The Billionaire's Prize

“Grazie.”

When Guido climbed in the Jeep, his first sight of his dark-haired friend said it all. “Fatherhood agrees with you. How is piccolo Brazzo?”

“He’s going to be a soccer player for sure.”

“I can’t wait to see him.”

“I’m sorry. Not this visit. He’s staying with my family at the villa in Positano so Alessandra and I can have our first weekend alone.”

“Lucky you.”

Rini had found great happiness in his marriage. Guido would give anything to feel that fulfilled. As he sat there, it came to him that he was envious of the happy-ever-after his friend Rini had achieved, a happy-ever-after Guido hadn’t thought he’d wanted himself all these years.

He stared at his friend. A spirit of contentment radiated off Rini as they drove across the causeway to the Caracciolo castello on Posso Island that jutted into the Ionian Sea.

Only sand surrounded the ancient structure, no grass or trees. In Guido’s mind, it was Italy’s answer to Mont-Saint-Michel of French fame, with a benign appeal in good weather like this. But he imagined it could look quite daunting during a storm.

Guido found it fascinating to think the beautiful twin princesses of Count Onorato di Caracciolo were born and raised here, away from civilization. From this convent-like place had emerged Italy’s most beautiful supermodel. One fashion cover had called Dea Loti “Italy’s own Helen of Troy.”

The face that launched a thousand ships had done something to Guido...

He’d been so stunned after meeting her in person that he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. It probably wasn’t a good idea to meet Rini here after all because it brought back the memory from the wedding when he’d been watching Dea, who’d been watching Rini. Was she still hungering for him? But it was too late to think about that now or wish he hadn’t come. Get a grip, Rossano.

“You’re being unusually quiet,” Rini murmured as he pulled the Jeep up to the front of the castle. “I expected to see you overjoyed with your success so far.”

“I am pleased,” Guido muttered, “but the season isn’t over yet. We’ve had one loss and still have some tough games to face.”

Rini shut off the engine. “You’ve already brought your team to new heights. I’m proud of what you’ve done so far.”

“Spoken like my best friend,” Guido murmured.

He could feel Rini’s eyes on him. “How is it going with your parents?”

Guido sighed. “The same. Papà is praying I’ll give up this madness and come back to the company.”

“Surely not right now.”

“Of course not, but he fears I’ll stay away from the business for good.”

Rini’s brow lifted. “Do you think you’ve left the shipping business for good?”

“I don’t have an answer to that yet.”

“Well, I’m glad you were able to break away and come. Tomorrow we’ll go out on the cruiser and do some fishing. I’ve got some business ideas I want your opinion on. But tonight Alessandra has arranged dinner for us with one of your favorite fish dishes.”

To his chagrin, Guido had a problem he couldn’t talk over with Rini. How could he tell him that Rini himself was the problem? “I’m already salivating.”

Filled with shame over his own flawed character, he jumped out of the Jeep and grabbed his gym bag that contained all he needed for this weekend visit. They walked to the front entry. When Rini opened the door, they were greeted by a marmalade cat Guido had played with at the wedding.

“Well, hello, Alfredo.”

The housekeeper’s pet rubbed against Guido’s jean-clad leg. He put the bag down and picked him up, remembering that the cat was getting old and needed to be carried up and down stairs. “Did you know I was coming?”

Rini grinned. “He remembers you—otherwise he wouldn’t let you hold him.”

“I’m honored.”

“Let’s go up to your old room.” Rini grabbed Guido’s bag and they climbed the grand staircase two steps at a time past the enormous painting of Queen Joanna to the third floor. The windows in the bedroom looked out on the sea. He’d stayed in here before the wedding. “Go ahead and freshen up, then come down to the dining room.”

“I’ll be right there.” Still holding Alfredo, he said, “Thanks for inviting me.”

Rini headed for the entry. “I’ve missed our talks,” he said over his shoulder.

Guido watched him disappear out the door. What in the hell is wrong with you, Rossano? No bear hug for your best friend? What has Rini ever done to you?

He put the cat on the bed and slipped into the bathroom. When he came out, he opened his gym bag and pulled out two presents. One was a small gift he’d bought for Alessandra in Florence after a match. The other was a baby toy he’d seen in a store near his apartment. A little purple octopus with bells on the tentacles.

“We’d better not keep everyone waiting, Alfredo.” He gathered the cat in his arms along with the gifts and went down the staircase to the dining room. The second he walked in, the cat took one look at Alessandra and wanted to get down. Guido lowered him to the parquet floor.

Her gaze darted to Guido and she beamed. “So that’s where the cat has been! You’re one of his favorite people.” She rushed over to hug Guido. He hugged her back and gave her his gifts.

“You want me to open them now?”

“I think I do.”

She removed the paper from the smaller box and lifted the lid. Inside was a small enamel painting of Queen Joanna framed in gold filigree, probably three by four inches. He heard her gasp. “Oh, Guido—”

“I saw it in Florence at the House of Gold and couldn’t resist. Consider it a gift to celebrate the publication of your book.”

Just then Rini came in the room. “Caro—” she cried and rushed over to show her husband.

His friend flashed him a warm glance. “You knew exactly what she’d love.”

“I read the book and was so impressed by your knowledge I had to do something to honor you.”

“I’m glad you liked it. This is exquisite. I’ll treasure it forever.” She laid it on the hunt board and undid the large gift. “Oh, how adorable! A purple octopus! Brazzo will love it!” She gave Guido a kiss on the cheek. “Come and sit down. We want to hear all about the team and how things are going.”

“First I want to hear about Brazzo.”

“He’s gorgeous! We’ll show you videos later.”

No sooner did they get settled and start to eat than Guido heard the helicopter overhead.

“That’ll be my parents,” Alessandra murmured as they enjoyed their meal. “They’ve been in Milan.”

“For another of Dea’s fashion shows?” Damn if the question wasn’t out before he could recall it.

“Oh—I guess you didn’t know that she has given up her modeling career.”

Guido’s fork dropped on his plate. No more modeling? He couldn’t comprehend it. “Since when?”

“Quite a while now. She realized the life of most supermodels fades after twenty-five years of age and it’s past time for her. Dea went back to her true passion and this last year has been finishing her degree at the Accademia Roma. This is her last semester.”

Her true passion? Guido blinked. He didn’t know she’d ever gone to college. “I had no idea. What is she studying?”

“Period costume fashion design. I’m so thrilled for her. She has an extraordinary gift in that area.”

Before Guido could think, he heard voices at the entry. Alessandra’s parents walked in the room, but he only had eyes for the gorgeous woman behind them. His heart thundered.

Dea!

She wore her long hair back in a chignon, a style he hadn’t seen her in. All that glossy brown hair with streaks of sunlight was hidden. The oval of her face with less makeup than he’d ever noticed before caused him to stare. With those dark burgundy eyes—like the color in a stained glass window—she was beautiful in a brand-new way.

Guido stood up and greeted the three of them. Alessandra begged her parents to join them for dinner, but they said they’d already eaten and were going upstairs.

“What about you, Dea?”

“I’d love some dinner, but first I want to see the baby. I brought Brazzo a present. I hope he doesn’t have a bear yet. This one speaks!” She handed it to Alessandra, who opened it and pressed the button. They all listened and laughed.

“Brazzo will love this, but we left him with Rini’s father and family. They wanted to give us a break.”

“I’m sure you’re thrilled, but I’m horribly disappointed.”

“There’ll be plenty of other times for the rest of our lives.”

“You’re right, of course.” She sat down at the table. “I left work without grabbing a bite and now I’m starving. This dinner looks wonderful. Baked halibut and vegetables with feta cheese. How perfect!”

She was wearing a simple white blouse and a print skirt. Her outfit was so unexpectedly casual that Guido was still trying to make sense of everything when she sat down next to him.

For the rest of the meal Guido was amazed to watch her dig into her food and eat everything. Where was the woman who never ate anything that wasn’t on her special diet? Come to think of it, she looked like she’d gained some becoming weight since the last time he’d seen her at the wedding.

Over a glass of wine she turned to Guido. He noticed she no longer wore her fingernails long and painted. “There’s a girl at the shop named Gina. She and her fiancé, Aldo, went to the soccer game at the Stadio Emanuele last weekend.”

Where was this leading?

“Aldo came in to pick Gina up and she told him I knew the owner. He fell all over me.” Guido could believe that. “According to him, you were the greatest soccer player he’d ever seen and he desperately wants to meet you in person sometime, hopefully with my help.”

Dea had discussed him with her coworker? He couldn’t believe it.

She kept talking. “According to Aldo, the Scatto Roma team is going to win the championship this year. He was a soccer player himself, not on your level, of course. He thinks you walk on water already for lifting the B team to top-tier status.”

“Thank you, Dea,” he said, attempting to take it all in, but he couldn’t understand her interest. “Have you ever been to a soccer match?”

“Never,” she confessed without shame. “I’ve never even watched it on TV. You must think I’m terrible. I had no idea you’d won so many championships for Italy. Aldo said you were everyone’s favorite player and the women were crazy about you.”

“They were,” Rini inserted with a grin.

She hadn’t talked to Guido like this at the wedding reception, where she had seemed very stiff. This was something else. He decided to change the subject.

“I understand you’re no longer modeling.”

“Not for the last year.”

“Where do you work?”

“I started at the shop of Juliana Parma ten days ago. She’s the costume designer for the opera. I’ve been permitted to shadow her. My aunt Fulvia made it possible. You remember her from the wedding?”

“Of course.” The woman had taken Dea away from the table before the wedding cake had been served.

“They’re best friends and Juliana took me on as a favor to my aunt. But now that I’m working there, I’m on my own and I’m terrified.”

“How could you possibly be that when you’ve been Italy’s top model?”

“That period of my life is over, and modeling modern-day fashions has nothing to do with being a period costume designer for the opera.” Guido still had a hard time believing she had changed her whole life in the last year. To his mind, she was more beautiful than ever. “I have to prove myself in a whole new field. I’m not like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Alessandra said that when you bought that floundering soccer team, you had the satisfaction of being one of the greatest soccer players ever to compete in Italy. With your knowledge and confidence, you’ve been able to turn your team around. I’m very impressed.”

“He’s done that, all right,” Rini concurred. “So I have an idea. Why don’t the four of us go out behind the castle and play a little soccer before it gets dark? Two against two. It works even if we don’t have a whole bunch of guys around. Since Brazzo was born, Alessandra and I haven’t had a weekend to enjoy like this. Let’s team up.”

“That sounds fun!” Alessandra chimed in with enthusiasm that sounded real. “I like soccer, but I’d love to learn more about it since Rini is determined our son will be a great player like you, Guido. What do you say, Dea?”

“I’m hopeless when it comes to sports and would hate making a fool of myself, but I’ll do it this once.”

So she was willing to toss him a bone after she’d just admitted she’d never even seen a soccer game?

“Let me run upstairs to put on my trainers.”

Alessandra patted her husband’s arm. “I’ll find mine too.”

Rini got to his feet. “My soccer ball is around here somewhere. We’ll all meet in the foyer in a few minutes.”

Everyone took off except for Guido, who stood there in a funk. Since Rini’s marriage, they hadn’t had time to kick a ball around. And now he wanted them to play with the women?

He’d go along with this, but before he went to bed, he intended to have a talk with Rini about what was going on.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.