Captivated by Her Italian Boss

by Rosanna Battigelli

  She didn’t reply, and as she walked past him with Bianca, she just gave him a twitch of a smile, her blue-green eyes startling in their clarity.

  During the drive down the mountain to the beach, Davide put on a CD of Bianca’s favorite tunes, and she hummed along while alternately throwing her orca up in the air and catching it, or making it dance to the rhythm of the song.

  Davide had deliberately planned the musical distraction. He had caught much of the conversation earlier between Neve and Bianca. When he had arrived at Neve’s bedroom door, she was telling Bianca that she knew that she missed her mommy...

  Neither of them had seen him, and there hadn’t been the opportunity to announce his presence, so he had waited in the doorway. And the words Neve had communicated to Bianca had made something shift inside him, creating room for his heart to expand. The feeling had been so exquisite that he had almost cried out. It took everything he had to act casual, to hide the revelation that his body—and soul—had just revealed to him.

  He loved Neve. He loved her gentle spirit with Bianca, her compassion, her understanding of how to help a grieving child. She had come up with a way to empower Bianca to hold on to her parents through her memories and her imagination. He had felt a prickling behind his eyes at her words. They had sparked something in him, as well—the realization that he could handle his grief in the same way.

  Moreover, he had felt a wave of regret about the opinion he had harbored about Neve for nearly a decade. He had been so wrong. So...very...wrong. Well, he would do whatever it took to make it right. He no longer wanted her just as a nanny for Bianca. He wanted her for himself, too, if she would have him.

  Yes, he wanted her to spend a lifetime with him. As his wife. As his fairy-tale princess. As his lover. As the guardian of his little Queen of the Orcas.

  Davide wanted the three of them to be a family, to share everything a family shared.

  He stole a glance at Neve. She was swaying gently to the music and singing the words to the nursery rhymes. Davide felt like his heart would burst. He needed to tell her how he felt, but he would be patient and wait for a time when they could be alone.

  His assistant Lucia had texted him earlier to say that she was babysitting her niece Rosalia again, and could she pick up Bianca later in the afternoon and bring her back the following day? Davide had agreed. Bianca needed to be with kids her own age and he was grateful to Lucia for arranging regular visits.

  He couldn’t help smiling. Tomorrow would be the day, then. After Bianca left, he would take Neve for a special drive through the countryside to one of his favorite seaside spots. They would share a wonderful dinner, and afterward he would reveal what was in his heart.

  And with any luck, she would accept his proposal.

  The road from the castle veered off to a private road at the base of the mountain that was available to him exclusively, and after a few final twists in the road, they arrived at the beach.

  Davide parked the van at the end of the path, and they had walked several hundred feet to the beach.

  The pale, silky length of it seemed endless, stretching as far as the eye could see in either direction. Davide watched Neve taking it all in, and he felt a spiral of pleasure that he could share this place—his place—with her.

  She darted an awe-filled glance at him, and her blue-green eyes were as dazzling to him as the sun-speckled waters of the Ionian Sea.

  Bianca immediately plunked herself down on the sand and while she played with her sandcastle toys, Davide set up the beach umbrella and the lounging chairs that he and Neve had carried from the van. He proceeded to take off his T-shirt and jeans, leaving only his swim shorts.

  He’d wait a while before plunging into the sea.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Neve doing the same. At the sudden flash of red, he turned, and the combination of the curves emphasized by the silky red swimsuit and her shapely legs made his heart flip wildly against his rib cage. She must have known he was watching her, because a soft flush had crept into her cheeks. She immediately sat down and pulled a book out of her bag. La Figlia Dei Borboni.

  He was so tempted to tell her that he didn’t want her to go back to Vancouver, that he wanted her to stay... There was no doubt in his mind that she was physically attracted to him, as he was to her. The passion they had shared had rocked his world. But was that enough for Neve to uproot her entire life and move to Italy?

  He had to find a way of convincing her to stay...and never disappear out of his life again.

  He lay back on the reclining beach chair. “I’m going to let myself heat up a little more before I dive in,” he told her huskily. “I’ll leave you to your reading. Oh, by the way, my assistant Lucia will be coming by later this afternoon to pick up Bianca. She’s babysitting her niece again, and she asked if Bianca could go over and stay the night. Lucia will bring Bianca back tomorrow.”

  Neve nodded and lay back herself, but only a couple of minutes had passed before Bianca called out for her to help build a sandcastle. Neve put away Davide’s book and sauntered over to Bianca, who handed her a yellow pail. “Can you get some water, Neve?”

  “Yes, at once, oh Queen of the Orcas.” Neve curtsied and with a smile, went to do Bianca’s bidding.

  Davide watched them together between half-closed lids. He felt drowsy and...content. The world—or at least his world—suddenly felt right. Maybe this is what starting to heal feels like, he thought in wonder. Shards of pain replaced by rays of hope.

  It was just too bad that Lois Wilder would be arriving soon, like a meteor about to crash into his world.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  IT TOOK NEVE’S every effort not to constantly glance at Davide’s body. He was lying back on his chaise longue, his sunglasses on. His leanness a decade ago had become solid muscle, and as her gaze swept over his chest and sculpted muscles of his abdomen and legs, she quivered inside, remembering how that body had felt against her...

  And although she had nodded nonchalantly at the news that Bianca would be having a sleepover, her nerve endings were tingling at the thought of spending a night alone with him in the castle...

  When he suddenly sat up, she started, and spilled the bucket of water she had been carrying, splashing herself and Bianca.

  “I think it’s time for a real splash,” he chuckled. “Come on, Bianca.”

  Bianca dropped her beach toys and ran to clasp Davide’s hand. “Come on, Neve,” she called.

  Neve followed and moments later they were all immersed in the gentle ebb and flow of the surf. Davide’s hands firmly held Bianca’s as she bobbed and kicked her legs. Not long after the first exhilarating dip, Neve’s body acclimatized to the temperature of the water, and with the sun beaming down, it actually started to feel balmy. The taste of the salt water, the turquoise waves glittering with millions of specks of light and the glistening body of Davide...it was all making her feel quite heady...

  Afterward, Davide spread out the picnic lunch he had prepared: panini and a variety of luncheon meats, cheeses and condiments. He met Neve’s gaze and tilted his head to direct her attention to Bianca. Bianca’s little cheeks were full, and while she happily munched away, she broke off little bits of cheese from her plate and pretended to feed it to her orca.

  Neve smiled and when her glance returned to Davide, he was grinning back at her. Seeing his eyes crinkle at the edges, his delight and love for Bianca reflected in their depths, Neve felt both joy and sadness. Joy for having witnessed the depth of Davide’s feelings for his niece, and sadness, knowing that she herself was only a temporary addition in their lives.

  Yes, Davide and Bianca were a family...and maybe one day Davide would meet someone he wanted as his wife and godmother to his niece...and then their little family would grow... Feeling a sudden prickle behind her eyelids, Neve turned away, pretending to watch the surf.

 
“When did you say your mother was arriving?” Davide asked moments later.

  Neve groaned. “I hadn’t. But if she made all her connections, she should be getting in around three at the Villa Morgana. And she’ll probably want to make her way here sometime after that. I’m sure she’ll text right away.”

  “Shall we return to the castle and get ready for her arrival, then?” He smiled at her. “Pull out the red carpet?”

  “Please, Davide, you don’t have to do anything special, especially after the way she treated you.”

  His smile widened. “I...was...teasing, Neve. I don’t have a red carpet.” He looked over at Bianca. “I see our queen is feeling drowsy. She’ll have a good nap when we get back.” He gazed back at Neve, lifting an eyebrow. “Shall we pack up?”

  * * *

  Neve checked her phone anxiously. Her mother had settled into Villa Morgana and had texted Neve to say that she was ready to be picked up. Could her boss send a driver out to the villa?

  Neve had relayed her request to Davide, apologizing for her mother’s assumption that “her boss” would take care of her travel arrangements. “I’m sure she could have hired someone through her friends at the villa,” she said, her cheeks heating up in frustration.

  Davide’s lips quirked. “She’s obviously expecting the royal treatment. Shall I pick up Her Highness in my Lamborghini or Alfa?”

  Neve stared at him. “Really?” She shook her head. “Is there not a taxi she can take?”

  Davide’s eyebrows lifted. “Well...there is a taxi driver I know who hasn’t been getting much work. His name is Santo. Why don’t I call him?”

  “Perfect.” Neve sighed, relieved.

  “And I’ll call the Pasticceria Michelina and order a box of pastries. Santo can pick them up on his way here. The least I can do is to offer her a caffè and biscotti,” he said, winking at Neve.

  Bianca was still napping when Neve heard the taxi arrive. She was waiting in the foyer, sitting in one of the two wingback chairs with a magazine. Davide had gone to work in his study and must have seen the taxicab from his window. He joined her, wearing black trousers and a crisp white shirt, unbuttoned at his neck. He flashed Neve a smile that sent her pulse skittering. “Are we ready for this?”

  Neve sighed. “Do we have a choice? I should apologize in advance for anything she might say or—”

  “You don’t have to apologize for anything,” Davide said firmly. “And don’t worry on my account. I can take care of myself.” He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “And you can, too. Take care of yourself, I mean.” He opened the thick door and motioned for Neve to precede him. “Coraggio,” he murmured close to her ear as they walked out.

  “Neve!”

  Neve watched her mother scramble out of the taxicab and begin striding toward her. She was wearing a light blue pantsuit and nude pumps. Even from this distance, Neve could see that she was frowning. The cab driver followed more leisurely, holding the box from the bakery. Lois slowed down as she caught sight of Davide’s cars, and her frown seemed to deepen. As if she suddenly realized where she was, she stopped and gazed up at the castle and the view around it.

  Neve and Davide closed the gap between them. Neve gave her mother a dutiful hug and then stepped back to introduce Davide.

  Neve saw Lois’s gaze sweep over him. Recording every bit of data her senses took in.

  The fresh, citrus scent of his cologne, his styled hair, his gold chain, his expensive shirt and pants, his gleaming leather shoes...

  Davide courteously held out his hand and Lois took it with a smile, also scanning his fingers for gold.

  When Davide excused himself to go and retrieve the package from the cab driver, Lois turned so that only Neve could see her face.

  “Neve, I can’t believe that your boss is living like a king here—” she gestured toward the luxury vehicles “—and the best he could do was to send a cab! The driver reeked of cigarettes and garlic, and his air-conditioning was not working.” She brushed off her pants as if germs were still clinging to them. “Could you not have asked your boss to pick me up himself?”

  “I’m sorry, Mom, but he was not available at the time.” She hated to lie, but she could hardly tell the truth...

  Lois sniffed. “Well, I heard some things down at the villa, including the fact that your boss comes from a farming background.”

  “Mom, please. He’s my boss and his background does not concern me. Nor should it concern you.” Neve felt her hackles rising. Five minutes hadn’t gone by and her mother was already saying things that grated on her. “And at the moment, you are his guest.”

  “May I offer you some refreshment, Signora Wilder?”

  Neve and her mother both started at the voice behind them.

  “I would like that, thank you.” Lois nodded imperiously. “That dreadful cab had no air-conditioning and I thought I was going to pass out.”

  “Prego,” Davide said, gesturing toward the castle. As her mother marched off ahead of them, Davide caught Neve’s eye and winked. She exhaled slowly, shaking her head, and went inside.

  Neve could tell that her mother was impressed, despite the nonchalant set of her shoulders. Lois’s gaze was taking in every luxurious piece of furniture, the shiny marble floor and the curving sweep of the staircase. Davide directed her into the dining area and kitchen and asked if she would like tea, coffee or a cold drink.

  “For now, a cold beverage, thank you, Signor Cortese.” Lois glanced around as if she expected a butler or maid to suddenly show up. “I imagine you employ a large staff to maintain the place,” she said casually.

  Davide glanced at her, smiling thinly. “Not large, no.” He handed her a glass of iced tea and poured another one for Neve. “Shall we proceed into the courtyard?” Davide took the tray with the two drinks and set it down on the bistro table. He pulled out a chair for her and Neve before going back to get the box of pastries.

  Neve saw her mother’s sculpted eyebrows lift when he returned. “I’m presuming that my daughter’s reputation will remain intact while she’s here?”

  “Mother!”

  “Now, Neve, I’m sure Signor Cortese can understand a mother’s protectiveness...”

  Neve shot her mother an icy look. “I’m going to check on Bianca,” she said stiffly. Her stomach churning, she left, resisting the urge to slam the door behind her.

  * * *

  “Well, it seems my daughter doesn’t appreciate my directness,” Lois said before taking a sip of her iced tea. “A mother has to look out for her daughter’s best interests,” she sniffed, checking her manicured nails.

  Davide leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, his eyes pinning hers. “Have you ever thought, Signora Wilder, that your daughter can look out for her own best interests? She’s not a child anymore...”

  Lois blinked. “Have you ever raised a daughter? Because if you haven’t, you couldn’t possibly understand.”

  Davide felt a twinge in his chest. “I’m raising my niece, Bianca,” he said curtly.

  “Well, then, Signor Cortese, you can understand my point.” Lois looked at him with a triumphant smile.

  “And I can understand Neve’s point,” he said without smiling. “She can make decisions on her own.”

  “Apparently.” Lois nodded. “Applying for this position and getting hired was quite a surprise to me.”

  “She was the most qualified of the applicants,” Davide said crisply. “And she has not disappointed. In fact, signora, your daughter’s personality and skills with my niece have exceeded my expectations.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. She’s quite valued as a teacher back home. She had passed up the opportunity to work in the family computer business and chose teaching instead.”

  “She chose well. Neve is a natural around children and I’m glad she accepted the position of
nanny for Bianca.” He leaned forward and looked at her squarely. “So tell me, why have you come back to Valdoro?”

  She looked taken aback that he would ask such a question. “I thought it would be nice to catch up with my friends at the Villa Morgana. And check in on Neve. Spend time with her on her days off.”

  Davide’s eyebrows lifted. Neve had been right. Her mother couldn’t untie the apron strings. Well, maybe it was time someone gave her a hand...and a firm one at that.

  “Well, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed, signora. I’ve already made arrangements to take your daughter sightseeing on her days off. It’s the least I can do for her exceptional care of Bianca.”

  Lois blinked at him. “Really? Why would you—”

  “Because I’ve wanted to be with your daughter since I saw her eight years ago.”

  “You’ve what? Wh-what are you saying?” Lois sputtered. “What do you mean?”

  Davide reached into his pocket and handed her the note. She read it, flipped it over, then looked up at him sharply, before reading the note again. “Y-you were the one who wanted to meet Neve?”

  He nodded and took back the note. “And you were the one who kept it from happening.” His words were stone cold.

  Despite being in the shade, Lois reached for her napkin to wipe her forehead. “I—I won’t apologize for that. Neve was young and—”

  “She was eighteen,” Davide replied curtly. “And I was—”

  “You were out of line,” Lois snapped. “And not suited—”

  “Because I was working on a farm and therefore too lowly for your daughter?” Davide kept his voice steady, despite the agitation that he felt in his gut. “Tell me, signora, how did you manage to intercept the note? My friend, Agostino, slid it under Neve’s door after going to the villa to give his mother a message...”

  “I saw him do it and take off, and fortunately Neve hadn’t come out of the shower.” Lois fell silent for a moment, lost in her thoughts. “I replied and put it back in the envelope and then placed it under the flowerpot by the front door, as per the instructions on the envelope.” She gazed at Davide defensively. “I did what I thought was right.”