Men of Power

Not for Massimo, either, she had to concede.

Whatever the true nature of their relationship, a drunk driver had killed Pietra, the person closest to him. He’d been uprooted from his work to return to a place where he didn’t want to go, to take on a baby he didn’t know.

Even if he was Nicky’s uncle and already felt a bond with him, by virtue of them being family, to take on guardianship of him overnight had to be a daunting prospect. Yet he’d done it without hesitation.

Pietra had idolized her brother. Though Julie was suspicious of his motives when it came to her, she could understand the reason for his sister’s adoration.

While other people stood around in a crisis wringing their hands, Massimo saw what needed doing and did it with the ease of urbane sophistication any male would kill to possess. Julie’s father had welcomed Massimo’s help with all the decisions.

She tried to imagine Brent in similar circumstances and couldn’t. No matter his age, Massimo would have handled everything with unmatchable mastery.

Because he was a man.

While Shawn had been in Italy on business for the winery, he’d told Julie he’d seen the Di Rocche logo everywhere. It meant rock, a symbol for something solid, unshakeable. The Di Rocche family could have coined it after Massimo. He was the rock you could instinctively count on.

Pietra had counted on him. So had Shawn, who must have been convinced of his brother-in-law’s underlying integrity, otherwise he wouldn’t have considered giving him legal custody of Nicky should the unthinkable happen.

To everyone’s horror it had happened. Lives had been forever changed, especially Nicky’s. He would never know his parents. Life could be so unfair. Julie swallowed another sob.

Maybe the baby sensed her overwhelming sadness and that’s why he started to cry in earnest. Throughout her contemplation of the incredibly attractive man seated across from her, he’d worked himself up.

“What do you suppose is wrong?” Massimo asked, ever attentive despite the fatigue lines etching his hard-boned features. The steward had just cleared away their breakfast trays.

She was tempted to reply that the baby wanted Shawn and Pietra, but of course he knew that. Instead she said, “He might need to burp, but I imagine he’s missing his own bed.”

“Aren’t we all.”

“It would take a big hammock for a man your size,” she said without thinking.

His lips twisted. “You’ve watched too many Indiana Jones films. These days we use cots.” He got to his feet and reached for Nicky. “You need a break. I’ll take him for a walk. Hopefully it will distract him.”

The baby looked so tiny in his uncle’s arms. Julie glanced away in an effort to block out the sight of his well-defined chest covered in a pearl-gray cotton sweater.

The open neck revealed a tanned column of throat. She could tell there was a fine dusting of hair, as well. His sleeves were pulled up to the elbows, revealing the hard sinews of his forearms.

Expelling a controlled breath, she decided now would be a good time to use the restroom. Her hair needed a good brushing. She could refresh her lipstick.

When she returned to her seat a few minutes later, she was surprised to discover he’d come back. Nicky lay facedown across his powerful thighs encased in expensive-looking charcoal trousers. Using a bronzed hand to rub the baby’s back, Massimo had managed to quiet him.

“I should have thought of that. I’m jealous.”

One corner of his so very male mouth curved, causing her pulse to race. Since she’d first met him outside his hotel room, it had been doing that on a regular basis despite her reservations about him.

“We can thank Dante. He told me to try it.”

“How old are his children?”

“Fourteen and seventeen. I presume having been a father twice, it’s like riding a bicycle. Once you’ve learned, you never forget.”

“Did all your cousins marry young?”

His black eyes flickered over her. “My uncle insisted on it. Their wives were handpicked.”

“Judging from your bachelor status, you were the only one not afraid of him.”

“He wasn’t my father. Though the strictures of Uncle Aldo’s household could be daunting, to a certain degree I was able to get away with being a nonconformist. Much to my cousins’ chagrin,” he added on a more sober note.

“Like what, for instance?” Her curiosity was going to get the better of her.

“He believes an unmarried man past twenty-one is a menace to society.”

“Uh-oh. Did your aunt have any say in the matter?”

“None. It didn’t help that she was sickly throughout their marriage and needed waiting on. She died a year after Pietra and I went to live with them.”

How completely different from Julie’s family, where her mother’s need to be in charge had eventually beaten down her father.

“I thought it was the other way around in Italian households.”

He studied her through shuttered eyes. “You watch too many made-for-TV movies.”

“According to you I watch too many movies period.”

His brief white smile caused her insides to dissolve. “I’ll concede the point.”

“Was Pietra a rebel, too?’

“Afraid so. She took after me,” he admitted ruefully. “No one was going to do her choosing for her. I wasn’t surprised when she told me she’d fallen in love with Shawn.”

Julie’s throat swelled. “Pietra was the best thing that ever happened to my brother. They didn’t have very long together, but they were two of the happiest people I’ve ever seen. She wasn’t intimidated by our mother.”

“Our uncle did a good job of preparing her in that department.” His remarks kept hinting at a dark history.

“Does he live in Bellagio, too?”

“No.”

That was definitive enough. The one-syllable answer filled her with relief.

“Wh-what about your cousins?”

The furrow between his black brows deepened. “No need to worry. The Di Rocche family are Milan born and bred. My mother came from Bellagio.”

“Pietra showed me pictures of your parents when they were very young. Your mother was a great beauty. Were those their wedding photos?”

The second she asked the question, his hand stilled on Nicky’s back for a moment before he said no.

Without more of an explanation, it was clear the discussion was over. The sudden tension radiating from him made her mouth go dry. If Massimo had no wish to volunteer anything else, that was his prerogative.

Feeling uneasy, she got to her feet. “The baby’s fallen asleep.” She quickly lifted him off Massimo’s legs and fastened him back in the seat harness of his baby carrier.

After covering him with a light blanket, she sat down again. “If I’ve irritated you by asking questions, I … I apologize. Having come from a divorced home, I prefer to keep certain family matters private myself.”

No one understood that better than Julie, who loathed having to discuss her parents’ breakup with anyone. She certainly couldn’t blame him about his reticence in that regard.

Yet the second the words left her lips, she realized how ludicrous she must sound after the aspersions she’d cast on him the first time they’d met and had yet to apologize for.

He studied her through brooding eyes. “As you so succinctly reminded me at the hotel, I come from a Machiavellian world, one I’d hoped to have put behind me. You enter it at your own risk.”

Her heart missed a beat. “Are you saying you had another agenda for hiring me? Like for instance using me to test your tea before you drink it?” She wanted an honest answer from him, but had couched it to sound tongue-in-cheek.

Some of the frown lines relaxed. “I didn’t mean to imply anything quite that sinister. But I will ask your compliance in one regard. I expect you to come to me if something doesn’t seem right, or if someone makes you uncomfortable.”

He was serious! Her heart picked up speed.

“By someone you mean—”

“Anyone in the family,” he supplied. “While you’re in Italy you’ll be living under my roof where my rules apply. No one else’s. Understood?” The question veiled an implicit demand.

“Yes. Of course.”

“You can trust Guido and Lia. They run the villa.”

Julie was starting to get confused. Everything he said and did was putting cracks in her mind-set.

“If the climate is that fraught with intrigue, why are you taking Nicky back there?” So much for not asking more questions.

He gave an elegant shrug of his shoulders. “This is his Italian birthright, the one I can help him claim. When he’s old enough, I’ll make certain he explores his American roots. By giving me guardianship, his parents made it clear they wanted him comfortable in both worlds.”

Shawn and Pietra couldn’t ask for more than that, where their son was concerned.

The longer she was around Massimo, the less she realized she understood or knew. Much as she hated to admit it, she found him the most fascinating—and infuriating—man she’d ever met. There had to be many women who felt the same way.

But she was way off base to be entertaining thoughts about Pietra’s brother of all people. He was an educated, wealthy, experienced man of the world, ten years older than she. To think for one second he’d be interested in her was beyond imagining.

Shocked by her wandering thoughts while another part of her was waiting for the real Massimo to exact his revenge, she stared down at Nicky. “He’s been surprisingly good so far.”

“I’d say we haven’t done too badly.”

His comment brought a sad smile to her lips because it suddenly dawned on her that no matter his ulterior reason for allowing her to come with him and Nicky, Massimo had more faith in her than her own brother.

She darted him a quick glance. “That’s true, but we haven’t even landed yet.”

“We’ve started our descent to Linate Airport. The light just flashed on.”

So it had. They would be touching down in Milan before she knew it. Julie could scarcely comprehend she and Nicky were about to enter the world of the Di Rocches.

After making certain he was secure in his harness, she fastened her own seat belt. Through veiled lashes she watched Massimo strap himself in. The play of muscle in his arms and chest drew her gaze. He had an incredible physique. Julie trembled to realize he was incredible.

While she castigated herself for her growing weakness, the jet glided to a stop on the tarmac. The next few minutes became a blur as Massimo gathered up Nicky’s things. His cousins preceded them out the door of the jet. She followed, carrying a sleepy Nicky in her arms.

In the next instant, two things happened. While a chauffeur from one of the waiting limos relieved Massimo of the baby’s paraphernalia, a voluptuous woman with long legs stepped out of the other crying Massimo’s name.

Her red hair flowed halfway down the back of her designer suit. She swept past his cousins to throw her arms around his neck. The press of their mouths and bodies bespoke a prior intimacy.

It all happened so fast it was too late for Julie to shut her eyes. She feared the sight of their embrace would always remain emblazoned on her consciousness.

Dante glanced at Julie, who’d managed to reach the bottom step without stumbling. With her hair caught back in a ponytail, she could imagine the unfavorable impression she made in comparison, wearing jeans and a cotton top Nicky had snuggled against most of the flight.

Mortified to think Dante might be able to tell that her heart felt like it had been sliced with a newly sharpened knife, she flashed him a breezy smile. “Thanks for your earlier suggestion. When Massimo laid the baby across his legs, Nicky settled right down.”

He gave a slight bow of acknowledgment. “While my cousin’s otherwise occupied with Seraphina, let me assist you.”

The implication being that Massimo might be a while. She’d already assumed as much.

After opening the door, he fastened Nicky’s baby carrier inside on the base. Julie sank down next to the baby. Though she could claim exhaustion after such a long journey, it was something else entirely different that had brought on this weakness.

“Thank you,” she murmured, trying desperately to forget what was going on behind the limo.

He shrugged. “Pietra was family. Have fun on your vacation.”

The door closed.

Vacation? Was that what Massimo had told his cousins? That she was only going to be here for a short visit?

Up to now the Di Rocche family had said and done all the proper things, yet their cold natures had made her feel expendable. Especially just now. To say “have fun” to her while she was still grieving sounded deliberate and cruel on his part. His gross lack of sensitivity hurt.

If he and Lazio had always been like this, she could understand why Pietra had clung to Massimo growing up. His departure for Central America explained the reason she’d gravitated to Shawn’s warmth.

While Julie sat there waiting for Massimo to get in the car, she had to accept the fact that Pietra hadn’t been the only woman adversely affected by his decision to work in another part of the world.

And that thought led to other depressing thoughts about the women he’d left behind in Guatemala. There would definitely have been someone, maybe several beautiful, exotic types.

Despite his bachelor status, a thirty-four-year-old man like Massimo hadn’t lived a celibate life. Nor would he care about Julie’s past relationships. So how absurd was it of her to have feelings, let alone be jealous of his? Except in her capacity to help care for Nicky, she meant nothing to him.

If she wanted to keep her position, she’d better act the part of a nanny whose only job was to look after the baby. After her initial castigations about him and his family, he clearly wouldn’t tolerate her asking personal questions or making more judgments. In truth, she wasn’t entitled.

With a new sense of determination to keep herself focused on her only reason for being here, she took advantage of the quiet time to change Nicky.

“You’re such a sweetheart,” she said after laying him on the little pad folded in the baby bag. “Let’s see if that cream is still doing its job.”

Massimo chose that moment to climb in the opposite door. He’d brought the scent of Seraphina’s perfume with him. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Except for an apology, he made no explanation. She’d expected none.

“We’re not in a hurry,” she said without looking at him. After applying the cream, she finished diapering Nicky.

Massimo leaned forward. “His rash seems better.”

“I think so, too. Aren’t we glad.” She kissed Nicky’s tummy. He rewarded her with the sweetest smile.

Having become quite expert at changing him by now, she was able to snap up his little stretchy suit with no problem. The pretense of competency was something to cling to.

“One more short flight in the helicopter and we’ll be home.”

Massimo’s neutral tone told her nothing about his true feelings lurking beneath the surface. Remembering the woman whose arms he’d just left, they couldn’t be all bad.

“Did you hear that, Nicky? We’re going for another ride.” In the family helicopter no less. She placed him back in the infant seat. The limo began to move, and by the time she’d put everything else away, they’d reached the helipad.

Massimo took charge of Nicky. Soon she and the baby were ensconced behind him and the pilot. Once their things were stowed on board and introductions made, they took off. The sudden lift caused her stomach to lurch. After a few minutes, however, she grew used to the motion.

Her first helicopter ride over Milan would have been enough to rave about, but the sights filling her vision as they neared Lake Como defied description. What might appear commonplace to them was like being transported to another planet for Julie.

She fastened hungry eyes on the shoreline dotted with tiny ochre towns so picture perfect, she had to be dreaming. From the deepest blue water she’d ever seen rose forested slopes that ended in mountain peaks covered in snow.

At Massimo’s instruction the pilot swept lower so she could pick out olive and palm trees, bougainvillea, even rhododendrons and azaleas growing in a profusion of riotous color. They’d flown into a subtropical paradise.

Soon a picturesque town appeared, whose colorful houses and narrow streets were almost completely surrounded by water. Among the lush greenery she spied palatial villas with terraced gardens and cypress trees covering the foot of the terrain.

As a gasp of sheer delight escaped her lips, she felt a pair of black eyes trained on her. “Bellagio’s renowned for being the most beautiful town in Europe.”

She turned her head toward Massimo, who was looking over his shoulder at her. “I … I can’t find the words to describe what I’m seeing. Pietra’s love for Shawn must have been overpowering to turn her back on this kind of beauty.”

“The Sonoma vineyards have their own brand of charm.”

“That’s true, but nothing I’ve ever seen or imagined compares to this.” She quickly averted her eyes.

No man I’ve ever met compares to you.

The helicopter dipped lower until it hovered near a gold-tinged villa surrounded by a sun-drenched garden hugging the steep hillside.

Her breath caught. “Your home?”

He nodded solemnly. The helicopter set them down in a cleared space at the rear of the villa.

“Oh, Nicky—” she cried in absolute wonder. “To think this is where your mommy grew up, where you’re going to live—”

As Massimo had pointed out, this was Nicky’s birthright.

It was so fabulous only a fool would have asked him why he was bringing the baby back here. She cringed over her pathetic naiveté.

Yet for all her euphoria, she wasn’t wrong to feel trepidation. She knew from Massimo’s history that this particular Garden of Eden had its serpent. What frightened her more was anticipating the moment when it would strike without warning.

After thanking Guido for setting up a new crib and dresser, Massimo went in search of Lia. Per his instructions, they’d made one adjustment to the rooms on the second floor.

Pietra’s bedroom would now serve as the nursery. Julie would stay in the adjoining suite. Massimo’s was down the hall. The arrangement would give them both easy access to the baby without his having to go through Julie’s room first.

Rounding the corner, he found Lia leaving Julie’s suite with a tray. He noted with satisfaction that she’d eaten most of her lunch.

Over the past week she’d displayed little appetite. Ironically he’d been more worried about her than Nicky, who’d finally started drinking his formula without problem. After several failed attempts in the beginning with Julie looking on, Massimo learned that all he had to do was act in charge and plunge the nipple in Nicky’s mouth. Suddenly the baby stopped fighting him and they were in business. At that point Massimo didn’t know who was more surprised.

“Congratulations,” she’d said. “You’ve stumbled onto the secret of the assertive doctrine, just like I did.”

Between her gentle laughter and a smile for Nicky that drew his attention to the passionate curve of her mouth, he felt a sense of accomplishment he hadn’t experienced in years.

He popped a lone grape from her plate into his mouth. “Did Julie mention needing anything else right now?”

“No. The signorina put the baby in his carryall next to her bed. Both are asleep. She cares for him like he’s her own bambino.” Lia’s eyes misted over. “Such a beautiful child Pietra made. To think she’s gone.”

Massimo inhaled sharply, not wanting to dwell on the nightmare they’d just lived through. It still enveloped him like a shroud.

“I’m going to bed, myself. Have Gina bring him to me when he’s awake, no matter the hour. Julie needs her sleep. I’ll feed him.”

She nodded.

“Bene. Grazie, Lia.”

“Momento, Massimo. Cesar urged you to call him at your convenience. He and Luca sent flowers. I put them in your study.”

“I need to get hold of them.” Cesar and his elder brother, Luca, would be shocked when they learned Nicky would be living in Italy with Massimo. This would especially impact Cesar because it meant Massimo’s bachelor existence had come to an end. The fallout from Pietra’s fatal accident was still reverberating.

“You’ve had many other phone calls. Your uncle, Signor Vercelli, Signor Ricci, Seraphina Ricci, Dottor Pittman, Dottor Reese and Signor Walton.”

He checked his stride. “Walton?”

“Signorina Marchant’s fiancé. He sounded anxious to speak to her. Something to do with a wedding, but it was a poor connection.”

Massimo frowned. So it wasn’t over. Whatever quarrel they’d had, the poor devil had to be kicking himself by now.

“I’ll tell her. The rest of them will have to wait.”

Especially his uncle, who’d already played his first hand to no avail. Making sure Seraphina was at the airport to greet him the second he stepped off the plane hadn’t come as any surprise.

His uncle and her father had been plotting an alliance between the two of them for the past four years. But Massimo wasn’t in love with her. Even if he had been, he would never have married her. She was a big-city girl, overly indulged by her papa and his money. Unsuited to live in a third-world country.

Totally unlike Julie, for instance.

Disturbed by thoughts that kept turning to her, he headed down the hall. Upon reaching his bedroom, his legs, in fact his whole body, felt like lead. Since the phone call from Sansone which seemed a hundred years ago, he hadn’t truly slept.

He showered but was too tired to shave. However, once he was in his old bed, his brain wouldn’t shut off. Like bubbles that kept popping, one thought led to another. Damn if the woman sleeping down the hall hadn’t gotten beneath his skin.

Massimo could still see her standing there trembling in his hotel room while she railed against his family. In one breath she attacked, in the next she begged to be a part of Nicky’s life, insisting they would adapt to the jungle if they had to. He figured she would have said anything in her grief in order to be with the baby.

He still thought that, but having spent some time with her, he was also convinced she’d do whatever she had to and never complain about it. His mouth curved to imagine the stir those two blond heads would create among the natives as his loaded canoe glided deeper into the forest …

With her aboard the jet helping him with Nicky, their flight across two continents and an ocean had been surprisingly enjoyable. The insulation from his cousins had been another plus. He’d hardly given them a thought while he and Julie kept Nicky and each other occupied. She was intelligent. Unspoiled. It was almost as if the three of them were their own little family.

To his shock he found himself missing the intimacy of the plane’s interior. In such close proximity, he hadn’t needed an excuse to look at her whenever he wanted. He’d been attracted to her at the hotel, and was even more so now.

Long lashes darker than her hair fringed wide-set blue eyes. His gaze studied the perfect oval of her face, then drifted over a generous mouth to her well-shaped body.

The image of Nicky snuggled up against fresh youthful skin with her gold hair splayed across the headrest wouldn’t leave his mind.

It was true what Lia had said moments ago. Julie was acting very much like a mother. His housekeeper had been prepared to look after Nicky herself, but how could she do anything when Julie put the baby in the same room with her?

He had a feeling that consciously or not, this sort of thing was going to keep happening. Time wouldn’t change Julie’s feelings for Nicky, only deepen them, ensuring an unbreakable bond.

If he hadn’t brought Julie with him, Lia and the maids would be the ones seeing to most of Nicky’s needs. There’d be no danger in them forming an attachment to him, or Nicky to them. On the contrary. His tiny nephew needed people around him he could grow to love and trust.