THE DeFIORE BROTHERS

A recipe for dating DeFiore men …

Take two Italian brothers with a pinch of playboy charm

Add two American sisters with a liberal dash of feistiness

Simmer under warm Italian skies until perfectly combined

Serve with lashings of love.

To start: The Playboy of Rome

Dante DeFiore is passionate about life, women, and the tasty Italian food he creates. And with the arrival of feisty American TV star Lizzie Addler he finds her almost too tempting to resist! As the temperature soars in the kitchen the passion between Lizzie and Dante simmers until they reach boiling point.

Has this Italian playboy finally met his match?

The main: Best Man for the Bridesmaid

Stefano DeFiore is proud and reserved—he likes the quiet life. So planning a wedding for his celebrity chef brother is his idea of hell. But when bold and colourful Jules Lane enters his world—chief bridesmaid and sister to the bride—Stefano decides to take his best man duties seriously … including doing all he can to make Jules’s time in Italy simply heaven.

To finish: happily ever after?

Best Man for the Bridesmaid

Jennifer Faye

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning author JENNIFER FAYE pens fun, heart-warming romances. Jennifer has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, is a TOP PICK author, and has been nominated for numerous awards. Now living her dream, she resides with her patient husband, one amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats. She’d love to hear from you via her website: JenniferFaye.com.

For Linda

To an amazing lady who has a heart as big as Texas.

Thanks for your guidance and support over the years.

This one is for you!

Contents

Cover

The DeFiore Brothers

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID...

Jules Lane lifted her chin and smiled broadly.

Her steps grew quicker as she made her way past the other departing passengers. At last she was in Rome. Rome, Italy, to be exact. She continued to grin and resisted the urge to pinch herself just to make sure this wasn’t a dream.

On the other hand, this wasn’t exactly a vacation. She was here for an important job—to help plan her foster sister’s wedding. This wouldn’t be Jules’s first time down the aisle. She’d been a bridesmaid more times than she could count on one hand.

However, this time around she had the privilege of being the maid of honor. It was a role she eagerly anticipated. She liked to take charge—to provide order to chaos. She wasn’t a closet romantic. She didn’t dream about finding Prince Charming. She didn’t fantasize about her “big day.” But she did have a thing for pretty dresses and cake—cake was definitely her weakness.

Actually now that she thought about it, Lizzie, her foster sister, hadn’t been into romance, either...at least not until she’d flown here three months ago for a television show—a reality segment about cooking. Cupid sure seemed to have hit the mark with Lizzie and Dante.

For most of Jules’s life, Lizzie had been the keeper of her secrets, her protector and her only family. Jules loved her with all her heart. But that security came with a steep price tag for both of them—learning at an early age that they only had each other to lean on.

Now it was time for a change—if only Jules could find a way to tell Lizzie her news.

Jules sighed as she made her way through the Leonardo da Vinci terminal. She’d find the right time. She just had to have patience.

The strap of her carry-on dug into her shoulder, and she struggled to adjust it. The black-and-white cloth bag was weighted down with a wedding planner, a big bag of sour candies and plenty of bridal magazines with dog-eared pages and sticky notes. She had everything necessary to plan the perfect wedding—except for one very important but necessary ingredient: caffeine. But no worries—Lizzie had been raving about the delicious coffee Rome had to offer.

Considering no details about the wedding had been tacked down, there would be long conversations over this now-infamous coffee. First, they had to nail down a wedding date. Jules was thinking a spring wedding next year. It’d be perfect as Lizzie had mentioned something about an Italian vineyard as the backdrop. Talk about some amazing photos.

This wedding-planning stuff shouldn’t be too hard. After all, Jules had most of it memorized by this point. Now she’d be able to put all of that knowledge to good use.

Boisterous voices filled the terminal as friends greeted each other. An American family called frantically for their son, who stood ten steps away checking out the cell phones that a beautiful woman with long dark hair and a brilliant smile was eager to show the teenager. Jules took it all in as she strode through the congested concourse, following the signs to the baggage claim.

She couldn’t wait to see Lizzie. It felt like an eternity since they’d seen each other. And she was looking forward to meeting her future brother-in-law, Dante. Lizzie swore the photos she’d emailed didn’t do him justice. That was hard to believe since Jules had found him quite handsome.

She walked over to the luggage carousel, hoping her suitcase had made the journey and hadn’t been lost along the way. All the while, she kept glancing around for Lizzie. Where could she be? It wasn’t like her to be late.

Jules’s gaze strayed across to a tall dark-haired man at the other end of the luggage return area. He spoke to a pretty young woman, who shook her head and turned away. And then he moved on to the next young woman. What was that all about?

Jules shrugged and turned away. She pulled the phone from her pocket, hoping a message from Lizzie would pop up, but instead a dead battery symbol flashed on the screen and then everything went black. Jules sighed. This couldn’t be happening to her while she was all alone in a foreign country. She’d charged it before she left New York, hadn’t she?

“Scusi. Are you Ms. Lane?” A deep male voice immediately drew her attention.

She turned to find the same dark-haired man speaking to a woman a couple of people down from her. Was he looking for her? How did he know her name?

When the blonde woman wearing a pastel flowered dress shook her head, he moved on. He skipped over an older woman, not even bothering to ask her. And then his gaze skimmed over Jules’s pigtails, long-sleeved black top, purple-and-black plaid miniskirt and knee-high platform black boots. His facial expression remained neutral, but he didn’t say a word to her as he moved on down the line.

Seriously? He was that put off by her appearance that he wasn’t even going to speak to her? She turned her back to him. Then she realized he might have a message from Lizzie. Jules turned back around.

He stopped at the next young woman. “Scusi, are you Julianne—”

“Hey, mister.” When he turned to her with a raised brow, she had to fight back a laugh. “I’m Julianne Lane.”

He apologized to the young lady before backtracking and stopping directly in front of Jules. His forehead was creased. “Signorina, you are Lizzie’s sister?”

She nodded. Her pigtails bobbed. He wasn’t the first person to be surprised by her unconventional appearance. She’d given up a long time ago trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. And she’d been dressing this way so long now that it came naturally.

The same couldn’t be said about him. He looked as if he’d just walked off the cover of a men’s fashion magazine. His navy blue suit was perfectly tailored to show off his broad shoulders, and the gray dress shirt was unbuttoned just enough to show off a hint of his muscular chest.

Jules swallowed hard. Wow! No wonder Lizzie lost her heart here. They sure made them hot and sexy in Italy.

With effort, she forced her gaze upward to meet his serious stare. “Is there a problem?”

“Umm...no.” The lines on his forehead smoothed. “Lizzie is your sister, isn’t she?”

Jules’s chest tightened. “Yes. Is she all right?”

His dark brows rose as his warm brown eyes seemed to hold her captive. “Yes, she is.”

Jules breathed out a pent-up breath. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Scare me. I thought something had happened to my sister.”

“I assure you that she’s perfectly fine. But something came up and she asked me to pick you up.”

“You should have said that part first.” She glanced over at the luggage carousel, which had started to move. Before she could ask him anymore questions, the luggage appeared on the conveyor belt. “I’ll be right with you. I just need to grab my bag.”

She could feel the man’s curious gaze boring into her back. She wondered what he was thinking, but something told her she was better off not knowing.

And then her black suitcase with the large white circle pattern dropped onto the conveyer belt. She shifted her carry-on so that it was resting against her back and out of her way to grab the large piece of luggage.

As she reached for it, the man stepped between her and the belt. “Let me grab that for you. Which is it?”

“Don’t bother. I’ve got it.” She didn’t need him going out of his way for her. She wasn’t some spoiled rich girl. Not by anyone’s imagination. She’d been taking care of herself for a long time. Maybe that’s what always scared men off. She didn’t need them.

The man’s eyes widened as he backed away. “Ms. Lane, I only meant to help.”

She grabbed the suitcase and swung it around to place it on the floor beside her. “I appreciate your offer, but I’m used to taking care of myself. And, by the way, I prefer to go by Jules. Who would you be?”

“I’m Stefano DeFiore. Dante’s older brother.”

Lizzie had mentioned in passing that Dante had a brother, but she’d never mentioned how good-looking he was or that he would be meeting her at the airport. “Nice to meet you.”

She smiled and stuck out her hand. He hesitated for a moment before glancing quickly to the left and then to the right before his hand encased hers. Was he looking around to see if anyone noticed that he hadn’t gotten her luggage for her? Really? He was that worried about what everyone thought?

And then the smile slipped from her face. Her stomach plummeted. She realized the real reason for his awkwardness. He was embarrassed to be seen with her.

What kind of family was Lizzie marrying into?

* * *

Stefano DeFiore found himself utterly mesmerized—and that was something that he never let happen.

He struggled to keep his gaze anywhere but on the delicate tiny blue—or was it purple?—butterfly body art flirting with the beginning of the swell of her breasts...just above the diving neckline of her black top. He found it and her absolutely fascinating. And that was not good.

He swallowed hard and drew his focus back up to her face. His brother and his soon-to-be sister-in-law should have picked up Jules—not him. But family takes care of family.

Jules was undeniably intriguing but not in the usual manner. Her goth style was unique, to say the least. And then there was the purplish lipstick, heavy black eyeliner and the stuff on her eyelashes that set off her look. He was anxious to see the woman beneath it all.

He certainly didn’t know what to make of Julianne—erm—Jules. Lizzie hadn’t given any hints that her sister was so different from her in every way. Lizzie was tall, fair and blonde; Jules was the opposite. She was shorter in stature with dark brown hair in twin ponytails and long sweeping bangs that she brushed off to the side.

Realizing he was staring, he said, “We should get moving. Lizzie should be done with her meeting when we get there.”

“Get where?” Jules eyed him as though she wasn’t planning to budge.

She didn’t trust him. It was a new experience for him. There had been a time in his life when he didn’t have a problem putting the female persuasion at ease. But he wasn’t exactly acting like the old smooth-talking guy he used to be. Things had changed a lot in recent years.

Combine that with his concerns over his younger brother’s sudden wedding announcement and the fact that he’d been elected to play chauffeur today without so much as waiting for him to agree and he was left feeling out of sorts.

Stefano swallowed down his agitation and tried to soften his tone. “I’m dropping you off at Dante’s place, Ristorante Massimo. It’s not that far from here.”

She gave him one last hard look as though making up her mind about him. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get moving.”

He reached for her suitcase but then hesitated, recalling how she’d expressed her desire to remain independent. He returned his hand to his side as she extended the handle on her luggage. He merely shook his head and turned away. His lack of understanding where women were concerned had cost him dearly not so long ago. Since then he’d learned to refrain from flirting with them. Relationships were a thing of the past for him.

So then why did he find Jules so intriguing? He couldn’t help casting her the occasional glance. It had to be her pigtails. Did grown women really wear those? He smiled. They did look cute on her.

But it was the butterfly that kept him distracted. He pictured it in his mind’s eye. He had to admit that he’d never been intrigued by a tattoo before. His late wife had had a fear of needles, so getting any sort of body art wasn’t even a possibility. And they’d lived out in the country where that sort of thing wasn’t popular in the nearby village.

When his shoulder collided with someone, he glanced up. “Scusi.”

He could feel Jules’s gaze on him, but he pretended not to notice. He wasn’t about to let on that her little butterfly had him distracted to the point of not watching where he was walking. After all, he was a DeFiore. DeFiores didn’t allow themselves to be distracted.

Once they were situated in his sleek black luxury sedan, which he only used when escorting around special guests of the DeFiore Vineyard, he turned to Jules. Her body was stiff and her hands were clasped in her lap. He supposed that was to be expected. He hadn’t exactly made her feel welcome. He really needed to try harder. After all, it was important to Dante that this visit go well.

Stefano was about to say something when that darn butterfly once again snagged his attention. It rose and fell with her every breath. He was being ridiculous. It was just an inconsequential tattoo—that teased and taunted him.

He turned and stared blindly out the windshield. “Is this your first trip to Rome?”

“Yes, it is.” Jules turned to him, but he kept his gaze directly ahead. “What happened? I mean, Lizzie was supposed to pick me up.”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“No. My phone battery died, so I haven’t been able to talk to her.”

This was his chance to see what Jules thought of the impending nuptials. He was curious to see if she thought they were a bit rushed. “When Dante called, he said that the announcement of their engagement made a big splash with the paparazzi, and the studio heads wanted to figure out how to work the wedding into an upcoming show.”

“What does their wedding have to do with a cooking show?”

“My thoughts exactly. Maybe it’ll delay the wedding.”

“Why would you say that?” Suspicion laced every syllable.

This is where he had to move carefully. He sensed Jules’s defenses kicking into gear, and he didn’t blame her. He’d react the same way if he thought someone was about to jeopardize his brother’s happiness.

Again Jules’s taunting butterfly came to mind as well as her different taste in clothes. Something told him that she wasn’t a traditionalist like his family was. Maybe she was one of those live-on-a-whim types? Even if it meant letting people set themselves up to get hurt?

Like he’d done to himself.

Like he’d done to his late wife.

CHAPTER TWO

THE SILENCE STRETCHED OUT.

The longer it took Stefano to answer her, the more concerned Jules became. With her sister’s happiness at stake, Jules couldn’t let the subject drop. Not without some answers.

She turned in her seat in order to gauge Stefano’s expression. “Why do you want them to delay the wedding?”

He sighed. “I just think they are rushing into this without thinking it through.”

“It sounds to me like you’re opposed to the wedding.” Jules sank back against the leather seat. Surely she had to be jet-lagged and reading too much into his reserved demeanor and hesitant words. Perhaps she needed to be more direct. “Will you try and stop the wedding?”

Jules studied his handsome face with its aristocratic features for some indication of his thoughts. Because there was no way she’d let anyone come between Lizzie and her happiness. Over the years, when they’d fantasized about the future, Lizzie had always dreamed of meeting Mr. Right. But neither of them had ever invested much hope in those dreams. Until now. This was Lizzie’s chance to live out her dream.

Though that meant breaking up their small family and the thought saddened Jules, she refused to dwell on it. Lizzie’s happiness had to be the priority. And on a positive note, this meant Jules would at last gain her freedom to make all her own choices. They’d been making decisions together since they were kids, but now it was time they each stood on their own. And for Jules that meant making her own career choice—one Lizzie wouldn’t approve of.

And if Jules was ready to see her foster sister—her only family—move an ocean away so that she would be happy, what possible reason could Stefano find to object to the wedding? Or was she reading him wrong? It was so hard to tell—his tanned face wasn’t giving her any clues about his thoughts.

“I’m waiting for an explanation.” She crossed her arms. No way was she going to drop the subject until they sorted it out.

“Fine. I’ll admit it. I’m not a fan of marriage.”

“This particular marriage? Or just marriage in general?” She could have sworn that Lizzie had mentioned he was married. Maybe that was it. Maybe he and his wife had hit a rough patch. “Aren’t you married?”

“I was.” His knuckles on the steering wheel gleamed white. “She died.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Great job, Jules. Talk about opening your mouth and inserting your size-six boot.

“And for the record, it’s not my place to say whether the wedding should go on or not. My brother has a mind of his own.”

“Good.” She settled back against the smoky-gray leather seat. “I don’t want anything ruining this wedding for them.” She gave him a pointed look, but Stefano didn’t give her the satisfaction of looking her way. “We have a lot to plan between now and next spring or summer. Have they mentioned to you if they’ve picked a date?”

“No. But it sounded to me like it is going to be sooner than next year.”

“They can’t move up the wedding. That would be a nightmare. There’s just too much to arrange. Besides, if they were doing something like that, they’d have told us. After all, you’re the best man.”

Stefano sighed. “I suppose I am. But that just means they’ll tell me when and where to show up.”

“You really think you’ll get off that easily?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Men don’t care about all of that stuff. Weddings are for women.”

“We’ll see about that.” Did he really believe that? Was he that jaded? Or was it grief over losing his wife?

“I guess we will.”

She pressed her lips firmly together. She’d been in Rome less than an hour. It wouldn’t do to wage war with Lizzie’s future brother-in-law.

Jules inhaled a deep, calming breath and noticed the very fine automobile had a wonderful new car scent. Her gaze strayed to the dash, where Stefano’s long, lean fingers were adjusting the controls on a large touch screen. Soon the velvet sounds of an Italian baritone replaced the oppressive silence.

She leaned her head back and turned to the window. She took in the golden glow of the sun over the city. People were out and about—neighbors filling each other in on the events of the day. Children were running around laughing and playing. Jules smiled, liking what she’d seen so far.

She couldn’t believe that she was truly in Italy. Her friends back at the New York City coffee shop where she worked were never going to believe this. She’d definitely have to get lots of photos before catching her flight in a week.

When the car pulled to a stop, Stefano turned to her. “We’re here.”

So this was Ristorante Massimo.

Jules stared out the window at the line of patio tables with red umbrellas. And the double red doors with large brass handles that led to the dining area. This was where her sister had lost her heart—this was where Lizzie intended to spend the rest of her life.

The breath caught in Jules’s throat. She might at last be gaining her freedom, but at what cost? She blinked repeatedly. She’d told herself the whole flight here that she wouldn’t melt into a sobbing mess.

A hand pressed against her shoulder. “Julianne...um, Jules, are you okay?”

She nodded and blinked, tucking her emotions into that trusty box she’d been using since the days of being shuttled in and out of foster homes. She swallowed down the lump in her throat, hoping that when she spoke her voice wouldn’t waver. “I’m fine.”

“Why don’t you go inside? I’m sure Lizzie is anxious to see you. I’ll grab your luggage and meet you in there.”

She agreed and made her way inside. The restaurant was quite large, and a wall of photos was the first thing to grab her attention. There were framed photos of various sizes and all manner of frames starting at the ceiling and trailing down to the floor. As she passed by, she noticed some famous faces. Wow! This place must be really upscale.

“Jules, is that you?” Lizzie came rushing toward her.

In no time, they were wrapped in each other’s arms. It felt so good to be with her sister again. They both started to talk at once. It wasn’t until they glanced around and saw Dante and Stefano observing them with amusement dancing in their eyes that both women realized their lack of manners.

Lizzie stepped in the middle of everyone. “Jules, I’d like you to meet Dante, my future husband. Dante, this is my sister, Julianne, but everyone calls her Jules.”

“Hello, Jules.”

“Hi.” When she went to hold her hand out to him to shake, he pulled her forward and gave her a big hug.

She hesitated at first. This wasn’t the sort of greeting she was accustomed to. It certainly wasn’t the sort of greeting she’d received from Stefano. When Dante let her go, she gazed up at him. He was almost as tall as Stefano. But he wasn’t nearly as disarmingly handsome as his older brother.

“Don’t frown at me,” Dante said lightly. “We’re family and you’ll soon find that the DeFiores are huggers.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

From what Lizzie had told her most of the family lived outside the city on a vineyard. Too bad there wouldn’t be time to visit, but Jules didn’t want to overstay her welcome or crowd the lovebirds. Her mission was to check out the groom, catch up with Lizzie and get wedding details—lots of details. It was never too soon to plan the perfect wedding, and Lizzie deserved no less.

“Let’s go upstairs and get you settled.” Lizzie started for the front door of the restaurant.

“Where exactly are we going?” Jules asked, looking around and trying to get her bearings.

Dante spoke up. “There are apartments above the restaurant. And the entrance is outside.”

“Sounds good. We can get started right away on the wedding plans. We don’t have time to waste.” Jules grabbed for her purse. Before she could reach for her carry-on, Stefano had it in hand. She turned back and followed Lizzie out the door. “Do you have a date picked out? Say, next spring? Or summer?”

“That’s what we wanted to talk to you about.” There was hesitation in Lizzie’s voice.

Jules’s hand gripped the strap of her purse tighter. She sensed trouble. Were they calling the wedding off? They didn’t seem to be fighting or anything. So what was the matter?

“Lizzie, at least let your sister get settled in before you get into it.” Dante maneuvered her suitcase in through a side door and over to a waiting elevator.

“You’re right. My head is just spinning at the moment.” Lizzie turned to Jules. “Wait until you see the penthouse. It’s amazing. I think our entire apartment would fit in the guest room alone.”

Jules watched as Lizzie leaned over and placed a kiss on Dante’s lips. A look came over her sister’s face—a look of utter happiness and love. Suddenly the impact of what was about to happen struck Jules. The thought made her stomach plummet. How had she missed this before?

First, there’d been the eviction notice. Their New York apartment building was converting to expensive condos. That shock had been closely followed by the panicked search for affordable housing combined with trying to find a way to tell Lizzie that she’d had a change of heart about her future. All in all, she’d been pretty caught up in the drama that was her life.

But even with all of that, she couldn’t hide from this piece of reality forever. The backs of her eyes stung, and she blinked repeatedly. The life she’d always known—Lizzie and Jules joined at the hip—was over.

She was now alone in this great big world.

* * *

The smiles.

The I-love-you looks.

The kisses.

Stefano couldn’t wait to bolt for the door. His younger brother certainly had it bad for Lizzie. Whatever was going on with the wedding, they certainly weren’t about to call it off. Maybe they’d already eloped. Stefano ground his teeth together. The thought of his brother doing something so impulsive—so reckless—had Stefano’s whole body tensing up.

He knew what it was to love and lose. He knew the pain...and the guilt that ate at him. He didn’t want Dante to end up like him or their widowed father. DeFiore men inevitably ended up alone—one way or the other. Dante knew all of this; he just chose to ignore it. Avoidance, it was a DeFiore trait. So was stubbornness. And he couldn’t forget to toss in a driving need for independence.

“What has you so quiet this evening, big brother?” Dante clapped him on the back.

“I have a lot on my mind.”

“Really? Do tell?” Dante moved through the open floor plan from the ultramodern black-and-white living room to the stainless steel galley kitchen.

“Nothing you’d be interested in hearing.”

“Aka it’s vineyard business.” Dante pulled open the fridge and perused the contents. “Want something to drink? Looks like Lizzie stocked up on everything for her sister’s arrival.”

“I’m good.”

Dante withdrew a bottle of water and unscrewed the top. “Okay, what’s eating you?”

Before Stefano could think up something to tell his brother besides the truth, the women returned. Thank goodness. He could now escape before the lovey-dovey stuff started again.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Lizzie smiled. When her eyes landed on Dante, she glowed with happiness.

“It really is amazing.” Jules twisted her hands together, looking a bit uncomfortable as the lovebirds radiated toward each other as if by magnetic force. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense—what did you have to tell us about the wedding?”

Stefano’s gaze moved from Jules, with her now sad eyes and her drawn face, to the happy couple who looked as though they belonged on the front of a Valentine’s Day greeting card. With their arms draped around each other’s waist, they looked lovingly into each other’s eyes. Stefano glanced away. He truly wanted it to last for them, but the DeFiore statistics were against them.

“Shall we tell them everything now?” Lizzie stared adoringly up at his brother.

Stefano’s gut rolled nauseously. There was only so much sugary sweetness he could stomach before he became ill. Had he and Gianna ever looked that ridiculously in love? If they had, he couldn’t recall.

“Tell them,” Dante prodded. “It isn’t like it’s a secret. And to pull this off, we’re going to need their help.”

The smile faded from Lizzie’s face. “I guess you’re right—”

“Guys, what is it?” Stefano hadn’t meant to lose his patience, but he really did want to get out of there. He needed to head back to the vineyard, where he could lose himself in work and forget the lovey-dovey stuff as well as Jules’s little purple butterfly that still tempted and teased.

He felt Jules’s narrowed gaze on him. He ignored her as he crossed his arms, willing this to be over. Soon.

“Well, the thing is,” Lizzie began, reaching for Dante’s hand, “the reason we couldn’t pick you up at the airport is that the studio contacted us for a teleconference.”

Jules implored her sister with her big emerald eyes. “Would you just tell us what they said?”

“They want to spotlight our wedding on the show—our very own cooking show.”

“That’s wonderful!” Jules rushed over and hugged her sister.

Stefano held his place. His gut grew uneasy. There was more to follow. He was certain of it.

When the girls pulled apart, Lizzie continued, “The thing is we have to have the wedding in the next two months—”

“What?” Jules’s eyes grew round. “That’s not possible. Do they know what it takes to plan a wedding?”

“They were really excited about the idea. They said it could really boost ratings.” Lizzie clutched Dante’s hand. “I...I told them we could do it.”

“You did what?” Jules’s face filled with color as she pressed her lips together.

Stefano didn’t know if Jules was going to yell or cry. And Lizzie looked upset, too. Honestly, he didn’t know what the big deal was. The only thing you needed was the bride and groom, and the rest was a bunch of froufrou.

“Jules, you don’t understand. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

His gaze ping-ponged between the two women. Tempers were rising. If someone didn’t do something, this happy reunion was going to end up in a fight. And he didn’t want to see that happen—especially when the disagreement would be over something so stupid.

“Ladies, I’m sure it can be worked out. After all, it’s only a wedding. How hard can it be?”

Suddenly everyone’s attention was on him. The two women looked as though they would send poisonous arrows his way if they could. Dante smiled and shook his head, but he didn’t say a word. So much for receiving any support from his own flesh and blood.

Jules marched over to him. She planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. “Exactly how many weddings have you planned?”

He wasn’t about to get into that debate, but when he opened his mouth there was a distinct disconnect between his brain and his vocal cords. “It can’t be that hard. After all, the venue is all taken care of.”

“The venue is only one part of a wedding.”

“So you pick out some pretty dresses and order a cake. Nothing to stress out about.”

Jules glared at him and turned away. “Said like a man who has never planned a wedding.”

Lizzie nodded as though in total agreement. “I know this is short notice. But Dante and I were talking, and we really don’t want to wait a whole year, anyway.”

Jules’s brows lifted. “Is there some other news we should know?”

Color rose in Lizzie’s cheeks. “No. Nothing like that. We’re just anxious to get on with the rest of our lives.”

“But I’m leaving in a week.” Jules worried her bottom lip.

“I know. But if Dante and I buy you an airline ticket for a later date, to make up for the one you’ll be forfeiting, would you consider staying until after the wedding? Please.”

Stefano’s focus zeroed in on Jules. Part of him wanted her to stick with her original plans and leave soon. But a much stronger part of him wanted a chance to check out the butterfly tattoo a little closer—

No! What was he thinking? He didn’t want anything to do with her. Butterfly or no butterfly. He had no intention of getting too close—of feeling too much. The price was too steep. And on top of it all, he didn’t deserve a second chance at happiness.

“Yes, I’ll stay.” Jules crossed her arms and gave Lizzie a firm look. “You know that this is the craziest thing we’ve ever done. Whoever heard of putting together a wedding in two months?”

“We can do it.” Lizzie looked over at Dante. “Didn’t I tell you she’s amazing?”

“Yes, you did.”

Dante swept Lizzie into his arms and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Stefano averted his gaze and ended up staring at Jules. She looked just as uncomfortable as he felt. No one should be as much in love as them. Thankfully he was leaving.

At the DeFiore Vineyard there were no couples in love—no uncomfortable moments. Only memories of mistakes that couldn’t be undone.

CHAPTER THREE

WAS THAT WHAT it was like to be hooked on someone?

Jules gave a slight shake of her head. She wouldn’t know. She’d never let herself get that close to anyone. She glanced at the engaged couple, who were gazing longingly into each other’s eyes. It was as though they had forgotten that anyone else was in the room. She considered making a joking comment, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She’d never seen Lizzie so happy...ever. And she didn’t want to do anything to ruin it.

“I should be going.” Stefano hedged his way toward the door.

“Wait.” Jules sent him a desperate look. He couldn’t just leave her there. “Could you give me a ride?”

She may not want to ruin Lizzie’s happiness, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be subjected to it in large quantities. No way was Stefano escaping this den of love and leaving her trapped. There was only so much she could take of this sugary sweetness. And her teeth already ached.

Lizzie pulled away from Dante. “A ride where?”

“To get a hotel room.”

“Why would you do that?” V-shaped lines formed between Lizzie’s brows. “After all, this will be your home during school breaks.”

“What?” This was news to her.

Before Jules could find the words to set her sister straight, Stefano stepped forward. “Jules might enjoy staying at the villa. It’s quite spacious, and it’ll be helpful for her to see where the wedding will take place.”

Lizzie’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Jules had the feeling she was wearing a similar expression. The man who didn’t approve of her appearance and who thought weddings were a waste of time was now suggesting she stay with him? She wasn’t so sure how she felt about his offer.

Lizzie’s gaze narrowed as it darted between Jules and Stefano. “Thank you, Stefano. But I’m sure Jules will be more comfortable staying here.”

Jules swallowed and straightened her shoulders. “I think a hotel would be best.”

“You really don’t want to stay here?” Lizzie’s voice grew soft, eroding Jules’s resolve.

Dante stepped up and pulled Lizzie close. Her head tilted against his shoulder as if they’d been leaning on each other for years.

Dante met Jules’s gaze. “You are welcome here. Anytime. For as long as you want. It’s your home now, too.”

“Thank you.” It really meant a lot coming from him, but it still didn’t change her mind. She couldn’t impose on them. But she didn’t have the money to stay in a hotel indefinitely. She turned to Stefano. “How far is the vineyard from here?”

“It’s a bit of a drive.”

“But my brother will be happy to get you back and forth.” Dante smiled as though he really liked the idea.

Jules worried her bottom lip. It was only logical that she go home with Stefano, and he seemed fine with the idea. So why was she throwing up roadblocks?

“I guess Stefano’s right. With the wedding being pushed up, we need to get started right away.” And then Jules got an idea and turned to her foster sister. “Maybe you should come with me.”

Lizzie’s expression filled with worry. “I’d really like to, but I have to stay here as they want to start filming this week. I’m sorry.”

“Oh. I see.” It was going to be challenging planning a wedding without the bride constantly on hand, but somehow they’d make it work.

“But I do have some notes.” Lizzie rushed back the hallway and soon returned with a notebook. She handed it over. “I wrote out a bunch of ideas and attached pictures I cut out from magazines. How about you look over these and then we’ll talk?”

“Sounds good. But what about your dress? Will you be able to get something in such a short time frame?”

Lizzie sent her a knowing smile. “I had the same worry. I ran out as soon as the studio proposed the idea, and I found exactly what I wanted. It’s being altered right now.”

“Great.” Check the most important item off the list. “Did you happen to find one for me?”

“Actually I found three that will work. All you have to do is try them on and see which looks the best.”

Okay, so maybe this rushed wedding wasn’t going to be as horrible to plan as she’d initially envisioned. It wasn’t like Lizzie would turn into bridezilla or anything. Her foster sister had never been a prima donna.

“Are you sure you won’t stay here?” Lizzie begged her with both word and look. “I was really hoping we could catch up on everything and watch some old movies together.”

If it were only Lizzie in the apartment, she wouldn’t hesitate to stay. But even now she noticed how Dante and Lizzie gravitated together. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. And if she were perfectly honest, she wanted to see the vineyard. From everything she’d heard, it was gorgeous. Who would pass up a chance to stay at an Italian villa?

Once you got past his solemn attitude, her host wasn’t too bad, either. She glanced over at Stefano, who was talking with his brother. Okay, so he was a lot more like droolworthy. Her stomach fluttered. Thankfully the attraction was a one-way avenue. He’d already made it perfectly clear that she wasn’t his type.

She glanced away—but not soon enough. Lizzie raised her eyebrows, followed by a questioning look. Jules rolled her eyes and shook her head. The last thing she needed was Lizzie thinking that she had a thing for Stefano. He was much too serious for her. And she didn’t have time for a guy. She had other things on her mind—like planning a rushed wedding and figuring out what to do with her future once she withdrew from grad school.

“How are things coming with school?” Lizzie stepped closer to her.

“Uh...good.” That was strange. It was as if Lizzie could read her mind. She considered telling Lizzie her decision and getting it over with, but not with the guys in the room. This delicate conversation was going to require some uninterrupted privacy.

“Are you ready to go?” Stefano sent her a direct look that said he wanted to escape honeymoon central.

“Yes, I am. Just let me grab my bag.”

“I’ve got it.” Stefano gripped the handle.

Jules turned back to Lizzie, who had an expectant look on her face. “We’ll talk later. I’m so happy for you. And don’t worry about a thing. I promise we’ll plan the best wedding. Ever.”

Lizzie’s worried expression eased. “Thank you. You’re the best.”

“I’ll remember that you said that.” Jules smiled, so happy to see her sister again. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

* * *

What in the world had he been thinking?

Stefano shook his head. Obviously he hadn’t been thinking, at least not clearly. What he knew about playing host wouldn’t even fill up his mother’s thimble—a memento that his father kept on his dresser. And what Stefano knew about making women happy was practically nonexistent. His wife could attest to that—if she were still alive. Guilt weighed heavy on his shoulders.

It was just one more reason that taking Jules home with him wasn’t a good idea. Because once you got past all the makeup and distinctive clothes, there was something special about Jules—something that intrigued him. And that was definitely not a good thing.

But he couldn’t just leave her stranded there with those two. His brother could barely keep his hands off Lizzie. Not that he could blame him.

But there was no way anyone could convince Stefano to stay in that apartment—no matter how spacious it was. There was only so much of that mushy stuff that one could handle. Regardless of his hesitation, Jules didn’t deserve to play the third wheel.

“Thank you.”

Her voice startled him out of his thoughts. “What?”

“Thank you for helping me out back there. I don’t think I could have stood to watch them much longer. Did you ever see such a happy couple?”

He shook his head. At last, they had something in common. “They certainly have it bad for each other.”

“You noticed that, too?”

He nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. “What do you think about their rush to say I do?”

“I was beginning to think that Lizzie was never going to settle down with a family of her own, especially after—well, anyway, it’s full steam ahead.”

After what? He wanted to ask, but he didn’t. He just hoped that Dante knew what Jules was referring to. He wasn’t crazy about the rushed engagement and even less so about the hurried wedding. He wished Dante would take his time and give the whole marriage idea more thought.

Perhaps now Stefano wasn’t the only one with reservations. He’d noticed the brief frown that had crossed Jules’s face back at the love nest when she thought no one was looking. Maybe she’d had a change of heart about this whirlwind romance.

Could it be he had an ally—someone who thought the happy couple should slow down and see reason? Sure, the television people were anxious for the wedding. The only thing that mattered to them was their ratings. But marriage was about so much more than a popularity contest. It was a lifelong commitment—one that could have devastating consequences if you weren’t careful.

He cleared his throat. “That sure was a surprise about them pushing the wedding up so far. It’s only a matter of weeks away. I wonder if they’re doing the right thing.”

He took his focus off the road for a moment and glanced over to find Jules studying him suspiciously. Definitely not a good sign. It would seem that he’d read her reactions all wrong.

“What are you worried about?” she asked. “Don’t you like Lizzie? Don’t you think she’s good enough for your brother?”

“Whoa! Slow down. That isn’t what I meant.” Why in the world had he even opened his mouth? He should have just left well enough alone.

He kept glancing between Jules and the road. She crossed her arms and arched a brow at him. She was waiting for an explanation, and he didn’t know exactly what to say. He didn’t want to open his mouth and insert his freshly polished dress shoe. But she didn’t look as though she was about to let him off the proverbial hook anytime soon.

He sighed. “What I meant was that if it’s real between them, there’s no need to rush—no matter what the television studio says. They can take their time—”

“That’s not the real truth, is it?” When he didn’t have an immediate denial, Jules barreled on. “The truth is you know about Lizzie’s past and you don’t think that she’s good enough to marry into the DeFiore family.”

“That’s not true.” He wished that was the case. If his disapproval was the only obstacle Dante and Lizzie had to face, their future would be paved in rose petals. But the truth was he thought they made a great couple—a couple totally in love with each other. The problem with love was that it was blind and deaf to the truth. And sooner or later, devastation would plan a sneak attack—it always did. But how did he explain any of that to Jules? Unless you had lived through it—twice in his case—you just couldn’t truly understand.

Marriage to a DeFiore ended with dire consequences.

“Then what is it?” Jules continued to stare at him. “Why are you against this wedding?”

“I’m not. At least not as far as them being together.”

“But...”

He couldn’t do it.

Telling Jules the whole truth wasn’t an option. He couldn’t pry open that door to his past—to relive the pain. And though he barely knew her, he couldn’t stand the thought of Jules turning those luminous green eyes on him in judgment, followed by condemnation. Gianna’s family still looked at him that way. He’d finally accepted that they’d always blame him.

Pain and worry drowned out his common sense, and he spoke from his tattered heart. “I don’t think they know each other well enough yet. Heck, even when you’ve known someone for years, there’s still so much adjustment you have to make.”

“You sound as though you know this firsthand.”

He shrugged off her comment.

There he’d gone and done it. He’d cracked open the door to his past. And now he just hoped he could get it closed again before too many memories leaked out. The painful image of his wife’s mangled car being towed away had him gripping the steering wheel tighter.

He choked down the jagged lump in his throat. “The point is that I like Lizzie. I think she’s great.”

“You do?” There was a note of surprise mingled with happiness in Jules’s voice. “Really?”

He nodded and then switched on the turn signal as they neared the entrance to the vineyard. “I just don’t want them to rush things and then find out later that they made a mistake.”

“Is that what you think they’re doing? Making a mistake?”

He shrugged again. “I think love is a two-edged sword. And if you aren’t careful, you’ll get cut.”

He didn’t look at her this time, but he could feel her steady gaze on him. He wasn’t going any further with this conversation. He didn’t owe her any other explanations. None whatsoever.

CHAPTER FOUR

HONESTY RANG OUT in Stefano’s voice.

But could Jules believe her ears?

Did he truly like her sister? Or was he just telling her what he thought she wanted to hear? Jules wanted to believe him. Truly she did. But there was something more to his hesitation than the wedding being bumped up. And that made her intensely curious.

“Here we are.” Stefano’s deep voice with its heavy accent drew her out of her thoughts.

With the setting sun at her back, Jules stared out over the vast sloping green fields. It was the most gorgeous evening she’d ever seen. Brilliant pinks and purples painted the sky, while the symmetrical rows of bountiful grapevines were shadowed against the horizon. It was a little piece of heaven on earth.

“You live here?”

“The DeFiore family has lived here for generations.”

He turned the car down a small lane. Off to the side sat a painted wooden sign. Gold letters on a deep purple background spelled out DEFIORE WINERY. It was very stylish. Something told her this villa was going to be more impressive than she’d been imagining. Already the landscape had an essence of romance and blissful happiness written all over it.

What exactly had she gotten herself into by agreeing to stay here?

A sexy Italian by her side, the poshest car she’d ever ridden in and the most magnificent countryside added up to trouble. She was certain of it.

Then again, why fight it? Why not enjoy it? This was her treat for working so hard to graduate with high honors from college. Granted she’d been a couple of years older than her classmates, a result of enrolling late because of a financial hardship. But none of that meant the classes had been any easier for her.

“Here we are.” Stefano slowed the car to a stop outside a sprawling villa. “I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”

“I...I’m certain I will be.”

She gazed up at the sprawling three-story villa. This was more like a colorful mansion than a cozy country home. She caught herself gaping and pressed her lips together. Bright blue shutters adorned each window and door. The color contrasted well with the sunny yellow walls and the red tile roof. Someone sure appreciated vibrant colors. And she couldn’t blame them. It made a happy, welcoming statement.

The various balconies beckoned to her. Was it possible that her room would have one? She hoped so. She envisioned strolling out there to enjoy her morning coffee. Wow. People really lived like this?

She couldn’t help but glance around looking for someone with a video camera. But there was no one in sight. Somehow it was hard to imagine that this villa was someone’s home and not a prop on a television show about the rich and famous. And Stefano could easily fit the part of a sexy movie star who set women’s heart’s racing—except hers. She was immune to his charms.

Stefano opened the car door for her, and she stepped out. “This place is amazing.”

“Thank you.”

“It’ll be the perfect backdrop for the wedding.” She glanced around, searching for the ideal spot for Lizzie and Dante to say their vows.

“You’re thinking of having the ceremony outside?”

A gentle breeze tickled her skin. “Of course. With such a beautiful setting, it’s not even worth considering any other place.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what do you know about planning a wedding? Are you—I mean, have you been married?”

She laughed. She couldn’t help it. The thought of her making such a commitment was akin to asking her if she could sprout wings and fly. Sure, she hoped that Lizzie would live happily ever after, but, as for herself, she didn’t believe in putting her future in someone else’s hands.

“I’m a confirmed bachelorette.”

His dark brows lifted. “Really?”

“Don’t look so shocked. Men don’t have the market cornered on staying single.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I just never met a woman that didn’t believe in roses, platitudes and promises of forever.”

“Well, now you have.”

“So I have.”

Though she’d never admit it, standing here in this little piece of heaven on earth with a man whose thoughts extended beyond his zipper, she could at last understand why some women went the romantic forever route. She turned, and their gazes connected. She should glance away, but she didn’t want to. Not yet. Her stomach quivered. She’d never experienced such a sensation around a man. What was it about him that had her body betraying her?

Whatever it was, she’d have to be careful around him. No way was she going to fall for some unrealistic fantasy. She knew for a fact that the people you were supposed to trust the most were the first to let you down—the first to inflict pain. Her father had done it first. And then her mother had let her down in the worst way.

Jules refused to let herself get close enough to a man for him to hurt her.

* * *

The following morning, Stefano found himself lingering in the updated kitchen longer than necessary. Instead of his normal one cup of caffè, he’d just finished his second when he turned to refill his cup and found the pot empty.

Oh, this was ridiculous. He was stalling, and by the look on Maria’s face, their cook/housekeeper knew it, too. Thankfully she didn’t say a word about his beautiful houseguest. Maria turned her back to him and set about making a fresh pot.

He carried his empty cup to the sink.

Maria tilted her head to look at him. “If you wait, you can have more caffè.”

“No, thanks.” He forced a smile before gazing out the window at the brilliant morning sunshine casting a golden glow over the ordered rows of grapevines. “I’m just tired today. I was up late last night catching up on some paperwork for the winery. Harvest time will be here soon. We need to be prepared.”

Maria’s dark head nodded before she moved to the fridge. Just great. Now he was talking like a blathering fool. He shouldn’t be standing around—waiting for Jules. She’d be fine on her own. He’d shown her all around the villa yesterday.

The less he thought about the woman who wore far too much makeup, the better. His work was waiting for him, and it wasn’t getting done standing here.

“Thanks for breakfast.”

“Don’t worry so much. Everything will work out.”

Before he could ask what she meant, he heard footsteps. He turned to find Jules standing there in black shorts and a sheer long-sleeved black top. But what sent his heart slamming into his ribs was the black bra that was visible beneath her top. Wait. It was more than a bra, but not much more. There was a strip of stomach visible, and the spaghetti straps left her arms bare beneath the sheer top.

His first instinct was to get her one of his long-sleeved shirts to put on. What if one of the workmen saw her like this? His gut knotted up. Then again, why should he care what clothes she wore? Or who looked at her? But he couldn’t shrug off the unsettling feeling of protectiveness. He didn’t want other men ogling her.

The thought brought him up short. He couldn’t be jealous. That was ridiculous. He had no claim on her. Nor would he. She could traipse around in her birthday suit and it’d mean nothing to him.

So then why was the sight of her in that sexy little outfit warming his blood? His jaw tightened, and his body tensed. It’d be best if he thought of something else—and quick.

“Good morning.” She smiled as though she didn’t have a care in the world. “I didn’t mean to sleep in so late. I guess all of the traveling is catching up with me.”

Stefano’s mouth went dry, and his mind went blank. He should say something. Yet his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He was staring. And he couldn’t tear his gaze from her.

Maria stepped between them and offered Jules breakfast—a hearty one. As Jules dug in, the fact that the slip of a woman had such a hearty appetite didn’t escape his attention. When her eyes met his there was a twinkle of amusement in them.

He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did. I opened the window and a cool breeze put me straight to sleep.”

He sure hadn’t slept well—not at all. Thoughts of the little butterfly tattoo had fluttered through his mind. His attention strayed to her chest, but the material obscured his view. Just as well. He was better off not thinking of it at all.

Work. Concentrate on today’s tasks.

“I’m heading out to the fields.”

Jules’s eyes lit up. “Are you going to pick grapes? It looks like such fun on television.”

He chuckled. It was refreshing having someone around who didn’t think she was an expert when it came to the vines. “No. It’s not that time of the year. But at harvest time, you’re welcome to come back and join us.”

“Thanks.” The enthusiasm in her voice made him smile. “I just might take you up on the offer. But is it hard to learn?”

“No. Anyone can do it. I’m sure you’ll take right to it.”

Her lips pursed together. “I’ll definitely keep it in mind. Thank you for the invite.”

He mentally kicked himself for extending such a ridiculous invitation. Like she was going to fly all the way back to Italy to pick grapes. Yeah, right. But what if she did? Hope ballooned in his chest, and he immediately squelched it.

“If you aren’t picking grapes, what do you do?”

“There’s always something that needs tending. Right now, I’m going to thin the shoots.”

“Interesting.” Her brows scrunched together. “Sorry. I don’t know much about making wine. Actually I don’t know anything at all about it except how to drink it.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to offer to show her the basics, but spending time with her wasn’t a good idea. Besides, she was only feigning interest in the grapes to be nice. After all, why would this city girl be interested in a bunch of plants? He assured himself that she had plenty of wedding stuff to keep her occupied.

His grandfather shuffled into the kitchen using a walker to assist him. Ever since Nonno had a stroke, forcing him to hand over the reins of Ristorante Massimo to Dante, he’d been living at the villa. Nonno was his mother’s father and the only grandfather Stefano had even known. He loved him dearly and was so relieved to find that Nonno was starting to pull himself out of that dark place he’d briefly visited after being forced into retirement.

Stefano spoke up. “Nonno, this is Jules, Lizzie’s sister. She got in last night. Jules, this is my grandfather, Massimo.”

“I’m old, not deaf.” His grandfather frowned at him before turning a lopsided smile to Jules. “Welcome.”

Stefano smiled and shook his head. His grandfather still had an eye for women. Some things didn’t change. Stefano watched as his grandfather interacted with Jules. The frown lines on his face eased, and that took years off his appearance. Obviously Stefano wasn’t the only one to find a special quality in Jules that made the world a brighter place.

Jules smiled brightly at Nonno. “Lizzie has told me a lot about you, too.”

“All good, I hope.” His grandfather’s speech was still a bit slurred, but Stefano was either getting used to it or his grandfather’s therapy was helping him.

“Only the best. She told me you are quite handsome and a wonderful conversationalist.”

Nonno joined Jules at the table. He reached out and squeezed her hand. Her smile lit up her eyes. Jealousy poked at Stefano. She never smiled that brightly at him. She always remained reserved, as if she were prepared for him to bite her at any moment. And now that his grandfather was there it was as though she’d forgotten he was even in the room.

“Well, I’ll let you eat your breakfast.” Stefano needed to get away—to get some fresh air to clear his thoughts.

His grandfather didn’t say a word as he sipped at his caffè.

At last, Jules turned to Stefano as though she’d just remembered his presence. “I shouldn’t have slept so late. Lizzie will be here at lunch so that we can get started with the wedding plans.”

“Then I’ll leave you to your planning.” He slipped out the door feeling torn between the relief of escaping and the disappointment that he wouldn’t see her again until dinner.

CHAPTER FIVE

“I WAS BEGINNING to think that I’d never find you.” Jules strode up to Stefano. She’d just about given up when she spotted him checking the vines.

He furrowed his brow. “I thought you’d be inside making wedding plans with Lizzie.”

“She canceled it.”

“The wedding—”

“No. It’s still on.” Heat rushed up and filled Jules’s face. “I meant she canceled our plans for today. She said that she had to stick around the restaurant for a video conference with the people at the studio. Something about finalizing some details for next week’s taping. They sure have a lot of meetings for a reality show.”

Stefano stepped away from the grapevines and joined Jules in the rutted dirt path. “That show seems to take up more and more of their time. When my brother started coming home less and less on the weekends, he blamed it on filming conflicts. Me, personally, I thought it was because he wanted alone time with Lizzie, but it seems now he’s been telling the truth.”

“That’s too bad. But at least they’re happy. And I suppose it won’t last forever. This is their fifteen minutes of fame.”

He dusted his hands off on his faded jeans. “I was just heading back to the barn.”

“The barn?”

He pointed to a large building off in the distance with a stone facade. “It’s where we produce the wine. Beneath it is the barrel cellar.”

“Do you mind if I tag along? There’s something I want to ask you.” Since Lizzie couldn’t drive out to the vineyard, she’d asked if Jules would mind meeting them in Rome the next day. It sounded important, but Lizzie had been very closemouthed and said they’d talk at dinner.

“Sure. Come on.” They fell in step, side by side. “What’s on your mind?”

The thought of begging him for a ride into the city didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t like relying on others. Lizzie had said to bring Stefano along, but with all the work he had to do, would he want to drive all that way just to have dinner? She decided to put off asking him. She was enjoying his good mood, and this was her chance to get to know him a little better.

“It’s big.” She pointed to the wine barn. “Really big.”

“It wasn’t always that size. My father and I have done a lot to expand the business. Although we made a point of keeping the outside looking traditional, the inside has been totally modernized. We want to grow DeFiore winery into a household name. Hopefully it can be passed on from generation to generation.”

“I’m sure your children will appreciate all of your efforts—”

“I don’t have kids.” His quick response caught her off guard.

“I kinda guessed that. But you will as soon as you meet the right woman. Isn’t that what all of this is for?”

“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Maybe Dante’s kids will take an interest in the business.”

Jules glanced over at him, noticing the strained look on his face as he kept his line of vision straight ahead. She wondered about his strong reaction to the thought of having kids.

Maybe it had something to do with her surprise in finding that she was the only woman aside from Maria living at the villa. Where were the women? Stefano was very handsome. In fact, if she were looking for fun beneath the Italian sun, he’d be first on her list. Was he still mourning his wife? Not that it was any of her business. But still she was curious.

“How about you?” Stefano’s voice drew her out of her thoughts.

“What?”

“Are you interested in having a family?”

He was the first person to ask her that question. Not even Lizzie had asked her. And she supposed she owed him some sort of answer since she’d brought up the subject in the first place.

“Do I look like mother material?”

“Sure. I guess.”

“You aren’t even looking at me.”

He stopped walking and turned to her. Silence ensued as he stared at her. “I think that beneath all of that makeup lies a beautiful woman who can have whatever she sets her mind on.”

Her heart stopped. He thought she was beautiful? This was yet another thing that no one had ever said to her. What did she say now?

She moved her tongue from where it was stuck to the top of her mouth, hoping her voice would work. “Thanks. But you don’t have to say that just to make me feel better.”

“I’m not.” His eyes darkened as he continued to stare at her as though he was truly seeing her. “There’s something special about you.”

A fluttering sensation filled her chest, and all she could think about was sinking into his arms and finding out if his kisses were as romantic as the ones she watched in the black-and-white movies that played late at night when she was alone while her friends were out on dates.

“I’m out of the loop on what’s in style as far as women’s fashions. I suppose that the makeup and dark clothes are a fashion statement.”

Jules glanced down at her black-on-black ensemble. She never really stopped to think about her appearance. She’d been dressing like this for so many years that it was just natural for her. It hid the ugly scars that lurked beneath—a reminder of a part of her life that was best left hidden and buried.

“Actually, it’s just my style.”

“I see. It...it’s different from how the women in these parts dress. In the village, things are more simplistic than you’ll find in Rome or Milan.”

Normally she’d have taken that as an insult, but he’d already said he thought she was beautiful...beneath the makeup. So maybe he was just stating a fact. She stood out around here. But she didn’t have anything else to wear—anything that would make her fit in better. Not that she planned to—fit in, that is.

She toyed with a loose thread on the hem of her top. “It’s just so different back in New York. It’s like a melting pot of styles and trends.”

“I can imagine. But I’m confused. What does your appearance have to do with you becoming a mother?”

Back to that subject—the one she didn’t want to delve into. “I’m not having kids.”

“As in ever?”

“As in never ever. I wouldn’t have a clue how to be a good mother.” And there she’d gone and blurted out more than she’d intended to say—more than she normally shared with anyone.

Stefano started walking again toward the barn, and she fell in step beside him, waiting and wondering what he’d ask next. They moved along quietly for a few minutes. A gentle breeze brushed over Jules’s face and made her pigtails flutter. But it was the man to her left that had her chest all aquiver. He really thought she was beautiful? Her heart tumbled.

As they neared the large stone structure, Stefano cleared his throat. “You’d be surprised at what people are capable of when their hearts are involved.”

She shook her head. “Trust me. I didn’t have a good role model.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Not as sorry as I am.

Just then she heard something. A squeak? A squeal? A cry?

She stopped walking. “Did you hear that?”

Stefano stopped and glanced back at her. “I don’t hear anything. What is it—”

“Shhh...” Her gaze darted around the foundation of the building, where the grass was higher.

If it was a rat, she was going to scream and jump on Stefano’s back. She may be pushing to gain her independence from her foster sister, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a weakness or two. And rodents gave her the willies. Still curiosity drove her on.

Squeak.

“Did you hear it that time?”

He nodded. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s just some sort of wildlife that can take care of itself. Come on. I’ll give you the unofficial tour of the winery.”

“We can’t leave. Not yet. What if it’s hurt?”

Stefano arched a brow. “Didn’t you just get done telling me that you weren’t the motherly type?”

“I’m not.” Though deep down she wished someday she could be the kind of mother that she’d dreamed of. “But that doesn’t mean that I’m heartless. The creature might be starved or worse.”

She didn’t want to think about the worse part. She’d always had a tender spot for animals, even though she’d never been able to have a pet. Her foster homes wouldn’t allow animals. And then the apartment lease forbade them. But now that she was moving, perhaps she’d look for a pet-friendly apartment.

She hunched over and started searching around the shrubs and through the greenery along the side of the building. When she glanced over her shoulder, she found Stefano standing there staring at her.

“Don’t just stand there. Help me.” She didn’t wait for his response as she turned and continued her hunt.

There was a distinct sigh from Stefano followed by the sound of his approaching footsteps. She wished whatever it was would squeak again. She couldn’t see any signs of life. What was it? And where was it?

“Is this what you’re searching for?”

Jules immediately straightened and turned. Her gaze landed on a fuzzy ball of orange fur. “What is it?”

Stefano chuckled. “Don’t you city girls know a kitten when you see one?”

“A kitten?” Her mouth fell open, and she forced it shut. She moved closer. “Is it yours?”

He shook his head. “Not mine.”

“Then how did it get here?” She glanced around, not seeing any nearby houses.

“Sometimes when people don’t want animals, they drop them off. I don’t know why they think this is a good place to leave animals, especially cats. It isn’t like we’re a dairy farm or anything.”

She stuck out her hand to pet it, then paused just inches from the ball of fluff. “Is...is it okay?”

“I’m no vet but...” He lifted the little thing up and gave it a once-over. “I think it’s scared to death and starved. Otherwise, I think it’s okay.”

Jules blew out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. “Can I pet it?”

His brow crinkled. “Sure. It isn’t that fragile.”

Her fingertips stroked the dirty and tangled fur. She could feel its little ribs as they moved in and out with each breath. And then it turned to look at her. Its crusty little blue eyes peered at her. In that moment, Jules’s heart melted. How could anyone dump such a sweet little thing?

“Do you want to hold it?” Stefano held out the kitten to her.

“Sure. But...but I don’t want to hurt it.”

“Trust me—you’ll be fine.”

She held out her hands, and then there was a little pile of fur in them. She didn’t know that anything could be so featherlight. Her fingers instinctively stroked the fur. She could so relate to this kitten. She knew what it was like to be abused by those who are supposed to care for you.

“Aww...it’s so sweet.” She lifted the kitten until they were face-to-face. “Don’t worry. You’re safe now.”

As she started back toward the house, Stefano called out to her, “What about the tour of the winery?”

“It’ll have to wait. Apricot needs some food.”

“Apricot?” There was a pause and then the sound of him catching up to her. “What are you planning to do with...Apricot?”

“Feed her, of course.” What did he think she was going to do with the poor little thing?

“I meant after that. Do you really think it’s such a good idea to name it?”

She saw the concern in his eyes. What was he worried about? That she didn’t have a clue what she was doing? That somehow she’d hurt Apricot? Maybe he was right. She didn’t know what she was doing, but she was willing to learn.

“We can’t keep calling her ‘it.’ That’s not a name. And I may not know anything about cats, but I can learn. That’s what the internet is for.” And then a worrisome thought formed. “Or are you worried about having the cat in the house?”

“The cat in the house is fine. It’s a big place, and if you keep it in your suite of rooms, no one will even know it’s there.”

As they walked on in silence, Jules’s nerves kicked up. She really didn’t know what she was doing. What if she did hurt the kitten? After all, she’d never taken care of anyone but herself, and even then Lizzie had always been around.

This is why she wasn’t having children—ever. She didn’t know thing one about taking care of others. And judging by the worried expression on Stefano’s face, he agreed. She glanced down at Apricot. Someone had to do his or her best for the kitten. And for the moment that was her.

“What did you want to talk to me about, you know, before the whole cat thing?”

That’s right. She still had to spring the idea of a trip into the city on him. “What exactly are you doing tomorrow?”

CHAPTER SIX

WHY EXACTLY HAD he agreed to dinner out?

Stefano sat stiffly in a chair in one of Rome’s finest hotels. Jules and Lizzie were chatting nonstop about wedding preparations. And he wanted to be anywhere but listening to things like guest lists, linen choices and table settings. All it did was stir up long-forgotten memories.

His wedding to Gianna had started with such promise. Then the problems had set in—inconsequential things at first. A comment about a forgotten toothpaste cap seemed so minor. Then things escalated to a litany of how he’d lost interest in her. He’d thought it was what every married couple went through as they adjusted to married life.

He tried to do better. He started taking Gianna to Rome as often as his work would allow him to be away. She’d always loved the city. And he’d loved spoiling her. But when he’d mentioned starting a family, she’d gotten angry. She didn’t want to be trapped at the vineyard with a baby. She wasn’t ready to settle down into family life. She wanted the money the vineyard provided, but she didn’t want anything to do with a quiet country life. Stefano tried, but he just couldn’t understand why she didn’t want a family of their own. Wasn’t that just a natural progression of marriage—having babies?

“Hey, man, what has you so quiet?” Dante leaned back in his chair after the server removed the now empty dishes from the table.

“Nothing.” He shrugged off the unwanted memories.

“Don’t tell me that. I know you. And something is eating at you.”

It was true. His brother could still read him quite well. He’d really been there for him after Gianna’s death. And the fact that Dante had witnessed what he’d gone through after losing Gianna either made Dante brave for going ahead with this wedding or foolish. Stefano wasn’t sure which was the case.

“Are you really serious about wanting to move the wedding to this hotel?” Stefano wanted to turn the conversation away from himself. “I thought you wanted to get married at the vineyard. What changed?”

Dante raked his fingers through his hair. “The television people. They’re making it nearly impossible to do what we want with the wedding.”

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