Surrender To The Single Dad

The second he disappeared from the day room she wanted to call him back and tell him she’d go with him right now. But she needed to keep her wits about her. The decision to spend a week with him would change her life forever.

She kissed the cat’s head. “Who am I kidding, Alfredo? My life changed beyond recognition the day he approached me in the foyer.”

He said they’d take things a day at a time. She had no choice but to do what he wanted because at this point she knew she couldn’t live without him. If it was only for a week, so be it. The man was so complicated it was driving her crazy. Somewhere in the mix, Rini’s inability to give a woman a child had stunted his vision of life. She wanted to help him explore the world of adoption so he’d realize he could know total fulfillment.

With her heart ready to burst from the joy his invitation had brought her, she lay down and didn’t awaken until hours later, when she heard her parents’ muffled voices talking about her sleeping her life away.

Alessandra sat up, disturbing Alfredo, who jumped to the floor. “What time is it?”

“Time for you to be in bed. Let’s get you upstairs.”

Later when her mother tucked her in bed she told her about Rini’s invitation. “I want to accept it, but I’m afraid.”

“Don’t let what Francesco did keep you from reaching out for your own happiness.”

If her mother only knew this had nothing to do with Francesco. But at least she had her parents’ blessing.

Liona brought her breakfast at eight, after which Alessandra pressed the button programmed to phone Rini.

“Am I going to hear what I want to hear?” he answered in that deep voice. She thought she heard a trace of nervousness and loved him for it.

“Maybe, unless you’ve had a change of heart during the night.”

“Alessandra—don’t keep me in suspense.”

Her mouth had gone dry. “I want to come, but I need time to pack.”

“How much?”

She chuckled. “Do we have to leave by ten?”

“I don’t care when we leave today as long as you’re with me.”

“Then can we say noon?”

“I’ll be at the castle at twelve and we’ll eat on the plane during the flight.”

“It sounds wonderful. Ciao, Rini.”

After ringing off, she hurried around her room to get ready for her trip. She needed to pack everything under the sun. Normally she traveled light, but not this time. Besides sportswear for their outdoor activities, her plan was to bring a few new bikinis and evening dresses that would knock his socks off.

She turned on her radio to some light rock music. The cat wandered in her room and probably thought she was out of her mind as she danced around filling her two suitcases.

“Alfredo? You should see his gorgeous villa.”

“Whose villa would that be?” asked a familiar female voice.

Alessandra spun around. “Dea!” After being caught off guard, she hurried over to her sister and hugged her. “I didn’t know you were coming.” With Rini coming for her, she couldn’t believe the bad timing.

“Evidently not. Papà told me about your accident so I came home to see how you are. I thought you’d still be in bed recovering. I never expected to find you flying around your room having a conversation with the cat. What’s all the packing for?”

“I—I’m going on a trip,” she said, her voice faltering.

“I gathered as much.” Dea’s eyes looked at the bags on the bed. “I do believe you’ve emptied your drawers and closets. Are you finally giving Bruno Tozzi a chance? He’s been after you for over a year.”

“Not Bruno. I’ve never been interested in him that way. Actually I’m going to be a guest at Rini Montanari’s villa.” She’d had no choice but to tell her sister the truth.

At the mention of his name, any goodwill Alessandra had hoped could be resurrected between her and Dea on this visit had vanished. Her sister paled. Rini really had hurt her by not asking her out again. “Are you talking about the one in Naples or Positano?”

Of course her sister would know all about Rini. She’d danced with him on his friend’s yacht. “I assume Positano.”

“Is this because you showed him around the property for Papà?”

“Dea? Please sit down so we can talk.” Alessandra closed the lids on her bags. “He’d been scuba diving with me. It’s a sport we have in common. When he heard about the earthquake, he flew down. Yesterday he came by the castle to invite me to stay with him for a week.”

“You mean he hasn’t been here all month?”

“No. He’s been gone for weeks on business. I was surprised to see him again.” So surprised she’d thought she’d been dreaming when he came to her hospital room.

Dea’s eyes followed her around while she packed her cosmetics. “I was shocked to learn he had business with Papà in the first place.”

“Let’s agree it was a shock all the way around.” Alessandra was so uncomfortable she could hardly bear it.

Her sister studied her for a minute. “Be honest with me. Are you going with him because of what happened with Francesco?”

“No, Dea—not at all! How can you even think that?” Alessandra cried. “Whatever happened is long since buried in the past.” She sank down on the end of the bed. “What do you want me to say?”

“Have you fallen for him?”

“I care for him very much.”

“As much as you did Francesco?”

“You can’t compare relationships. Francesco was my first boyfriend. I was young. As you reminded me, he ended up being a loser.”

“Don’t you know why I told you that?”

Alessandra frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He wasn’t interested in me. Within a day of his arriving in Rome, he was chatting up another model.”

“Oh, Dea—I didn’t know that.”

“I thought Mother would have said something. I’m telling you this to warn you about Rinieri Montanari.”

Alessandra didn’t want to hear it.

“On the yacht, his best friend’s father, Leonides Rossano, confided in me that Rinieri was Italy’s most eligible bachelor—as if my best friend, Daphne, and I didn’t already know it. I read between the lines and deduced he’d been a player for years. Alessandra—he might end up breaking your heart after he gets what he wants from Papà.”

“You’re wrong about that, Dea. He doesn’t want anything from him,” she replied, defending Rini. “He withdrew his proposal weeks ago and has been looking elsewhere for oil in the southern part of Italy.”

“I didn’t know that. Sorry.” Dea stood up, but Alessandra could tell the revelation had shaken her. “How soon is he coming for you?”

“At noon.”

She looked at her watch. “It’s almost that time now. I don’t want to be around when he arrives, so I’ll join the parents while you get the rest of your packing done. I’m glad you’re recovered. Even gladder that I wasn’t the one under the water when the quake struck.”

A rush of warmth propelled Alessandra toward her sister. She put her arms around her again. “Thank you for coming. You don’t know how much it means to me.”

Dea hugged her back. “You’ve always been the brave one.” She kissed her cheek before disappearing from the bedroom. Alfredo followed her out the door.

The brave one?

An hour later those words were still chasing around in Alessandra’s psyche as Rini helped her out of the limo to board the Montanari jet.

Once they’d attained cruising speed, his steward served them an incredible lunch of lobster pasta with sfogliatelle for dessert. The shell shaped pastry had a divine ricotta filling with cinnamon. The wonderful flavor was beyond description.

They sat in the club area by the windows. His dark eyes never left hers. “I’m glad to see a smile. When I picked you up, you seemed preoccupied. For a moment I was afraid you still didn’t feel well enough to come. We could have left tomorrow.”

“I’m fine, Rini, but I have to admit I’m still a little tired.”

“After what you experienced, that’s understandable. When we get to the villa, you can rest all you want.”

She looked out the window, wishing she felt the same excitement he’d engendered in her when she’d told him she would accept his invitation. But Dea’s unannounced arrival had taken her by surprise. Though touched that she’d come to see her after her scuba-diving accident, her sister’s questions about Rini had put a damper on this trip.

He was doing everything in his power to make her comfortable and had no idea Dea had been at the castle when he’d picked her up. She didn’t want him to know, let alone tell him what her sister had said. Dea hadn’t been unkind. Alessandra had been grateful for that, but she couldn’t help feeling that her sister was suffering in some way.

Alessandra remembered how she’d felt when she’d first talked to Rini in the castle foyer. The immediate, overpowering attraction she’d felt for him had to be swallowed in the knowledge that he’d already been with Dea. She’d wondered then if she’d ever be able to get over him.

Yet today, her sister had to handle the news that Rini wanted to be with Alessandra enough to invite her to his home. If Dea had felt the same overwhelming attraction to him that night on the yacht, then who knew how long it would take her to get over Rini, especially if he ended up being in Alessandra’s future. The thought haunted her.

“I think you really are tired.” Rini got out of his seat and adjusted hers so she could lie back. “Our flight won’t last long, then we’ll put you to bed in the guest bedroom until you’re feeling your old self.”

“Thank you.” But she no longer knew who her old self was. Life had taken on new meaning since she’d met him.

* * *

Something was wrong beyond Alessandra’s fatigue. Rini had sensed it the moment she’d met him outside the castle doors with her suitcases. He’d expected to be invited in to speak to her parents, but she’d whisked them away as if she was in a great hurry. Rini hadn’t questioned her about it. In time he’d get answers. They had a whole week. Today was only the beginning.

Once the jet touched down, the helicopter flew them to the villa. He carried her luggage while she made her way along the path that led to the back patio. She looked over her shoulder at him. “You truly do live in a garden. At home I smell the sea air. Here, I’m assailed by the most heavenly scents.”

“After living in Naples with the occasional scent of sulfur from Vesuvius in the air, I chose this flower-filled mountaintop on purpose. Follow me through the house. Your room faces on the pool. You can walk out the French doors at any time and take a swim. Come on. Let’s get you in bed.”

He saw her eyes widen in appreciation when they entered the bedroom off the hallway. “It’s a lovely room. Those blue hydrangeas on the coffee table take my breath.”

“I’m glad you like them. Go ahead and freshen up. I’ll be back in a minute.” He put her cases down and left to get her a bottle of water from the kitchen. Rini had given Bianca the next three days off so he could be alone with Alessandra and wait on her himself.

When he returned, he found her sitting on the side of the bed still dressed in white culottes with a sharp front crease. She’d layered them with a multicolored blue silk top and looked so sensational, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“I thought I’d find you under the covers. This is for you.” He put the water on the bedside table before opening the shutters to let in the early evening light from the pool area.

She smiled up at him, but it lacked the joie de vivre he’d seen while they’d been out diving. “I’ll sleep tonight. Now that I’m in your world again—but only because you invited me this time—I want to talk to you. Please sit down.”

He sat in one of the upholstered chairs by the coffee table.

“Where’s Bianca?”

“On a short holiday.”

“So it’s just you and me?” He heard a slight tremor in her voice.

He frowned. “Are you worried about being here alone with me?”

“Of course not.” She got up from the bed and walked over to smell the flowers. “Can we have a frank talk? You said you wanted to start over again. I want that, too, but I need to understand you better.”

Rini sat forward with his hands clasped between his legs. “Would I have brought you here if I didn’t want the same thing? We’ve got all the time in the world. Go ahead. Ask me anything.”

She darted him a curious glance. “You say that, but I wonder if you really mean it.”

“Where’s this doubt coming from?”

“I don’t know exactly. Tell me about what happened when you first met Dea. Being twins, she and I have shared a unique past. Sometimes it has been eerie.”

“In what way?”

“It’s hard to explain, but there are times when even though we’re two people, we think as one.”

Rini got to his feet. “I’ve heard that happens to twins. But what does that have to do with me?”

“I’m not sure and am only feeling my way,” she cried softly before turning away from him.

He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her against him. “You sound frightened,” he whispered into her fragrant hair.

“I am.”

“Of what? Of me? Tell me.” He shook her gently.

“I’ve been going over the conversation that my aunt had with you about me and Dea. You told her that you felt no connection with Dea, but it was different with me.” Alessandra turned around in his arms. “But it doesn’t provide all the answers.”

“What more do you want?”

Her eyes searched his. “Will you bear with me a little longer and tell me your feelings when you realized I wasn’t Dea?”

His hands slid to her face. “After I left your father’s office and went back to my hotel in Metaponto that first night, I couldn’t get you off my mind. Make no mistake. It was you I was thinking about. From a distance you had Dea’s superficial features, the same features that had drawn me on the yacht. But the second you said you weren’t Dea, I realized my mistake.

“You looked so adorable standing there in your shorter hair and man’s shirt that didn’t cover up your bikini. Tanned, no makeup, bare-legged, full of energy, duffel bag in hand. I thought, I’ve got to get to know this exciting woman! I told your aunt I felt a connection so powerful with you, I couldn’t wait to get back to the castle the next morning to see you again.”

He felt Alessandra’s anxiety before she eased out of his arms. “Thank you for being so honest with me.” She was shivering.

“Now that I have, do you want to tell me what’s going on in your mind?”

“After I entered the castle, I heard a voice call out signorina. You’ll think I’m out of my mind, but when I saw you walk toward me, it was like seeing the prince who’d haunted my dreams come to life before my very eyes. I felt your imprint on me before you said a word.

“But the second you started talking, I realized you thought I was Dea and my dream was crushed to grist. She’d had a history with you. She’d been there first. I’d never experienced such envy in my life. I’ve heard of love at first sight, but I never imagined it would happen to me. My pain that she’d met you first was too excruciating to bear.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Until I learned the truth of your relationship with Dea during our drive, I’d been forced to keep my feelings bottled up and pretend nothing was wrong in front of my father.”

Her words shook Rini. “Adorata.” He reached for her, but she took another step back. “I haven’t finished. There’s something else you need to hear.”

Rini couldn’t take much more and attempted to get his emotions under control. “What is it?”

“When Dea and I were little girls, we had many of the same likes and dislikes that in some cases baffled everyone. One of the things we had in common was to talk about the princes we would marry one day. We played our own form of house with a miniature castle and all the characters Papà had made for us.

“Our mother and aunt gave us beautiful clothes to dress our dolls. Dea always had the most glamorous and stupendous outfits because they knew how much she loved fashion. I was given a fabulous boat that would sail me and my prince around the castle and the world.”

The lump was growing in Rini’s throat.

“We played for hours about living in the castle all our lives and being happy forever with our princely husbands and children. In our case it wasn’t pure fiction considering the lives of our titled parents and heritage.”

“Alessandra—”

“Let me finish,” she interrupted. “You were there when she first laid eyes on you. You saw what I can’t see. Rini, I’m convinced that when Dea met you on the yacht, she had the same experience I did. She saw you sitting there and knew you were the prince of her dreams. It was one of those times we were both the same person. By the expression on your face, I can tell I’m right.”

He closed his eyes tightly for a minute. Incredibile! This talk with Alessandra answered the questions that had lingered in his mind about Dea. In view of what he’d just learned, the way she’d linked her arms behind his head and the ardent kiss she’d given him when they’d stopped dancing as if she’d been claiming him for her own made a strange kind of sense. Her actions had borne out Alessandra’s theory.

Guido had acted nonchalant about it, but Rini had seen the glint of envy in his friend’s eyes. That was the only time he’d ever known him to show a side of emotion that surprised him. But Rini couldn’t be that cruel to Dea or Alessandra by telling her what Dea had done that night to show her attraction to him. It had to be a secret he would take to the grave.

His head reared. “What you’re saying is, Dea is now the one devastated.”

“Maybe.”

“Then we’re back to where we were before. If your guilt is going to keep you from enjoying this vacation with me, then I’ll fly you back home in the morning.”

“No, Rini—that isn’t what I want. I just needed to have this conversation with you.”

“But it doesn’t solve anything, does it?”

“I guess I want you to tell me what we should do.”

“If you mean that, then I suggest we table our concerns and enjoy our vacation. We’ll just have to hope that time and work will help Dea get over whatever disappointment she’s feeling.” But that wasn’t going to be easy since he still hadn’t forgotten the conversation with her aunt. He’d been burdened by it. “As for you and me, I’d hoped to take us on an overnight hike tomorrow.”

“You know I’d love that.”

“Then we’ll pick you up a lightweight backpack and sleeping bag in the morning.” She nodded with a smile. “How are you feeling now?”

“Much better. I’m getting hungry and know you are. Why don’t we go out to dinner someplace in Positano.”

“I’ve been anxious to show it to you. If you’re ready, we can go now.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

AS RINI HELPED Alessandra into the black BMW parked in front, he squeezed her waist and kissed the side of her neck. When he reached for her hand and held on, her heart pounded with anticipation of the night to come. He started the car and they wound through the lush greenery toward the town center. She could see the twinkle of lights from the fabulous villas half hidden behind cypress trees and palms.

The interior of the car smelled of the soap he used in the shower. She was so in love with him it was impossible to hide it from him. If she didn’t put Dea out of her mind, she could ruin this incredible time for them.

“Whoa. We’re right on the edge of the cliff.”

Rini flashed her a smile and parked the car along the side of the narrow road. “We’ve arrived at my favorite place. You’ll love the view from here.” She could hear soft rock music as he helped her out. They walked up the rock steps lined with flowers growing out of the vegetation to the little restaurant perched high up. The view from the terrace, where a band was playing, opened to the sea below between two mountain sides.

She gasped and clung to him. “That’s a steep drop.”

“Kind of like dropping eighty feet with you in our own private world.” Trust him to remind her. “Come on, bellissima.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to an empty, candlelit table. The romantic ambience made her feel feverish. Rini seated her and asked for wine from the waiter who recognized him. “Will you trust me to order for you?”

“If you’ll trust my cooking when we eat along the trail tomorrow evening.”

“I can hardly wait.” After the waiter walked away, Rini reached for her hand and pulled her onto the small dance floor, where another couple was dancing.

“There’s no room for anyone else.”

“That’s the whole idea,” he whispered before biting her earlobe gently. They danced in place, sending her body temperature skyrocketing. “If you knew the dreams I’ve had about holding you like this. Tonight there’s no wet suit to separate us.”

She chuckled. “I noticed.”

“I never want to be separated from you,” he admitted in a husky voice and crushed her to him. Alessandra closed her eyes and rocked in place with him. Never sounded like forever. Was it really possible? But that question led to the troubling question about Dea still hanging over her head, shooting more pain to her heart. So it was better not to think, just relish this night under the stars with Rini.

“I could stay this way indefinitely,” she murmured, “but I can see our food has arrived. Let’s get you fed.”

“How lucky am I to be with a woman who understands me.” He walked her back to their table and they plunged into an exquisite meal of octopus on creamed potatoes and prawns, followed by vegetables and carpaccio of swordfish with a dessert of salame de chocolat.

“If we keep eating like this, I’ll have to buy me a larger wet suit,” she quipped.

His dark eyes glinted with amusement. “We’ll hike it off tomorrow. For now you need to get home to bed. It’s been a long day for you.”

“I have to admit bed will feel good tonight.”

“I knew it.” He paid the bill and ushered her out of the restaurant. “Careful as we go down the stairs. Hold on to me.”

She didn’t need his urging as she clung to him. He walked her to the car, keeping her hugged against his side. Before he opened the door, he lowered his head to kiss her. She’d been dying for it. The passion he aroused in her was so powerful, she almost fainted. Someone in a car driving by let out a wolf whistle, causing her to blush in embarrassment. Rini only chuckled and opened the door so she could hide inside.

“Sorry about that,” he murmured as they drove back to his villa.

“No, you’re not.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I couldn’t help myself?”

Yes, if his desire for her was half as great as hers for him. She rested her head against the back of the seat. “This has been a wonderful night. I rarely drink wine and am afraid I drank too much.”

His hand reached out to give her thigh a squeeze, sending rivulets of desire through her body. “One glass?”

“Already you’re a corrupting influence on me.”

Male laughter rang inside the confines of the car. “Didn’t you know you’ve become my addiction? You’d better lock your door tonight.”

She rolled her head in his direction. “I trust you, Rini.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t.”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be going camping with you. Where are you going to take me?”

“Along the footpath of the gods.”

“Did you just make that up?”

“No. It’s the name of a trail formed by man years ago along the Amalfi Coast. In my opinion it’s one of the most striking panoramas of this world. You’ll know what I mean when we get going. We’ll follow it part of the way through gorges and precipices, then veer inland into the mountains.”

“You’ve given me goose bumps.”

“When you uncovered the mouth on that head, it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.”

She eyed him with longing. “I can’t believe how you just happened to know where to dive.”

“Pure selfishness. I wanted you to myself.” He pulled into the courtyard and escorted her inside the villa to her bedroom. Putting his hands on her shoulders he said, “Tonight was the perfect way to start our vacation. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll get going whenever you’re ready. Sleep well.”