She didn't know if the flour was in her blood, but she loved to bake, and here she was the happiest. Working, here in the kitchen, selling her goods.
"But if I stayed with my family, I would have been forced to marry a man I didn't love. I want more."
That didn't mean she didn't love her family. She missed them and hoped that someday they could reunite and would accept her decision to create something out of her life besides being a rich socialite who held tea parties all day.
"Fathers want what is best for their children. My daughter is a beauty and I hope she finds a man who is worthy of her love. And the same for my sons. I want them to marry women who are passionate about them. But you must also be strong individuals who are happy before you can come together as a couple. My Luca is close. He must learn the lesson of love and passion, but I think he's ready."
Bella felt her heart sort of skip a beat. He'd certainly been very capable last night when he'd kissed her. She still grew warm thinking of how she'd melted into his arms and the way his lips had done such incredible things to her mouth. The way he'd completely melded her mouth to his. The man certainly knew how to kiss.
"Aha," Franco said. "These two loaves are ready to rise. May I show you how to make shortbread cookies the children love?"
"Please," she said. "I need more items in the display case."
He smiled. "Oh, my Bella, I think you are going to be perfect for the bakery."
Grinning, she gazed at Franco. "I hope so. I really like it here and I'm thrilled to be baking with you."
And his son wasn't too bad either. But whether or not that kiss had a future, she didn't know. But she did know she would like to try his luscious mouth once again and have a second taste to determine if she liked it as much the second time around.
Franco almost danced into the house after spending the better part of the day with Bella in the bakery. The girl was a delight and he knew she would fit into the family perfectly. But he had to be careful and not show his son too much interest or the boy would run.
His daughter glanced up from the supper she was fixing in the kitchen. "Papa. You're home. I've been worried."
He grinned and thought of the day cooking and preparing for the reopening of the bakery he'd loved.
"I spent the day in the bakery with Bella."
Grinning widely, his daughter said, "And?"
He put his thumb and first finger together and brought it to his mouth, kissed them and released. She nodded in understanding. "I thought so as well. I'm going to run by the bakery tomorrow when I'm in town and speak to her."
"Don't say anything to your brother or her."
Laughing she stirred the sauce. "I won't. Now, wash up, it's time to eat. And find the boys and tell them supper is ready."
Quickly, he went into his bedroom and washed. Looking at the bed, he missed his wife once again. She was gone, the bakery was being handled by someone new and their oldest son...was now the head of the family business. Life changes and he was doing his best to go along.
Walking out the door, he saw his sons were seated at the dinner table. He took his place at the head and then turned to Luca. "Son, will you please say the blessing."
After the prayer was said, they began to pass the food. "Thank you for cooking, Cara."
"You're welcome, Papa."
"How was the bakery?" Luca asked. "I saw you were there when I went into town."
There was so much he wanted to say, but somehow he had to play it very cool and detached. If Luca even suspected he was happy and wanted Bella as his daughter-in-law, he would flee and probably sell the bakery right away.
"Bella was cooking her first loaves of bread in the oven, and then I showed her how to make the shortbread cookies we all enjoy so much. She has much to learn." He shook his head. "In such a short time."
He felt like a fisherman dangling a worm in front of a fish, hoping it would bite. Would Luca take the bite and go for the worm?
"Now, Papa, don't start asking for more time."
"I'm not. I think she is going to really put everything she has into making the bakery a success. She's an innocent, sweet, young woman, and I hope you'll stay away from her so she can work to make the bakery a success. She needs to learn how to express love with the flour. Make the bread so good, it sells itself."
He'd said enough, now he needed to sit back and wait.
Luca held his fork in midair. "Why would you think that I would try to stop her? I said she has six weeks to make it a success."
"No reason. But she's a beautiful, young flower, and you're an Italian boy who likes pretty women. Just don't go sniffing in this garden."
Luca shook his head and laughed. "I'm too busy playing amongst the grapevines, preparing them for winter. I don't have time to stop and smell the roses."
Franco nodded his approval. "Good. Then Bella can concentrate on improving her craft and returning the bakery to its former glory. I'm going to help her as much as I can. But her focus must be on learning to craft the bread."
"See, there is no reason for me to be in the bakery because I know you will be there," Luca said, not glancing at his father.
Franco saw his daughter watching the two of them. She knew what he was doing and she was doing her best to keep a smile from appearing on her face. She also knew he could never use this tactic on her because she would be aware of how he goaded her brother into courting Bella.
Now if only his plan would work, he would have a new daughter, his bakery back, and hopefully soon, some grand bambinos.
Luca watched his father go to bed. He sat in the family room of the small ranch house. Had Bella told his father that he kissed her last night? Had Cara leaked his weak moment? Or was his father just a wily old man trying to hang onto the place he'd spent most of his adult life and wasn't ready to let go?
He sighed and leaned back against the horsehair sofa. If his mother was here, he could discuss the feelings that swirled around when he thought of the dark-haired beauty. But she was long gone and his sister had already retired for the evening. His brother was much too young to share tales of women with.
But if his father was just trying to hang onto the bakery, then Luca would need to do everything possible to make Bella fail. He didn't want to hurt the girl. She seemed nice and he liked her, but his own dreams were at stake and his father's health to consider.
He didn't want his papa to be working the long hours in the bakery every day. He would throw one grand fit if his father thought he was helping this girl for long periods of time. After the incapacitating stroke, they'd all nursed Papa back to health and now he wanted to work again.
Yet, he needed his own dreams to succeed and if that meant the bakery could not make a profit, he would do everything he could to ensure that it wasn't successful.
So tomorrow, he would begin to woo the young woman. And that wouldn't be difficult at all. For the kiss they'd shared the other night certainly showed how much spark and passion there was between them. The woman certainly smelled like heaven and kissed like Satan.
Chapter 7
Opening day, Bella sent her friends into the street with baskets of sample slices of bread. She hoped to entice her customers to come to the store, knowing certain people in town would do everything they could to see she wasn't successful.
Especially one Tim Barton who thought good Christian women walked behind their husbands and spoke only when spoken to. But Bella knew her friends would never let a man rule them and wanted to be seen as equals, as partners in a marriage. She wondered if they weren't all, but Abigail, doomed to being spinsters.
The image of Luca came to mind, and she smiled remembering the kiss he'd given her. She hadn't seen him since that night and hoped he would come by for the opening. So far she'd only had one customer today, but it was early still and she knew the day was young.
The door opened and Franco came in. "Good morning, beautiful Bella. How are you this fine morning?"
She smiled. The old man
was always so happy, so jolly that he was a joy to be around. No matter what happened with the bakery, she hoped they would remain friends. "I'm doing well, and you?"
He glanced around the empty bakery and spread his hands out wide. "I see no customers."
Her heart jumped a little, hoping this didn't mean what she feared. What if Mr. Barton managed to keep most of the townspeople away? "It's early. My friends are walking up and down Main Street handing out bread samples. Abigail has a flyer up in her store announcing the grand opening and the newspaper is going to run an ad."
Franco's hand swiped at the air. "Word of mouth will bring you customers. Just you wait and see."
"I hope you're right."
Just then Diamond came running back into the bakery, her basket empty. "That Tim Barton is the most despicable man I've ever met. Do you know he dumped my basket out into the street? Told me I was a sinful woman and for me to take the next stage out of town."
"Oh no," Bella said, feeling bad her friend had been accosted by the meanest man in town. "Are you all right?"
This type of harassment was exactly what she feared Tim Barton would do, and she hoped her friends were capable of standing up to the ignorant man.
"I'm fine. I told him I'd handled men worse than him and if he wanted to see how sinful I could be, come to the bakery."
Bella started laughing, but Franco didn't smile and appeared angry.
"He is, how do you say in English...small minded."
"Give me more samples and I'll head back out. Any customers yet?"
Bella sighed. "Just one, Mrs. Jackson."
"She used to come in all the time. She's a great customer,” Franco said.
"Maybe you should make some of those peach turnovers that won you the bake off."
Bella turned to Franco an idea popping into her head. "We talked about having another bake off. Maybe we should do it now?”
She didn't know if she could beat the old man a second time. Somehow, she felt like the moon and stars had just aligned on her side that day.
Franco smiled, his eyes twinkling like a little kid. "I bake my castagnole and you bake your peach turnovers. We have a ballot box and people in town can choose which one they like the best."
"Yes," Bella said smiling.
"Oh, that sounds like so much fun," Diamond said. "And it would drive customers into the bakery."
"Diamond, tell everyone you meet about the contest. It begins Saturday at noon and goes until five. Franco and I square off against one another again."
If they could get the town involved, it would be so much fun. And a great reason for everyone to come into the bakery, vote, and purchase bread.
"Yes, ma'am. I'll tell Abigail to put up a notice in the store."
"Maybe this will bring us customers."
Later that evening as Bella closed the bakery, Diamond counted the cash. "Well, I guess, the day ended better than expected. You made nine dollars."
"Not bad, but I was hoping it would be better," Bella said, putting dough on the shelf to rise. Before she went home tonight, she wanted to bake at least four more loaves of fresh bread and also prepare the dough for her peach turnovers.
Diamond stood. "How long are you planning on staying here tonight?"
"Oh, about another hour and I'll be done."
"Don't work too much longer. You've got a big day tomorrow and you're going to be up at the crack of dawn."
Bella smiled at her friend. "Thank you for helping me today. I'm so glad you all came to Texas."
She was beginning to understand what Luca was saying about the bakery and how she couldn't do it alone. Thank goodness her friends were here and helping. She owed them so much and hoped to someday repay their kindness.
"Yeah, so far I've liked this little town, except for that guy. I even had three men offer to buy me dinner. I turned them all down, told them I was too busy helping my friends. But in Boston, I never felt accepted. Here the men are happy to see me."
In Boston, Diamond had worked at a bar to support herself while she attended the university. Originally from New York, her mother had named her Diamond because that was her favorite piece of jewelry from her gentleman friends. She didn't talk much about her past, only to say her mother was an actress.
"You're beautiful, Diamond."
"Well, in Boston, you had to be beautiful and have the right family name before most men would accept you."
While Bella had enjoyed living and going to school in Boston, society had been very snooty even for a rich girl like her. It had been hard to find acceptance.
Bella slid the loaves of bread in the oven. "Now for the turnovers."
"I think I'm going upstairs and help Callie finish cleaning the apartment."
"Okay, I won't be long."
Diamond disappeared up the stairs, leaving Bella alone. She hummed a tune as she made the dough for her favorite dessert. Her hands were deep in the flour when the bell above the door tinkled. "Come in."
She hoped it wasn't a thief as she was hardly in a position to protect herself. She craned her neck behind her and saw Luca standing in the frame. "Come back to the kitchen."
"Hello," he said. "How did your first day go."
"Great," she lied. She was not about to tell him sales had been disappointing, to say the least.
"Good," he said. "I just don't want you to be discouraged if the bakery doesn't do well."
She wanted to tell him not to worry, that she still had some tricks up her sleeve, but decided to let it go. They were getting along and he was being kind.
"I won't," she lied already knowing she wasn't happy with today's sales and hoped that the bake off brought in more clients.
Suddenly her sleeve that had been rolled up all day came down. Both of her hands were in the wet dough. "Could you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Would you roll my sleeve back up? It's getting into the flour and it's not the flavor I'm looking for in my bread."
He walked up behind her. She could feel his presence so close and smell the manly scent of Luca. Her body seemed to vibrate and warmth spread through her. He reached out and rolled her sleeve back, his hands brushing against her skin. She glanced at him, her eyes widening at the feel of his fingers. She licked her lips and swallowed. Of all the times for her sleeve to come unraveled. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said staring at her and then glancing at the bowl. "Let me help you."
"What? Are your hands clean?"
While the words sounded strained to her ears, all she could think about was how he was standing so close behind her. If she leaned back, she would run smack into the hard muscles of his chest. And while that wouldn't be a bad thing, she needed to finish this bread.
"I washed them before I walked in."
His hands came around either side of her and dipped into the dough. "Papa said you should treat the dough like it's a woman and caress it gently and firmly."
"Oh my. But I am a woman," she said her voice little more than a whisper as the air in her lungs seemed to disappear, leaving her breathless.
He smiled. "Yes, I definitely noticed."
Her heart beat suddenly tripled at his words. His hands covered hers and together they massaged the dough, mixing and turning, their fingers entwined kneading the floury mixture. She didn't know what to do or say. All she knew was that with his arms wrapped around her, his hands helping her caress the raw bread, her mind filled with the memory of his lips on hers and she wanted that again. Just the thought of him caressing her had her breathing coming in a hitch.
"There, that should be enough kneading until the dough rises, then we will try again."
She didn't know if she could do it again without cooking the dough from the heat of her body, as a furnace seem to have inflamed her and her voice sounded strained. "Thank you."
Gently he turned her in his arms and his lips descended on hers. His mouth consumed her, engulfing her lips within his own, his tongue stroking her mouth. She lean
ed toward him, wanting to be closer to his body, his arms wrapping around her.
Without removing his lips, he moved the bowl of dough out of the way and lifted her onto her workspace. His flour encrusted hands reaching up to hold her face where she could not break the seal of his lips. His tongue swept into her mouth and she moaned in the back of her throat.
He was the enemy. He didn't want her to have the bakery, and yet, all she could think about was the way he made her feel. She wanted to continue this kiss until...whatever happened between a man and a woman occurred. She had no idea except what she'd heard whispered in school. But no one had ever mentioned how a kiss could make you heat from within. How it seemed to ignite a fire in your blood that raged with the need to be consumed.
Nibbling on her lips, she grasped him and slanted her lips for even more access to Luca and his incredible mouth.
"Bella," Callie yelled down the stairs. "How much longer are you going to be?"
Her eyes opened and she stared at him as they came apart.
"Bella?"
"Just a little longer," she said weakly.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," she said her breath rushing from her body. She didn't need them to come down and realize what she'd been doing with Luca. "I'm just cleaning up."
She looked down at her dress, her apron and saw the smudges of flour and dough where his hands had touched her. She'd enjoyed his caresses and wanted more. She swiped her finger across Luca's cheek to remove dough and left behind a trail of flour. She giggled. "I think we're a mess."
He grinned. "Yes, we are."
Going to the sink, he grabbed a wet rag and brought it back. Gently, he wiped the white powder from her face. Then she took the rag he offered and began to wipe his face clean. "What are we doing, Luca?"
"I don't know," he said. "But I'm finding you hard to resist."
"And me you. But you want me to fail," she said.
"No, I want the bakery to fail," he responded quietly.
"What's the difference?"
"There is a huge difference. You can bake anywhere. The bakery I want closed for family reasons."
Wild Western Women Spring Into Love: A Western Historical Romance Box Set Page 29
