Читать книгу Men of Power - Кэрол Мортимер, Кэрол Мортимер - Страница 27

ONCE Julie slipped out the door of the villa, she stopped to breathe in the scent of flowers filling the balmy air.

Paradise found. She wondered if Milton had come here.

The villa faced out on the terraced stone stairway leading down to gardens filled with camellias and orange trees. Cypress trees delineating the property stood tall against the vista of Lake Como and the colorful town below.

Massimo had pointed out several famous eighteenth-and nineteenth-century villas to her before they’d landed in the grounds of his villa. It might be smaller, but as far as she was concerned his home stood out on the lower hillside like a jewel in a gem-studded crown.

Where to go first? The delights of the grounds called to her, but she could enjoy them anytime while she lived here. After the long flight, she was anxious to get her bearings along with some much needed exercise.

Opting for the side stairs off the deep porch, she made her way to the courtyard that led to the main road. Almost at the gate, she noticed an open top sports car turn in, the kind Brent would have killed to own. She quickly moved out of its way.

The light-brown-haired man at the wheel pulled over and got out wearing shorts and a tight-fitting body shirt. He was her brother’s height and looked to be about her own age. His hooded brown eyes reminded her of Lazio’s. They swept over her in male admiration.

“Good afternoon, signorina. You have to be Pietra’s sister-in-law, Julie,” he said in excellent English. “I had no idea you were so bellissima.”

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.” His flirtatious manner reminded her of Brent, not necessarily a good thing. It depended on one’s character.

“Since I couldn’t make it to the funeral, I determined to offer my condolences as soon as possible. How fortunate for me to find you out here with Niccolo. My name is Vigo.”

“Vigo who?”

His mouth turned down in a mock frown. “I can see Massimo didn’t tell you about me.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t tell him I said this, but I’m the nicest Di Rocche in the family.”

Something clicked in her memory. “You must be Sansone’s son.”

His expression brightened. “Si.”

“I haven’t met him yet.”

“I never met your brother. Now that I’ve seen you, I can understand why Pietra ran away with him.”

She could do without his flattery, especially when the mention of Shawn triggered the usual reaction. This time however she was able to prevent her tears from falling. “They were very much in love.”

“Believe it or not, I envied them.” With that comment she couldn’t help but warm to him.

His gaze dropped to the baby sling. By his expression he hadn’t seen anything like it before.

“It does look odd, but Nicky likes it,” Julie explained. “This way he stays right against me.”

He moved to her side to get a better view of the baby, who was still awake. “I would say Niccolo was your bambino except for the eyes. They’re dark like Pietra’s.”

“She was a beauty.”

“Agreed.”

For that remark Julie gave him extra points. “I was just about to take him for a walk into town.”

“Permit me to accompany you.”

She shook her head. “That’s all right.”

“You prefer to be alone? I suffered the heavy traffic all the way from Milano to pay my respects.”

That, plus his crestfallen look, made up her mind for her.

“If you want to.” Massimo had told her to come to him if she felt uncomfortable, but she didn’t. Not with Vigo. “I’m going to play tourist for a while. I’ve never been to Europe. Everything is a new experience.”

He smiled. “I’ve been at university and rarely come to Bellagio. It’s been at least three years. We’ll explore together.”

Vigo turned out to be an entertaining companion. She saw none of the dour traits his uncles exhibited. He bought them ice cream called gelato. After one taste she fell in love with it.

They walked the crowded cobblestone streets and arcaded buildings that gave the town its charm. Used to the hills in San Francisco, she was ready for the steep steps in between the shops. They convinced her a stroller would have been an encumbrance.

Nicky loved being outside. Though not as hot as Sonoma, it was plenty warm. At one point she stopped at a stone bench along the lakeside promenade to give him some water from a bottle she’d packed. He tried to hold the bottle himself and drank thirstily.

Her companion smiled. “Niccolo’s got the right idea. Why don’t we eat dinner at the restaurant we just passed.”

Before she could tell him she had to get Nicky back to the villa, a forbidding male voice said, “Haven’t you got studies, Vigo?”

Julie’s head flew back to confront Massimo’s black look eyeing the three of them intently. Vigo looked startled.

“Buonasera, Massimo. It’s been a long time.” After a tense pause, “I’m sorry about Pietra. I was just telling Julie.”

“Were you indeed,” came the withering comment.

Vigo cleared his throat nervously. “I came to see you, too, but as she was going for a walk, I invited myself along to get better acquainted with Niccolo.” Vigo was putting on a good act, but Julie could tell he was uncomfortable. “I guess I’d better get going.”

The encounter had turned ugly. Julie felt she had to say something. “It was very nice meeting you, Vigo. Thank you for the gelato.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Better call your father on the way to your car,” Massimo rapped out. “He phoned a while ago, no doubt looking for you.”

Vigo looked less than thrilled. He gave him a nod before walking off.

Julie lowered her head because she hadn’t seen this side of Massimo since she’d confronted him at the hotel. This was the side she’d been fearing would resurface.

His tone, his whole demeanor bordered on ice. Nicky must have sensed the tension because he’d stopped drinking.

“I’ll burp him,” Massimo declared. In a lightning move he took the baby from her and put him against his broad shoulder. The next thing she knew he threw up his water and part of his earlier formula.

“Oh, no!” she cried.

It ran all over the open-necked blue sport shirt that complemented Massimo’s burnished complexion. Maybe Nicky’s tummy upset frightened him because he started crying so hard, people were looking at them as if they’d done something terrible to him.

“Here.” Julie pulled out a cloth and would have wiped off his shoulder, but he told her to put it back. “We need to get him to the villa fast. He looks flushed.”

She put her hand on the baby’s forehead. He definitely felt feverish. Massimo was right. This wasn’t like Nicky.

Riddled with guilt, she gathered the sling, then had to run to keep up with him. “I must have kept him out too long, but it doesn’t feel that hot.”

“Maybe it’s the change in climate.” He pulled the cell phone from his rear pocket without missing a stride. “I’ll call Lia to send for Pietra’s physician. She’ll have Dr. Brazzi’s number.”

Following his brief conversation spoken in rapid Italian, they accomplished the walk in record time with Nicky crying all the way. When she noticed Vigo’s car was gone, she shivered in relief.

Massimo took the stairs two at a time to the nursery. After changing the baby’s diaper, he walked the floor with him whispering endearments like any anxious, devoted father. She saw no hesitation in his movements. No second-guessing. He did what came instinctively.

Minutes later Nicky laid his golden head against Massimo’s neck. His cries had become whimpers. In front of her eyes Julie watched them bond.

A lump swelled in her throat to see his little body nestle closer to his uncle, whose wavy black hair provided such a contrast. Nicky had just discovered security in a pair of masculine arms other than his father’s.

Soon Julie heard sounds behind her. When she turned, she discovered Lia had come in the room with a short, middle-aged woman carrying a doctor’s bag. She greeted Massimo warmly, then turned to Julie. After introductions were made, she took the baby from him. Immediately he started crying again.

Julie moved to the end of the crib to watch her take his vital signs. Her heart pounded in fear that something serious might be wrong. Massimo stood next to the doctor, his striking features taut with concern.

While the doctor listened to his lungs, Massimo flashed Julie a glance she didn’t dare examine too closely. He’d been angry earlier. Now this crisis.

“Several things could be responsible for his spike in temperature,” the doctor said, breaking in on Julie’s torturous thoughts. “He could be teething early or he could be coming down with a summer cold. There’s a third possibility.

“Because his fever came on so fast, he could be developing a condition called rosiola, which is very common with infants. They’re grumpy and off their food for a day or two. Watch for a rash.”

“He has one already,” Massimo said before Julie could.

“No, no. This one will cover his trunk and face. But whatever is wrong, it’s not serious.”

“Thank heaven,” Julie cried. Again Massimo eyed her; however, this time relief dominated his expression.

“In all three instances, the treatment is the same. Give him the liquid baby ibuprofen.”

“I brought what Pietra used for him.”

“Good. Follow the directions. Keep him hydrated. If he doesn’t want his formula, coax him first with a little sugar water. It’s an old trick, but it works better than a lot of the products on the market.”

She closed her bag. “Call me if you have any questions.”

“We will,” Massimo asserted.

Julie shook her hand. “Thank you so much for coming.”

“My pleasure. Pietra was a lovely woman. He’s a lovely baby. What a tragedy his parents are gone. He’s going to need all the love you can give him. That’ll get him better in a hurry.”

Tears glazed Julie’s eyes. “We know.”

While Massimo walked her out of the room, Julie reached for Nicky. “I’m going to give you some medicine, then warm you another bottle of formula. We’ll take it slowly until you’re all better.”

Three days later the rash came, signifying that the worst of the rosiola was over. Massimo had taken turns with her getting up with him in the night. During the daylight hours they’d continued to spell each other off.

She’d thought he might leave for Milan to start working, but he stayed home with her. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have thought he was the father.

Thankfully Nicky was taking his formula again. On the fifth day she walked in just as he was making noises to get attention.

“Good morning, you cute little thing.” Julie pulled the baby from his crib to give him a bath.

In a minute she’d filled the sink with warm water and had removed his sleeper and wet diaper. “You don’t have any idea how adorable you are. Your auntie loves you so much.” Before she picked him up, she couldn’t resist kissing his little cheek and neck.

“This looks fun. Can anyone join in?” sounded a familiar male voice full of life.

Massimo—His vital presence behind her set her pulse tripping. He must have just come from the shower. She could smell the soap he’d used. At a glance she saw he was casually dressed in shorts and a T-shirt like she was wearing.

“Wh-why don’t you bathe him,” she said on impulse. “He’d love it, wouldn’t you, Nicky?”

“If you trust me. This will be another of many firsts,” sounded the deep-timbred voice.

Their eyes met briefly before she looked away.

“Through trial and error I’ve discovered you really can’t do it wrong. This is his favorite part of the day. Just lower him gently into the water.”

With painstaking care Massimo followed her advice. Soon the bathroom rang with his rich laughter as Nicky kicked and splashed, soaking them both. He got so worked up, every inch of his body shook with excitement. The little noises he made sounded like he was trying to talk.

Julie poured a drop of baby shampoo on his head. Massimo rubbed it in, making a lather before carefully rinsing off the bubbles. They worked in harmony. After she dried Nicky off, he applied the baby powder and fastened a clean diaper. Then she put him in a little stretchy suit.

“That’s our big boy,” she said without thinking. Hopefully Massimo understood what she meant. “I-if you’ll hold him, I’ll clean his ears.” She reached for a cotton swab. “This is the only part he doesn’t like.”

While the baby fought her, she felt Massimo’s low chuckle to the marrow of her bones. “There!” She kissed the top of his head. “We’re all done.”

Massimo lifted him in the air. All the way to the bedroom he kissed his tummy the way Shawn used to do. The baby was all smiles. Julie could tell he loved his uncle’s attention.

She had to clear her throat to remove the lump. “I’ll get his bottle.”

“I already asked Gina to bring it along with our breakfast,” he explained.

He thought of everything, yet any more togetherness and it was going to feel as if they were a family, which they were in a sense. But they really weren’t!

This was borne out when the maid, who was probably in her early twenties, came in with a tray and a bottle. Julie noticed right away how the other woman’s curious gaze darted back and forth between her and Massimo before she left the nursery.

If you didn’t know better, you could misconstrue what was going on. A younger nanny in residence with a husband and wife was one thing, but this was a bachelor’s domicile.

Ages ago Pietra had made it clear that her brother would never marry. She hadn’t explained why, and Julie hadn’t pried because at that point in time she hadn’t met Massimo and wasn’t consumed by curiosity the way she was now.

A man like him would never marry a woman unless it was his choice, so whatever had put him off the institution, the reason went much deeper than his desire to thwart his uncle. And she mustn’t forget that getting involved with Massimo would be a mistake.

Not wanting to break up the happy twosome, Julie reached for the bottle. “You’d better be the one to feed him. Nicky’s so engrossed with you, I think I’m jealous again.” She’d said it with a smile.

But when she handed it to him, his startling black gaze pinned hers. “If this were a competition, I would have been dead in the water long before now. For someone who isn’t a mother, you could fool me.”

Coming from Massimo, it was the supreme compliment. “Nicky’s easy to love. Do you see a lot of Pietra in him?”

“Some. Oddly enough I see more of you.”

Her heart did a kick. “It’s the blond hair.”

“It’s something more. An expression he gets when he wants something. I’ve seen that same look on your face.”

“Hunger pains you mean?”

He burst into laughter, transforming him into the most handsome man she’d ever seen or known. Terrified of her feelings, which were growing more and more intense, she reached for the thermometer to take Nicky’s temperature.

“It’s still normal.”

“Better yet, his rash is gone. Mine took considerably longer to go away.”

Her head swung around in his direction. “I don’t understand.”

“At the time Nicky was born, I was bitten by a mosquito that gave me dengue fever.”

The breath froze in her lungs. It sounded hideous whatever it was. “Wh-what did it do to you?”

“Laid me up for months, gave me a rash. Luckily it wasn’t the hemorrhagic type.”

She moaned. “Were you in a hospital all that time?”

“Not all, no.”

When she recalled all the terrible things she’d said to him, she was mortified. Her fingers curled so tightly around the crib railing, it cut off the blood supply.

“How come you didn’t tell Pietra?” she whispered.

“Because she was so happy with their new baby. I knew my news would worry them unnecessarily. After explaining that the group needed me, I promised to spend the entire month of September with them so I could get to know my nephew.”

A promise he would end up keeping for a lifetime.

Moistening her lips nervously she said, “Is dengue fever like malaria?”

“You mean does it keep coming back?”

She nodded.

“Not in my case.”

Thank God.

“Happily Nicky has recovered from his rosiola much faster, and is all better now. That’s one crisis averted.”

One?

Though his words revealed satisfaction, his eyes held a disturbing glint. She noticed he rubbed the back of his neck in what seemed like a weary gesture. But the action indicated there was something else on his mind.

“Now that he’s asleep, we need to talk.”

Julie knew what was coming. It had only been a matter of time. “I-if you’re upset with me for taking him out the other day without checking with you first, I promise it won’t happen again.”

“I had no problem with your leaving the villa,” he replied calmly. “You told Gina. That was the important thing.”

“Yes, but she wanted to wake you and I told her not to. You looked so exhausted before you went to bed, I didn’t want anything to disturb you.”

“I appreciate your concern.”

His gaze wandered over her upturned features, but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. It made her nervous, causing her mind to jump to the other possibility that might have upset him.

“In case you were wondering, Vigo invited himself along.”

“It would be shocking if he hadn’t,” came the mocking aside.

Not knowing how to take that remark, she looked away, rubbing her damp palms against the sides of her jeans.

“I know you told me to come to you if anyone in your family made me nervous, but he seemed harmless. I was afraid saying no to him would come off sounding rude.”

After a pause he asked something totally unexpected. “Did you enjoy his company?”

“He was entertaining.”

“What did you discuss?”

She eyed him warily. “He told me about his life at university. Massimo—what’s wrong?”

“Seeing the two of you together reminded me that your decision to help take care of Nicky is depriving you of a full life.”

“Nicky is my life—” she blurted out.

He shifted his weight, making her aware of his compelling masculinity. “I agree he’s the focus right now, but in another week he’ll be used to his home here. You’ll be able to leave.”

Leave?

So he had told Dante she was only here for a visit.

Heat swarmed her cheeks. She was too angry for tears. Was this how he’d planned to exact his revenge?

“I realize we didn’t have a definite time in mind when you no longer needed my help, but I was thinking a year at least—”

“That’s out of the question.” He was sounding like her mother.

“Two or three weeks with him is no time at all!”

“It’s enough to get him over this first hump. Any more time will only make the separation harder for … everyone.”

Julie had an idea the beautiful woman who’d met Massimo at the airport was the reason for this ultimatum. Seraphina must have told him he didn’t need a nanny for Nicky, not when she was there for him in any capacity he wanted.

The vision of the two of them entwined still had the power to destroy Julie.

Though dying of the hurt, she used every bit of control she could muster not to rage in front of him. She’d done that once before and had lived in a constant state of anxiety ever since.

“You’re right,” she admitted with reluctance. She would miss Nicky so much. How could she leave him? “If you feel that strongly about it, I should probably leave by the weekend.”

“That decision is entirely up to you.”

Thanks a lot.

Almost choking with pain she said, “It’s clear to me I should never have come to your hotel. I said some outrageous things and put you in an impossible position.”

His jaw hardened. “Up to now Nicky has needed both of us.”

Up to now …

“He needs a permanent stable home. You’ve given him one, Massimo.” What could she do? After pressing her lips together she said, “Thank you for letting me come with you while you settled him in.”

Almost through the door she heard, “I’m the one who’s been grateful, particularly knowing you postponed your marriage plans to help me with Niccolo.”

Marriage plans—

Julie wheeled around and stalked back into the nursery.

“What are you talking about?”

He looked at her through veiled eyes. “The reason I went looking for you in town the other day was to tell you your fiancé had called the villa. But when Nicky became ill, everything went out of my head.”

Her body shook with anger. “Brent talked to you?”

“To Lia. She conveyed the message to me. I assumed by now he’d reached you on your cell phone.”

“Let’s get something straight.” She threw her head back. “For reasons I don’t want to go into, I didn’t bring my cell with me.” That way she could control the talks with her mother. “Furthermore and most important, there were no wedding plans. There was no official engagement. I don’t have a fiancé.”

Massimo’s hands went to his hips. “He seems to think otherwise.”

“He lied. Brent lacked certain traits that killed my feelings for him, but he has a big ego. When I told him it was over, I dented his pride and little else. No doubt he got the number of the villa from my father. Hopefully by now he realizes I’m not going to call him back.”

“You’re telling me the truth?”

Without considering the wisdom of it she said, “I guess if you told me Seraphina wasn’t your fiancée, I wouldn’t believe you, either.”

“Touché,” he muttered after a brief silence.

She heaved a frustrated sigh. “At the time Pietra told you I was involved with Brent, I thought there could be a future with him. But over the last few months I discovered a selfish streak in his nature. It all came to a head when I told him I was going to quit my job to take care of Nicky.”

Massimo moved closer to her. “I’m assuming he didn’t want to share you.”

“A man in the fast lane on his way to the top doesn’t always see what’s more important.” Brent wasn’t like Massimo. No man was.

She stared at the gorgeous male confronting her. “Before you tell me there’s still time to get my old job back, don’t! If I’d wanted it that badly, I wouldn’t have approached you. Everyone thinks they know what’s best for me. My mother, my brother, my boss, Brent, even you seem to have my future all planned out, but I have news for you. You don’t!” Her voice throbbed. “If you bothered to ask, I’d tell you Nicky is what’s best for me. I’m best for him, too. He’s my nephew as much as yours. No matter what happens, I’m not going to stop loving him.

“You said our family could come often and stay as long as we wanted. Well, I’m staying, even if Dante told me good riddance.”

Massimo’s expression turned black as a thunderhead. “When did Dante speak to you?” he demanded.

She bowed her head, wishing she hadn’t said anything.

“Tell me or I’ll get the truth of out of him myself!”

“No, Massimo—” Her head flew back. “It was just something he said as we were getting off the plane in Milan.”

“Go on.” He stood there with his hands on his hips in an aggressively male stance that prevented her from thinking clearly.

“He told me to have fun on my vacation.”

Some choice Italian invective escaped his lips. His reaction made her realize Dante’s remarks had angered him more than she would have supposed. She wished she could take comfort in the fact. But the truth remained that Massimo wanted her to leave.

Cut to the quick, she made it as far as the hall before masculine hands closed over her upper arms. He dragged her quivering frame into his chest where she felt a strong heart pounding against her back.

“I meant no offense, Julie,” he murmured in a thick-toned voice. “Don’t you understand I was only thinking of your happiness with Brent when I suggested your leaving? Nicky needs you. Anyone can see that.”

Her emotions were so chaotic right now, she couldn’t think while she was clamped to his hard body. He smelled of his own masculine scent and Nicky’s baby powder. His warmth, his lips in her hair, everything was an assault on her senses if he’d but known it.

“I need him.”

“You think I’m not aware of that?” Massimo whirled her around, his eyes blazing. “If you have any question in that regard, then you don’t know me at all,” he ground out. “No matter what happens, we’re in this together now.”

After being plunged to the depths, his words had just given her heart the workout of its life. Out of breath, she stared into his fiery black depths.

“A woman important to you might not like the arrangement, even if you and I are related through Nicky.”

He inhaled sharply. “You’re referring to Seraphina.”

“If she’s the important woman in your life, then yes.”

His hands trailed down her arms until he let go of her. The loss of contact caused Julie to moan inwardly. She stepped away, afraid to get that close to him again for fear he’d sense how much she desired him.

He folded his arms across his broad chest. “There was a time when we were intimate.” Julie knew it. “But that was over three years ago, long before I left for Guatemala.”

“From the look of it, she still wants you. I thought she must have said something about me, and that’s why you brought up the subject of my leaving.”

Their eyes met. “It appears we’ve both made erroneous assumptions. However, with you in residence, she might finally get the message.”

Julie smoothed the hair off her temple. “So now I can serve another purpose and be a buffer between the two of you?”

His body stiffened. “I’m going to pretend I never heard that.”

“Sorry,” she whispered before looking away.

“It’s my fault for frightening you about the inner workings of the Di Rocches.”

“Do you include Vigo under that umbrella? He acted terrified when you caught up to us. Is he like the others underneath?”

“Probably. I wouldn’t put it past Sansone to have sent his son on a hunting expedition.”

Her head came up. “In search of what?”

“To learn my plans. That way he can launch an offensive before I step foot in the office.”

“He’s that ambitious?”

Massimo rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb. “Sansone intends to be the head of Di Rocche’s one day.”

“He’s afraid of you. Why? He’s the first-born son.”

“Of Uncle Aldo, yes. He’s been in competition with me since I was born. When Pietra and I had to move to Milan to live with our uncle, Sansone couldn’t stand for his father to show us any attention.”

“But he’s ten years older—”

“That gave him an advantage, one he’s never failed to let his brothers or me and Pietra forget.”

“But how could he have possibly felt threatened?”

He gave an unconscious shrug of his powerful shoulders.

She shivered, knowing there was a lot more to it than he was letting on. “For what it’s worth, Vigo didn’t ask me one question about you.”

He flashed her an ironic smile. “He has eyes in his head. Like any normal male, he responds to a beautiful woman.”

“Be serious, Massimo.”

“You think I’m not?” he challenged.

Julie would love to believe him, but she didn’t dare read too much into it.

“Vigo was fun.”

“I’ll admit he’s still wet behind the ears. Maybe there’s hope for him yet.” Beneath his words Julie sensed he didn’t believe it.

She and Vigo were close in age. That probably meant Massimo didn’t consider her completely grown-up yet. Julie would do well to remember that so she wouldn’t make a fool of herself.

So far she was batting a thousand in that department. Every accusation she’d thrown at him was turning out to be unjustified.

“Since I’m back to being in your employ again, I’d better check on Nicky.”

His dark brows knit together. “I don’t like the idea of you considering yourself the hired help.”

Julie wasn’t particularly fond of it, either.

“I have an even stronger aversion to the appelation ‘nanny.’ Naturally I’ll go on paying you, but I prefer to think of you as a member of the family who has come to be with our nephew at my invitation. Capisci?”

The Italian word had slipped out. It was one she recognized. Her pulse beat a swift tattoo.

“Yes.”

“Bene. This evening when it’s cooler, we’ll take Nicky out to dinner with us. We’ve been trapped in the villa too long. Plan to wear something semidressy. It’s time the two of you were introduced to his Italian roots.”

Massimo had been away several years. He would have to be inhuman not to want to explore his own backyard again. Despite his extended family’s machinations, there had to be certain memories from his youth that were precious to him. She was already counting the minutes.