Captivated by Her Italian Boss

by Rosanna Battigelli

  Well, he had often felt moments of isolation. Some longer than others. Even during all the social and public events celebrating the success of his first novel. Davide had had no shortage of female company, with beautiful women seeking his attention—and he had sometimes taken what was offered—but despite the satisfaction of his physical needs, his emotional needs had remained unfulfilled. He hadn’t known what exactly he was looking for—and he still wasn’t sure—but none of his dates had tempted him to make a serious commitment.

  As for challenges, the one of raising Bianca had to be the most difficult of any he had faced. He had had no other choice, given the loss of her parents. But it was a challenge he had embraced. He had loved Bianca from the moment he had seen her, and taking care of her was now at the top of his list of priorities, challenges and all. Davide felt a twinge in his chest. Hadn’t his uncle done the same for him and Violetta after both their parents had died?

  Noticing that Neve was paying for some items, Davide strolled toward her. Neve had chosen a set of three unglazed terra-cotta jugs, the small one about the size of a lemon and the largest about the size of a small teapot.

  She handed them to the vendor, who proceeded to arrange them in a sturdy bag with bubble wrap. “I love things that are made from the earth,” she told him in Italian. “And not mass-produced. These are lovely. I have the perfect spot for them in my kitchen.”

  The vendor beamed and told Neve that his family had been making them for several generations, and now he was teaching the trade to his grandchildren.

  Neve thanked him with a smile and was about to take the bag, but Davide reached for it first. “I’ll carry it,” he said. “You can keep looking. You have about forty minutes before the market closes.”

  Neve shrugged, smiling, and continued going in and out of the market stalls, trying on bracelets and bangles, sunglasses and sandals. Davide suddenly realized that he felt a lightness that he couldn’t remember feeling for a very long time. Or was it contentedness?

  On the way back to the castle, Davide put on some quiet music and, glancing in Neve’s direction a few times, he noticed that her eyelids were drooping.

  When he finally brought the vehicle to a stop, Neve shifted a little but didn’t wake up.

  Her chest was rising and falling gently with her every breath. Davide’s gaze settled on her mouth and he felt desire sizzle through him. Right or wrong, he wanted to reach over and taste those lips, feel their curves, savor them oh...so...slowly.

  He closed his eyes for a second. What was he doing? He couldn’t risk losing Neve as a nanny because of his unwanted advances. Don’t ruin a good thing. Davide’s eyes fluttered and he realized with a start that he had actually started to lean toward Neve. He was about to move back, but a flicker made him look across at Neve. Too late.

  Neve was wide awake. Her eyes were so close to his that Davide felt like he could dive right in and swim in their blue-green depths.

  He gave her a crooked smile. “I was just about to wake you, Snow White. We’re home...”

  CHAPTER TEN

  AFTER WAKING UP in the car last night to Davide’s intense gaze only inches away—and feeling his breath gently fanning her face—it had taken every bit of Neve’s self-control not to close the gap and kiss him. To finally feel the lips of the one who had ignited her desire eight years earlier. After a few seconds of holding her breath, she exhaled in relief when Davide moved away.

  Kissing her boss before she officially began her job would not have been a good choice. Nor a very professional one. Walking briskly toward the castle, carrying her bag of pottery souvenirs, Neve reminded herself that although they had been attracted to each other from afar in Valdoro eight years ago, and there was obviously a magnetic force that still existed, encouraging any involvement with Davide Cortese under the current circumstances would be not only unwise, but also foolhardy.

  In the foyer, Davide asked if she’d like to join him for a drink or a cup of tea in the kitchen. She thanked him but declined, her cautious inner voice sounding off warning signals.

  Besides, she was feeling the jet lag...

  Davide gazed at her speculatively. “All right, then, before you turn in, I want to ask you...”

  She paused and waited, her curiosity piqued.

  “I’m flying to Milan tomorrow for a meeting with my publisher at one. Bianca won’t be back until the day after. Why don’t you join me? At least you’d get to see another part of Italy.” He raised his eyebrows. “While I’m at the meeting, you can visit the Duomo and the Galleria if you like. Are you familiar with these places?”

  Neve’s eyes widened. “Only from what I’ve seen in books or videos.”

  The stunning Gothic cathedral that had taken nearly six centuries to build was a place she had always wanted to visit, and who wouldn’t want to peruse the shops of the famous gallery next to it? A spiral of excitement wound its way through her, and she gave him a tentative smile. “I’d love to go. Will we be taking a train? I suppose we’ll have an early start, then?”

  Davide’s mouth curled in amusement. “Not too early. I’ve chartered a private plane. Once my meeting is over, we can meet in the Galleria, and then later, fly back. We’ll have dinner on the plane.” He nodded. “All right, then. Buona notte, Signorina Neve. Sogni d’oro.”

  Neve watched him head toward the kitchen. Yes, she would certainly have sweet dreams tonight...

  * * *

  Davide concealed a smile as he watched Neve’s childlike delight as the private plane picked up speed on the runway at the airport in Valdoro and soon nosed its way upward. The sky was a brilliant blue with no clouds, perfect conditions to enjoy the view. Neve kept track of the flight progress, exclaiming when they flew over the wooded and mysterious landscapes of Sicily and farther north toward Naples, where the dark, looming mass that was Vesuvius made her visibly shiver.

  Their conversation was limited to discussion about the places they passed, with Neve asking questions and Davide answering them.

  When the male flight attendant brought them lunch, Neve’s eyes widened at the sight of the steaming risotto with porcini mushrooms, served on white china with gold edging and accompanied by gold-plated cutlery and white wine that Davide had selected. The second dish consisted of a platter with calamari, cuttlefish and other seafood delights lightly fried to perfection. Strong coffee and a tiramisu mousse ended the meal.

  At Milan’s Linate Airport, a black limousine was waiting for them. It wound its way through the busy streets and made its first stop near the Duomo and Galleria. Davide walked with Neve to the massive sculpted doors of the cathedral. “I know you’ll enjoy the tour,” he said, “and afterward, you can begin your shopping adventure. I’ll text you when my meeting is over, and you can meet me at the front doors of the Galleria.” He gave her a pleasant smile and waited until she had disappeared into the cathedral before striding toward the limo.

  The two-hour meeting to discuss his second novel went as well as could be expected, given that he hadn’t made any progress with it since his sister and brother-in-law’s deaths. His publisher asked him how he and Bianca were doing, and after a shared espresso, had him go over the story line. As Davide recounted what he had written so far and what he still had to accomplish, he felt the desire to write re-igniting within him. Shaking his publisher’s hand and bolstered by his encouragement, Davide left with the resolution to return to his novel...

  Neve was waiting for him at the entrance of the Galleria. She had a couple of shopping bags, one of them from the Duomo and one from a bookstore. He raised an eyebrow.

  “I bought a reproduction of a painting in the cathedral,” she told him, her eyes sparkling, “and in the Galleria, I found a book about brigandage in Calabria. And a pictorial history of Milan that has a lovely section on the history and architecture of the Duomo, which I absolutely loved!”

  During
the flight back to Valdoro, Davide opened up his laptop and started to review the chapters he had written so far. Neve divided her attention between her books and the view. At one point he watched her unnoticed, rapt in her book. He shut down his laptop. The click made her look up and glance at him across the aisle.

  “So other than babysitting and becoming a teacher, what else is there to know about Neve Wilder?” He gazed at her quizzically. “You read, you enjoy traveling, you appreciate good food. What am I missing?”

  Neve closed her book. “Um, I’m not sure what you’re asking...”

  “Do you ski, have a particular hobby, go out dancing on Friday night—”

  Neve burst out laughing. “I’m too exhausted from teaching all week to go out dancing on Friday night. Usually I just curl up with a good book or movie and veg.”

  “Veg?”

  “Relax.” She smiled. “And yes, I ski. And swim and hike. I like to be outdoors as much as I can...”

  He glanced at her ring hand. Neve caught his gaze and blushed.

  “And no, I don’t have a boyfriend...at the moment,” she said a little defensively. And then she cocked an eyebrow at him. “And you?”

  “I’m too exhausted from parenting Bianca to go out dancing on Friday nights,” he said, his mouth quirking. “And I don’t ski—didn’t have time to learn while working on the farm and doing my graduate studies—but I do swim and hike. And enjoy gardening, as you already know.”

  Neve was looking at him intently, waiting for him to go on, and a curious sensation washed over him. She wanted to know if he had a love interest...

  “I’m happily unattached,” he added bluntly, and turned to the approaching flight attendant, who announced that their dinner was ready.

  They lowered their trays, their conversation over, and were served a plate of ricotta cheese and spinach cannelloni in a roasted tomato sauce followed by a mixed salad and pork tenderloin medallions. Dessert was a variety of fresh fruit.

  Relaxing with his espresso, Davide thought that the day with Neve had worked out pretty well.

  And he had to admit that Signorina Neve had some redeemable qualities after all...

  * * *

  At the castle Neve thanked Davide for allowing her to join him on his trip to Milan. She would make it an early night, she said, stifling a yawn, and was looking forward to meeting Bianca in the morning.

  Davide went upstairs to his study and placed his laptop on his desk before heading to his room. In bed, he stared at the opposite wall for a long time, watching the shaft of moonlight change with the movement of the clouds. He thought about the woman in the room across his, and how today he had not seen any indication of snobbery or arrogance. He closed his eyes, not sure if the contentedness he was feeling stemmed mostly from his time with his publisher or with Neve Wilder.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  NEVE WOKE UP before her phone alarm went off. She had heard voices a little earlier and footsteps leading to the room next to hers. Bianca was back. As Neve finished dressing, she felt a flutter of anxiety at her imminent meeting with the child. Generally, she had plenty of confidence when dealing with kids. But with Davide Cortese watching her...

  As she put on her sandals, she heard a cry and then another.

  Was Bianca rebelling at the thought of meeting her? Neve inhaled deeply. Coraggio, she told herself. You can do this. Before she could change her mind, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

  * * *

  Davide rushed into Bianca’s room after her first cry. Lucia had dropped her off a half hour earlier, and she had been playing quietly with her toys while he had gone to his study to return a phone call to his publisher. Now she was sitting on her bed, her face puckered in a frown. Her braids had come undone and she was holding the ribbons within two tight little fists.

  Davide sat next to her and put his arm around her. “Che c’è, Bianca? What’s the matter, sweetheart?”

  “My hair’s wrecked and I want to go to the market!”

  Her voice ended in a wail, and Davide’s jaw tightened as he wondered what strategy he could use to prevent Bianca’s distress from escalating into a tantrum.

  “Come, Bianca, let me fix your hair in pigtails. And then you can have breakfast and you’ll feel better.”

  “I don’t want pigtails!” Bianca’s voice rose. She slid off the bed. “And I’m not hungry! I want to go to the market today!” She ran out of the room, crying, “I want Mommy and Daddy!”

  Davide strode quickly after her. He stopped short in the hall. Neve and Bianca were sprawled on the floor, and Bianca was staring at Neve, looking dazed. Neve’s shapely legs were exposed and realizing that her dress had hiked up, Neve quickly readjusted it, her cheeks flushed as she met his gaze.

  Davide rushed to help them both up. Bianca stood there wide-eyed while he helped Neve.

  After making sure that neither of them had bumped their head, Davide said wryly, “I see you’ve both hit it off with a bang. Bianca, this is Signorina Neve, your new nanny. Signorina—my niece.”

  * * *

  Neve shifted her gaze to the little girl in the white shirt and red jumper who had instinctively reached for her uncle’s hand. Bianca had delicate features, with eyes the color of caramel, and the longest lashes Neve had ever seen on a child. Her hair was golden brown and had tumbled down, showing the pleats from her previously tight braids. Her eyes held a gleam of curiosity and at the same time, suspicion.

  “Ciao, Bianca.” Neve smiled warmly. “I’m so glad you and I didn’t crack like Humpty Dumpty when we fell.” She made her eyes widen deliberately. “Can you imagine? Your poor uncle would have had to pick up all the pieces and put us back together,” she laughed. “And what if he got the pieces wrong and I ended up with your hair? And you with mine?”

  Bianca’s mouth twitched. And then she giggled. “You’re silly!”

  Neve smiled, relieved. Appealing to a child’s sense of nonsense was one of the strategies that often helped defuse a situation in her classroom.

  “Please join me and Bianca for breakfast,” Davide said, his gaze shifting to her.

  “Only if Bianca doesn’t mind having a silly nanny around.” Neve winked at Bianca.

  “I don’t mind,” Bianca said brightly, tugging her uncle’s hand. “Come on, Zio Davide, I’m hungry.”

  Neve caught a flash of surprise in Davide’s eyes. And was that a flicker of approval in his gaze? A warm rush swirled throughout Neve’s body as she recalled how his gaze had swept over her when she had lain on the tiled floor... Blinking, she returned to the present. “I’d like you to come into my room a minute, Bianca. I have a little something for you...”

  * * *

  “That wasn’t necessary,” Davide said curtly. At Bianca’s crestfallen expression, he added, “but it was kind of you.”

  He stood in Neve’s doorway as Bianca pulled the blue tissue out of the gift bag excitedly and then reached inside. He could only see Bianca’s profile from where he stood, and the lips that were starting to quiver as she stared at the plush creature in her hand. An orca. Davide groaned inwardly. It was probably the worst gift Neve could have brought for Bianca.

  Bianca burst into tears, threw down the orca and ran out the door. Davide didn’t stop her.

  She headed to her room, and he would go there very shortly. But first, he had to explain Bianca’s reaction to Neve, who looked as if she had just received an unexpected slap on the cheek.

  “I—I...” She looked at him with her mouth open. “I don’t know why...”

  “I’ll tell you why.” He rubbed his jaw tiredly. “Bianca’s father worked as a tour guide at a whale-watching company in Steveston.” He picked up the plush toy. “This just reminded her that her daddy is dead.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Neve’s voice broke. “I didn’t know—”

  “
No, you didn’t,” Davide said, and the words sounded even more abrupt and bitter than he had intended as he left Neve’s room.

  Today was Neve’s first official day of work as Bianca’s nanny. How long would she last?

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  NEVE SAT DOWN on the edge of her bed. Only minutes with Bianca and she had already screwed up. But how was she to have known? She had bought the orca from a vendor at the Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, thinking it would be the perfect West Coast gift. Neve bit her lip. She could see now that working here would be full of ups and downs. She had imagined that it might be, but the positive start between her and Bianca had given her false hope.

  Of course there would be outbursts and episodes such as this one. Bianca was sensitive, and how much more sensitive could a situation be than one where both your parents were suddenly gone from your life? Forever. She had lost one parent, and that had devastated her...

  No; it was not going to be an easy job. And having Davide around much of the time would be even harder. Watching her with those gleaming black eyes...

  They were not the eyes that had made her adolescent hormones do a wild dance, though. Eyes that had hinted of passion and promise...

  Neve hadn’t seen that look in the guys she had dated. And not that there had been many... After her trip to Italy, none of the guys at university had appealed to her. Somehow, their appearance and manner always seemed so...so young and immature. And none of them had looked at her with the same intense gaze as Davide had...

  She had dated a couple of guys, three years apart, but there had been no sparks. Both had been more interested in trying to get to know her physically than in making an emotional connection. She hadn’t welcomed the pressure; she had wanted to feel something before making that kind of commitment.