"But we interrupted him kissing you. And that is one handsome Italian," Diamond said, nodding. "Does he have any brothers?"
Bella tried very hard not to smile, wanting to savor that moment and hold it close for a while. Luca Ruffini's mouth was a dangerous weapon and she couldn't help but think she wanted more.
"His brother is sixteen." Bella turned to the group. "Have I told you hello and how nice it is to see you here?"
They all laughed and Bella hugged each girl. She was so excited to see Callie, Diamond, and Georgia. Only months had passed since she'd last seen them, but it felt more like years.
"Where are the others?" she asked.
"Faith couldn't come and Haley may show up eventually, I sent her a letter to let her know where we are," Callie said.
They had all been such close friends while they attended the university and lived in the same dorm. But not one of them had graduated from college and now Bella wasn't certain they would.
"Emma is in medical school. She's determined to become a doctor," Georgia responded.
"We came to help you clean," Diamond said. "Not that I really want to clean a brick oven."
Bella shook her head. "The oven is already cleaned. But the best news, ladies, is that Luca told me we can all stay in the apartment upstairs over the bakery."
Abigail frowned. "You're no longer going to stay with me?"
Bella hugged her friend close. She'd been afraid that Abigail would have her feelings hurt if they didn't all stay with her, but it was better if she and Jack had time alone. "You're soon to be married, and I think you and that good-looking husband-to-be of yours would like some alone time."
Abigail blushed. "But..."
The girls giggled. Bella didn't want to think of all of them changing from this moment in time. Abigail would soon be married and not long afterward possibly a mother. It just seemed so quick, but it was the circle of life.
"Yes, I can just see the man living with five women and trying to have sex with his bride. Not a good way to start a marriage," Bella replied.
"Girls," Abigail said. "I didn't think we'd do it the first night. Maybe I’m being naive, but I thought we’d wait.”
All of the women laughed out loud.
"You think that man of yours is going to wait another day?" Diamond said, shaking her red curls. "You're wrong. That man is going to expect his just desserts as soon as nightfall arrives. You've had him hanging on now for several months. We've arrived, it's time to set the date."
Abigail smiled. "Well, we were thinking six weeks from this Saturday, if that was agreeable with Bella. I want you to bake the wedding cake."
What an honor. To bake her friend’s wedding cake and serve it to the people of New Hope. If it was successful, she would receive even more orders for cakes in the future.
Squeals of laughter sounded from the women as they gathered around Bella and Abigail. "I'm delighted you asked me to bake your cake. Thrilled in fact. Thank you."
Bella hugged Abigail thinking that she was closer to this woman who had taken her in when she needed a place to hide than even her own sister.
"Oh my goodness," Bella said releasing Abigail and wiping the tears leaking from her eyes. "What a night. The best kiss I've ever experienced, my best friend wants me to bake her wedding cake, and all of you show up. This day just can't get any better."
And that kiss had been hotter than a fireplace on a snowy day. She'd felt like she'd go up in flames and would welcome the blaze. Luca Ruffini had melted her clear to her toes and she didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad one at the moment.
"Yes, it can," Diamond said. "We need to celebrate everyone's happiness and success. And to new beginnings."
Bella believed that Diamond was hiding a past, but she had no way of knowing for certain and she loved her friend too much to ask. Even if the girl was hiding something, they loved her unconditionally.
"Let's go to Abigail’s and drink wine and catch up. Tomorrow we can clean the apartment and move in. But tonight, let's celebrate," Bella said, taking her apron off and laying it on the counter. She put the door up on the oven so the fire would hopefully burn most of the night, heating the bricks. Tomorrow she would begin the baking.
Opening the door, they spilled out onto the wooden sidewalks. As they strolled toward the mercantile, they could hear the music from the saloon, echoing down the street. A man's eyes widened as he passed them on the street. "Good evening, ladies."
"Evening," they chorused and then giggled.
"Yes, the men in this town will think you girls are answers to their prayers. New meat just arrived in town," Abigail said. "Be careful."
Sometimes Bella felt sorry for the lonely men who so desperately wanted a wife and family, and then other times, she couldn't help but think there was a reason why they'd never found anyone to marry them. A reason she didn't want to know.
Diamond shook her head. "I'm not searching for a husband. I'm looking for a new start. A job or a business to run."
"Me, too," Callie said.
Georgia sighed. "I don't know. Maybe a man would be easier than trying to change the world. At least maybe I could bend him to my will."
A snort sounded from Abigail. "Don't count on it.
Suddenly, the sheriff stepped in front of them. "Ladies."
Bella's heart thudded in her chest at the expression on the man's face. Oh no, this could mean trouble and she'd already seen the inside of a jail with these women. She wasn't ready to experience that cold, damp, place again.
Abigail moved to stand before the man. "Yes, Sheriff?"
"You know, New Hope is a quiet little frontier town or at least it was up until Miss Vanderhooten returned home. Are you ladies the suffragettes?"
"Yes," they all responded including Abigail.
"When I was told of your impending arrival, one of our elected officials suggested I should just load you girls up and put you on the next stage going out of town. But I assured the man, you have nothing to fear from a group of women. Because these ladies are not going to cause me any trouble in any way. Are you, ladies?"
Diamond snorted. "Depends."
Abigail laid her hand on Diamond. "Now, Sheriff, I know you're just doing your job, but we don't want trouble. We just want to be able to live our lives like all God-fearing people do."
Bella could guess who the troublemaking elected official was who had warned the sheriff. None other than Mr. Barton, a man who could not help but stick his nose in everyone’s town business. If you needed to know something, go see Mr. Barton. He could give you anyone who lived in New Hope their history.
He nodded. "I want you girls to know I went out on a limb for you. I told this person the men in this town were looking for good women to become their wives and you girls could be the answer to their prayers.
“But I'm not going to put up with any shenanigans you ladies may be thinking of pulling. If you want to stay, that's great, but there won't be any marching or any fighting or any other tomfoolery. Do you understand?"
No one said anything. They only stared at him. Bella knew that could mean trouble if they decided they weren't happy with something going on in town. She'd seen her friends fly into action and show their freedom of speech.
"Well, it was nice meeting you and having this little chat. Enjoy your evening," he said and started to walk off.
Abigail laid her hand on his arm. "Tell Mr. Barton these girls have arrived to bring new businesses and new opportunities to New Hope." She smiled up at him. "Female commerce at its finest."
The sheriff frowned and shook his head. "Well, that will certainly get him riled, won't it?"
The women laughed.
"New Hope is leading the way toward the nineteenth century where women will be just as equal as a man," Bella said quietly.
"You ladies have a good evening," the sheriff said looking worried as he hurried away.
Bella watched him leave thinking this town would never be the same.
&nb
sp; Chapter 6
Luca walked into the house, dropping his saddle bags by the door. His sister came around the corner and glanced at him.
Maybe talking to his sister would help. He felt rattled, unsure of what he was feeling. That kiss had been almost explosive.
"You're late. Papa has already gone to bed. I was just about to go up myself."
"Yeah, I stopped by the bakery and apologized to Bella this evening."
His sister smiled. "That was nice. I can't wait to try her bread and see if it’s any good."
He nodded remembering the feel of her lips against his own. He hadn't expected to experience such a reaction to her kiss. Sure, he had kissed many girls, but none of them affected him like kissing this woman.
If her friends had not walked in, there was no telling what could have happened. He wanted nothing more than to lean her over one of the tables in the bakery and have his way with her right there in front of the windows. At that moment, he didn't care about anything but her.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "I can tell something is bothering you."
"I made a mistake tonight.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. His sister picked up on his emotions better than his brother or father. She understood him better than anyone in the family except for his dear departed mother.
"Another mistake? What happened?"
Sighing, he walked over to a chair and sat. She sank onto the sofa next to him. "I don't know why I did it. One moment, we were talking and the next, I was pulling her to me and kissing her. I had no intention of doing something so foolish, but once I did, now I want to kiss her again."
His sister giggled. "Maybe she is the one who will win your cuore."
His stomach clenched with fear as he thought about Bella. He wasn't ready to give anyone his heart, but especially not her. Right now, he wanted to get his vineyard going before he thought of marriage and love. "It was just a mistaken moment of weakness. I won't let it happen again."
His sister, ever the romantic, refused to let it go. "Did you enjoy kissing her?"
His brows drew together in a frown as he glared at her. "That is none of your business."
"Well, you must have thought about it all the way home."
Of course, the memory of the rush of passion he'd felt lingered with him. He'd hurried out of the bakery with five women standing around staring at him. But holding Bella in his arms, his skin touching hers and his mouth dreaming of kissing her once again overwhelmed him. He hadn't expected to feel so much from just the taste of her mouth.
"It was a kiss, nothing more," he said with determination. "I will make certain it doesn't happen again. Now, don't you think you should go to bed?"
But how could he guarantee he wouldn't kiss her again when already his body and his soul wanted to touch her lips to his once again. In fact, he couldn't wait to taste her and hold her in his arms.
She stood and laughed. "Mama always told me that when the right man comes into my life that his kiss will melt my bones, but his heart will show me he is the man for me. Any man or woman who loves you will put your needs above their own, and that will show you their heart."
"Now is not the right time for love. I don't need the responsibilities of a wife. After the vineyard is running smoothly, then I will consider love and marriage. But not now."
There was so much he needed to do with the vineyard and she held the keys to the bakery. And he feared how this was all going to end. One of them was not going to be happy.
"Maybe, but sometimes we don't have control over when is the right time for us to meet the love of our lives. Goodnight, Luca."
He watched as his sister walked up the stairs, leaving him sitting in front of the fireplace. Bella was nice, but what did he really know about this woman? All he knew was she liked to bake, wanted his family’s bakery, and could kiss like an angel.
Where did she come from and who was her family? And did all that really matter, when all he had to do was glance at her full, ripe lips and he wanted to block the world out and kiss her until they were both satisfied?
The next morning, Bella was mixing the dough for her first batch of bread when the door to the bakery opened and Franco walked in.
"Good morning," he said, glancing around at the changes she had made. The counters were empty, but the tables where people could sit and talk had new tablecloths with vases of fresh roses in them. "Looking good."
"Good morning, Mr. Ruffini," she called. "I'm making the first batch of bread now. Come on back to the kitchen."
He walked past the counter and entered the kitchen in the back. He took a deep breath. "Oh, how I have missed this place. I use to love to be upstairs in the apartment when Maria was baking bread. The smells would drift upstairs and it was all I could do to keep from running downstairs and grabbing the olive oil."
There was something almost heavenly about the smell of fresh bread. The aroma had her taste buds watering with anticipation.
Bella smiled at him and he watched her carefully as she kneaded the dough. "I have two loaves close to the oven, rising and another two about ready to start."
He opened the door to the brick oven. "The oven is still too warm. Give it at least another ten minutes. If not, the bread will be too crunchy on the outside."
There was so much to learn about the way the brick ovens controlled the heat. Little things that could mean the difference between a good loaf of bread or a crusty, dry loaf.
"Thank you. How long did it take you to learn the oven?"
Glancing at her he said, "My mother, she baked in a brick oven, so I've known since I was a kid. But you will soon learn as well."
"My father's kitchen has one of those new ceramic ovens. It took our cook some time to learn how to use it. She burned my father's dinner many times."
Nodding, he watched as she kneaded the dough as she had for many years. There was something about the texture between her fingers as she rolled the dough in the bowl. It was almost soothing.
"That's enough," he said gazing at her. "It's ready to be placed on the rack to rise."
"Rack?" she asked wondering what he was talking about. There were so many small details still to learn.
"Yes," he said glancing around the kitchen. "I made special racks for the dough to sit on and rise before it went into the oven."
Opening cabinets, he finally found what he was searching for. "Ah, here." He took the metal pans out and slid them into place near the oven. "See?"
"That's smart. Now I can just slide the bread into the oven."
"Yes," he said. "Let me make the next loaves."
She smiled as she took her dough and placed it in the pans. "As long as your son doesn't get angry with me again."
"Luca is protective of his family. He is going to be a great man."
"He came by and apologized last night."
"He did? For what?"
She thought for sure Franco knew about their disagreement and now she wished she hadn't said anything. "He thought I approached you about leasing the bakery after he had told me no. So when you suggested I run the bakery, he thought I was behind your request."
Franco laughed. "Fate works in mysterious ways. You wanted the bakery, and I wanted you to have the place, but Luca, he is still learning that fate will have her way."
Bella smiled, a feeling of contentment coming over her. She hadn't thought of it that way. "Anyway, he apologized because we raised our voices to each other."
"That's good."
"What do you mean that's good. People should get along."
"Yes, they should. But sometimes the passion, it gets in the way. You felt passionate about the bakery and he feels passionate about the vineyard. It makes me smile."
What in the world was he talking about? Yes, she cared about the bakery, but the vineyard. Was that the special project Luca referred to when he said he needed the sale of the bakery? What did the two have to do with one another?
"My son is a good man and he's not hard on the e
yes either. And he's a Ruffini. We're a good family, full of love for one another."
Did he think she was applying to be a member? All his words accomplished was to remind her that her own family was in turmoil. Her father and mother didn't love one another and she'd seen her father out on the town with another woman before she left for college. There was just so much that wasn't right with them and she didn't know how to fix the problems.
"You must miss your wife terribly."
"I think of her every day, almost every moment. She was my cuore."
Bella frowned. "What is cuore."
He laughed at her pronunciation. "It's Italian for heart. She was my life, my love, my very soul."
Bella felt tears well up at the way he talked about the woman he still loved. She'd never heard her father say he loved her mother.
"What about your family? Why are you not living with your mama and papa? They must be worried about you."
Oh, they probably were, but she was not going to stay in St. Louis and be paraded through society for the highest bidder. She would never marry unless it was for love and she didn't care how many rich, socialite bachelors her father presented.
"My family is not from around here. My father wants me to marry, and I refuse."
That was a fast, simple explanation of what was wrong with her family. But there was a much deeper core.
"Why? That is every father's wish for his daughter to marry well, so he doesn't have to worry about her and knows she's being taken care of."
"Well, it's not what I want."
"You don't want a bambino? A family of your own? A man to hold you in his arms and tell you he loves you?" Franco asked, mixing yeast into the flour, glancing at her, his eyes darkening.
Of course, she did, but she wanted more. Why was it that women could not have more than just a family? And why did she have to settle for who her father wanted her to marry?
"Yes, I want a family of my own, a man who loves me, but I love the baking, the creating something with my own hands. Of being in charge of my own shop. This means so much to me."
He smiled, his brows rising. "The flour, it is in your blood. Of course, you want to create. And you shall."
Wild Western Women Spring Into Love: A Western Historical Romance Box Set Page 28
