The Ultimate Romance Box (6 Bestselling Romance Novels)

by Eckhart, Lorhainne

  "I'm worried about you, Mari. Last time I saw you like this was when you came back from Austria. You know you can talk to me if there's something wrong, don't you?"

  "I know, Mum."

  "By the way, where did that bunch of twenties in the bureau come from?"

  Heat flared in Maria's cheeks. She had intended to bank the money Dino left, but forgot. "I had a friend to stay for a few days. He gave me a contribution towards the food."

  Her mother's eyebrows rose. "He must have eaten an awful lot. There's nearly four hundred pounds there. Who was this friend? It wasn't Tom, was it?"

  "Tom…gosh, no. Tom's history, Mum. Ancient history." She never wanted to see Tom again after the way he'd allowed his friends to treat her.

  "It's just the last time I saw you moping like this, it was over him."

  "Look, I'm fine. Can we forget the subject for now?" Maria grabbed a tea towel and a wet mug and gave it her full attention.

  For long moments, her mother scrutinized her, then she sighed and pressed a kiss on Maria's cheek. "I'm off to bed. I doubt you'll see me or Dad until tomorrow morning. Good night, love."

  "Night, Mum. It's great to have you back. Sleep tight."

  Maria kept drying mugs until she heard her mother's footsteps on the stairs, then collapsed into a chair at the kitchen table. The exact chair Dino had sat in so many times while she cooked and they chatted. She pulled the CD out of her handbag and stared at it. "Dino Rossi." She whispered the name to herself. Rossellini was a bit of a mouthful. He must use Rossi as a stage name.

  She didn't know what to think, what to feel. Why had he told her he was an opera singer when he was obviously far more than that? How many music CDs did he have out? She went to the small office off the hallway and booted up the computer. As she waited for the machine to boot up, she rubbed her tired eyes. Since Dino left, she hadn't slept well. She almost wished she hadn't heard the doorbell the day he turned up. If she had painted upstairs first, she might never have met him.

  Once the computer started, she went to the Amazon website and typed in Dino's name. Three CDs came up—the one with show songs, another called The Voice of Romance, and one titled Just Like Heaven. She ordered all three and paid extra for next day delivery.

  Then on a whim, she googled his name. The result came up with over three million hits, including photos and videos. Maria rocked back in her chair, her heart thumping as she scanned the list. She clicked on a video link and, barely breathing, watched a clip of him singing an operatic song. He had a beautiful voice. An incredibly powerful voice considering how softly spoken he was.

  She went to Google Images and searched on his name. Page after page of photos of Dino appeared: Dino singing, Dino at celebrity events with a variety of glamorous women on his arm, especially the beautiful, blonde Rachel, Dino accepting awards. Maria felt as though she had fallen into an alternate reality. This was not her Dino, not the man who had danced her around the kitchen and taught her to salsa. He was famous, almost certainly loaded. He must be used to exclusive hotels, the best of the best. And he had stayed here, eaten the food she cooked. He'd worn her dad's overalls and helped to paint the bedrooms!

  Unable to reconcile the two disparate versions of Dino, she stared at a photo of him on a red carpet with the ever-present Rachel at his side. Maria had thought he had feelings for her, but why would a man like this be interested in her?

  No wonder he'd slipped away without leaving his phone number or e-mail address. She clasped the tiny gold heart at her throat. Dino hadn't been himself when he came here or he would never have chosen to stay at the Crow's Nest. She'd helped him during a difficult time and he'd been grateful. What she took to be affection on his part was probably just gratitude.

  The more she thought about his behavior, the more she admitted he hadn't acted like a man in love so much as a man who'd wanted to forget his troubles. He'd kissed her, but tried to keep their relationship light. He'd only slept with her after she'd virtually bullied him into it. She dropped her head in her hands and groaned. No wonder he'd left before she woke up. What a fool she'd been.

  Chapter Seven

  Maria shut down the computer and paced up and down the hall. She had to get out and walk off some of the stress and tension or she would implode.

  She pulled on a thick sweater, gloves, and a woolly hat, then donned her waterproof coat and some boots. The weather had suddenly grown cold after Dino left, almost as if it mirrored her mood. After locking up, she strode down the lane heading for the coast path. Her mind roiled with thoughts, doubts, memories. She wished she could turn her brain off and have a break from the mental turmoil.

  Halfway down the guesthouse drive, she met a man in a long black overcoat with a camera and binoculars around his neck. She was so absorbed in her thoughts, she nearly bumped into him. He peered at her curiously. She stepped back as a shiver ran down her spine. He had a ruddy face, graying hair, and puffy bags under his eyes as though he hadn't slept in a long time. "The guesthouse is closed," she blurted, not certain what it was about him that spooked her.

  He rubbed his hands together and nodded. "I don't want to stay. I was just walking up the hill for the view." He tapped his binoculars. "I'm a birdwatcher."

  He had a pronounced London accent. Birdwatchers occasionally stayed at the guesthouse, but Maria had never seen one dressed like this man. He looked as though he belonged on a city street. "This is a private lane." She hoped he would take the hint and go away.

  Instead he grinned. "You own the guesthouse, then, love?"

  She really didn't want to talk to him or give him any information, but ingrained courtesy made her answer. "It belongs to my parents. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to continue my walk."

  "Don't let me keep you." He waved her past as though he was directing traffic. She walked on, glancing over her shoulder at him. "All right if I take a look at the view from up there, love, is it?"

  Without waiting for her answer, he continued up the hill towards the Crow's Nest. Maria halted and stared at the man's back, unease trickling through her. Instinct told her he was bad news, but just how, she didn't know. She had locked up, so he couldn't get inside the guesthouse. Short of following him and telling him to go away, she couldn't do much. With a frustrated huff, she resumed her march down the hill.

  She paced along the main street, keeping her gaze down, not wanting to catch anyone's eye and feel obliged to stop and chat. She continued through the car park at the top of the harbor and up the coast path to the Jacka. When she arrived, she sat on the rock she had shared with Dino many times, closed her eyes, and imagined he was sitting beside her.

  The memories of Dino were so clear and sharp they cut. She would need to do a lot of walking before she worked him out of her system, if that was even possible. In four short weeks he had penetrated to the very core of her being. She glanced back towards the Crow's Nest, and her breath jabbed with shock at the sight of a figure walking around the corner of the building. The Londoner was in the guesthouse garden.

  Her parents were asleep upstairs. Had the man tried to break in? Her pulse hammered in her ears as she narrowed her eyes to see if he was carrying anything. The figure stopped, turned her way, and raised his hands to his face. It looked as though he was holding his binoculars or camera and staring right at her.

  ***

  Freddy Short opened the e-mail from his private investigator, Gary, and scanned the message. The man had tracked down the place Dino stayed in Cornwall to a fishing village called Porthale and spoken to a bird who could be the love interest. Freddy clicked on the link to open the private page where Gary posted digital photos, and typed in his password.

  He scrolled through the images one by one. The tiny village looked like the back of beyond. Freddy couldn't imagine why anyone in their right mind would visit the dead-end place. There were no shops and hardly any people. It was just a lot of grass and rocks.

  Then he came to the first image of a young woman walking do
wn the village street. She was too far away to make her out. There were a few more pictures of her, but her face was grainy, the photos obviously taken from a distance. She didn't look much to write home about. She was wearing an anorak, for God's sake. He half wondered if Gary had made a mistake, but the man was normally good at his job.

  "Dino, Dino," Freddy whispered to himself. "What were you thinking, mate?" Freddy enjoyed discovering talented young singers to mold into successful professionals, and Dino Rossellini was his greatest prize. Whatever the indefinable something that bestowed star quality, Dino had it in spades. The Italian could do so much better than this ordinary girl from nowhere.

  Freddy would not allow little Miss Nobody to disrupt Dino's career and cut short the very healthy revenue stream that flowed in from the Italian. If she really did have her claws into Dino, then Freddy would buy her off. But he wasn't about to pay out unless he had to. Given a little encouragement, Dino would probably forget her anyway. What Freddy needed was someone out in New York to keep Dino occupied, and he knew just the girl.

  After dialing Rachel's mobile number, Freddy drummed his fingers on the desk while he waited for her to pick up. "Rachel, love," he said when she answered. "I've got a little job for you. I've arranged for you to join Dino in New York. He'll need a partner for the social functions. You can do a couple of cable television spots while you're there to raise your profile in North America."

  "Did he ask for me?" she said, tentatively.

  "Yes, darling. He can't wait to see you." Freddy winced at the lie. He had a soft spot for Rachel, and he knew the pregnancy and adoption had knocked her sideways. She was still in love with the Italian, and it would suit Freddy if they got back together. Having them as a couple made for great publicity. Dino and Rachel were both beautiful people. They had chemistry, which is why they performed so well together. Freddy would simply sit back and let nature take its course.

  ***

  Dino was talking to the musical director of La Bohème when one of the Metropolitan Opera House stagehands came up and interrupted. "Excuse me, there's a woman waiting for you in your dressing room, Mr. Rossellini."

  Maria! He had left instructions that if a British woman asked for him she should be shown to his dressing room, but he'd thought it was an impossible dream that Maria would come after him. He made his excuses and hurried along the corridor to the dressing rooms, a stupid smile fixed on his face.

  He burst through the door, heart racing with anticipation, and his step faltered. Rachel sat in the seat before his mirror examining her nails. It took him a moment to mask his disappointment. He forced a smile and went forwards to kiss her on both cheeks. It was crazy, really; Rachel was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met, and he knew she had feelings for him. But he couldn't reciprocate. He'd tried. He just didn't love her.

  Breaking off their relationship had been difficult. When Freddy sent Dino on a solo tour and had Rachel occupied elsewhere, Dino had been grateful. Now he knew Freddy wasn't being thoughtful, but making sure Rachel's pregnancy remained a secret. Freddy always had an angle.

  "Are you happy to see me, darling?" Rachel asked tentatively, fiddling with a length of golden hair.

  Dino put extra effort into his smile and hugged her. "Of course, cara." She might appear self-assured, but he knew her well enough to see behind the mask. She was anything but confident, doubting herself continually, her looks, her voice, her popularity. She needed reassurance, and Dino was used to offering it. Freddy had arranged for Dino to be her mentor in the final rounds of the talent contest that shot her to stardom. Dino had nurtured her through that experience, bolstering her confidence at every turn. He had come to believe this was partly why she thought she loved him. "What brings you to New York, Rachel?"

  She sat on the edge of his dressing table and wrapped her arms around her slender body. She looked as though a strong wind would blow her away. "Freddy's arranged for me to do a couple of cable shows."

  "Which ones?"

  Rachel shrugged and twisted her rings on her fingers.

  "You should call him, cara, find out the details. You don't want to miss the dates."

  She pulled her phone out of her bag. "Will you come with me, Dino? I never know what to say in interviews."

  Dino released a breath. He would get sucked back into Rachel's life if he wasn't careful. "If I can. Remember I'm rehearsing for La Bohème and we're on a tight schedule. The first performance is in two weeks."

  "We're still touring together when you finish?"

  "That's what Freddy says."

  She looked down and worried her lip with her teeth. "Have you forgiven me about the baby, Dino? I didn't mean to make you angry. I only did what Freddy said you'd want."

  She looked so forlorn and miserable that Dino stepped forwards and pulled her into his arms. She clung to him like a child. Dino cursed Freddy anew for interfering in their lives. He wanted to tell her she should have spoken to him and not believed Freddy's advice, but that would upset her more and achieve nothing. Although he still hurt at the thought of his lost son, it was time to let go of his anger over the adoption. He kissed Rachel's hair, the smell of her perfume so familiar. "It's all right, cara. I know you tried to do the right thing. I'm sure our son is happy with his adoptive parents."

  As if he'd said the magic words, Rachel smiled, her face lighting up. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips, taking him by surprise, then tottered back on her heels and grabbed her handbag from the dressing table. "I'll call Freddy tomorrow. Let's go and celebrate."

  Dino frowned, wary of her sudden change of mood. "Celebrate what, cara?"

  "Being friends again, of course."

  As long as that was all she expected of him, Dino thought, as he slipped on his jacket.

  Rachel clung to his arm as they walked and told him about her flight and the show she'd been working on in London. They stepped through the stage door to be met by a small crowd of photographers. Camera flashes went off in their faces. Only long training kept Dino smiling. In front of the cameras, Rachel bloomed like a rose in the sun. Flicking back her hair and pulling up the collar of her faux fur coat, she smiled coyly.

  "How are the rehearsals for La Bohème going, Mr. Rossi?" someone shouted.

  "Very well. I'm looking forward to opening night."

  "Are you performing in the opera as well, Ms. Tanner?" a woman asked Rachel.

  Rachel clung to Dino's arm and giggled. "I'm just here to keep Dino company."

  The photographers all laughed. "Then he's a lucky guy!" one of them joked.

  "Well, I'm hungry, so if you don't mind, we'll be on our way," Dino said tightly, wanting to get away before Rachel said anything else that might come back to haunt him later.

  The crowd parted and, with a burst of camera flashes, Dino ushered Rachel to the waiting limo. They returned to the hotel where they were both staying and agreed to meet in the lobby in an hour. Dino showered and changed. As always happened when he had quiet moments alone, his thoughts turned to Maria. He tried to imagine her here with him and found he couldn't. She would be like a fish out of water in the big city. She'd hate the photographers and the lack of privacy. However much he missed her, it was best she had not come.

  He picked up his phone and scrolled through the photos he had taken of Maria in Mevagissey. The ache of missing her clenched tight as a fist squeezing his heart. He had programmed the Crow's Nest telephone number into his phone. Numerous times since he left Cornwall, he'd thought of calling her. But what would he say? That he missed her and wanted to be with her? He would only upset her. She deserved to be loved by a man who would put her before his career.

  "Argh!" Dino tossed his phone on the bed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Why was life so complicated? It would be much easier if he fell in love with Rachel, a woman who shared his lifestyle and understood what it involved. Perhaps he should forget Maria and give Rachel a second chance? But even as the thought entered his mind, his heart dismissed it.

&
nbsp; Dressed for dinner, he went down ten minutes before he was due to meet Rachel and perused the boutiques in the hotel until he found one selling postcards. He selected a card and bought a stamp. Then he withdrew from his wallet the credit-card sized picture of the Crow's Nest that had contact details on the back. He copied the address onto the postcard and simply wrote, 'Missing you' and signed his name.

  "What are you doing, Dino?"

  He'd been so absorbed that Rachel's voice behind his shoulder made him jump. "Nothing," he replied automatically.

  "Who's that for?" Rachel reached around him and tried to pick up the card, but he pushed it in his pocket while he tucked the guesthouse business card back in his wallet.

  "Come," he said, trying to distract her. "Where would you like to go for dinner?"

  She mentioned a very expensive restaurant that would almost certainly be booked solid, but Dino wasn't about to disappoint her. He'd find a way to secure a table. As they left the hotel, he slipped the postcard and a tip to the doorman. "Mail this for me, please."

  Then he escorted Rachel to a cab and prayed he could walk the fine line of keeping her happy while maintaining his distance.

  ***

  Maria went down for breakfast to find her mother bustling around the kitchen. She stood in the doorway with a vague sense of discomfort. Having the kitchen to herself had become familiar. Now she was back to the role of daughter sharing her mother's space.

  "Morning, darling, do you want toast or cereal?"

  An Amazon cardboard sleeve lay open on the table with two CDs beside it. Maria grabbed it and checked the address. "Mum, you've opened my package. Don't I get any privacy in this house?"

  "Don't be overdramatic. It's only a couple of music discs."

  "That's not the point, is it? You opened my mail."

  Her mother rolled her eyes heavenwards. "Tea or coffee?"