The CEO, the Puppy and Me

no idea he kept all of this stuff.”

“He loved you a lot.”

A rebuttal rushed to the tip of Ric’s tongue, but then his gaze moved over all the papers in front of him. Art projects to term papers to newspaper clippings. It was like a synopsis of his life. How could he deny his uncle cared for him when the evidence was staring him in the face?

“I had no idea.” His voice was so soft it was like a whisper.

Gia rubbed his back as though in comfort. His instinct was to pull away. He wasn’t used to anyone comforting him. But he liked her touch. He found himself welcoming her gentle concern as he took in this monumental realization.

“I was so wrong about him,” Ric said. “How did I not know any of this? I thought I was a bother—a nuisance. And worst of all, I never got to tell him how much I appreciated him always being there for me—no matter what. I... I never told him that I loved him.”

Gia’s hand moved to his shoulder and squeezed. “He knew.”

Ric wanted to believe her—he really did—but he wasn’t so sure.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THINGS HAD WORKED out for Ric.

Gia was happy for him to have proof of his uncle’s love.

But what about her? She let out a deep sigh. Where was her rainbow?

The following day, Gia took a moment to feel sorry for herself. Then she straightened her shoulders. Her father, um, Aldo, had taught her not to be a quitter.

Nothing good came to those who quit.

If Ric’s uncle wasn’t her father, she would find out who lived in the house before him. She was close—very close. She could feel it.

And then there’d be a happy reunion. Reunion? Was that the right word? After all, they hadn’t actually ever met. Had they?

No, of course not. Fathers didn’t just let go of their children, never to see them again. She imagined a man with the same shade of brown hair as her own, much taller than her and wearing a warm smile as he enveloped her in a big hug. Because he’d be overjoyed to know her. He had to be. Anything else—it was unacceptable. Just the thought of being rejected by her own flesh and blood...

No. It won’t happen. Everything is going to work out.

The buzz of her phone halted her thoughts. Gia moved across her spacious bedroom to retrieve it from the bedside table. She glanced at the screen, finding a message from Enzo.

When are you coming home? The hotel reservations have declined dramatically. We’re in trouble. You need to fix this.

He’d been trying to reach her since last night, and she’d been dodging his phone calls. The hotel was in trouble. But Gia knew if she took the call that she’d be obligated to return to Tuscany to try to fix the problem, something she couldn’t do until she learned the truth about her birth. Usually she put family first, but in this moment, she needed to put herself first.

She knew that made her selfish and she felt awful about it, but if their parents hadn’t kept this huge secret, she wouldn’t be searching for her biological father. If there was anyone to blame for this mess, it was them. And worst of all, they weren’t even here to explain any of this to her.

And right now, she desperately needed her mother. She needed to hear her soft, comforting voice. She needed her to say everything would be all right.

Gia’s vision blurred as she stared at the phone. She blinked repeatedly. She would keep it together. She wasn’t a crier. She was strong.

Her fingers hovered over the phone. And then she started to type.

Michael and Rosa have this. Don’t worry. Everything will work out...

She reread what she’d written. Would everything work out? She wasn’t so sure about that anymore. Too much had happened to continue being a Pollyanna.

She knew no matter what she said, it wouldn’t be the end of the discussion. Her brother hadn’t wanted her to go on this trip. He wouldn’t give up until she was on a plane home. And so she deleted the message.

Knock. Knock.

“Gia?”