She watched Catarina’s aunt and uncle. Dino was like a grandchild to them. They were all very close-knit, especially after such a tragedy. But Luca’s father had given off a different aura to her.
Dino acted thrilled to see everyone and kept talking. Gabi had been so used to him seeking her out, she felt...she didn’t know exactly how or what she felt... Oh, yes, she did. Whom was she kidding? She felt like an outsider.
That’s what she was, a woman from the foundation who’d brought him a gift in response to his letter. Deep down she felt Luca’s father resented her for some reason. She didn’t want to be unkind about him, but there was no mistaking a certain tension he’d given off just now.
While they were all talking, she picked up that they were staying at a hotel in town. They would be coming over to the hospital for the next few days to keep Dino company until he went home.
The only thing she could see to do was be with her mom for the night. That way Luca would be free to visit with everyone for as long as he wanted and spend private time with his son. This would be the perfect time to bow out.
She slipped out of the room and walked around the corner to use the restroom and freshen up. When she came back out with the intention of telling Luca her plan, she rounded the corner again and saw him in the corridor with his father. Their backs were turned toward her. She had the impression they were arguing. All she heard was, “Now that Dino is better, you have to marry Giselle, do you hear me?”
CHAPTER NINE
MARRY GISELLE? Who was she?
Gabi felt like she’d been stabbed and hurried back to the restroom in agony. Luca had never mentioned that woman to her. But apparently he’d been involved with her before Gabi had come on the scene because Signor Berettini knew all about her. What on earth did any of it mean?
His remarks to Gabi no longer puzzled her. It made sense that he thought he’d seen the last of her. The older man would be shocked if he knew she and Luca had kissed passionately, let alone that Dino had asked her to be his mamma.
Gabi sank down on the couch and called her mother again. The moment she heard her voice, she broke down.
“Darling—whatever is wrong? This should be the happiest night of your life!”
“For a little while it was.”
“You said Dino’s going to be fine.”
“He is, and he won’t have to go through a long recovery period. I guess I thought I might be needed for a lot longer, but that isn’t the case.”
“I see.”
“The doctor wants him in school after the new year. He’s in amazing health now. All the trauma is over.”
“Isn’t that wonderful!”
“It is.”
“But it means your life is going to get back to normal, too.”
Her mother understood. “Yes. Tonight as I watched him laughing and talking with his family, I realized Dino has faced his fear and overcome it. He doesn’t need me any longer.”
“Darling—you’re always going to be his friend.”
“I know, but it won’t be the same. All I’ve done is tell you my problems since I married Santos. It’s not fair to you. I’m going to hang up now. In a little while I’ll get a taxi and come home for the night. See you soon.”
After hanging up, she left the restroom. When she looked around the corner, Luca was still there, but he was alone. He walked toward her, his expression glowing with happiness.
Already a transformation had taken place. Those deep grief lines on his unforgettably handsome face were receding. There was a new light in his eyes she’d never seen before. “I’ve been waiting for you.” No mention of his father.
“Sorry I was so long. I called my mother to tell her about Dino and let her know I’ll be home in a little while.”
What had she said about those receding tension lines on his face? They came back with a vengeance. “I couldn’t have heard you right. You promised Dino you’d stay here with him.”
“I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Your family is here tonight to be with him.”
Luca’s black brows met in a frown. “They’ll be leaving soon to go to their hotel. Dino expects you and me to be here until we all go home on Monday. He’s just had surgery. I don’t want him upset by anything. If he found out you weren’t here, I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Luca—you don’t have to be afraid for him anymore. He knows he’s fine. Everything is different now.”
“The hell it is.” For the first time since she’d known him, his response gave her a glimpse of the tough CEO he could be when necessary. “The operation has changed nothing for him where his feelings for you are concerned. You don’t honestly think this has been some kind of an act for him—”
“No. Of course not, but given time—”
“Given time he’ll what?” Luca cut her off. “Now that the danger is over, you imagine he’ll just switch back to the way he was before you came into his life? What’s happened to you since Dr. Meuller gave us the incredible news?”
Oh, Luca. If only she dared tell him what she’d overheard. Gabi had no idea what it had all meant, but she could see that tonight was not the time to have this discussion.
“I just didn’t want to be in the way.”
His expression looked like thunder. “What are you talking about? If Dino had his way, he wouldn’t have anyone else around.”
“That’s not true.”
“Whom are you trying to convince? The families will be leaving any minute now, and I’ve ordered cots to be brought in for both of us.”
“Please don’t be upset, Luca. I never meant to cause you this much concern.”
His chest rose and fell visibly. “As long as there’s no more talk of you going anywhere, I can handle anything. This is a night for celebration.”
She nodded. So be it for now. Gabi would have to text her mother that plans had changed once again. “It is! Now you can be happy. All our prayers have been answered.”
His fierce gaze played over her, as if he were still having trouble settling down after she’d said she was leaving. “Dino’s expecting us to come back in the room.” He really was upset. She’d never seen Luca this formidable before. “Gabi—”
She could hardly breathe for the intense way he was looking at her. “What is it?”
His compelling mouth tightened. “Nothing. Are you ready?”
“Of course.”
They walked back to the room together. It killed her to think that she’d upset him on this night of all nights. Everyone was still there. Luca’s father watched them come inside. After what she’d overheard, it was hard to pretend everything was fine, that she wasn’t in pain.
Maria kissed Dino, who was finally winding down. He’d closed his eyes. Gabi loved him so much she could hardly stand it.
“I think we should go, Tomaso.” Dino’s grandmother followed suit. Everyone hugged and smiled at Gabi. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
Signor Berettini left last. He nodded to Gabi and took his son aside to talk to him in private for a moment as they walked toward the door. Gabi turned away from them and walked over to the side of the bed. To her surprise Dino’s eyelids fluttered open.
“Are you going to stay with me tonight?”
Guilt washed over her that she’d contemplated leaving him tonight. Whatever was going on in Luca’s personal life, she’d made a commitment to this boy. “As if I’d be anywhere else.”
“Good. Ti amo, Gabi.”
“Ti amo, darling. Sweet dreams.” She kissed his cheek before he fell asleep.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Luca’s father leave. The three of them were finally alone. A second later an employee from housekeeping wheeled in two cots.
She watched as Luca set them up and placed the
m side by side at the end of the bed. After sleeping on either side of Dino last night, the dynamics of the situation weren’t anything new, but the stakes had changed because with one operation Dino had been cured.
“He looks so peaceful,” she remarked.
Luca walked over and whispered, “I’d like to keep him that way.”
“You haven’t forgiven me yet, have you?”
She heard a deep sigh escape. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m afraid I’ve lived in fear so long, I can’t quite believe the nightmare is over. If anything, I need to beg your forgiveness. The support from family has been vital, but you and I have been a team. The thought of that changing tonight threw me.”
It threw me, too, Luca.
But he didn’t know what she’d heard his father say out in the hall.
Gabi stood by as an attractive nurse came in to check Dino’s drip and make notations on the computer. She smiled at Luca. Gabi recognized that look. She bet the nurse had never seen a more gorgeous man in her life. “Your son is doing great. I’ll be in later.”
After she left, Gabi removed her shoes and lay down on one of the cots. “The news just keeps getting better and better.”
He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. “Thank heaven. I don’t know about you, but I’m suddenly exhausted.”
“I honestly don’t know how you’ve survived these last two years. I’m so happy it’s over for you and Dino.”
She turned on her side to watch as he removed his shoes and stretched out on his cot. His long, rock-hard body was too big. He’d never be able to sleep on it. She’d never get to sleep while she could still feel his mouth on hers.
“Incredible to believe he’s fine now.” Luca put his hands behind his head. “But we wouldn’t have made it these last few weeks without you,” he said in a quiet tone. “I’ll never forget the moment this beautiful blonde woman walked into the foundation reception room.
“When you told Dino you weren’t mad at him, he ran to you as if you were the most important person in his universe. I’ll never forget it because I hadn’t seen that kind of emotion since he lost his mother.”
“Meeting Dino was a life-changing moment for me, too, Luca. When I was first married, I wanted a baby so badly. My parents could only have one child, and I always wanted brothers and sisters. So I hoped to have a big family, maybe three or four children.
“But as you know, that dream was dashed. Then I met Dino, the epitome of my idea of the perfect boy. I thought, how could any parent be so lucky to have such a cute, fun-loving, charming son like him. To realize he’d lost his mother just killed me.
“I know I’ve gone overboard with him, but I haven’t been able to help myself. When he asked me if I liked Paolo more than I liked him, I wanted to shout, ‘Can’t you tell? Can’t you see I’m crazy about you?’”
“I believe it was meant to be, Gabi,” he said in a smoky voice. “Last night you were able to calm Dino’s fears in a way I never could. I was too close to it. He actually slept until we woke him up to drive him here.”
“The cute thing was so good and brave. Just think, tomorrow he wakes up to a brand-new world where everything and anything is possible. Go to sleep now, Luca. No one deserves it more than you do. Buona notte.”
She turned away from him and closed her eyes. Gabi needed to get undressed, take a shower, wash her hair and sob her heart out. But she couldn’t do any of it. For the next little while she lay there reliving every second of her life since she’d first met Dino and his father.
You goose, Gabi. You’ve been living in a fantasy world.
She’d thought she’d learned her lesson after getting married to the wrong man. There’d been warning signs all over the place, but she’d refused to pick up on them because it had been so wonderful to be in love like her friends. Too late she realized it hadn’t been love everlasting or anything close to it.
Now that she’d met the most marvelous, incredible man in existence and knew she would never love like this again, his father had sent out another warning sign. Tonight in this hospital room she’d seen and heard it loud and clear.
* * *
Saturday and Sunday turned out to be constantly busy days helping Dino get back to some kind of normal. He had to take walks and get another X-ray. Luca and Gabi kept him entertained between the routine tests, checks from Dr. Meuller and short visits by the family.
Luca had warned his father to stay off the subject of Giselle or he wasn’t welcome at the hospital. For once his father left him alone about it, but he knew it wouldn’t be over after they got home.
When Monday morning rolled around, he felt like they’d all been let out of prison. While the nurse pushed Dino’s wheelchair out to the hospital loading area with Gabi at his side, Luca brought the car around. Dr. Meuller had unwrapped the roll of gauze from Dino’s head and replaced it with a small patch behind his ear that wasn’t noticeable.
A fresh snowstorm had blanketed the town. With all the Christmas decorations along the streets, there was a festive nature in the air. Dino loved being out in it. They all loved it. The second Dino climbed in the backseat, he bounced for joy.
“Evviva! I’m going home!” Luca no longer had to worry that his son was moving around too much. “Can we stop and get a fondente gelato with panna on the way?”
Gabi rolled her eyes at Luca. “That sounds good to me, too. I want the same thing, but with zabaglione.”
He flashed her a smile that curled her toes. “You remembered.”
“That was a very special day.”
Once they’d found a gelateria, they enjoyed their treats and took off for Maniago. “Do I have to go to bed when I get home?”
“Only if you feel like lying down.”
“When do you have to go to work, Papà?”
Luca chuckled. “After Christmas, but I’ll put in a few hours at the office here and there.”
“What about you, Gabi?”
“I’m still on vacation,” she spoke up, relieving Luca’s mind.
His car ate up the miles. Gabi started a game and got them counting how many blue cars they saw, then they switched to black cars. It kept his son busy because she knew how to make everything exciting.
When the three of them ran out of cars to count, it seemed to be the best time for the announcement. If Luca didn’t make it, his son was going to drive them all crazy before they reached Maniago.
“Ehi, figlio mio? I thought we’d stop and pick up a friend for you to play with on our way home.”
“What? A friend—Paolo’s my friend, but he’s at school.”
“You can always use another one at home.”
Four months ago Luca had planned on getting Dino a dog once his operation was over. He’d been in touch with the owner of a litter of twelve-week-old pups. Depending on how successful the operation was, he’d been planning to spring the good news on Dino later in the week. But necessity dictated that today had to be the day.
Gabi shot him a glance. He hadn’t told her his plan, but with that razor-sharp brain of hers, she’d probably figured it out.
“I don’t want to play with anyone else. Can’t we just go home, Papà?”
“I think you’ll change your mind when you meet her.”
“Her—?”
Gentle laughter escaped Gabi’s lips.
“Or him. Tell you what. I’ll let you decide after we get to this lady’s house.”
“Where is it?”
“Here in Maniago, not far from our villa. We’re almost there.”
Luca shared another glance with Gabi, who was smiling. He felt her excitement as he followed the curving road and drove into an estate where the snow was a little deeper. After winding around to the rear entrance, he came to a stop and turned off the engine.
&n
bsp; “Shall we get out?”
On cue an older woman came out the door in slacks and an apron.
“Signora Borelli? Please meet my son, Dino, and our friend Signora Parisi.”
His son looked bewildered.
“I understand you just got out of the hospital, Dino. Would you like to come in on my back porch for a minute?”
Dino walked over to grasp Luca’s hand before they walked through the snow and went inside. There they discovered half a dozen black-and-white border collie puppies running around their mother.
“Oh, Dino—” Gabi cried in delight as the puppies scrambled over to them. “Aren’t these dogs adorable!” She reached down to pick up one of them and carefully handed it Dino, who looked so happy, Luca thought he was going to cry. The dog squirmed and licked his son, who couldn’t stop giggling.
“We have four males and two females.”
A pair of blue eyes looked up at Luca. “Can I have a boy dog?”
The woman lifted the dog out of his arms and picked up another one. “Now you can pick out one of the boys. They’re twelve weeks old, close to being trained, have had their shots and are ready to go home.”
Dino stared at Luca. “I don’t know which one to pick.”
“I have an idea,” Gabi said. “Why don’t you play with all of them and see which one seems to appeal to you the most. Maybe one of them will want to go home with you and let you know.”
Luca’s heart melted while he watched his son have the time of his life calling to each pup and running around with them. He wasn’t the only one having a marvelous time. Gabi’s eyes shone with a joy she couldn’t hide because he knew she was a dog lover and had owned one. These pups were irresistible.
After a few minutes it became apparent his son couldn’t make up his mind. He kept holding one, then another one. “I wish we could take them all home, Papà.”
That produced laughter from everyone.
Gabi knelt down by him. “Their faces are all different.”
“I know. Which one do you like?”
“It’s hard to choose. I guess I kind of like the one where the black covers up one eye, like a mask. Once when I worked at a pet store, I watched people pick out their favorite dog or cat. No one wanted this one little beagle who was small and whiny. But I loved him and the owner let me take him home.”
The Magnate's Holiday Proposal Page 12
