The Secret One

by Cardello, Ruth

  “Hurt, anger, accusations, and threats. Like a dog chasing its tail, they’re going around and around swiping at each other. If I can get either side to stop, the unhealthy cycle will be broken. I honestly don’t know if anyone will listen to me, but I’ll try.”

  “That’s all you can do.”

  “Not according to my parents. You should have heard their idea.” McKenna had handled the rest so well. Would she think my parents’ idea amusing and dismiss it as I had?

  “What did they think you should do?” Her eyes were wide and eager, like those of a child promised an early Christmas present.

  “Nothing I’d agree to. My mother told Nona I was bringing my fiancée over to meet her.”

  McKenna tensed and moved away from me. “You’re engaged?”

  Whoa. I hadn’t expected her to think that. “No. Of course not. In my mother’s romance-reading mind, I should ask you to pretend we’re engaged. We’d fly over, invite Dominic to our engagement party—everyone would be in such a good mood they’d accept him into the family, and we’d all live happily ever after.”

  McKenna seemed to relax a bit. “A fake engagement.”

  “Crazy. I told you.”

  “Did your mother actually suggest me?”

  “She did.”

  “Why? I mean, why me? I’m sure you know other women.”

  I met her gaze. “I don’t usually tell my family about anyone I’m seeing, but I told them about you. It gave my parents the idea that this could start off as a pretense but take us somewhere real.”

  “We hardly know each other.”

  “That’s exactly what I told my parents.”

  A frown wrinkled her forehead. “How long will you be in Italy?”

  “As long as it takes, but I’m hoping for no more than a week or so.”

  “I have a business to run. Even if I wanted to do it, I couldn’t step away for some unknown amount of time.”

  “I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking you to.”

  She tapped a hand on her knee. “Where would we even stay? A hotel?” She gave me a long look that set my heart racing. “That’s too much too soon.”

  She sounded more tempted than convinced, and I could hardly breathe. “Way too much.” I cleared my throat. “But we’d stay at my nona’s house. Separate rooms for everyone until they’re married.”

  After a moment, McKenna asked, “This is your mother’s mother?”

  “Yes. My father’s family moved away, and we lost touch with them. My father said they had a falling-out over my mother, but if he had the chance to do it all again, he would choose her every time. They’ve been married over thirty years.”

  McKenna smiled. “That’s beautiful. Can you imagine being with anyone that long?”

  I let her question sink in before answering. As my father had said, honesty was the cornerstone to a solid relationship. “Yes. Yes, I can. Romanos are like geese. We tend to mate for life.”

  She laughed. “Most men describe themselves as lions or sharks. Geese? Really?”

  Unbothered by her amusement, I took her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. “Well, let’s see. If I were a lion, I’d be looking for you to be one of many. I’d strut around, roar at competing males, while you and my other ladies did all the work. I can’t really speak to the mating habits of sharks because there is such diversity in the species. I think I read somewhere that they don’t mate as often since their gestation period is so long. Also, they travel long distances to their breeding grounds. So if you’re looking for infrequent sex with a loner who travels extensively, I guess a shark wouldn’t be a bad choice.”

  Her eyes were twinkling with humor. “I can’t say I’ve ever thought much about it.”

  I shrugged. “All I’m saying is that geese are loyal, highly intelligent, as well as extremely protective of their families. You could do far worse.”

  She gave me another long look. “What do you like about me, Christof?”

  The question took me by surprise, but I answered without hesitation. “What is there not to? You take care of people—even strangers broken down on the side of the road. You’re intelligent, successful, resilient, and snarky. Confidence is sexier than lingerie every day of the week.”

  “Most men would have only said I’m beautiful.”

  I caressed her cheek with the back of her hand. “We’ve already surmised that you’ve been hanging with the wrong type. No geese in the stock car world?”

  “Not in mine.”

  I turned her face toward me and gave her a kiss I hoped expressed everything I was feeling. It was tender, hungry, hopeful. I didn’t know where this was going, but the more time I spent with her, the more I was certain I didn’t want it to end.

  I broke off the kiss just as it was starting to deepen. If I wasn’t staying, it was time to leave, before I changed my mind. “McKenna, I should go.”

  We were both breathing raggedly. Her eyes were heavy with desire, and I half expected her to say I could stay. When she didn’t, I wasn’t disappointed. I took it to mean that she might also see potential in us.

  She cupped my cheek with her hand. “You scare the shit out of me, Christof.”

  A laugh rumbled in my chest. “Funny, being with you has the opposite effect on me. I like you, McKenna, and I like who I am when I’m with you.”

  “I like who I am when I’m with you too.” Her hand shook against my face. “I work a lot. I never take vacations.”

  “I’m the same.” Was that her way of warning me there wasn’t room for me in her life? I hoped not. I took her hand in mine and gave it a squeeze. “We don’t have to figure out everything today. We can take this slow.”

  She held my gaze and lowered our hands. “Tell me about the town your family is from in Italy.”

  Whoa. “Are you considering being my fake fiancée?” I joked.

  I wished I knew her well enough to be able to interpret the look she gave me. “No. We already established that it’s a crazy idea.”

  “We did.”

  “I’m just trying to imagine where you’re from.”

  “Oh, okay. Well, then close your eyes.”

  She did.

  I took a moment to appreciate the beauty of her before I said, “Picture driving up a hill lined by oak trees. They thin out as you go higher. In the breaks between them, you get a view of olive orchards and vineyards. When you begin to enter the town, you think it’ll be like any other town in Italy. Traffic. A gas station. Old buildings. Then suddenly stone walls rise up, and the streets become narrow. You park because driving has become too much of a hassle, but walking gives you the chance to discover the small restaurants hidden away. It’s an old fortress town. If there weren’t Vespas and small cars parked in every available nook, you’d swear you’d traveled back in time. Just when you think you don’t belong, a door flies open, and someone calls you over. It’s one of my many cousins wanting to feed you or ask you a hundred overly personal questions, then feed you. If they bring out the wine, write off the next few hours because you’re not going anywhere.”

  She opened her eyes. “I’m trying to imagine it, but I can’t. I’ve never been anywhere remotely like that. Do they speak English?”

  “In the shops they do. Some in my family don’t or won’t. Italian is a bond that keeps us connected. Although I will say that when I’m in the United States, I feel Italian, but when I’m in Montalcino, I feel very American.”

  “It sounds amazing.”

  “Does it? Don’t forget about the looming, angry billionaire and my grandmother, who gets so confused lately she may or may not think I’m one of my brothers.”

  “How old is she?”

  “She’s in her nineties.”

  “I never knew my grandparents, but I used to try to imagine what having one would be like. Do they really spoil their grandchildren? Is it at all like how it seems on TV?”

  “Yes and no. Love is complicated. My grandmother went through some tough times, and she
has held on to some grudges. I never thought it affected me, but now I see it has. I’m really hoping something I say can reach her and give her some peace.”

  “I’m surprised your parents aren’t going with you.”

  “It’s too much for my mother, which is how I know the wounds are deep. My mother doesn’t hide from uncomfortable situations. She takes them on—head-on. Whatever went down between her and my aunt was ugly, and it still affects all of them. All of us as well.”

  “Why aren’t your brothers going with you?”

  “Sebastian is waiting on the arrival of his second child. Mauricio is good with a lot of things, but not delicate family matters. And there’s too much that could go wrong to involve Gian yet. If Dominic shows me anything promising, I’ll have him fly over and join me. They’re brothers. They deserve a chance to know each other.”

  “That’s a lot to handle on your own.”

  “That’s the way I roll for now. Unless pretending to be engaged while putting out family fires sounds like a good time to you.”

  “It does sound intriguing. Would going with a fiancée really make it easier?”

  My heart started to thud in my chest. She was actually considering it. Or was she? I couldn’t tell. “My grandmother wants to see us all married before she passes, so she’d be delighted. When my brothers brought their fiancées over to meet the family, there were large celebrations. I don’t honestly know.”

  “Ty could cover for me for a week. Especially since Cal and Wayne are back.”

  “Don’t feel obligated to do this.”

  She cocked her head to one side. “You don’t want to be fake engaged to me?”

  She was busting my chops again. I decided to test how far she’d take this. “I’m in if you’re in. We’ll use my family’s private plane and fly over tomorrow morning.”

  We sat there, looking into each other’s eyes. “Fine, I’ll update Ty tonight on what I have going. Our phones will work there anyway, right? In case he has a question?”

  “Absolutely.” I expected her to burst out laughing and agree that the whole idea was nuts, but she was maintaining a remarkably straight face. “Since it was my parents’ idea, I’ll borrow one of my mother’s diamonds. My family will expect you to have something. We can resize it if we need to there.”

  She stood. “I need to get packing if we’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

  “Do you have a passport?”

  “Of course. It’s not like I’ve never been anywhere.”

  I rose to my feet as well. No way did she intend to actually do this. “I’ll send a car for you.”

  She nodded and gave me a sweet kiss that confused me even more. “I’ll be ready.”

  I stood there, halfway up her steps, trying to figure out if I’d lost my mind. “I’m really sending a car.”

  She smiled and opened the door to her house. “I’m really going inside to pack.”

  “So we’re doing this?”

  “See you tomorrow.” She waved and went inside.

  I got into my car and sat there in her driveway.

  Did I just get engaged?

  Holy shit, she said yes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  MCKENNA

  The next morning I gripped my purse on my lap as the car Christof had sent for me sped along the highway. I hadn’t slept much. Several times I’d almost called Christof to tell him I’d changed my mind. Talk about allowing him to become a distraction—I was leaving the country with him.

  Before packing, I’d called my crew to tell them Christof had invited me to go to Italy with him for a week. Cal had thought it was incredibly romantic. Wayne had agreed and suggested I make time for a little car shopping while we were there. You know, in case I wasn’t sure yet what to give him for Christmas.

  Ty had wanted more information than I’d felt comfortable giving him. Christof had told me his family’s issues in confidence. If he wanted Ty to know, he could tell him the whole story when we returned. I made the mistake of telling Ty that Christof was taking me to meet his family.

  “You don’t think it’s too soon?” Ty asked. “So far I like the guy, but there’s no need to rush into anything. I don’t know if I feel comfortable with you going.”

  I was glad I’d left off the fake-engagement part as well. “He’s not pressuring me to. He was already planning the trip. When he told me about the town his family is from, it sounded so amazing I wanted to see it. We’ll be staying at his grandmother’s house. Homemade pasta and wine. The only risk is that I’ll come home five pounds heavier.”

  “Call me every day,” Ty said gruffly.

  I promised to. I also added, “I’m a big girl, Ty. If any part of this isn’t what it seems, I’m perfectly capable of flying my ass home.”

  Cal chimed in, “I’m proud of you for finally taking a risk with someone, McKenna. I know you’re happy on your own, but he’s adorable and he can cook. I would have said yes, yes, hell yes.”

  Wayne said something in the background that wasn’t clear enough for me to understand, but I got the gist of it when Cal added, “Not now. I’m saying if I was McKenna. Unbunch your panties. We’re fine.”

  We’d ended the call with Ty telling me to be careful and Cal making me promise not to be so careful I didn’t enjoy myself. I was smiling when I hung up.

  Arriving at the private airfield brought me back to the moment. Was I crazy to have agreed to go? I was committing to spending a significant amount of time with Christof. Would it affect my business? I’d never stepped away before.

  Dressed in jeans and a collared shirt, Christof stood at the bottom of the plane’s steps waving. There was nothing threatening at all about him. I waved back. The big smile on his face sent my heart beating wildly.

  He opened the door of the car before the driver had a chance to. He offered me his hand, and I took it. “You’re really here.”

  With my head tipped back so I could see his face, I said, “Did you doubt it?”

  He cupped my face and gave me a long, toe-curling kiss. It was exactly the kind of kiss every woman dreams of being greeted with. I clung to him, giving myself over to it.

  When he raised his head, he growled, “I’m glad you came.”

  After catching my breath, I said, “Me too.”

  “Ready to go?”

  I nodded. More than ready.

  Hand in hand we walked up the ramp, and he helped me step into the plane. Then we made our way to adjacent seats. He buckled me in. I could have told him I was perfectly capable of doing it myself, but with Christof, being cared for didn’t feel suffocating.

  As we sat there, I thought about the men who had tried to take care of me in the past. Their attention had come with a price. To remain with them, I would have had to give up part of myself. It didn’t feel that way with Christof. He wasn’t picking at what I was wearing, prompting me on how to behave, or promising how much better my life would be with him.

  Was it possible I’d finally found a man I could be myself with?

  After securing himself in, Christof said, “I have something for you.”

  “You do?”

  He took a ring box out of a bag on the floor of the plane and flipped it open. A small diamond sparkled from a delicately styled setting. I gripped the arms of my seat. His expression turned concerned. “You know you don’t have to do this.”

  “I want to.” It was difficult to sort out where the panic was coming from. He was far from pressuring me. I forced myself to let go of the armrests. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not impressive in size, but it was passed down to my mother from her favorite aunt. She said that ring was worn first on Aunt Annelise’s finger, then on a necklace my uncle wore after she passed away. If there are any vibes attached to it, they’re all good ones. That is, if you believe in that kind of thing.”

  “I don’t.” Or I didn’t. I wasn’t sure of much anymore. I removed the ring from the box and turned it slowly so it reflected the light coming
in from the window of the plane. “It’s better than being cursed, I guess.”

  He chuckled. “Something tells me you don’t believe in curses either.”

  “I never put much faith in things I can’t see.”

  “I do,” he said simply.

  Arguing about faith or politics wasn’t the way I wanted to start our trip, but I had to ask, “Why?”

  Some might have gotten defensive at my question or taken it as an opening to push their beliefs on me, but that wasn’t Christof. He took a moment, then said, “The moon isn’t visible in the sky right now, but I know it’ll be back tonight. It’s not gone just because I can’t see it. That’s how I feel about my faith.”

  I wasn’t a religious person, but the simplicity of his words moved me. I believed my father was with me even though I couldn’t see or hear him.

  There was no denying Christof showing up in my life again felt too significant to be by chance. No, he wasn’t what I considered my type—he was better. Not cocky . . . confident. Solid. So much sexier than the peacocks I met on a regular basis. I slipped his ring on my finger. I had that nervous, nauseated, sweaty-hand feeling that we were meant to do this—together. “Do we have to come up with a story about how we met or anything? What does your family in Montalcino know about me?”

  He closed the ring box and replaced it in the bag on the floor. “They know we met when we were twenty and that we reconnected recently. The truth is a good-enough story.”

  I studied the ring again. “Except for the part about this not being real.” I met his gaze. The way he was looking at me would have made it easy enough to forget that part.

  “Except that.”

  I told myself it was crazy to be even a little disappointed at how unbothered he was by something that was playing havoc with my emotions. “Sounds like this should go smoothly enough.”

  The plane tipped back as it left the ground, and my hand naturally found its way to Christof’s. He smiled down at me. “I can’t believe you agreed to come, but I’m excited to show you around my hometown. Plus, I’ve arranged for a surprise for you while we’re there.”