The Playboy of Rome (21 page)

“What? But why would you do that?” His father put out his cigar in a nearby ashtray before approaching Dante. “Let’s walk.”

Dante really didn’t want a lecture from his father, but what did it matter? He couldn’t be more miserable. His father led him off toward the vines. When people wanted to be alone, the vines always offered solace.

“Son, I know you never had a chance to know your mother, but she was an amazing woman. You remind me a lot of her. I know if she were here she’d insist that I give you some advice—”

“Papa, I don’t need advice. I know what I’m doing. I won’t end up like you.” He realized too late that he’d said too much.

“You sent Lizzie away so you wouldn’t end up miserable and alone like your old man, is that it?”

Dante couldn’t deny it, so he didn’t say anything. He kept his head low and concentrated on the path between the vines, which was barely wide enough for them to walk side by side.

“I’ll admit it,” his father said. “I didn’t handle your mother’s death well. I never expected to be alone with two young boys to raise. I...I was scared. And...I took my anger and frustration out on you. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve it. Not at all.”

What did Dante say to that?
You’re right
didn’t seem appropriate.
No big deal
wouldn’t work either because it was a big deal—a huge deal.

“If you had to do it over again—falling in love with Mama—would you?”

“Even knowing how things would end, I’d still have pursued your mother. She was amazing. When she smiled the whole world glowed. Loving your mother was one of the best parts of my life.”

“But you...you always look so sad when anyone mentions her.”

“And that’s where I messed up. I closed myself off from life. I dwelled so much on my loss—my pain—that I couldn’t see clearly. I missed seeing what I was doing to my family.”

“Is that why you never married again?”

Papa nodded. “I was too consumed with what I’d lost to see anything in front of me.” He ran a hand over his face. “I can’t go back and change any of it. My only hope is that you boys don’t make the same mistakes. Love is like life—it’s a gift not to be squandered.”

Dante studied his father’s face, trying to decide if his father was being on the level with him. “Are you serious? You’d be willing to give love another try?”

“If the right woman came along. What about you? Do you love Lizzie?”

Dante’s heart pounded out the answer before he could find the words. He nodded. “But how do I live knowing that something might happen to her? That someday I might be alone?”

His father gripped his shoulder. “You don’t. You just have to cherish the time you have together. No one knows the future. But by running from love, you’re going to end up old and alone anyway.”

Dante hadn’t thought of it that way. In fact, if it weren’t for Lizzie, he wouldn’t be having this conversation with his father. Somehow Lizzie had worked her magic and reconnected him with his family.

His father cleared his throat. “Here’s something else for you to consider. You’ve always known you’re different from me and your brother. It’s your mother’s genes coming out in you. I know sometimes that drove a wedge between us. But that doesn’t mean that I love you any less. Sometimes being different is a good thing.”

Really? And here he’d been punishing himself for being so different from his father and brother. But if he differed from them in his choice of professions, why couldn’t he be different when it came to love? Maybe there was a chance his story would end differently than theirs.

“Now, what are you doing standing here talking to me?” His father gave him a pointed stare, like when he was a boy and had forgotten to do his chores. “Go after the woman you love.”

Dante turned to the villa when he realized that he didn’t have his car. And the next train was hours away. He didn’t have time to waste if he was going to catch Lizzie and beg her forgiveness.

“Hey, Papa, can I borrow the truck?”

His father reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a key ring. “You know it’s not fancy like that sports car of yours.”

“That’s okay. I’ve learned that sort of stuff isn’t what makes a person happy.”

Lizzie had taught him that lesson.

Now he had to track her down, even if it meant flying to New York. He’d beg her forgiveness. Whatever it took, he’d do it.

Maybe he and his father weren’t all that different after all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

H
OW
COULD
SHE
have let herself get caught up in a dream?

That was what this whole trip had been—one amazing dream. And now Lizzie had awakened to the harsh glare of reality. The truth was no matter how much she wanted to believe that Dante was changing, he was never going to be willing to let his guard down enough to let her in—even if she’d foolishly let him into her heart.

After Dante had left, she’d spent the night lying in the dark reliving her memories of Dante—memories that she’d treasure for a lifetime. Because no matter how the fairy tale ended, it’d still been a dream come true—falling in love under the Italian sky and kissing the man of her dreams in a breathtaking vineyard.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she called the taxi service to take her to the airport. She took one last look around the apartment, but she couldn’t bring herself to walk down the hallway to the master suite. Some memories were still too raw for her to delve into.

With the front door secure, she made her way down to the restaurant. With it being Sunday, it was closed. Maybe she had time to slip inside and—what? Remember the time she’d spent there with Dante? No, that wasn’t a good idea. There was only so much pain she could take.

Would that taxi ever show up?

At the sound of an approaching vehicle, she turned. She frowned when all she saw was an old truck ambling down the road. Needing something to distract her, she reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She’d been putting off calling Jules for as long as possible. Her foster sister would be full of questions as soon as she learned that Lizzie was catching an earlier flight than was planned.

Her fingers hovered over the keypad. How was she going to explain this?

“Hey, are you here for the hostess position?” came a familiar voice from behind her.

Lizzie spun around to find Dante leaning against an old truck. “What are you doing here? I mean, what are you doing back so soon? Is the party over already? You did have the party, didn’t you?”

She was nervously rambling and he was smiling. Smiling? Why was he smiling? The last time she saw him, he’d looked miserable.

“The party is probably still in full swing. Once my family gets started, it goes on and on.”

“That’s good.” She didn’t want to think that anything she did would ruin this special day for Massimo. “I...I’ll be out of your way in just a minute.”

“Don’t go.”

“What?” Surely she hadn’t heard him correctly.

Before Dante could repeat himself, a taxi pulled over to the curb. She should feel relieved, but she didn’t. Whatever Dante’s reason was for returning early, it was none of her business. He’d made that abundantly clear before he left yesterday.

Lizzie turned and slung her purse over one shoulder and her carry-on over the other shoulder. She grabbed the handle of her suitcase and turned in time to see Dante leaning in the window of the taxi, handing over a wad of cash. What in the world?

As she approached them, Dante straightened and the taxi pulled out.

“Hey! Wait!” She was going to miss her flight. The last one for the day. She turned on Dante. “What did you go and do that for?”

“We need to talk.”

She frowned. She wasn’t up for another battle of words. She was bruised and wounded from their last go-round. All she wanted was to be alone to lick her wounds. “There’s nothing left to say.”

“I’m sorry.”

His words caused the breath to catch in her throat. This time she was certain about what she heard. But whether he was talking about how he’d dumped her or whether he was referring to dismissing the taxi, she wasn’t sure.

“About what?”

“Let’s go inside and talk.” He moved to the restaurant door and unlocked it. When he held it open for her, she didn’t move. “I promise that if you hear me out and you don’t like what I have to say that I’ll drive you to the airport myself.”

She glanced at her wristwatch. “You’ve got five minutes.”

“Fair enough.”

She must be losing her grip on reality. What other reason would there be for her to agree to put herself through more heartache and pain?

Her feet felt as though they were weighed down as she walked inside the oh-so-familiar restaurant. She really was going to miss this place and the amazing people that she’d gotten to know here—most of all, she’d miss Dante.

She stopped by the hostess desk and turned to him. “What is it you want?”

“You.”

“What?” Her lack of sleep was not helping her make sense of what he was telling her.

“I want you, Lizzie. I love you.”

Her heart tripped over itself. She’d been waiting for so long to hear those words, but before she went flying into his arms, she needed to understand. “But what about yesterday?”

“I panicked. When I got a phone call telling me that you’d been in an accident, I overreacted. It seems like the DeFiore men are destined to grow old alone and I thought— Well, it doesn’t matter. All I could think about is that if I lost you I’d be devastated and unable to go on.”

Really? No one had ever cared about her that much.

“But if you felt that way, how were you able to just dump me?”

“I thought that by protecting myself that I wouldn’t be hurt. But my father pointed out the fallacy of my logic—”

“Your father? You two were discussing me?” She wasn’t so sure how she felt about that detail.

“Thanks to you, we had a talk that was long overdue.” He looked around at the restaurant and then back at her. “You opened my eyes to a lot of things including how much I love this place...especially with you by my side.”

Her heart tap-danced in her chest. “Do you really mean that?”

He peered deep into her eyes. “I love you with all my heart. And I would be honored if you’d consider staying here and running Massimo’s with me.”

“I couldn’t think of anything I’d like more.”

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her. “I promise no more panic attacks as long as you promise not to take up skydiving.”

“Now that’s a promise I can readily make.” She smiled up at him as she slipped her arms up over his shoulders. “I’m scared of heights.”

“So we’re partners?”

She nodded. “But I think we should kiss to make it official.”

“I think you’re right.”

His head dipped. Their lips met and the rest of the world slipped away.

At last Lizzie was home.

EPILOGUE

A month later

T
HE
CLINK
OF
champagne flutes sounded in the empty dining room.

“To the most amazing man.” Lizzie stared into the eyes of the only man she’d ever loved. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Dante pressed a kiss to her lips that promised more to follow. And soon.

“Can you believe we were on television? Our grand premiere.” Lizzie couldn’t keep a silly grin from her face.

“And you were amazing.”

She waved off his over-the-top compliment. “I think those bubbles are going to your head.”

“Nope. It’s just you.”

“Can you be serious for just a minute?”

The truth was that she had never been this deliriously happy in her entire life. Even the evenings she’d spent sitting next to Dante on the couch watching soccer...erm, football made her smile. And she never thought she’d ever appreciate sports, but Dante was opening her eyes to football and so much more.

“I can be serious. As long as it doesn’t take too long.” His gaze dipped to her lips.

When he started to lean forward, Lizzie held out her hands. “Dante, do you think of anything else?”

A lazy smile pulled at his lips. “Not if I can help it.”

“Well, try for just a second.”

His tempting lips pursed together. “What’s on your mind?”

“What do you think about the television studio’s offer to give us our own show?” They’d just received the call and Lizzie was too excited to trust her own reactions.

“I can think of something I’d like better.”

She searched his face to see if his mind was still in the bedroom, but his expression was totally serious. “What is it?”

“How about you become my partner?”

“Well, of course I’ll be your partner. That’s what the studio is interested in. You and me working together—”

“No, I don’t mean that.” He took her hand in his and looked deep into her eyes, making her heart skip a beat. Then he dropped to his knee. “I mean I want you to be my family.”

The breath hitched in her throat as tears of joy obscured the view of the man she loved with all of her heart. She blinked and the tears splashed onto her cheeks. With effort she swallowed the lump of giddy emotion in her throat.

“I can’t think of anything I’d like better.”

He got to his feet and encased her face in his palms. “I’m sorry I’m unprepared but I hadn’t been planning to propose tonight. I’ve been playing it over and over in my mind. And I just couldn’t wait any longer.”

She stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. Her heart thumped with excitement. She didn’t know how it was possible but she’d swear with every kiss it just kept getting better and better.

When Dante pulled away, she pouted. He smiled and shook his head. “I take it that was a yes?”

“Most definitely.”

“I have one more serious question.”

“Well, ask it so we can get back to the good stuff.”

He laughed and she grinned.

“I have an idea and I don’t know how you’ll feel about it, but what about having the wedding at the vineyard?”

She couldn’t think of a more romantic spot on the entire earth. “I love it but...”