“I guess when word comes from down on high, you don’t have much choice though, huh?”
“Right.” If only Toby knew.
To explain the abrupt change in her schedule, she’d told Toby that her boss had requested it, which was not a lie.
No way was Audrey telling Toby the details of Vincenzo’s plan, though. If she ended up as Vincenzo’s wife and the children’s mother, Audrey’s brother was never going to know it was anything but a normal marriage.
“So, when am I going to meet this guy?” Toby pressed after they’d finished their breakfast in silence.
Maybe never. But she couldn’t say that. “We’re not at that place yet.”
Which, again, was not a lie, but not the entire truth, either. Walking this fine line of honesty with her brother was wearing on Audrey even more than the new work schedule.
Toby did not look impressed by her answer. “What place do you have to be in for your brother to meet your date and decide if he’s good enough for you?”
“I love you to death, Tobe, but no way are you screening my dates.”
“You talk like there have been more than one.”
“I’m twenty-seven. Definitely old enough to screen my own men.”
Her brother snorted. “Not even close. I may be a teenager, but I’ve dated more guys than you and I can spot across the length of a football field.”
“What are you? Super Spotter?”
Toby flexed impressive biceps. “That’s me, teenage superhero.”
“Better than a teenage werewolf.”
They both cracked up and Audrey sent up a silent prayer of thanks for dodging that particular bullet right now.
“You going to be at the game today?” he asked her as they lingered over coffee, letting their big breakfasts settle.
“Of course.” No way would she miss it. Not even for another day spent with Vincenzo and the children at his mansion outside the city. “It’s your last one.”
“Maybe not. I could play in college, depending.”
“At MIT? I didn’t even know they had a football team.”
“Sure they do. The Engineers. Fitting, don’t you think?”
“Definitely.” She grinned and then turned serious. “But I don’t know about you playing. Adjusting to your coursework at MIT is going to be a challenge, even for you.”
“About MIT, Audrey—”
“No, Toby. Don’t you dare say it,” she interrupted. “You got in. You got the scholarship. You have to trust that the rest will come together.”
“There’s a really big stretch from here to the rest coming together. I can get a job, but even I know trying to work full-time and attend MIT isn’t going to make it.”
“I don’t want you working.”
“We’re not going to have a choice.”
“Maybe.” She couldn’t tell him what she was trying to do to make his dream happen, but she wasn’t going to let Toby give up on it, either.
“I applied for more scholarships from independent funds, but the chances of getting a big one is really small, you know?”
She nodded, too choked to speak at first. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?”
“Only like a million times. You’re such a girl, Audrey.” He tried to sound like he was complaining, but Toby couldn’t hide his pleased glow.
“I am a woman, Tobe.”
“Don’t remind me. One who’s dating, even.” He gave an exaggerated shudder.
She rolled her eyes and threw his words back at him. “Don’t remind me.”
“Right. You gonna bring him to the game?”
She tried to suppress her horror at the very idea of Vincenzo Tomasi at a high school football game, much less meeting Toby before he absolutely had to. “That wasn’t my plan, no.”
“Yeah, not really convenient, huh?” Toby frowned for just a second. “Wish our last game was a home one.”
“There will be plenty of people cheering on your side of the field. It’s not that far away.” Only about forty-five minutes north of the city in good traffic.
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe you should call your guy and invite him, then, huh?”
*
Assuming that he was already at the mansion with the children, Audrey did not call Vincenzo.
Not that she would have, regardless. Even if maybe a tiny part of her wished she really was dating Vincenzo and inviting him to watch her brother play football would have been a good idea.
She was making her way around the field to the bleachers for fans of the visiting team when she heard a high-pitched voice yell, “Audrey!”
Stunned, unable to believe she’d heard what she thought, Audrey turned. The sight that met her sent the air exploding from her lungs with the same power of a blow to the chest.
“Franca?” Audrey shook her head, trying to clear her vision.
Obviously she was hearing and seeing things. Maybe the lack of sleep was really getting to her.
But after closing her eyes for a count of five and then opening them again she continued to see the same thing.
Little Franca, bundled up in a pink fur-lined parka and snow boots in deference to New York’s chilly November temperatures, stood holding Vincenzo’s hand. She looked like a miniature snow bunny.
Audrey couldn’t help smiling at the sight.
Highlighting the family resemblance, Vincenzo and Franca wore matching expressions of satisfaction at Audrey’s obvious surprise.
“What are you doing here?” Propelled by an irresistible force, she moved toward them. “Where is Angilu?”
“We are here to watch the game with you.” Vincenzo’s smile had a predatory edge that was entirely absent in that of his innocent niece.
He was looking stunning in black jeans, ankle boots and a cashmere sweater under a fleece-lined leather jacket. His head was bare and he wore no gloves. Because, unlike normal humans, apparently Vincenzo Tomasi defied even the cold.
“Angi and Percy are at home,” Franca informed Audrey. “He’s too little to be out in the cold.” The small girl was plainly very happy to be considered old enough for the outing.
“Wow. I didn’t expect you.” Which felt like a huge understatement.
Audrey was completely and totally gobsmacked. She’d been sure that after turning down his invitation to spend the weekend at the mansion she wouldn’t see Vincenzo until the following Monday.
; “We surprised you,” Franca pointed out very happily. “Are you glad?”
Despite Audrey’s misgivings about her life with Toby colliding with what was going on between her and Vincenzo, she couldn’t say anything but, “Yes, most definitely.”
The tiny girl nodded with satisfaction. “Good.”
“Shall we find our seats?” Vincenzo asked. “It appears the bleachers are filling quickly.”
They were, which would make her brother and the other players on his team very happy.
Bemused, Audrey only nodded.
Somehow she found herself holding Franca’s hand. Vincenzo used the arm he rested lightly over Audrey’s shoulders to guide them all to a spot near the center of the bleachers about halfway up.
His bodyguards took up positions on either side of the bleachers, another joining them in the stands a little to their left and behind. The security team had made an effort to blend, foregoing their usual dark suits.
It must have worked because no one seemed interested in the three highly trained bodyguards. Vincenzo was another story, however.
Other parents, students and their friends weren’t exactly subtle in the avid interest they were showing the gorgeous billionaire.
For his part, Vincenzo seemed oblivious to the scrutiny. Or maybe he was so used to it he took it in his stride.
Audrey wasn’t so sanguine. And when the parents of Toby’s teammates jockeyed for introductions she was relieved that Vincenzo took care of it himself.
“Vincenzo Tomasi,” he said, offering his hand to shake to the men around them. “This is my daughter, Franca.”
At that, the little girl positively glowed.
“Are you a friend of Audrey’s?” one of the football moms asked.
“Yes,” Vincenzo answered simply, showing no compulsion to add details such as Audrey would have felt.
Details that would have tangled her thoughts, not to mention her tongue.
One of the dads asked Vincenzo, “So this is Toby’s first game you’ve seen?”
“It is.” Again no further explanation.
The man was good.
“You must be the new guy Audrey’s dating,” said Brian, Toby’s best friend of the non-football-playing variety.
“You are one of Toby’s good friends?” Vincenzo asked without answering.