The CEO, the Puppy and Me

And without knowing about the circumstances of her conception, how could she move forward? What would people think when she said she didn’t know who her father was? How would anyone truly love her when she didn’t truly know herself?

“Gia!” Ric’s voice echoed through the wide hallways and up the grand staircase. “Gia, come here.”

She left her troubled thoughts behind as she rushed down the wide staircase to the main floor and to the study where Ric was rifling through a large stack of papers. He was certainly intent on finding the answer of her paternity.

* * *

What a mess!

And he was only making it worse. But it had to be done eventually.

Ric leaned back in the old leather office chair that his uncle used to spend most of his day in before his death. When Ric was young, he imagined himself one day sitting in it and working at this very desk.

It was amazing how things had changed. Now, Ric knew he’d never live in this house. And he would never spend his days working behind this desk. It just wasn’t in the cards for him.

This sprawling villa was for a family—something he’d never have. To live here, he’d be reminded every day that he was alone. But he also knew too well that people could tell you they loved you in one breath and leave you in the next. Family life was not for him. Gia may want to expand her family but not him. He was fine alone.

Ric frowned as he glanced at the overflowing desk drawers. He shouldn’t have put off cleaning out the house. Not only did he have the unruly garden to tend to, but the inside would need a cleaning crew if he was ever going to make it presentable for a buyer. But those were problems for him to deal with another day.

However, he realized if he had taken the time to clean out the house, he would have found this information sooner. Realizing he’d paused, he continued scanning the page before him.

“What is it?” Gia’s voice cut through his thoughts. “What did you find?”

There it was again. The hope in her voice. She wanted Uncle Giuseppe to be her father. She wanted this to be her reality. And suddenly Ric felt guilty for being right.

He cleared his throat. “My uncle saved everything. And when I say everything, I mean it. It’s going to take forever to sort through all these papers.”

She moved over next to Ric on the couch. In that moment, he was tempted to turn to her—to take her in his arms and kiss her.

He halted his runaway thoughts. What in the world was wrong with him? He barely knew her—though that had never stopped him in the past. And she would probably be leaving town after he confirmed his suspicion—though her imminent departure was more of a reason for him to get involved. He was torn between his rising desires and his common sense.

Stay focused. Tell her the truth. And then walk away.

He focused on the papers in his hands. “What is your birth date?”

She told him.

“So that would mean at the time of your conception my uncle didn’t own this house. He was, in fact, working in New York City.”

“That can’t be right.” She frowned.

“It is. I checked three times.” He handed her the documents to see for herself. “I’m sorry.”

Gia’s fine brows drew together as she scanned the very old pay statements from his uncle’s employer as well as the sales agreement for the house. There was no way she could claim they were forged. Those papers were so old and aged that they’d fall apart if anyone were to tamper with them.

Maybe his uncle being a bit of a hoarder wasn’t such a bad thing. Still, Ric was going to have to go through this stuff page by page. He didn’t relish the idea. And he wasn’t taking this mess to his apartment. No way. He’d sort through it here with a paper shredder and a very large garbage can—or two.

Gia was quiet for a long time. She must have had her heart set on finding answers today. He told himself not to get drawn in. It wasn’t any of his business.

And then he made the mistake of looking at her. The pain and disappointment in her big blue eyes was like a kick in the gut. He understood her turmoil. He’d tried for years to search for his mysterious biological father. With his mother unable or refusing to help, there were no other leads for him to follow.

Gia glanced down, staring at the pages in her hand. She flipped through the papers. Her gaze quickly scanned for something.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“The ink is faded on this sheet. I’m trying to figure out who sold your uncle this property.” Lines of frustration formed on her beautiful face.

“Here. Let me take a look.”