The Vineyards Of Calanetti

CHAPTER SEVEN

HER THOUGHTS RACED so fast that it unsettled her stomach.

Kayla stared out of the passenger window as she clasped her hands tightly together. Angelo expertly guided the rented sports car along the narrow, tree-lined road. How in the world had she lost control of the situation?

She inwardly groaned. As fantastic as that kiss had been, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Angelo at last had noticed her work and complimented her professionally. And what did she turn around and do, stare at him like some lovesick teenager—encouraging him to kiss her.

Sure, she was wildly attracted to him. What woman with a pulse wasn’t? He was gorgeous with that short, dark hair, olive skin and dark, sensual eyes. But he was her boss—the man in charge of her professional future—her dreams.

She couldn’t afford any more blunders. She had to remain aloof but professional. Surely it wasn’t too late to correct things between them. At least he hadn’t mentioned anything about sending her back to New York on the next plane, but then again they’d rushed out of the hotel so quickly that he didn’t have time to think of it. His thoughts were on his sister.

Kayla sure hoped there wasn’t anything wrong with Marianna. This was the first time Kayla had ever witnessed Angelo visibly worried. He obviously cared a great deal for his family though he never let on at the office—when he was working he was 100 percent professional—

So then what happened back there at the hotel?

Angelo pulled the car to a skidding halt in front of the villa. Before she could summon an answer to that nagging question, Angelo had her car door opened. She would figure it out later. Right now, she would offer her support in whatever capacity to Angelo’s family.

Nico rushed into the drive. “About time you got here.”

“We came right away.” Angelo frowned at his brother. “What’s the matter with Marianna?”

“Marianna?” Nico’s brows drew together in a questioning look. “This has nothing to do with our sister.”

“Then why in the world did you have us rush over here?” Angelo’s voice took on a sharp edge.

Kayla breathed a sigh of relief. She had no idea what Nico wanted, but she was fully relieved that mother and baby were okay. However, she did have to wonder why Nico wanted her here? Was he hoping that she’d play referee?

Nico’s eyes opened wide and his face became animated. “You are never going to believe this—”

“I might if you’d get to the point.”

Nico smiled in spite of his brother’s obvious agitation. “What would you say if I told you that I was just approached by representatives of Halencia? Monte Calanetti has just made the short list of locations for the royal wedding of Prince Antonio and Christina Rose.”

Angelo rolled his eyes. “Nico, this is no time for joking around—”

“I’m not. I’m perfectly serious.”

Kayla’s mouth gaped open. A royal wedding. Wow! She really was in Europe because nothing like this ever happened back in the States. Wait until she told her family. They would never believe it.

Her gaze moved to Angelo. He still wasn’t smiling. In fact, he didn’t look the least bit excited about this news. She had absolutely no ties to this village and she was over-the-moon happy for them. So why was he so reserved?

Angelo pressed his hands to his trim waist. “You called us back here to tell us this?”

“Brother, you’re not understanding. The royal family of Halencia wants us to make a pitch as to why Monte Calanetti should be the location for the soon-to-be king and his intended bride’s wedding.”

“And?”

Nico shook his head. “What aren’t you understanding? This is where you come in. You and Kayla. This is what you two do for a living—pitch ideas, convince people to go with the products you represent. That’s what we need.”

Nico wanted Angelo and her to help? Really? For a royal wedding?

The breath caught in her throat as she held back a squeal of excitement. If she’d ever wanted a chance to stand out and gain a promotion, this was a prime opportunity. Plus, it’d mean continuing to work with Angelo. But once they got back to New York, away from this romantic countryside, things would go back to normal. Wouldn’t they?

Surely they would. This project was huge. It was amazing. An honest-to-goodness royal wedding. She didn’t even know where they’d begin, but she couldn’t contain her excitement. She’d show Angelo how good an ad executive she could be. Just wait and see.

* * *

Pitch a wedding to royalty?

Angelo had never done such a thing. Weddings weren’t his thing. He knew nothing about love and romance. He was highly unqualified for this project. But he wasn’t about to admit any of this to Nico. No way. So how was he supposed to get out of this?

Nico smiled as he led them straight through the modestly decorated villa that still looked much the same as it did when he’d been a child. Once everyone was situated on the veranda with cold drinks, Nico turned to him. “So what do you think?”

“About what?”

“You know, coming up with a pitch for the village?”

Angelo wanted to tell his brother that he was too busy and that he couldn’t possibly fit it into his schedule. He highly doubted his brother would hear him. Nico had selective hearing when he wanted something bad enough—like Angelo being a silent investor in the vineyard.

Angelo turned to Kayla to see what she thought about the idea, hoping she’d make some excuse to get them out of this situation. But her green eyes sparkled with excitement. How wrong could he have been to look to her for support? Was there a woman alive who didn’t get excited about weddings? Or was it the part about pitching it to a real-life prince that had caught her full attention?

Angelo’s gut tightened when he thought of Kayla being starstruck over the royal prince. He shrugged off the uneasy sensation. It was none of his concern. Besides, it wasn’t as if she was attracted to him. She couldn’t dismiss their kiss fast enough.

His jaw tensed as he recalled how easily she’d brushed off their moment. He could have sworn she’d been as into him as he was into her. It just showed how little he understood women.

He drew up his thoughts, refusing to dwell on the subject. In the meantime, Kayla had engaged his brother in light conversation about the vineyard and how it’d been their childhood home. Angelo looked around the place and was truly impressed by what his brother had done to bring this place back to life. It looked so different than when they were kids, when the place was dying off.

Angelo had actually thought that his brother was crazy for wanting to devote his time and money into reviving the vineyard, but with Nico’s determination, he’d made a go of the place. In fact, this boutique vineyard might not produce a large quantity of wine, but what it did produce was of the finest quality. Angelo kept his private wine collection stocked with it. Calanetti wines impressed a great number of influential guests that he’d entertained.

The chime of Kayla’s laughter drew his thoughts back to the moment. Nico was entertaining her with a tale from when they were kids. As the oldest, Angelo had always been put in charge of his siblings while his parents went out. But this one time, Angelo hadn’t been paying attention and they’d sneaked off. What Nico failed to add, and what he probably didn’t know, was that had been one of Angelo’s scariest moments—not knowing what had happened to his brother and sister.

“Are you telling them about the royal wedding?” Marianna joined them. Her face was a bit on the pale side and there were shadows beneath her eyes.

Nico leaned back in his chair. “I just told Angelo about it. He’s thinking it over.”

Marianna turned to Angelo. “You have to think it over? But why? This will be the biggest thing you’ve ever done.”

“You really want me to do the pitch?”

She nodded. “Please. It would be so wonderful for everyone. Couldn’t you just this once help your family?”

Guilt landed squarely on his shoulders with the force of a full wine barrel. He owed his brother and sister this. It’d put Monte Calanetti on the map. And the benefits the village would reap from the royal wedding taking place here were countless.

But he was already fully obligated. And he couldn’t do it all on his own. He’d need help. A good copywriter. His gaze strayed to Kayla. He’d already witnessed just how talented she was with words and images. He could easily imagine her taking on some more of his workload, allowing him time to work on the wedding proposal.

They’d have to work closely together—closer than ever. There was no way he’d let her loose with the company’s most important clients. But would they be able to manage it after the kiss?

“So what do you say, Angelo?” Nico looked at him. “The village is all abuzz with the news, and you know that pitching a wedding isn’t my area of specialty.”

“Please Angelo, will you do it?” Marianna looked at him, openly pleading with him with her eyes.

He’d never been good at telling her no. And now that she was standing there carrying some stranger’s baby—some man that his sister wouldn’t even introduce to their family—his resistance to her plea was nonexistent. If playing host to a royal wedding made her happy, how could he deny it to her? The decision for once was quite simple.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

“You will?” The words echoed around the patio.

“Why does everyone sound so shocked? It’ll be good publicity for the firm.” But that wasn’t his reason for agreeing—it was to see the smiles on the two women in his life...and his brother.

Marianna launched herself into his arms. Warmth swelled in his chest. He may not have been here to protect her and watch over her as he should have been, but at least he could give her something to look forward to while she sorted out the rest of her life.

Marianna pulled back and sent him a watery smile. “Thanks.”

He turned to Kayla. She looked like an excited kid on Christmas Eve. “How about you? Are you up for taking on some more responsibility?”

Kayla didn’t waste a moment before uttering, “Definitely. Just tell me what needs done.”

“Good.” He turned to his brother. “It looks like you’ve hired yourself a team. I’ll get started on the pitch as soon as we get back to New York.”

“New York?” Nico’s brows gathered together.

“Yes, that’s where we work. I’ll send through what I come up with, but it’s going to take me a little time. I have a rush project that I—we—have to wrap up—”

“This can’t wait. You have to get started on it right away.”

Angelo didn’t like the worried tone of his brother’s voice. “Why? What haven’t you told us?”

Nico got to his feet. “Does anyone need anything else to drink?”

Angelo knew a stalling tactic when he saw one. “Nico, spit it out. What is the catch?”

After Nico finished refilling Kayla’s iced tea, he turned to his brother. “The catch is the pitch has to be completed in no more than three weeks’ time.”

“Three weeks.” Angelo leaned back in his chair. “You sure don’t give a person much time.”

“And—”

“There’s more?”

Nico nodded. “The presentation has to be given to the royal family at the palace in Halencia.”

Nico sank down into his chair while Angelo charged to his feet. “This changes everything. I wasn’t planning to stay in Italy for three weeks. Nico, don’t you understand? I have a business to run.”

“You’re the boss. Can’t you put someone else in charge while you’re here?”

Angelo never sloughed off his work on other people. He stayed on top of things. Some people called him a control freak. He considered it the only way to keep the company on track. “That’s not the point. There are certain things only I can do.”

“The point is that when we need you, you’re never here.” Nico got to his feet and faced him. “Why should I have thought this would be any different?”

His brother’s words were pointed and needled at his guilt. “That’s not fair. I’ve lent you money for the vineyard—”

“This isn’t about you writing out a check. I’m talking about you personally investing yourself—your time—in something that’s important to your family.”

Angelo turned to Marianna, looking for support, but she moved to Nico’s side. When he sought out Kayla, she was busy studying her iced tea glass with such intensity that it was as if she’d never seen glassware before. He was alone in this. He knew what he should do, but it was so hard to just hand over the reins of the company he’d built from the ground up.

Three weeks was a long time to be away. And yet it wasn’t much time to create a compelling campaign for a wedding—a royal wedding. It had just started to sink in what a big deal this really was for his brother and sister, and the village, plus it would be amazing for his company—that is if they won the pitch.

Angelo raked his fingers through his hair. Letting go of the reins at Amatucci & Associates went against every business instinct. Yet, he couldn’t turn his back on his siblings again. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

Marianna turned to Kayla. “Will you stay, too?”

“Yes, Kayla,” Nico chimed in. “Will you help my brother? I get the feeling that he won’t be able to do it without you.”

Kayla’s eyes flashed with surprise. “I don’t know that I need to stay in Italy to do it.”

“It’d be most convenient,” Marianna pointed out. “I’m sure Angelo will need your input. After all, we’re talking about a wedding. And my brothers, well, they aren’t exactly romantic.”

“Hey!” Nico and Angelo protested in unison.

Both women burst out in laughter. Angelo supposed the dig was worth it as his sister’s face broke into a smile. And when he turned to Kayla, the happiness reflected in her eyes warmed a spot in his chest. She was a very beautiful woman. Why, oh, why did it have to be now when they were practically attached at the hip that he truly realized his attraction to her?

When she caught him staring, the breath hitched in his throat. He should glance away, but he couldn’t. He was in awe of her. Was it being away from the office that had him more relaxed about the proper conduct between employer and employee? Nonsense. He knew what he was doing. He could keep this together.

He gazed directly at the woman who took up more and more of his thoughts. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense. Will you remain in Italy and lend a hand?”

CHAPTER EIGHT

THIS WAS A very bad idea.

But it was so tempting. How could she let such a rare opportunity pass her by?

Kayla worried her bottom lip. Though she wouldn’t be working directly on the royal wedding, she’d be close at hand. Perhaps she could add an idea here and there. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to actually work on the project itself. Yet, she understood with the magnitude of a royal wedding that only the best of the best would work on the project, and that meant Angelo.

But she was needed back in New York. The ICL fund-raiser was quickly approaching, and seeing as it was her idea—it was her responsibility to make sure it went off without a hitch. However, she had put Pam, an associate at the after-school program, in charge while she was gone. And how much could possibly go wrong in three weeks?

“Please say you’ll stay.” Marianna looked so hopeful. “I could use someone on my side against my brothers, who think they know everything.”

That sold her. Marianna could definitely use some help keeping her brothers in line while she figured out her next move. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

Everyone smiled except Angelo.

Aside from the fund-raiser, there was nothing waiting for her back in New York, not even a goldfish. When she wasn’t at the office, she was at the after-school program helping kids with their homework followed by a game of dodgeball or basketball or volleyball. She wasn’t very good at any of the games, but she gave it her best effort.

For the moment, she was giving herself permission to enjoy Italy before she set to work. And this was the perfect place to start. She’d love to see more of the vineyard, and it’d give Angelo some private time with his siblings.

“Would you mind if I had a look around the vineyard?” Kayla’s gaze met Nico’s.

“My apologies. I should have offered to give you a tour earlier. I’ve had other thoughts on my mind—” his gaze strayed to his sister and then back to her “—with uh...the royal wedding.”

“That’s okay. I totally understand.” Kayla got to her feet. “I’ve never been to a vineyard before. I’ll just show myself around.”

“Nonsense. Angelo can give you the grand tour while I make some phone calls and spread the good news. And make sure he shows you the chapel.” Nico turned a smile to Angelo. “You can handle that, can’t you, brother?”

Angelo’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Kayla took that as progress between the brothers. Not wanting to give Angelo time to change his mind, she set off for the vines, hoping Angelo would follow.

He did, and he proved to be quite an insightful guide. He explained to her the difference between a larger vineyard and this boutique vineyard. While Nico produced fewer barrels of wine—less than five thousand cases a year—it was carefully processed to the highest quality with the least amount of oxidation.

As much as the history and current production of wine interested her, it was the bell tower in the distance that drew her attention. She headed for the weathered building that sat on the other side of the wall that lined the edge of the vineyard. “Is this the chapel your brother mentioned?”

“Yes. Nico and I explored it as kids. We considered it our castle. I was the king and Nico was the daring knight fighting off dragons.” Angelo smiled at the long-forgotten memory.

“You and your brother must have had a lot of fun.”

“Now that I think about it, we did have some good times.”

She smiled. “This looks like a great place for an adventure. Can we go inside the chapel?”

“It’s nothing you’d be interested in.”

“Sure I would.” Her steps grew quicker as she headed for the opening in the wall that led to the little chapel. Maybe this was her chance to let Angelo know that she’d be more than willing to help with the wedding pitch—in fact, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Now, how did she broach the subject with Angelo?

She stopped next to the four steps that led to two tall, narrow wooden doors. It looked as though time had passed it by. Okay so it needed a little TLC, but it had a charm about it that transcended time. “Your brother is so lucky to have this piece of history on his land. Imagine all of the weddings and christenings that must have taken place here.”

“Technically it’s not on Nico’s land.” Angelo pointed over his shoulder to the wall. That divides the vineyard. The other side is Nico’s.”

“So who owns this land, then?”

“This is Palazzo di Comparino. Its owner, Signor Carlos Bartolini, recently passed away. From what I understand, there’s a young woman staying there now.”

“You know this chapel gives me an idea—it’d be perfect for the royal wedding.”

“I don’t know.” Angelo rubbed his chin. “It needs work.”

She pulled open one of the doors and peered inside at the rows of pews. The place was filled with dust and cobwebs. “It’s nothing that can’t be done rather easily.” This was her chance to put herself out there. “You know I could help you with the pitch.”

Angelo didn’t immediately respond. The breath hitched in her throat as she waited—hoping that he’d latch on to her offer. The experience from working on such a prestigious project had immeasurable potential, from a promotion at Amatucci & Associates to making her résumé stand out—head and shoulders above the rest.

“I don’t think so. You’ll have enough to do with the other accounts that need looking after.” The disappointment must have filtered across her face because his stance eased and his voice softened. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want you getting overwhelmed.”

It teetered on the tip of her tongue to ask him if this had anything to do with the kiss, but she hesitated. She couldn’t bring herself to tarnish that moment. The memory of how his eyes had devoured her before his lips had claimed hers still made her heart race.

If it wasn’t the kiss, why was he turning away her offer of help? Was it just as he said, not wanting to give her too much work? Or did he feel she wasn’t up to the task of working on something so important?

With the wind temporarily knocked out of her sails, she turned back to the villa. She wasn’t giving up. She would show Angelo that she was invaluable.

* * *

What was the problem?

Two days later, Angelo paced around the hotel suite. He needed a fresh approach to the wedding. It had to be something amazing—something unique to Monte Calanetti that would appeal to a prince and his intended bride. But what?

He was stuck. This had never happened to him before. He inwardly groaned as his mind drew a total blank. This was ridiculous. He clenched his hands into tight balls. He had absolutely nothing. And that was so not like him.

He liked to think outside the box. He liked to push boundaries and experiment, but all he could think of was why would anyone would want to get married in Monte Calanetti? What special qualities did they see in the village for it to make the royals’ short list?

He poured himself a cup of the now-lukewarm coffee. The silence of the suite was getting to him. Kayla had cleared out early that morning, claiming she wanted some fresh air while she worked on the mock-ups for the Van Holsen account and answered emails. She’d been great about taking on additional responsibilities, allowing him time to brainstorm. Not that it was helping him much.

In fact, she’d done such an exceptional job that maybe he should see what she could do with this wedding stuff. After all, she was a girl, and didn’t they all dream about their weddings?

Suddenly the image of Kayla in a white dress formed in his mind. His body tensed. As quickly as the image came to him, he vanquished it. She’d be a beautiful bride, but for someone else. He wasn’t getting married—ever.

Determined to stay on point and to get her input on the wedding, he headed downstairs to the pool area. He opened the door and stepped outside, momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight. Once his vision adjusted, he glanced around, quickly locating his assistant. She was at a shaded poolside table. She lifted her head and smiled, but it wasn’t aimed at him.