Luciana went they would no longer have any need to pretend, no reason to spend any time together. Relief mingled with regret. Maddie would ready herself to leave and Dante would sink back into the same solitary life he’d been determinedly not enjoying for the last five years. She brushed away the twinge of regret. That was his choice.

  ‘But,’ he continued, his gaze still burning into Maddie, ‘I know you only have a week left and Mama is missing you too. It would be selfish of me to keep you from her.’

  Luciana didn’t answer for a few moments and when she did she didn’t answer her brother directly. ‘It’s Mama’s birthday in two weeks’ time.’

  ‘Si. I am planning for Arianna and myself to spend a couple of days in Lucerne and to take her out for lunch.’

  ‘Lunch? For her sixtieth birthday? For shame, Dante.’

  ‘As she won’t admit to a day over fifty-four, I’m not sure it matters,’ he said drily. ‘What do you suggest instead?’

  ‘A ball. Here, like the ones we used to have. Oh, Dante. It would be gorgeous and Mama would be so happy. What do you say?’

  Maddie stopped pretending not to listen, turning to Luciana in surprise as Dante exclaimed, ‘A what? Impossible!’

  ‘Why? Maddie has told me that there are no wedding guests staying here on a Wednesday or Thursday night. We could hold the ball on a Wednesday. Set up as soon as your wedding guests have gone. Oh, Dante, remember the balls Mama and Papa used to hold? The music and the dresses—flowers everywhere. So elega
nt. I couldn’t wait for the day I could stop peeping through the gallery and actually attend myself...’ Luciana stopped, lost in a nostalgic reverie and, despite herself, Maddie caught Dante’s grimly amused eye. He grimaced at her before returning his attention to his sister.

  ‘And when do you propose to hold this ball? Next week?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. That doesn’t give us nearly enough time. No, the week after.’

  ‘The week after!’ Maddie exclaimed as Dante said, ‘You’re serious?’

  ‘Of course I’m serious.’ Luciana sat up and removed her sunglasses, all the better to fix her brother with a hard stare. ‘It’s our mother’s sixtieth birthday, Dante. She was still in mourning for her fiftieth. Remember? I persuaded her to come over to New Zealand, but her heart wasn’t in it. Let’s give her the kind of party Papa would have wanted her to have. I know it’s short notice and I know it’ll be a lot of work, but if we all work together I’m sure we can do it.’

  ‘You won’t even be here in two weeks!’

  Luciana smiled up at her brother. ‘I can change my flight. In fact, I spoke to Phil yesterday and he’s going to see if he can get the school to let the boys have a couple of weeks off. It would be lovely to show them the place I grew up in.’

  Maddie couldn’t help but admire Luciana’s almost arrogant confidence that events would pan out just the way she’d decided. ‘So you’d stay here and not go to Lucerne?’ Maddie held her breath as she waited for the answer. She had promised Dante a week—and that week was almost up. She didn’t know if she could manage another fortnight. Especially while he was so cold and shuttered whenever they weren’t with Luciana.

  ‘How could I leave with so much to do? Mama will get the train across to us—or Dante could collect her.’

  ‘You have got it all planned out.’ But to Maddie’s surprise, Dante didn’t sound so horrified by the idea.

  ‘I know it sounds impossible. But whatever strings you can’t pull, Dante, Maddie can. She knows everyone. I knew this was possible yesterday morning when I waited with her in her office. She was charming florists and suppliers until they were promising far more than she asked for. Besides, we have a whole castle’s worth of staff to help; the chefs will be delighted to have the opportunity to impress Mama’s society friends and your business contacts. How long since the terraces have been used to entertain, huh?’

  Maddie had always thought it a shame that the dramatic terraces with their views of the lake and gorgeous fountains and colourful flowerbeds weren’t open to the wedding guests, not even for photos. Guido had told her that the insurance was too prohibitive but she suspected it was more that Dante wanted to keep part of the castello private. She turned and stared over at the Castello Falcone with narrowed eyes, imagining lanterns lighting the steps, little tables and chairs set out on the lawns, a marquee down here by the lakeside... String quartets on the terraces, something more bluesy here and a proper dance band in the Medieval Hall. ‘But who would come on such short notice?’ she asked, reality reasserting its prosaic head.

  To her surprise the brother and sister looked at her with identically amused—and slightly smug—expressions.

  ‘The first party at the Castello Falcone in over a decade?’

  ‘The problem will be stopping gatecrashers, not getting people to come.’

  ‘Many of Mama’s friends spend the summer in the lakes and mountains anyway. No one is an impossible distance away. And those who are further away or abroad? I’m sure there will be some quickly cancelled plans,’ Luciana said. ‘There are plenty of unused bedrooms; we can easily put up the aunts, uncles and godparents in the castello itself. Run coaches down to Riva for everyone else.’

  Dante stared across the lake, brow furrowed in thought. ‘I agree it’s a lovely thought, Ciana, and Mama would love it, but...’

  ‘Then it’s decided!’ Luciana jumped to her feet with the litheness of a girl of sixteen rather than a thirty-something mother of three. ‘Thank you, Dante! I’ll call Mama right now and get the guest list settled and find out when she wants to come and then I’ll call Phil and tell him to get booking flights. I can’t wait for Arianna to meet her cousins. Ari,’ she called over to the still-swimming child. ‘Come back with me? I’m going to call your nonna and then you and I need to plan a shopping trip to Milan!’

  Arianna shouted back her agreement, emerging from the water like an enthusiastic Labrador, shaking water everywhere without a care as she grabbed her flip-flops, bestowed a quick soggy hug on Maddie and her father and ran after her aunt. Dante stood stock-still, staring after his sister, before shaking his head and barking out a short, humourless laugh. ‘I should have known she didn’t need me to actually consent. As soon as she thought of it, the ball was a done deal.’

  ‘At least Arianna will be happy her aunt’s staying longer,’ Maddie said cautiously, horribly conscious that this was the first time she and Dante had been alone in the week since they’d returned from their mountain walk. She didn’t want to look at him but her gaze was inexorably drawn to his. He looked tired, stubble on his usually clean-shaven jaw. Had the last week been as much of a burden for him as it had been for her?

  ‘She’s had a wonderful week. She adores Luciana—and she’s really taken to you. It’s going to be hard on her when her aunt returns home and you leave. I think we’ll return to Roma then; it’ll be easier for her to adjust back in the city. Look, this plan of Luciana’s; she’s obviously expecting you to help. It’s not part of your duties. I’ll talk to her.’

  ‘No, honestly, Dante, it’s fine. I don’t mind.’

  His brows rose. ‘You don’t mind suddenly having to organise a ball for what, I will warn you, will probably be two hundred people in just over ten days?’

  ‘Not at all. It’s not like I’ll be doing it all alone and Luciana’s right—we have a lot of expertise here in the castle. Besides, she’s counting on my help. I don’t want to let her down.’

  ‘Did she ask you to help?’

  ‘Not exactly. I’ve only just heard about it as well. But I would have said yes anyway. I like to be useful.’

  ‘Tell me, Madeleine Fitzroy. Do you ever say no or are you so desperate to be needed that you’ll say yes to anything that comes your way? Seven-day weeks? Impromptu balls? Marriage to a man you don’t love? A fake relationship? Did I even need to agree to financial inducement or would you have agreed anyway? Always accommodating everyone but yourself.’

  Maddie froze at the mockery in Dante’s voice. She’d thought—what? That maybe he liked her just a little too much; that was why he’d kept his distance from her. Stupid girl. He thought her a doormat, nothing more. And he was right.

  She clambered to her feet with a tenth of the lithe grace Luciana had displayed, hurt making her limbs clumsy as she grabbed her sundress, wrapping it around her body as if it were armour, securing the belt with unnecessary vigour. ‘I’m saying no to this conversation.’ Proud of how strong her voice sounded, she stuffed her feet into her sandals and took off, away from the castello and duty and a family she was once again on the outside of. She didn’t much care where she walked. She just needed to get away.

  * * *

  ‘Damn.’ Dante cursed as he watched Maddie march away, tall and elegant—and hurt. Hurt he had caused with hateful words. Words designed to provoke a reaction. Any reaction. Which made him no better than Violetta...

  Maddie had been so hard to read all week. Friendly with Luciana. Sweet with Arianna. Courteous and polite to him, no less, no more. She’d fulfilled their brief perfectly. Luciana was sure they were mad for each other, was urging him to make it public. ‘Only people hot for each other are so very cool,’ she had told him gleefully.

  But Maddie had been very careful not to catch his eye, not to be alone with him. Her hand hadn’t sought his, her smiles were for others. There had been no intimacy, verbal or otherwise, since they
had walked back from the mountain. Since he had opened his heart to her.

  But, he hadn’t reached out either. Hadn’t wanted to overstep, take her generosity for granted. Had he—maybe—come over as a little stand-offish? Violetta’s angry words rang in his head, as clear and potent now as they were five years ago: ‘You are a statue, Dante. Carved out of nothing but marble. No emotion, no fire. I need a real man.’

  Was that what Maddie had seen this last week? A statue? Had he used up all his openness as they walked down the mountain before retreating behind his mask? Dante suspected the answer might be yes. Even last night, at the opera, he had confined himself to commonplace remarks about the music and plot, been assiduous in providing refreshments and making sure Maddie and Luciana were comfortable, but he had barely even told Maddie how beautiful she was—and she had looked spectacular in a dark blue jumpsuit, her hair twisted into a loose braid. Nor had the music swept him away as it usually did. He’d been too on edge, distracted.

  ‘Accidenti,’ he cursed again and then, before he could remind himself why keeping his distance was a good thing, he took off after Maddie, jogging along the river path.

  It didn’t take long to catch her up; she was standing by the lake just a few hundred metres along the path, staring into its blue depths, her expression as inscrutable as ever.

  ‘Mi perdoni. I was very rude. It was inexcusable.’

  Maddie didn’t answer for a long moment. When she did her voice was bleak. ‘Yes. You were. But it doesn’t mean you weren’t right.’

  ‘I have no right to judge you; I barely know you.’

  She flinched at his words. ‘No. I don’t suppose you do. I don’t suppose anyone does. Not even me. That is what this time away from England is supposed to be—trying to find out who I am when I strip away family and strip away obligation. But all I did was get caught up in your family dramas.’