“Maybe I should have come there to knock some sense into you. Talk to me, Cassie. Our last conversation, the two of you were inseparable. Did you fall in love with him?”
“I did.”
“Then how the hell could you of all people let the love of your life go?”
“That’s exactly why. How could I not? It was the sensible thing to do. You of all people should understand that. Following him around the world is an insane way to live. And preventing him from following his dreams didn’t sit well with me. I’d never be the one to do that. I would be living each day wondering if he resented me. How would you have felt if we stopped you from going to London? You left for the same reason.”
“Right… but the point is I left. I gave up stability, left my girls, and threw all caution to the wind. There wasn’t a guarantee that the client I moved halfway across the world for wouldn’t end up firing me or that I’d make partner in my firm. Those first few weeks in London, all by myself while you were all living normal lives, scared the shit out of me. But you know what?”
“What?” My voice cracked, thinking of Des all alone.
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Taking chances is part of life… you know that. You’re not from the city, but I remember you telling us moving from Connecticut was the best decision you made. So please explain why you didn’t go with the man you love.”
“That’s why I didn’t go. I worked hard getting to where I am. Being a teacher is as much a part of me as my right arm. It’s who I am, Des.” God, I sounded selfish.
“Okay, so teach.” Her words had the same effect as if Des reached a hand through the phone and smacked me on the back of the head. “I’m sure there are schools in Europe. Take the time and travel the world. If memory serves, you’ve always wanted to do that. Now the opportunity is staring you in the face, and you turned it down? Once Dante settles in Milan, you can teach those little Italian kids how to speak English. You know, pardon me for saying this, but for someone so smart, you’re stupid.”
“I love you too, Des.”
“I do love you, and that’s why I’m telling you this. Don’t be dumb, Cass.”
“But my class. It’s the middle of the school year.”
“They’ll be just fine, and you know that. What’s the real reason? Don’t bullshit me either, because I’m a lawyer and bullshitting is my forté.”
I let a few seconds pass before replying. “What if it doesn’t work out? What if he decides he doesn’t love me anymore? Then what?”
“Then you come home.”
“It’s not as simple as that. I don’t know if my heart would heal. It would hurt too much if that happened.”
“You mean like the pain you’re feeling now? You’re hurting yourself to avoid the possibility of getting hurt in the future. Does that even make sense? Think about it, Cass. You could be with the man you love and live a happy life. Or you can wonder for the rest of your life if you made a mistake. Go there and find out for yourself.” She let the silence stretch, and then said, “The defense rests.”
For the first time in the conversation, I smiled. “Shut up, you’re such a dork. I hate when you’re right.”
“You must hate me a lot.” We both laughed, knowing that was the furthest thing from the truth. “Answer one last question and then I will shut up.”
“Okay.”
“Do you love him more than anything?”
“Yes.”
“Then I think you know what to do.”
A powerful rush of relief filled me. That realization made me dizzy, and just like that, I went from feeling misery to joy over my new objectivity. “I love you, Des.”
“I love you too. Merry Christmas, my sweet friend,” she said before ending the call and giving me the best gift imaginable.
After our conversation, I felt the dead weight that had been sitting on my ribcage suffocating me lift. I looked around my apartment and wondered how long it would take me to pack.
Dante
“I do.”
Standing next my brother, in the church we grew up in, as he said those words to Sabrina felt like acid on my wound. I was elated for both of them, but the selfish prick in me envied him. Both of my parents dabbed their eyes watching their middle child take a wife.
In all the times I went to mass as a kid, I never once envisioned myself standing in this cobblestone church in front of the large altar, exchanging vows. Marriage was one sacrament I never really thought about… until a fiery blue-eyed blonde entered my world. Now even that was gone.
The priest asked for the rings, and Mikey bounced off the pew and offered the white satin pillow with extended arms. “I have them.” Sabrina and Luca smiled before accepting Mikey’s offering. Rather than return to his seat next to his grandfather, he stood between his mom and now stepfather.
After the words I now pronounce you husband and wife were spoken, Mikey wrapped an arm around each of their hips, forcing my brother to kiss his bride chastely. I laughed, knowing Cassie also would have. It was as if I could hear that melodic sound echoing in the old chapel, and it rendered me silent.
When Luca turned to me, I offered my congratulations with a hug and kissed Sabrina on both cheeks, welcoming her to the family. The happiness rolled off of them in waves. With every congratulatory kiss our families extended to the couple, the incense-infused air became stifling. It forced the need to tap my brother on the shoulder and let him know I was stepping outside.
The cold crisp air greeted me, and I was half-tempted to forego the transportation that Luca arranged back to our parents’ house. Before I set off on foot, Gianna appeared, looking stunning in her cranberry dress.
“Dove vai? Ah, scusi. I forget Luca wants us to talk English.” I chuckled at my sister’s dedication to trying. “Where you going?”
“I was going to walk home.”
She shivered as the cold breeze blew around us. I took off my suit jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“No, it’s too cold. Mama will kill you.”
“It’s not that far. In New York, I walk all the time.”
“In Milan, you listen to Mama.” Her pretty cognac eyes assessed my face. “You no look happy, Dante. You miss Cassie?”
I furrowed my brows and stared at her. “What do you know about Cassie?”
“Mama and Luca were talking about her. You love her, yes?”
“Yeah, I love her.” My confession caused pure elation to light up her beautiful face. “What did they say about her?”
“They wished you were together.” The few chestnut curls framing her face swayed in the wind, and she pulled my jacket tighter around her body. “Pero Mama like you being home again. Me too. I miss you when you not here.”
I kissed my sister on her forehead. “I missed you too.” The rest of our family exited the chapel, making my decision to walk home futile.
The freezing temperatures hastened our departure as we all loaded into the cars and headed home, where the party would begin. I put on my happy face and played the best-man role to the best of my ability.
After the festivities, Luca and Sabrina planned to escape for a quick honeymoon in Venice. Before they left, my brother pulled me aside and reminded me that he was just a phone call away. Not that I would call him, but nonetheless, I appreciated him acknowledging there may be a need for one.
Scheduled to meet with Matteo bright and early, once awake I saw no point in waiting and headed to the gallery. When I walked in, my mentor was already sitting in the back office, espresso in hand, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. With a loupe pressed against his right lens, his gray-haired head hovered over a sheet of small proofs as he surveyed them.
“You know, if you had a computer, that would be much easier.”
Matteo looked up and smiled. “My way is better. Sit.” He waved his hand to the chair in front of his desk. “How was the wedding?”
“Good. Nice.” My drab reply prompted him to study me as if I were a portr
ait hanging on the wall.
“This brings me to why I wanted to meet with you.”
“My brother’s wedding?”
“No, your attitude. When we spoke, your enthusiasm was palpable. Now you sit here like you no want to do this anymore. Did you change your mind?” The phone on his desk began ringing, yet he didn’t even flinch. I watched, amused, as he lifted the handset only to slam it back down. “So?”
“You know this is all I’ve ever wanted since meeting you. Maybe even before…”
“But…”
Awful regrets assailed me. “I left someone behind.”
“Yeah? Is she pretty?”
I closed my eyes, feeling the ache in my heart remembering her. “No, she’s beautiful.”
“So why she not here?”
Looking at the older man in front of me, I said the words I came to accept. “Leaving everything behind for two years was too hard for her. I’m used to this life—living hotel to hotel. She’s a schoolteacher in New York City.”
“Dante, I gave up the opportunity to have a wife and family for this. Yes, I’m successful and love what I do, but who do I have to share it with? You?” He smiled and shrugged. “You accepted so fast, it even surprised me. You should have taken the time to talk to her. I know you’ve always been confident and smart, but forgive me, you were stupid.”
“Gee, thanks.” He was right… I was stupid. Because the cocky prick I was assumed she’d jump at the opportunity to travel the world with me. It took a petite blonde to knock a chip the size of a boulder off my shoulder.
“What I’m saying is, my proposal isn’t set in stone. I still want you to take over, but I make the rules here. I love you like a son and want you to be happy. Tell me what you need from me to do that?” My slow blinking caused his brow to crease with more wrinkles. “Speak.”
“I don’t even know where to begin.” Rubbing my temples with the pads of my fingers only aggravated my impending headache. “What if I change things and she still doesn’t want to come? Then I put you through all that trouble for nothing.”
“It’s not trouble.” He set down the small magnifying glass, removed his glasses, and paused a moment. “Let’s do this. You tell me what you think will work. If she says no, then we keep the original plan.” He lifted his hands in the air. “This is yours now, Dante. You no good to me like this. What are you going to take pictures of? Funerals? Go get your girl.”
“Now? But what about…”
“I’m still the boss. Leave. Take the two weeks you were supposed to before you got here. All I ask is you come back with the fervor I know you possess toward this business.”
“I don’t know if I can promise that if she still refuses.”
“Then I guess you have a few decisions to make.”
Chapter 26
Cassie
My neat-as-a-pin apartment now looked like a box factory. Bubble Wrap, scissors, and the items needed to store one’s life were scattered about. Once I slapped a strip of packing tape on the final cardboard container, a breath whooshed out of me. For the past few days my life had been a whirlwind, from calling my boss to saying goodbye to my friends, packing up my apartment to arranging movers to get it all to my parents’ house.
For an anal-retentive person like me, deciding what to bring was complete torture. How did one prepare for a life of travel? This shit was hard. The piles of take, leave, donate had changed so many times in just one day, I finally threw my favorite clothes in a large suitcase and zipped it up.
In twenty-four hours, I’d be heading to the airport. Tomorrow, I’d be in Dante’s arms, wishing him a happy New Year in person and starting my new life. If I could have scheduled a flight for today, I would have. Considering it was a holiday week, I was lucky to get one at all. The fact he had no idea I was on my way should have caused my nerves to spike, but excitement trumped that feeling.
With Luca and Sabrina in Italy and Vanessa and Kyle in Canada, Brae planned to ring in the New Year at home relaxing with Jude. She hated that I was home alone, insisting I should join them. Because of my flight the next day, I declined. Besides, it was hard enough saying goodbye to them during our last brunch, and the realization that I’d be saying goodbye to Luca over the phone saddened me. We’d become such good friends, and even through my issues with Dante, he remained impartial and steadfast.
With my hands on my hips, I perused my space to ensure I hadn’t missed anything. All I had left unpacked were toiletries and tomorrow’s clothes, which hung in my closet. I ran through my mental checklist for the tenth time, made sure my passport was still in my purse, and double-checked my flight time.
There was only one more chore I needed to do before the mail was picked up. Even though Des was right, and my class would be fine, each one of those smiling faces stole a piece of my heart. I may have only had them for a few months, but my attachment to them was no less than to all the students I had taught before. Melancholy hit full force as I sat at my desk to write them a letter. It was imperative to mention each one individually, as well as their unique personality traits, which I would never forget. Tears blurred the words pouring out of me, and once done, I sealed it with love.
Just as I grabbed my keys to head downstairs to my mailbox, my phone buzzed.
Are you home?
Seeing the text was from Dante, my pulse spiked. I didn’t want to engage in conversation for fear I’d let my surprise slip, but ignoring him wasn’t an option.
Yes.
Open your door.
I was too startled by his text to respond. Three light taps on my door sounded, and even then I continued to stare, frozen in a stunned tableau.
“Cassandra, open the damn door or I’m breaking it down,” he bellowed from my hallway.
Leaving the keys behind, my feet finally carried me closer to the door, where I pressed my palms against the wood, afraid to believe he was really here. “Dante? Is that really you?” I rolled onto the balls of my feet and peered through the small peephole. My breath caught in my throat when my eye locked on him.
“Twist the knob, beautiful, and see for yourself. I’m giving you until the count of three, then I’m busting in. One…”
My fingers couldn’t manipulate the locks fast enough. But once they did, and I pulled the barrier between us open, I catapulted right into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist. He caught me with a chuckle before he buried his face in my neck and inhaled.
Not wanting to let go, I tightened my hold on him. His arms mimicked mine, pulling me close to his body, not leaving a sliver of space between us. I felt a bottomless contentment being in his arms.
Even though I knew I’d be seeing him tomorrow, it didn’t come close to what I felt at that very moment. This man… this glorious man… was meant to be in my life.
Without further hesitation, he pinned me up against the wall in my hallway and locked our lips together in a violent kiss. Our tongues tangled like long-lost dance partners. My heels anchored him to me, creating the friction between my legs that I desperately needed.
Large hands gripped my ass while he used my body as shamelessly as I used his. “God, I’ve missed you,” he hissed through gritted teeth. He held my gaze, taking the time to study me. “I need to be inside you, now.”
“Bedroom,” I uttered, panting. He set me down and grabbed two suitcases I hadn’t noticed were there. Crestfallen at seeing them, I asked, “You’re back? You gave up the job?” Panic replaced the euphoria I felt just a few brief seconds ago.
“I have a lot to tell you.” He moved past me, wheeling his luggage behind him and stopping in his tracks when he saw the boxes stacked up against my wall. “Where are you going?”
“To Italy. I leave tomorrow.”
My statement was received with a blank stare before he asked, “What?”
I closed the door, took his hand in mine, and led him to my sofa. “You first. What is going on?”
He dragged his thumb over his bottom lip, a move
that always sparked a desire to molest him. “Every time you do that, it’s an instant aphrodisiac for me.”
“Is that so? I’ll be sure to do it more often.”
“Then I can’t be held responsible for how I react. Anyway, continue.”
“Well, Matteo said I can renegotiate the contract. Even though I love what I do, since meeting you, it doesn’t hold the same place in my heart. Matteo saw that, and when I finally came clean to him, we talked it over. There was only one conclusion, and that was to rework the terms and hope it would be the best solution for both you and me. That’s why I’m here, to talk it over. But first, tell me why you were going to Italy.”
“Because I decided you were more important to me than anything else. These past few weeks have been hell on Earth. I finally realized the reasons for me staying didn’t matter if we weren’t together. So I took a leave of absence, called my landlord, and was due to be on a flight tomorrow.”
He glanced down and noticed the black and yellow book, Italian for Dummies, sitting on my coffee table. It had been my nighttime read of late. Not waiting for him to ask, I let him in on my secret. “I thought it would be beneficial,” I said with a quick shrug.
“Cassandra.” I guessed confusion was what caused his hand to rake through his hair, which I knew to be as soft as spun silk. And then his brows rose in amazement. “You were coming to me?”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t know about the revisions to my obligation.”
“No.”
“I can’t believe you did all of that for me,” he said, revealing his surprise with an incredulous grin. In one swift move, he lifted me onto his lap. I knew I had missed him, but being able to touch him again, feel his arms around me, his desire for me, stirred not just want… but also a wonderful sense of peace.
My fingertips danced over the scruff on his jaw, trailing up and over his face, recommitting it to memory. “Dante, I’d do anything for you.”
“And I you.” A sensuous light passed between us. He felt it too, and when he softly touched his lips to mine a shudder moved through me. “Which is why I’m proposing this… what if I only had to travel a year before opening the gallery in Milan? Then after a short stay, I’m going to suggest to Matteo he open a satellite gallery in New York. What do you think?”
The Mr. Wrong Series Page 101
