XOXO (The Calvettis of New York 3)

Her hands drop to the front of the navy and white dress she’s wearing. “You’re not pregnant, too, are you?”

I process that one word at a time as I stare at her beaming face. Tears fall from my eyes, but it’s not because I’m happy for her.

I’m upset that I let myself fall for my boss.

I shake my head. “No. I’m not. You are?”

She takes me in her arms for a big hug. “I’m due in seven months. I just found out this morning.”

I cling to her, wanting to feel her happiness, but my sorrow is drowning that out.

“I guess I can finally tell you who my boyfriend is.” She laughs.

I step back to look at her. Her cheeks are wet with happy tears, so I grab a tissue from the box on my desk and hand it to her. “Tell me who it is.”

“Judd’s cousin. It’s Theon.” She shakes her head. “I’m going to be a Corning.”

My gaze falls to the diamond on her left hand. “Are you marrying him?”

“He proposed the second we found out we’re expecting.” She looks down at her flat stomach. “We’re telling Judd and Judith tonight. I can’t believe Judd and I will be family in a few months.”

I suck in a deep breath. “I’m really happy for you.”

“I’m happy for me too.” Another tear slides down her cheek. “All of my dreams are coming true, Arietta.”

I push away my sadness and smile. “You deserve all of this.”

“You deserve to be happy too.” She cradles my cheeks in her hands. “You’re still pale as a ghost. Let’s get you something to eat, and we’ll talk about Theon’s friend, Dawson. He’s perfect for you.”

I’ll listen, but I’m not interested.

There is only one man on this earth who is perfect for me. He’s also the only man capable of shattering my heart. He did that last night when he took another woman to bed.

Chapter 49

Dominick

I know something is wrong as soon as I spot the empty chair behind Arietta’s desk.

She hasn’t answered any of the text messages I’ve sent her since I arrived at the airport in Miami for my flight to New York.

Before that, I was consumed with business, so I only sent a few emails and text messages since I’ve been gone. The majority of those were centered on work.

“Mr. Calvetti,” Bronwyn calls to me as she appears from the corridor that leads to Judd’s office. “Welcome back, sir.”

I toss her a curt nod. “Where’s Arietta?”

It’s nearing three p.m., so unless she’s taken a late lunch, she should be behind her desk.

“She was feeling under the weather, so she left.” Bronwyn gestures toward Arietta’s desk. “She forwarded her desk phone to my phone. I have a few messages for you. I can run and get those now.”

I don’t give a shit about the messages. I want to know what’s wrong with Arietta.

“Under the weather in what sense?” I ask.

That stops Bronwyn mid-step. “It’s hard to describe. She was very pale. This may sound odd, but Arietta has this joyfulness about her, and that wasn’t there. I told her some good news, and I could tell she was trying to be happy for me, but I don’t think her tears were happy tears.”

“She was crying?”

“A lot.” She sighs. “We had tea in the break room. I even tried to set her up with someone. I thought that might brighten her mood.”

“She doesn’t need that,” I snap back.

Her head pops up. “She hasn’t had the best luck with men.”

Until now.

I’d crawl across this earth on my bare knees to see her smile. I’d hand my fortune over to her if she agreed to spend the rest of her life with me.

I love her.

If I didn’t realize it before this trip, I sure as hell do now.

“When did she go home?” I glance at the pile of messages sitting atop Arietta’s desk.

“A couple of hours ago.”

I don’t stop her when she turns to march back up the corridor toward Judd’s office.

Sliding my phone from my pocket, I bring up Arietta’s number and press to connect the call. It rings five times before her voicemail picks up.

It’s a generic greeting asking the caller to leave a message, but it’s the first time I’ve heard her voice in days. I savor it before I ask her to call me as soon as she can.

I round her desk. Everything is in order.

My gaze centers on the messages.

I read the one on top.

“Fuck,” I say under my breath. “Just fuck.”

I pull out her chair and drop my ass into it. I reread the message, taking note of the caller’s name.

The words written beneath Kallista’s name could easily be misinterpreted: Tell Dominick I had a great time last night. I wish he hadn’t rushed off this morning. Please have him call me.

I drop my gaze, pissed that I didn’t get here before Arietta left so I could explain this to her.