The Italian's Unexpected Heir

His gaze momentarily lifted, meeting hers. “Yes, it is.” Then he glanced back at the sketch pad. “Why do you plan weddings instead of designing dresses?”

She shook her head, dismissing such a ridiculous notion. In her mind she heard the echo of her mother’s voice: No matter how good you are, you’re s

till a nobody.

“It’s just a hobby.”

He was quiet for a moment as he turned the page. He lifted the sketch pad closer to his face, inspecting each minute line and swirl. “Wait. Is this why you have a wedding dress in your living room?”

“It is. But it’s not finished.”

“Is it the first one you’ve sewn?” When she shook her head, he asked, “May I see the other one?”

“I no longer have them.”

“Them?” He sounded surprised. “You made more than one?”

“I did.”

“What happened to them?”

“I sold them.” She lowered her gaze to the striped pattern on the blanket. She could feel him staring at her expectantly.

This part of herself she didn’t share with others. Part of the reason she didn’t talk about it was the associated pain with that trying time in her life, and the other was the sadness with having to part with her very first wedding dress.

“I get the feeling you didn’t do it voluntarily.”

She shook her head. What would it hurt to tell him? After all, she’d been privy to much of the drama after his parents’ sudden deaths. “I had to sell them in order to pay my mother’s medical bills.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to push.”

“It’s okay. I don’t talk about it much but it’s not a secret.” She said this much; she might as well tell him the rest. “When my mother was sick, I worked at a wedding boutique. They sold dresses and accessories as well as planned the weddings.” She paused as the painful memories came flooding back.

“And that’s how you got the job of working with Bianca?”

“Yes. I worked my way up in the business, but I never learned who recommended me to the royal palace.”

“I can see why they did. You’re very organized and great with people.”

“I try. It’s not always easy.”

“But your true talent is here.” He pointed to her sketch pad. “You put so much of yourself into those dresses. It must have been horrible to part with them.”

“It was, but I’d do it again to help someone I love. I can create a new dress, but it’s people who are irreplaceable.” And if her mother was here right now, she’d be able to show her that you don’t have to settle. Sylvie was making a name for herself in the wedding world.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s not your fault.” She blinked. “I’m fine. I was just thinking about my mother. I feel like I let her down.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. You have a heart of gold and I’d be willing to bet this entire estate that you did everything you could for her and she knew it, too.”

Sylvie glanced down and picked a piece of lint from her jeans. “I just feel bad that when she was so sick, I couldn’t be with her all of the time. I had to continue working in order to pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads.”

“That couldn’t have been easy, feeling like you were being torn in two directions.”

“I made sure to have the neighbors stop in and check on her. When the time came, I set up a schedule so there’d always be someone with her.”

Enzo reached out and placed his hand over hers. He gave it a squeeze. “You know we have something in common.”