The Playboy of Rome (6 page)

Lizzie pulled on a white tiny tee with sparkly silver bling on the front in the shape of a smiley face. It was fun, and today she figured she just might need something uplifting. There were decisions to be made.

After she stepped into a pair of black cotton shoes, she soundlessly made her way to the living room, finding it deserted. Where could Dante be? She recalled their conversation last night and she was certain that he’d said the restaurant was closed today.

“Dante?” Nothing. “Dante?” she called out, louder this time.

Suddenly he was standing in the hallway that led to the master suite. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you. Have you been up long?”

She shook her head. “I’m afraid that my body is still on New York time.”

“I’ve spoken to my grandfather.”

Lizzie’s chest tightened. “What did he say?”

Dante paused, making her anxiety even worse. She wanted to yell at him to spit it out. Did Massimo say something that was going to change how this whole scenario played out?

“He didn’t say much. I’m getting ready to go see him.”

She waited, hoping Dante would extend an invitation. When he didn’t, she added, “How far did you say the vineyard is from here?”

He shrugged. “An hour or so out of the city.”

She glanced toward the elongated window. “It’s a beautiful day for a drive.”

He said nothing.

Why wasn’t he taking the hint? If she laid it on any thicker, she’d have to invite herself along. She resisted the urge to stamp her feet in frustration. Why wouldn’t he give in and offer her a ride? She’d already mentioned how much she enjoyed talking to his grandfather on the phone.

Maybe Dante just wasn’t good with hints, no matter how bold they were. Perhaps she should try another approach—a direct one.

“I’d like to meet your grandfather.”

Dante shook his head. “That isn’t going to happen.”

Oh, no. She wasn’t giving up that easily. “Why not? When we talked on the phone, he was very excited about my arrival.”

“Things have changed since then.” Dante walked over and grabbed his keys from the edge of the kitchen counter. “It just wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Did you even tell him that I was here?”

Dante’s gaze lowered. “In passing.”

He was leaving something out but what? “And did you discuss the contract?”

“No. He had a bad night and he was agitated this morning. I didn’t think him hearing about what has transpired since your arrival would help things.” He cursed under his breath and strode over to the door and grabbed his overnight bag.

He was leaving without her.

Disappointment washed over her. She just couldn’t shake her desire to meet the man who reminded her of what she imagined her grandfathers would have been like, if she’d ever met either of her own. But she couldn’t tell Dante that. He’d think she was a sentimental dreamer—and she couldn’t blame him.

How could she ever explain to someone who grew up in a big, caring family with parents and grandparents about the gaping hole in her heart? She’d forever been on the outside looking in. She knew all too well that families weren’t perfect. Her friends in school had dealt with a whole host of family dynamics, but they had a common element—love to bind them together, no matter what. And to have her very own family was what Lizzie had prayed for each night. And at Christmastime it had been the only thing she had ever asked for from Santa.

Instead of a mom and dad and grandparents, she was given Jules—her foster sister. And she loved her with all of her heart. She would do anything for her, including keeping her promise to help Jules reach for her dreams—no matter the price. Because of their dismal finances, Jules had to put off college for a couple of years until Lizzie got her degree. Jules always talked of helping other kids like them. This was Jules’s chance to become a social worker and make a difference, but in order to do that she had to get through grad school first.

Massimo had been insistent that her plan would work. He’d been so certain. And she couldn’t shake her desire to meet him and thank him for his encouragement. “Take me with you. I promise I won’t say or do anything to upset your grandfather.”

Dante eyed her up as though attempting to gauge her sincerity. She sent him a pleading look. Under the intensity of his stare, her insides quivered. But she refused to turn away.

“Even though he insists on meeting you, I will leave you behind if I feel I can’t trust you.”

“So he does want to meet me.” This time she did smile.

“Don’t go getting all excited. I still haven’t made up my mind about taking you with me. You know it’s a bit of a ride.”

Meaning Dante didn’t like the thought of spending yet more time alone with her. To be honest, she couldn’t blame him. She’d basically dropped into his life out of nowhere with absolutely no warning. How could she possibly expect him to react any different?

But then again, she had noticed the way he’d looked at her last night. As if she were an ice cream cone on a sweltering hot day and he couldn’t wait to lick her up. To be fair, she’d had similar thoughts about him. No one had ever turned her on with just a look.

She halted her thoughts. It wasn’t worth it to go down this path. It’d only lead to heartbreak—her heartbreak. In her experience, men only wanted an uncomplicated good time. And she couldn’t separate her heart and her mind. It was so much easier to remain detached. If she was smart, she’d turn and leave now. But she couldn’t. Not yet.

“You can trust me,” she pleaded. “I won’t upset Massimo.”

“I don’t know—”

“If you won’t take me to him, then give me his address. I’ll find my own way there.”

Not that she had any clue how she’d get from point A to point B without a vehicle, but she was certain that Italy had public transportation. That was one of the things she’d discovered when she’d researched coming here. So now Dante wouldn’t stand between her and meeting Massimo.

* * *

Dante hated being put in this position.

All he wanted to do was protect his grandfather—well, that wasn’t quite the whole truth. He didn’t relish the car ride with Lizzie. He was certain she’d keep at him, trying to convince him to change his mind about the television spot. His jaw tightened. He had other priorities with the sale of the
ristorante
to negotiate.

Then this morning when he’d phoned his grandfather to verify that he’d agreed to this television segment, his grandfather had come to life at the mention of Lizzie’s name. After weeks of Nonno being in a black mood, this was the first time he’d sounded even remotely like himself. Dante made every excuse to get out of taking Lizzie to meet him. His grandfather would have none of it.

Unwilling to disappoint his grandfather, he said, “You can come with me on one stipulation.”

Hope glinted in her eyes. “Name it.”

“There will be no talking about the contract or the cooking show this weekend.”

“But the camera crew will be here Tuesday morning expecting to begin filming before the restaurant opens. What will we do? We haven’t even decided how to proceed.”

“Let me deal with them.” He’d already called his solicitor that morning. Even though it was the weekend, this couldn’t wait. He’d pay the exorbitant fees. Whatever it took to find a way out of this mess.

She narrowed her gaze. “You’re going to break the contract, aren’t you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I never agreed to give up two months of my life.”

“But I...I can’t repay the money.”

“What money?”

She glanced away and moved to the window that looked out over the street. “They paid me a portion of the fee up front. And it’s already been spent. I can’t repay them.”

That wasn’t his problem. But his conscience niggled at him. All in all, Lizzie wasn’t bad. In fact, she was smokin’ hot. And when she smiled it was as though a thousand-watt lightbulb had been switched on. But when she opened her mouth—well, that was a different story. She knew instinctively which buttons of his to push.

He wanted to think that she was lying to him just to gain his sympathy, but his gut was telling him that she was being truthful. Those unshed tears in her eyes—those were genuine. There had to be a compromise but he didn’t know what that would be at this point.

Until he figured out what that was, he had to say something to ease her worry. “I can’t promise you this will work out for you. But if you quit worrying while we’re away, I give you my word that I’ll share what my solicitor uncovers before I make any moves.”

She hitched a slender hip and tilted her head to the side. He couldn’t help but smile at the way she was eyeing him, trying to decide if she should trust him. He supposed he deserved it. He had just done the same thing to her.

The strained silence stretched on, making him uncomfortable. “Okay, you’ve made your point. I’ll trust you not to pull the
poor pitiful me
card around my grandfather, if you’ll trust me not to take any action without consulting you.”

Why did he feel as if he’d just struck up a losing deal? For a man used to getting his way, this was a very unsettling feeling.

CHAPTER SIX

T
HIS
WOULD
IMPRESS
HER
.

Dante maneuvered his low-slung, freshly waxed, candy-apple-red sports car around the street corner and slowed to a crawl as he approached the front of the
ristorante
. Lizzie stood on the sidewalk with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder and her face lifted toward the sun. She didn’t appear to notice him. The sun’s rays gave her golden mane a shimmery glow. He wondered if she had any clue how her beauty commanded attention. Something told him she didn’t. There was an unassuming air about her.

Without taking time to consider his actions, he tramped the brakes and reached for his smartphone to snap her picture. It wasn’t until he returned it to the dash that he realized how foolish he was acting. Like some schoolkid with a crush on the most popular girl in school.

Back then he’d been so unsure of himself—not knowing how to act smooth around the girls. That all changed after he moved to Rome. Away from his father and brother, he’d grown more confident—more at ease with the ladies.

His older brother, though, always had a way with the women...but Stefano had eyes for only one girl, even back in school. They’d been childhood sweethearts until it came to a devastating end. The jarring memory brought Dante up short.

He eased the car forward and parked next to Lizzie. He jumped out and offered to take her bag, but she didn’t release her hold. In fact, her grip tightened on the straps. What in the world?

“I just want to put it in the boot. There’s no room inside the car. As you can see, it’s rather compact.”

She cast him a hesitant look before handing over the bag. He opened the door for her. Once she was seated, he stowed her bag with his. He was surprised how light she packed. He’d never met a woman who didn’t need everything including the kitchen sink just to go away for the night. Lizzie was different in so many ways.

And now it was his chance to impress her with his pride and joy. Anytime he wanted to make a surefire impression on a woman, he pulled out Red. He’d bestowed the name upon the luxury sports car, not just because of its color but because the name implied an attitude, a fieriness, and that was how he felt when he was in the driver’s seat.

“Ready?” He glanced at her as she perched a pair of dark sunglasses on her face, hiding her expressive eyes.

“Yes. I’m surprised you’d choose to drive.”

“Why wouldn’t I drive?” He revved the engine just because he could, and he loved how the motor roared with power.

Who complained about riding in a fine machine like this one? He’d dreamed about a powerful car like this all of his life, but his father made him wait—made him earn it on his own without dipping into his trust fund. At the time Dante had resented his father for standing in his way. Now Dante found himself grateful for the challenge. He’d learned an important lesson—he could accomplish whatever he set his mind to. Even his father had been impressed with the car, not that he’d said much, but Dante had seen it in his eyes the first time he’d driven up to the villa.

Lizzie adjusted her seat belt. “I thought I read somewhere that people utilize public transportation here.”

He glanced at her as he slowed for a stop sign. Was she serious? She’d prefer the train to his car? Impossible. “I thought the car would be more convenient. We can come and go as we need.”

“Oh. Right. And do you always run stop signs?”

“What?”

“There was a stop sign back there. Didn’t you see it?”

“Of course I did. Didn’t you notice how I slowed down and checked that there was no cross traffic?”

“But you didn’t stop.”

His jaw tightened as he adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. “Are you always such a stickler for rules?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“It depends.”

Silence settled over them as Dante navigated them out of the city. Every now and then he sneaked a glance at Lizzie. She kept her face turned to the side. The tires clicked over the brick roadway as Rome passed by the window. The cars, the buildings and the people. He’d never been to New York City and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was as beautiful as Rome. The lush green trees planted along stretches of roadway softened the view of block-and-mortar buildings. Thankfully it was Sunday, so the roadway wasn’t congested with standstill traffic.

They quickly exited the city. Now was his chance to find out a little bit more about her before she met his grandfather. His gut told him there was a lot she was holding back. It was his duty to make sure there weren’t any unpleasant surprises that might upset his grandfather. Dante assured himself that his interest was legitimate. It had absolutely nothing to do with unraveling the story behind the sad look in her eyes when she thought no one was watching her.

“Where in New York do you come from?”

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed how her head swung around quickly. “The Bronx. Why?”

“Just curious. I figured if we’re going to be spending some time together, we might as well get to know a little about each other.”