Reunited With Her Italian Billionaire
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“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.”