Louis stared after his father in disbelief, this cannot possibly be happening? Belinda of all people is to become his wife. He walked over to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a whiskey, his brain kicking into gear.
I will ask for her hand in marriage father, but you can only lead a horse to the water, he thought wickedly and tossed the amber liquid down his throat.
Chapter 2
Belinda tuned out her friend Natalie’s constant nagging about weight loss, Banting this, and Banting that, she was Italian for god sakes and had no time for fad diets. Italians lived to eat, it was their culture, hence the fact that she loved her job as the head chef and manageress at her father’s restaurant. She may have spent all her teenage years in New York, but she still kept her Italian heritage. She looked at the stock list again and then handed it to her friend.
“This should be enough to last you for the next two weeks. And before you know it, I’ll be back,” she said sounding almost too positive. She hated having to leave the restaurant in someone else’s care. Even if Natalie was her most trusted friend and the best sous chef she ever had the pleasure to work with, she hated shifting her responsibilities unto others.
“I’ll be fine Bee, I promise and so will the restaurant. You won’t have a thing to worry about,” her friend reassured her.
“I know. It’s just that two weeks is such a long time to be away from El Pescore. I still think I can convince my father to let me stay behind,” she said tapping her index finger on her lips.
“You haven’t had a vacation in over three years, and you love Italy, so now is your chance. Just go and come back in one piece,” Natalie said and tugged the stock list out of Belinda’s hand. “And if you happen to find a hot Italian hunk, get his number.”
Natalie laughed and took off her apron, hanging it on the hook, “Trust me, if I can help it, I’ll avoid them all. Italian men are arrogant and ostentatious, especially the newer generation. To them status is more important than common decency.”
She knew all too well how Italian men operated. Her father was a typical example. Since she can remember, her mother had to always do as she was told. And even though her mother hardly ever complained, she knew that, that was not the life she would want for herself.
If she ever did marry, it would be to a gentle soul who gave as much as he took. She would marry a man with a heart of gold and a love for food, one who would love her with her extra padding and all.
“Belinda, the shuttle is here,” her father called from the office.
“Coming papa,” she responded and hugged Natalie, “If you need anything, just email me, I’ll be online.”
“Stop fussing so much, we’ll be fine and I promise you, El Pescore will still be standing when you get back.”
She glanced around the kitchen one last time and then took her purse and headed out to the shuttle. Maybe this holiday was just I need, she the shuttle pulled away. She was going to enjoy herself and come back refreshed and ready to take the bull by the horns.
Chapter 3
It’s been awhile since she last visited Palermo, but even after all these years nothing much had changed. There were still many thriving marketplaces in nearly every corner and small apartments were stacked high above the streets giving their occupants a bird’s eye view of the hustle and bustle below.
They exited Palermo, leaving behind the crowded streets and made their way along the winding road through the vineyards towards Villa Valentina Paci. She couldn’t help but notice her father’s mood deteriorate the closer they got to their destination, it was as if he was drawn into himself more now than ever before.
“Everything okay papa?” she asked placing her hand on his.
“Of course tesoro, why do you ask?” he said and smiled.
“You just seem quiet, that’s all.”
“It’s been a long trip, I’m just tired,” he said and squeezed her hand.
It was a valid reason but she couldn’t help but concern herself over his well being.
As they approached the gate to the Villa, she noticed the two armed men on either side of the entrance as the gate automatically opened. Their presence sent a cold shiver down her spine. Why on earth would Mr. Angelino have armed guards? She wondered briefly. They finally pulled up to the front of the magnificent Sicilian styled house with its rustic yet modern appearance. And although they were well off, and lived in a luxurious house in the suburbs in NY, this place was far grander than the house they owned.
It wasn’t long before two men exited the house. The older one of the two, presumably her father’s old friend Stefano, was the first to rush down the stairs to greet them.
“Vicchio amico, I’m glad you finally came to visit. It’s been too long,” he greeted and kissed her father on his cheeks, “This must be your be your lovely daughter.”
“Stefano, old friend, it has been long,” her father greeted in return and then stepped back, “Belinda, this is Stefano Angelo, and is his son Louis.”
Belinda smiled, “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said softly trying not to pay too much attention to Louis. She had to mentally force herself not to look at him in an attempt to calm her frantic heart.
Natalie was right, Italian men were hunks, and this one was no exception. He had this air of grandeur that made the sun look like a fading lamp in the fog. Dressed in a suit, with his hair impeccably styled, he looked like he stepped out of a fashion magazine. And if his mere presence wasn’t enough, he took her hand in his, which sent a spark of desire shooting through her body.
“Bella,” he said and then brought her hand to his lips, “what a pleasure to finally meet you again. I’ve heard so much about you.”
She was quite surprised by his remark and the fact that she was being discussed at all, since she had no real memory of meeting him when she was younger.
“I trust it was all positive?” she said smiling and withdrew her hand.
“Nothing negative can be said about such a beautiful creature,” he remarked and stepped aside as his father led them into the house.
Not only was he good looking but he could charm a bird out of a tree, she thought feeling his eyes burn into her back. She couldn’t wait to tell Natalie about Prince Charming. It’ll give her a good laugh.
One of the servants of the house came and collected their luggage and the four of them made their way through the house to the terrace. The house was even more beautiful on the inside, and its casual layouts evoked an Old World charm. The interior decorator clearly had an inherent eye for design and the incredibly refined mosaics that adorned the walls simply captivated her.
Chapter 4
Louis studied his unsuspecting soon-to-be-bride as she scrutinized the food and he couldn’t help but smile. She was literally picking at every morsel of food analyzing the textures and the tastes, most likely looking for cooking flaws.
“Is the food to your liking?” he asked her and immediately drew her attention.
“Oh it is, you must have a very skilled chef,” she said smiling, and although he could see the slight blush in her cheeks, she kept her poise.
“I believe you are a master chef back in America,” he stated and took a sip of his wine.
“Hardly a master, but I know my way around the kitchen and I know what people like to eat,” she said confidently.
She isn’t exactly my type, he thought as he studied her. She was on the shorter side, and curvy, a complete contrast to the women that normally shared his bed. He also preferred blondes; she had long black curly hair that fell loosely over her shoulders and down her back. She was a little too average for his liking, but even so, she was not unsightly. He could definitely work with this and once she was his wife, he would ensure that she was treated to a makeover.
He heard her clear her throat and realized she was staring at him. Caught red handed he lifted his glass to his lips and kept eye contact with her over the brim of the glass until she averted her gaze. Shy – that was nothing shor
t of adorable, he thought and smiled.
“Louis, why don’t you go show Belinda the winery, I’m sure she would love to see it?” his father suggested. And so it starts the game of ultimate seduction. He still had no idea why his father insisted on taking her as his bride. But going against his father’s wishes was not a chance he was willing to take. Besides, if he grew tired of her nothing would stop him of having a string of very willing mistresses.
He stood up and walked around the table then held out his hand for her, “Would you like to see the winery, signora?” he asked.
Instead of taking his hand she shifted her chair back and got up then kissed her father on his forehead and whispered something in his ear. She was rather mysterious. Just when he thought she was a shy and insecure mouse, who would easily be swayed, she acted the complete opposite, strong willed and determined.
“I’ve always been intrigued by wineries,” she said as they walked down the pebbled path.
“It is an art to create the perfect wine. It has been the essence and life source of our family for decades and is one of the most well-known brands in Italy. It started with my great grandfather who planted the first vineyard and it simply grew from there.”
She was intrigued by the whole process, and although she did have some knowledge of how wine was made, she didn’t know the details of how red wine was made differently from white wine. He explained to her that red wine is made from the pulp by fermenting the grapes with their skins, while white wine is made by fermenting the juices. He showed her the fermentation process and then took her through to where the grapes were being foot trodden, and for a moment she wanted to kick her shoes off and join the workers.
They spent most of the afternoon in the cellar where she got to taste some of the wines, and by nightfall, she felt all but normal. Her head was spinning a little and she felt braver than usual, even a little flirtatious.
“So, do you have a girlfriend?” she asked boldly as she wrapped her arms around one of the poles in the cellar. It was to have something to steady herself than anything else.
“That is a rather random question to ask a complete stranger,” he said laughing. And his laughter sent a shiver through her.
“It’s a normal question, I mean you have all this,” she started and gestured with her hand, “Not to mention the looks and the charm, surely you have a woman who shares your bed?”
Woah, that’s a little over the top Belinda, she scolded herself as he threw his head back laughing. But for the life of her, she could not control herself even if she wanted to. It was as if all her thoughts were about to pour out of her mouth like water from a burst water pipe.
“No bella, I have no woman sharing my bed. Not yet anyway,” he teased standing far too close for comfort.
She inhaled deeply and then breathed out, blowing her hair away from her forehead. “I’m sorry, it was a little rude asking you such a private question. It must be the wine that is influencing my filters,” she apologized and moved away from him, half stumbling until she leaned against one of the wine barrels.
He moved closer as if she was his prey and as he reached out he ran his fingers up her bare arm, “It appears that the truth serum is working as expected,” he said huskily.
“I-I’m n-not much of a t-truth serum fan,” she stammered and slipped out from under his burning gaze and scooted along the wall. He was just far too intense.
Chapter 5
There was something about her innocence that attracted him on a level he was not accustomed to. And for reasons beyond his understanding, he had to have a taste of this forbidden fruit. He discarded the physical attraction and played it off as a ploy to seduce her into marrying him. This was all just business, and in his world, business always mixed with pleasure. So while he is on this mission to claim her hand in marriage, he may as well enjoy the ride.
He boxed her in between his arms and blocked her escape path, “You are not afraid of me, are you?” he asked tilting her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes.
“N-no, I’m not,” she whispered nervously.
“Good,” he said as he lowered his lips to hers. He kissed the corners of her mouth gently at first and then he wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her up against him.
Her breath mixed with the woody scent of matured wine filled his lungs as she let out a huff of air parting her lips involuntarily. That was all he needed, her approval. He slanted his lips against hers and swept his tongue along her bottom lip and into her mouth. At first take, it was as if her jaw was locked, but as his tongue kept teasing hers, she relaxed and she returned his kiss. He slipped his other hand under her long tresses of hair and cupped the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss, drawing out a soft moan from her. This was more potent than he expected he suddenly realized as his body responded to hers. Should he go all the way now, or slowly draw her into his world, hook line and sinker?
Unable to think straight with the urgency of his arousal soaring to new heights, he dropped his hands to her hips and effortlessly lifted her unto a barrel. But the moment he did this, she protested and tore her lips away.
“This isn’t right, I hardly know you,” she uttered breathlessly.
“Bello, we are two adults, what are you worried about?” he asked, circling his thumbs on the inside of her knees where he stood between her legs.
“Louis, please let me go,” she pleaded but made no attempt to move.
“This is your no, when you really mean to say yes?” he asked teasingly as he tried to kiss her again, but she turned her head away.
“I-I’m not ready for this,” she said and pushed his hands away, “I’ve never…”
“Never, what?” he asked curiously as he tilted her chin up to look into her eyes, “Kissed in a winery?”
His arousal was painful and he was trying really hard to keep this as lighthearted as possible. Usually he had more control than this.
“Kissed? No, I mean… ugh,” she huffed and shoved him away from her then slid off the barrel, “I don’t make it a habit of having sex with men I hardly know,” she spat out and fixed her dress, “what would you think of me if I were to throw myself at you like a whore?”
This was the closest thing to a cold shower he could have asked for. Did she genuinely think that giving of herself will put her in the same class as a cheap whore? He cursed himself mentally but remained composed, and despite his raging desire he smiled and reached for her hand, then turned it over and kissed the inside of her wrist.
“I suppose we should start to work towards that second date then,” he said and then let go of her hand.
“Come, I’m sure everyone is wondering where we disappeared to.”
That was the quickest Samantha ever sobered up. One moment her head was spinning with wine and the next Louis was kissing her. And it was not just any kiss. It was the type of kiss that made your toes curl and your knees buckle. But everything was happening too soon. She came here thinking it would be a visit, hardly expecting to meet such a man like Louis. Not to mention one who would consider her worthy of his company.
Back home she was always the odd one out, with her friends landing all the hot guys. She was the designated driver who didn’t drink, didn’t fool around and made sure everyone got home safe and sound. She was also last on the picking list when it came to the men in her circles.
She followed Louis back to the Villa and tried to make sense of it all, but with him in front of her, larger than life, it was near impossible. The way his muscles flexed under his white dress shirt when he walked was simply hypnotizing, not to mention the way his back tapered down to his waist. He was the epitome of Anteros himself, the Italian god of love and passion. And she was in serious trouble.
Chapter 6
The week flew by and every day Belinda spent in Louis’ company she slowly warmed up to him. Some days they would casually spent time together; steal a chaste kiss or two. Other days, she would merely sit by and watch how he ran the business
. On those days she saw a different side of him, one she wasn’t sure she liked. He was demanding, refusing to take no for an answer. Although she did not quite agree with his methods, she respected him. Besides, soon she will go back to New York, to her own restaurant doing what she loved.
She was seated on one of the sofas on the terrace waiting for Louis to fetch her and take her into town when her father came to sit beside her. Again she noticed the somber expression that made him look years his age.
“Papa, I’m worried about you, you don’t look well,” she said as she shifted closer resting her head on his shoulder.
“I’m perfectly fine, you fuss like your mother,” he said and took her hand in his.
Belinda laughed and kissed his cheek, “I am a chip off the old block. Someone must see to it that you are happy and healthy.”
“I’m a grown man,” he said and there was a brief silence, before he spoke again.
“Louis is a good man,” he started and she instantly knew where this was heading.
“He’s a fine man, just a pity he’s all the way out here.”
Her father turned to her and took both her hands in his, “Belinda, I’m not getting any younger; I wish that you will marry before my time passes on earth.”
Woah where did that come from, she wondered as she studied her father. He can’t possibly consider her marrying Louis. Her life was in New York and even if Louis was marriage material, she would never give up El Pescore.
“Oh papa, that’s utter nonsense. You are still as strong as a stallion. And the day I marry and have children you will be there to witness it in the flesh,” she reassured him.
“You and Louis get on well,” he said and looked into the distance as if he had more to say.
Wrangling the Cowboy: An Older Man & A Virgin Romance Page 10
