The Playboy of Rome

Dante rolled his eyes and started for the house. When he realized that Lizzie had remained behind with his brother, he turned and signaled for her to follow him. She smiled at Stefano—a great big, ear-to-ear, genuine smile that lit up the world like a starburst. Dante’s jaw tightened.

Why couldn’t she be that happy around him? Why did she have to act so reserved—so on guard? After all, he was a nice guy, too. Or so he’d been told by some lady friends. Surely he hadn’t lost his touch with the women. Maybe he’d have to try a little harder.

When Lizzie joined him, he said, “My grandfather is probably getting impatient. We should go see him.”

Lizzie kept her smile in place and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was part of their agreement to keep the mood light and happy. Or perhaps it was lingering happiness from meeting his older brother—Mr. Tall, Dark and Persuasive.

Not that it mattered if Lizzie had a thing for Stefano. It wasn’t as if Dante was interested in the woman who was threatening the deal he’d been working for weeks to finalize. And it rankled him that he now felt some sort of responsibility toward Lizzie. Not only did he have to take into consideration what was best for the business, but also he felt compelled to take into account how it impacted her.

Dante stepped into the sunroom. “Nonno.”

His grandfather’s silver head lifted from reading a newspaper. He removed his reading glasses, focused on Dante and then his gaze moved to Lizzie. A lopsided smile pulled at his lips. Dante inwardly sighed at the effect Lizzie had over the men in his family. They stared at her as if she were a movie star. Well...she was pretty enough. Still, they didn’t have to act as though they’d never seen a beautiful female before. Then again, it had been a very long time since a woman that wasn’t a relative had visited the DeFiore villa. Okay, so maybe they had a reason to sit up and take notice. He just wished they didn’t make it so noticeable.

“Come here.” Nonno’s deep voice was a bit slurred from the stroke.

His grandfather’s gaze clung to Lizzie. She moved forward without hesitation and came to a stop in front of his chair. Then something happened that totally surprised Dante. She bent over and hugged his grandfather. It was as though they’d known each other forever. How did that happen?

The two of them chatted while Dante sat on the couch. He really wasn’t needed as neither of them even noticed that he was in the room. And he could plainly see that Lizzie’s presence had an uplifting effect on his grandfather. In fact, this was the happiest he’d seen his grandfather since he’d been forced into retirement.

“So that’s why you changed your mind about visiting this weekend?” Dante’s father entered the room and came to a stop by the couch before nodding in Lizzie’s direction.

Dante instinctively followed his father’s gaze back to the woman who’d thrown his life into turmoil. “She knows Nonno. He asked me to bring her here.”

His father nodded. “If I had that sort of distraction, I might stay in the city, too. After all, it’s a lot easier to have a good time with a beautiful woman than it is to do the hard work needed to keep the family vineyard running.”

Dante’s jaw ratcheted tight. It didn’t matter what he said; it never seemed to be the right thing where his father was concerned. Some things never changed.

“At least you have good taste.” That was the closest his father had ever come to giving him a compliment.

“Lizzie and I are working together, nothing more.”

His father sent him a you are crazy look. Dante wasn’t going to argue with the man—it wouldn’t change things. He never lived up to his father’s expectations—not like his brother, Stefano, always did. Just once, he’d like his father to clap him on the back and tell him he’d done something right—something good.

Dante sat rigidly on the couch. Not even his father’s jabs were enough to make him leave the room. He assured himself that it was just to keep an eye on what Lizzie said to his grandfather. Because there couldn’t be any other reason. Unlike the rest of his family, he was immune to her charms.

Sure, he knew how to enjoy a woman’s company. Her smiles. Her laugh. Her touch. But that was as far as it went. He refused to let himself become vulnerable. He’d seen too much pain in his life. It wouldn’t happen to him. The L word wasn’t worth the staggering risks.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“THIS PLACE IS AMAZING.”

Lizzie didn’t bother to hide her enthusiasm as she glanced around the spacious living room with a high ceiling and two sets of double doors that let the afternoon sun stream in. She’d trade her Bronx apartment in a heartbeat for this peaceful retreat.

“I love it here.” She spoke the words to no one in particular. “Very different from city life.”

“It is different.” Massimo’s words took her full attention between the accent and the slight slur from his stroke. “I’m glad you’re here. Is my grandson treating you well?”

Her thoughts flashed back to their first meeting. But she wasn’t so sure that Massimo would find it amusing that Dante mistook her presence at the restaurant and put her to work as a hostess. She opted to save that story for a later date.

She glanced across to where Dante was pretending to read a cooking magazine. “Yes. He...he’s been a gentleman.”

Massimo gave her a quizzical look. “My grandson is a good man. He knows a lot. Make him teach you.”

His choice of words struck her as a bit odd. Either the man was eager to shorten his sentences or he sensed that things between her and Dante weren’t going smoothly.

“I will. I just wish you could be there. I was really looking forward to working next to such a legend.”

Massimo attempted to smile but the one side of his mouth would not cooperate. Her heart pinched. She had no idea how frustrating it must be for your body not to cooperate. But beyond that, the man’s face spoke of exhaustion. Dante had warned her not to overtax him. And she wouldn’t do anything to harm Massimo. The place in her heart for him had only grown exponentially since meeting him in person.