It started with a marriage for their baby...

Now Marco’s back—to claim his wife for real!

Brianna’s marriage to Italian tycoon Marco Dirici was for the sake of their unexpected baby. But Brianna needs the one thing she’s realized Marco can never give her—love. Fleeing to New York with her young son, Brianna tries to forget the magic of her husband’s touch. Until Marco arrives on her doorstep, determined to reclaim his family!

NINA SINGH lives just outside of Boston, USA, with her husband, children, and a very rambunctious Yorkie. After several years in the corporate world she finally followed the advice of family and friends to ‘give the writing a go, already’. She’s oh-so-happy she did. When not at her keyboard she likes to spend time on the tennis court or golf course. Or immersed in a good read.

Also by Nina Singh

Miss Prim and the Maverick MillionaireThe Marriage of InconvenienceSnowed in with the Reluctant Tycoon

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Reunited with Her Italian Billionaire

Nina Singh

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07726-2

REUNITED WITH HER ITALIAN BILLIONAIRE

© 2018 Nilay Nina Singh

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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To my parents—you always said I could.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

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

EPILOGUE

Extract

CHAPTER ONE

SHE SHOULD HAVE known he would come.

The dark, commanding man at her back door was the last person Brianna wanted to see. Though she should have guessed. Marco Dirici had a knack for showing up in her life unbidden and unwelcome.

Brianna peeked through the side window again. She knew it was him. The voice had confirmed it. Still, she couldn’t help but wish that maybe if she looked again it would be someone else standing there.

No such luck. It was definitely Marco, in the flesh. Not that she was surprised. He wasn’t the kind of man to stay away.

Brianna looked down at the worn gray T-shirt she was wearing and swiped at the dark smudges under her eyes. Great. Six long months since she’d last seen him and he had to catch her on a morning when she looked her absolute worst.

But what did it matter anyhow? She no longer cared what she looked like in front of Marco. Except that he was immaculate as usual. The leather jacket he wore brought out the black of his eyes. His dark hair fell over his forehead the way she remembered. It hadn’t been that long ago that she’d taken great pleasure in gently stroking that wayward lock off his face, only to have it fall forward again.

“Brianna, open the door. I know you’re in there.” His voice sounded from the other side of the door, dripping with that sexy Italian accent that haunted her dreams.

“Cara, open the door,” Marco repeated. “I don’t want to have to ring the bell. Little Enzo is probably still sleeping.”

At the mention of her son, Brianna forgot all about her appearance and her apprehension. Two-year-old Lorenzo was the reason Marco was here.

Slowly, she unlatched the lock and stepped aside to let her husband in.

Marco brushed past her without so much as a glance.

“What took you so long? I had to go around the back when you didn’t answer the front door.”

She’d been in a deep sleep. Enzo had kept her up half the night refusing to go into his crib.

He gave her a stern look when she didn’t answer. “I thought the little old lady across the street was going to come at me with a broom. I’m positive she thinks I’m here to commit some kind of crime.”

Are you?

Brianna shoved the door closed and turned to face him. “What in the world are you doing here?”

“What do you think? I spoke to Nonna.”

Of course. She should have never made that phone call to Marco’s grandmother. But Brianna had been truly desperate for some advice from someone else who loved and cared about Enzo.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she answered.

“I grew tired of waiting for you to come to your senses,” he said. “And I missed my son. What did you expect me to do?”

A small part of her wanted to hear that he’d missed her as well. But that was such a silly thought. He wanted nothing to do with her. He never really had. As she stood aching inside at seeing him again.

If it was possible, he was even more handsome than she remembered. Those dark eyes she’d lost herself in so many times in the past were as deep as always. She couldn’t lose herself again. Not to this man. Not ever. She had given him too much of herself already.

“I didn’t expect you to do anything.” She walked over to the baby monitor on the counter and turned it up, just to give herself something to do. “Only to respect my wishes and give Enzo and me the time we need.”

“You’ve been gone for six months.”

“Nothing has changed, Marco. You’ve wasted a trip across the world for no reason.”

“You want a divorce, cara. I am not divorcing my child.”

Brianna stiffened. “That’s not fair. You know that’s the last thing I want.”

He let out a laugh which sounded far from amused. “Is that what you call hauling him thousands of miles away?”

She took a deep breath. “Look, when I left I promised you we’d come to a fair agreement about visitation. Until we do that, you can’t just show up here unannounced. You can see him at designated times or not at all.”

He was in front of her in an instant, hardly an inch of space separating them. “I don’t think so. You throw me crumbs and then have the nerve to threaten those measly bits. That I cannot allow you to do.”

Brianna’s heart pounded. She had to stand up to him. “Don’t fight me on this, Marco. I need to make a clean break.”

He took her hand in a gentle but firm grip. “I won’t let go of my son, Brianna.”

Any hope she had that Marco might have changed over the past few months evaporated. “And I don’t want that either. I’m sorry you don’t understand.”

He sighed and dropped her hand. “You’re right. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why your desire to cook for others in New York City overrides your desire to be my wife back in Italy. I certainly don’t understand why you needed to leave.”

He was certainly right about that. He never did understand. “I had no choice.”

“So you seem to believe.”

For the briefest moment, Brianna thought she saw utter weariness in his face. But the look was gone in an instant. Perhaps she had imagined it.

“No, you’re wrong. I couldn’t have been a good mother to Enzo being as unhappy as I was.”

“And this.” He gestured around the small house. “This is what makes you happy?”

Brianna crossed her arms in front of her chest. She didn’t know how to answer that. No, she wasn’t happy. Things hadn’t worked out at all the way they were supposed to since she’d moved back to New York. Mostly, and to her utter horror, her son had so far not adjusted well at all.

But those last months in Italy, things had just been getting colder and colder between them. In fact, they weren’t even pretending to be an actual married couple anymore. Simply two people living under the same roof. That was what happened when one tried to force a family into existence. She should have known better.

Still, she hadn’t expected to miss Marco as much as she did.

He looked at her expectantly. His next words made her wonder if he’d somehow read her mind about missing him. “So tell me what makes you happy, cara.” His dark, smoldering eyes fell to her lips.

He stepped closer. Brianna forced herself to look away. If she wasn’t careful, she could so easily fall into the Marco Dirici trap again. His voice, that look.

“Do you remember being happy at least at first?” he asked.

And what kind of a question was that?

As if she could forget. Her mind automatically recalled the first time he’d kissed her. They’d met only hours before. Yet, she couldn’t resist his charm and sheer magnetism. She hardly recognized herself that night and the following week after meeting him.

A small wailing sound from the monitor jarred her back and she glanced at the wall. “Now see what you’ve done? He’s awake. It’s at least an hour until his usual wake-up time.”

Marco sighed then stepped away from her. Was that a hint of disappointment she detected in his eyes? Probably not.

“I’d like to see my son.”

Brianna took a steadying breath and waited a beat for the pounding in her chest to slow. Then she made her way toward the stairs.

* * *

Marco watched her walk away and cursed himself. After six months without laying eyes on her, the second he’d seen her again he’d felt like a damn hormonal teenager. The same way he had close to three years ago. And just like back then, it had only taken one look at her. Her emerald-green eyes still blazed, just as he remembered. And her lips. Heavens, those lips reminded him of sin. Her nightwear left little to the imagination. But he already knew every inch of her. She was exquisite, she was stunning. And for a while, she had been his.

But never completely.

What was it about this woman that made him lose such control? The last thing he’d had on his mind when he’d walked in here was to travel down memory lane and reminisce about the first time he’d laid eyes on her.

He rubbed his brow. He couldn’t let his attraction to her complicate matters on this trip. The attraction was merely physical. Same as always. He needed more from her than she was willing to give. He’d never begged a woman for anything.

He certainly wasn’t going to start with his soon-to-be ex-wife. And certainly not to delay the inevitable.

He had only two reasons to be here: to tell Brianna she could have the divorce she so wanted and, most importantly, to work out final custody of Enzo. His son was all that mattered now. He’d never really expected Brianna to stay around. Women came and women went. But familia... He would fight to keep his blood.

He looked around the house he knew she rented. The kitchen was tidy, with a small round table in the center. Through an arched doorway he could see a living room with a center sitting area. A bay window overlooked the street. The house was small, modest.

There was nothing overtly wrong with the place, but it certainly didn’t compare to the expansive mansion Brianna had lived in as his wife.

She preferred it here.

Not that he was surprised. His arrival in her life three years ago had served to totally derail it. At that time she had just landed a new job, was working hard to make a name for herself in the New York culinary world. Then he’d come along and disrupted it all. Before they knew it and to their combined utter shock, they found themselves unwed and expecting. He’d asked her to marry him and join him in Italy. For a while it seemed as if the union might work. But it quickly became obvious they were headed down a rocky road.

For one, Brianna had a difficult pregnancy. Passion, the one thing that bound them, had to be put on hold. And the expansion of Dirici Foods had hit snag after snag, taking him away from home consistently.

Still, Marco had hoped she would fall in love with her new home. That she would try to acclimate and settle into the new life she found herself in, regardless of how unexpectedly it had come about. But that had not happened. He never should have expected it. Foolish, really.

Something tightened in his gut. The time had simply come to cut his losses.

He had to finalize things with her in New York quickly, and then he had to get out of her life as best he could.

* * *

The hard children’s book hurtling toward Brianna missed her head by mere inches. She rose from her ducked position as the book bounced against the wall with a thud and landed on the floor.

“Now! Now! Now!”

“Enzo, we don’t throw things at Mama,” Brianna scolded. A teddy bear hit her on the chest.

“Do you want me to start taking your favorite toys out of your crib?”

“Out! Now!”

Brianna picked up the screaming child and held him close, hoping to calm him down. Enzo smelled of baby shampoo and the delicate scent of talc.

Even during moments like this, Brianna couldn’t believe the sheer wave of emotion that holding her child brought forth. She’d never expected to have a child at this stage of her life. But she was grateful beyond words to have him. Especially considering the terrifying touch-and-go moments that plagued her pregnancy. She’d prayed daily that her precious little boy would be born full term and healthy, so thankful finally when he had.

“Keech!” Enzo shouted in her ear.

“We’ll go down to the kitchen in a moment,” Brianna said. “But first I need to tell you something.” She set him down.

Enzo ran toward the stairs, not listening at all. She followed close behind. He hadn’t quite mastered going down the steps yet but that never slowed him down.

“Enzo, wait.”

He was already pulling open the unlocked safety gate at the top of the stairs when Brianna caught up to him.

“Keech! Keech!”

“All right, all right.” Brianna took his hand and slowly, carefully walked him down the stairs. “We’re going down there now. There’s someone here to see you.”

As soon as they reached the first-floor landing, he ran to the kitchen.

“Joos!”

When he spotted Marco, Enzo came to a sudden halt. Brianna noticed the thinly veiled derision in Marco’s expression as he lifted Enzo into his arms.

The baby monitor. Marco had overheard her and Enzo’s little exchange.

“Hi!” Enzo said loudly, grabbing Marco’s collar. “Joos!”

“Hey, little man,” Marco said, rubbing his cheek against Enzo’s. “Did you miss Papa?”

Her chest tightened at the scene and at Marco’s words. She had no reason to feel guilty. She couldn’t have stayed any longer in a marriage that wasn’t working, one that had simply originated out of necessity because of pregnancy. Sure, it had been painful to take Enzo away from Italy and his papa. Not to mention the doting great-grandmother who adored him. But Brianna was slowly becoming a mere shell of herself there. That was no way to raise a child. Especially considering she was doing most of it on her own with Marco gone long hours for days on end.

“He likes to sit by the window and drink it while I get his breakfast ready,” she said, handing Enzo a full sippy cup.

Marco sighed and put his son down. Enzo immediately scuttled to the love seat in front of the bay window.

“Do you suppose he remembers me?” Marco asked.

“I’m sure he does.”

Marco looked skeptical. His eyes bored into hers. “I’m glad one of us is sure.”

The implication was clear. There was no doubt in her mind who Marco would blame if Enzo in fact didn’t remember him.

CHAPTER TWO

BRIANNA CHOSE TO try to ignore the tension in the air. Pushing her way around Marco to grab the bread off the counter, she dropped two slices into the toaster and stared at it, as if toasting bread took the utmost concentration. All the while she could feel Marco’s gaze on her back.

“I have to get to the restaurant today,” she said. “You’ll have to find a way to keep yourself busy.”

She moved to the refrigerator for the butter. Marco stood directly in front of it. He, of course, refused to budge. She brushed past him, the slight physical contact just enough to inflame her nerves.

“I’ll stay right here with my son,” Marco said.

Opening the door as wide as she could with him standing there, Brianna reached for the butter drawer. “I’m afraid not.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Enzo’s nanny will be here any minute. She usually has the whole day planned for him.”

He shrugged. “You can give her the day off.”

Brianna slowly shut the refrigerator door. “It’s too late to do that. She’s probably on the train right now.”

“So tell her when she gets here. I don’t see a problem.”

“I’m not going to tell her she’s wasted a trip. Or that she’ll have to miss a day of compensation.”

Marco looked up to the ceiling and sighed. His expression made him look every bit the part of a man holding on to the last of his patience. “I’ll compensate her for the commute and give her two days’ pay for her trouble. A week’s pay.”

That was so typical of Marco. “You think you can solve anything with money.”

“I’ve found very few issues money couldn’t solve,” he replied, his voice hard.

“Well, this is my home and I won’t allow it,” she declared just as the doorbell rang.

At the sound, Enzo jumped up and yelled “Ding-dong!”

Brianna barely caught him before he tumbled off the cushion onto the floor. He wailed in protest. The doorbell rang again. And again.

“I’m coming. I’m coming.” Brianna set Enzo down gently on his feet. Marco gave her another amused smirk.

She scowled back and opened the door. “Mrs. Schelling. You’re here.”

Her nanny trotted inside and let out a loud “humph” before turning to her. “I only came for one thing, and then I’ll be going.” The grim set of the woman’s lips sent alarms ringing in Brianna’s head.

Not now, not today. She forced a smile, almost certain she knew what was about to happen. “Oh. All right. Why don’t we go talk in the kitchen?”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I’ve come to quit.”

Brianna’s heart dived. Somehow she kept her smile in place. Putting her arm around the other woman’s plump shoulders, she tried to move her toward the kitchen. Away from Marco.

“Don’t even joke like that, Mrs. Schelling.”

Mrs. Schelling didn’t move. “This is no joke, Miss Brianna. I refuse to tolerate any more from that young man.” Squinting, she pointed to Enzo. Enzo in turn stopped sucking on his cup long enough to give Mrs. Schelling a wide grin.

“I don’t understand.” Brianna dropped her arm.

Mrs. Schelling held out her palm. “I quit and I’d like my remaining payment.”

“But why?”

“I can no longer take care of your son. Life is too short. And I’m afraid I’ve already lived the bulk of mine at my age.”

Brianna didn’t dare look at Marco. She had no doubt what he had to be thinking. In his eyes, she had failed him as his wife and now she was clearly failing as a single mother.

This was the last impression she would have hoped to give upon seeing him again. Rather than proving her independence and abilities, she was instead coming off as flighty and in disarray, unable to get her act straight.

All she’d ever wanted was a stable home, some roots. With the arrival of her son, that had seemed like a real possibility. But now it was all going to rot somehow. She may have ended up with a family but it had come about in a random and haphazard manner. Now even that was falling apart.

“I’ve been thinking about this all night. Agonizing over the decision,” Mrs. Schelling was saying. Listening to her was like trying to focus as the walls crumbled around her. Brianna had tried so hard to lay the groundwork perfectly for her return to the United States. All to watch it implode now. And just her luck, Marco was here to witness the latest catastrophe.

The older woman paused to take a deep breath. “Your son is simply too much for me to handle. I dare say he’s too much for anyone to handle.”

Now that was a bit much. Brianna looked directly into the older woman’s eyes. “He’s barely two. He just doesn’t know any better.”

Mrs. Schelling took a tiny step back. Maybe it was the edge that had crept into her voice. It was a small source of satisfaction.

“Nevertheless, I don’t have to put up with his behavior. Not for any amount of money.”

Brianna tried to steady herself and her emotions. It didn’t help that Enzo was running in circles and shaking his spill-proof cup so furiously that he was managing to spill it anyway.

“Tell you what,” Brianna began in a much softer tone. “Why don’t you let me get dressed and we can discuss all this over a cup of coffee.” She indicated Marco with a nod of her head. “He was just leaving.”

Mrs. Schelling turned to look at him. Acknowledging Marco for the first time since she’d arrived, she studied him thoroughly. Apparently, she didn’t like what she saw. Then she turned her eyes to Brianna’s short T-shirt.

“I didn’t realize you were entertaining a gentleman,” she said with disdain.

Brianna’s breath caught. That was probably the worst thing to say in front of her husband. She didn’t have a chance to reply. Enzo, who must have sensed the tension between his mama and the nanny, whom he never really took a liking to, walked over and threw his relatively full cup straight at Mrs. Schelling’s shin.

“Ow! Do you see?” she cried. “There are plenty of nice, manageable children out there who need looking after. I don’t have to put up with—” She gave Enzo a look that could only be described as disgusted. “With this—”

“I am sorry for any trouble my son may have caused,” Marco interrupted. His words were cordial enough, but they held a distinct undertone.

“Your son?”

Marco gave her a stiff nod. “Correct. And it just so happens, we no longer need your services. I am here to make alternate arrangements for Enzo.”

Marco reached into his back pocket and pulled out a leather wallet. Removing several crisp bills, he extended them to the older woman. Brianna simply stood and stared. She would be hard pressed to match it.

Mrs. Schelling let out another “humph” as her pudgy hand closed around the bills. “I dare say I deserve it for all I’ve had to put up with.” She gave Enzo a withering look.

Brianna sighed at the other woman’s sourness. “I’m sorry our arrangement didn’t work out, Mrs. Schelling. I know Enzo can be a handful, but he’s just so young. There’s a lot he needs to learn.”

Mrs. Schelling pulled her coat tighter as she mumbled something incoherent under her breath. Then she stalked out.

Brianna shut the door and stared at it. What now? Behind her, Marco’s sigh was clearly audible.

Brianna turned to him. “Don’t you dare say a word. I don’t want to hear anything from you right now.”

He gave her a look a teacher might give a child who was having a tantrum.

“Listen,” she continued. “I have made no secret of the fact that Enzo has been having some behavior problems since we moved.”

“And what of the gentlemen you entertain?”

True to form, Brianna thought. “I do not entertain anyone. Mrs. Schelling just jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

Marco’s stony glare didn’t change.

“In any case, I need to start getting dressed.”

“Am I to presume that I will be given the privilege of sitting for my own son?”

“Only if I’m to presume that you’d still like to.”

“Of course I do. But I have one question for you first.”

She somehow knew that he would. “By all means,” she said, not sure how much more conflict she could take in one morning.

“What exactly would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”

There was that hint of accusation in his voice again. “I would have figured something out.”

“I’m afraid to guess what that would have been. Were you going to perhaps dump Enzo off on an unprepared neighbor? Or maybe you would have brought him to the restaurant with you where he would have been practically unsupervised.”

Oh, he was just too much. “All the neighbors love Enzo, first of all. Secondly, I have a backup sitter.”

“And how long would that have taken?”

He had a point. It would probably have taken long enough to make her late again. Enzo’s antics had made her late so often in the past, Chef Ansigne had just about lost all patience with her.

“Are you going to sit with him or not?”

“Of course. Don’t even pretend you have another option.”

Brianna refused to take the bait. “Fine, I’m going to run upstairs and take a shower.” She reached down to tussle Enzo’s hair. He’d come over to hug her leg, seeking comfort, no doubt.

She leaned over to his eye level. “Enzo, you’re going to spend the day with Papa. All right?”

Enzo shook his head and smiled.

Marco immediately went to him. “Why did he say no?” he asked Brianna. “I thought he remembered who I was.”

“He shakes his head when he means yes. He’s saying no when he covers his face with his arm.”

Marco smiled but it didn’t last. “It’s been so long, I don’t know any of his little quirks.”

Here it comes, Brianna thought. Another condemning tirade about how all that was her fault. But instead Marco stroked his son’s cheek and started to speak softly to him in Italian. Brianna hadn’t forgotten how gentle he could be, how tender.

She shook away the memories. There was no use for them now. Slowly stepping around Marco and Enzo, Brianna silently made her way to the stairway.

* * *

Marco heard the water come on upstairs. It would be very hot, he knew. That was how Brianna liked her showers. There would be steam rising off her silky, smooth skin. She was likely using a lavender soap, rubbing it over her curves.

Stop it.

But how? She was no less beautiful than when he’d fallen for her three years ago. It was taking everything he had not to go up to her now. He knew she would respond. No matter what had happened between them and how far they’d been apart, she was sure to respond. The way she responded to him had never been the problem.

He just wished he understood her.

The nanny’s words echoed through his head. Entertaining a gentleman.

The woman must have witnessed something to speak as she did. Had she found Brianna “entertaining” in the past?

He clenched his fists.

He had to consider the possibility. Despite being her husband, he hardly knew Brianna. When they’d first met on that fateful business trip to oversee expansion of the family’s North American operations, Brianna had still been training then, barely out of culinary school. One look at her had triggered an attraction unlike any he’d ever felt. Nothing he’d ever shared with any other woman even compared. Maybe that was why he’d behaved so foolishly that week and then had actually thought they might make it work.

Memories of that first night came back to him. Marco had made his way to the kitchen just to get away from all the noise and chaos of a rapidly growing melee. Also to perhaps find something to drink rather than the steady flow of champagne.

He’d nearly run into Brianna as he’d stepped through the door. She’d been a whirlwind of activity, in charge of catering the affair. Somehow, in a white chef’s hat and stained apron, she was still breathtakingly striking.

Plus, she’d been so genuine, so real compared to some of the other attendees at that party. He’d been drawn to her immediately. And then when she’d actually ordered him to season appetizers, telling him he may as well make himself useful if he was going to dally in the kitchen.

No one had ever approached him that way.

He’d insisted on taking her out that evening, surprised and relieved when she’d agreed. They’d made arrangements to see each other at least once during his weeklong stay, despite the urgent matters he needed to tend to. Instead, they’d seen each other daily.

Uncharacteristic as it was, he couldn’t seem to help himself despite the demands on his schedule. He’d found himself unable to focus on anything but a primitive need to have her.

A need that apparently still possessed him today.

But after they were married, his responsibilities had often kept him away from home. She was his wife. She may as well have been a stranger.

When did it change? When did their love affair become a cold battle? She’d told him he spent too much time working. Too much time away for his business. She didn’t appreciate the pressure someone in his position faced.

A tug on his leg brought his attention back to his son.

He crouched down to Enzo’s position. “Hey, little man.”

Enzo lifted up his empty cup.

“More juice?”

Enzo shook his head.

“That means yes, right?”

The boy covered his face.

“Well, now I’m confused.” Marco stood up with Enzo cradled in his arms. Setting him on the couch, he gave the boy a very serious look then sat next to him. “I believe that was your third nanny in six months, no?”

Enzo gave him a grin that revealed three upper front teeth. Marco started to smile despite himself. He tried to resume the serious expression on his face but gave up when Enzo grabbed a tuft of his hair. The boy had an amazingly strong grip. Pride in his son’s strength overrode his pain as Enzo tugged. Hard.

Marco knew he should chastise him but found he couldn’t. Too much time had passed since he’d seen his son.

Marco sighed. The sooner they worked out custody, the better. He needed to know he would see Enzo for a few days at least once a month. Anything less would be unbearable.

He and Brianna had no business being married, but their mutual business now was little Enzo. They would have to work to make sure the little boy grew up healthy and happy. It would be difficult, with a mother in New York and a father across the globe in Italy. But it was doable. As soon as Brianna came back from work tonight, he would tell her that. Then he would leave.

CHAPTER THREE

BRIANNA WISHED SHE could crawl back into bed.

In the few short hours since Marco had reentered her world, it had turned upside down. At work, she’d been flustered, clumsy and distracted.

And she’d been fired. After several warnings, Chef Ansigne had finally relieved her of her position as second line chef. Not that she was surprised. All the incidences of tardiness, then today’s repeated mistakes, had sealed her fate. Apparently, lumpy mashed potatoes and droopy salads were Chef Ansigne’s breaking points.

And now Brianna had to contend with her soon-to-be ex-husband. Had it only been just this morning he’d shown up at her door? She felt as though she’d lived a whole year since. She let a moment pass on the front porch before inserting her key and entering the house. There was no way she could tell him she’d lost her job.

The sounds of Marco and Enzo playing together resonated through the hallway, Marco’s husky voice punctuated by childish squeals of laughter.

She hung up her coat and made her way to the kitchen. The two of them were sitting at the center table, which presently held an array of toys. When Enzo saw her he lifted his arms and yelled, “Mama!”

Brianna went over and gave her son a fierce hug, avoiding eye contact with Marco.

“I thought you weren’t going to be home until very late.”

She shrugged. “I asked to leave early.”

“Hmm.”

Brianna looked up. “What?”

He’d rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned his collar. His hair was already in disarray, the telltale lock falling forward over his eye. He looked devilish. And incredibly sexy. Her fingers itched to go smooth his hair back, to touch him. She clasped her hands together behind her back.

“Why did you ask to leave early?” he asked.

“Because I didn’t want you to feel overwhelmed watching him all by yourself.” That was one doozy of a lie. She’d never seen Marco overwhelmed by anything. This was the man who had taken over the family business and doubled it in size. He knew several languages, could seal any deal, and he was an ace boater who won trophies every year.

And somehow he’d ended up married to an orphaned nobody who couldn’t keep a job.

“As you can see, we’re doing fine,” Marco said, then handed Enzo a toy train. “And you’re a bad liar, dear wife.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“But that’s what you are—my unemployed wife.”

The blood drained from her face. How could he know?

“You no longer have a job, do you?”

She swallowed. “Of course I do. There wasn’t that much—”

Marco didn’t let her finish. “Darling, your chef Ansigne called here. It appears you left your box of knives and tools behind. He’d like you to come get them as soon as possible as he needs the locker for your replacement.”

“Fine. I was fired today. Does that make you happy?”

“Of course not. But you don’t need to worry about finances.”

“That’s what you say.”

“It’s a fact. You’re the mother of my child. Technically, you’re still my wife.”

“I won’t be much longer.”

“Even so, there’s no need to rush. You and Enzo will always be financially secure. I’ll see to it.”

Of course he would see to it—it meant he could toss her aside with no guilt.

How in the world had she ended up in this predicament? Her career was on the cusp of taking off before she’d gotten pregnant. Apparently, a three-year break could be career suicide.

“Take care of your son, Marco. You have no need to take care of me. I can fend for myself. I always have.”

“Ever the independent one.”

“In any case, you don’t really need to concern yourself,” she said, just to spite him. “Seeing as our adventure is over.”

“Enzo, why don’t you go play with the train track we set up in the other room?” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. The child immediately obeyed. Which was very surprising, for Enzo.

Marco moved around the table and closed the distance between them. Brianna’s heart pounded as he approached. Why couldn’t she keep her emotions in check when it came to this man?

“As brief as our affair was to be, the fact remains that it resulted in a child.” His voice was cold and tight.

“It should have never resulted in marriage.”

“I apologize if my wish to legitimize my son put a cramp in your lifestyle.”

She sucked in a breath at those words. “What makes you think it did?”

Her regret came too late. The falsehood broke the last of Marco’s hold on his temper. In less than a second, he had moved to within inches of where she stood.

“You dare toy with me about such things?” he demanded, his breath hot against her cheek.

To Brianna’s horror, her wayward body immediately reacted. A curl of deep, scorching heat erupted in her belly and traveled slowly lower. She wanted to move but seemed unable to. All she could feel was his heat.

“Marco, just stop. I can’t fight with you right now,” she pleaded, totally depleted of energy all of a sudden. Having him here was wreaking havoc on her senses. A part of her longed for him, had ached to see him and feel him again. But another part, a more logical one, knew better.

That was the part she needed to focus on. It took all of her will to step away. Scooting back around the table, she fought to catch her breath.

Marco stayed where he was. She suspected Enzo’s presence in the next room was to thank for that. His breathing was harsh.

“Bree, I don’t want to fight either. It’s just—”

She held up a hand to stop him from saying any more. “I wish you hadn’t shown up here unannounced.”

“But I am here.”

“Right, to see Enzo. Well, you have. Please leave.”

He looked away and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Is that what you really want?”

“Yes,” she managed to choke out.

He nodded once. “And what of all the loose ends?”

“Which are?”

His eyes fell on Enzo. “Visitation arrangements.”

Of course. “I promise you I’ll compromise fully,” she said. “I have no interest in keeping him away from you.”

He remained silent a moment, his eyes still fixed on his son. “Thank you for that.” Then he glanced back at her. “There is also the matter of finances.”

“I fully intend to go back to work.”

“How? You have no sitter.”

“I told you, I have a backup. I’ve already spoken to him. He can start full-time tomorrow.”

Marco’s eyebrows shot up just as Brianna realized what she’d said.

“He?” Marco asked.

“Now don’t start anything.”

“So you have a gentleman friend who watches my son.”

She really didn’t want to go down this path. No good could possibly come of it. “He’s hardly a gentleman friend, Marco. He’s a local college student studying elementary education, and he happens to love being around children.”

“Who else does he love being around?”

“He’s merely a caregiver,” Brianna said through gritted teeth. “A very good one. And he’s very dependable. Unlike Mrs. Schelling.”

Marco leaned over and gripped the table with both hands.

“Curtis only sits for me.”

“I see. Exactly how well do you know him?”

Brianna didn’t want to care that he was jumping to all the wrong conclusions. She didn’t want to care that he didn’t trust her. Why would he? He’d never bothered to know her fully, to know her true character.

One uncharacteristic night of her life, due to a recent breakup, her broken heart had driven her into the arms of a stranger. She’d met Marco only hours earlier, and was in awe of the fact that someone like him actually found her attractive. In a party full of starlets and models, one she was merely attending as the hired help, he’d somehow sought her attention. It took her only hours to fall head over heels in love. And about the same amount of time for her to fall into his bed.

It had been the most intense week of her life. In many ways, she’d been drawn to Marco more than the man she’d been seeing for close to two years before he’d unceremoniously dumped her to pursue a career in Los Angeles.

It had all been so awkward afterward. They were no more than strangers but they’d been intimate. Then, when she’d found out she was carrying their child, it hardly seemed the time to discuss ways to get to know each other better. Not when major decisions had to be made.

“How well, Brianna?” he repeated.

“I know him well enough,” she said, suddenly angry. Marco had no power over her. And he had no right to repeatedly judge her so. She noticed his grip on the table tighten.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” she said loudly, then glanced at Enzo. He wasn’t used to his mama raising her voice. “Curtis is a very fine young man, just barely in his twenties. There is nothing between us besides an employer-worker relationship.”

“You’re not out of your twenties yourself.”

There was no point in defending herself. It wouldn’t work. She shouldn’t even need to, not if he truly loved her.

That was laughable. Love had nothing to do with their marriage, not for Marco. He’d just said it himself—it was merely an attempt to legitimize his son.

She smiled, uncaring now that it would inflame his anger. “Nevertheless, I’ve made my decisions,” she said. “I already have some job prospects I can call about. My replacement sitter is lined up. And as soon as you and I work out visitation rights, you can leave.”

She was turning to get Enzo when his next words stopped her.

“There’s only one problem with all of that.”

“And that would be?”

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I have no intention of leaving. I’ll be here at least the week.”

* * *

Where had that come from?

Marco watched Brianna’s eyebrows rise nearly to her hairline. Well, he was surprised himself at what he’d just said. But it was quite logical really. The woman was a wreck. For goodness’ sake, she’d just lost her job, she couldn’t hold on to a babysitter and now she was suggesting that Enzo stay in the care of a young man. Brianna needed someone with a strong, sure hand to take care of such issues in a mature, logical manner. Someone like him.

The flush on her cheeks and the eyes throwing daggers at him made it clear she thought otherwise. “I didn’t realize this was to be an extended stay.”

Neither had he. “It just so happens, some business came up that I need to tend to in New York.” That was the absolute truth. So what if the “business” he was referring to directly involved her?

“Of course you have business.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing. Only that I should have realized you would find a way to multitask.”

What he wanted was to find a way to keep his son safe. Who exactly was this Curtis to his wife and child? What if Curtis was the type who wanted to just step in and take over another man’s life? He would have found an instant family with Brianna and Enzo. The thought had his blood pressure pounding.

“And where do you plan on staying?” Brianna asked.

“Your place is small but there should be enough room.”

She gave him a withering look. “My place?”

“That’s right. I’ll stay here.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “Now, why wouldn’t you stay at a hotel in Times Square near the Dirici offices?”

“Because Times Square is miles away from Enzo.”

“Which would suit me just fine, seeing as he’ll be very well taken care of between me and Curtis. If you have such urgent business, you can hardly be expected to spend any time with him.”

“I can make time. Especially since I’m in the same city.”

She remained silent a moment then lifted her chin. “No.”

“No?”

“I said no.”

“I beg your pardon.”

“I refuse to let you stay here.”

He couldn’t help his smile. “Afraid to be in such close quarters?”

“I should think that was obvious.”

“How about if I promise to behave?”

“You can behave in Times Square.”

“Are you saying I should take Enzo with me?”

Brianna’s mouth tightened. “Don’t even think about it. He stays with me.”

“Then I’m not quite sure what we’re arguing about. All you have to do is call this male nanny and tell him the offer has been rescinded.”

“Absolutely not. I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” he demanded.

She shook her head very slowly. “I don’t want to.”

He walked over and picked up the phone. “Fine. I’ll do it. What’s his number?”

“No, you can’t. Listen, you don’t understand.”

“What is there to understand?”

Her chin quivered. “Curtis needs this. He really needs the position.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“He needs the job. He just told me today that my offer couldn’t have come at a better time. He’s experiencing some cash problems and really needs the money.”

“Why is any of that my problem?”

She moved over to him and reached for the phone. Marco held on to it. “Please. I would feel awful telling him he won’t be getting the funds after all. He told me he couldn’t even afford new books for next semester.”

“You seem awfully concerned with Curtis’s well-being.”

Brianna’s hand fell to her side. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Marco understood very well. Curtis sounded like a lovestruck adolescent. Or worse, an opportunist. The young cad was probably pursuing not only his wife but also what little money she had. No doubt he’d connected her last name to the Dirici Foods empire. He was most likely using her generosity and naivety to his utmost advantage. It merely proved Marco’s point. Brianna needed his protection. She was clearly easy to manipulate.

There was only one sure way to stop the pup from sniffing around her any longer. “Tell him your husband is back.”

“That’s not going to help his financial situation,” she said a little shakily.

Marco sighed. “How about if I pay him anyway?”

A knowing look appeared in her eyes. “Yet again, that’s your solution to everything. Throwing money at it. Well, forget it. He would never accept money for work he didn’t do.”

Curtis had done quite a number on her. “We’ll tell him it’s because we’re retracting the offer on such short notice.”

“He’s too proud.”

“What a paragon. Did it ever occur to you that you might be being manipulated?”

She glared at him. “You would think that.”

He held up the phone. “Just give me his number.”

“He truly needs the money, Marco. I told him he had a full-time job.”

This was getting quite tiring. “Brianna, I’m not leaving. My son needs me.” And so did she.

Brianna nodded and looked down. “This isn’t about that.”

Oh, hell. “Fine.” He slammed the phone down. “Call him later and tell him the job description has changed.”

She looked up, searching his face. “What do you mean?”

“Essentially, he’s to be on call. I’ll ask him to come over if I need to be at the office or if there’s a business matter I’m attending to. We’ll pay him the same amount because we’re asking him to be available at all times during the week. He can either take it or leave it. It’s my final offer.”

Her shoulders dropped with clear relief and she smiled. “I’m sure he’ll take it. He told me he was really desperate for money.”

“I’m sure he is.”

“I would have felt awful, Marco. I just couldn’t tell him he was out of luck again. He said my call was like an answer to a prayer.”

A disquieting feeling settled in Marco’s chest. Somehow, he’d just agreed to help Brianna’s male nanny. This woman made him do the most foolish things. First, making him decide he’d stay, now this. “Yes, well. As long as you understand that I’ll be here for a while.”

“I understand.”

“Good. I’ll go see what Enzo’s up to.”

She stepped in front of him. “Um, I just wanted to—” She halted, looked away again.

“Yes?”

“I mean, it’s really hard to not know where your next dollar is coming from. What you did, it was—” She hesitated and returned her gaze to his face. He pondered what she’d just said about not knowing where your next dollar was coming from. Brianna had spent her childhood moving from foster home to foster home after being abandoned by her parents. That much he knew. Though not much more. She didn’t particularly like to talk about her past. He could hardly blame her. Sometimes the past was better left behind where it belonged. In that, at least he and Brianna had something in common.

No wonder the marriage had fallen apart.

“What is it, Brianna?”

“I just want to say thanks.”

She smiled and he could have sworn he felt warmth in every cell of his body. How childish of him. And he’d accused her of being easy to manipulate.

He mumbled a brief response. Then he had to make himself turn away. Before he did something really stupid.

“Really, Marco,” she said behind him.

“It’s not a big deal, Brianna.”

“Curtis would disagree.”

“I couldn’t care less what your Curtis thinks.”

“I’m just trying to say that he’d appreciate it, that’s all. And I appreciate it too.”

He turned to tell her the truth, to just admit it. He’d relented because of her.

But something else entirely came out of his mouth. “You know exactly how to get your way, don’t you?”

“What?” Brianna looked at him in bafflement. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“A flick of the lashes. A flirtatious look here and there. And I did exactly what you wanted. Your precious Curtis still has a job. And you’ve still got your feminine wiles. Let’s just move on now, shall we?”

She slammed her hands on her hips. “Why? Why did I think you were capable of any decency? You’re still exactly the same, aren’t you? Nothing’s changed.”

“Apparently not.”

“For the briefest moment back then I thought perhaps you might have grown a little. What a fool I can be.”

“Then we have something in common, after all.”

“Hah,” she barked. “We don’t have a thing in common.”

“Are you finished? I believe Enzo may be ready for bed.”

Brianna threw her hands up. “Yes. I believe we’re done.”

She stomped toward Enzo and picked him up. “I’ll be upstairs giving Enzo his bath,” she said. “After that, I’m going to bed.”

“I’ll help you.”

She whirled around.

Marco rolled his eyes. “With Enzo’s bath, I meant.”

She glared at him. “You’ll find the spare room upstairs. I don’t even want to know you’re here for the next week. Do you understand?”

Now that, Marco thought, watching her go up the stairs, would be easier said than done.

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