A Little Slice of Heaven

by Gina Ardito

  In lemon-sucking style, Hayley’s lips scrunched. “Bull.”

  “No bull.” Okay, maybe a little bull, but Hayley didn’t have to know everything. “This place isn’t as great as Dr. Weber’s old office, but it will suit my needs temporarily. Best of all, my parents won’t have to re-mortgage their house, and I’ll still get a head start on the daycare center. So good riddance to Kyle Hayden.”

  “Good riddance, my foot. You haven’t cracked a smile since he left. We’re all worried about you.”

  “Well, stop worrying. I’ll be fine.” She forced a smile, but couldn’t amass the energy to reflect happiness. “See?”

  “Mmm, yeah,” Hayley replied. “What’s the latest on the money front?”

  “Mrs. Melendez put in a good word for me at CompTech. I’ll start Monday, working nights. Every dime of that salary will pay costs for getting the center up and running. On a smaller scale than I originally wanted. I’ll have to take only a few kids to start, but who knows? In time, I might be able to get a larger space and increase enrollment.”

  “Can’t you get the funds any faster?”

  “Mom and Dad still insist on lending me the money, but I don’t feel right about them financing my future.” Now or never, Gi. “Kyle had once mentioned asking for donations. I don’t know how, but I’m thinking about trying a few fundraisers—bake sales, car washes. That sort of stuff.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and plowed ahead before she lost her nerve. “W-would you be willing to help?”

  “Do you need to ask?” Hayley retorted. “Yes, I’d help. Half the town would help if you let them know you need it.”

  Gee, that was easier than she thought. Maybe Kyle had been right about something after all. Maybe all she had to do was ask for help, and help would appear. Then again, maybe not. Sighing with the hope she’d exhale her bad mood, she dropped the carpet segment out the window to land inside the Dumpster one story below. For a brief moment, she saw Kyle’s image, blurry but familiar, leaning against the garbage receptacle’s wall. Blinking back tears, she turned away.

  “So that’s good news, right?” Hayley’s smile looked almost as forced as hers.

  “Okay, spill.” She folded her arms over her chest, protecting her heart. “What bad news do you have for me?”

  “Nothing.”

  Bad liar. “Uh-huh, right. Whatever it is, just tell me. I’m a big girl. I won’t fall to pieces.”

  “Dr. Weber’s office went off the ‘available’ list yesterday.”

  The last brick in the wall Gianna constructed to keep herself supported collapsed. “Who leased it?”

  “A company out of Westchester called Kigeea, or something. I don’t know much about the deal yet.”

  “Why not? I thought it was your property.”

  Hayley sat up higher, tucked her feet under her bottom. “It’s my listing, but the contract has a lot of legalese. Bruce felt I’d be in over my head, so he gave it to Ryan. I’ll still get a nice chunk of the commission, though.”

  But no credit. “I think that’s the suckiest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “No sense complaining, right?”

  Gianna shook her head. “Why shouldn’t you complain? You did the prep work, got the listing from Dr. Weber, took the photos, placed the ads. Now Bruce will send in the big guns to take the credit for your hard work.”

  Blue eyes widened as she stood. “It isn’t like that. I’m happy to turn the sale over to Ryan. He’s got a law degree, remember? Trust me, a deal this complicated, I’d only screw up some minor but mega-important detail.”

  “Personally, I think you’re the one getting screwed.” When Hayley attempted to hug her, she shrugged off the softness.

  Poor Hayley stood alone in the spotlight of the setting sun, hurt registering on her face. “Don’t become a hardnose because of what happened with Kyle. Not everyone in the world is out to screw everyone else.”

  “Prove it.”

  “Jeez, Gi. If I thought you’d hurt this badly afterward, I never would have encouraged your feelings for Kyle. I’m not sure I like this side of you.”

  “Well, get used to it. Gianna the Doormat no longer exists. I’m tired of being stepped on and walked all over. From now on, I’m looking out for Number One.”

  ****

  Gianna spent the night working on the apartment. With the restaurant downstairs, she had an endless supply of coffee to keep her focused. By Sunday morning she’d scrubbed the floors and walls and removed all the old furniture except for the kitchen table and one chair. She sat there now, sketching plans to create classrooms with toddler-proof windows, doors, and cabinets, transforming a one-bedroom apartment into a cheery school for youngsters.

  Sunny colors, she thought. Shelves with books, games, and toys. She could see the finished project in her mind. Yes. This would work. All she needed was more time, and a little more coffee. Empty travel mug in hand, she started downstairs when the telephone’s ring stopped her on the third step. Turning, she strode back inside and picked it up. “Hello?”

  A vaguely familiar voice spoke from the receiver. “Ms. Randazzo?”

  “Yes.” Who was this? For a moment, her heart skipped. Kyle? But, no. The voice held no accent, no conceited air.

  “Wow,” the man said. “You’re a hard lady to reach. This is Ryan McKnight of Setquott Realty.”

  A frisson of discomfort slinked up her spine. Oh, Hayley, don’t tell me you set me up with one of your coworkers. “Yes, Ryan, of course. How are you?”

  “Fine, just fine, thanks. I was wondering if you could stop by the office this afternoon, if you have some time.”

  No wonder the man hadn’t had a date since his divorce four years earlier. She’d always suspected his eternally rumpled appearance and appalling habit of picking his teeth with a matchbook were the culprits. Maybe his lack of social grace played a factor, too. Just wait until she got her hands on Hayley. Concerned friend or not, she had no right to sic this bulldog on her.

  “Um, Ryan? Could I get back to you later? I’m kind of in the middle of something…”

  “Well, we really need you to sign the lease papers as soon as possible,” Ryan replied.

  With a screech fit for a car going from sixty to zero in two seconds, her mind forgot about an excuse to turn down Ryan gently. “Lease papers? What lease papers?”

  “For the building at 135 Main Street.”

  The moisture in her mouth evaporated, leaving her tongue too thick and dry to form a sound. 135 Main Street. Dr. Weber’s old building.

  “Hello? Gianna? Are you there?”

  Yes, but...no. This was a mistake. A dream. Wake up, honey! Snap out of the fantasy! “Are you sure you’re looking for me?”

  “You’re Gianna Randazzo, right?”

  “Yes.” At least she was five minutes ago.

  “Then you’re who I’m looking for. So whaddya say? Do you have time to sign the paperwork today?”

  “I-I guess so.” This had to be a mistake. And one she should straighten out as soon as possible. “I’ll be down in about a half-hour. Is that all right with you?”

  “That’ll be great. I’ll see you then. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye.” Even after she heard the click on his end, she held the receiver. The ear-splitting buzz-buzz-buzz of the telephone reminded her to place it on the hook. As if the noise had awakened her, she quit puzzling over questions and headed into the bathroom to shower and change. Whatever the reasoning behind this conundrum, the only way to learn the truth was to drive to the realty office and find out.

  ****

  The cell phone in Kyle’s shirt pocket vibrated against his chest, and he quickly answered the call. “Hello?”

  “She’s on her way. She’ll be here in about a half-hour.”

  Excitement, lighter than helium, made him buoyant. “Excellent. Thanks, Ryan.”

  “No problem, Mr. Hayden. You want me to tell her where you are when she shows up?”

  “No, have her sign the le
ase first. Once she figures out what’s happening, she’ll know where to find me.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  Flipping the cell phone closed, Kyle smiled at the older couple standing with anxious faces and twisting hands. “She’s on her way.”

  With a squeal of delight, Lucia Randazzo flung her arms around his neck. “Go get my girl, tesoro! Make her happy.”

  Showing only indulgence at his wife’s exuberance, Carlo grasped Kyle’s hand. “I’d wish you luck, my boy, but if Gianna really loves you, you’ve already got paradise.”

  “Thanks,” he said before grabbing an old threadbare jacket from the coat rack in the corner.

  Thirty more minutes, Gianna. Just thirty minutes until you get the surprise of a lifetime.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gianna entered Setquott Realty’s office, prepared to hear the phone call was a horrible error. They’d read the wrong file, mistaking her for the real lessee of the property at 135 Main Street.

  Only one man sat at his desk near the front door. “Gianna!” Wearing his usual rumpled suit and coffee-stained tie, Ryan McKnight rose with an outstretched hand. “Nice to see you again. How are you?”

  “Fine,” she replied, shaking his hand. “So, what’s up?”

  He laughed. “Fifteen years in the real estate game, and that’s the first time anyone’s ever said that. Come over to my desk and we’ll see ‘what’s up.’” While she sat across from his desk, he walked to a file cabinet and withdrew a manila folder from the top drawer. “Most of the preliminary stuff has already been completed by your partner.” He dropped the folder on the desk and returned to his seat. “But since you’ll be the manager-in-residence on the property, it’s imperative we have your signature on the lease agreement. Hayley told me you wanted to open a daycare center there. You’ve made a great choice.”

  She nodded to feign interest in Ryan’s chatter, but her eyes concentrated on the upside-down file, hoping he’d flip it open so she might find a clue about the identity of her “partner.”

  At long last, he took a breath and pulled out a long, thick sheaf of papers attached with a fat binder clip. “Okay,” he said, unclipping the pages. “Here it is.” He placed the lease agreement before her and pointed at the pertinent sections with the tip of his pen. “This says you are Gianna Randazzo of The KyGia Foundation—”

  “Of what?”

  He looked up, his basset hound eyes round. “The KyGia Foundation. That is the name of the organization, isn’t it? Don’t tell me Lydia spelled the name wrong, and no one caught the error. We’ll have to rewrite the whole contract.”

  Hayley’s remarks from last night replayed in her mind. “A company out of Westchester called Kigeea…” Invisible fingers snapped before her eyes until everything became crystal clear.

  Not Kigeea. KyGia. Gia, for the first three letters of her first name. And Ky could only stand for one other person. Kyle. With hope burning a trail from her heart to her mind, she scanned the bottom of the page, seeking the signature line. In bold black ink, with a flourish so reflective of the man she knew and loved, the name, “Kyle William Montgomery Hayden III” flashed like a beacon on a foggy night at sea.

  Slamming her palms on the table, she jumped out of the chair. “Where is he?”

  The real estate agent smiled and pointed to the line beneath Kyle’s signature. “Sign here first.”

  Fingers trembling from happiness and excitement, she scrawled her name across the dotted line.

  Nodding, Ryan placed his notary seal beside her signature, and then slid the documents into the folder. “He said you’d know where he was.”

  And suddenly, she did. Lunging across the desk, she wrapped Ryan in an enthusiastic bear hug. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he eked.

  While her heartbeat echoed Kyle’s name, she flew from the office and out to the parking lot. He had to be there. He just had to be there.

  She raced across the street, dodging a car that came around the corner too fast, and ran past the stores in the strip mall. Around the bend at the end of the row. To the heavy green Dumpster where he stood, a large bouquet of flowers clutched in his hands—roses this time—and a grin as wide as the open sky. He opened his arms, and she collided into him, raining kisses on his cheeks.

  “I take it you’re pleased,” he murmured.

  She nodded, too afraid she’d awaken from the dream if she uttered a sound.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything?” When she shook her head and kept kissing him, he laughed. His finger brushed across her chin, whisper-soft and full of...dare she think ...love? “Okay, that’s fine by me. This’ll probably be the first and last time I get to speak anyway.”

  The low rumble of his voice told her this was no fantasy. He truly was here, and he’d truly given her this magnificent gift. “Before you start thinking I’m buying your affection, hear me out. All the money used to fund this project was donated to The KyGia Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to educating this country’s future generations. I did not put one dime into the leasing of the building. All I did was get some very wealthy people together in one big room. My sister put the squeeze on them, and a few friends handled the messy details of incorporating us into a not-for-profit organization. You’ll need to sign another contract to make the whole she-bang legit, but the signatures are only a formality at this point.”

  “But—”

  “The building itself is in very good hands. Hayley, Tony Garibaldi, the ROMEOs, and a few others will take care of getting the site up to code in time for the state inspection. All you have to do is hire your staff and see to the day-to-day running of the place. You can do that, can’t you?”

  “Yes.” Inside her head, a chorus of children echoed her answer.

  “Good. Now, I have just one more thing to add. I love you, Gianna. What better way to show you than to give you the opportunity to follow your dream?”

  Her heart nearly flew from her chest. Love. He’d said, “I love you, Gianna.”

  Had she heard him correctly? Did he really mean the words? What about the debutante with the crazy name? The woman he earned by winning his wager? “I thought you loved Aurora.”

  “Ah,” he said with a wistful smile. “Aurora. Sad, but true. You’ll never have legs as fine as Aurora’s, but I’m willing to make some sacrifices in the name of love.”

  Fear, nervousness, joy, they all vanished, and she shoved him against the Dumpster. “Ooh, you miserable—” His raucous laughter interrupted the rest of her tirade, and she glared with razor sharpness. “What’s so funny?”

  “Aurora is a racehorse, sweetheart. Aurora Borealis, fast as a streak of light across the sky.”

  “A racehorse?”

  “Mmm-hmm. And so there’s no jealousy, I surrendered his care to David and Rory the day after I left here.”

  “But you won the bet.”

  “No. I didn’t succeed on my own. I had you. And I don’t ever want to live without you again. To that end, I sold my place on Central Park West and bought that Spanish hacienda sitting on the bluffs of Setquott Beach. Paid way too much for the place, but Hayley can be a very persuasive saleswoman. I figure we can settle down there and raise our own future generation. That is, if you’re willing to marry a spoiled rich boy who didn’t appreciate the treasure he’d been offered until almost too late.”

  He gathered her close, and the misery of the last few weeks melted away, leaving her as limp as a wrung-out dishrag.

  “Tell me I’m not too late.” His hot breath tickled her ear. Heart dancing, she listened to his words, committing them to memory. “Please. Tell me you love me. Tell me you’ll spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me, Gianna?”

  God, could a person die from happiness? “Yes!” She flung her arms around his neck and drew his lips down to hers.

  Her world ignited in a fiery kiss, broken only when a smattering of applause erupted. With stars still flashing behind her eyes
, she stepped out of Kyle’s embrace to see a crowd of people standing outside Villa Mare’s back door. Her parents, Claudio, Hayley, Tony Garibaldi, the Melendez family, all the ROMEOs, Ryan McKnight, and Rory Abernathy cheered.

  As she looked around at the fairy godparents who had lent a hand to make this moment happen, Gianna suddenly knew what Cinderella learned when she found her Prince Charming.

  Fairy tales could come true. She and Kyle were living proof.

  A word about the author…

  Gina Ardito, a native of Long Island, has always believed the two most important qualities in life are love and laughter. So it's only natural she'd combine them in her written works. When not writing, she loves and laughs with her husband, Philip, their two children, Tori and Nick, a bionic dog, a cat with a foot fetish and a newly-acquired evil demon kitten.

  Visit Gina at www.ginaardito.com

  A sneak peek at a story from our White Rose line. Available now from www.TheWildRosePress.com

  Reveille of the Heart

  by

  Kimberlee R. Mendoza

  Chapter One

  Cami stared through the screen at her mother’s corpulent silhouette. Her mother paced with hands on her hips. Maybe this wasn’t the time. Cami looked over her shoulder at her car. The yellow ’77 Mustang screamed for her to jump in and take off. Anywhere but here.

  Cami took a deep breath, turned the knob, and nudged the door open. Her mom stood in the center of the living room, foot tapping, eyes blazing.

  “Hi, Mom.” Cami offered a forced smile.

  “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick!” She grabbed Cami and pulled her tight. “You said you had an errand and wouldn’t be gone long. That was almost twelve hours ago.”