Falling for the Sardinian Baron

by Rosanna Battigelli

  “I hope so, too. Buonasera.”

  “Buonasera... Marinella.”

  Massimo watched her until she disappeared from view, and then he waited until he saw the lights of the guesthouse come on. He could hear his heart beating along with the swishing of the surf and the chirping of cicadas.

  The afternoon with her newfound family had been so enjoyable. They had been so loving with Ella, and they had treated him like a member of the family, as well.

  That’s what he wanted, he realized.

  To share Ella’s family with her. But what did she want? Was there a chance in his wildest dreams that her feelings were the same?

  Minutes later, soaking in his whirlpool tub and gazing at the gold-and-saffron bands around the setting sun and reflected in the calm sea waters, Massimo wondered how and when he could tell Marinella that he was ready...

  For a second chance at love.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  ELLA REACHED FOR her cell phone to stop the alarm. She had gone to bed too late last night. After returning to the guesthouse, she had been too wired to sleep. Thoughts of her family had swirled in her mind, along with a never ending loop of images of Massimo and twinges of regret that she had acted ungraciously when he had been trying to show her empathy.

  After changing into a teddy, Ella had decided to transfer her mental energy to the piece she had started putting together for the magazine’s August feature. The last interviews would take place at the baronessa’s birthday party and at the opening of the research center, but Ella had enough material to do a rough first draft.

  Close to one-thirty in the morning, she had realized she had drifted off at the computer. She had turned it off and climbed into bed, exhausted but content with what she had accomplished. Once she had the rest of the material, she’d finish the piece in the next day or two, send it off, and then she’d have most of her holiday left. She couldn’t wait to stay at Maria and Tomasso’s agriturismo and spend more time with her family.

  Ella forced herself to get out of bed. She strode to the balcony and looked out. Baronessa Silvia was going to get her blue skies and sunshine today. An unexpected lump formed in Ella’s throat. She wished she could have spent more time with Massimo’s mother. She would have loved to have had a cooking lesson with her.

  And Massimo? her inner voice murmured.

  Ella looked over the trees at Villa Serena. “Wishful thinking,” she replied aloud. And then she berated herself for even entertaining such thoughts. Massimo DiLuca was out of reach. He had demonstrated that by the way he had frozen when she had hugged him. She had wanted to slink away in embarrassment...

  But he hadn’t been totally devoid of feelings. Extending his hand to her had been his attempt to show his empathy for her loss. He had lost his father. And his wife. He could identify with how Ella must have felt, learning that she was sitting at a table her father had made.

  And then he had shown his warm side with her family, chatting and laughing with each one of them. He had looked as if he were enjoying their company. Ella’s heart had filled when she saw how he was with Angelica after lunch. She had brought out some toy figures, and he had played with her, assuming a different voice for each figure. Angelica had laughed each time and had given him a hug when he was done.

  Ella had felt her heart twist. He would have made a great father, had he and his wife been able to adopt...

  He could still be a father. If he allowed himself to date and eventually commit to a new relationship.

  If he...

  No! She needed to stop wasting her time in delusional thoughts. An espresso would help her clear her mind and focus on what she needed to do today. Without bothering to get dressed, she went downstairs, and a few minutes later, Ella had her espresso with one of the pardulas that Maria had made. Maria had run out of the farmhouse to hand Ella a container as she and Massimo were getting into his Lamborghini. “You can share them over breakfast,” she had murmured in Italian, winking at Ella before running back inside.

  Ella had immediately felt a hot tingling in her cheeks. Massimo might not have seen Maria’s sly wink, but he must have heard her words. For the entire drive, Ella had avoided looking at him, focusing instead on the passing scenery.

  Now, biting into her second pastry, she thought about the birthday party that would be starting in a few hours. She would meet Massimo at his dock. It would be her last ride in his speedboat, and at the end of the party, he would be driving her to Villa Paradiso, where she would spend the night. And the following day, after the grand opening of the Cardiac Center, Maria and Tomasso would be picking her up and proceeding to their agriturismo.

  Ella put down her cup and went to stand by the retractable glass door overlooking the cove. Opening it, she felt a wave of mingled awe and sadness as she took in the view. Awe at its timeless beauty and the perpetual motion of the sea. Sadness that she would be leaving this special haven the baron had chosen to help him heal. Her eyes welled up. How many times he must have stood here, too, witnessing the beauty of nature while feeling the ache of loss... It had been his retreat from the not so beautiful side of reality.

  With a sigh, Ella climbed the spiral staircase to the loft. She surveyed the clothes still hanging in the closet. She might as well start packing, but first she needed to pick out what she wanted to wear to the baronessa’s party.

  An hour later, Ella had her suitcase and carry-on luggage packed. She brought them down one at a time and set them by the entrance door. Returning to the loft, she glanced at the coral dress she had chosen and placed on the bed, a sleeveless maxi wrap dress with a tulip hem. She had bought it days before her flight to Sardinia, along with a red-coral bracelet and coral-flower studs.

  After a last glance in the mirror and a quick scan of the room to make sure she had everything, Ella headed downstairs just as the doorbell rang. Her pulse leaped as she caught sight of Massimo at the glass door. Descending the spiral staircase, she took in his appearance in stages. Sunglasses. White shirt. Black trousers. Gleaming brown leather shoes. And back to his face.

  His handsome face. A face she...loved. The man she loved.

  Ella froze on the last step of the staircase. She stood immobilized. She had never allowed herself to admit this...until now. Now, on her last day on Massimo’s island.

  She had come to Sardinia with two intentions: to do the interviews for Living the Life magazine, and then to decide whether or not to connect with her uncle and his family if he had one. She had realized her first objectives.

  And now she was ready to consider a third possibility...of returning and searching for her birth mother. Of course Ella had to also consider that if she located her mother, she might not want to connect with the daughter she had given up...for whatever reason. And Ella would feel the sting of being rejected a second time. Or she would be willing to establish some kind of relationship. Either scenario would be emotionally overwhelming.

  She would work on preparing herself for either outcome.

  It wouldn’t happen during this trip. But Ella was determined to return to Sardinia again and again until the final piece of the puzzle of her history was found.

  What about Massimo? her inner voice pressed.

  Ella hadn’t planned to fall for a Sardinian... To fall in love with a man whose heart had suffered, a heart she wanted to have and to hold...

  Ella snapped out of her reverie. The only thing that she’d be holding soon was her luggage as Massimo dropped her off at Villa Paradiso after the party.

  * * *

  Massimo’s breath caught in his throat as he watched Ella come down the spiral staircase. She looked...stunning. Like one of the coral roses in his gardens. His heart began a drumbeat that simultaneously excited and pained him.

  He didn’t want her to go back to Canada. He could handle her being with her Sardinian family for a week, but the painful part was acceptin
g that she would be crossing the ocean soon and he might never see her again.

  He couldn’t let that happen.

  The universe had taken someone away from him, and if that could happen, then the reverse could, too. He had to trust Rita was in another spiritual realm and she would want him to live, not hide himself away forever.

  The universe was giving him another opportunity to love. And he wasn’t going to blow it.

  He had to tell—and show—Ella how he felt. That he wanted her, body and soul. That he wanted to share everything he had with her. And since she had reunited with her family, he’d do everything in his power to help her find her biological mother...if and when she was ready.

  She opened the door and he stepped inside. “Sei bellissima, Marinella.”

  “Grazie.” She frowned, almost as if she couldn’t believe he was saying such a thing. She leaned over to pick up her briefcase and the small carry-on.

  “I—I have to tell you something,” he said gruffly. “I should have told you yesterday...”

  She set down the items and looked up at him.

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  Ella’s brows furrowed. “Your mother’s expecting me.”

  He laughed softly. “Not there, silly.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t want you to leave Sardinia.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “No, non scherzo, Marinella.”

  “Uh, w-why? I mean, why not?” Ella blinked.

  “Because I have fallen with my head over my heels for you.” He looked at her tenderly, hoping she would see that his words—whether he had gotten them right or wrong—were spoken with his heart.

  “But...yesterday you acted as if I was poison when I hugged you.”

  “I wasn’t expecting a hug. And you moved away too quickly, as if I was poison.” He gently cupped her chin with one hand and bent his head to look deeply into her eyes. “I want you to be in my life, Marinella. Not just for this week but for always. Per eternità.”

  She shook her head. “Someone pinch me,” she murmured. “I must be dreaming.”

  Massimo gave a soft laugh. “I’m not going to pinch you. I never want to hurt you. And no, you are not dreaming.” He leaned closer and kissed her coral lips. “I have so much I want to tell you,” he murmured against her ear. “But I need to know something...”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you...” He kissed her again, thoroughly.

  “I said yes,” she said, breathless.

  “But you don’t know what I’m about to ask...” He stroked her temple before tracing her lips with his fingers.

  “I do.”

  “You can read my mind, bella?” His arms encircled her waist and he pulled her close.

  She pressed her cheek against his chest. “I can read this,” she said, tapping his heart with her finger. “And it’s going faster than your Lamborghini Huracán.”

  Massimo chuckled softly and took her left hand in his. “Marinella, you brought laughter and happiness back into my life. I said I don’t want you to leave Sardinia, but I can accept you traveling back to Canada when you want to. With me. I have yet to explore that magnificent country.” He paused for a moment, conscious of the pounding in his chest.

  “I don’t want to hide from life anymore, Marinella.” He rubbed along his chin. “See? That’s why I shaved most of my beard off. I’m ready to show my face again. To live again. With you, my Sardinian beauty.” He embraced her tightly, kissing her forehead. “Ti amo, Marinella. And I would be the happiest man in the world if you would accompany me to my mother’s birthday and the opening of the Research Center tomorrow, amore mio. And be with me for the rest of my life... Va bene?” His lips brushed gentle kisses over her temple, cheek and ended with a hungry kiss that left them both breathless.

  “Va bellissimo,” she replied with a sigh. She looked up to gaze lovingly into his dark eyes before flashing him a mischievous grin. “Now can we get going? I’m dying to taste your mother’s food.”

  He laughed and pointed to her luggage. “How about we leave this at my—our—villa? We can sleep in tomorrow morning and enjoy Maria’s pardulas for breakfast.” He winked before scooping Ella up in his arms and twirling her around, his heart bursting as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and murmured, “Ti amo, Massimo...” in his ear.

  EPILOGUE

  ELLA BLINKED AS the sunlight caught on her vintage solitaire engagement ring, the two-carat stone absolutely stunning in an intricate floral setting and filigreed band. And next to it, her gold wedding band in its elegant simplicity. She never tired of looking at them, just like she never tired of looking at her husband.

  Now she knew what her dear mother had meant about a man putting stars in her eyes...

  From the moment Massimo had uttered “Ti amo” before his mother’s birthday celebration, Ella’s heart had overflowed with the love that had been developing since she set foot on his island. Her island, too.

  Sardinia belonged to both of them. And they would continue to live at Villa Serena. See the glorious sun rise and set together.

  She would enjoy learning how to prepare traditional Sardinian dishes with the baronessa, who had embraced her with tears in her eyes when Ella and Massimo had told her that they would be getting married and spending the rest of their lives together. They had waited until all her birthday guests had left and were enjoying a celebratory drink of mirto in her gardens when Massimo had shared the news. Silvia’s eyes had widened as she glanced from Massimo to Ella, and then she had leaped up, and with clasped hands and eyes directed skyward, she thanked the heavens and declared that they had just given her the best birthday gift of all.

  A few days later, Chef Angelo had brought over a vintage bottle of champagne and had prepared a special dinner in their honor...a new dish he’d named Il Mare per Marinella—The Sea for Marinella—a lobster bisque and sautéed scallops drizzled with Sardinian lemons and Canadian maple syrup.

  Ella had attended the official opening of the DiLuca Cardiac Research Center with her uncle Domenicu and his family. She and Massimo had decided that they would wait to make a public announcement about their engagement, to keep the focus on the Center.

  Ella had watched Massimo, standing tall and gorgeous at the black-tie event, as he shared what the Cardiac Research Center meant for him and his mother. His voice had wavered slightly as he announced that it was their gift to the community and the world in honor of his late wife and father. And the baronessa had spoken next, graciously thanking everyone who had had a hand in the development of the Center, and declaring her and Massimo’s confidence and best wishes for the renowned team of researchers whose work the DiLucas were proud to support.

  Everyone had fallen silent, and the room had erupted in applause while photographers and a television crew hovered around Massimo and his mother, visibly excited about the baron’s reappearance in public.

  Ella had worn an elegant black gown with satin accents and a silver shawl. As the cameras had flashed around him, he had looked toward the crowd and his gaze had connected with hers. His serious expression had given way to a smile, one that Ella knew without a doubt was meant for her, and her alone.

  And then he and the baronessa had cut the ribbon, followed by the celebratory banquet. Although Massimo and Silvia were seated at the head table with local dignitaries and the leader of the research team, they both went around after the dinner to mingle and thank the guests at each table.

  Ella had felt a rush of heat searing through her veins at the way Massimo’s eyes had swept over her before meeting hers. And she had experienced the same feeling later at Villa Serena, when they were standing on his balcony. The indigo sky looked like a velvet dress sparkling with sequins, making Ella feel like she was in an enchanted world.

  Massimo had gently
removed her shawl and after looking deeply into her eyes, had bent to trace the length of her neck with soft kisses. Each one had sent her pulse racing, and by the time his lips had reached hers, Ella’s heart was pounding. She had wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with a hunger that matched his.

  And when she had thought she’d ignite from the passion between them, Massimo had swooped her up and carried her to his bed.

  He had shown his love for her with his body and soul all night, the starlight from the open doors of the balcony mesmerizing on the curves of their bodies. Ella had lost herself in the stars Massimo had put in her eyes, and they both lost track of the times they had murmured “Ti amo” to each other.

  Ella had thought her heart would burst from happiness and joy.

  She had spent the following day finishing her piece for Living the Life, and emailed it to her boss, satisfied and excited. An hour later, Paul had called her to congratulate her, impressed and enthused, as well. Ella had stunned him with the news about her and Massimo after that and promised to call him with the details after her holiday.

  The week in Posada had been delightful. She had spent the days getting to know her zio Domenicu and his family, who had showered her with love and affection. And had included her in their farm and agriturismo routines. During quiet moments alone with her uncle, he had revealed a few details his brother Micheli had shared with him secretly about something he alone had known about Ella’s young birth mother. He had discovered this information after accidentally overhearing part of a conversation at the adoption agency before a scheduled meeting...

  Ella had felt a shift in her heart at the news. She had felt both anxious and excited. When she had told Massimo later, he’d promised to contact people who would investigate the proper social-services channels to possibly locate her.

  During her week in Posada, Massimo had insisted that she enjoy this time without him, although he had always traveled back from Villa Serena to join them for a fabulous dinner.