The Magnate's Holiday Proposal

by Rebecca Winters

  “Just a second, Dino.”

  His son looked up at him while they waited.

  “You can come in now.”

  Dino opened the door. Luca’s gaze focused on the gorgeous woman who’d just come out of the bathroom in bare feet wearing a knee-length pale blue robe. She didn’t need makeup. He loved her tousled hair.

  “Buongiorno, signora. We’ve brought your breakfast I made myself. I mean... I made part of it.”

  “You did all this for me?” Dino nodded. “Well, aren’t I the luckiest person on the planet. Grazie.”

  “Prego. Where would you like us to put it?”

  “Right over there on the table in front of the window. We can all eat together and enjoy the view. I’ll pull up the dressing table chair so there are seats for the three of us.”

  Luca couldn’t stop staring at her. “Dino wanted to surprise you.”

  “It’s the best surprise I ever had. This corneto is superb. You say you made it yourself?”

  “I didn’t cook it. Papà showed me how to put the jam in the middle.”

  “Well, you did a perfect job and it’s absolutely delicious. I’m totally impressed. What did I do to deserve having breakfast served in my room?”

  Luca could tell his son had something specific on his mind, but he had no idea what it was.

  “I think we should talk about a new job for you.”

  Both she and Luca choked on their coffee and reached for a napkin from the tray. “A new one?” she murmured.

  “Si. I know you have to work, so I wish you could be my new mamma.”

  Luca wasn’t at all surprised. Out of the mouths of babes...

  Gabi said, “You already have Ines. But I can come to see you whenever possible.”

  “But if you were my mamma, you’d live right here.”

  “True, but Edda has hired me to work for her. I couldn’t just leave her.”

  His expression sobered. “Wouldn’t you rather be my mamma than work for her?”

  Before Luca could try to salvage the situation, she said, “I tell you what. I’ll have a talk with her about taking a vacation so I can be with you more.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes.”

  “Evviva.”

  Gabi was a master psychologist. Without promising Dino anything, she’d bought some time. But knowing his son, Dino would plague her for an answer every time he was with her. While they were finishing their breakfast, Luca’s cell phone rang. It was his mother, wanting to know if she and his father could come over. Luca told her he’d call her back in a few minutes and hung up. His son had just finished the last of his corneto.

  “Dino? Your nonni wants to drop by for a visit.”

  He frowned. “You mean today?”

  With that one word Luca already had his answer. “Yes.”

  “But Gabi’s here and we’re going to play. They’ll probably stay a long time and she has to go back to Padova later.”

  His son had a point and Luca had no desire to see his father, who probably wouldn’t be impressed by Dino’s attachment to Gabi. “All right. We’ll make it for another day. Right now, why don’t we go downstairs so she can get dressed.”

  Dino brightened and stood up. “Don’t take too long, Gabi. We’ll be in the family room.”

  “I promise I’ll hurry.”

  Luca put their plates and cups back on the tray and carried it out the door. Dino followed him after giving Gabi a hug, and they walked down to the kitchen. His son darted to the family room, giving Luca time to phone his mother and tell her that Dino wanted Gabi all to himself for the day.

  “I never thought I’d see the day he’d become this close to another woman. Maria and Tomaso can’t believe it either. When they call him, Gabi is all he talks about. It’s like it happened overnight!” his mother exclaimed.

  “She has a special way with her. It’s why she works for the foundation.”

  “Your father’s not pleased. He still wants you to meet up with Giselle.”

  “That’s too bad. I have never been interested in Giselle. He needs to give up that fiction.”

  “I know you wanted nothing to do with her, but he can’t seem to let it go and is upset about Gabi spending so much time with Dino.”

  “Well, I’m not. Grazie al cielo you sent his letter. Dino is so happy right now, Gabi is exactly what he needs leading up to the operation.”

  “But what’s going to happen afterward? She has her own life to lead.”

  Luca closed his eyes for a moment. He knew what he wanted but kept his thoughts to himself. “I can’t answer that. No one can. It’s all I can do to hold it together for the next two weeks.”

  “I realize that. Let me know how I can help.”

  “You do it all the time, and I love you for it. I’ll talk to you later.” They hung up.

  Luca especially couldn’t control Dino, who had a strong mind and will of his own. His son was determined to keep Gabi close no matter how he manipulated to get his way. Luca’s mother would be shocked if she’d heard Dino say he wanted Gabi for his mother. But he couldn’t blame Dino for anything, not when Luca was already imagining Gabi in his life on a permanent basis.

  On his way to the family room, Luca heard laughter. Gabi had kept her promise to get dressed fast. Already they were involved in some game. When he walked in, Dino ran up to him.

  “Look what Gabi brought me! She has a collection of her favorite Tex comic books and says I can keep them for as long as I want. Come and read with us.”

  Luca hadn’t thought Gabi could do anything else to enchant his son, but he’d been wrong. Their connection really was uncanny. His eyes shot to hers. They were a beautiful green with flecks of gold. Right now they revealed the depth of her emotions brought out by desires they were both having to hold in check.

  The next time Luca got her alone...

  After he took a deep breath, he said, “I think if we’re going to read them, we should go in the living room. I’ll light a fire and we’ll get comfortable.”

  “I’ll bring the snacks.” Gabi picked up the box of chocolate insects.

  Dino’s expression crumpled, causing Luca’s laughter to echo all the way through the villa. While his son lay on the floor poring over some of the comics for a little while, Gabi sat back on one end of the couch. Luca chose the other.

  “Would you be willing to show me the new ski boots and skis you’ve designed?”

  Luca flashed Gabi a wicked grin, reminding her of last night when they couldn’t get enough of each other. “I’d rather see some more of your sketches. I know Edda needs you, but wouldn’t it be exciting if you had a chance to go to art school and carve out a new career for yourself?”

  “Of course it would.”

  Luca would have explored the possibility more, but then Dino wanted to put a puzzle together. Afterward they ate, then played another round of cops and robbers. Until the grandfather clock chimed the half hour, Luca forgot what it was like not to have a worry in the world.

  Gabi lifted her head. “I can’t believe it’s three thirty already. I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave for Padova.”

  “Not yet,” Dino protested.

  “It’s a long drive,” Luca reminded him, hating for this to happen after such a glorious day.

  “I don’t want to go either, Dino, but it’ll be dark before I get home and I have a lot to do to get ready for work in the morning.”

  He jumped up. “You said you would talk to your boss.”

  She tousled his hair. “I will.”

  Luca groaned silently before darting her a glance. “Are you packed?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll bring your case down. Come and help me, Dino.”

  “While yo
u do that, I’ll clean up the living room and put everything back in the family room.”

  Anyone watching them would describe it as a scene of domestic bliss set on the cover of a Christmas card. But that would be without seeing the turmoil going on inside Luca, who couldn’t bear to be parted from Gabi.

  Gabi put on her coat while Dino insisted on carrying her case out to the car and putting it in the backseat. Some of the snow had melted, but not all. There’d be more coming in the next few days. Luca would give anything for Gabi not to have to drive in it.

  She got inside behind the wheel and lowered the window when Luca and Dino walked around. “Thank you for the loveliest weekend I’ve ever had. Be good in school, Dino, and send me an email telling me what project you’re working on this next week.”

  “I will. Let me know when you’ve talked to Edda.”

  Her eyes sent Luca a silent message. “I promise.”

  “Drive safely,” he whispered. Suddenly the thought of anything happening to her filled him with such terror he could hardly breathe. A car accident on the black ice of the highway could end her life as fast as the avalanche that had buried Catarina. Even thinking about that possibility made him realize he’d fallen in love with Gabi.

  After losing Catarina, the pain had been so terrible, he’d never wanted to care like that about another woman again. Yet here he was, frightened to lose this woman who’d become of vital importance to him in every way. He simply couldn’t go through that kind of pain again.

  “Text me when you get home so we can stop worrying.”

  She nodded.

  “When you’re on vacation, you won’t have to drive from Padova.” Dino never gave up. “You’ve got your own room at our villa and Pia will make all your food. Can your mamma drive?” Luca wasn’t surprised at the question. His enterprising son worked all the angles.

  “Si.” She smiled at Luca.

  “Then she can come and visit, can’t she, Papà?”

  “Of course.”

  “A piu’ tardi,” Gabi said before she started down the drive to the road leading into town.

  Dino left his side on a run and dashed inside the villa. The only thing saving Luca was Gabi’s promise to come midweek. He was already living for it.

  * * *

  Before Gabi had driven away, she’d seen anxiety in Luca’s eyes. It matched hers. She knew he didn’t like it that she had to drive so far, especially after it had snowed. The thought of an accident haunted her, too. Worse, they were both suffering from a new burden Dino had placed on her.

  To her relief she got home safely. The second she turned off the engine, she texted Luca. Almost immediately he texted back, thrilling her.

  We miss you. I’m going to be as bad as Dino and remind you to get back to me when you can about plans for midweek.

  She pressed a hand to her heart. That was all she’d been thinking about.

  I’ll text you tomorrow after my talk with Edda.

  Don’t write anything else, Gabi, or he’s going to know you’re head over heels in love with him.

  Gabi dashed in the house. “Mamma?”

  “Oh, good. You’re home. I take it you had a wonderful time.”

  “You can’t imagine.”

  “I think I can.”

  “I want to hear about your weekend with Angelina.”

  “Since you’ve been with Dino’s dashing father for the weekend, I’m afraid anything I have to say isn’t worth mentioning.”

  “That’s not true!”

  Her mother’s laughter followed Gabi, who carried her suitcase down the hall to her bedroom. Before she did anything else, she sat down at her computer to send an email to Dino. She’d promised.

  * * *

  Wednesday morning Luca drove Dino to school and dropped him off. “I’ll see you at one o’clock.”

  “Do you promise Gabi is coming this afternoon?”

  “Do I have to? You read her email. She’s excited to meet Paolo.”

  “But—”

  “But what?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Dino—she’s coming! See you in a little while.” His son climbed out of the rear seat and hurried inside the building with his backpack.

  Luca sped to work, grateful there hadn’t been fresh snow yet to become a hazard for Gabi. He would put in a few hours, needing to keep busy until he went back to the villa to welcome Gabi. She planned to be there by one thirty.

  Around eleven that morning, while he was dictating some letters to his secretary, he got a text from Gabi. At first his heart almost failed him. Until he read it.

  I left Padova early. Will be at the villa by twelve thirty.

  From that point on he was out of breath. After clearing his desk of work, he told his secretary he was leaving for the day and took off for Maniago. He’d planned for Gabi to stay overnight and drive back to Padova early Thursday morning for work. The cook had instructions to fix meals the boys would love.

  Luca walked out the front entrance when he saw Gabi’s car pull up the drive. She slid from the driver’s seat wearing another long-sleeved sweater, this time in a bright blue with a navy skirt. With the fifty-eight-degree temperature, she obviously didn’t feel the need to wear a coat. The silvery ash of her blond hair combined with her curvaceous figure robbed him of breath.

  “You got here early!”

  Her smile knocked him sideways. “Edda told me to leave. I was hoping I would be on time so I could go with you to pick up the boys. I’d love to see Dino’s school.”

  “He’ll be ecstatic when he finds out you’re with me. Do you want to freshen up before we leave?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Then come and get in my car.”

  After she locked her car with the remote, he cupped her elbow and helped her in the Lancia. Before he started the engine, his gaze wandered over her. He loved the strawberry fragrance drifting from her hair. “I’ve read your emails with Dino, but I want to know how you’ve really been.”

  “Probably the same as you. Thank goodness we only have to hold out nine more days until he goes in the hospital.”

  He nodded. “Having Paolo come over has given him something new to think about.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Paolo’s parents will come and get him after dinner. Dino’s happy about that because he doesn’t want to share you with Paolo into the night.” She let out a gentle laugh. “You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. I can’t say I blame him. There’s no act to follow you.”

  “Luca...”

  “It’s true. My whole household has undergone a distinct shift since Gabi Parisi arrived bearing gifts in answer to a certain letter.”

  Gabi’s eyes filmed over. “My life has changed, too. You have to know that. He’s the sweetest boy in the world. How lucky he is to have you for his father.”

  “Thank you,” he whispered before pulling her to him. “I’ve missed you, Gabi.”

  “I’ve missed you, too.”

  He kissed her long and hard, unable to wait another second to feel her in his arms. But it was time to leave for the school before he forgot where they were and he started to devour her where anyone could see them. After letting her go, he turned on the engine and drove down to the road.

  “You live in a virtual garden even though its winter.”

  “I love it and run along here most mornings at six.”

  “Does Dino ever join you?”

  “He’ll need the doctor’s permission first because he doesn’t want his head jarred. When that happens he’ll probably keep up for about a block and then quit.”

  “He loves you so much. One day he’ll be well again.”

  “I need to believe that.” Needing more contact, Luca reached over and
grasped her hand. “You give me hope anything is possible.”

  “That’s because it is. Try not to dwell on what will happen after the tumor is removed.” She squeezed his hand before letting it go, leaving him bereft.

  Before long they entered the town. Luca drove to the piazza with the fountain and parked on the east side. Dino’s school building was one of several surrounding it.

  “This must be a fun place for the children to enjoy.”

  “The school uses it for parades and plays. The rest of the time it’s a playground.” He shut off the engine and turned toward her. They still had a few minutes before Dino came out. Luca craved every second he could be alone with her and studied her profile.

  Her gaze darted to him. She couldn’t keep his eyes off him either. “Have you always lived in Maniago?”

  “I was born and raised here.”

  “What about Dino’s mother?”

  Oddly enough any questions about her didn’t bother him anymore. Naturally Gabi wanted, needed, to know about her in order to have normal conversations with Dino.

  “Sorry, Luca. I—”

  “Don’t be sorry,” he broke in on her. “Ask me anything you want. It doesn’t hurt me to talk about her. In fact, I think it’s good that we do. We both know Dino is afraid to have the operation because Catarina isn’t here. But if he wants to talk about her, he should feel free to do so and so should you.”

  She nodded. “Was Catarina from Maniago, too?”

  “No. Venice.”

  “That city is one of my favorite places to explore and sketch. I drive there when I can, often with my mother. Does Dino love it, too?”

  “I haven’t taken him there since the avalanche. In the beginning, it pained me too much to consider making the trip.”

  “Of course it would.” Gabi eyed him intently. “Does Dino have grandparents there on his mother’s side?”

  “No. Catarina’s parents died when she was in her teens, so her aunt and uncle Maria and Tomaso Guardino raised her along with their own two children. He works for our company and commutes from Venice. That’s how I met Catarina. They’ve come to visit Dino many times. He enjoys them both.”

  “So they’re the couple I’ve seen in some of the little photos in Dino’s room.”