by Jo Leigh
“Good. I’ll be over in five minutes.”
“No, you won’t. I have to shower.”
“I can help with that, too.”
“Fat chance. Give me an hour.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Jessica.”
“You’d be wise to remember that.” She hung up, surprised that she was smiling. Actually looking forward to seeing him. She shouldn’t be. Nick was unpredictable. Crazy. He’d invited his mother and sister here, without even asking her. She couldn’t imagine what he had in store for her today.
Even so, she hurried to the shower. Instead of the hour she’d requested, it only took her half that time to be ready. With thirty minutes to wait, she picked up her yellow pad. On the first empty sheet, she wrote, Marriage—Pros. Then she began her list.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a long one. But page two, Cons, went on and on. By the time Nick knocked on her door, she was utterly, horribly depressed.
“Something happened?” he asked, the moment she opened the door.
“No,” she said. She didn’t want a repeat of last night. It took all her strength, but she smiled brightly, forcing herself to forget the list that still lingered in her head. To forget the fact that the only reason he wanted to marry her was because of the baby. That he’d never once talked about love.
“Good,” he said. “We have a busy day. First, have you had breakfast?”
She nodded.
“Also good. So we go.”
“Let me get my purse.” She hurried to her room, checking out her reflection one last time. The sundress was one she liked a lot. Pale green, with soft yellow flowers. She’d worn this once before when she’d been out with Nick. He’d admired it, and since then it had become a favorite.
“Jessica?”
“I’ll be right there.” She got her lipstick out of her purse and quickly put it on. Then she went out to meet him. He stood at the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. Her heart did that little jig that only seemed to happen around Nick.
He was too good-looking. That should have been her first warning sign. But she was weak. And when he looked at her with those dark brown eyes, she had no willpower. Even now, in his khaki slacks and beige polo shirt, he seemed too beautiful to be real. He was more like something she’d see on the cover of GQ. Strong, muscular, regal. It wasn’t fair at all that he had the Italian accent, too.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, pushing off from his perch at the door. He brought his hand to his face and rubbed his chin. “I didn’t forget to shave, did I?”
“No,” she said. “Nothing’s wrong. I was just looking, that’s all.”
“At what?”
“You.” She stepped out into the hallway. “I thought you wanted to go?”
He shook his head and stepped beside her, closing the door behind him. “I don’t understand you,” he said. “All you American women. You talk in circles.”
“You know us all, eh?”
“I know plenty. And you all are slightly crazy.”
“I can’t speak for the others, but as for myself...” She stuck her tongue out at him.
He laughed. “You see? Crazy.”
She hit the elevator button, amazed that her mood had changed so quickly. Although, with her ormones, nothing should surprise her anymore. It was a roller coaster ride. A trip down a blind alley. She never knew what to expect. But as long as her mood had brightened for the moment, she intended to enjoy herself.
“HERE WE ARE.”
Jessica looked up at the house on the small hill. It was enormous. A two-story white Tudor mansion. Great old trees lined the driveway, and as they drove up, she could see immaculate flower beds on both sides. “Who lives here?”
“Us,” he said, parking the car by the door. “Maybe.”
“Nick, you’ve got to be kidding.”
“Why?”
“This is a mansion. It’s on Sunset Boulevard. It’s got to be worth millions.”
“Yes?”
“Are you really that rich?”
He nodded casually, as if this wasn’t a big deal.
“This rich?” she said, pointing to the house.
“My father was a very successful man. I’ll tell you about him sometime. But right now, the real estate lady is waiting inside.”
She couldn’t believe it. This wasn’t a house she could live in. Real people didn’t live in these mansions. Movie stars did. He walked around the car and opened her door, holding his hand out. She took it, then climbed out, the house even more awesome when she stood on the drive.
“Is pretty, no?”
“It’s beautiful. But it’s huge. A whole city could live here.”
“What do you mean? It’s only six bedrooms.”
“Who’s going to use them?”
“You. The baby. And when my mother visits, and Theresa. She’ll have children, too. And my cousins, perhaps. Your mother, too. It’s important to have enough bedrooms.”
She shook her head as he led her to the door. Even that was spectacular. The leaded glass was etched and beautiful, the wood polished to a high sheen.
The woman who answered the door was as elegant as the home she was showing. Taller than Jessica, and slimmer, too, the woman was dressed to the nines in a DKNY suit that Jessica only recognized because she’d seen it on that TV show Style. She smiled and introduced herself as Paula Rose, then turned to Nick and doubled the wattage on her grin. Clearly the woman had spent a fortune on orthodontics.
She proceeded to show them the house. Actually, she showed Nick the house while allowing Jessica to tag along. And Nick ate it up. He was charming as hell and made Paula laugh about every two minutes. Oh, the house was gorgeous—the kitchen would have made Julia Child faint from its overabundance—but it was huge, and Jessica couldn’t help feeling like she was in that hotel from The Shining. She’d go crazy here, especially with a toddler.
When they finished the tour, Jessica was not only tired, but cranky. Very cranky. Her stomach wasn’t all that stable, and if Nick said one more bon mot she was going to push him down one of the four staircases.
Paula left them alone in the den for a moment, and Nick turned to Jessica with a very pleased smile. “You like it?”
“It’s beautiful. But I wouldn’t want to live here.”
His grin faltered, and that puzzled little-boy expression came over his face. “Why not? It has everything.”
“It has too much of everything. I’d get lost here. This is a hotel, not a house.” She could see she’d disappointed him. He’d clearly thought she’d be thrilled. But she wasn’t about to lie, not about something this expensive. She took his hand in hers. “Nick? It’s very lovely, but honestly, it’s not me. If I do move, I’d like it to be someplace cozy. Someplace where I can keep an easy eye on the baby. Understand?”
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it gently. “Of course. We’ll find something cozy for you. I’ll tell Paula what you want.”
Jessica jerked her hand away. “You will not.”
Nick’s mouth dropped open.
“I don’t like her.”
“But, why? She seems a very good real estate lady.”
Jessica couldn’t tell him the truth. It was embarrassing to admit that she was jealous. “Chalk it up to ormones,” she said.
He frowned, then shrugged. “All right. But these ormones are very peculiar.”
“Get used to it,” Jessica mumbled. “I’m a little tired. I think I’ll go wait in the car, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course. I’ll be out in a moment.”
It took her about five minutes to walk through the living room and the foyer to get to the door. Once she was outside, she realized she hadn’t lied to Nick. She was tired. She got into the car, and that’s when it hit her. It wasn’t Paula who had upset her. It was her own mistrust of Nick.
Paula was just a sample of all the women whom Nick would charm. Who would flirt with him and laugh at his jokes. It was
only a matter of time before the flirting would be too much, and Nick would succumb. After all, he wasn’t in love with her. There was no reason to be faithful to her.
Every time Nick went on a trip, Jessica would wonder. What was she thinking? Every time Nick went to the store, she’d wonder. What kind of a life was that? Not pretty, that’s for sure. Not pretty at all.
Chapter Nine
She was going to be sick. Only this time, it wasn’t the baby’s fault. This time, it was fear. Nick was due any moment, and with him, his sister Theresa and his mother.
The restaurant was a nice one. Jeff had set it up, and of all the people she knew, he was the best food critic around. It was Italian, of course. Nothing else would do. She was having a little difficulty with the smell of tomato sauce, but that was the least of her worries.
Nick had tried to ease her mind about this meeting, but he didn’t understand. It was all still moving too quickly for her. Nick talked as if everything was settled, the marriage, the house, the future. She’d tried to tell him she wasn’t sure, but she’d bungled the job. When she was alone, her arguments were calm and rational and terribly clear. But when he came into the picture with his confident grin and that look of paternal glee, she just sort of lost steam.
Now, with his family here, she felt as if she’d lost her chance. Then again, maybe all of this was happening for a reason. Maybe she was just supposed to go along with Nick and get married. The guys certainly thought she should. When she’d suggested to Alan and Jeff that she might back out, they’d looked at her like she was nuts.
They both liked Nick a lot. Hell, everyone loved Nick. As Jeff said, he’s gorgeous, loaded and straight. What’s not to love?
But did she love him? Love him enough to ride this roller coaster all the way through to the end? She’d certainly thought a lot about that one. The problem was, she didn’t know the answer. Even if she had, that wouldn’t solve the problem. Because she knew he didn’t love her.
She picked up her mineral water and took another sip. They should be arriving any second. The waiter kept eyeing the table. Nick was bringing them from the hotel, and the traffic was bound to be bad.
While she was still alone, she reached down for her purse and pulled out her little notepad. It was a new one, devoted entirely to the marriage question. The first five pages were dedicated to Nick. Pros, cons, questions, compromises. With all her writing, with all her attention to detail, she still didn’t know what to do.
The pros were very practical. Nick was very well-off, and would take care of her and the baby quite generously. If they got married, the baby would have a father and a heritage. They’d have a beautiful home, and she was quite sure Nick would be attentive and kind. When he was there, that is.
The cons weren’t so concrete. Nick was doing this because she was having his baby. If she hadn’t been pregnant, he wouldn’t have asked her to marry him. There was no question in her mind that Nick liked her, but was that enough? If she married him, she’d be giving him a great deal of power over her life. Wasn’t that dangerous? He was still Nick. He would still travel all over the world, and there was no reason for her to believe that he wouldn’t continue to meet women at every stop. Nick bad offered marriage, not fidelity.
She heard her name and she looked up. It was Nick. Her hand trembled as she quickly stuffed the notebook back in her purse.
She recognized Theresa immediately. It was the woman from Nick’s bedroom, only this time she wasn’t wearing a negligee. She was stunning in a red suit so beautiful, Jessica was certain it was couture.
The resemblance between them was marked, and she wondered how she’d missed it the first time she’d seen Theresa. Granted, the situation had been a little stressful, but there was no denying they were brother and sister.
Jessica’s gaze moved to the other woman with Nick. Her chest tightened. Surely that couldn’t be his mother. God, she’d been so stupid. She’d pictured a stereotypical Italian mother, the kind she’d seen on television. Short, round, in a big black dress, with her white hair pulled back in a bun. Not this elegant woman who looked like she’d just posed for the cover of Mirabella.
It was clear where Nick and Theresa got their spectacular good looks. Mrs. Carlucci was stunning. Her hair was dark and thick, worn down around her shoulders like a brunette Veronica Lake. Her figure was perfect, and her dress fit with undeniable grace.
Jessica felt like a country bumpkin. Dreadfully sorry she’d worn her off-the-rack suit and her flats. But Nick hadn’t warned her. Damn.
“Jessica,” Nick said, holding his arms out to her. “Come, meet Mama.”
She stood up, pulling on a smile that she hoped didn’t show her panic. Nick took her by the shoulders and kissed her cheeks, then stepped aside, keeping his hand on her arm. “Jessica Needham, this is my mother, Angelina, and my sister, Theresa.”
Jessica held out her hand, but then Angelina moved forward to kiss her. Recovering quickly, Jessica moved from cheek to cheek. She got a whiff of Angelina’s perfume and recognized it immediately. She’d sprayed the tester at the mall, but it was way out of her price range.
Then Theresa gave her the European greeting. When that was done, Angelina moved forward again and looked her over from head to toe. “Nicky, you didn’t do her justice. She’s simply lovely.”
Jessica realized that she hadn’t expected Nick’s mother to know English. She’d been wrong about a lot of things. “Thank you,” she said.
“I’m sure you don’t want to remember me,” Theresa said, “but we met once before, eh?”
Jessica nodded. “Oh, I remember.”
Theresa leaned forward a little, conspiratorially. “I gave him what for. But good.”
Jessica laughed, although it sounded strained. “I’m glad.”
“Sit, sit,” Nick said, holding out the chair for his mother, then moving quickly behind Jessica. She looked up at him as she sat. He looked so pleased. So happy that his family was here.
He sat next to her and picked up the wine menu. Within two seconds the waiter was by his side, putting down a large basket of bread. Nick ordered a bottle of Chianti, and then brought his attention back to the women. “I haven’t had time to tell you, Jessica, but I found a new house. Cozy, just like you want. We’ll go see it tomorrow, okay?”
“I understand you work for Main Street Designs,” Angelina said. “That’s a very good firm. They did Stallone’s house, didn’t they?”
Jessica nodded. “We do quite a few celebrities’ homes.”
“That’s wonderful. But, I confess, that’s not what I want to talk about. I want to hear about you. My new daughter! I’m so pleased to finally be a grandmother.”
“You certainly don’t look like anyone’s idea of a grandmother,” Jessica said.
Angelina waved away the compliment, but her smile showed she appreciated it. “I owe that to pasta,” she said, then with a sly smile she added, “and a very expensive plastic surgeon.”
Jessica was surprised once more. The laughter at the table was easy, friendly and somehow intimate. She tried to imagine her own mother making an admission like that, but she couldn’t. Mona would never open herself up like that. Certainly she’d never reveal such a secret.
“The baby...” Theresa said, “Nick says it’s due in eight months?”
Jessica nodded. “A little less.”
“Oh, I’m so excited! My first niece or nephew. It’s all too wonderful. I can’t wait I tell you, we never thought anyone would catch our Nicolo. But now he’s going to be a father.”
“Have you decided on the name yet?” Angelina asked.
“We’re already getting the nursery ready at the villa,” Theresa said, turning to Nick. “Just like when we were children. Uncle Bobo found the rocking horse, can you believe it?”
“And the big chest,” Angelina added. “The crib is still there, but it needs refinishing.”
“We have some time,” Nick said.
Just then the waiter ca
me back with the wine, and they all picked up their menus. Jessica couldn’t seem to focus. She felt like she was in the middle of a tornado. The conversation leapt from topic to topic, but it seemed she was the only one having trouble keeping up. They ordered quickly and picked up the conversations as if nothing had interrupted them. The waiter stood next to her while she made up her mind. Nothing appealed, so she just asked for spaghetti.
“I talked to Father Lorenzo about the baptism,” Angelina said.
“Jessie!”
Jessica turned at the sound of her name. Jeff, Alan and Paul stood two tables away. She shook her head. Wasn’t it just like them to show up here? God forbid Jeff should miss a moment. Jessica looked to see if Angelina or Theresa were bothered by the sudden intrusion, but they were all smiles when Nick made the introductions. Before she knew it, the tables were getting rearranged and suddenly the party was in full swing. Jeff seemed completely smitten with Angelina, the way he leaned forward and listened to her. Theresa claimed the attention of Alan and Paul, and Nick just beamed.
She might as well have been a coaster.
“I talked to Father Dillon-” Nick said.
“Father Dillon!” Theresa said, interrupting. “This is a name for a father?”
“He’s a good priest,” Nick said. “I like him. Anyway, he said we could have the wedding two weeks from Saturday.”
“Two weeks,” Jeff said. “How the hell are we supposed to get ready in two weeks? That’s not even enough time to order the flowers, let alone send the invitations, get a wedding dress, order the food—”
“If we wait, it’s going to be another six months,” Nick said.
“Okay, in six months, we can do a wedding.”
Nick shook his head. “No. I don’t think we should wait. We don’t have a lot of people coming to the wedding. Just family. Whatever we can do in two weeks, that’s it.”
“Why?” Alan asked.
“Mama can only stay for two weeks, then she has to go home to help with Theresa’s wedding.”
“Oh, you’re getting married!” Paul said. “Wow, two in a row. That’s got to be a pain.”
“No, actually, it works out fine,” Nick said. “We get married here, then, after the baby comes, we go back to Italy for Theresa’s marriage, and at the same time, we have the baptism in a good Roman church.”
