The Ultimate Romance Box (6 Bestselling Romance Novels)

by Eckhart, Lorhainne

  "I have an exciting announcement tonight," he said, grinning. "I am delighted to have been asked to play Pavarotti in a Hollywood biopic of the great man." Spontaneous applause and hoots of approval burst out in the audience. "Luciano Pavarotti debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as Rudolfo in Puccini's La Bohème in 1968. I am honored to be following in his footsteps."

  The interviewer raved about how awesome it was to be chosen to play such a legend. This was obviously wonderful for Dino's career. Tears of joy flooded Maria's eyes to see him so happy, but the tears were bittersweet. As Dino explained they'd be filming in the USA and locations around the world, Maria's spark of hope she might ever have a place in his life fizzled out.

  After his interview, Maria stared blankly at the opera house. She'd been deluding herself. Dino's postcard had probably been a kind gesture, nothing more. She'd been so desperate for a sign of his affection, her imagination had run away with her.

  "Maria, can we go now? Pretty please. I can't feel my fingers."

  "Sorry, Chris. Come on." Maria rubbed her sister's hands but her own were nearly as chilled. They hailed a taxi and huddled together in the back to get warm as they drove the few blocks to their hotel.

  Maria fell into bed, incredibly weary after the shopping and drained from the emotional highs and lows. "I'm sorry, Mari," Chris whispered in the dark. "I know you're upset about Dino. But be happy for him. He's such a sweet guy, and this movie thing must be good for him."

  "I know. I am happy. It's just hard." Maria pressed a hand over her mouth and swallowed back her sadness. She only wanted the best for him, but she badly wanted to talk to him just one last time. To wish him luck. To say the goodbye she'd missed out on when he left Cornwall.

  The following day Maria persuaded Chris to go sightseeing. They visited the observation deck at the top of the Empire State Building. The city was so vast, so endless. Staring down at the spiky urban jungle of buildings, Maria longed for the peace and quiet of home, the smell of the salty sea air and the sound of the waves on the beach.

  Her phone chimed. Maria checked to find a text from her mum saying she hoped they were having fun. Maria smiled and angled the screen towards Chris. "I miss the girls," Chris said wistfully. "I enjoyed my break, but I want to go home."

  "Me too." Maria already knew she was a homebody like her dad. Her trip to Austria had only reinforced that. But it was good to be reminded what was important in life.

  She folded her arms on the retaining wall and stared through the safety grid at the tiny cars on the streets far below. Her fingertips grazed her gold heart wistfully. Dino wasn't going to call. Her only chance of seeing him was to wait outside the stage door after his matinée performance the next day. There would be time before the flight if she and Chris had their bags packed and ready.

  The following morning they took a harbor cruise to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and then headed back to the hotel to collect their cases before eating a late lunch in a restaurant across the road from the Met. They lingered over coffee, people-watching. For a moment, Maria thought she saw the bald-headed man from Saks, but he climbed into a taxi and she decided she must be paranoid.

  After lunch, they wandered around Lincoln Center plaza and sat on the side of the waterfall to take photos of each other on their phones as mementos of the trip.

  At three thirty, they headed to the stage door to be sure of a place at the front of the line. As the end of the performance drew near, the crowd swelled. Once the opera finished, more people surged into the corridor, pushing and shoving.

  "Holy cow," Chris said, hanging on to Maria's arm with one hand and her case with the other. "These New Yorkers don't take prisoners." As the crowd increased, Maria's hopes faded. Even if Dino saw her, she couldn't say what she wanted to say in front of all these people. Then the doors opened and the cast members emerged. Fans elbowed and shoved to get a good view.

  "Don't you give up your spot, Mari. Shove back." Chris pushed Maria forwards and she ducked beneath an arm and around a tall man. She glanced over her shoulder to see Chris had retreated to the safety of a wall, dragging both cases. Then a cheer went up and everyone clapped. Dino exited the stage door with a hand placed protectively on the back of his beautiful, dark-haired leading lady. They chatted with the crowd and signed autographs while two security guards flanked them.

  Maria's pulse raced at the sight of him, his easy smile, his warm dark eyes, his oh-so-familiar leather jacket. She shouted his name, but her words were lost in the noise as other people did the same. The crowd was so dense she couldn't get closer, and she wasn't tall enough for him to see her. She shouted louder, a note of desperation in her voice. His head turned, an arrested look in his eyes, his pen poised over the program he was about to sign.

  "I'm here, Dino," she shouted and raised her hand to wave. Suddenly a man barged in front of her and she stumbled back, saved from falling because the crowd was packed so tightly. She rose on tiptoe, but the man who'd pushed in front blocked her view. Frustrated, she shoved him and he cast her a withering glance over his shoulder. She froze. It was the man from Saks. With a squeak of fear, she shouldered her way back through the throng to Chris.

  "What happened?" Chris demanded.

  "It's that man, the one who was watching me." Maria scanned the crowd and caught sight of his bald head. "There," she pointed.

  "Okay. Seriously creepy. I don't like the idea of being down here with him. We need to leave now," Chris said. "Take your case." Dino and his leading lady had moved farther down the hall towards their limo and the fans had gone with them. Chris headed in the other direction. With a last longing glance over her shoulder, Maria followed.

  The sensible thing to do was go home and get on with her life. But she would never forget Dino. Her happy memories of their month together would live on in her heart for the rest of her life.

  Chapter Ten

  Dino was still buzzing from his success at the Met. He loved acting as well as singing. Opera was where his heart lay. He promised himself that at the end of the coming concert tour, he would pursue classical opera full time and recover his artistic integrity. The newspapers called him the King of Popera, a moniker he'd grown to hate. He hoped it wasn't too late for the hard-core opera community to take him seriously.

  He and Rachel passed through security at Toronto airport and headed out to find a taxi. "Wait a moment, cara," he said and beckoned Rachel back as he perused the postcards displayed on a tourist stand. He planned to send Maria a card from every city he visited. Even though he had enjoyed his time in New York, Maria had never been far from his thoughts. At the height of his triumph in La Bohème, there had still been a small empty place inside him that longed for her. He hadn't known it was possible to miss someone this much, and he wanted to make sure she didn't forget him. As soon as he had an opening in his schedule, he would visit her.

  Rachel looked on moodily while he bought a card and filled out the Crow's Nest address. He didn't hide what he was doing. It was time Rachel knew about Maria and understood that Dino's affections lay elsewhere.

  Smiling, he wrote: In Toronto for the start of my tour. Still missing you! Love, Dino.

  "Who's that for?" Rachel asked.

  "A woman I met during my month out." He expected more questions, perhaps a clingy response, but she remained silent. It was then he realized that over the last few days she had been less demanding of his time. Maybe she sensed that romance between them was off the agenda.

  He mailed his card and imagined Maria picking it up from the doormat in the Crow's Nest, the look on her face as she read his message. He hoped she would be pleased to hear from him again.

  Outside the airport, they climbed into a cab and he gave the address of their hotel. Digging out his cell phone, he scrolled through the photographs to find his favorite one of Maria from their day in Mevagissey. His chest ached with longing as he stared at her smiling face, the wind whipping her ponytail up behind her. That had been a good day. One
he would never forget. The first time he had kissed her. After that, he'd taken every opportunity to kiss her and hold her.

  He sucked in a catchy breath and released it slowly. Strange that he had to fly halfway across the globe before he realized how much he loved her. "Here." He passed the phone to Rachel. "This is Maria, the woman I sent the postcard to."

  Rachel cradled his phone in her hand and stared at the image, biting her lip. A single, silent tear slid down her cheek. Dino winced. He should have remembered she had feelings for him. "I'm sorry, cara. Forgive me for being insensitive. I did not mean to upset you."

  More tears spilled down her cheeks. She pushed the phone back in his hand. "She was in New York."

  Dino frowned and leaned forwards to see Rachel's averted face. He couldn't have heard her correctly. "What did you say?"

  Rachel turned an anguished expression on him, her lips trembling. "Don't hate me, Dino."

  "Why would I hate you, cara?"

  "Freddy and I found Maria and her sister in your dressing room at the Met."

  Cold trickled through Dino like ice water. "Maria came to New York. When?"

  Rachel sobbed and wiped her eyes. "The day before you opened in La Bohème."

  Dino braced a hand against the door as if he were falling. That was six days ago. "What happened to her? Where did she go?"

  "I don't know. Freddy sent me back to the hotel and told me not to tell you."

  Maria must have felt so lost in New York when she didn't see him, so hurt and disappointed. Thank heavens Chris had been with her. He scraped a hand back through his hair, angry, so angry. "Did Freddy tell you anything else?"

  "He told her you were busy. That's all I know."

  "Is she still in New York?"

  Rachel shrugged.

  Dino pressed a hand to his forehead, tried to work out if he had time to fly back to New York and still make his performance in Toronto the following night. He had a television interview in a few hours. He could miss that, but he couldn't miss the concert. Nearly twenty thousand people had paid for seats at the Air Canada Centre. He wouldn't let them down.

  The taxi arrived at the hotel. Dino climbed out and grabbed his bag from the trunk himself. He paced on ahead of Rachel to the reception desk and checked in, his mind turning over and over, so furious he wanted to shout. This was the final nail in the coffin. He and Freddy Short were finished. Finito. Done! Dino had intended to let Freddy handle his record deals, but that would not happen now.

  He rode up in the elevator, his cheeks hot, his pulse racing. After seeing Rachel to her room, he found his own. As soon as the door closed behind him he pulled his phone out. He dialed Freddy and paced back and forth, his fist tight at his side.

  Freddy picked up. "Dino, mate. Are you in Toronto?"

  "Why didn't you tell me Maria came to see me?"

  Silence answered his question. Then he heard Freddy clear his throat. "I was thinking about your career, Dino. The last thing you need is some lovesick bird tagging around after you."

  Dino rested a hand against the wall and hung his head. When he'd learned of his son, he'd felt cold, empty, shocked, but this anger was flaming hot. If Freddy had been there he might have hit him. "You had no right to interfere," he grated out between clenched teeth. "No right. Where is she now?"

  "She flew back to London a few days ago."

  Everything inside Dino collapsed like a punctured balloon. He flopped into a chair. She was gone. He hadn't realized how much he'd hoped she was still in North America, still within reach. Resting his forehead in his hand, he tried to think.

  "Dino, mate," Freddy said. "What're you thinking?"

  Frustration tightened his muscles. Every time he'd wished Maria was there with him, she could have been. She'd been so close, and he hadn't even known.

  "Where did she stay?" he demanded, praying that Freddy had looked after her and not abandoned her to fend for herself.

  "That sister of hers said they had a hotel booked," Freddy said defensively. "I did ask."

  Dino broke the connection and tossed his phone on the bed. He'd thought he heard her voice by the stage door on Saturday but persuaded himself it was wishful thinking. She must have been there in the crowd. He pressed his hand over his eyes, feeling utterly helpless. Maria had been hurt, and it was because of him.

  ***

  After fifteen hours of traveling, Maria and Chris arrived at Truro train station and trudged out dragging their cases. In all Maria's life, she had never felt this tired. Not just physically weary, but mentally and emotionally exhausted.

  Eric's car was parked outside. He climbed out to greet them, pulling Chris into a long hug. "You didn't run off with an American hunk, then?" he said, smiling.

  "None of them are as hunky as you, my darling."

  Eric kissed Maria on the cheek and opened the back door for her to climb in while he hefted their suitcases into the trunk. Chris hopped in the front and released a long sigh of relief. "Wow, am I glad to be home."

  "Me too." And she was, even though Maria had huge challenges to face, namely finding a new job and somewhere to live.

  Eric climbed in, started the car, and pulled away. "How are my babies?" Chris asked.

  "Tina's babysitting the girls. We took them out and kept them busy, but they missed you."

  Maria stared out the window at the familiar scenery as Eric negotiated the traffic out of Truro and headed into the country. Although she'd promised herself to be positive, it was difficult. Right now, all she wanted to do was climb into bed, curl into a ball, and sleep for a week. But even the Crow's Nest was no longer the sanctuary it had been. She rested her forehead against the side window and stared blankly outside. Her hopes and dreams for the future were impossible now her parents had decided to sell. Suddenly the fruitless trip to see Dino felt like the final straw.

  Eric turned up the private lane leading to the guesthouse and cut the engine outside the front gate. Maria released a long, pent-up sigh. Chris reached back and patted her arm. "Forget him, Mari. Just forget him. It'll hurt for a while, but the pain won't last forever."

  Wiping all memories of Dino from her mind might be wise, but it just wasn't going to happen. He owned part of her heart.

  Her dad hurried down the path, and she climbed out to meet him. "Good to have you two back safe and sound." He gave her a hug, then leaned in the car to kiss Chris. He lifted Maria's case out and carried it inside.

  Maria's mother was waiting at the doorway as she went up the front path. The welcoming smile on her mother's face fell as she watched her approach. "Oh, dear. What happened, darling?"

  She walked into her mum's open arms and wished she was a little girl again when hurts could be put right with a kiss and a cuddle.

  "I went all that way and didn't see him."

  Her mother led her through to the kitchen, sat her down, and made a cup of tea. "Tell me what happened," she said.

  The whole sorry tale poured out. Maria told her how Dino had turned up on the doorstep after they left for the cruise, and how she had fallen for him. She ended with a description of the frustrating time in New York.

  Her mum sat beside her, gripping her hand. "Oh, darling, Chris told me it was Dino Rossi you were going to see. I should have warned you not to bother and saved you all this heartache. Men like him aren't interested in girls like you."

  "What's the matter with me?" Maria asked indignantly, even though she knew what her mother meant.

  "Nothing, darling. Nothing at all. But Dino Rossi lives in a glamorous jet-set world. I'm sure you've read the articles about him on the internet. He has women throwing themselves at him all the time. You don't want to get involved with that sort of man."

  "I really liked him, Mum."

  Her mother slid her chair closer and put her arm around Maria's shoulders. "You'll get over him just like you did Tom. The next few years will be exciting for you, darling. You have the world at your fingertips. With no ties, you're free to choose any job you want. J
ust think, with your qualifications you could work for a tour company anywhere in the world. Isn't that exciting?"

  Maria nodded obediently, even though traveling to another country was the last thing on earth she wanted to do right now.

  ***

  Dino was desperate to call Maria, make sure she arrived home safely, and explain that he hadn't known she was in New York. He wished he had given her his mobile phone number before he left Cornwall. He couldn't even remember why he hadn't.

  He calculated the time she would arrive home and rang the Crow's Nest at eight a.m. from Calgary, the next stop on the Canadian leg of his tour. Pacing nervously back and forth across the hotel room, Dino waited for the phone to be answered.

  "Hello, the Crow's Nest," a woman's voice said. He guessed it was Maria's mother.

  "I wish to speak to Maria, please."

  Silence.

  He rubbed his lips nervously. "Hello. Are you still there?" he prompted.

  "Yes. Is this Dino?"

  He winced at her chilly tone. Of course she would know what had happened to Maria. "Yes. May I explain please, Mrs. Gardener? I did not know that Maria visited New York until after she left."

  She sighed. "Whether you knew or not is beside the point. Maria was devastated when she arrived home. She's in bed now recovering from jet lag. I'm sure it's hit her extra hard because of the stress. I don't know you, Mr. Rossi or Rossellini, or whatever you like to be called, but I do know this relationship you have with my daughter is bad for her. I don't want you to call her again."

  Dino halted his pacing, heart racing as her words sank in. "I am sorry for what happened in New York. I wanted very much to see her."

  Silence.

  "Please," Dino said, "let me speak to her."

  "No. Maria might be twenty-four, but while she's under my roof she's still my little girl. I won't see her hurt like this. Please don't ring again." Then the line clicked and the dial tone sounded in his ear.

  Dino stared at his phone with disbelief. Maria's mother had forbidden him from calling as if he were a delinquent teenager! He cursed in Italian and jammed the device in his pocket. Then he paced angrily in front of the huge picture window, barely noticing the magnificent view of the Rocky Mountains in the distance.