by Susan Meier
A little boy of about three came racing up to Riccardo. He tugged on his pant leg, talking in rushed Spanish that blew right by Morgan.
Riccardo reached down and swooped him up, into his arms. Speaking clear, slow Spanish that Morgan easily understood, he said, “And how are you, Jesse?”
The little boy gave him an earnest look. “Do you have candy?”
Riccardo laughed and reached into his pocket, pulling out some individually wrapped treats. “Did you think I would forget?”
A woman wearing jeans and a T-shirt, with her dark hair caught up in a bandana, ran up to them. “I’m so sorry!” She took the little boy from Riccardo’s arms. “Jesse! I told you to stay with me!”
“He’s fine.”
The woman’s face softened. “Yes. Thank you.” She lightly pinched her little boy’s cheek. “Tell Riccardo thank you for the candy.”
The little boy grinned shamelessly. “Thank you.”
Morgan watched the exchange over the grape stems she snipped. He looked really good with a child. Very natural. He didn’t have any nieces or nephews so she wondered how he’d gotten that way.
“You’ve very good with kids.”
Watching the woman leave with her little boy, Riccardo said, “Yes. I like them.”
The question that had burned inside her since watching him change a tire tumbled out. “How come you’re not married?”
“I told you. I nearly was married. When it didn’t work out, I changed my life.” He shrugged. “It’s kind of nice being rich and single. I can go where I want. Do what I want. I like being alone. Being my own person.”
Her head tilted as she studied him. “Don’t you feel you should be carrying on the family name?”
“My cousins are doing that.”
“Don’t your parents nag you about grandkids?”
He laughed. “Once in a while I get a sigh from my mother.”
That made her laugh, too. “I’ll bet.”
“But I like being single. My life was complicated when I was engaged. Now it’s easy. I don’t want to go back.”
Though their situations were totally different, she understood what he was saying. She didn’t want to go back to her old life, either. No matter how firm she was with her father, he was still Colonel Monroe, former secretary of state with high-powered friends and unfettered ambition. Like it or not, some of that would always spill over into her life.
If Riccardo didn’t like complications, he didn’t want her.
She wished that knowledge didn’t sting so much, but it did. For the first time in her life she felt she was genuinely falling in love with somebody, and even if he had feelings for her, he didn’t want them.
They said nothing for a few minutes as they snipped stems and filled baskets. Alonzo drove up in an ATV pulling a cart. He took their filled baskets and left empties. The conversations of the other pickers floated around them as a dull hum. Not clear enough to hear, but ever-present.
“You offered me your family jet a few minutes ago?”
He snipped a grape stem. “Yes?”
She took in a long breath, blew it out slowly. “I may want to take you up on it. I’m ready to talk to my dad, but I wouldn’t mind a few days in Paris. That way, by the time I get home, he’ll have left for his summit and I can meet with Charles privately.” She shrugged. “You know. Give back the ring. That sort of thing.”
He frowned. “I never saw you wearing a ring.”
“I’d left it in my bedroom for the ceremony so we could get the wedding ring on without fumbling.” She took another quick breath. “Anyway, when my dad gets home, everything will be settled with Charles and my discussions with my dad won’t have to be about the wedding, but can be about our future as father and daughter.”
“That makes sense.”
“It really does.”
“What are you going to say?”
“What we talked about on the highway, while you were fixing the tire. I’m going to say, ‘Dad, I love you but we need some boundaries.’”
He laughed. “I didn’t say that.”
“I took your original idea and enhanced it.”
“Do you know how you’ll stand your ground?”
She stopped her scissors and looked across the grapes at him. “I’m moving out, remember?” She’d kissed him to thank him for helping her think it through, then he’d kissed her. Deeply, passionately, as if she was the second half of his soul.
He caught her gaze with dark eyes filled with longing. “Yes, I remember.”
Her heart wanted to leap out of her chest, but no matter how much yearning she saw in his eyes, he wouldn’t take the steps to fall in love with her.
She looked at her grapes again. “Yeah, well, that’s why my first order of business will be to polish my résumé. I used Nanna’s tablet that night to write it quickly. But it still needs some finessing.”
“Do you have any idea where you want to work?”
“I think I’ve decided on New York City.”
A few seconds passed with her heart beating heavily in her tight chest, as a new thought struck her. If she moved to New York City, they could find each other. It would be their chance to date, to have a normal opportunity to get to know each other. More time for him to realize he could have all those things he’d always wanted, to trust that she wouldn’t leave him. That he could give her his heart.
All it would take would be one word of agreement from him now, one hint that he would see her when she was in New York City.
He said nothing.
Disappointment began to rise in her, but she quashed it. He could be too busy with the grapes to notice she was waiting for his reply.
She tried again. “Maybe you could help me find a job?”
“Maybe.”
All her patience with him evaporated like night mist in the sun. “Maybe? Seriously! You drag me across an ocean to protect me from my dad but won’t help me find a new job?”
He sighed. “Okay. Yes. Mitch and I know a lot of people. We could probably help you find a job.”
“Sheesh. If it’s that much trouble, don’t bother!”
“Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad. I just thought we’d become friends.”
* * *
They had become friends. And if he thought they could stay friends while he helped her find a job, helped her find a place to live, helped her adjust to city life, he would be all over it.
But what he saw in his head when he envisioned her being in his life in the city wasn’t two friends. He saw himself stealing kisses, laughing at private jokes as they walked through condos with a real-estate agent, finding her in the tangles of his sheets and covers when they woke up the next morning. And one day she’d realize she’d gotten involved with a man before she was ready and she’d dump him. He’d been with Cicely for two long years, but even that hadn’t been enough. There was no point in finding each other when she moved to the city. She needed years to heal and, like an idiot, Riccardo was falling in love now.
Though she was clearly exasperated with him, they finished their picking time talking about the nonthreatening topic of the places she’d like to work. It didn’t surprise him that the United Nations appealed to her and he knew with her dad’s background she could get a job without him. He expected to be relieved. Instead, it gave him an itchy feeling to realize just how little this woman needed him. His job, his money, meant nothing to her. She could have it all, get it all, without him. If she liked him, it was for himself. Not for anything he could give her. He guessed that was why he found her so appealing, and that made him doubly sorry that he had to let her go.
When their work was done, they returned to the condo building. Getting out the elevator, they stepped into the hall where he’d almost kissed her, where she’d seen him in nothing but a to
wel, where he’d seen the interest in her eyes turn to awareness.
Ignoring the feelings that washed through him, he began punching in his key code. “Let me know when you want the plane.”
“You really are going to let me go.”
He shrugged, pretending he didn’t understand what she was saying. “Now that I know your plan, I trust you. Just let me know when you want to go and I’ll arrange it.”
He peeked over and saw the sadness in her pretty blue eyes. Though it crushed him, he pushed open his door and walked away from her.
CHAPTER TEN
THE ALARM ON the old-fashioned clock woke Morgan a little after one on Monday afternoon. Before she’d fallen into bed, she’d taken a shower and slipped into a T-shirt and panties. After adding a pair of jeans, she ambled into the condo’s main room and found a cart with coffee and some croissants and a note from Nanna telling her Lila and Mitch had arrived that morning and the women had congregated in Nanna’s living room to talk.
She buttered a croissant and ate it as she found sandals, put them on and raced into the hall for the elevator. There was no sign of Riccardo as she waited for the little car, or on the first floor of the condo building or even the cobblestone walkway to the mansion. But it didn’t matter. His mind was made up. He didn’t even want to see her in New York City. He’d said he’d changed after being hurt and liked his life. He didn’t want the complications of a relationship. It hurt, but she accepted it.
Done with her croissant, she ran up the big half-circle stairway and down the hall to Nanna’s apartment.
She rang the bell, but didn’t wait for anyone to answer. She walked inside and found her way to the sitting room where Nanna, Marguerite, Paloma, Julia and Lila’s mom, Francine, sat with a small brunette with laughing eyes, who had to be Lila.
Nanna rose, kissed both her cheeks and turned her to face the new addition to their group. “This is Lila.”
Lila stood up and gave her a hug. “You do realize there was a picture of you racing away from your wedding in all the London papers.”
Morgan winced. “I’m sure the furor will die down soon.”
Lila sat on the big ottoman between the sofa and a club chair and patted a spot beside her. “Sit.”
She sat with Lila as Marguerite got her a cup of coffee. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And thank you for helping with the harvest last night.”
Lila looked from one woman to the next. “Oh, my gosh! You guys harvested last night?”
Paloma said, “Yes.”
Morgan winced. “Am I the only one who took a nap?”
Marguerite laughed. “Probably.”
Lila stood up. “Go, you guys! Seriously. We’ve been talking since I got here! You must be exhausted.”
Nanna staunchly said, “We’re fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Lila insisted. “Go and get some sleep. You know I’m okay on my own.”
“Actually,” Morgan said, “I had a wonderful sleep.”
Lila turned to her. “Great. We’ll entertain each other while my husband talks business with his father and uncle.”
Morgan said, “Sounds good.”
After a round of hugs from everyone for Lila, the room cleared. Lila faced Morgan. “We should go to the pool.”
Glad Nanna had insisted she buy a swimsuit, Morgan said, “I’d love that.”
They left Nanna’s residence and walked down the stairs and to the building with the two town houses. Lila pointed at it. “This is my stop. How about if we meet in ten minutes?”
“Okay.”
Morgan raced back to her condo, put on her new one-piece swimsuit, sunglasses and the big sun hat and met Lila on the cobblestone path.
As they wandered to the huge blue pool surrounded by a sleek blue walkway and chaise lounges with aqua-and sand-colored pillows, Lila said, “I’ve never met a runaway bride before.” She laughed. “Let alone one so famous.”
“I’m not famous. My dad is.”
“Well, you may not be famous in the way you think you are, but you’re sort of the talk of the vineyard.”
She winced. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be trouble.”
Lila took off her cover-up and sat on a chaise. “You’re not trouble. Riccardo’s mother and Marguerite are just sort of awestruck.” She laughed. “No one’s seen Riccardo spend this much time with one woman since Cicely.”
Lila had the kind of earnest expression that inspired confidences and for two seconds Morgan was tempted to tell her she’d fallen head over heels for Riccardo. Instead, she stuck with the truth. “He thinks of me as a responsibility.”
“I know! That’s what makes it so funny. Paloma said apparently the only way to get Riccardo to stick with one woman is to put him in charge of her.”
Glad she hadn’t spilled her guts, Morgan said, “Is he really that bad?”
“He doesn’t flaunt his affairs, if that’s what you mean. He’s discreet and happy.”
“So he says.”
“It’s a shame, though, because before Cicely, he wanted the whole deal. Wife, kids, a summer house at the beach.” She thought for a second. “In a way, it’s like he’s half the person he used to be.”
She remembered him with the little boy in the vineyard. “He told me that before Cicely he wanted to be married.”
“He did.” Lila leaned closer. “In fact, I think that was why he took up with her. He was more in love with the idea of starting his family than with her.”
“Was she pretty?”
Lila’s face softened. “Only someone interested in Riccardo would ask that question.”
“It doesn’t matter. He told me he wouldn’t get involved with a woman on the rebound—and since I just broke up with my fiancé, I guess I am. But, worse, he’s also said he likes his life just as it is. When I mentioned moving to New York City for a fresh start, he didn’t even want to help me find a job.”
Lila’s mouth opened in disbelief. “He likes you.”
“As a friend.”
Lila shook her head. “No. For him to be so cautious, he must really be getting feelings for you.”
“Yeah, well, it soon won’t matter. He’s offered me the family jet to go home.”
Lila caught her hand. “You can’t! Riccardo is such a wonderful guy and it’s broken my heart to watch him go through everything that happened with Cicely. But the real tragedy is that he intends to live his entire life without what he really wants. If he likes you, he could be getting back to normal.”
“No. This is fate, Lila. We met at the absolute wrong time. I have trouble with my dad to straighten out. I just broke an engagement. I’m everything he hates.”
Lila laughed. “I doubt that.”
“Yeah, well, if he should decide to change his mind, he can find me in New York.”
Lila shook her head sharply. “That’s where he hides. He’ll drown himself in work until he feels okay again, then pick up his old life where he left off. You have to do something now.”
Morgan said, “I can’t.” Because it was true. She might be falling in love with Riccardo, but she wouldn’t force him into anything, lead him into anything. That’s what her father and Charles had done with her. She refused to lure him into a relationship. He had to come to her of his own volition.
* * *
Dinner that night was at Santiago and Marguerite’s. Riccardo had worked late so he wasn’t surprised there was no answer when he knocked on Morgan’s door. She’d probably gone to the main house herself. He walked over to the mansion, his hands in his trouser pockets, the moon a sliver of light in the sky.
When he pressed the buzzer announcing his arrival, a butler opened the door for him. Mitch’s parents were old-school and still made good use of the household staff, which added to the formal atmosphere when Riccardo entered thei
r sitting room.
His eyes unerringly found Morgan. He told himself he only looked for her because it was part of his job. But his breath stumbled when he saw her. Her pale green dress somehow made her big blue eyes more dramatic and accented her long yellow hair. She sat on the ottoman with Lila, with Mitch on the sofa behind them. From the easy camaraderie between Morgan and Lila it was clear they’d been introduced and had begun getting to know each other.
He had the sudden, unexpected sense that his duty to her was over. In the same way that her calling Charles had made her feel free, having Mitch home freed him from being solely in charge of their best customer’s daughter.
“Good evening, everyone.” He took a seat on a club chair across from a long sofa where Nanna, his parents and Marguerite sat. Santiago relaxed on the second club chair. Francine sat on the third.
“You’re late,” Nanna scolded.
“I was working.”
Mitch said, “On what?”
“I’ve gone through all our customer accounts so you have real numbers on which wines are selling the best. Just in case you have to make some phone calls.”
Marguerite groaned. “No work at dinner!”
Riccardo’s mom seconded that. “Family time is family time!”
That was when it hit him that his entire family was in the room. With the addition of Julia, then Lila and her mom, the group had swelled in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
Something soft and warm rippled through him. The family that had almost been blown apart when Alonzo stole Julia from Mitch had healed itself in the most magnificent way.
The butler announced dinner and they filed into the dining room. Everyone took seats, leaving him and Morgan beside each other again.
Calmer and more comfortable than he’d been in a long time, he pulled out Morgan’s chair for her. He’d ended any possibility of a romance between them and he’d cemented that by being neutral with her while they harvested grapes. He might be pining for what they could have had, but she looked adapted. As if what he’d been saying to her had finally sunk in.
