Return of the Italian Tycoon

by Jennifer Faye

  “Nothing.”

  He was losing his patience. “But why did you call?”

  “You and Kayla need to return to the villa. Now. I’ll explain everything when you both get here.” The line went dead.

  Angelo slipped the phone back into his pocket. He turned to Kayla, whose face was still filled with color. “We have to go.”

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. That was Nico and he summoned us back to the villa. It must be Marianna. I just pray there aren’t complications with the baby.” Before they left he needed to clear the air about their kiss that never should have happened. “Listen, about the kiss, I crossed a line. I...I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  A myriad of expressions crossed over her face. “It’s forgotten.”

  He didn’t believe her. “Can we talk about it later?”

  “I’d rather not. There’s nothing to say. Besides, you have more important things to deal with.” She jumped to her feet and moved away from him. “You should get going. I’ll be fine here.”

  “Nico requested you, too.” Angelo held back the startling fact that he’d feel better facing this crisis with her next to him.

  Kayla pressed a hand to her chest. “But why me?”

  “I don’t know. But we have to go.”

  “Okay. Just let me grab my shoes and purse.” She rushed back to her room.

  Angelo got to his feet and paced back and forth. Of course he was worried about his sister, but there was something else fueling his inability to sit still—Kayla’s off-the-cuff dismissal of his kiss.

  The women he was used to spending time with never brushed off his advances, though each of them knew his rules in advance—nothing serious. So why did that rule not apply here? Probably because Kayla was off-limits. She was his assistant. He couldn’t forget that going forward—no matter how much his personal life spun out of control while in Italy.

  From this point forward, Kayla was off-limits.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  HER THOUGHTS RACED so fast that it unsettled her stomach.

  Kayla stared out of the passenger window as she clasped her hands tightly together. Angelo expertly guided the rented sports car along the narrow, tree-lined road. How in the world had she lost control of the situation?

  She inwardly groaned. As fantastic as that kiss had been, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Angelo at last had noticed her work and complimented her professionally. And what did she turn around and do, stare at him like some lovesick teenager—encouraging him to kiss her.

  Sure, she was wildly attracted to him. What woman with a pulse wasn’t? He was gorgeous with that short, dark hair, olive skin and dark, sensual eyes. But he was her boss—the man in charge of her professional future—her dreams.

  She couldn’t afford any more blunders. She had to remain aloof but professional. Surely it wasn’t too late to correct things between them. At least he hadn’t mentioned anything about sending her back to New York on the next plane, but then again they’d rushed out of the hotel so quickly that he didn’t have time to think of it. His thoughts were on his sister.

  Kayla sure hoped there wasn’t anything wrong with Marianna. This was the first time Kayla had ever witnessed Angelo visibly worried. He obviously cared a great deal for his family though he never let on at the office—when he was working he was 100 percent professional—

  So then what happened back there at the hotel?

  Angelo pulled the car to a skidding halt in front of the villa. Before she could summon an answer to that nagging question, Angelo had her car door opened. She would figure it out later. Right now, she would offer her support in whatever capacity to Angelo’s family.

  Nico rushed into the drive. “About time you got here.”

  “We came right away.” Angelo frowned at his brother. “What’s the matter with Marianna?”

  “Marianna?” Nico’s brows drew together in a questioning look. “This has nothing to do with our sister.”

  “Then why in the world did you have us rush over here?” Angelo’s voice took on a sharp edge.

  Kayla breathed a sigh of relief. She had no idea what Nico wanted, but she was fully relieved that mother and baby were okay. However, she did have to wonder why Nico wanted her here? Was he hoping that she’d play referee?

  Nico’s eyes opened wide and his face became animated. “You are never going to believe this—”

  “I might if you’d get to the point.”

  Nico smiled in spite of his brother’s obvious agitation. “What would you say if I told you that I was just approached by representatives of Halencia? Monte Calanetti has just made the short list of locations for the royal wedding of Prince Antonio and Christina Rose.”

  Angelo rolled his eyes. “Nico, this is no time for joking around—”

  “I’m not. I’m perfectly serious.”

  Kayla’s mouth gaped open. A royal wedding. Wow! She really was in Europe because nothing like this ever happened back in the States. Wait until she told her family. They would never believe it.

  Her gaze moved to Angelo. He still wasn’t smiling. In fact, he didn’t look the least bit excited about this news. She had absolutely no ties to this village and she was over-the-moon happy for them. So why was he so reserved?

  Angelo pressed his hands to his trim waist. “You called us back here to tell us this?”

  “Brother, you’re not understanding. The royal family of Halencia wants us to make a pitch as to why Monte Calanetti should be the location for the soon-to-be king and his intended bride’s wedding.”

  “And?”

  Nico shook his head. “What aren’t you understanding? This is where you come in. You and Kayla. This is what you two do for a living—pitch ideas, convince people to go with the products you represent. That’s what we need.”

  Nico wanted Angelo and her to help? Really? For a royal wedding?

  The breath caught in her throat as she held back a squeal of excitement. If she’d ever wanted a chance to stand out and gain a promotion, this was a prime opportunity. Plus, it’d mean continuing to work with Angelo. But once they got back to New York, away from this romantic countryside, things would go back to normal. Wouldn’t they?

  Surely they would. This project was huge. It was amazing. An honest-to-goodness royal wedding. She didn’t even know where they’d begin, but she couldn’t contain her excitement. She’d show Angelo how good an ad executive she could be. Just wait and see.

  * * *

  Pitch a wedding to royalty?

  Angelo had never done such a thing. Weddings weren’t his thing. He knew nothing about love and romance. He was highly unqualified for this project. But he wasn’t about to admit any of this to Nico. No way. So how was he supposed to get out of this?

  Nico smiled as he led them straight through the modestly decorated villa that still looked much the same as it did when he’d been a child. Once everyone was situated on the veranda with cold drinks, Nico turned to him. “So what do you think?”

  “About what?”

  “You know, coming up with a pitch for the village?”

  Angelo wanted to tell his brother that he was too busy and that he couldn’t possibly fit it into his schedule. He highly doubted his brother would hear him. Nico had selective hearing when he wanted something bad enough—like Angelo being a silent investor in the vineyard.

  Angelo turned to Kayla to see what she thought about the idea, hoping she’d make some excuse to get them out of this situation. But her green eyes sparkled with excitement. How wrong could he have been to look to her for support? Was there a woman alive who didn’t get excited about weddings? Or was it the part about pitching it to a real-life prince that had caught her full attention?

  Angelo’s gut tightened when he thought of
Kayla being starstruck over the royal prince. He shrugged off the uneasy sensation. It was none of his concern. Besides, it wasn’t as if she was attracted to him. She couldn’t dismiss their kiss fast enough.

  His jaw tensed as he recalled how easily she’d brushed off their moment. He could have sworn she’d been as into him as he was into her. It just showed how little he understood women.

  He drew up his thoughts, refusing to dwell on the subject. In the meantime, Kayla had engaged his brother in light conversation about the vineyard and how it’d been their childhood home. Angelo looked around the place and was truly impressed by what his brother had done to bring this place back to life. It looked so different than when they were kids, when the place was dying off.

  Angelo had actually thought that his brother was crazy for wanting to devote his time and money into reviving the vineyard, but with Nico’s determination, he’d made a go of the place. In fact, this boutique vineyard might not produce a large quantity of wine, but what it did produce was of the finest quality. Angelo kept his private wine collection stocked with it. Calanetti wines impressed a great number of influential guests that he’d entertained.

  The chime of Kayla’s laughter drew his thoughts back to the moment. Nico was entertaining her with a tale from when they were kids. As the oldest, Angelo had always been put in charge of his siblings while his parents went out. But this one time, Angelo hadn’t been paying attention and they’d sneaked off. What Nico failed to add, and what he probably didn’t know, was that had been one of Angelo’s scariest moments—not knowing what had happened to his brother and sister.

  “Are you telling them about the royal wedding?” Marianna joined them. Her face was a bit on the pale side and there were shadows beneath her eyes.

  Nico leaned back in his chair. “I just told Angelo about it. He’s thinking it over.”

  Marianna turned to Angelo. “You have to think it over? But why? This will be the biggest thing you’ve ever done.”

  “You really want me to do the pitch?”

  She nodded. “Please. It would be so wonderful for everyone. Couldn’t you just this once help your family?”

  Guilt landed squarely on his shoulders with the force of a full wine barrel. He owed his brother and sister this. It’d put Monte Calanetti on the map. And the benefits the village would reap from the royal wedding taking place here were countless.

  But he was already fully obligated. And he couldn’t do it all on his own. He’d need help. A good copywriter. His gaze strayed to Kayla. He’d already witnessed just how talented she was with words and images. He could easily imagine her taking on some more of his workload, allowing him time to work on the wedding proposal.

  They’d have to work closely together—closer than ever. There was no way he’d let her loose with the company’s most important clients. But would they be able to manage it after the kiss?

  “So what do you say, Angelo?” Nico looked at him. “The village is all abuzz with the news, and you know that pitching a wedding isn’t my area of specialty.”

  “Please Angelo, will you do it?” Marianna looked at him, openly pleading with him with her eyes.

  He’d never been good at telling her no. And now that she was standing there carrying some stranger’s baby—some man that his sister wouldn’t even introduce to their family—his resistance to her plea was nonexistent. If playing host to a royal wedding made her happy, how could he deny it to her? The decision for once was quite simple.

  “Okay. I’ll do it.”

  “You will?” The words echoed around the patio.

  “Why does everyone sound so shocked? It’ll be good publicity for the firm.” But that wasn’t his reason for agreeing—it was to see the smiles on the two women in his life...and his brother.

  Marianna launched herself into his arms. Warmth swelled in his chest. He may not have been here to protect her and watch over her as he should have been, but at least he could give her something to look forward to while she sorted out the rest of her life.

  Marianna pulled back and sent him a watery smile. “Thanks.”

  He turned to Kayla. She looked like an excited kid on Christmas Eve. “How about you? Are you up for taking on some more responsibility?”

  Kayla didn’t waste a moment before uttering, “Definitely. Just tell me what needs done.”

  “Good.” He turned to his brother. “It looks like you’ve hired yourself a team. I’ll get started on the pitch as soon as we get back to New York.”

  “New York?” Nico’s brows gathered together.

  “Yes, that’s where we work. I’ll send through what I come up with, but it’s going to take me a little time. I have a rush project that I—we—have to wrap up—”

  “This can’t wait. You have to get started on it right away.”

  Angelo didn’t like the worried tone of his brother’s voice. “Why? What haven’t you told us?”

  Nico got to his feet. “Does anyone need anything else to drink?”

  Angelo knew a stalling tactic when he saw one. “Nico, spit it out. What is the catch?”

  After Nico finished refilling Kayla’s iced tea, he turned to his brother. “The catch is the pitch has to be completed in no more than three weeks’ time.”

  “Three weeks.” Angelo leaned back in his chair. “You sure don’t give a person much time.”

  “And—”

  “There’s more?”

  Nico nodded. “The presentation has to be given to the royal family at the palace in Halencia.”

  Nico sank down into his chair while Angelo charged to his feet. “This changes everything. I wasn’t planning to stay in Italy for three weeks. Nico, don’t you understand? I have a business to run.”

  “You’re the boss. Can’t you put someone else in charge while you’re here?”

  Angelo never sloughed off his work on other people. He stayed on top of things. Some people called him a control freak. He considered it the only way to keep the company on track. “That’s not the point. There are certain things only I can do.”

  “The point is that when we need you, you’re never here.” Nico got to his feet and faced him. “Why should I have thought this would be any different?”

  His brother’s words were pointed and needled at his guilt. “That’s not fair. I’ve lent you money for the vineyard—”

  “This isn’t about you writing out a check. I’m talking about you personally investing yourself—your time—in something that’s important to your family.”

  Angelo turned to Marianna, looking for support, but she moved to Nico’s side. When he sought out Kayla, she was busy studying her iced tea glass with such intensity that it was as if she’d never seen glassware before. He was alone in this. He knew what he should do, but it was so hard to just hand over the reins of the company he’d built from the ground up.

  Three weeks was a long time to be away. And yet it wasn’t much time to create a compelling campaign for a wedding—a royal wedding. It had just started to sink in what a big deal this really was for his brother and sister, and the village, plus it would be amazing for his company—that is if they won the pitch.

  Angelo raked his fingers through his hair. Letting go of the reins at Amatucci & Associates went against every business instinct. Yet, he couldn’t turn his back on his siblings again. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

  Marianna turned to Kayla. “Will you stay, too?”

  “Yes, Kayla,” Nico chimed in. “Will you help my brother? I get the feeling that he won’t be able to do it without you.”

  Kayla’s eyes flashed with surprise. “I don’t know that I need to stay in Italy to do it.”

  “It’d be most convenient,” Marianna pointed out. “I’m sure Angelo will need your input. After all, we’re talking about a wedding. And my brothers, well, they aren
’t exactly romantic.”

  “Hey!” Nico and Angelo protested in unison.

  Both women burst out in laughter. Angelo supposed the dig was worth it as his sister’s face broke into a smile. And when he turned to Kayla, the happiness reflected in her eyes warmed a spot in his chest. She was a very beautiful woman. Why, oh, why did it have to be now when they were practically attached at the hip that he truly realized his attraction to her?

  When she caught him staring, the breath hitched in his throat. He should glance away, but he couldn’t. He was in awe of her. Was it being away from the office that had him more relaxed about the proper conduct between employer and employee? Nonsense. He knew what he was doing. He could keep this together.

  He gazed directly at the woman who took up more and more of his thoughts. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense. Will you remain in Italy and lend a hand?”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THIS WAS A very bad idea.

  But it was so tempting. How could she let such a rare opportunity pass her by?

  Kayla worried her bottom lip. Though she wouldn’t be working directly on the royal wedding, she’d be close at hand. Perhaps she could add an idea here and there. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to actually work on the project itself. Yet, she understood with the magnitude of a royal wedding that only the best of the best would work on the project, and that meant Angelo.

  But she was needed back in New York. The ICL fund-raiser was quickly approaching, and seeing as it was her idea—it was her responsibility to make sure it went off without a hitch. However, she had put Pam, an associate at the after-school program, in charge while she was gone. And how much could possibly go wrong in three weeks?

  “Please say you’ll stay.” Marianna looked so hopeful. “I could use someone on my side against my brothers, who think they know everything.”

  That sold her. Marianna could definitely use some help keeping her brothers in line while she figured out her next move. “Okay, I’ll stay.”