Unfinished Business

Indulgence 3

Unfinished Business There is one man that Daníella Mangino has never been able to resist or say no to—her ex-husband, Carlo Carabelli. The moment he asked her to marry him, she’d known it would be forever…or so she thought. Still, the last thing she expects is for him to return, asking her for a second chance at their relationship. The timing couldn’t be worse. But what Carlo Carabelli wants, he gets… Carlo Carabelli regrets the day that he asked his ex-wife Daníella Mangino for a divorce. The car wreck that left him struggling with learning how to walk again had nearly crushed him. He couldn’t be the man for Daníella that he swore he’d always be. Truth be told, he has never stopped loving her, but he has a secret that, once discovered, might just mean a permanent end for him and Daníella. One thing is certain—Daníella and Carlo have unfinished business… Genre: Contemporary Length: 52,660 words

UNFINISHED BUSINESS Indulgence 3

Stephanie Morris

ROMANCE

www.BookStrand.com

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A SIREN-BOOKSTRAND TITLE IMPRINT: Romance

UNFINISHED BUSINESS Copyright © 2012 by Stephanie Morris E-book ISBN: 1-61926-199-5 First E-book Publication: January 2012 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To Ivy, Tamara, Cynthia, Soneni, Natalie, and all of my other readers who asked for Daníella and Carlo’s story. Happy Reading!

UNFINISHED BUSINESS Indulgence 3 STEPHANIE MORRIS Copyright © 2012

Chapter One Daníella Mangino had seduction on her mind—pure seduction. It was the only thing left for her to try, and this plan had to work. Entering her apartment in haste, she didn’t completely close the door behind her. She headed into the living room and put her stuff down. Ignacio, the man she’d been dating for a year—the man she’d decided to seduce tonight—would be right behind her, which meant there wasn’t much time to get ready. She made her way upstairs quickly, needing a shower. Part of being a seductress was to smell like one. The best part was Ignacio had no idea of what she had planned. He was going to be so surprised—and hopefully aroused. Daníella paused when she heard a moan, a female moan. Her ears had to be deceiving her. There shouldn’t be another woman’s moan filling her apartment. Continuing up the stairs, she frowned as she cleared the landing and saw the bedroom door was partly open. Daníella always left her door completely open to help with circulation of cool air. She walked toward her room quietly, pushing the door open slightly, knowing someone was on the other side, but not knowing who.

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Her mouth dropped open in shock at the sight before her. Her stomach churned. She wondered how it would be best to announce her presence to the occupants in her bed. They were so busy they didn’t even notice her. Daníella tried to collect herself, to think rationally, but it was hard to do with the sight before her. An evil smile spread across to her face as she thought of the perfect way to alert them to her presence. It would ruin her bed, but she could live with that because she had no intention of ever sleeping it again. It made her sick to think about how long this had been going on— and in her bed of all places. Daníella stepped back from the doorway as quietly as she could. What she really needed to do was clear her head and get away, but there would be time for that later. The happiness she’d felt earlier when she’d entered her apartment was nothing but a distant memory now. It had been a long time since she’d experienced true happiness. Daníella was thankful for everything she had. Yet, there was something missing. Something she thought she could find with Ignacio. Now it appeared that was a joke. Was it too much to ask for that kind of happiness? The sort of happiness she’d had four years ago? Unfortunately she couldn’t dwell on that. Right now she had this to deal with. Daníella went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. The corners of her mouth curved upward when she spotted the secret weapon she needed. As sadistic as it seemed, she took her time heading back up the stairs to her room where the couple was still locked in a passionate embrace. They weren’t going anytime soon from what she’d seen. Why rush? After pushing the door wide open, she walked over to the writhing couple. Either the woman was a good actress, or Ignacio might have been worth the trouble she’d gone through. Oh well. She would never find out for herself. Daníella took a deep breath and poured the pitcher of ice water on the couple in her bed. A small hysterical giggle bubbled up from her throat as she had the pleasure of watching the couple jerk apart in a mixture of shock and surprise.

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She turned around and walked out of the room, the sounds of Italian curses following her out of the room. A moment later Ignacio bellowed. “Daníella!” Daníella smiled at the anger and shock coloring his voice. Good. Now he knew how it felt. Not breaking stride, she kept walking but heard the sounds of her bed creaking, followed by his footsteps. She was appalled that he had the audacity to come after her. But what else should she expect? Continuing down the stairs, she focused on getting as far away from Ignacio as possible. The sooner he was gone, the better. “Daníella, where the hell are you going?” She stopped on the bottom stair before turning to look back at him. “The question is where are you and your whore going, Ignacio, or did you forget this is my home?” Daníella had the pleasure of seeing him flush with embarrassment, or it could have been anger. Either way, she didn’t care. “That’s what I thought. Now, I would appreciate it if the two of you could get dressed and remove yourselves from my apartment.” Daníella turned back around and went to step off the stairs when Ignacio’s next words stopped her. “If you had called to let me know you would be home early, we could have saved ourselves this unpleasantness.” Her mouth almost hit the floor with shock. How dare he try to turn this back on her like it was her fault that she’d walked into her own home to catch him screwing another woman in her bed. “Excuse me?” Her tone was so hostile Ignacio stopped on the stairs he’d begun to descend. Ignacio immediately tried to smooth over his approach. “Oh, come on. I am a man. What do you expect?”

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The look of contempt she shot in his direction made him flinch. “I expect you to control yourself and behave like a man, not rut like an animal.” The woman he’d been in her bed with appeared at the top of the stairs behind him, giving Daníella more ammunition to accuse him with—and fortunately she had the decency to put her clothes on. “Then again, with a woman who looks like that, how could you?” It was a direct shot at the woman who now resembled a drowned rat after the ice bath she received. Still, she had the nerve to give Daníella a haughty look. “Ignacio, who is this awful woman?” Daníella felt her eyebrows shoot up at the description. “Yes, Ignacio, please tell your whore who this awful woman is?” A feminine gasp of outrage sounded as Ignacio began stammering, trying to explain his relationship to either woman. Daníella cut him off effectively. “What lover boy here is trying to say is I’m the woman he’s been dating for over a year and the owner of this apartment.” Daníella watched the woman frown, but it actually looked more like a pout, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes. “But, Ignacio, you told me this was your place.” Daníella almost lost it, grabbing onto the railing for support. The man had actually claimed her apartment for his own? That was it. Her teeth were clenched when she spoke. “I sincerely suggest both of you remove yourselves from my home as quickly as you can before I find something hot to douse the two of you with.” Ignacio seemed to be lacking the little intelligence he had left because he started toward her. “Daníella, she means nothing to me. This is just a fling.” Is? Not was?

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Daníella’s eyes widened in shock—which was more of a response than the one his lover emitted. Either she was used to being degraded, or she had no class. Maybe it was a little of both. “That may be, Ignacio, but I’m sure this isn’t the first fling and it won’t be the last. But this will be the last time you see me.” He gave her a pleading look. “What was I supposed to do? You weren’t willing to have sex with me.” Before she could stop herself, Daníella struck him. She was seething with anger. The fact that he was trying to make this her fault because she had wanted to save herself for the right moment pissed her off. “Get the hell out of here, Ignacio. Now.” “But—” Daníella growled and turned to walk away from the infuriating man before she did resort to violence. Right now she was very close. What she needed more than anything was to get away from this whole situation so she could think clearly. Just time to try to figure out why she hadn’t listened to her friend’s advice about Ignacio. Better yet, to figure out why she’d wasted over a year of her time on this loser. She should have known better. Daníella had barely taken another step before she ran into a warm, solid mass. A solid mass that shouldn’t be there, and her first instinct was to fight, especially when solid arms encircled her to keep her from falling backward. Inhaling deeply, she stiffened as soon as a familiar scent drifted over her—one she would recognize as long as she lived. “Carlo, what are you doing here?” She looked up into a face full of danger and a hint of anger, but his expression softened a little when he looked down at her. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by.” The explanation was ridiculous, but she didn’t bother to question it. Right now she had a houseful of guests she was dying to get rid of—including the man who now held her in his arms. When she

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realized she was still in his arms—and willingly—she quickly pulled away. The last thing she needed to do was get comfortable in the arms of this man. If Carlo did notice how rapidly she pulled away, he didn’t show it. Instead his deadly gaze was focused on Ignacio. “If I’m not mistaken, I heard the lady ask you to leave—several times.” Daníella shivered at the tone in his voice. She’d been on the receiving end of it once. He had been telling her to leave and never come back as well. After a slight resistance, she had walked away from the man who had once meant everything to her. She turned back around to face Ignacio and the woman who’d had enough sense to come down the stairs and try to make what resembled an exit. Ignacio, however, was still lacking common sense. “Who the hell are you?” As if it were possible, she felt Carlo’s body become even more rigid. “The man that is going to pick you up and carry you out if you don’t do what the lady asked you to do.” She could see Ignacio’s chest began to puff out and feel Carlo’s body harden even more as if he were ready to accept the challenge. A slight panic ensued within her as she tried to figure out a way to diffuse the situation without having anything valuable in her house broken. She had done a good job so far. Luckily the bimbo behind Ignacio knew what to do. Reaching out, she touched Ignacio’s hand. “Why don’t we take our fun somewhere else?” Daníella cringed at the words. The woman must be used to this. Ignacio turned to look at her as if her were going to say something unpleasant but quickly changed his mind. Instead, he smiled and took the woman’s hand. “You’re right, Valencia, we do need to go somewhere else.” Ignacio turned his attention back to Daníella, a sickening look of confidence on his face. “I’ll call you later.”

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Looking at him with pure disgust, she struggled to keep herself from heaving. “Don’t bother. I’m getting my number changed, as well as the locks. So I would advise you not to contact me ever again.” The idiot started to say something else, but Carlo moved forward, and Ignacio smartly moved quickly out of her front door. When it closed again, the only thing she became aware of was her heavy breathing. Breathing as though she had just finished running a marathon—a sign of her remaining anger. It was just one of the several feelings rushing through her. She seriously wondered what she’d been thinking to waste her time on Ignacio. She hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to get past her desperation to be happy, and she ended up making herself even more miserable. The entire situation was awful. What was she supposed to do now? Especially since the man she’d once had true happiness with was still standing behind her. He had disregarded her like trash as well. It had taken her two and a half years to move on. The main reason being she’d always held out hope he would come back to her. Even then she had been desperate. What was it with her and desperation for men? She began to feel more awful than she already did, even though it didn’t seem possible. As if he knew she was thinking about him, Carlo’s hand came out and touched her shoulder. Her body stiffened automatically. “Are you okay?” She turned around and gave him an incredulous look. The answer to the question should have been obvious. “Do I look like I am okay? Would you be okay?” His small smile actually made her heart flutter. Damn her heart. She couldn’t afford to be weak behind this man again. The fact that he was still here in her apartment alone with her was dangerous enough. What she wanted was to be by herself, and as quickly as possible. Taking a deep breath, she tried to smile and was pretty proud of her attempt.

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“Actually, Carlo, I’m fine. More than fine. All I want to do is take a hot bath and relax.” He chuckled. “This wouldn’t be a ploy to drown yourself, would it?” Daníella gave him an irritated look at his teasing expression even as she couldn’t help but to laugh. “No, Carlo, I’m not going to drown myself.” “Is this an attempt to get rid of me?” She answered him truthfully. “Yes, Carlo, it is. Nowadays it seems I’m destined to be alone, and I might be better off that way given my choice in men.” Carlo flinched at the words as if they actually bothered him. Not wanting to give herself false hope, she made her way into the living room and picked up her discarded bags. When she touched the bag she’d bought for tonight, her hand shook. It was another reminder of her failed attempt at seduction. Daníella didn’t know whether she should cry or laugh. Crying won out, and as the tears came to her eyes, she tried not to sniffle. Tried not to give away the fact she was more hurt than she wanted to be. It bothered her deeply that she was shedding tears over a loser. She felt Carlo walk up behind her a heartbeat before he made her put her purse and bag down. When he pulled her into his arms, she went a lot more willingly than she should have, which only made her cry harder. “Come on, tesoro mio. Don’t cry. I don’t like it when you cry.” Hearing the endearment she hadn’t heard in over four years only made her cry even harder. It wasn’t fair that he could walk in and do this to her all over again, yet it felt so good to be in his arms she couldn’t help herself. Carlo ran his hands up and down her back soothingly whispering to her in Italian, a gesture she always liked. She had to fight this. Not even minutes ago the man she invested time in for a year had walked away from her with another woman on his arm. At least she could give Carlo some credit. When he pushed her away, it hadn’t been because of another woman. Fortunately he

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wasn’t that sort of man. To be honest, she had no idea why he pushed her away after his accident. As far as she was concerned, it was too late to discover why. Still, something in her wanted to know, but right now she was content to lay her head on his shoulder and let him console her. She would have sworn he didn’t know the meaning of the word comfort, but evidently he did. Then again, she had to remember Carlo had been different before the car wreck. He’d been loving, understanding, and such a gentleman. Then he’d been in the car wreck, and after the grim diagnosis, he’d changed. He became a person no one recognized, especially her. The two of them had almost grown up together. Her parents were friends with his parents, and she also happened to be one of his sister’s best friends. So she knew him very well. Well enough to know it was dangerous to stand here and let him hold her like he was. Daníella pulled back from him, sniffing and wiping away her tears as best as she could. Certain she looked horrible, she made her way into the kitchen and grabbed a tissue to wipe her face. After drying her eyes, she blew her nose and tried to make herself as presentable as possible. When she realized he was still behind her, she turned to face him and gave him a small smile. “Sorry about getting your shirt wet. I will have it laundered for you if you need me to.” She watched as he shrugged his shoulders, sliding his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “That isn’t necessary. It’s a shirt. I can buy another if needed, or launder it myself.” Her eyebrows rose because the linen shirt he had on looked expensive. It also looked very nice on him. His clothes normally did, but she also knew how good he looked without them. Daníella stared at him for a moment, taking in the sight of him. The top button of his shirt was unbuttoned, as usual, giving her a glimpsed of smooth, bronze skin. She smiled because he always

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swore they made shirts with the top buttons to choke him. A good look at him told her he’d become more handsome since she’d the last she’d really looked at him. Even though she was in his presence a lot more than she wanted to be, she tried not to pay too much attention to him. Still, his wavy, black hair looked like his fingers had been run through it all day. She looked into his eyes—the ones that used to tell her everything she needed to know. Eyes that now had strain around them. He’d probably been standing a long time, and even though he had come a long way from recovering from his injuries, she was certain one, if not all, were bothering him right now. “Have a seat. I’ll make us something to drink.” He stared at her for a long moment until she broke eye contact, and she turned to walk over to her liquor cabinet. Unfortunately, it looked like Ignacio had cleaned her out. The good thing was she had a bottle of wine she bought for tonight’s celebration. She turned around just in time to see Carlo lowering himself into the kitchen chair slowly. The look of concern appeared on her face before she could stop it. She knew he hated any form of pity when it came to his injuries. “Carlo, are you okay?” He surprised her giving her a small smile. “I think I should be asking you that.” She smiled. “Yeah, well I wouldn’t have a good answer for right now.” Daníella left the kitchen quickly before she said anything more damaging. It didn’t take long for her to grab the bottle of wine and return to the kitchen. She handed the bottle to Carlo, along with a cork remover. “Still can’t get these open? She shook her head before grabbing two wineglasses. Carlo had the bottle uncorked before she had the glasses on the table. He poured both of them a glass then put the cork back into the bottle. She took a

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sip while studying him. His gaze met hers, and one corner of her mouth tilted upward. “Do you have any plans for this evening?” He shook his head. “No, I don’t.” “Would you like to stay for dinner? I can make us something quick and simple.” Her heart began to race as Carlo gave her a genuine smile. There was something about his smile that made her heart flutter. “I would like that very much.” Standing abruptly, she made her way to the refrigerator. This was dangerous territory. It was no secret that there was unfinished business between her and Carlo.

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Chapter Two “This is very good, Daníella.” She grinned before taking a sip of her wine. “Yes, but compared to your mother’s cooking?” He looked at her over his own glass. “It is still very good.” “You always did know the right thing to say.” Carlo shook his head. “That’s not true, but I have always enjoyed your cooking. You know I do.” She couldn’t deny it as she took another bite of her eggplant parmigiana. Paired with a loaf of crusty bread, it was simple to make. Not the meal she had in mind when she’d planned her seduction, but it would do. Sitting here with him, sharing a meal, made her realize how much she’d missed this. How much she’d missed having a good man around. She’d been ready for the domestic life and kids a long time ago. When she’d married Carlo, she’d been head over heels in love with him. Starting a family with him had always been high on her priority list. They’d stumbled onto their attraction to each other by accident. She’d gone over to the Carabelli household for a dinner as she normally had, but dinner had been different that night. The entire time Carlo had stared at her as if it were his first time actually seeing her. It had made her nervous, and she tried to ignore him, but her eyes kept going back to him during dinner. Once dinner had concluded, Carlo had asked her to go for a walk with him. Nothing really out of the ordinary, but what had been was when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless.

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Everything had been different afterward. Carlo had swept her up into a whirlwind romance, proposing to her six months later. At the mutual age of twenty-eight, both of them had felt like they knew what they were doing at the time. Over a year later the accident had proved them wrong, or at least her. Carlo had swerved to avoid hitting a drunken person on a moped as he headed home from work. The streets had been slick from the recent rain and caused him to lose control of the car. The end result was him plowing into a pole. His injuries had been extensive and, at one point, life threatening. After recovering from that, he’d been dealt one last blow. Due to his crushed pelvis and thigh, the doctors hadn’t been optimistic of his being able to walk again. That was when everything changed. Carlo had turned into a different person. He became difficult to deal with and at times downright mean, but she’d stayed by his side like a dutiful wife until he demanded she leave. His words had cut through her like a knife when he’d told her he no longer wanted to be married to her. She hadn’t known what to do, what to say. After a brief resistance, she finally gave in. Next to signing the divorce papers, walking away from Carlo had been the hardest thing she ever had to do in her entire life. It had taken her a long time to get over him, and she was beginning to think she hadn’t. “What are you thinking about?”Carlo’s voice brought her away from her private thoughts. He always seemed to know when she had something on her mind. “Just my life in general.” Which wasn’t too far from the truth. Yet she refused to tell him the rest. She didn’t feel like getting into a long, drawn-out explanation, and Carlo had a way of getting things out of her. “Anything interesting?” She shook her head before picking up her fork, hoping her expression was casual.

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“Nope. Boring and mundane as usual.” His eyebrows rose in surprise. “I have never known you to be boring and mundane.” “No offense, Carlo, but I think it could be due to the fact you haven’t been observant of my life.” **** Carlo had to lock his jaw in order to keep from replying to the statement. He’d become very aware of Daníella once she had become involved with Ignacio. It angered him to have to sit around and watch the loser use her, but he’d been helpless to do anything. It made him sick to know what the bastard had been up to. What was even worse was this wasn’t the first time. He’d witnessed the jackass bringing another woman into Daníella’s apartment once before. Earlier, he’d tried to catch Daníella before she entered her apartment, but she’d been moving too fast, and his damn leg prevented him from moving quicker. It still stung when she moved on, even if it was to a man like Ignacio. Then again, what should he expect? He had his chance with her, and he ruined it. It was no one’s fault except his. Still, he was glad the unhappy look on her face wasn’t due to him for a change, as selfish as it sounded. Hopefully, she was serious about ending her relationship with Ignacio. It may give him the chance he craved to make things right between the two of them. He’d screwed their relationship up so much the first time around he wasn’t sure it could ever be repaired. Yet, sitting across the table from her, he was more than tempted to give it a try. Carlo was still waiting for her to ask him what he’d been doing at her home. How could he explain he’d been waiting for the right time to get her alone for the last two months without sounding like a stalker? He would do his best because he had to make things right between them. “Actually, Daníella, I have noticed more than you think.”

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She shot him a look that made him question whether he should have said anything or not. “Oh really?” Daníella sat down her fork and folded her arms across her chest. “Then can you tell me why it is so hard for me to find a man who can stand to be in my presence for more than five minutes.” His mouth twitched. “I know five.” She wrinkled her nose up at him before shaking her head. “Your brothers don’t count, and you definitely don’t. In case you have forgotten, you divorced me.” He stared at her for a long moment before responding. “I realize now just how much of a mistake it was.” Her eyes widened briefly, for a moment, as if she thought she’d misheard him. His expression didn’t change, and she stood up, abruptly reaching for her plate. Carlo hid his smile, knowing he’d made her nervous. It wasn’t easy to do Daníella. That meant Tierra could be right. His ex-wife may still have feelings for him. “Well, it is getting late, and I need to get ready for the busy day I have tomorrow.” He watched her rush from the table, nearly leaving skid marks as she stopped in front of the sink. Her hands were shaking badly. He stood, not sure what to say, but knowing he had no plans of leaving. At least not without saying what he had on his mind. He walked up behind her, her spine stiffening. She gave a slight shake of her head. “I can’t do this right now, Carlo.” Her voice cracked with emotion. He brought his hands up to grab hers. “Daníella, look at me.” When she hesitated, he wondered if she was going to hear him out. After a long moment, she turned to look at him. Carlo felt like he had been punched in the stomach. The look of hurt on her face went a lot deeper. He read the emotion in her eyes. They were damp with unshed tears.

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“There is nothing wrong with you.” She gave him an exasperated look. “I think I’m a little too old for the ‘it wasn’t you, it was me’ routine, don’t you think?” “Not if it is a true statement.” She tried to pull away. “Oh, come on, Carlo, you can’t expect me to believe that. Not after all this time.” “Look into my eyes, Daníella. You always used to say my eyes told you the truth.” He watched her close her eyes at the true statement. It was the one reason he had stopped taking her visits at the hospital—had the divorce papers delivered by someone else, instead of delivering them himself. Kept his gaze from meeting hers directly, because she would know the truth as soon as he did. Still, she wouldn’t look at him. Carlo held back a sigh of sadness. He was responsible for her reluctance, but he would change if she allowed him to. “Daníella, please look at me.” She opened one eye, and he chuckled at the expression. His reaction seemed to make her brave enough to open the other eye. It took her another minute to fully raise her eyes to meet his. When she did, he forced her to hold his stare, allowing her read the emotions there. “Divorcing you was the second biggest mistake I have ever made. Making you walk away from me was the first.” Her expression turned wry. “You weren’t the one who did the actual walking. I could have fought harder.” Carlo shook his head at her attempt of humor. “You shouldn’t have had to. The bottom line is, I was stupid to push you away, and I’m sorry.” She shrugged. “I wish I could say it makes everything better, but it doesn’t. “I didn’t plan for it to be. I only expected for it to be a start.” Her brows bunched together. “A start for what?”

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Carlo took a deep breath before plunging ahead with what he’d wanted to say for the past two months. “I want us to start over.” Daníella’s eyes widened in surprise as she swayed against him. He tightened his hold on her, thinking she might faint. She blinked slowly staring up at him, still trying to grasp what he was saying. “W–Wh–What did you just say?” she stammered. He responded without hesitation. “I said we should start over.” She shook her head slowly. “Why in the world would we want to do that?” The fact she had to ask stung a little, but he didn’t let it weaken his resolve. His words had shocked her. Considering everything else she’d been through tonight, she was probably having a hard time rationalizing his suggestion. “Because it was a mistake to end what we had.” Her expression fell. “I have always known that, but I have to admit I’m not a big fan of making the same mistake twice.” She exhaled heavily. “It almost killed me when I received those divorce papers. If I were to become involved with you again, to allow myself to care for you again—I don’t know if I can take the risk.” He read between the lines of the words she left unspoken. She was hesitant to take the risk because she couldn’t stand another heartbreak. The bad thing was, he had no idea of how to reassure her that it wasn’t in his plans. If he was lucky enough to get her back, he had no intention of ever letting her go again. Now he just had to figure out a way to prove it to her. Better yet, he had to figure out a way to convince her to allow him to do so. He had to fight a smile when a possible solution came to mind. “I think we are well worth the risk.” Daníella looked up at him in surprise, but he continued. He had to make her comprehend just how serious he was. “Remembering what we had the first time around, I can’t help but to think we are.”

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She shook her head. “But how would it make things different?” “Because I am older and wiser. I made the mistake of letting you go once. I won’t make that mistake ever again. I will not mess it up this time.” Her eyebrows rose at his level of confidence. “You seem pretty sure of yourself.” Carlo nodded slowly. “I have reason to be. Besides this is my chance to prove to you how observant I have become.” Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “Carlo, do you have any idea as to what it is you are really suggesting?” “Yes. I’m suggesting we build upon the friendship we used to have and try to start our romantic relationship over.” The look on her face told him she was overwhelmed with everything he was saying to her. It was exactly what he wanted. Carlo leaned closer to her, crowding her intentionally. Daníella had always told him she loved the way he smelled. He could remember coming home from work, and she’d be up waiting up for him. She would walk up to him and embrace him, burying her face into his shirt to inhale his scent. If he wasn’t mistaken, he’d just heard her inhale now. He tilted her chin so that she looked up at him. “I just want you to do one thing for me.” He could sense her hesitance to ask what that might be, but she did so anyway. “What is it?” “I want you to say yes.” She laughed in response. “If I didn’t know any better, I would swear the Carlo standing in front of me is the one I have known forever.” He gave her a solemn look, knowing he deserved the somewhat sarcastic statement. Brushing his hand across her cheek, he gave her a gentle smile. “He never left,” Carlo whispered softly.

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He could tell she wanted to argue with him. Instead, she glanced away briefly before looking back at him. “Do you mind if I ask what brought this on?” “Seeing other people around me fall in love. Reminding me of what we had. What could have been if I hadn’t been so difficult and hardheaded?” he responded with a shrug. She smiled. “And you aren’t right now?” “Somewhat, but not as much as I used to be. I’ve been told I’m coming around more and more each day,” he said with a laugh. She shook her head in response, but he could feel her resolve weakening. He could see it in her eyes. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought we would be standing here and you saying this to me. I had hoped—” He watched her stop as if she realized she was revealing too much. He gave her an understanding look. “I know I hurt you, and I am sorry. I hope you will allow me to start making it up to you.” She tilted her head to the side. “How do you plan to do it?” “I think you will have to take a chance and find out.” **** Daníella opened her mouth to say this plan was still not a good idea, but the words stuck in her throat. Why wouldn’t the words come out? She knew why as soon as she asked herself the question. This was something she had wanted for a long time, a second chance with Carlo to prove they could have made it. They would have made it in spite of the hardships that had been before them. The accident had changed everything. Instead of being there, she had to settle for secondhand information of Carlo’s struggle, the pain he had gone through while he pushed his body to heal when it hadn’t wanted to. She looked up at him. “I will consider this if you make me one promise.”

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He nodded without hesitation, and it almost seemed like old times. Times when Carlo would have done anything for her, given her anything she asked for. “Anything you want.” “How can you agree so readily when you have no idea what I’m going to say?” she asked with a laugh. The tender expression that appeared on his face almost made her melt on the spot. “Because you are a fair person. You always have been. Whatever it is I have to agree to will be worth it if the request is what it takes to get you to take another chance on us.” She pulled back and looked at him. “Carlo, did you trip fall and hit your head on the way over here?” He laughed at her once he seemed to realize the sincerity of her question. “No. I might have tripped a few times, but I promise you I regained my balance before I fell.” The statement caused her to frown. “Speaking of which, what made you come here tonight? Daníella saw him pause, and something flashed in his eyes but disappeared before she could figure it out. “I was driving by and decided to stop to see if you were in so we could talk. When I saw the door cracked, I thought something may be wrong, so I came in.” She winced slightly. “How much did you witness?” “I came in right before you grabbed the water pitcher.” Her eyes widened in embarrassment. “And you didn’t say anything?” Carlo shook his head. “You looked like you were on a mission. Plus you left the door upstairs open, and I don’t need an imagination to know what was going on from the sounds coming from it.” Daníella felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I can’t believe you saw that.”

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He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I thought you handled the situation very well.” “Still, it would be a lot better if it hadn’t happened at all,” she admitted with a sigh of resignation. “It may be, but if it hadn’t, we wouldn’t be standing here right now.” “I guess you have a point,” she murmured softly. “Yes, I do. A very good one. Now back to the issue at hand. What is the one demand you have?” “That you allow me into every aspect of your life?” They both knew why she made request, and she had to wonder if he was willing to do it. If he’d been open to the suggestion when they’d been married, they wouldn’t be here right now. When he spoke, it was softly and his voice was full of emotion. “You have my word that I will let you into every aspect of my life. I want you there. Seeing Antonio and Tierra so happily married, and Amalía so happy with Hayden, combined with knowing what we had—I miss it. We can have it again. I know it.” He paused. “I’ve missed you, Daníella. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this work, if you are willing to do the same.” “Why wouldn’t I be?” He gave her a knowing look. “I know how hard it can be to return what you ask for, but I think it should be on equal footing, so I will let you into every aspect of my life providing you allow me into every aspect of yours.” “I don’t believe that was an issue last time,” she replied, unable to keep the skepticism out of her voice. He shrugged in response. “That was before all of this. I’m sure things have happened since we divorced.” “No more than it has for you.” “So does that mean you aren’t going to agree to this?” Before he could stop her, she squeezed around him. “No, I’m not saying that. I just need some time to think about it.” Turning around,

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she looked at him, unable to keep the hurt from her expression. “If this had been four years ago, even a year ago, I might be a lot more enthusiastic about the idea. However, given my track record with men right now, I’m not certain I should become involved with anyone at this point in time.” She watched him close his eyes when he spoke. “As much as I hate to say this, because it probably won’t help my chances, but your relationship with Ignacio didn’t work out because he wasn’t the right man for you.” “And you are?” His eyes popped open at the question. “You know I am.” A shiver traveled down her spine as he said the words, mainly because she knew he was correct. Yet, she wasn’t ready to admit it. She was more than willing to give their relationship another try, but she wasn’t going to get her hopes up too soon about it working out. “Admit it, Daníella. You knew Ignacio was a loser.” She looked at him with puzzlement. His statement was somewhat shocking because she hadn’t realized how much of a loser Ignacio had been, at least until tonight. “Why do you say that?” The expression that appeared on his face could only be described as confident. “Because you didn’t make love with him.” Her eyes widened with shock, and she began to flush. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. At this point she found it hard to believe she would ever live down the embarrassment of tonight’s events. Carlo shook his head, preventing her from having to choke out words of denial. “You don’t need to confirm nor negate the fact. Even if Ignacio hadn’t said it, I know you didn’t. There was no way you could be sleeping with Ignacio.” Her chin came up a little. “Why?”

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His gaze became heated, and the passion she saw there made her shiver. She’d been on the receiving end of that look several times in the past. “Because I know how passionate you are. How insatiable you are.” She knew he was remembering their heated lovemaking sessions, and he was making her think about them as well. Anytime she and Carlo had come together, the results had been explosive. His touch had always left her satisfied, and she knew hers had satisfied him as well. Still, she couldn’t help but to give him a sassy reply. “Are you certain it wasn’t your stamina at fault?” The corner of his mouth lifted into a cocky grin. “We both know better than that.” His look intensified. “What I am trying to say is, we both know you are more than enough woman to have satisfied Ignacio. As you said, he was a loser, therefore proving my point. You chose the wrong man, and you know it.” She hated to admit defeat, but unfortunately she had to—for two reasons. The first being Carlo was right. The second being she didn’t know how much longer she could be in his presence without attacking him because of the desire building within her. She needed the touch of a man. She knew of no man who could touch her better than Carlo. It was part of the reason she had stayed celibate so long. Why she hadn’t experience another man’s touch since him. Daníella lifted her gaze and stared at him for a moment before smiling. “Since you agreed to my request, I will agree to yours.” He smiled back at her. “Good. I’m glad to hear that, but you know what this means right?” Her smile started to fade a little at his mysterious expression and matching tone of voice. “No, but I’m certain you will tell me. I just wonder if I’m going to like it.” “Breakfast at my parents’ in the morning.”

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Chapter Three “Madre Santa del dio!” Daníella’s nerves went through the roof as Mona Carabelli nearly shouted the words, causing the entire Carabelli family to gather into the foyer to see what the excitement was about. When they saw her standing next to Carlo, their expressions mirrored Mona’s. It only made sense Mona was the first to recover since she had been exposed to the surprise of her arrival longer. Mona embraced her tightly, and Daníella couldn’t help but to hug her back. She’d always liked Carlo’s mother. Actually, she had always liked his entire family. In many ways they were her family, even before her marriage to Carlo. The Carabellis had always been good to her, treating her like family even after she and Carlo divorced. Mona finally released her, stepping back, and the rest of the Carabellis stepped forward to greet her. Daníella smiled as she hugged Tierra, then Hayden. It was ironic how a brother and sister from one family had fallen in love with the brother and sister from another. Almost a year ago, Tierra had come to Rome on her honeymoon by herself after being jilted at her wedding by the groom. Antonio, the oldest Carabelli sibling, had made it his goal to sweep her off Tierra off her feet, and succeeded. They were now happily married and had been for a few months. Her best friend Amalía, Carlo and Antonio’s sister, had fallen for Hayden during the wedding festivities. Daníella had a feeling it would only be a matter of time before Hayden was asking Amalía to walk down the aisle. Carlo cleared his throat, and she looked up at him.

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He was staring at her with obvious amusement. “I could have sworn we were here to have breakfast.” The statement caused everyone to start for the dining room. When she went to follow, Carlo held her back. She looked at him in confusion. “Still want to be involved in every aspect of my life?” She nodded without hesitation. “Yes, I do.” He smiled. “Buon.” Good. Carlo took her hand in his and led her into the dining room, where two seats had been left vacant for them. Carlo was the perfect gentleman she had always known him to be. He held out her seat for her, making sure she was situated before taking a seat himself. As she had suspected on the drive to the Carabelli house, the topic of breakfast was going to be her and Carlo. Amalía happily started the conversation. “So how long has this been going on?” “Since last night.” Daníella felt a blush start its way up her neck as she realized what she had implied. She looked over to Carlo for assistance, but he wasn’t any help. He wore a look of pure amusement. Confusion appeared on Tierra and Amalía faces, and she knew why. They had been aware of her plan to seduce Ignacio and had even given her a few pointers. She cleared up the confusion for them quickly. “Ignacio and I are over, but we’ll talk about it later.” That seemed to satisfy her two friends for the time being, but she hated the fact she would have to give them a recap of what happened later. Daníella knew now if she ever planned another seduction, she would plan it by herself. Looking over at Carlo, she had the feeling she wouldn’t need any help when it came to seducing him. She knew him just as well as he knew her. “Are you going to eat?” Carlo’s voice brought her out of her musings. “Hmm?”

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He smiled at her, and she stared at him blankly, very oblivious as to what he’d said. “I asked you if you are going to eat.” Daníella nodded before piling food on her plate, after she’d glanced around quickly to see if any of the Carabellis had noticed her daydreaming. She almost groaned when she saw all of them were staring at her intently. Knowing what it would take to get through this meal peacefully, she took a calming breath. Putting her fork down, she laced her fingers together before clearing her throat. “Well, it seems all of you are curious as to why I am here.” There were a few nods. The rest of the Carabellis just continued to stare. She looked at Carlo to see if he was bothered by what she was doing. He just shrugged his shoulders, so she continued. “Carlo and I talked last night. We have decided there is unfinished business between the two of us and to give a relationship another try.” Her mouth dropped open when cheers erupted around the table. She hadn’t expected for them to be this excited. Tierra came over and hugged both of them in congratulations. Amalía couldn’t stop grinning. Her face mirrored Mona’s. Even Bruno had a smile on his face. “We are glad to hear our son has come to his senses.” Daníella dropped her gaze quickly, and Carlo was more than happy to jump in and clear up the misperception. “Actually, it was I that had to convince Daníella.” Amalía’s eyebrows went up. “Can you blame her?” “I’m interested in knowing what persuasion tactic you used to get her to come around. I may need to use it in the future,” Giovanni chimed in. Daníella smiled as Amalía reached out and hit him in the arm. She would have done so herself if she had been close enough, but it probably wouldn’t have hurt as much. Her smile widened as Hayden stood up, moved his chair back, and physically moved Amalía’s chair

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over to his previously occupied space, before putting his chair where Amalía had been sitting. He was literally putting himself in a dangerous place. “I don’t know what I was thinking letting the two of you sit by each other during breakfast.” Hayden gave Amalía a look. “No more hitting.” Amalía gave him a sweet smile. “Only if Giovanni promises to stop breathing.” Giovanni mumbled something Amalía heard, and her fist shot out. Hayden grabbed it prior to it reaching its final destination, and placed a kiss on it before giving Amalía another warning look. “No more hitting, remember?” Amalía batted her eyes at Hayden. “Giovanni hasn’t stopped breathing, so I thought I might offer him some assistance.” Daníella couldn’t stop the laughter that burst from her. This was one of the several things she’d missed—entertaining breakfast time with the Carabellis. It could honestly be said that breakfast with the Carabellis wouldn’t leave one bored. If only mealtime was this exciting with her family. Her laughter died off at the thought. Mealtime with her family was coming up—tomorrow to be exact. Her family was close, but not as close as the Carabellis. Not as large either. She had two sisters, both younger than her. They all got together for dinner once a week. It was all the time sanity allowed for. Like the Carabellis, she and her sisters worked together at the tour guide business her family ran. Daníella enjoyed giving tours of Rome, showing people the beautiful city she’d grown up in. She had begun giving tours part-time during her summers in high school. Upon graduating from college, she’d gone to work full-time. After she married Carlo, he told her she didn’t have to work if she didn’t want to, but she had. It had only been part-time, and she had always been home to greet him when he walked in the door from work. She’d only gone back to work fulltime after she and Carlo had divorced. Not because she had to. Even

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in the divorce Carlo had given her more than most men would have, including a monthly allowance. One she still hadn’t touched to this day. Her main reason for going back to work had been for personal reasons. She needed to keep from going insane. Her thoughts had constantly been on Carlo, and having all day to sit around and think about him would have eventually driven her crazy. Then there was the fact she wanted to live on her own. Carlo had offered her their home in their divorce settlement, but there were too many memories there. She couldn’t imagine living there without him. On the other hand, after being on her own for so long, there was no way she was going to move back in with her parents. So she moved into her own apartment and started working full-time. Yes, it was small, but it was hers. She could use some of the monetary settlement she received from her divorce, but she didn’t want to. It meant a lot to her to make it on her own. Looking back at the entire situation, she knew she had made the right decision. Now came the tough part. She had to break the news to her family. They were probably going to think she had lost her mind, especially her mother. How many times had she cried on her mother’s shoulder the first six months after the divorce? It was enough times for her mother to probably think she was delusional to even think about getting involved with Carlo again. Just the fact that Carlo had asked for a divorce caused an uproar. The Carabellis were devout Catholics. However, with the Carabelli name behind him, Carlo managed to get it done. She looked up as he touched her forehead with a gentle hand. “Stop frowning.” “I didn’t realize I was.” “You were. You always have when you are thinking about something troublesome.” Her eyebrows rose at the statement. Carlo only smiled. “I told you I’m more observant than you think.”

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Daníella remained silent because she couldn’t argue the point. He had always been observant, which was probably why he’d always known what she wanted before she asked. She studied him as he pulled his hand back, instantly missing his touch. “So tell me what’s on your mind.” She almost bit her tongue as he draped his arms across the back of her chair and leaned toward her. The move was enough to almost make her forget what she had been thinking. “I was thinking dinner with my parents is tomorrow. I’m wondering if we’re going to get as warm of a reception there as we did here.” He gave her a quizzical look. “Would it really matter?” “Yes, because this was hard enough of a decision to make without negative interference.” She replied without hesitation. Carlo’s brows furrowed together in a frown before he looked at his family. “Can you all excuse us? Daníella and I are going to go for a walk.” When there were no objections, Carlo stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and stood. He led the way out of the house. Instead of going off the porch, he led her to a far corner where a hanging swing sat. The swing set she’d often seen Mona and Bruno in over the years—one she and Carlo sat in themselves quite often. It was also very similar to the one he installed in their home. It offered them the privacy they needed. They sat down together, and he put the swing into motion, looking at her. “So does it really matter if your family runs interference?” “Yes and no. It’s my life, and I know that. It would just make me feel better if there wasn’t any.” A heavy sigh escaped her. “I would hate to have to distance myself from my family. They were there for me when you—when I needed them to be.” She had stopped herself from saying when he pushed her away, but his expression told her he still knew what she was going to say. It

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was no secret Carlo had hurt her. It never had been. He took her hand into his. “We will go to your parents’ home tomorrow night for dinner. After we talk to them, if they have any major and reasonable objections, we can walk away from our agreement if it’s what you want to do.” Daníella didn’t try to hide her pain. “That isn’t what I want to do. It never was.” She looked into his eyes and felt her chest contract at the emotion she saw there. Carlo was with her, as much as she was with him. It reassured her in many ways. She took his hand in hers. “If my family objects to my choice, they will have to understand it is my decision.” “I’m glad you feel strongly about us.” “Do you feel that way about us, Carlo?” “I do. More than you know, but I plan to show you.” **** Carlo smiled as he watched Daníella shiver in what he hoped was anticipation. He already had his plan of seduction and romance in place. The last time she had been the object of his desire, they had left trails of smoke wherever they went. Everything was going to be totally different from the first time around, if he could help it. It was almost a given considering the fact that they couldn’t go back to the way things were. He studied her, wondering how he could have been so unwise and foolish to let her go to begin with. The answer to that was simple. His stupid pride and stubbornness had gotten in the way. There was something about stubborn male pride especially with the Carabelli men. Fortunately, he wasn’t the worst in the family. Looking at the beautiful woman who sat across from him, Carlo knew he had been incredibly dimwitted.

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He’d always been a sucker for her dark brown eyes that told him everything he needed to know every time he looked into them. Her straight, brown hair seemed to be longer than he remembered. Yet he wasn’t certain because she always wore it pulled back into a ponytail or pinned up on top of her head. The only time he’d seen it down was when they’d been at home together. She’d always told him the ponytail was a practical hairstyle kept her neck cool from the Mediterranean heat when giving tours. He’d never had a problem with it because she’d always worn it down at the house for him. The one place it counted. Carlo brought his hand up to brush her cheek. “You know you are still beautiful to me.” She smiled, blushing lightly, her eyes telling him she believed him. She truly was. Her work uniform didn’t do anything to hide her gorgeous figure. The polo-style cotton shirt only hinted at the perfect, full breasts beneath the shirt. Due to the amount of walking tours she gave, her legs were athletically toned, but not overly so. His body actually began to harden when he thought about those exact legs wrapped around his waist. The way they had been able to hold him to her tightly, allowing him only to move within her when she wanted him to while in the heat of passion. “Carlo?” She called his name, bringing his attention back to the present. Her smile told him she knew exactly what he’d been thinking. How could she not? If his eyes didn’t tell her he wanted her, he knew his expression would. Smiling, he moved closer to her and cupped her cheek into his hands. “Daníella, I am going to kiss you right now unless you tell me not to.” “You know I never could resist your kisses.” Without further hesitation, his mouth came down on hers in a deep, searing kiss. Everything seemed to fall into place instantly. The feel of her lips against his told him this was exactly where he wanted to be—exactly where he needed to be. She moaned deep in her throat

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before opening her mouth to his. He plunged his tongue deep, giving her what she asked for. Her hands came up and grabbed his shoulders as if to anchor herself. He reached for her, pulling her onto his lap, glad she had the khaki shorts on. They’d always driven him insane with the casual way they exposed her never-ending legs. The amount of legs they revealed should still be illegal. Yet, right now they came in handy as she straddled his lap. Both of them stilled as her feminine mound came in direct contact of his growing erection. She pulled her mouth away from his. He was breathing just as heavily as she was. “What are we doing, Carlo?” “I don’t know, but I don’t want to stop.” She gave him a small, beautiful smile through thoroughly kissed and swollen lips. “Neither do I, but we have to.” She placed another brief kiss on his lips before pulling back. It was difficult to ignore the desire was flowing through him, but he had to. She had just agreed to give their relationship another try. As physically compatible as they were, he knew it would be a mistake if they were to fall into bed together so quickly. She would regret it instantly, and it was something he didn’t want. He wanted her to have a clear head about the entire situation. At least as clear as it could be. Pulling her into his lap and stealing sensual kisses wasn’t going to help his cause. The bedroom was one place he and Daníella had never fallen short. In all reality, there hadn’t been any problems in their relationship until the accident occurred. It also dawned on him that she still didn’t know to the full extent of why it was. Until he told her, he wasn’t sure exactly how much their relationship could evolve. She moved off of his lap with him reluctant to let her go. Her expression told him her thoughts were along the same lines as his. “Carlo, can you tell me something?” He nodded, hoping he could. “If I can.”

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She paused as if she were trying to choose her words carefully, which worried him slightly. “Why did you push me away?” Guilt traveled through him. He shoved it aside quickly. Carlo looked away from her for a moment to figure out what he was going to say and to keep her from reading his eyes. When he finally answered, he kept his eyes averted, and he spoke so quietly she had to lean closer to hear him. “Because I didn’t want you to be stuck having to take care of me the rest of our lives in the state that I was in.” He finally brought his gaze back to hers, allowing her to see his pain. She looked at him with obvious surprise and shock appearing on her face. Her mouth dropped open in a cute fashion. “Are you serious?” He gave a slight nod, putting some space between them as her expression became dangerous. “So was it just me or were you not standing beside me when we included in sickness and health in our wedding vows?” He remained silent, which was the smartest thing he could do. Daníella shook her head at him. Carlo could see the disappointment in her eyes, and it hurt him. He felt stupid and knew he deserved her anger. “So tell me, Carlo. What did you call it when I was at home waiting to greet you when you arrived home from work?” Defiance filled him. “That was completely different.” Her eyebrows arched in a pretty fashion, making it hard to keep from reaching out to touch her. Yet he knew that now wasn’t the right time to do that. Instead, he tried to focus on the conversation. “How is it different, Carlo? I took care of you, didn’t I?” “Yes, but you did because you wanted to, not because you had to.” Frustration swamped him as the memories of his accident, and the ordeal he went through afterwards, assailed his mind.

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“Do you know how helpless I was?” She leveled him with an angry look. “Of course not! You pushed me away, remember?” The corner of his mouth tilted it up before he could stop it. He saw her gaze soften a little, but Carlo knew he wasn’t out of trouble yet. “And I have said I’m sorry. Looking back on it now, it was an extremely dumb thing to do. I guess the only consolation would be the fact that I plan on trying to make it up to you.” “So you have said. I’m just wondering how you plan on doing that?” “Well, I guess I could tell you, but it would take the fun out of showing you,” he responded softly.

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Chapter Four “He did what?” Daníella looked at her four friends as they exclaimed loudly over what she’d just told them. Luckily they were inside of the private dining room of the Carabelli Hotel. The Carabellis had owned and run the hotel since their grandfather acquired it. Since then the hotel had become a five-star success. The hotel was a very popular destination to stay in Rome because of its location and the reputation the hotel boasted. There was also the fact the Carabellis ran tight security and kept most if not all of the paparazzi away from the hotel. She had always been impressed by the Carabellis’ business sense, and she was proud of their success. Just as proud as she was of her own family’s success. Her own grandfather was the person responsible for starting up their tour guide company. Daníella felt a large part of their success was due to it being family owned and operated, like the Hotel Carabelli. Still, there were days like today when her family drove her crazy. As soon she and Carlo had left the Carabellis’ home, he had driven them to the hotel where she’d walked to work. Her family must have gotten a whiff of something because they had cornered her like vultures as soon as she walked through the front door. She’d been able to convince them everything was okay. After that point, everything had been fine, until she mentioned she was bringing someone to dinner. Her family had always known she was seeing Ignacio but never pressed to meet him because she’d always downplayed her relationship with him. Now it seemed with good reason when she looked back at their so-called relationship.

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Daníella could only imagine how her family would react when they found out it was Carlo. She was brought out of her musings when Sophia leaned over to hug her. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” “Thank you, but we all knew it was just a matter of time before the relationship between Ignacio and I fizzled out.” “Yeah, well, it did more than fizzle,” Tierra muttered. “Personally, I would have found something more than cold water to pour on them,” Talía stated. Daníella laughed. “Believe me, if I had, I probably would be sitting in jail instead of having lunch with you right now.” Amalía, who’d remained quiet up until now, finally spoke. “Well I’m going to ask what everyone else is afraid to. How does Carlo play into all of this?” Daníella shrugged her shoulders in response. Truthfully, she didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know, Amalía. What I can say is we are going to give our relationship another try.” Tierra looked at Daníella with confusion. “Why do you sound so hesitant about it?” Daníella sighed heavily before answering. “Because I don’t want to make Carlo a rebound person.” She looked up in surprise as her friends began to laugh. Talía was the one who chose to fill her in on what was so humorous. “Carlo can’t be classified as the rebound since technically, you never got over him. Ignacio was the rebound. Always was.” Her mouth dropped open at their reasoning. Sometimes her friends had a way of relaying things to her that made perfect sense. “You know there are times when I can’t stand any of you.” Amalía leaned closer to her. “You know you love us.” “Actually, I don’t.” “Yeah, she is saving it all for Carlo,” Sophia teased. Daníella rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Honestly, I think you guys are worse now than you were in high school.”

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Talía shook her head. “I don’t think we could get any worse.” Daníella arched a dark brow at her. “Trust me. You can.” They all looked up as the door to the private room opened. She felt her heart rate speed up as Carlo entered the room, followed by Hayden and Antonio. All three men were attractive but none more than Carlo. His gaze met hers, and she felt his heated stare all the way to her toes. “We came to check on you ladies. It was reported that you all were having too much fun.” Amalía gave Hayden a teasing look. “Not without you I wasn’t.” Hayden leaned down and gave Amalía a brief kiss. “Smart answer, woman.” Amalía winked. “What can I say? Intelligence has always been one of my strong points.” Daníella returned her attention to Carlo as he neared her. Amazing how the man could make her forget everything but him when he was near. Not that she minded. Carlo was more than pleasant for her to look at. If it were a hobby, she would be more than happy to show up. “Are you enjoying your lunch?” “I always do when I’m with my friends.” “I know. I’m glad you all stayed close over the years in spite of what happened between us.” “Why wouldn’t we have, Carlo? You were the one who called our relationship to an end. No one had reason to be mad at me.” He chuckled. “I guess you have a point there.” “We both know I do.” “How has your day been so far?” She released a pent-up breath. “Not too eventful, just dodging my family, but there is nothing new about that, especially with the worrisome sisters I have.” The corner of his mouth curled up, causing her heart to skip a beat.

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“They want to know who you are bringing to dinner.” She confirmed his guess with a nod. “Yes, and they are about to drive me insane because of it.” He chuckled, but she knew if anyone knew how difficult her sisters could be, it was him. “Well, why don’t you let me make it up to you by taking you to dinner?” Her eyebrows arched high on her forehead before she could hide her surprise at his suggestion. “What about dinner with your family?” “We had breakfast with them this morning, but if that is what you want.” Daníella paused for a moment, trying to make sure she heard him correctly. She’d been so distracted since last night, she had to have people repeat things for her more than once. “So you were talking about a private dinner?” “Sí, tesoro mio. Like we did the other night at your place.” Daníella looked down at the remainder of her lunch. If she looked Carlo in the eyes right now, he would see everything she was trying to hide. It was times like these that she hated he could read her so well. She didn’t want him to suspect being alone with him made her nervous. Not only would he enjoy knowing that, he would want to know why, and right now it wasn’t the right time or place to be getting into a long, drawn-out conversation over this subject. Taking a calming breath, she smiled before looking up at Carlo. It was easier to do than she thought it would be. “Actually, I won’t be available for dinner tonight. My new bed will be delivered tomorrow. I have some rearranging to do before it is.” Carlo looked like he wanted to protest for a moment, but luckily he didn’t. Truth be told, she didn’t have the strength to debate with him over this. “Okay then. What time should I come by to pick you up tomorrow evening?”

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“Six o’clock should be fine. Mother still serves dinner around six thirty.” He nodded before giving her a kiss that left her lips tingling. “Enjoy the rest of your day. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.” Antonio and Hayden took it as their cue to leave as well. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Carlo as he left the room. Until she realized four pairs of eyes were watching her every move. Closing her eyes briefly, she braced herself for what was to come. “What is it?” Talía just shook her head. Sophia smiled. Amalía just stared. Tierra was the one brave enough to speak up. “You realize you have it bad right?” She looked at Tierra with puzzlement. “What are you talking about?” “You want Carlo so bad I can taste it,” Tierra said. She didn’t bother to deny the factual statement. It would only end with her being tormented until she admitted the truth. “Yeah, well, it doesn’t mean I’m going to go insane and throw myself all over him.” “Well, you ought to,” Talía muttered. Daníella shook her head, wondering how she managed to remain sane. If her friends weren’t driving her to the brink of insanity, her family was. She was the oldest of three girls and probably considered to be the most rational of three. Nikkía was two years younger and had recently become engaged to her boyfriend, Edoardo. Silvana was the youngest by four years and was involved in a serious relationship with Gaetano. She loved her sisters dearly, but a lot of the time they drove her crazy. Nikka was a drama queen, and therefore almost everything was two times more dramatic than it should be. Silvana couldn’t stand more than five minutes of silence and would run her mouth constantly, especially if she was nervous. Personally, her sisters grated Daníella’s nerves on occasion, and she didn’t see a need to torture herself daily if not necessary. It was probably one of the reasons she booked and led the most tours.

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However, anxiety swelled in Daníella at the thought of what her family’s reaction was going to be when they saw the person she was bringing to dinner. She was ready for any outcome, but she hoped they were okay with the fact of Carlo bring a part of her life again. The idea was still somewhat of a shock to her as well, but the Carlo she was making plans with seemed to be very similar to the one she had been married to. It felt strange to refer to Carlo as two different people at times, but it felt that way quite often. The accident had changed Carlo in many ways. It had changed her as well, but some things still remained the same. Seeing him walk through the door several minutes ago had made time stand still. The look in his eyes when he neared her had been reserved for her. It always had been, and to see it there had been a little shocking at first. Then she realized he should be looking at her like that again if he was interested in rekindling their relationship. Still, it was going to take some getting used to. A smile spread across her mouth at the thought. She had all of the time in the world. “I would love to know what you are thinking about,” Amalía murmured. She glanced at her friend with puzzlement. “Why do you ask?” “Because you have this look on your face that I haven’t seen in a long time,” Amalía said. Daníella laughed. “What? A smile?” Amalía gave her a serious look. “No. True happiness.” **** Carlo entered his office and closed the door behind him before easing his long frame into his chair. He automatically hit the massage button, laying his head back and closing his eyes in pleasure. The investment in this chair was well worth it. His thirty-three-year-old body felt a lot older at times like these. He would never be able to

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forget the fateful car wreck that had forever changed his life. The last four years had been hard, but he had survived them, even if it was with a battered and broken body. He rubbed his thigh in an absentminded fashion. It, along with his pelvis, had been crushed when he had been pinned inside of his car. The pain that followed was indescribable and only surpassed by the pain he’d experienced during rehab. His fear of being unable to walk was the only thing that kept him going when he’d just wanted to lay there and rest. His family had also supplied motivation. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply before reopening them. There were times when he loved his family for everything they did, everything they were, and then there were times when he could do without being in their presence. Regardless, his family was good to him and they meant a lot to him, especially his siblings. Antonio was the oldest and the best friend of all of his younger brothers and sister. He was the diplomatic Carabelli son. Not one person could dislike him. Amalía was the next oldest and had the privilege of being the only girl. It he let her tell it, she would say it was nothing but suffering. He loved Amalía because she was full of spunk and didn’t hesitate to speak her mind. She also had a hell of a right fist. He was lucky that he hadn’t been on the receiving end of Amalía’s fist in a long time. The person who had was Giovanni, the Carabelli bad boy, who had a problem with authority of any kind unless it came from Mona or Bruno Carabelli. As impulsive as Giovanni tended to be, it came as a surprise to some that Giovanni didn’t break any laws. Nor did he have the attention of the media any more than the next Carabelli. They were lucky in the fact there were many other wealthy people for the media to focus on. Yes, he, as well as his siblings, had all graced the cover of the newspaper, but they tended to keep a low and clean profile for the most part. Still, all of them had suffered a slander of their name in some sense. It had been another way in which he’d hurt Daníella. Yet

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everything had been calm lately, and if their name did make the paper, it was because of something good, the most recent being Antonio’s marriage to Tierra. It probably wouldn’t be that way for long if Leonardo kept leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him. Leonardo was a charmer, and he always would be. That left the last and youngest Carabelli child. Macéo had a habit of being forgetful about everything—unless it dealt with numbers. Macéo excelled at numbers, so no one held his one-track mind against him. He’d saved the hotel money more than once. His youngest brother was smart as well as realistic, which also made it easier to deal with him. Taking everything into consideration, it wasn’t hard for one to understand why Carlo couldn’t get enough of his family during the exciting times. As well as why there were times when he wanted to curse his siblings in both English and Italian. Right now wasn’t one of them. Daníella was back in his life, whether she completely realized it or not. Either way, it was enough to make him not worry about anything else. When he sat back and thought about it all, there really wasn’t a time she hadn’t been. It took him a while to realize Daníella had never truly been out of it. He had come to realize lately how much he cared about Daníella. How much of a mistake it had been to push her away instead of holding on to her. He’d chosen to fight his demons by himself. He hated it was when he had to rely on someone else because of his physical limitations. Even now he had a cane to walk with. If he could avoid it, the cane didn’t come out until he was at home. Yes, it meant there were periods of time when he had to sit and rest or walk slower to keep from collapsing under his own weight. Yet it was worth it to be able to have a small amount of freedom in public. He rubbed his thigh again, wondering if he should stop by or call in the masseuse. A deep tissue massage never seemed to stop working miracles. Closing his eyes, he took another deep breath and tried to relax. A smile appeared on his face as he reminisced back to the events that

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occurred this morning over breakfast. His family had been so excited at Daníella’s arrival. He couldn’t blame them. Daníella hadn’t been to a Carabelli breakfast since he’d called an end to their marriage. No one would have ever expected she would show up to another. Having her by his side this morning, smelling her flowery scent and taking in her beauty, had only emphasized all he’d missed out on—all he’d thrown away. When his lips had touched hers this morning, he realized with regret just how stupid he had been. It also told him how much Daníella still wanted him. His eyes flew open at the notion, and the smile on his face widened. Now he had an idea as to why she’d reacted the way she did when he asked her about dinner tonight. It seemed as if Daníella didn’t trust herself around him. Unfortunately, he knew all about that. Before today he hadn’t trusted his body to function properly, but once she’d straddled his lap, his erection had come to life instantly. Why he ever second-guessed himself, he didn’t know. The passion between Daníella and himself had never been lacking to say the least. Still he didn’t want her to be afraid of what could happen between them. Fear would make her hold part of herself back from him, and he wanted everything this time around. He had plans to keep her by his side forever. Losing her once was enough for him. Still, he wondered what the outcome would be once he revealed everything to Daníella about why he called off their marriage. Just thinking about how she was going to respond had him afraid to utter a single word about it. Unfortunately, that was taking the easy way out. He also knew that at some point he would have to tell her everything. Things between them could only progress so far until he came clean. The problem was he had a feeling that things would come to screeching halt once he did. Releasing a pent-up breath, he turned his attention to the paperwork on his desk. He knew he would have to formulate a plan to do it. The only obstacle to overcome would be dinner with her family

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tomorrow night. Daníella had been very worried about what their opinion of the two of them getting back together would be. Truthfully, he could care less because the relationship was between the two of them, but the purpose of this was to prove they could get along as well as fit into each other’s lives. True enough, the Manginos weren’t as close as his family was, but they were close enough. He wanted to make sure he wasn’t the reason Daníella was unhappy. Stretching his leg out in front of him, he moved it back and forth, trying to loosen the tension. He wondered where he and Daníella would be if he hadn’t been in the accident, if he hadn’t pushed her away out of stubbornness and fear. Would they still be happily married? Have a baby or two? Daníella had always wanted to start a family, but she had insisted on waiting until after they had been married for a few years. She had wanted them to have some time to themselves as husband and wife before they brought children into the equation. Carlo hadn’t minded because her reasoning had been sound. Unfortunately, two years had never come for them. If they had, he would probably have a little girl or boy running around the hotel, maybe one of each. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine Daníella round with his child. Maybe if he did everything right this time, he would no longer have to settle for imagining.

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Chapter Five “Daníella, I can’t believe you are doing this to us.” Daníella rolled her eyes. “Give me a break, Nikkía. I’m not doing anything to you.” Nikkía pouted. “I said us, and you are. You are keeping a secret from Silvana and me.” Daníella didn’t even attempt to hide her impatience. They had attacked her as soon as she’d come back from her last tour. She’d hoped her sisters would be gone for the day by the time she had come back, but there was no such luck. “I always keep secrets from the two of you. This is part of the reason why we get along so well.” The statement earned her a dirty look from both of her sisters. “That’s the problem.” She returned the look. “That may be so for you, but this is working out just fine for me.” Silvana sighed heavily. “Why do you have to be so difficult? It would be a lot easier if you would let us into your life.” Daníella rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Again, for you maybe, but for me things are fine the way they are.” “Sometimes I wonder if you were adopted,” Nikkía retorted with an impatient huff. Daníella laughed. “I think that since I’m a spitting image of Mom, it negates your statement.” No one could argue with that. She looked just like her mother, and there was no denying it. “Well, we still say you should tell us who this mystery guy is.”

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“I will—tomorrow night when I bring him to dinner.” Nikkía pouted one more time for good measure before standing. “Come on, Silvana, we are wasting our time.” Daníella inhaled a deep breath of relief. A glance at the clock on her desk told her she would still get home at a decent hour. However, she would be going home to an empty house. Considering it was Ignacio she’d usually had been coming home to, she didn’t feel as though she was missing much. Maybe she should have taken Carlo up on his offer. Oh well, there was no use in fawning over it now. She would go home, rearrange her bedroom, and have a nice dinner by herself before watching a little television and going to bed. Reaching for her bag and purse, she bid her sisters good night as she walked out the front door and headed toward her apartment. Thankfully Daníella didn’t live too far from her apartment and she could walk, but after a day like today, she was too tired to. Usually, the only time she didn’t walk home was when it was dark. She normally called for a cab when that was the case, but she chose the bus instead. Otherwise her feet and legs would give out on her halfway. After a short ride on the bus, she rode the elevator up to her apartment. Daníella paused briefly as she exited the elevator then continued on toward her apartment. Carlo stood there looking relaxed and sexy. He smiled when he looked up and saw her. “Welcome home, bella. How was your day?” It took her a moment to gather her bearings, and she had to clear her throat to find her voice. “It was fine. How was yours?” “Buon. It was good. I’m not going to stay long. I wanted to make sure the loser wasn’t here to ambush you.” Leaning down, he picked up a bag she hadn’t noticed sitting on the floor. “And I brought you some dinner. I figured if you wouldn’t have dinner with me, the least I could do was buy it for you.”

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She fought a smile and lost. The romantic action was so Carlo-like it was the only way she could respond—other than jumping up into his arms and throwing herself at him. “You know you didn’t have to do that either, but thank you anyway.” He stepped aside as she made her way toward the door. “Is there enough food for two?” He shook his head. “I really only brought enough for you, so unless you have any leftovers from dinner last night, no.” She opened the door before looking over her shoulder at him. “Would you like to join me then?” Carlo responded without hesitation. “Of course.” Daníella stepped over the threshold, stepping aside to let Carlo in. “Have you been waiting long?” “No. Five minutes at the most.” “Good. I’m going to go freshen up a little. Feel free to put the food in the kitchen and freshen up as well if you need to.” Carlo nodded, and she made her way upstairs. She entered her room, frowning as her gaze fell upon her bed. It wouldn’t be gone soon enough. Last night she’d slept in her guest room after she had scrubbed her shower and bathtub from top to bottom. For some reason cleaning always seemed to calm her nerves when they were in an uproar. She just couldn’t wait to be rid of the bed. The one she chose to replace it was better and wouldn’t carry the image of Ignacio and Valencia. Daníella stripped as she headed into the bathroom. One of the downsides about being a tour guide in a city with a Mediterranean climate usually meant she was sticky by the time she made it home. Most of the time she relaxed with a long soak before having dinner, but she didn’t have time tonight. Instead, she settled for a quick shower, washing off the sweat and dirt of the day. Daníella dried off and slipped into her favorite sundress. It was comfortable and wouldn’t give Carlo the impression that she was dressing up for him. Yet, she resisted taking a quick glance in the

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mirror to check her reflection. Everything looked like it was in place, so she made her way back downstairs. The smell of food assailed her nose as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Whatever he had brought her for dinner smelled scrumptious. After she entered the kitchen, she stopped and took in the scene before her. Carlo had been busy while she was upstairs. He’d rolled up his sleeves, revealing tanned, muscular arms. Arms that had once made her feel as if she had no worries in the world. He had pulled the food out and arranged it so they could eat. The table was already set and two glasses of wine poured. “Everything looks really good.” He looked up at her and smiled. “I’m glad you think so. Go ahead and have a seat. The ravioli liguri is in the oven keeping warm.” Daníella nodded as she sat down, watching him move around the kitchen. What stood out to her was how comfortable he was. Carlo leaned down to open the oven, and she watched his dress slacks pull tight over the butt she’d once been familiar with. She began to drool—and it wasn’t over the mouth-watering aroma of the food. When he turned and headed toward her, she tried to clear her expression as she reached for her wineglass and took a sip. She smiled as he sat a plate of salad down in front of her. “What is it?” “Mixed spring greens with goat cheese. Ravioli liguri is the main course.” She nodded her approval as he walked away before coming back with two steaming plates. Daníella almost felt guilty that his contained leftovers from last night. But because of his sweet gesture, she planned to share some of her food with him. He sat one plate next to her salad, another next to his own before joining her at the table. She looked over everything before looking up at him and smiling. “Thank you for this.” He held his wineglass in salute. “You’re welcome.”

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She reached to the middle of the table and broke off a piece of bread for him and another for herself. They began to eat their food in silence, with her looking at him on occasion, only to catch him looking back at her. He was the one to speak first. “Am I making you nervous, Daníella?” “No more than usual. But yes—only for a different reason.” “What is the reason if you don’t mind me asking?” Daníella took another sip of her wine before answering. “Because physically I’m still attracted to you and I don’t want it to get in the way of what we are trying to find out.” “How would it get in way?” “Carlo, I want it to be more than physical intimacy if we are going to be involved with each other again.” His brows bunched together. “So you’re saying you don’t want our relationship to become physical?” “Of course I’m not saying that. I’m simply saying I’m not ready for this to become physical.” Daníella took a bite of her salad, watching Carlo ponder over what she just revealed. She knew he would respect her wishes even if it did prove to be difficult. “Is kissing allowed?” She nodded and saw instant relief appear on his face. Laughter escaped her before she could stop it. “Is kissing me so important to you?” He nodded without hesitation. “It is if it’s the only way I can touch you.” She shook her head as she finished her salad and began on her ravioli. It was as good as she expected it would be. Then again, anything came from Hotel Carabelli’s restaurant normally was. Daníella savored the bite before speaking. “Did I thank you for bringing dinner?” “Yes, you did, and once again you’re welcome.”

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He finished off his own portion of his salad before starting on his main course. “So how was the rest of your day after lunch?” She made a sound of frustration. “If anyone is aware of how insane Nikkía and Silvana can act, it’s you.” He chuckled softly. “That bad, huh?” “Yes, but it could have been a lot worse with the way they tried to join forces against me.” “So we are still on for dinner tomorrow night?” Her brow arched. “Of course we are. Why wouldn’t we be?” “No reason. I just realize you have the right to change your mind anytime you want to, and I want to give you the opportunity if needed.” “Well, I can tell you it isn’t needed. If it is, I’ll let you know.” Carlo studied her in silence for a moment before he continued eating. She took another bite of her own food, chewing slowly. The man truly was dangerous to her current emotional state of mind. This was a serious risk she took in giving him a second chance. It was a risk she was okay with for now. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly. “How was the rest of your day?” “Pretty uneventful actually. I spent most of it getting a deep tissue massage.” “I’m sure you enjoyed it.” “I did once the pain in my leg went away.” Concern coursed through her. “Were you in pain?” “I usually am. I just try to ignore it.” She frowned at him. “Aren’t you supposed to use a cane?” He scowled in response. “Yes, but it is cumbersome.” She rolled her eyes. “So you would rather hobble around in pain just to save face.” One corner of his mouth tilted upward. “I am a man, remember.” Daníella shook her head. “An idiot of one.”

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He gave her a wounded look. “Hey now, you are starting to sound like Amalía.” “Yes, well, considering she is the smartest out of all of you, it is probably a good thing.” He chuckled. “I think you’re taking her side because she’s a woman.” “No, I’m taking her side because she’s a woman, she’s smart, and she’s my friend.” His expression told her he wasn’t going to refute any of her statements. “Yes, well, trust me, I use my cane when I need it.” Her eyebrows rose at the statement. She’d been married to Carlo and knew how stubborn he could be when it came to having to do something he didn’t want to do. “You expect me to believe that?” “Yes.” “Men. So afraid to show vulnerability,” she scoffed. He shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? It is in our genetic code.” “Well, at least you are smart enough to admit you are being an idiot when it comes to this.” They shared an amused look while they finished their food. When she leaned back in her chair, she smiled at him. “Believe it or not, I’m full.” He rubbed his stomach, and she felt a moment of jealousy. There had been many times when she completed the some motion herself. Her hands itched to do it now. “So am I. Full, but not stuffed for a change.” “Tell me about it. With the way my mother cooks, I tend to go overboard on occasion.” “Don’t we all?” “Yeah, well, I have to watch my weight. Not maintaining a certain weight could mean I would have to use my cane a lot more than I want to.”

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Daníella frowned. “I thought you were healed and everything was okay?” “I am as healed as I can be, but given the extent of the injuries I had, I’ll always have pain of some sort.” Tears sprang to her eyes before she could stop them. It hurt her to think that in spite of all of his suffering, there was still more to come. Carlo reached across the table. “I didn’t say it to upset you.” She nodded, trying to brush away her tears discreetly before they fell. “I know, but it is still upsetting.” He sighed heavily. “Well, as awful as it sounds, I can say I have learned to live with it.” “Regardless, it’s rotten that you had to.” He squeezed her hand, smiling. “It’s good to know you agree with me.” She sat there and stared at him for a moment before pulling her hand back and standing up. “I always have.” He watched her pick up her plates and carry them to the sink, then come back to get his. The entire time she could tell he pondered what her veiled statement meant, but she had no desire to explain it. Even if he asked the question, she wasn’t even sure she would be able to put it into plain words it. When he exhaled deeply, her spine stiffened in preparation. “Do you need any help with the dishes?” “No, Carlo, you took care of dinner. I’ll take care of the dishes.” He nodded and sat back down to watch her. This was the way it had always been between them. They took turns taking care of each other and the things they needed. It didn’t take her long to clean the dishes. Since they hadn’t messed up many dishes, she wasn’t able to keep her hands busy for as long as she would have liked. “This kind of feels like old times, doesn’t it?” “Somewhat, Daníella, but there is a small difference.” Her eyes furrowed together in puzzlement. “What would that be?”

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“The fact we would be in the living room finishing our drinks with me distracting you with my kisses until we retired upstairs for the night.” Her nipples began to harden under the sundress in response. His eyes lowered briefly. She tried to force her body to relax, regretting that she hadn’t worn a bra. Unfortunately, she hadn’t seen any need to—until now. It was one of the things Carlo had always loved about her. She closed her eyes, trying to fight the memories of some of the things he’d done with easy access. Her eyes jerked open when Carlo cleared his throat. His expression made it hard for her to meet his eyes, and she began to fidget full of nerves. “Um…it is getting late, and I need to get ready for tomorrow.” He stood up, his brows bunched together. She knew that his puzzlement stemmed from the fact that it was still early. Daníella’s eyes widened as he came toward her, instead of heading out of the kitchen. She saw him struggling to contain a smile as she moved away from him. Every step he took forward, she took one backward, until he had her tucked neatly into a corner. “Why are you running away from me, tesoro mio?” She closed her eyes briefly before answering. “I’m not running.” The only reason she was able to say it with a straight face was because she wasn’t running, at least not technically. She was retreating in a very organized fashion. The smile he gave her could only be described as wicked. “No? Then tell me what it’s called.” She answered with a straight face. “Strategic maneuvering.” He laughed. “So I guess I need to do a little strategic maneuvering of my own.” Before she could ask him what it would be, he lowered his mouth to hers. Daníella moaned. It was all the invitation he needed. He slid his tongue inside of her hot yet sweet mouth. Her hands came up, grasping at his chest as she swayed toward him. As reluctant as she

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stated she was about his touch, she didn’t move away from it. She never had. She never would. Her body became so aroused it ached. He ran his hands up her body slowly, not stopping until they came to rest beneath her breasts. She whimpered with need against his mouth. His fingertips rubbed her erect nipples, turning her whimper into a moan of pleasure. He seemed intent on torturing her, and she could only hope she survived. **** Carlo pulled away from Daníella, wanting to see her face— needing to see it. The passion he read on her face kicked his desire for her up another notch. He had to have her. “You are so beautiful.” She blinked slowly, and he wondered if she’d comprehended what he just said. If she hadn’t, he planned to show her. Moving his hand around to her back, he reached for the zipper on her dress. The motion seemed to pull her from her passion-filled haze for a moment, and she pulled away from him slightly. “We shouldn’t” “We aren’t going to. Trust me we aren’t, but I need to do something for you.” She didn’t respond verbally, but when she relaxed against him, he knew he had his answer. Carlo slipped the thin straps over her shoulders, getting his first glimpse of her perfect breasts. She moaned as he arched her backward over his arm and ran his tongue across one hardened tip. The sound was cut off by her own gasp as he began to suckle her. He lifted his mouth briefly. “You taste so sweet.” Instead of replying, she grasped his head and brought it back to her breast. He lavished attention on her until she was writhing uncontrollably. Daníella needed him just as badly as he needed her. Only she wasn’t ready to admit it yet. He lifted his head again, and she groaned in protest.

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“Do you want me, Daníella?” She bit her lower lip before nodding. “Yes.” “Do you want my touch?” She closed her eyes. “You already are touching me, or at least you were until you stopped to talk.” He held back a smile at the sound of her irritation. “Yes, I am, but do you want my touch?” She hesitated slightly, finally understanding the importance of his question. “Yes, I do.” He smiled. “Good. Then you will have it.” She looked perplexed when he pulled the straps of her dress back up on her shoulders. “It just won’t be tonight.” An expression of pure shock fell over her face. Carlo pulled away from her, fighting his body’s need for her. Nothing would give him more pleasure than to bury himself deep within her body, but not when it was so obvious she would regret it as soon as it was over. “What do you mean it won’t be tonight?” He smiled at her expression of confusion and irritation. “I don’t think you are ready for my touch.” Her eyebrows disappeared into her hairline. “I thought I was pretty ready myself.” He smiled at her admission and the expression that appeared on her face after she realized what she had admitted. “Your body may be, but your mind isn’t. It would kill me if I made love to you only for you to tell me you regret it as soon as it is over.” The look she gave him was on the borderline of being murderous. “So you did that just to tease me?” “No, I did it because it is foreplay.” Daníella closed her eyes. “The last time I checked, foreplay and torture weren’t found together in the dictionary.” He laughed at the seriousness in her voice. “I didn’t torture you.”

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One of her eyes popped open. “Oh? Then what do you call this? Because I call this frustration, which can equate to torture.” “If it’s that bad, I can leave so you can take care of yourself.” Her other eye popped open. “But I’m not the one who started this.” He smiled at her response because he knew it was the closest he was going to come to hearing her say she wanted him to finish it. But by the time he finished with her, she wasn’t going to be afraid to say it. “You let me know as soon as you are ready—body and mind— then we can finish this.” Her groan of frustration was so low he almost missed it. Carlo didn’t know what made him do it, but he took her hand and brought it to his erection. His breath hissed out as she cupped him. A second later he pulled away, missing her touch instantly. He was hovering on the edge of insanity from trying to exhibit self-control. Looking down into her face, he gave her a tight smile. “As you can see, you aren’t the only one frustrated.” She shook her head slowly, but he could see less anger in them. “It does nothing to reassure me.” He chuckled. “It wasn’t meant to.” She straightened her dress before moving away from him. “I have to say you have come up with a strange plan to get me into bed.” “That is not what I am trying to do.” “I’m not sure what it is you are trying to do either, and since it is obvious I’m going to have to take care of myself tonight, I don’t have time to try to figure it out.” He wanted to reply to the threat, but he knew it would be better to keep silent. “Then I shall be leaving.” He turned to leave but paused. “Will you be at breakfast in the morning?” She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, but I’ll call you early enough if I decide to.”

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“That is fine. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” “I’m sure I will,” she murmured. Carlo headed for the elevator fighting the temptation to look back. It wasn’t until he pushed the button to call the elevator that he looked back toward Daníella’s door. A smile came to his face when he saw it was already closed. As he thought about what she might be doing behind it, he groaned. It was going to be a long night for him, but for once he didn’t mind.

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Chapter Six Daníella frowned at her reflection in the mirror. She was too worried about her appearance, and she didn’t like it. Maybe she should have gone to breakfast this morning. Then she wouldn’t be so concerned about looking like she had a good and restful night when she hadn’t. Unfortunately, she had tossed and turned all night, finally making it to sleep, only to have the alarm go off what seemed like minutes later. As much as she wanted to blame it on sleeping in the guest room on an uncomfortable bed, she couldn’t. The guest bed was as comfortable as her soon-to-be discarded one was. After calling Carlo with a lame excuse as to why she wouldn’t be making it to breakfast, she’d gone back to sleep. Thankfully, she had the day off and slept for a several more hours until she was awakened by the delivery of her new bed. The new bed had been set up and the old one taken away. It had taken her the rest of the day to reorganize her room the way she wanted it, but she had managed the feat. Now she was getting ready for dinner with her family and trying to make herself presentable. Otherwise Carlo would realize just how much his touch had affected her last night. The result was her failed attempt at self-pleasure. It was a large part of the reason as to why she’d tossed and turned all night. After glancing in the mirror again, she made the determination she was presentable, or at least as presentable as she was going to get. Taking a deep breath, she tried to relax. It wouldn’t be long before Carlo arrived to pick her up. Gathering up her purse, she headed downstairs. The doorbell rang as her foot hit the last stair. The corners of her mouth curled upward. As usual, Carlo was punctual. Daníella opened

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the door and was instantly blown away. Carlo stood there looking so sexy it made her heart skip several beats. The blue, long-sleeve silk shirt went well with the charcoal slacks he matched them with. Carlo looked like he had stepped off of the cover of a magazine. Then again, he normally did. She smiled at him in greeting. “Ciao.” “Ciao, bella.” Her smile widened. “Thank you. You look very nice yourself.” “Are you ready to go?” “Yes, I just need to lock up.” He moved to the side, allowing her to exit the apartment first. As she locked up, it was a struggle to keep her hands from shaking. The last thing she wanted him to assume was she was nervous because of him when it was really due to her family. Her nerves had really kicked in when she started getting ready. Luckily it had been her day off, or she would have had a tougher time preparing for dinner. Carlo escorted her toward his car. As weird as it was, his steady hand on her elbow seemed to calm her nerves slightly. When they arrived at her parents’, it was early, but somehow they were the last to arrive. It figured that everyone would arrive early in order to get a glance at her mystery guest. They were in for a shock when they saw who it was. Carlo came around and opened her door. He held his hand out to her with one of his sexy smiles in place. “You ready to be the talk of the evening?” She gave a slight nod. “As ready as I can be.” They walked up to her parent home together, her focusing on taking calming breaths. She rang the doorbell, allowing Carlo to pull her close as he placed a kiss on her forehead. A second later the door swung open and an excited squeal reached her ears. Daníella looked at Silvana in shock as she threw herself at Carlo, barely giving him time to brace himself.

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The rest of her family appeared to see what the commotion was about. Soon she and Carlo were surrounded by everyone in her family, who seemed to be talking a mile a minute. Here she had been worried about what her family would think about bringing Carlo back into her life. If she didn’t know any better, she would say both of their families had been sitting around waiting for them to get back together. “So, have you guys eloped?” Her younger sister’s response helped her to find her tongue. “Silvana, you need to lay off whatever it is you have been drinking.” She earned herself a round of laughter from everyone. Carlo came to the rescue. “No, Silvana, we haven’t eloped. We are actually in the process of trying to figure out if we want to give our relationship another try.” Nikkía gave them a confused look. “What is there to think about? You guys are good together.” Carlo looked directly into Daníella’s eyes. What she saw there made it hard to look away from him. “I know that now. Unfortunately, I did something stupid to make your sister doubt it.” Carlo smiled. “Now, I have to prove to her what we had isn’t a fluke and can’t be found just anywhere.” Daníella forced herself to tear her gaze away from his before she made a fool of herself. He had a way with words that made her think—sometimes about things she didn’t understand, things she wasn’t sure she wanted to comprehend. “Well, I don’t know about all of you, but I’m starving,” Daníella stated. Silvana elbowed Nikkía in the side. “Uh-oh. We must be talking about something that Dani doesn’t want to discuss. She’s changing the subject.” Daníella gave her sister a heated looked. “Gaetano, you might want to quiet Silvana down before she gets herself into trouble.”

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Gaetano only laughed and took Silvana by the elbow. “Come on, darling. I have to say I’m hungry myself.” Daníella sighed in relief when everyone began making their way toward dining room. She stood back, calling her mother’s name softly. “Can I talk to you for a moment, Mama?” Carlo gave her a questioning look, and she gave him a reassuring smile. “Go ahead and go in. Mom and I won’t be long.” She could tell Carlo didn’t want to, but he did, and she gave him credit for it. Her mother came over to stand by her. Once everyone was out of earshot, Daníella spoke. “What do you really think, Mama?” Her mother smiled. “I think I trust your judgment.” “Mama, don’t do this to me,” Daniella replied with a groan. Her mother put her arm around her waist. “What do you want me to say? Do you want me to tell you what I believe, or what you want to hear?” She looked at her mother in shock. “What’s that supposed to mean, Mama?” Her mother gave her a knowing smile. “If you are looking for me to give you a reason not to give Carlo another chance, I don’t have one.” Daníella paused at her mother’s statement. Was that what it seemed like? Better yet, was she looking for a reason not to give Carlo a chance? Was she afraid to put herself out there again? She knew the answer to the question before she finished asking it. Yes, she was. Carlo had the power to hurt her in a way no one else could— in a way that could destroy her. Her mother smiled. “So if you want advice from me, I say don’t go into this with Carlo if you aren’t going to give him all of you. It wouldn’t be fair to either of you.” Daníella looked at her mother and smiled. “Okay, Mama, I will keep that in mind.”

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Her mother reached out and squeezed her hand. “Buon. Now, let’s go inside before we have an angry mob on our hands.” Daníella nodded and followed her mother into the house. Everyone was already sitting around the table waiting impatiently. A seat next to Carlo had been saved for her. She took it, giving Carlo a small smile. He leaned over and whispered to her. “Is everything okay?” She nodded. “Everything is fine.” Luckily the conversation turned to Nikkía and Edoardo’s upcoming wedding. She was happy for the two of them. She liked that Edoardo didn’t give in to the pouting tantrums Nikkía was known to have. He could keep her sister in line when it was needed, and Nikkía needed that more often than not. By the time dinner ended, it had been a lot less eventful than dinner at the Carabellis’. Yet, she should have known it wouldn’t last. Carlo insisted on lingering around until it was only the two of them left with her parents. He smiled at her parents, and her stomach dropped. “Constantin, Estelle, I thought Daníella and I would stay and talk to you, just in case you have any concerns about the plans we have.” She looked over at Carlo with surprise, and then she remembered the words he’d stated two nights ago. Putting her hand on Carlo’s arm, she shook her head. “Carlo, this isn’t necessary.” Her father interrupted. “Actually, I think it is.” Her mouth dropped open before she could stop it. The tone in her father’s voice was slightly alarming. Her father was usually a calm and rational man. However, he definitely had his limits, especially when it came to his daughters. “Papá!” Her father’s gaze met hers. “What? We all know he broke your heart when he served you with divorce papers. Even though I’m pretty certain he’s smart enough not to do it again, I still want hear

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what his intentions are.” Her father’s expression softened. “You are my daughter, you know.” She closed her eyes, not certain whether she should get angry or die of embarrassment. A glance at Carlo told her he wasn’t the least bit worried. It only made the situation more embarrassing. “I guess that means I’m outnumbered.” Carlo’s smiled widened. “You have no idea how much you look like Nikkía right now.” That earned him a glare. He chuckled. “You should keep in mind my parents won’t be around to save you later before you make statements like that.” Her father didn’t make the situation any better by laughing. “You two are going to be fine. The two of you need each other.” Her father’s expression became serious. “Just know if you hurt my little girl again, I will have to hurt you.” Carlo gave a curt nod. “I understand.” Daníella sighed heavily and shook her head. “Men.” Estelle reached out and touched her oldest daughter’s hand in a reassuring manner. “Let them have their fun. You know they don’t get to puff out their chests too often.” Daníella laughed at her mother’s comment before looking at her father. “I’m glad both of you are okay with this. It makes things a lot easier.” Her father leaned forward, brushing a kiss against her cheek. “As long as you are happy, your mother and I are happy.” She glanced over at Carlo, only to find he was staring at her intently. “Mom, do you need any help cleaning up?” Estelle shook her head. “Your father is going to help me.” Constantin gave his wife a look of surprise. “I am?” Estelle gave him a stern look. “Yes, you are because it would make me happy.” Constantin stood up. “Then the two of you better get going. The hour is getting late.”

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Daníella stood up, embraced her father, then her mother. “Thanks for dinner. The two of you try not to have too much fun.” Her father gave her a humored look before reaching out to shake Carlo’s hand. “I’ll try not to.” The smile on her face was still in place as Carlo drove her back to her apartment. “So do you think dinner went okay?” “I think it went pretty well.” Carlo pulled to a stop in front of her apartment. “Did it help to make your decision?” Daníella shook her head truthfully. “No, to be honest, it just gave me more to think about.” “Can you tell me what the problem is?” Carlo asked, his tone full of frustration. Daníella answered him honestly. “Me.” “What does that mean?” Daníella sighed heavily, leaning her head against the headrest. “It is hard for me to wrap my mind around getting involved with you again.” She lifted her head to look at him. If there was a time to be honest, it was now. “I’m so afraid of getting hurt again, Carlo.” She smiled sadly. “It almost destroyed me last time. If I were to give this—give us another chance, and we didn’t work out, this time it would destroy me.” She could tell Carlo knew exactly what it was she was trying to say. She could see the regret in his eyes at the hurt he caused her. “Look at me, Daníella. Really look at me.” She stared at him. He held her gaze, letting her read the strong emotion in her eyes. “Do you believe me when I tell you that I know it was a mistake to push you away?” “I do.” “Do you believe me when I say I want this to work out between us?” “Yes.”

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“Then stop thinking about all of the negatives and think of some of the positives.” He shifted toward her. “If you need help coming up with a few, I’m more than willing to loan you some.” She laughed at his sexual suggestive statement. “Thanks for the offer. If I need any, I’ll let you know.” His expression became serious. “Will you?” “I will, but I doubt I’ll need your assistance in that area.” “Why is that?” Her expression was sincere when she responded. “Because if there is one thing I have never doubted about you, it’s that when you say something, you mean it.” **** “Well, you have been smiling a lot lately.” Daníella looked over at Tierra, whose smile was wide and bright. “So have you.” Tierra shrugged her shoulders as she looked down at her wedding ring. “What can I say? I have a lot to be happy about.” “Yes, it looks like married life is treating you well. “It is treating me very well.” It was lunchtime, and she and Tierra were sitting at Ferroni’s waiting on Sophia, Amalía, and Talía to arrive. Two weeks had passed since dinner at her parents, and she and Carlo had gone out on a handful of dates since then. It was exciting to be courted again. She’d honestly forgotten what it could be like to be wanted by a man, and Carlo wanted her. Every time he pulled her into his arms, she felt it. Daníella felt her own desire rise anytime she looked at him. Yet, both of them had resisted temptation so far. “How is everything going with Carlo?” “Everything is fine.”

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Tierra studied her for a few moments then cleared her throat. “Has he talked to you about the reason that asked you for the divorce?” Daníella froze. Tierra knew the reason why Carlo ended their marriage? Why had he confided in Tierra but not her? Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She wouldn’t get upset or panic. Nor would she ask Tierra to tell her what she so desperately wanted to know. This was information that she wanted to hear directly from Carlo. Deep down she knew that whatever he revealed would lead to more questions that only he could answer. Opening her eyes, she turned her attention back to Tierra. “He hasn’t told me yet, but we will discuss it. We have a lot to talk about. The good thing is that Carlo has changed for the better. I know you are one of the people who has had a positive influence over him, and I want to thank you for that.” Tierra shook her head. “Trust me, what I did was nothing. I only gave Carlo advice on something he already wanted to do.” “Well, your persuasion, no matter how small, was helpful.” Tierra shrugged her shoulders. “I’m just glad I could help.” “Help with what?” She looked up to see Sophia, Amalía, and Talía, joining her and Tierra. “I was thanking Tierra for helping Carlo come to his senses.” “Then, I should thank you for helping Hayden come to his as well.” “And maybe you could help Giovanni come to his,” Sophia muttered. Everyone looked up at Sophia in surprise. Her crush on Giovanni was no secret. Sophia claimed coming to work at Hotel Carabelli had fried some of her brain cells, and it was the reason her crush on Giovanni existed in the first place. Daníella knew better than to believe Sophia. All of the Carabelli men were charismatic and irresistible. It wasn’t Sophia’s fault she’d fallen for one. It could happen to anyone. As a matter of fact it had happened to several women when it came to Giovanni.

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“I don’t think Tierra can help with that one,” Amalía replied, sympathetically. Giovanni and Amalía had a love and hate relationship that could be described as sibling rivalry, although Daníella didn’t really consider it to be much of a rivalry. The smallest of things could set off an argument between Giovanni and Amalía. Even though he usually ended up on the losing end, it didn’t stop him from starting disagreements. Talía sighed dramatically. “Yes, Giovanni is a special case. You might have to call the professional in on him.” Amalía looked at Tierra with a small smile. “You have the best Carabelli male. Hold onto him.” Daníella eyebrows shot upward. “Excuse me?” Amalía gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry. I forgot about Carlo, who is now back in my good graces since his mood has improved.” “Don’t forget, Leo and Macéo are decent as well,” Talía inserted. Amalía nodded reluctantly, giving Sophia a playful smile. “Seems like you chose the wrong Carabelli.” A determined look appeared on Sophia’s face. “Oh no, I have chosen the right Carabelli. He just doesn’t know it yet.” “It sounds like another Carabelli is about to be reformed,” Talía responded with a laugh. Amalía sighed dramatically. “I can only hope so.” “I hope you all know what you want to eat because our waitress is heading our way,” Tierra stated. A few minutes later their waitress walked away with their order. Sophia turned her attention to Tierra and Daníella. “Enough about my depressing love life, or rather lack thereof. What were the two of you talking about before we arrived?” Daníella shrugged. “Nothing very significant. We were waiting on you guys, but Tierra and I were simply talking about how things are going between me and Carlo.” “And what was your answer?” Talía asked, leaning forward.

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“Things are going very well between us.” Talía leaned even closer and whispered so low, it was a strain to hear her. “Have the two of you done it yet?” Sophia gasped in shock, and Daníella could only laugh. “Talía, I swear the only thing you think about is sex.” Talía nodded without hesitation. “I will leave the aches and pains of falling in love to you guys. I just want a guy who can make me forget my name when I have an orgasm.” Sophia groaned as she began to blush. “Talía! For goodness’ sake.” The level of laughter rose around the table, and Talía shook her head. “Sophia, I swear there are times when you act like you have never been touched by a man.” “There are times when it seems that way,” Sophia muttered in reply. Daníella couldn’t resist teasing Sophia. “Don’t worry, Sophie. You will find a man that will make you forget your name.” Sophia gave her a dirty look, but it was ruined when she smiled. “I’m sure I will, and when I do, I’ll be smart enough not to tell you.” Tierra smiled. “Yes, you will. When it’s that good, you have to tell at least one person.” Their food arrived, calling a brief halt to their conversation. After their waitress left, Talía raised her glass. “I would like to make a toast.” Everyone raised a glass in response, and Talía spoke with a smile. “May we all find what we are looking for in life and men.” Everyone touched glasses and drank heartily to the toast. The rest of lunch was as eventful as it always was. By the time they arrived back at the hotel, it was clear work wasn’t going to get done the rest of the day. Daníella smiled as she spotted Antonio. It seemed as if he were waiting for Tierra. He shook his head as he smiled. “And you wonder why we don’t want the five of you going out to lunch together.”

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Amalía gave him a defiant look. “At least we came back.” His eyebrows rose in amusement as he pulled Tierra into his arms. “That remains to be seen.” Daníella laughed. Fortunately she didn’t have any work to go back to. Silvana and Nikkía had snatched up the tours for the afternoon. So she was free for the rest of the evening. She planned to use the time to relax. Talía was the first to break away. “I have a meeting with Leo concerning some new advertisements, so I will talk to all of you later.” “I need to get back to the hospitality desk.” Sophia stated, as she walked away. Amalía smiled. “I’m going to go check on Hayden and make sure you all aren’t working him to death.” Tierra said a brief good-bye to Daníella before pulling Antonio off in the direction of his office. She was left standing by herself trying to figure out what she was going to do for the rest of the day. Stopping to see Carlo seemed like a good place to start. He’d been on her mind all day. She started toward his office then stopped. If she knew Carlo, he probably hadn’t had lunch yet. She decided to stop by the hotel’s restaurant to grab him a bite to eat. Several minutes later, she headed toward his office with a take-out container in her hands. A short time later she knocked on his door. “Who is it?” “Room service,” she replied before opening the door. Carlo sat behind his desk with an amused look on his face. “I don’t know what I did to deserve free room service, but I’ll take it.” Daníella smiled as she crossed the room and sat the container down. “I’m glad you are so agreeable. Is there anything else I can get you?” She shivered at the intense look he gave her. That look could only mean one thing. He chuckled as she stepped back out of his reach.

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“Don’t you trust me, tesoro mio?” “Yes I do, but I know your limits. Now isn’t the time or place.” His expression softened slightly. “You are right, Daníella, but when it is, I’m sure it will be something neither of us will forget.”

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Chapter Seven “You look like you’re miles away.” “Hmm?” Daníella looked at Carlo in time to see him smile at her. “What did you say?” “I said you look as though you are miles away. Is everything okay?” Daníella nodded. She’d been busy staring at the couples on the dance floor. They were at Pierelli’s, a restaurant she and Carlo had always loved to eat at when they were married. They had indulged themselves at least once a month. Maybe more if they felt like it. Another couple moved across the dance floor, and she watched them until the sound of Carlo putting his fork down made her look over at him. He was smiling at her. “Would you like to dance?” Daníella nodded quickly because she really wanted to dance with him. It had been a long time since she’d been in his arms. The last time she’d felt this longing had been at Antonio and Tierra’s wedding. When everyone had joined the newlywed couple on the dance floor, she’d snuck off to the bathroom, hiding out until most of the dancing was over. Tierra had insisted on pairing the two of them together for the wedding party, but Daníella had refused to let it go any further. Now looking across the table at Carlo, she could tell the reason he wanted to dance with her had nothing to do with sympathy. He stood up and held his hand out, and she took it, following him to the dance floor. Carlo drew her into his arms, and it was like coming home. She let him hold her as tightly as he wanted because she didn’t

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mind. It felt good to have his strong arms around her. Daníella lifted her head and looked into his eyes. Carlo lowered his head giving her a brief kiss. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” “Not tonight.” “Well, let me correct the oversight.” He brought his hand up and brushed it across her cheek. “You look very beautiful tonight.” She leaned into his touch, giving him a small smile. “Thank you.” Carlo pulled her close again, and they danced until the song ended. He led her back to the table as the next song began, and they resumed eating. When the food was gone, he looked over at her. “Do you want to dance one last time before we leave, or are you ready to leave?” “If you don’t mind, I’m ready to leave.” Carlo nodded and stood from the table, taking her hand to lead her from the restaurant. The valet attendant took his ticket and reappeared with his car quickly. Carlo held the passenger door open for her, waiting for her to slide inside. A few moments later he was driving toward her apartment. She leaned her head back against the headrest, wondering how she had gotten so lucky in getting another chance with Carlo. Never would she forget when she received a phone call from the hospital telling her what had happened with Carlo. She’d already been worried because it had been late when she tried to call him at work and on his mobile with no response. It was unlike Carlo, and her next step was to start calling his brothers. The phone rang before she could pick up to dial any of their numbers. Her heart had nearly stopped when they informed her of what happened to Carlo. She’d hung up the phone and called Amalía, who had rushed over right away. Her next call had been to her parents to inform them of what happened. There hadn’t been time for anything else because Amalía had arrived to drive them to the hospital.

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They’d made it in record time. She’d been able to speak with Carlo briefly before they rushed him into surgery. Amalía had helped her call the rest of their friends and family until they all crowded into the waiting area. She had been so afraid, not knowing whether Carlo was going to pull through or not. Daníella opened her eyes and looked over at him. He’d pulled through, and now he was sitting next to her looking as handsome as ever. Carlo pulled up in front of her apartment before getting out, coming around to help her out. He walked her up to the building then rode with her up the elevator. They made it to her floor, and she led the way to her apartment, unlocking the door quickly before turning to look at him. “Would you like to come in?” He shook his head. “No, that probably wouldn’t be a good idea tonight, tesoro mio.” She hadn’t invited him into her apartment since the night he brought her dinner, the night he cornered her in her kitchen and aroused her until she was senseless before walking away. She could tell by his expression that he didn’t want to come in because he wouldn’t be able to hold himself back this time. If he came in tonight, he wouldn’t be walking away at least until it was morning time. Both of them were well aware of that, and she was more than prepared for it. She wanted to know Carlo’s touch again. As strange as it might sound, she craved his touch. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand, and a jolt traveled up her arm. “I think it is a good idea, Carlo. I want you to come in.” Carlo stared at her for a moment with long, intense gaze before conceding. “Okay. I’ll come in, but you do realize you don’t have to do this, right?” She gave him a confident smile. “I know, but I really want to.” She let Carlo’s hand go and turned to open the door. He followed her inside, closing and locking the door behind him. The sound

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traveled through the apartment, sending a tiny hint of panic. Actually it wasn’t panic. It was more nerves. Nerves Carlo picked up on. “I meant it when I said you don’t have to do this.” “I know, Carlo, but I really want to. I’m just a little nervous.” She hadn’t been this nervous since she had first been intimate with Carlo. He had been her first and her last. Looking up at him, she knew why that was. “If it makes you feel better, I’m nervous as well.” She smiled. “That’s good to know. It makes it a lot easier for me to ask you if you want to come upstairs and see my new bed.” The smile appeared on his face could only be described as sinfully wicked. “I think it sounds like a good idea.” She turned to head up the stairs. The sounds of his footsteps behind her confirmed he was following her. They reached her room, and she walked in, studying her new bed. It was an oversized sleigh frame with a mattress so soft, she looked forward to crawling into it— with Carlo. “So what do you think?” She turned to look at him, waiting for his answer. He looked at her then back at the bed. “I like it, but I think it will look better with us in it.” Daníella laughed, and he pulled her into his arms. Her body molded itself against his in a way that left no doubt that their bodies were made for each other. Carlo cut off her laughter by covering her mouth with his. His kiss was firm and passionate as usual. Her purse slipped from her hands as she slid her arms up and over his shoulders. The sensation of being in his arms once again was almost overpowering. She did one of his favorite moves, sliding her hands upward and cupping the back of his head. If she didn’t want his lips to leave hers, he’d obey her command. His kiss became demanding, hers aggressive. Her hands found the buttons to his suit jacket before slipping it off of his shoulders. Carlo

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lifted his head slowly, and she made it difficult for him, her grip strong, with him having to fight the entire way. “This is your last chance to walk away,” he whispered against her lips. She shook her head. “Trust me, I’m right where I want to be.” Nothing else needed to be said. It couldn’t be said. She let him guide her to the bed, deep down shouting with joy that he was here with her. His hands came up, finding the zipper on her the back of her dress. Daníella smiled as his eyes automatically went to her bare breasts. He had a way of looking at her that made all of her feelings of being inadequate go away. Carlo had always loved her figure. His hands went to the buttons on his own shirt, slowly revealing the impressive chest she had occasionally clutched at the midst of passion. A small patch of hair was scattered across his chest, making a neat little trail into the waist of his pants. His stomach was flat, contracting under the light touch of her hand. She glanced at the belt still holding his pants up before looking into his eyes once more. “Can I do the rest?” Heat bloomed into his eyes as he gave her a wicked grin. “Yes, you can, just promise not to get sidetracked.” She let her gaze travel down his body then back up before licking her lips. His gaze heated up even more at the sexual overture. “I’m not sure I can promise that,” she whispered. He closed his eyes as she reached for his belt buckle, unfastening it before reaching for the button on his suit pants. She undid it with ease before being presented with the challenge of undoing the zipper. It was stretched way beyond the point it should be. By the time she had the zipper completely undone, they were both breathing heavily. He covered her hands with his as his eyes opened. The desire she read there was almost overwhelming. “I need a minute, or this may be over a lot quicker than either of us wants it to be.”

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She paused and watched him fight for control of his body briefly. It was the first time she’d felt his touch since before the accident. She wanted to take her time. Make this last. Once he’d regained control, he slipped out of his shoes and socks before bringing her hands up to his waist. She knew what he wanted and had no problem completing the task. A small shove had his pants sliding over his hips down to his ankles. He wore blue briefs that struggled to contain his impressive erection. She went to reach for his briefs, but he stopped her. “I think it is time for you to play catch-up.” Daníella had no problem with that at all. One tug of his hands had her dress pooling around her ankles. She stepped out of the circle only dressed in her heels, garter belt, and stockings. “You are so beautiful,” he breathed. “Thank you,” she whispered as she slipped her feet out of her heels. The garter belt and stockings went next, leaving her clad in her underwear like him. Daníella looked him in the eyes, her desire matching his as it always had. “Are we even now?” Carlo nodded as he stepped toward her. “I think so.” Her eyes closed briefly as he stopped in front of her. When she reopened them, he was moving behind her. A gasp escaped her when he reached up and gently cupped her breasts. Her nipples hardened instantly, begging for his attention. She whimpered as he ran his thumbs over the sensitive tips. Daníella couldn’t stop herself from leaning back into him. It had been a long time since she felt his body against hers. Felt his touch. She wanted to savor it. Make this last as long as she could. Carlo wasn’t like any other man she had ever known. Standing here with him reminded her of that. It was the reason why she wanted him so badly right now. His lips brushed the side of her neck, causing her to shiver. He still remembered where she liked to be touched, at least by him.

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No one else had elicited the sort of feelings rushing through her right now. No one else could. No one else would. Her eyes open widely at the thought. She was fighting a losing battle. Worse yet, she was fighting a battle she didn’t want to fight. Daníella knew she was a lucky woman. Now she planned on showing him how lucky he was. Reaching back, she slid her hand downward, brushing his erection. He inhaled sharply at her touch. When her hand encircled him, he moaned low in his throat, but it was loud enough for her to hear. A moment later he pulled away from her touch with her losing his in the process. “We have to slow down, or I might take you on the floor.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “I wouldn’t mind.” His expression darkened even more with desire. “Maybe later, but right now I want you in bed.” Carlo began to back her toward the bed before she could say anything else. When her knees hit the edge, he lowered her gently. “Are you comfortable?” Daníella scooted back until her head hit the pillows. He combined her efforts with his, removing her panties in the process. “Let me have a pillow.” She handed him one of the pillows she wasn’t using. He slid it under her hips, and her eyes widened knowing what he was preparing her for—not sure if she was ready for this devastation or not. Carlo sat back and watched what she knew was a plethora of emotions play over her face. This was one of the ways he had always given her ultimate pleasure—made her lose complete control. Daníella shifted against his touch as he found the dewy curls nestled between her thighs. A moan escaped her as one of his fingers slipped between the curls. Her hips involuntarily pushed against his hand, and he slid deeper. She closed her eyes letting the sensation flow over her. Carlo continued to stroke her until her hips took over. When he added his mouth to the equation, she cried out and arched into his touch. She shattered so quickly, her scream of release

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surprised even her. He kept stroking her because they both knew she was capable of more. She didn’t disappoint. Daníella peaked again, his name ripped from her throat in response. He moved away from her quickly, causing her to smile as he struggled to get his briefs off. By the time her breathing returned to normal, he’d donned protection and was coming up over her. They both moaned as he slid gently inside of her, but that was where the gentleness ended. It had been too long for both of them, and instinct took over. When her strong legs came up to encircle his waist, his body responded quickly. He pushed deeper inside of her, but it still wasn’t enough. She told him so. His hips pushed forward, and she moaned louder, but it still wasn’t enough. It had been too long. She wanted all of him. A look of surprise appeared on her face when he lowered himself to her then rolled reversing their positions. Daníella cried out as she sat up, and he slid deeper within her. They stared at each other as she began to move, pushing both of them closer to the edge. It didn’t take long for this position to drive them mad with passion. It never had. So when she arched above him, crying out his name again in an explosive orgasm, he followed right behind her. Daníella collapsed against his chest. She couldn’t help but wonder how she’d gotten this lucky. Her body had just performed in a way it hadn’t in a long time, and she was sated. There was no doubt in her mind Carlo felt any differently. His hold tightened on her slightly. He shifted before placing his mouth close to her ear. “Are you okay?” She lifted her head nodding in a drowsy fashion. “Next time I’ll make you scream my name.” His body twitched in response to the promise in her voice. “We’ll see,” he replied. Daníella smiled as she moved to the side. Carlo gasped, giving her an amused look. “Still warm-natured, I see.”

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“Yes, I am.” Rolling over to her side, she went up on one elbow, staring down at him. He still hadn’t moved, and she couldn’t blame him. “The bathroom is over there if you need it.” He looked in direction she pointed in before nodding. “I do,” he confirmed. Daníella watched him struggle to get his lax body to cooperate. She lay back as he made his way to the bathroom to clean up before coming back to bed. She lay there, inviting him back into the bed with her. He seemed more than happy to rejoin her. As soon as his back touched the bed, she was up and over him. “Are you ready to scream?” He gave her a confident smile as he slid his hands behind his head. “Do your worst.” When she began sliding lower, his body automatically began to harden in anticipation. He arched a dark brow when Daníella reached over him and pulled a box out of the nightstand. When he saw it was protection, he smiled. “What is that for?” “Foreplay,” she whispered wickedly. His body hardened even more. She knew his memory was taking over. He was aware of exactly what she planned to do with the condom. His body relaxed slightly while she opened the packet and held it out before reaching for him with her free hand. Carlo groaned, closing his eyes as she began rolling the protection over his erection She rolled and tugged the condom until it could go no further. His eyes remained closed while he tried to recover. It wasn’t in her plans to allow him to do that. When her warm breath travelled over his covered erection, he lost control. He was up and over her before either of them could blink. Daníella moaned as he entered her again. When he began to move, the bed creaked, and she knew she had pushed him to the point she wanted him at—insane with desire. Her legs came up

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again and gripped his hips. She felt him tremble against her with the motion. His hips tilted, and he came directly in contact with her, making her throw her head back and cry out in pleasure. She had to remember this time was for him. It was his turn to lose control. She was going to be sure he did so. Daníella tightened her legs around his waist, hindering his movements. Carlo’s breath came out on a puff of laughter as she made him fight for every thrust. By the time she let him thrust as deeply as he wanted, he seemed almost insane with need. His hips like a piston as he thrust into her. A smile appeared on her face when he stilled for a second, making the small sound she’d always listened for. She angled her mouth closer to his ear. “That’s it, Carlo,” she whispered. “Scream my name for me.” He didn’t disappoint. Carlo shouted her name as he rode the release. It swept through him until she thought it would last forever. Daníella countered his release with small movements of her hips that had him gasping. He finally collapsed against her, no longer able to support his own weight. His body trembled against hers as she ran her hands up and down his back in a soothing motion. Several moments later, Carlo was finally able to lift his head. There was a sated look within his heavy-lidded eyes. “You were trying to kill me, weren’t you?” She smiled. “No more than you were trying to kill me earlier.” He pressed his face into the side of her neck and chuckled. “I guess you have a point there.” After a few more shuddering breaths, he was finally able to move to the side. Eventually he was able to get out of the bed. She watched him head for the bathroom on unsteady feet. A smile of satisfaction appeared on her face, knowing that she was responsible for it. When he returned from the bathroom, she was fighting sleep. She hoped he was going to stay the night. Everything had been perfect so far, and that would only make it better.

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“Are you going to stay the night?” Carlo sat down on the bed beside her and yawned. “I want to, but only if you are certain.” She patted the empty space beside her. “I’m sure.” He smiled before climbing into the bed with her. She let him maneuver them onto the bed until her back was to his front before relaxing and giving into the sleep that beckoned. **** As soon as Carlo’s eyes opened the next morning, he knew they’d slept late. Daníella must have sensed he was awake because she shifted against him. It almost seemed strange to be here with her now, to wake up this morning like he had so many times in the past. This was only one more thing to add to the list of things he’d missed sharing with Daníella. He looked down as she shifted in his arms. Her drowsy gaze peered up at him. “Good morning, Carlo.” “Good morning, tesoro mio.” She blinked, rubbing her eyes. He smiled at the cute picture she made. “I guess it is too late to make it to your parents’ for breakfast?” He nodded. “Yes it is, but we could go downstairs and make ourselves something, or we can go to the hotel and have breakfast there.” She stared at him for another moment before answering. “I think I would like to have breakfast here.” “Sounds like a good plan to me.” Daníella stretched slightly before slipping from the bed to grab her robe. When she turned back toward the bed, a gasp escaped her. Carlo stiffened, trying not to rush to cover up. He stood completely naked before Daníella, but he knew that wasn’t what made her gasp. This was the first time she seen him naked since the accident. He

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watched as she covered her mouth and made the way across the room to him slowly. The scars she was seeing for the first time were scars he’d memorized. There was a long lateral scar running across his the right side to the left side of his lower abdomen before trailing down to his thigh. Fortunately, the scar was on the inner part of his leg, but it was puckered. He’d wondered if she’d noticed it last night. Judging by the look on her face, she hadn’t. Amalía had told him countless times the scars only added to his masculinity, but he knew better. He knew the sight of the horrible scar could be a lot for a person to take in. Still, the hurt he saw reflected in Daníella’s eyes touched him. She was seeing the evidence of all the surgeries he’d been through to repair his damaged body. It had all been done to ensure he had the optimal chances of walking again. Yet the damage would be permanent. She was seeing that now. Daníella could see why there was a constant pain in his leg that he had to deal with because of the nerve damage. It was the reason why he was supposed to use the cane that had been issued to him. His heart constricted as tears came to her eyes and began to fall down her cheeks. They weren’t tears of pity. They were tears of guilt judging by the expression on her face. She had nothing to be guilty about. The fact that Daníella thought she did hurt him. He held his arms out to her, and she rushed into them. He held her tightly. “Don’t cry for me, tesoro mio. I made it through the rough part.” That only seemed to make her cry harder. Several minutes later, she had composed herself enough to where she could speak. Daníella pulled back and looked deeply into his eyes. “You may not believe me, but I still think you are as handsome as the first time I saw you.” Carlo smiled because he did believe her. Her expression didn’t give any indication that she saw him as any less of a man, and it meant a lot to him.

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Even though he’d lived with the scars for some time now, and they had faded somewhat, they were still very noticeable, making him self-conscientious of them on occasion. Bringing his hand up, he cupped his cheek. “And you are just as beautiful.” She put a little space between them, staring down at his scars before looking back at him. He knew what she was asking and nodded. At the first touch of her hand, his stomach quivered in reaction. He had touched the scars enough to know they felt slightly rough to the touch but not offensive. Daníella explored the scar for a long moment before looking back up at him. “I can’t believe you went through this by yourself.” He pulled her close shaking his head. “I was never alone, tesoro mio. Even when I wanted to be, I was never alone.” She went up on tiptoe and placed a kiss on his lips. “I know. I’m just glad you finally realize it.”

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Chapter Eight “Carlo, you are going to make me late to work.” Daníella sighed as her struggling failed to affect Carlo. He continued to nuzzle her neck in a way that was very distracting. “Just one more kiss.” She laughed at him as she pulled back. “You said that two kisses ago. Besides, my entire family is watching this display.” Carlo shrugged his shoulders, waggling his eyebrows at her. “Then let’s give them something to watch.” Daníella laughed again as she shook her head. “You’re never bringing me to work again after this.” He gave her a wounded look. “Why not?” “Because you don’t know how to behave yourself. Now one last kiss, and then I have to go, or I will be late setting up for my first tour.” He obliged her quickly but passionately before letting her go. She looked up at him when he did. “Am I going to see you tonight?” He frowned. “If you do, it will be late. I promised Leo I would work late to cover a few hours of his shift so he can come in late.” “Okay. Well, if you can’t come by, can you call me?” “Yes, but I would rather see you.” “So would I, but we shall see.” He chuckled. “Have a good day.” “You, too,” she murmured before turning to walk away. She felt Carlo’s eyes on her until she entered the building, and then it was her family’s stares. All of them were smiling, none more

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than Silvana and Nikkía. She realized Carlo had given them something to bother her about all day. “Good morning, everyone.” Her family greeted her in return as she made her way over to her desk. “Did you have a late night?” She looked up at Silvana, smiling sweetly. “Actually I, or I should say, Carlo and I, had a late morning. We met for breakfast, and our conversation carried on longer than it should have.” Silvana must have bought into the half lie because she didn’t question Daníella any further. The first half of her day ended up being a very peaceful one. She spent it giving two walking tours. The second half of her day she gave one four-hour tour—it was enough to keep her away from her family members’ inquisitive looks, so she didn’t mind at all. Yet, when it came time for her to leave, she dreaded having to go home to her empty apartment. Daníella could stop by the hotel to see Carlo and try to convince him to come over, no matter how late it was, but the delicious ache between her thighs told her it might not be a good idea. So she settled for heading to her apartment. She made dinner, eating in front of the television watching a few shows she liked. After a long, luxurious soak in the tub, she climbed into bed. She sighed as she slipped between the sheets. Carlo’s scent was still there. She inhaled deeply, allowing it to lull her off to sleep. She awoke groggily a short while later when the phone beside the bed rang. “Hello,” she whispered into the receiver. “Did I wake you?” “Yes, you did, but it is okay,” Daníella replied as she rolled over to look at the clock. She grimaced when saw the time. “Are you just now getting off work?” “Yes. I just walked out of the hotel as a matter of fact.” She heard a smile come into his voice. “I was wondering if I could stop by your place and sneak into your bed without you noticing.”

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She laughed softly in response before answering him. “First, you are always welcome here, so you wouldn’t have to sneak in. Secondly, you couldn’t sneak into my bed. I would know if you were here.” She rolled over onto her back to stare at the ceiling. “Third, it kind of ruins the elements of surprise when you disclose your plans before you follow through with them.” His low chuckle reached her ears, and a shiver made its way down her spine. “This is one of the things I have always liked about you.” “What?” “That you are smart.” She laughed. “Well, I have always liked your sense of humor.” A moment of silence passed between them, and she was the one to break it. “So are you coming over?” “Only if you are going to be up.” “I am. I will be.” “I will be there shortly then.” “Okay, Carlo. Take your time.” He told her he would before disconnecting the call. She made her way out of bed, heading downstairs to the front door. She stood in the doorway waiting for him when he stepped off of the elevator. Carlo pulled her close, and she inhaled his scent. She loved it. It spoke of his masculinity, but she knew he liked to shower as soon as he walked in from work. “You want to take a shower?” “If you don’t mind.” “I don’t.” They stepped inside, with him closing and locking the door behind him. She led the way upstairs, straight to the bathroom, and handed him a wash towel and drying towel before leaving the bathroom. Climbing back into bed, she sighed as she slipped between the comforts of her sheets. Daníella was almost asleep again when Carlo stepped out of the shower with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. He made his way to the bed quietly.

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“I’m still awake,” she murmured before yawning. “Barely.” Daníella smiled as he slipped between the sheets behind her. He pulled her into his arms, tucking her body into his, resting his chin on the top of her head. “Goodnight, Daníella.” “Goodnight, Carlo.” Daníella wasn’t aware of drifting off to sleep, but she was aware of her alarm clock going off. She reached upward and turned it off. Carlo groaned behind her. “Is it time to get up already?” She smiled before nodding. “It is for me.” Carlo rose up to look at the clock. Relief appeared on his face when he saw the time. “Good, I can sleep for several more hours. I already told my family yesterday I wouldn’t be at breakfast.” Daníella pouted playfully. “I had hoped we were going to go this morning.” He lay back down before looking at her. “You can go if you like. My family will always welcome you.” Daníella contemplated the idea before shrugging. “We’ll see, but in the meantime you can stay here and sleep as long as you like. The spare key will be by the front door. Just lock up when you leave.” He gave her an appreciative look, telling her what time to set the alarm for. She did so and placed a brief kiss on his lips before slipping out of bed. It was time for her to get ready. By the time she was ready, Carlo was snoring softly. She smiled. He must be tired because he never snored, but it was adorable. She placed another light kiss against his lips before heading downstairs. Now she had to decide if she was going to go to breakfast with the Carabellis by herself or just stop by a café on the way, something she hadn’t done since Carlo had his accident. At first she’d spent every waking minute of her day with Carlo, not going home until Amalía or Antonio forced her to by driving her home themselves. The last time she’d gone to the

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Carabellis’ home by herself was the day before she received the divorce papers from Carlo. It had only relieved her slightly to find out his own family hadn’t been aware of what he’d done. Still, it had hurt to be divorced by her husband. Never had she thought Carlo would walk away from everything they had. Surprisingly it didn’t hurt as much as it should have—as much as it used to—when she thought about it in the past. Carlo told her he knew it was mistake, and she believed him. Daníella smiled when she made up her mind to go to breakfast. It would only add to her healing process. The looks on everyone’s faces when she arrived—especially without Carlo—were priceless. Amalía was the first to question her. “Have you talked to Carlo? Because he won’t be here for breakfast?” Daníella nodded. “Yes, I know, but I decided I would come anyway.” Tierra came forward to wrap an arm around her. “Well, we are glad you could make it. Now we have an extra person to sit between Amalía and Giovanni.” “You know, I never have been able to figure out how it is the two of them always manage to sit so close to each other,” Daníella stated. Tierra shrugged her shoulders. “I figure it is because they are drawn to each other. Sort of like magnets.” Daníella shook her head. “Two bad magnets that need to demagnetize themselves.” Tierra gave her an inquisitive look as they entered the dining room. “Just how long has this feud been going on?” “For as long as I can remember,” Daníella responded with a shrug. “Giovanni needs a woman’s touch to settle his butt down,” Tierra muttered. Daníella laughed. “Are you matchmaking again?” Tierra rolled her eyes. “Giovanni isn’t someone I can be a matchmaker for. His bad-boy image is enough of a marketing campaign for him.”

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Daníella had to agree. Giovanni had this aura about him that spoke of danger and a good time. Once she had seen several young ladies come through the lobby of the Hotel Carabelli at the same time Giovanni had been coming through. Several of the women just stopped and stared at him. Some had made blatant gestures of interest that Daníella wasn’t going to go into describing. Whoever managed to snag Giovanni would have their work cut out for them. She would have to beat the women off with a yardstick. When everyone began to sit down, Daníella almost laughed as Hayden sat Amalía down beside Tierra before sitting down beside her. Daníella quickly sat down on the other side of Hayden before Giovanni could take the seat. Hayden gave her an appreciative look. “I’ll have to find a way to thank you for that.” She inclined her head in the direction of Amalía. “Keep her from pouting and we will call it even.” Hayden smiled. “But I like it when she pouts. It’s cute.” Daníella had to shake her head at him. Amalía had him wrapped around her finger. She was just happy the two of them had found happiness with each other especially after the tragedy he endured. She could remember how devastated she’d been when she’d come so close to losing Carlo. Hayden had actually lost his wife and unborn child. According to Tierra, it had taken Hayden a long time to heal. Daníella couldn’t say she blamed him. Still, it made her wonder. If everything hadn’t happened between her and Carlo, would they have had babies by now? She’d always wanted children, and she knew Carlo wanted them as well. They had always talked about having a family but hadn’t had the chance to make it a reality. Right now she wasn’t certain if it ever would be. The noise level in the room rose, pulling her attention back to the Carabellis. She joined in the conversation when it was appropriate and managed to eat her food as well. By the time she headed for work, her day was off to a good start, and she was glad she had decided to join the Carabellis for breakfast.

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Daníella walked into work and prepared for her day, starting with a four-hour tour. She liked the longer tours because they made time go by faster. After concluding her tour, she made her way back to the office, contemplating what she was going to have for lunch. To say she was hungry was an understatement. She’d walked off the nice breakfast she had at the Carabellis’. When she entered the office, she frowned. The “closed for lunch” sign was up, but no one was in the office. She called out to her family and didn’t receive an answer. “Since when does everyone go to lunch at the same time?” she asked aloud to herself. “When I bring you lunch and they want to give us privacy to enjoy it.” Daníella jumped at the sound of Carlo’s voice before smiling. After a quick glance around, she didn’t see him. She continued to talk. “You brought me lunch?” “Yes, I did, tesoro mio. Now why don’t you come over here and see what I have.” She followed the sound of his voice that seemed to come from her desk. As she rounded the corner, she smiled at the sight Carlo made. He was sitting at her desk relaxing, looking just as at home as he did at his own desk. A picnic basket rested on the desk beside him. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” He smiled as he stood up. “I figured since I missed breakfast with you I could make it up to you by bringing you lunch.” She smiled as she reached upward to place a kiss on his lips. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to do that. I had breakfast with your family this morning.” “I heard, and I’m sure they were entertaining as usual.” “You know they were.” Carlo inclined his head toward the picnic basket. “Are you hungry?” “I just came off of a four-hour tour. I’m starving.”

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He indicated for her to have a seat before dragging another chair over to her. She sat there anticipating the opening of the basket. “What did you bring for lunch?” He chuckled. “You’ll see in just a moment.” She watched him unpack the picnic basket, pulling out several containers, two glasses, a thermos, and a loaf of crusty bread wrapped in foil. He unwrapped the loaf before cutting it in half then sliced one half down the middle. Her mouth began to water when he began to spread the spicy mustard on the bread. She loved spicy mustard. Carlo opened two more containers and began to layer slice of tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella onto the bread. He closed the sandwich, putting it on a napkin in front of her. She watched him make another sandwich for himself, placing it on his own napkin. He opened two more containers, revealing an assortment of fruit. The grapes, strawberries, kiwi, and wedges of orange looked good. “What do we have to drink?” “Your favorite,” he replied as he reached for the thermos. He filled her glass with a mixture of cranberry, orange, and pineapple juice. It sounded like a strange combination to most—even Carlo—but after the first time she convinced him to try it, he’d fallen in love with the combination himself. She raised her glass in a toast. “To wonderful lunch and the wonderful man who brought it to me.” Carlo touched his glass against hers before taking a drink. Daníella picked up her sandwich and bit into it. Her eyes closed in pleasure. “Your mother should bottle this mustard and sell it.” Carlo smiled. “The fact that she bottles it and gives it to us is good enough for me.” They ate in silence for several moments. Daníella finished her sandwich quickly, licking the remnants of the spicy brown mustard off of her fingers.

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The brown mustard was sinful and should possibly be outlawed, except she would no longer be able to enjoy it if that happened. He smiled at the sight, and she reached for a piece of fruit. “How has your day been, tesoro mio?” “Good as usual. I can’t say I’ve ever have a bad day at work.” Carlo finished off his sandwich before leaning back to look at her. “You really do like doing this don’t you?” She nodded. “I do.” “Would you give it up if you had children?” His question made her pause, and she gave him an inquisitive look. “What makes you ask?” He shrugged his shoulders. “Just curious.” She sighed softly. “I don’t think I would ever give this up completely. Maybe I would only do a tour or two a day like I did when we were married. “How about you?” He answered her without hesitation. “I would definitely cut back my hours at the hotel. I would want to spend as much time as possible with my wife and children.” Daníella knew without a doubt he spoke the truth. He had cut back his hours when they had married. She imagined he would do it again if he had to. Carlo would make a good father. He’d been a good husband when she had been married to him. Looking down at remnants of the lunch he brought, she knew that hadn’t changed. “How has your day been?” she inquired, attempting to distract herself. “Busy. Extremely busy.” She knew it probably was. They were currently rewiring the hotel’s electricity to fix their electrical problem. Hayden had been contracted by them to handle the task. From what she understood, he was doing a good job so far. His main concern was to make sure the operations of the hotel weren’t affected. According to Amalía, the plans of correction had been drawn up, and Hayden was in the process of hiring a crew to help him with the repairs.

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“I’m sure the worse is almost over.” “It is.” She snagged a strawberry, chewing slowly. “What do you have planned for the rest of the day?” “Work, work, and more work. You?” “I have a two-hour tour this afternoon, and that’s it.” “Would you like to go out tonight?” She shook her head quickly. “I think I’m going to limit us to going out once a week during the workweek.” He gave her a smile full of wickedness. “Am I too much for you to handle?” She shook her head. “No. I just know that without enough sleep I tend not to function at full capacity.” He waggled his eyebrows at her playfully. “I promise I’ll make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep.” She gave him a look of disbelief. “Yes, but the question is will I wake up in time to get to work before noon.” He laughed. “Maybe, maybe not. I can’t make any promises in that respect.” She shook her head before finishing off her juice. “I’m sure you would do your best, but tonight is dinner at my parents.” He frowned at her. “You didn’t tell me.” Daníella looked at him with surprise. “I didn’t think I had to. I would have thought you would remember.” “I did. What I meant to say was you didn’t say if we would go or not.” She leaned closer to him. “Unfortunately, I have been a little distracted lately by a certain someone and forgot to mention it, but we can definitely go if you like, and then we can go back to my apartment for dessert.” He gave her a heated look. “Speaking of which.” Daníella watched as he went into pocket and fished out her spare key before holding it out to her.

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“Here’s your key.” She stared at it for a moment before shaking her head. “Keep it. You may need it.” Carlo studied her for a moment before giving a brief nod. “That sounds like a good idea.” Daníella leaned back, a look of contentment on her face. Carlo reached out to brush a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Are you finished?” She nodded, and he began to put the containers and leftover food away. A few minutes later the noise level began to rise as her family began to return. “Is it safe to come in?” Nikkía whispered loudly. “I hope so. I don’t want to see anyone’s exposed skin besides my own,” Silvana retorted. Daníella rolled her eyes. “You might want to go back out the door and stay there for the rest of the week.” Carlo laughed. “You know it is only going to encourage them.” Daníella shrugged her shoulders. “What can I say? I enjoy teasing them when I get the chance to.” Silvana ignored the statement. “Are the two of you coming to dinner tonight?” Daníella looked at Carlo, who nodded. They never decided whether they were going to go or not because they got sidetracked. Yet, it seemed as if the decision had been made now. “Yes, we’ll be there.” “Good because—” “Silvana, Carlo and I need to get going.” Her youngest sister’s mouth dropped open in shock. Daníella stood up and placed a kiss on her sister’s cheek. It kept Silvana quiet long enough for her and Carlo to make an escape. Carlo was laughing by the time they made it outside. “It’s good to see you and your sisters are as insane as you have always been.”

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She gave him an amused look. “If I’m insane, it’s from having to keep those two in line.” He placed a quick kiss on her lips. “That is fine with me. It just reassures me my family won’t run you off.” “Trust me. It isn’t your family you have to worry about chasing me off.”

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Chapter Nine “Daníella.” Her spine stiffened at the voice calling her name. It was one she didn’t want to hear, especially right now. Turning slowly, she looked at a man who now physically repulsed her. “What are you doing here, Ignacio?” “I came by to see if you were okay.” Her eyebrows rose at his words. “Why wouldn’t I be?” His expression was one of complete surprise. “Because of what happened between us.” Daníella laughed. “Considering nothing happened between us, I think everything is okay.” Ignacio looked like he was at a loss for words, and she could only shake her head. Of course he would expect her to take him back. He thought so much of himself when he shouldn’t. “Is there anything else, Ignacio? Because frankly I’m tired and I can’t think of anything else I would rather do than go inside and relax.” A hopeful look appeared on his face, and she realized for the first time how pathetic he looked. “Are you going to invite me in?” She barely refrained from laughing in his face. “If I did, how long would it be before you invited another one of your whores in behind you?” Ignacio began to look like he had swallowed something sour. “Go away, Ignacio. You moved on a long time ago, and now I have as well.” She put her key in the door before turning back to look

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at him. “By the way, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t come by here anymore. Now enjoy the rest of your evening, Ignacio.” Daníella let herself into her apartment, locking the door for good measure. It was official. Ignacio had to be the most unintelligent man she ever had the displeasure of knowing. Had he really thought she would take him back? He had to, or he wouldn’t have had the nerve to show up on her doorstep the way he just had. She could only shake her head again as she headed up the stairs. Her body and mind were in need of a long soak in the tub. Daníella ran the water, pouring some bubbles in the water, and then she began to undress. When she slipped into the tub, a moan of a pleasure fell from her lips. Closing her eyes, she let the scent of lavender relax her. By the time she bathed and stepped from the tub, her skin was pruned, and she was going to be cutting it close to get ready on time. She had to have been insane to get involved with Ignacio in the first place. When she looked back, Daníella realized warning signs had been all over the place. The way he never wanted to go out with her, instead insisting she go with the girls. He could never remember significant days. Her birthday had come and gone, as well as their one-year anniversary, without Ignacio saying a word. She realized now Ignacio had only wooed her in the beginning to get her attached to him. He had been heavy on the charm in the beginning, and slowly, over time, he began to back off. She never really noticed how much until now. It had never been that way with Carlo. He’d remembered every single significant day and had done something to acknowledge it. Daníella could remember joking with him about having a personal assistant hidden somewhere to help him remember everything. The truth of the matter was Carlo had a good memory, but he also made sure to write everything down as a backup. When she looked at the last two years of her life, she would take Carlo over Ignacio without hesitation.

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Daníella began to get dressed, keeping her outfit as simple as possible. It was warm out, and she didn’t feel like putting up a big fuss to get dressed only to sweat and feel sticky afterward. She chose a gold-colored tube top with spaghetti straps and paired it with khaki capri pants, sliding her feet into a pair of matching gold sandals. She grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. The doorbell rang as she was halfway down. Looking through the peephole, she saw it was Carlo. Swinging the door open, she smiled before pulling him inside, wondering why he hadn’t used his key. “Hello.” He grinned wickedly as he returned the greeting. “Hello.” Leaning down, he placed a brief kiss on her lips. “You look beautiful.” “Thank you. I’m glad someone thinks so.” He frowned at her response. “What does that mean?” She started to shake her head and blame the comment on being tired, but instead she told him the truth. “Ignacio stopped by.” Carlo scowled. “Today?” “Yes. He was waiting for me when I got off work.” Carlo pulled back from her some. “What did he say?” “He wanted to see if he could worm his way back into my life.” “Can he?” Hurt surged through her, causing her to pull away. “If you have to ask, maybe you shouldn’t be here.” He reached out and held onto her. “That isn’t what I meant, and you know it.” Daníella shook her head. “Actually, I don’t know what you meant, Carlo. So why don’t you tell me?” “I’m asking if you still have any feelings for him.” She had to fight to keep her mouth from dropping open at his insane question. “No, I don’t have any feelings for him. I never had time to get any. I was too busy trying to get over my feelings for you.”

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The smile that appeared on Carlo’s face was priceless, and she realized she inadvertently played right into his hands. “Go home, Carlo. I have changed my mind about going to dinner with you.” He chuckled, reaching out to grab her as she went to walk away from him. “Come on, Daníella.” She didn’t relinquish her struggle to get away from him. Daníella gave him an irritated look. “I’m not here to stroke your ego, Carlo. If that is what you are looking for, you need to find another woman to do it.” Carlo finally managed to pull her back into his arms. “No one could ever take your place. Besides, I have never looked at another woman since we became involved.” His response was enough to halt her struggles. She hadn’t expected to hear the admission. Now she had, she needed to know what it meant. “You have never looked at another woman even after we divorced?” He shook his head, and she knew she was telling the truth. “I never wanted another woman.” “You didn’t want me either.” “You are wrong. I have always wanted you, and you have never heard me say otherwise.” She gave him an astonished look. “Well, you have a very funny way of showing it.” He sighed heavily. “One of these days, Daníella, I will find the words to explain to you why I did what I did.” Daníella stared at him in silence for a moment before speaking. “I hope you do.” “I will. It just won’t be now.” She closed her eyes briefly before opening them. “I know I shouldn’t let you get away with that, but for now I will.”

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Carlo leaned down and placed a brief kiss before letting her go. “Good, because I am starved.” He barely dodged her swatting hand, and she laughed. “I’m ready if you are.” By the time they arrived at her parents’ home, everyone was already seated at the table. “We had given up on the two of you.” “It is your sister’s fault,” Carlo joked. “She didn’t believe me the first time I said she was beautiful, so she ran back upstairs and changed outfits.” Daníella looked at Carlo with surprise that he could come up with such a ridiculous excuse. However, it was better than telling them the truth. That would start up a conversation she had no desire to be a part of. At least not right now. Carlo held her chair out for her while she took a seat. She looked up as her younger sister spoke. “Daníella, I’m not sure what outfit you changed out of, but you look very pretty.” “Thank you, Nikkía.” She gave Carlo a droll look and one corner of his mouth curved upward in response. Dinner was pleasant as usual. When they left her parents’ home, Daníella was smiling. “What’s so funny?” “The difference of insanity levels between my family and yours.” He gave her an inquisitive look. “You make it sound like a good thing.” “It is. There shall never be a dull moment.” “That’s true, but it also means we will have to fight to keep our sanity.” Smiling She leaned her head back onto the headrest. “Speak for yourself. I’m already insane. There is no denying it.” Carlo laughed. “My family is a lot more rambunctious than yours. I guess I’ll have to own up to my insanity as well.” “At least we both know it.”

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He was still chuckling as he pulled up to her apartment. “Would you like to come in?” Carlo gave her an amused glance. “As if you really have to ask.” Daníella waited for him to assist her out of the car knowing she should send him home if she wanted to get some rest tonight. Yet, she craved his company more—his touch. Carlo covered the distance around the car with long-legged strides, marred with a slight limp. He was so handsome and so sexy in spite of it. She wondered if she would ever see him use his cane like he was supposed to. He opened the door, and she stepped out before leading the way up the walkway. It would have to wait, for as soon as Daníella locked the door, Carlo had her in his arms and captured her lips with his. It was a different kiss, one meant for exploration. His tongue began to explore her mouth in a way that had always turned her on. She clung to his shoulders, and a moan fell from her lips. He swallowed up the sound quickly. She knew he’d always loved hearing the sounds of her pleasure. Pulling back, he ended the kiss, and she moaned in displeasure. This man lived to torture her, but before the night was over, it would be his turn. **** “I think we need to take this upstairs, or we might end up on the floor.” Daníella nodded, and Carlo took her hand and led her up the stairs. As soon as they entered the room, his hands went to her shirt. He lifted it over her head, not really caring where it landed. The only thing he had eyes for were the perfect breasts he just uncovered. His focus on foreplay almost went out the window. Instead, he took a deep breath. After unfastening the buttons on her capri pants, he pushed them down until they pooled around her ankles. She slipped her feet out of her sandals before stepping out of the circle of her capris. He took in the sight she made standing there only clad in her

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underwear. Daníella gasped as he swept her up into his arms before depositing her on the bed. “I don’t know if I have told you this already or not, but I like this bed.” She smiled as she reached over and turned on the small beside lamp. It gave off enough light for them to see each other but in an unobtrusive way. “I like it, too, but I would like it a lot more if you were in it with me.” Carlo came up over her brushing his lips against hers. When she reached for him, he pulled back. “Not yet.” She moaned, but it was cut off quickly as he grasped the waistband of her panties and pulled them down over her legs. “Carlo, I think you are a little overdressed.” “I guess you are right. Let’s work on that.” She watched as he tugged his shirt over his head, baring himself to the waist, something she definitely didn’t have a problem with. Carlo removed the rest of his clothing quickly and efficiently, leaving her licking her lips at the sight he made. “Do you have any idea how wild it drives me when you look at me like that?” She allowed her gaze to travel up his body until her eyes met his. “As wild as it drives me to have you standing naked in front of me.” He watched her intense stare drop back down to his erection as he began to protect them. Carlo felt her shiver in what he hoped was anticipation. He was having a hard time keeping his body in check at the thought of filling Daníella, unsure if he could take it slow this time. He came up over her as she opened for him, welcoming him. His flesh began to fill her deeply and slowly. She moaned at the sensation, and he slid deeper. His hands slid under her bottom, lifting her closer to him, causing her to gasp in response. Carlo began to

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move within her, watching her eyes flutter closed at the sensations he created for the both of them. The pleasure only intensified as she tried to bring her legs up to encircle his waist. He smiled tightly when she moaned in frustration when she couldn’t because of his angle. Carlo had intentionally chosen it because he was fully aware of how powerful those legs were. Instead, he moved deeper within her, and her moans grew to a fevered pitch. He stared at her while she struggled to open her eyes, fighting to keep his open, wanting to watch her when she experienced the pleasure he was giving her. Her need for release seemed to be escalating, her flesh rhythmically squeezing, one of the signs she was getting ready to experience the ultimate pleasure. Daníella arched upward, gasping at the pleasure Carlo was bestowing upon her. “Oh, Carlo. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.” She cried out as her release slammed into her. Her body tightened around his, causing him to cry out with her. He observed her as she rode out the pleasure as wave after wave flowed through her. Her body shuddered against his as the pleasure continued to course through her. Carlo almost hated when the spasms ended, signaling her pleasure was over for now. He came up over her, breathing heavily. “Hold on to me,” he whispered before scooping her up into his arms. Daníella gasped as the movement brought their bodies closer together. Carlo was still hard within her. She gasped as he headed toward the bathroom with her in his arms. “Carlo, wait…if you keep moving I am going to—” He figured out what she was going to say and stopped moving, but it wasn’t in time. Carlo watched as she closed her eyes, another orgasm sweeping through her. He only pushed her higher when he leaned her against the wall and, with a few thrusts, had her yelling his name again. When she was able to raise her head, she lifted her gaze to his, and he smiled at her expression. “I think it would be better if I walked the rest of the way.” “I don’t mind carrying you,” he responded as he let her legs go.

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“I’m sure you don’t.” He stepped back from her. “I don’t.” He moved away from her and continued toward the bathroom. “It’s so warm out. I figured we could take a shower before we go to bed.” Carlo looked back, watching her push away from the wall and follow him into the bathroom. “I have no problem with it at all.” He turned on the shower before disposing of the protection they used, feeling her eyes on him the entire way. Carlo stepped into the shower, shivering as the cool water hit his skin, but it felt good. Daníella joined him a few moments later. She laughed as he picked up her bath sponge before pouring some body wash on it. “Is this for me or you?” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “Both.” Daníella shook her head but allowed him to bathe her. He did so very thoroughly, reminded of another reason why he loved to share the shower with her. They ended up wasting water, but both of them always came away very clean. By the time they crawled out of the shower, he could tell she was struggling to keep her eyes open. She climbed into the bed with him close behind her. Sleep was upon her before her head hit the pillow. He smiled as she emitted a soft snore…so much for an encore. **** Daníella came awake slowly, and it was barely light out. A glance at her alarm clock told her she only had a few moments left before it went off. She decided to enjoy them watching Carlo sleep. He was on his side facing away from her, the sheet on her bed barely covering his waist. It gave her a good glimpse of the sexy man he was. She’d missed this a lot—waking up to him every morning, debating with him over who would be the one to get out of bed to get coffee. It had

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never been an argument because neither of them wanted to get the coffee, but because neither of them wanted to leave the warmth of each other’s arms to get it. Laying here looking at him, she was tempted to turn off the alarm and call their families to tell them neither of them would be in on time. She could then pull the covers back up over them and ignore the rest of the world in their own private cocoon. Daníella decided she would save that for next week, when she and Carlo both had the day off. Right now she would settle for watching him sleep a few more minutes. He stirred slightly, rolling over before burying his face deeper into the pillow. Reaching out, she brushed her fingertip against his cheek. She smiled before reaching out to touch his chest. His heartbeat was strong, but slow and steady, proof of the fact he was asleep. Just as she pulled her hand back, the alarm went off. Carlo’s eyes jerked opened as she reached across to turn off the alarm. He blinked at her sleepily before pulling her into his arms. “Good morning.” She went into his embrace willingly. “Good morning to you as well.” Carlo brought his mouth down on hers and kissed her thoroughly. When he raised his head, her lips were swollen and her eyes as heavily lidded as his. “Did you sleep well?” Daníella blinked as she tried to comprehend his question, and it took her a moment. How could he expect her to think after a kiss like the one he just gave her? Somehow she managed. “Yes, I did. How about yourself?” “I slept okay, but somehow waking up to you is the better part.” “If I didn’t know any better, I would say they gave you Carabelli men a lesson in how to sweet-talk a lady.” Carlo chuckled under his breath. “No, we didn’t get a lesson in that. However, we did get a lesson in how to please our woman if we want to keep her and keep her happy.”

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Daníella went up on an elbow. “Who is responsible for this lesson? I would like to thank him or her personally.” He smiled. “My parents mainly, but you had a lot to do with it as well.” She rolled onto her back. “I guess it would be considered vain to thank myself for being such a good teacher.” “I would have to say it would be vain, but it would probably be okay if you were to give yourself a small pat on the back.” She shook her head and sat up. “I think I’ll just congratulate you on being smart enough to pay attention to the advice you received and stop there.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “I know a perfect way for you to congratulate me.” She laughed. “One would think you received enough of that sort of congratulations last night.” Before she could blink, he had her underneath him and his growing erection pressing into her stomach. “Well, tesoro mio, you definitely thought wrong.”

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Chapter Ten “What in the world is wrong with you, Amalía?” Daníella looked over at her friend with puzzlement. They were supposed to be enjoying a nice lunch at Ferroni’s but it wasn’t the case. Amalía was in a foul mood, and Sophia’s mood wasn’t much better. Amalía just shrugged her shoulders in response. Daníella looked to Tierra and Talía for help. They looked just as confused as she was. It was also obvious she wasn’t going to get any assistance from them. Daníella sat her fork down, wanting to get to the bottom of it. Very rarely was Amalía like this, and when she was, it wasn’t pretty. “Okay, Amalía, what’s going on?” “Nothing, besides my birthday being less than a week away,” Amalía muttered. Daníella tried her best to sound sympathetic, knowing there was more to it. “What’s wrong with that?” Amalía eyebrows arched high on her forehead. “Have you forgotten I’m getting ready to turn thirty-five?” “Uh-oh, you are becoming ancient,” Talía teased. Daníella elbowed her, but it was too late. Amalía excused herself from the table and made her way to the restroom. Tierra gave Talía an annoyed look. “Thanks a lot, Talía.” Talía’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t do anything.” “Other than being insensitive as usual, yes, you’re right,” Sophia grumbled before Daníella or Tierra could respond.

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Daníella looked skyward and asked for the strength to get all of this straightened out, and soon. She put down her fork, getting up to follow Amalía. Tierra should be able to handle Sophia and Talía until she returned. By the time she made it to the restroom, Amalía was in tears. Daníella couldn’t have been more shocked as she tried to comfort her friend. “What’s wrong, Amalía?” Amalía couldn’t answer around the hiccupping sounds she’d begun to make. Daníella could only embrace her friend until she was calm enough to talk. “Amalía, you have to tell me what all of this is about.” Amalía’s expression was one of desperation. “I want to get married and have babies.” Daníella could only shake her head in confusion. “So do I.” Amalía shook her head. “But I want both of them now.” Daníella smiled as she realized what the problem was. “So do I. I think you forget we have the same dreams and aspirations.” Amalía closed her eyes briefly. “I admit I may be a little selfish sometimes, but it’s because I’m going to turn forty before the rest of you.”Amalía sighed heavily as she reached for some bathroom tissue. “After this birthday, I’m only five years away.” Daníella reached out and squeezed Amalía’s hand. “Well, you are closer to becoming married now than you were a year ago.” The statement brought a smile to Amalía’s face. “True. Hayden did bring up the subject of marriage a few weeks ago.” Daníella arched a dark brow in her friend’s direction. “Oh, really? I don’t recall hearing about this conversation.” Amalía shrugged her shoulders with way more casualness than Daníella knew she felt. “That’s because I didn’t think it was a big deal.” Daníella gave the woman standing in front of her a look of disbelief. “I can’t believe you would honestly say that.”

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Amalía sighed. “I just didn’t want to get my hopes up about it.” Daníella shook her head. “We are going to have a chat about this later.” Amalía laughed as Daníella hugged her tightly. “Until then we are going to go back to our table and enjoy the rest of our lunch.” Amalía nodded and tried to make herself presentable before she and Daníella made their way back to the dining area. Both Talía and Tierra wore matching expressions of concern while Sophia seemed to be lost in her own world. Talía leaned over and gave Amalía a hug. “I apologize for being so insensitive earlier. Whatever the problem is, I vow to help you with it personally.” Amalía laughed, and Daníella smiled. Talía would gag if she knew what she’d just agreed to help with. “I appreciate the offer, Talía, but this problem is one I will have to fix on my own.” Talía looked crestfallen. “Oh, okay. Can I at least offer moral support?” Amalía nodded, and Talía was satisfied. Daníella turned her attention to Sophia, who was pushing a full plate of food around with her fork. “Are you on a diet?” Sophia stared at her blankly, and Daníella inclined her head toward Sophia’s plate. Sophia looked down before shrugging her shoulders. “No, I guess I’m not hungry.” “Which tells me something is wrong, so spill,” Daníella responded. Sophia sighed heavily. “I need a makeover.” Daníella’s eyebrows bunched together in confusion. “Why do you need a makeover?” “Because I look so drab and boring,” Sophia whispered.

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Daníella scoffed at the comment, taking in Sophia’s freshly scrubbed face. “No, Sophia, you are anything but plain. You just wear your clothes a size—maybe two—too big.” “What about my hair and makeup?” Talía interjected this time. “You don’t need makeup, and your hair is fine the way it is. You just need to experiment with a few different hairstyles complimenting what you already have.” Sophia shook her head. “I think you guys are biased because you all are my friends.” “Then why don’t you ask Giovanni what he thinks?” All eyes went to Tierra, who continued to eat after making such an interesting statement. Sophia’s skin began to flush immediately. “Why would I want to do that?” Sophia questioned, barely able to keep the stammer of nerves out of her voice. “Because he is the reason you want to change you appearance,” Tierra responded casually, before taking another bite of her food. “And as your friend, I should tell you it would be a mistake, but I won’t because you won’t listen. However, I will tell you if you insist on a makeover, don’t worry about a physical one.” Tierra tapped the side of her head. “You don’t feel sexy because you don’t think you are sexy. What you need is a mental makeover.” Sophia looked at Tierra, clear puzzlement on her face. “What’s a mental makeover?” Tierra paused to take a sip of her drink. “You need to change your attitude about yourself. You need to feel sexy. If you feel sexy, you will be sexy.” Tierra gave her a knowing look. “People around you will know you feel that way as well. If Giovanni doesn’t notice you after that, then it might be time for you to find someone who will.” Sophia nodded her head slowly in agreement. “It sounds like a good idea.” “I’m willing to help you with your self-improvement project in any way possible,” Daníella offered.

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Sophia smiled gratefully, obvious relief on her face. “Thank you. Thank you to all of you for being such good friends.” Talía leaned in closed. “We have to be. Otherwise we would all go insane.” Daníella laugh. They were still laughing when they finished lunch as well as when they arrived back at Hotel Carabelli. After they said their good-byes to each other, they went in separate directions. Since she didn’t have any tours set for the rest of the day, she made her way toward Carlo’s office. Daníella knocked, and he told her to enter. A smile appeared on his face when he realized who she was as she walked into his office. “Did you ladies enjoy your lunch today?” “You know we always do. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t find a reason to have lunch together so often.” He pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her senseless. When he pulled back, she was breathless and he was still smiling. “Have you had lunch yet?” “Believe it or not, I did. I called down to the restaurant and ordered.” He pointed at the empty food container in the trash. “That’s good,” Daníella stated as she smooth back the ruffled strands of hair he’d run his hands through all day from the looks of it. “So what do you have planned for the rest of the day?” He pointed to his desk, and she glanced at the paperwork before looking back at him. “Work. What do you have planned?” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m free for the rest of the day, but I have a few things to do to help Hayden with Amalía’s surprise birthday party.” Carlo pulled back to look at her. “Do you think Amalía will really be surprised?” Daníella paused, thinking the question over. “I don’t know, but I know she will appreciate the effort.”

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“That is probably true. Tesoro mio, as much as I hate to rush you off, I have these reports to finish. We both know Antonio can become a pain when things aren’t finished on time.” She gave him another brief kiss before sliding off of his lap. “You’re right. Am I going to see you tonight?” Carlo nodded. “We have a date.” “See you tonight, then.” Daníella left his office and went in search of Hayden, hoping Amalía wasn’t in the vicinity of where he was working. There was still a lot to do for Amalía’s party, but Hayden had enlisted everyone’s help. Everyone had their designated role in making sure the party went smoothly. When she found Hayden, he was amidst electrical wiring. “Is it safe to come back there?” Hayden stuck his head out and smiled. “Depends on whether you are a friend or an enemy.” She held her hands up in a peaceful gesture. “I’m a friend.” “I will come out to you, then.” She laughed as he disappeared and she grasped the meaning behind his statement. A moment later he appeared again, stopping to take his work gloves and helmet off before continuing toward her. He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. “These things are the only tasks left that need to be completed.” Daníella took the slip of paper and tucked it into her purse. “I’ll look it over, and if I have any questions, I’ll give you a call.” “That’s fine. Once again, thank you for helping me with this.” “Anytime, especially since I know Amalía would do the same for me.” Hayden smiled. “Okay then, let me get back to work so I can keep the hotel up and running and my woman happy.” Daníella laughed. “By all means.” Hayden pulled out his work gloves, and Daníella made her way back to the lobby of the hotel. When she made it to her apartment, she

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sighed in relief as she sank down on the couch. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the piece of paper Hayden had given her. Opening it up, she read over it quickly. A second later she reached for her cell phone. Tierra answered on the third ring. “I just wanted to let you know I’m looking at the list Hayden gave me and your brother is good. This is going to be a birthday party Amalía will never forget.” **** “Do we have anything else to get?” Daníella looked down at her list before shaking her head. She looked back up at Tierra. “No, the only thing we need to do now is go over to the house and help Mona with the food. We also need to make sure the decorations are up.” Tierra nodded. “I’m ready when you are.” They loaded the rest of the packages into the car. A short time later they were headed to Mona and Bruce’s home. Daníella sighed heavily as she rested her head against the back of the seat. “Is everything okay, Daníella?” “Yes. I’m just tired.” Tierra remained silent for a moment, but Daníella didn’t miss her curious expression. “Not to be nosey or anything, I’m just wondering if you’ve had that talk with Carlo.” Daníella stiffened. “Not yet. Why?” “Just wondering. The two of you seem to be getting along well, that’s all.” “Do you think Carlo and I won’t once we talk?” Tierra shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not my place to say. I just know that the two of you really need to discuss the reason why your

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relationship didn’t work the first time, or you could easily end back up right where you were a short time ago.” Tierra’s words struck fear into Daníella. She didn’t want to lose Carlo again, but Tierra was right. She and Carlo needed to talk, and soon. However, right now was not the time to dwell on it. It was Amalía’s day. Her friend needed this party to go off without any distractions. “I plan to talk with him, Tierra. Believe me when I say this whole unknown issue has weighed heavily on my mind. While it won’t be today, I will talk to Carlo. I promise.” Tierra reached over and squeezed Daníella’s hand. “I don’t mean to be a downer. I just care a lot about you and Carlo.” “I know. We are lucky and grateful, just as much as Amalía is. She is going to be so surprised when she sees what everyone has done. I’m so glad Hayden has the most difficult part of this task.” “What would that be?” Tierra asked. “Keeping Amalía busy and distracted.” “You have a good point.” Daníella released a pent up breath. “I can only imagine what creative excuse Hayden came up with to keep Amalía away from breakfast this morning.” Tierra gave her a smug look. “Probably the same one I used. Antonio and I miss breakfast once a week because of it.” Daníella laughed as she caught onto what Tierra was referring to. “I’m sure it is a very persuasive method.” “Yes, and it should ensure that Amalía will show up with a smile on her face.” Daníella sighed. “If for some strange reason it doesn’t, we have this as a backup plan.” “Not a chance of that happening. The backup plan is just the icing on the cake.” Tierra put the key into the ignition and started the car before pulling out with the traffic.

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“So how are your parents?” Daníella asked. “They are fine, just ready to come back to Rome for another visit.” “Since you and Hayden are both here, they might as well move here.” Tierra nodded. “I agree, so does Hayden, Amalía, and Antonio. All of us have been working on persuading them to do so.” “And how is married life treating you?” The smile that appeared on Tierra’s face said it all. “It’s going very well. Sometimes it’s hard to believe, and then I look down at my left hand and I know it is very real.” Daníella smiled even as a pang of jealousy traveled through her. “I can remember the feeling myself.” Tierra laughed. “You should since you’re still there.” “What do you mean?” Tierra shrugged. “You just seem to be a lot happier now than you were with Ignacio.” Daníella groaned at the mention of his name. “I am. Although I would be a lot happier if I never hear his name again.” Tierra shook her head. “I think you should hear his name at least once a day to remind you not to be so stubborn next time.” Daníella rolled her eyes. “What are we going to do to remind Carlo to keep him from being so stubborn?” “Simple. We will remind him of what life was like without you.” Daníella laughed. “I’m not sure it will be enough motivation.” Tierra gave her a sharp look. “Trust me, it will be.” The rest of their ride was in silence, but it didn’t matter. Both she and Tierra were both thinking about things needing to be completed for Amalía’s party to go off without any problems. When they walked into the house, it was obvious Mona was in the kitchen. Heavenly smells were coming from the kitchen. Smells that made Daníella’s stomach grumble even though she and Tierra had grabbed a quick lunch.

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Mona greeted them excitedly. “Sophia and Talía just called to say they were on their way.” Tierra kissed Mona on the cheek while hugging her. “Buon. It will make putting up the decorations quicker, and then we can help you finish up dinner.” “That’s fine. You girls go do whatever it is you need to. I’m fine right now.” Daníella followed Tierra to the car. They grabbed all of the bags before heading back into the house. Sophia and Talía arrived a short while later, carrying their own load of bags. Talía took over balloon duty. Tierra took over the duty of hanging streamers. It left her and Sophia with tablecloth and place setting duty. Daníella didn’t mind. Once all of the decorations had been put up, they all piled into the kitchen. By the time everything was finished, they had less than an hour to get ready. Daníella smiled when she saw Sophia’s outfit. “I like it.” Sophia smiled in response to the compliment. “Thank you. Tierra helped me pick it out. Now I’m trying to figure out what to do with my hair.” Sophia had a gorgeous, curly, black mane that fell a few inches below her shoulders. It was clipped back out of her face in a semiponytail. Normally, Sophia wore it pulled completely back into a ponytail. “How about you wear it down?” Sophia shook her head. “Then it will be in the way.” Daníella tilted her head to the side. “Not if you clip it back on the sides.” Sophia slowly agreed to the experiment. “Okay, we can try it.” “Good. Talía, do you have any hair clips?” Talía rummaged around in her bag before handing a few over. Sophia took a seat, and Daníella began the job of styling her friend’s hair. Daníella slid the clips into place before surveying her work.

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“It looks good.” Sophia turned to look in the mirror before smiling. “I like it. Grazie, Daníella.” “You’re welcome and anytime.” Tierra came rushing breathlessly into the room. “Is everyone ready? We have about five—maybe ten minutes—before Amalía and Hayden arrive.” Tierra paused when she saw Sophia. “You look great.” Daníella looked up in concern, realizing they were in a time crunch. “Are the guys here?” Tierra nodded. “They are downstairs pacing like caged animals because Mona won’t let them touch the food.” Talía frowned. “It is amazing those guys are not fat.” Sophia scowled. “Actually, it is amazing we aren’t fat.” Daníella nudged Sophia playfully. “Hey! Speak for yourself.” Everyone took one last look at their reflections in the mirror before heading downstairs. The feelings that raced through her every time she laid eyes on Carlo never failed to amaze her. There were times when it felt like every time she saw him, it was if they were meeting for the first time. Daníella’s eyes never left him even as he headed in her direction. She smiled as he pulled her into his arms before placing a kiss on her lips, leaving her breathless and without doubt of his desire for her. “You must have missed me today.” He nodded. “I always miss you when we aren’t together.” Tierra interrupted her response. “All right, everyone, Hayden and Amalía just pulled up. Everyone take your places.” Daníella allowed Carlo to pull her to a private area, hiding them from the view of the front door. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face when the front door swung open, signaling Amalía and Hayden had entered the house. She jumped out and yelled “surprise” with everyone else. The look on Amalía’s face was priceless. Amalía took in all of the decorations and party preparations made in her honor.

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“Thank you. I can’t believe you did all of this.” Daníella walked forward to hug her friend. “You are more than welcome, but you should thank Hayden. Not only was this his idea, he funded all of it.” Amalía turned and looked at Hayden, who only smiled in response. Nothing else needed to be said. Daníella was well aware that Amalía and Hayden were having a little trouble in the area of their living arrangement. It was mainly on Amalía’s end. She wanted Hayden to move in with her, but he wouldn’t. Hayden’s logic was rational, and Daníella had a feeling Amalía was more upset at Hayden telling her no. No wasn’t a word Amalía was used to hearing, but Hayden was brave enough to say it. “Well, let’s not stand here and chat all evening. We have a party to get underway.” Amalía was led to the dining room where more decorations were arranged. Everyone took their respective seats, and food became free flowing. Daníella allowed Carlo to serve her Ribollita before digging in. Tonight’s menu was a compilation of Amalía’s favorite foods. The seafood crespelle was the next course to be served. Amalía’s face lit up again once she realized her birthday cake was Zuccotto. Everyone joined into to sing happy birthday, and Amalía blew all of the candles out on the first try. Zuccotto was passed around the table. Amalía shook her head as she looked at everyone around the table. “I can’t believe all of you put this together for me.” Hayden leaned over and gave Amalía a kiss on the lips. “You deserve it.” Mona cleared her throat before standing up. “Hayden’s right, but this celebration is not over yet. We still have presents for you to open.” That detail excited Amalía, and after everyone finished their dessert, the table was cleared and the presents were brought in. Amalía opened her gifts one by one, thanking everyone for each gift.

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After she opened the last one, she thanked everyone again, but Hayden interrupted her. “You didn’t open my gift.” Amalía looked at the clear table in puzzlement. “There isn’t anything else on the table.” “Are you sure?” While she was busy searching for the unopened present, Hayden stood up. She continued to look for it, not realizing Hayden was going down on one knee. “Amalía.” Amalía was still frowning. “I still don’t see it.” “Amalía, the present isn’t on the table.” “Then where is—” Daníella smiled when Amalía finally noticed Hayden was on his knee holding a jewelry box only large enough for a ring to fit in. Hayden flipped the lid open, and a gasp escaped from Amalía. A gold diamond engagement ring sat nestled in the box. Most importantly, Daníella knew it was the ring Amalía wanted. Hayden smiled as he began to speak. “A few weeks ago, I started thinking about how I could make your birthday perfect. I could think of nothing better than to give you what we both want.” Daníella had to fight back tears when Hayden reached for Amalía’s hand. “You have seduced me mind, body, and soul. I am yours forever, and nothing would give me more pleasure than to have you honor me by becoming my wife.” Daníella laughed through her tears as Amalía launched herself into Hayden’s arms, almost throwing him off-balance. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” Amalía blurted out before proceeding to kiss Hayden eagerly. Hayden pulled back long enough to put the ring on Amalía’s finger, and cheers went up around the room. Daníella was excited for both Hayden and Amalía. This was a surprise she hadn’t expected. From what she knew, no one had. Still,

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she was happy for her friend. Daníella could remember how excited she had been when Carlo had proposed to her. He’d done it in private, but it had been exactly what she wanted. She looked over at Carlo and wondered if he would consider proposing to her again. More importantly, was she ready to say yes if he did?

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Chapter Eleven “So have you told Carlo you are in love with him?” Daníella struggled to keep the water she just taken a sip of down. The impulsive reaction immediately caused her to choke. Silvana stood up and began to pat her on the back. Nikkía only looked at Daníella as if she were the one who’d lost her mind. “So we can take that as a no?” Nikkía responded. “Are you okay?” Silvana asked. Once Daníella was able to get her coughing and choking under control, she glared at her sisters. “Do I look like I’m okay?” To Daníella’s irritation, Nikkía nodded. “You look fine to me. Just seems like you are trying to avoid the question to me.” Daníella pinned her sisters with a heated stare. “I’m not trying to avoid the question. I’m trying to avoid the two of you.” “Now, Dani, that isn’t nice.” “With the two of you around, how could I be? I can’t understand why the two of you are so nosey.” Silvana shrugged. “It’s hereditary.” Daníella felt her mouth nearly hit the ground with shock. “Silvana, I can’t believe you would make up such a blatant lie.” “So you have forgotten about Aunt Enea?” Silvana retorted. Daníella shook her head. “I think I’m going to move to another country.” Nikkía laughed. “Then you would be away from Carlo.” “Who says he wouldn’t come with me? Better yet, we would probably get Mom and Dad to come with us.”

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She had the satisfaction of seeing Nikkía’s mouth drop open. “You wouldn’t do that to us,” Nikkía stated. Daníella shrugged her shoulders. “I would if it would give Mom and Dad peace of mind from the two of you.” “I can’t believe you would go so far to avoid our question.” She scowled at Silvana. “I think you mean questions. It’s sad you ask so many that you forget what—or I should say how—many you ask.” Nikkía and Silvana looked at each other and smiled. “She still hasn’t answered our question, which means she hasn’t told him.” Daníella sighed in exasperation at her sisters. “The two of you are such mindless creatures. I’m going home for the day.” She stood up and gathered her bag and purse before walking into her parents’ office. “Mom, Dad, I’m leaving for the day.” Her mother looked up and smiled sympathetically. “Are your sisters bothering you?” She gave her mother an irritated look. “They bother me every day. Today they are getting on my nerves.” Her father walked over to give her a hug. “They only do it because they know it bothers you.” “That may be, Dad, but I can only ignore them to a certain extent.” Her father rubbed her arms soothingly. “Just go home and try to relax.” She gave her parents a grateful smile. “I will. Thanks, Mom and Dad. I will see you tomorrow.” Daníella left as quickly as possible, walking by her sisters so quickly they probably thought she was a figment of their imagination. She headed straight home and collapsed onto her couch. Just being in the quietness of her apartment was calming to her nerves. Her thoughts automatically went to Carlo. It had been two days since she’d seen him. Due to their conflicting schedules lately, she hadn’t seen him since the night of Amalía’s birthday party. The benefit was

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it gave her time to think about where she and Carlo were headed with their relationship. Yes, they had just rekindled their passion, but she was starting to realize it had never fizzled. Daníella knew without a doubt she was in love with Carlo. The truth was she had never stopped loving him, so it had never been in question. She was pretty certain Carlo was still in love with her as well. However, the entire situation was mentally exhausting at times. She wasn’t always sure which direction to go in with Carlo, especially when a good relationship between them fell apart for a reason she still wasn’t too sure of. She and Carlo hadn’t sat down to talk about the facts had led up to their separation, and it bothered her. She knew their relationship would only go so far if they didn’t. They only issue was trying to figure out how to approach the subject. Daníella knew Carlo didn’t do anything without good reason, and that scared her. **** “Don’t you have some work to do?” Carlo opened one of his eyes to look at Giovanni. He smiled when he saw the scowl on his younger brother’s face. “You seem upset today, little brother. Have you talked to Sophia today?” Giovanni’s response was foul and vulgar. Carlo opened both of his eyes, and his smiled widened. “What? Has she come to her senses and gotten over you?” Giovanni’s frown deepened. “For the last time, Sophia and I are only friends.” Carlo laughed. “So she has come to her senses?” His statement earned him a hard look from Giovanni. “It’s only a matter of time before Daníella comes to hers.” Carlo laughed. “She already has. That is why she took me back, but I will admit it wasn’t easy.”

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“You just got lucky,” Giovanni responded with a shake of his head. Carlo shrugged in response. “You may be right, but I will take lucky for as long as I can get it because lucky keeps me from being lonely and grumpy.” Giovanni mumbled something unintelligible before turning on his heel and walking away. Carlo closed his eyes again only to reopen them as soon as he heard his sister’s voice. “What’s wrong, Carlo? Daníella didn’t let you get any sleep last night?” He smiled. “I wish that was the reason I’m so exhausted.” Amalía gave him a sympathetic look. “Was it that bad?” He nodded because it had been. Last night he’d been awakened out of a good sleep to go into the hotel to deal with paparazzi. The infamous photographers had decided to camp outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of a movie star who wasn’t even checked into their hotel. He had been close to calling in the police to help assist the on-site security team when a call had gone out to the group, telling them another star had been spotted. The paparazzi cleared out quickly. He’d gone home only to catch a few more hours of sleep before dragging himself back into work. “Yeah, it was, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.” “You look tired. I can cover for you if you need me to.” Carlo shook his head appreciative of his sister’s concern. “I will be okay for now, but thank you for the offer.” Amalía nodded before leaving his office. He hadn’t seen his sister so happy in a while. She had been glowing since Hayden had proposed to her. Carlo was glad his sister had found a guy like Hayden. Hayden was good to his sister. She deserved to have a good guy like Hayden in her life. His thought automatically went to Daníella. Even though he hadn’t seen her in the last forty-eight hours, he’d

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talked to her. Hearing her voice was enough when he couldn’t see her. He cared a lot about Daníella. Was even willing to say old feelings were coming back to the surface, feelings that had never really gone away, he just tamped them down. A yawn escaped him, and he shook his head. Reaching for the phone, he placed a call for a cup of black coffee. He needed it to get through the last two hours of work. The coffee arrived quickly, and Carlo accepted it gratefully. The first sip of coffee gave him the slight jolt he needed. His thoughts went back to Daníella. Carlo tried to imagine what the rest of his day would be like if he hadn’t screwed things up with her. She would probably be at the house waiting for him to get home. Dinner would be on the stove, and if they didn’t have any children, he was sure they would be working on it. Carlo took another sip of his coffee as his phone rang. He managed to pick up the phone on the second ring. “Hello.” “Hi. You sound tired.” He smiled at the sound of Daníella’s voice. “I am, but I will be okay once I get some sleep.” “Do you want to come over after work?” “I do, but I’m afraid I will crash on you.” He heard her sigh softly. “To be honest, I don’t care. It wouldn’t bother me if you needed to take a nap.” Carlo chuckled. “I can come over if you are sure you don’t mind me going to sleep on you for an hour or so.” “I wouldn’t. After the day I have had today, we can take a nap together, and then we can order takeout from somewhere.” He sighed. “Sounds good. I’ll call you when I’m leaving work.” “Okay. I will see you then.” Carlo hung up the phone and finished off the coffee. It didn’t help him any. By the time he arrived at Daníella’s, he was nearly asleep on his feet. She pulled him inside and led him straight upstairs. He tried to help her, but she brushed his hands aside.

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“Let me.” She undressed him quickly before pulling back the sheets. “Climb in.” He wanted to protest because he would prefer to take a shower before he slept, but he was likely to drown in the tub. So he did as she asked. Daníella waited until he was settled before joining him. Carlo relaxed, and she leaned toward him and placed a kiss on his lips. “Sleep.” Carlo obeyed her command and closed his eyes. He couldn’t stay awake if he wanted to. Instead, he let Daníella’s soothing touch draw him into the wonderful world of slumber. A little over an hour later, Carlo came awake slowly. His eyes fell onto Daníella, and the corners of his mouth curled upward. She lay on her side facing him, her hair covering her face partially. He couldn’t help but to notice how beautiful she looked. Her camisole was to the side, revealing smooth skin. The tops of her breasts were visible, making him want her. He wanted her more and more with each day that passed. Waking up to her had always served as a reminder as to how lucky he’d been to have her in his bed—in his life. He could lie there and watch her sleep forever. There was something about her that made him ache for her. He had learned a while back he couldn’t deny his feelings for her—his need for her. The only problem was he had to convince her. He could see the doubt in her eyes when he stared deeply into them. Yet, he knew without a doubt Daníella was meant to be in his life. Now he hoped she’d still feel that way once he revealed his secret. He held his breath when she shifted slightly. She settled again, and he continued to take in her beauty. He wanted to make love to her—to wake her up on the brink of pleasure. To hear his name on her lips as her eyes opened. Right now was the perfect time for him to do so, and he planned to take advantage of it. ****

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Daníella opened her mouth to gasp, but no sound came out. She was still half-asleep. Her mind didn’t want to let go of the wonderful dream she was having. Her muscles were leaden, and warmth pooled between her thighs. She couldn’t understand why her body felt so weighed down. Desire was flowing through her freely, making her breasts feel heavy and her nipples firm. The sensation of fingers caressing her made her body tighten with spasms of gratification. She couldn’t figure out where the feelings were coming from. Why desire was gathering between the vee of her thighs. Her fuzzy brain finally grasped that she was on her back. She never slept on her back. Her brain also began to register a steady stroke against the heart of her. “Carlo?” He didn’t answer her and for good reason. Her legs were strategically placed over his shoulders, and he was lavishing the most thorough attention on her with his mouth. Still feeling as if she were dreaming, she refused to open her eyes. This was a dream that she didn’t want to end. His talented tongue and hands teased her skillfully in a way that made her moan. Daníella gasped as jolts of satisfaction raced through her, making her toes curl. He pulled back, and her legs tightened, sandwiching him between them so he didn’t go too far. Even though she was still drowsy, she didn’t want the blissful sensations to end. “Are you awake?” It took her a minute to understand his words. When she did, Daníella responded as best as she could. “If I’m not, then this is the best dream I’ve ever had.” “Well then, don’t let me be the one to ruin it.” He lowered his mouth to her once more, and her eyes closed as he sent another wave of pleasure surging through her. When his fingers joined his mouth, she cried out. His fingers dipped into her wetness. Daníella arched into his touch, and he let her move her hips, allowing her to control her own delight. She moved against him, trying to

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increase her pleasure as much as she could. His fingers continued to tease her until she couldn’t help but to succumb to the intense sensation. Daníella cried out as fulfillment raced through her veins, making her toes curl. As soon as she could move again, she reached for Carlo. “I need you inside me…now, Carlo!” She sighed with relief as he came up over her, his lips slowly brushing hers. Carlo protected them, and an instant later he was sliding inside her, filling her deeply. She exhaled with contentment, taking as much of him in as she could. He began to move within her slowly, and she clung to him, caressing the smooth muscles rippling under his firm skin. His thrusts were so long, so deep, she had trouble determining where he ended and she began. Still, she arched into his thrust, wanting to have as much control over his desire as he had over hers. She loved to make him lose control. It was something he didn’t do often. Daníella was amazed at how in tune they still were with each other. Even after all of this time, she was able to detect when he was about to climax. She tightened her legs around his waist, smiling as his breath caught in his throat. He gathered her tightly in his arms, her name becoming a low growl in his throat. His control vanished and he thrust hard into her, taking her breath away as her orgasm crashed into her. Carlo held her as tightly as she held him. When he was finally able to move, he slid to the side and pulled her with him. It took her several moments to catch her breath. When she did, she spoke. “I take it you had a good nap.” “Yes, I did, but I have to say I’m ready for another now.” Her smile widened as she straightened her camisole. “You should have thought about that before you awoke so excited.” He reached out and brushed his hand against her face. “Well, you shouldn’t be so beautiful.” She gave him an amused look. “So it is my fault, huh?” Carlo nodded without hesitation. “Yes, it is.”

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She hid a yawn. “I guess I will have to make you sleep on the couch the next time.” He grimaced at the thought. “If you do, I hope it isn’t under the same circumstances. Dealing with the paparazzi is exhausting.” Daníella gave him a sympathetic smile. She knew from a brief conversation with Sophia it had been an interesting and trying night for Carlo at the hotel. Carlo had gotten up in the middle of the night to go over to help defuse the situation with the media. Sitting up, she looked over at him. “Hopefully you won’t have to deal with that again anytime soon. I would love to say never again, but we both know it is unlikely. Are you hungry?” “Starving. I ordered a light lunch earlier, but it might have been too light.” She shook her head but wasn’t surprised that he didn’t say anything before now. “I will order some food. You can use the shower if you need to.” “What about you?” “I’ll take a shower after I order the food.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “I could wait for you if you like.” She shook her head. “I would actually like to eat when the food gets here, so you go ahead.” He chuckled as he slid from the bed. “Yes, I guess you are right. Then again, I’m sure we will need to preoccupy ourselves after dinner.” She smiled, giving him a knowing look. “Yes, and for some reason I think you already have the activity planned.” The look he gave her spoke of pure sin, and she had to keep her hands by her side to keep from pulling him back onto the bed. “You’re right, but since I am already out of bed, you’ll have to find out about what I have planned later.”

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She smiled at his disappearing rear end before reaching for her robe. On her way downstairs, she decided to order Ferroni’s. By the time she had the food ordered, he was heading downstairs to join her. “The food should be here shortly. My purse is on the couch.” He shook his head. “Since you gave me room and board, I will pay for dinner.” “That’s fine. I am going to go upstairs and take my shower.” When she returned downstairs, the food had just arrived and Carlo was at the door paying for it. The sight of him shirtless at her door did something to her. She studied the hard, muscular planes of the back she’d been clasping to earlier. A shiver went through her as the erotic reminder went through her mind. Daníella continued down the stairs, wondering if they were going to make it through dinner. She watched as he took the food from the deliveryman before closing the door. When he heard her behind him, he turned to look at her. “Did you order enough food?” “I think so, but we might not get the chance to eat it.” He studied her for a moment before pulling her into his arms. “Actually, we are going to eat first then have each other for dessert.” She grinned. “I like that idea.” “Good. Now where do you want to eat?” She nodded toward the direction of the living room. “We can eat in here around the coffee table.” Carlo sat the bag down on the table. Several seconds later they had everything spread out. “Everything smells good. What did you order?” Carlo asked, inhaling appreciatively. “Cotaletta alla Milanese and Chicken Piccata.” “Good choices.” “Thank you. Smelling this good food is only making me hungrier,” Daníella replied, her stomach grumbling as if to offer proof.

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She put a good serving of food from each container onto his plate before fixing her own plate. “What do you want to drink?” She thought about it for a moment before answering. “There should be a bottle of white wine in the cabinet.” “I’ll get it.” She watched the ripple of muscles as he stood up and headed into the kitchen. A short time later, he returned with the bottle of wine and two wineglasses. “I like spending time like this with you, Carlo.” “I like spending time with you as well, tesoro mio.” Daníella studied him quietly for a moment. When she spoke, it was softly. “What happened between us, Carlo?” He stared at the food for a long time, making her wonder if he was going to answer. Finally, he looked up at her. “It’s simple. I was stupid.” It wasn’t the detailed answer she was looking for, but she read the sincerity in his expression, and for now it would do.

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Chapter Twelve “Carlo, what are you doing?” “It’s a surprise.” Even as Daníella protested, she allowed Carlo to continue to blindfold her. She could only imagine what people were going to think when they saw her like this. Her family already seemed to have a fit of laughter. “Where are we going?” He chuckled low in her ear. “If I tell you, then it won’t be a surprise.” “Mom, Dad, are you going to let him do this?” She could hear the amusement in her father’s voice when he spoke. “Of course.” “He isn’t a stranger,” her mother added. “I’m not so sure,” Daníella mumbled under her breath. “I heard that,” Carlo grumbled playfully. “Good. I meant for you to.” He laughed before taking her hand and leading her out outside. “Be patient, tesoro mio. You will receive your surprise shortly.” She huffed with impatience. “Come on, Carlo. Tell me where we are going.” “I told you. It is a surprise, but if it makes you feel any better, we are going away for the weekend.” She stopped abruptly at his words. “Away for the weekend?” “Yes, for the entire weekend, but we aren’t going far so we can get back if needed.”

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Before Daníella could say anything or ask additional questions he tucked her into his car. A few moments later she heard him get in on the driver’s side. She didn’t hesitate to resume her questioning. “What exactly does that mean?” “You will see.” She turned her head in his direction. “How do you suppose this will happen with this blindfold on?” There was obvious humor in his voice when he responded. “As soon as I take the blindfold off, you’ll know exactly where we are, although I have to say leaving it on might be a better idea.” She frowned at the thought. “I hope you have a set of handcuffs because otherwise I’m going to take this blindfold off.” He chuckled. “I knew there was something I forgot to bring.” She turned her head in his direction, her eyes shooting daggers at him that he couldn’t see. “You aren’t funny, Carlo.” “You know I am. If you give me a few more minutes, I can reveal the surprise to you.” Daníella sighed dejectedly but sat back in the seat and let him drive her to wherever their destination was. “I can’t believe I’m letting you do this.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Trust me, it will be worth it.” A few minutes later the car rolled to a stop. “You ready to see your surprise?” “I definitely am.” Daníella inhaled his scent as he leaned toward her. His hands came up and undid the blindfold. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the light. When they did, she looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “This is the surprise?” Carlo shook his head. “No, the surprise is upstairs.” She shook her head, not sure what to think about this entire situation. Looking back up at him, she sighed. “You have officially lost your mind, haven’t you?”

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“No, I haven’t. Now come on so I can show you the rest of your surprise.” Daníella climbed out of his car and allowed him to lead her up the elevator inside the parking garage underneath Hotel Carabelli. Carlo led her through the lobby to the elevator, only pausing briefly as they were greeted by various members of the staff. When they reached the top floor, he led her down the hall and to one of the suites. She looked at him in astonishment. “How did my suitcase get here?” “Nikkía brought it by.” Daníella froze. “What’s going on, Carlo?” He walked over to her and pulled her into his embrace. “You and I are officially on vacation starting now.” If the look on his face hadn’t been so sincere, she would have laughed. “Carlo, how can we go on vacation in the location you work at?” “Simple. I paid for this room and took off work, so technically we are guests of the hotel and not to be bothered unless it is an emergency.” Daníella arched a dark brow in his direction. “Are you serious?” “Yes, I wanted you all to myself with no interruptions. I figured what better way to rent a room and put a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you planned something like this.” “I wanted you to myself.” She stared at him for a moment before smiling. “Well, you have me.” Carlo placed a brief kiss on her lips. “Good. Now what do you say we unpack our bags before going down to relax by the pool?” “Sounds like a good plan.” Daníella walked over to her suitcase and laid it on the bed. When she unzipped the suitcase, she laughed. Nikkía had packed a bag for a

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romantic getaway. There was plenty of lingerie in the suitcase along with a swimsuit. The kicker was there were only two outfits decent enough for her to leave the hotel room in. One would have to be saved for checkout. “I guess Nikkía assumed we wouldn’t be leaving the hotel room this weekend.” Carlo took a brief glance at the items she’d laid out on the bed. He smiled sexily. “Looks like she made several good choices to me.” “I’m sure it does,” Daníella murmured as she picked up her clothes—or rather lack thereof—and put them away. She changed into her swimsuit, actually looking forward to the ability to lie out by the pool and get some sun and relaxation. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful body, tesoro mio?” “You have.” “Good. Remind me to show you later.” “You already have, Carlo. Several times.” “Yes, but a few more times wouldn’t hurt.” She watched him pull on his swimming trunks. Part of the scar on his leg was revealed beneath the hem of his shorts, but it covered the one on his lower abdomen. “Do the scars ever bother you?” He shook his head. “I have gotten so used to them I almost forget they are there. Although I do have to admit I’m reminded of the one on my leg very often.” She frowned in concern. “Has your leg been bothering you lately?” “My leg bothers me every day. It is just a point of whether I can stand the pain or not.” “Do you not have anything for pain?” “I do, and I take it when the pain is extreme.”

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Daníella gave him a knowing look. “So that means you don’t take them?” He gave a slight shrug. “As I have said before, I live with the pain because it gives me a reminder not to be stupid again.” She laughed without humor. “I don’t think you could be classified as stupid.” Carlo chuckled. “I’m glad you have such a short-term memory.” “I say you are too hard on yourself. You just had a slight error in judgment.” He sighed. “Well, trust me, I won’t be having anymore.” Reaching out, Daníella squeezed his hand. “I plan to hold you to that promise.” “Good. Now let’s go down to the pool and relax.” **** Carlo took Daníella’s hand and led her down to the pool area. Together they stretched out on the chaise lounge chairs. He made sure they were in a good amount of shade but they could still feel the heat from the sun. He caught the attention of the waitstaff and ordered drinks for them. “So how was your day?” She nodded. “It was pretty good actually. The closer Nikkía’s wedding gets, the more preoccupied she is. Then again, maybe not preoccupied enough.” Carlo laughed. “Believe me, Nikkía wasn’t all so willing. I had to bribe her because she was afraid of what you would do when you found out she helped.” A look of surprise fell over her face. “What did you bribe her with?” “I promised her and Edoardo a complimentary weekend here at the hotel whenever they want it.” Daníella laughed. “You are so gullible.”

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“No, not really. I was able to get a bribe and a wedding gift in the same deal.” “Where was Silvana when all of this happened?” “Out on a tour.” Daníella shook her head. “You are lucky you got off as cheap as you did.” “Trust me, luck had nothing to do with it.” “How was your day?” “It was short and amusing. Things have become really interesting around the hotel. I’m not sure if you are aware of what is going on or not, but Sophia has made a few changes to her appearance and her self-confidence had improved. Men are starting to notice. It is driving Giovanni to the brink of insanity. Giovanni has taken it upon himself to be Sophia’s champion, which causes Sophia to rebel even more. So basically they are at each other’s throats all day long, locked in what is proving to be an interesting battle of wills. If you ask me, right now Sophia is winning, but don’t tell Gio that.” Carlo chuckled. “Sophia is going out with men Giovanni isn’t fond of. Actually, Giovanni isn’t fond of any male who stares at Sophia for too long.” Carlo paused briefly as something occurred to him. “The most interesting thing is the fact that Giovanni has been so busy trying to keep an eye on Sophia’s new social life, he is neglecting his own love life. Giovanni hasn’t been on a date in some time. On the other hand, Sophia has been on at least half a dozen according to what Giovanni has reported. Macéo has appointed himself as Giovanni’s guardian. Otherwise, Sophia might be able to bring charges against Giovanni for stalking. Sophia’s dates would also probably be able to press charges against Giovanni for assault.” Carlo looked over at Daníella when he finished speaking and could tell she was trying to refrain from laughing. “So in other words, Giovanni is on the verge of falling for Sophia.” “Yes. If he hasn’t already.”

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Carlo knew all about falling for someone. He was falling in love with Daníella again, although he wasn’t really sure he’d ever fallen out of love with her. She was a good woman was full of character and compassion. The woman he knew without a doubt he wasn’t going to let out of his life ever again. “What are you thinking about?” He looked over at her and smiled. “About how much I want to take you up to the room and make passionate love to you.” Daníella seemed to ponder the statement, giving him a teasing glance. “Maybe later, right now I’m starved and need food.” “What do you want to eat?” She shrugged her shoulders. “As long as it comes from the restaurant, I don’t care.” “Then let’s get you back up to the room, get you fed, and then I can have my wicked way with you.” She shook her head before standing up. “You, Mr. Carabelli, need to get your mind out of the gutter.” He gave her a lecherous look. “I know, and I’m hoping you will help me.” Daníella laughed as he stood up next to her, before putting an arm around her. Carlo kept his hand at her waist as they headed back upstairs. As soon as they entered the hotel room, he walked over to the nightstand and picked up the room service menu, handing it to her. She only studied it for a minute before handing it back to him. “I would like the Cappelletti please.” Carlo nodded before opening the menu to look at it. He made his decision before placing the order. When the food arrived, he carried it out to the balcony. “Everything smells good.” Carlo nodded as he held out the chair for her to sit down. He sat down next to her before uncovering both of their plates. “It looks good as well.”

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Carlo dug into his food happily. They shared conversation while they ate, and he realized how much he had missed sharing times like this with Daníella. There were a lot of things he missed sharing with her and so much more that he wanted to. “Just so you know, this was a good idea.” He chewed his bite of food before swallowing. “What was a good idea?” “Giving us a brief getaway for the weekend.” “I’m glad you think so. Truth be told, I wanted to take you to Naples for the weekend, but I couldn’t get everything planned in time.” “Maybe next time.” He leaned closer to her. “Will there be a next time?” She nodded without hesitation. “Of course. Don’t you think there will be?” “I’m very positive there will be.” She smiled softly. “Good. I would like that.” Carlo would do everything he could to make sure there was one. Nothing was more satisfying than having her to himself. It had been the one thing he looked forward to at the end of every day. Every day he’d left the hotel on time to make sure he arrived home to the wife that he knew was waiting on him. He looked over at her, catching her enjoying the sights and sounds. She looked so relaxed, and he loved knowing he was responsible for that. “What else would you like?” She stared at him for a long moment before answering. “To be as happy as I am right now for a long time to come.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I want that for you as well, and I will do my best to make sure it happens for you.” “You are off to a good start.” They finished eating, and Carlo reached up to open the oversized umbrella above their heads. It provided relief from the glaring sun, and the glass of ice water helped as well. He reclined back and closed

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his eyes, only to open one and give her a lazy stare as she took a piece of ice from the glass and ran it across her skin. “You realize you are getting yourself into dangerous territory, don’t you?” She gave him an amused look. “No, but I do realize I’m hot.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Yes, you are.” Daníella rolled her eyes. “You should have been a comedian.” “I don’t think so. I’m doing what makes me happy.” Her teasing expression disappeared. “Are you?” Carlo nodded without hesitation. He was. Working with his family was pure enjoyment. He and his siblings had made their parents retire from working. His parents still snuck into the hotel to work on occasion, and they still had a say in what happened with the hotel. He and his siblings also had an equal say in the hotel with Talía and Sophia having smaller shares but an equal voice. They all took on duties they weren’t fond of and covered for each other when needed. As interesting as the relationship was between his siblings and himself, they still took care of each other. His siblings had taken extra care to look out for him after his car wreck, even when he hadn’t wanted them to. Giovanni had surprised him the most with his insistence on helping his older brother to heal. He would never forget the car wreck as long as he lived. When he’d hit the pole, he had thought for certain he wasn’t going to make it. The only thing he’d been able to think about at the time was Daníella. He’d known she would be at home worrying about him. It had been a battle for him to remain conscious, one he lost several times. When he had come to the last time before surgery, Daníella had been by his side, clasping his hand in hers and talking to him softly. After surviving several hours of surgery, he was thankful to see Daníella again until he saw her expression. The look on her face had said everything, and what it hadn’t, the doctor’s grim diagnosis for him had. Carlo hadn’t been certain where he was going to go from

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there, but the stress and worry on Daníella’s face was something he hadn’t wanted to be the reason behind. Now, he was very aware the decision he’d made hadn’t been the smartest one. It had been the only one he could think to make at the time. Carlo knew better, now. He looked over at Daníella to find her still cooling herself off with the ice cube she’d taken from her glass. The sight she made was one he would keep in his mind for a long time. He also knew this was the perfect time to tell her what he needed to reveal to her. She was relaxed and would be receptive to what he had to say. Carlo tried to keep his voice light and was pretty successful. “Daníella, I have something I need to tell you.” She made a noncommittal sound. He continued, knowing he needed to tell her the truth. “I love you.” The piece of ice she had in her hand hit the floor of the balcony with a soft thud, and her eyes popped open. When her eyes met his, there was shock there. He knew it was surprise at the words he’d said, not because she didn’t believe him. “I love you, Daníella. I always have. I always will.” Her stunned expression didn’t go away. As a matter fact she looked pretty cute with her mouth opening and closing with no sound coming out. Tears gathered in her eyes, and her lips began to tremble. A second later, she threw herself at him, almost tipping them over the chair. Daníella grasped his face between her hands. “I love you, too, Carlo.” She kissed him mouth hungrily with everything she had. He returned her kiss just as eagerly, tightening his arms around her. Right now he had Daníella exactly where he wanted her and had no plans to let her go.

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Chapter Thirteen “Well, someone looks extremely happy today,” Talía murmured. “I would probably look just as happy if I’d spent the entire weekend locked away in a hotel room with a gorgeous man,” Tierra responded. “I did have fun,” Daníella said. Amalía gave her a saucy wink. “I bet you did.” Daníella smiled as she tried to decide whether she was going to dip her ciabatta bread in curry oil or roasted garlic oil. “Besides, I thought we were here to help Sophia formulate a new plan for the week,” Daníella continued. Sophia smiled and shook her head. “Don’t try to put the attention on me. Last week’s plan is still working.” Talía finished chewing her bite of her prosciutto and cheese focaccia before she spoke. “Yes, but don’t forget we have to come up with something new every week. That way you can keep Giovanni guessing.” Daníella nodded as she dragged a piece of tomato focaccia through the citrus oil. She was going to add her comment as to what Sophia should do this week to drive Giovanni up the wall when her cell phone rang. The corners of her mouth tilted upward when she saw Carlo’s name come across the caller ID. “Ciao.” “Ciao, tesoro mio. Have you started lunch yet?” She gave her friends and quick glance before smiling. “Yes, we have.” “Well, then I won’t keep you. Just wanted to tell you I love you.”

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Daníella’s smile widened. “I love you, too. I’ll stop by to see you after lunch. Do you want me to bring you anything?” “No, I’m getting ready to go to the restaurant to grab something to eat myself. So just bring yourself.” “Will do,” she promised before disconnecting the call. Daníella looked up into the curious faces of her friends and tried to keep a straight face. “Now where were we?” Amalía smiled as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “You were going to tell us what happened between you and Carlo this weekend.” Daníella tilted her head to the side. “Hmm, that’s strange. I could have sworn we said our lunch break would be used to help Sophia come up with a new plan.” Even Sophia leaned forward, a little curious. “I have already stated I’m more than willing to stick to last week’s plan.” Daníella gave Sophia a tight smile. “I realize how much of a sacrifice it must be, but don’t forget variety is the spice of life.” “Give it up, Daníella,” Tierra interjected. “You know how these three are when it comes to juicy tidbits of other people’s love lives.” Talía nodded as she leaned forward in anticipation. “Especially since I don’t have one myself.” “Since it happens to be your fault, I feel no sympathy for you,” Daníella stated. “Tell you what, if I fall in love, you can give me all of the hassle you want,” Talía responded. Daníella gave Talía a look of disbelief. “Considering you swear you have an allergy to love, I won’t waste any time hoping for that. “Since it is obvious you aren’t going to let it go, Carlo and I professed our love to each other this weekend,” Daníella said, with a sigh of exasperation. That was as far as Daníella was willing to go with her confession. It was none of their business that she and Carlo had spent the rest of the weekend making love to each other until neither one of them

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could move. She still shivered when she thought about how passionate Carlo had been. Tierra leaned closer to her bringing her out of her thoughts. “I’m happy for you and Carlo. I’m glad things are working out for the two of you.” “So am I,” Daníella murmured. Still, she was concerned about not knowing the entire reason as to why she and Carlo had fallen apart the first time. Something deep down told her there was more to the story. It worried her. If she didn’t know what went wrong the first time, how could she keep it from happening again? Their food arrived, which put a brief halt to their conversation. When it resumed, Talía was the start of it. “Okay, so what is the plan for Sophia this week?” Sophia groaned. “The only thing I request is they aren’t any more cheesy dates. I can only take my acting abilities so far.” She looked at Talía and shook her head. “The guys that you have chosen so far have been awful.” Tierra laughed. “You have a point there. How about we do a sleepover this week?” All eyes turned to Tierra, and she smiled wickedly. “Let’s make Giovanni wonder just how wicked Sophia is. My plan is to have Sophia spend the night over at one of our places after pretending like she has a hot date. It will give Giovanni the impression she was having a real good time. The plan will only work if Giovanni isn’t irrational enough to show up at Sophia’s apartment before the date like he did last week.” “Do we have a backup plan?” Tierra shook her head. “No, and for some reason I don’t think we’ll need one.” Sophia expression showed her concern. “We have to have a backup plan. All of us know Giovanni is never predictable when it comes to things like this.”

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They all sat there thinking for a moment, and Amalía was first to come up with a plan. “I would like to add something to Tierra’s suggestion that should make this work and drive Giovanni insane.” Amalía gave Sophia a serious look. “Although the backup plan will call for a little more acting on your part.” Sophia shrugged her shoulders. “As long as I don’t have to go out with anymore dull dates, I’m willing to give it a shot.” “Hey,” Talía protested. “I worked hard to find you those dates. Besides, they had to be guys Giovanni disliked for them to catch his attention.” Sophia patted Talía’s hand. “I really am appreciative, but if it is the same pool of guys you have to choose from, no wonder you are so you are so reluctant to having a relationship.” For the first time Talía was shocked into silence. The truth was they all knew Talía believed in love. She just tried to avoid it because she thought it was too messy and complicated. Talía wanted to avoid anything that would lead to a person being emotionally vulnerable. Daníella had tried to point out several times that was a part of life in general, but with no avail. Amalía cleared her throat in an effort to get the conversation back on track. “The backup plan would call for you to show up to work just before your shift.” Amalía paused for dramatic anticipation. “The catch is you will come in wearing the hot outfit you have worn the night before” Sophia began to laugh until tears came to her eyes. “I’m sorry, Tierra, but I like Amalía’s plan better. It will definitely get more of a reaction from Giovanni.” Tierra nodded. “I agree, but you should definitely have a change of clothes waiting for you at the hotel that way you don’t have to leave the hotel and go back home.” “You have a good point,” Sophia agreed.

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“Giovanni is going to have a complete fit. It might be wise to have extra security on hand,” Daníella added as she leaned back in her chair. A look of concern appeared on Sophia’s face. “You don’t think he will go looking for someone, do you?” Amalía laughed. “Of course not. The hotel staff is in more danger than one of your dates, especially since he wouldn’t know who it was if there was one. Whereas hints have been dropped about who your dates were in the past, this one shall remain a secret and shouldn’t be mentioned until the last minute.” Sophia’s look of confusion made it clear to Daníella that her friend wasn’t aware of Giovanni’s rampages at the hotel last week. She probably wouldn’t be aware as well if it weren’t for Carlo. “But don’t worry, we have extra liability coverage just because of him,” Amalía stated with a laugh. Sophia shook her head. “I can’t figure out why he has such a bad temper at times.” “Because Giovanni is a control freak, and when his control is tested, he doesn’t know what to do,” Tierra supplied. Sophia shook her head. “We are going to have to work on it.” “Trust me, you won’t have to do too much to help him with his anger,” Talía stated with a snicker. Sophia gave Talía a dirty look when she realized what was being referred to. “I will be so glad when you meet your match.” Talía shuddered as if the thought was distasteful. “That is an awful thing to hope for, Sophia.” “What, for you to meet a man who makes you fall head over heels in love with him? It isn’t a bad thing,” Sophia murmured with an innocent look. “As a matter of fact, you deserve to fall in love.” A look of displeasure fell over Talía’s face. “That is such a mean thing for you to say.” “You may feel that way, but you need a good man,” Sophia replied with a shrug.

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“I agree. As I have said before, I would relish having a man who can make me forget my name,” Talía stated, her expression wicked. Sophia frowned. “I still say sex is overrated.” A mixture of gasps, laughs, and choking sounds came from around the table. Daníella tried to stop choking by taking a sip of water. Amalía was the first to recover. “Considering your lack of experience, I will try not to take offense at your statement.” Daníella nodded. “When you experience the first jaw-clenching, body-convulsing, mind-blowing orgasm, you will rue the day you uttered those words.” Sophia rolled her eyes. “I know what an orgasm is.” “There is a difference between an orgasm and an orgasm,” Daníella clarified. “And I bet Giovanni will be the man to help you learn the difference,” Talía added with a smile. Sophia began to blush deeply, bringing her hands up to cover her cheeks, trying to hide it, but it was of no use. Daníella laughed, and Sophia stuck her tongue out at her in response. “Well, if he does, I’ll make sure not to tell any of you.” Tierra laughed. “That’s the thing about a good orgasm. You don’t have to tell anyone. It shows.” “You guys are awful,” Sophia responded with a growl of frustration. “No, we’re good to you because we are trying to help you,” Daníella said, leaning over to give Sophia a tight squeeze. “Yes, but you all seem to be having a lot more fun than I am,” Sophia retorted, her expression full of irritation. Daníella smiled. “Oh come on, you know you are having a good time enticing Giovanni.” Sophia couldn’t keep a smile off her face. “Yes, it has been fun.”

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A worried expression appeared on Sophia’s face. “Although I think Giovanni might have said something to Rafaello and Vincenzio.” “I hope not. I always thought my brothers were overprotective, but yours are even worse,” Amalía responded with a groan. Daníella gave Sophia a sympathetic look. “Why do you think Giovanni has said something?” “Because Rafé made a strange comment about me bringing the guy I’m seeing over to dinner.” Daníella laughed before she could stop herself. “Trust me, if that’s all Rafé asked you, then Giovanni hasn’t talked to him.” “I agree. Otherwise Giovanni, Rafaello, and Vincenzio would be splitting shifts to follow you around at night to rough up innocent victims,” Talía stated. Even Sophia had to laugh at the statement. “You have a good point. But, then again, why would Rafé ask me?” Daníella leaned closer to Sophia. “You remember the mental makeover Tierra was talking to you about?” “Yes.” “Well, you have made it,” Daníella said with a grin. In a short amount of time, they’d helped boost Sophia’s selfconfidence to a level it had never been at. It was obvious in everything Sophia did. Even her walk had changed. “I know I couldn’t have done it without you guys,” Sophia murmured. “Trust me, it has been our pleasure,” Tierra stated. Talía rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “So when do we put this plan into effect?” “We can do it tomorrow. It gives me time to get a couple of extra outfits together for work,” Sophia responded. “Sounds good,” Amalía said. Sophia’s eyes widened. “When do you think I need to make it known I have a date?”

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“Not too soon. As a matter of fact, I think you should just make the implication that you do,” Amalía replied. All eyes turned to Amalía with interest. “What do you mean?” “Give your watch a few glances and smile. Then before you leave work, go out to your office and change clothes. Make sure Giovanni sees you leave. That way there is no question as to it being the same outfit you are wearing the following morning.” Sophia frowned. “But what will everyone else think?” “Sophia, I don’t think anyone else is going to care or notice, other than Giovanni and us of course. Besides, everyone else knows what is going on, and they find it amusing,” Tierra stated. Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. “So this is why the staff has been laughing at Giovanni when he becomes a tyrant?” Amalía nodded. “The staff is glad to finally see a woman who has Giovanni running around in circles instead of the other way around.” “Everyone is more than excited to see you taming Giovanni,” Talía added. Sophia shook her head. “I don’t want to tame him. I like the bad boy streak in him. I just want him to take interest in me as a woman.” “Well, trust us, he had definitely taken notice.” Amalía responded with a laugh. Daníella enjoyed the rest of her lunch trying to keep up with the conversation, adding a comment or two when she could, as they finalized the plans that were going to get them through the week of torturing Giovanni. She found immense pleasure in helping Sophia. Giovanni and Sophia would make a good couple. By the time they left the restaurant, Daníella couldn’t stop smiling. Her smile widened as a male guest stopped Sophia after they entered the hotel. Daníella’s mouth dropped open in surprise when Sophia gave the man a flirtatious smile, and then she saw Giovanni out of her peripheral vision. Sophia was a better actress than Daníella realized. After Giovanni stalked away, Daníella waited a moment before heading toward Carlo’s office. She didn’t want to take the

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chance of running into Giovanni when he was like a grizzly bear. Carlo was sitting there smiling as if he’d been waiting on her. “Ciao, bella.” “Hi. Were you waiting on me?” “Yes, Giovanni just walked into his office and slammed his door, so I figured you all made it back from lunch.” She walked over to him and sat down on his lap. Carlo gathered her close as soon as she did. “What did you have for lunch?” “Minestra di maiale.” “Sounds good.” “It was.” He leaned forward and placed a brief kiss on her lips. “Although not as good as you.” She smiled. “I would hope I taste better than soup.” Carlo leaned back in his chair. “If you close my door, I’ll show you what else you taste better than.” Daníella wasn’t sure what made her get up and walk over to close the door, but she did and locked it for good measure. Turning around, she leaned against the door staring at him. Carlo smiled at her. “Are you having second thoughts?” She gave a brief shake of her head. “I just want to savor this moment as I do with all of the moments I spend with you.” As long as she and Carlo had been married, they had never done what he’d just proposed in his office. Carlo had been the one to introduce her to lovemaking, and even though she had been afraid to take their intimacy out of bedroom, he had eventually coaxed her into trying it. Her eyes closed at the memory of their first time in the kitchen. He’d come home from work, and she been in the kitchen finishing up dinner. The familiar look of desire had come over his face, and she’d barely had time to turn off the stove before he had her in his embrace. She could still feel the contrast of the cool cabinet beneath her bottom

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and the hot contrast of Carlo between her thighs. A sensual shiver went through her body, and her eyes opened. When her gaze met his, she wasn’t surprised to see the same look of desire. She pushed herself away from the door, slowly making her way toward Carlo. He stood up but didn’t make another move until she was within arm’s reach. He lowered his mouth to hers and proceeded to kiss her. It was a kiss that spoke of need and full-blown desire. Daníella slipped her tongue into his mouth, wanting to taste him and deepen the kiss at the same time. A gasp escaped her as he pulled her down onto the carpet. Carlo rolled over so that she straddled him. She automatically reached for his shirt, tugging it from his waist. Her fingers moved through his buttons quickly. He helped her by shifting upward so she could remove it. The last thing Daníella wanted was for him to get wrinkled. With his shirt gone, there was nothing to obstruct her view of his gorgeous, bared chest. Knowing where his erogenous spots were, she lowered her mouth to his nipple and was gratified with his intake of breath. She switched to his other nipple before distracting him with slipping his belt loose, then unbuttoning the waistband of his slacks. Shifting to the side, she urged him to lift his hips before pushing his pants and briefs down to his ankles. She was too impatient to go any further. Carlo’s sharp gasp filled the room, and she leaned over and took him into her mouth. He bucked against her involuntarily. Daníella smiled to herself as he grew harder. “Daníella,” he groaned before reaching for her. He used his strength to drag her up his body, only succeeding because she allowed him to. “If you don’t stop, I’m not going to last long enough to get inside of you.” She gave him a wicked grin. “We wouldn’t want that, would we?” Leaning back from him, she tugged her own shirt free from the waistband of her shorts. Daníella revealed the pale pink bra she wore to him, and he groaned again. Knowing the sight of her alone turned

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him on, Daníella wanted to up the stakes. She undid the clasp of her bra before letting it slide off her shoulders. The sight of her beaded nipples seemed to make Carlo’s control dwindle. “Daníella, I need to be inside you now!” His urgency had her lifting her hips so she could pull down her own shorts and panties. He leaned to the side, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. By the time she came back over him, he had the condom in place and was reaching for her. He filled her with one thrust, making her bite back a moan of pleasure. She was more than ready for him, and because of it, he slid so deep she had to close her eyes. Carlo pulled her downward so her body was flush with his, taking her mouth in a brutal kiss. Their bodies began to move together, in unison, causing her to gasp into his mouth as he touched all of her in the right spots. It wasn’t long before she careened over the edge, shouting her pleasure into his mouth. He followed closely behind her, growling his own pleasure. It was several minutes later before either of them moved. Carlo was the first to be able to shift. Daníella moaned in response. “I never knew carpet could feel so comfortable.” He chuckled at her comment. “That’s because you aren’t lying fully unclothed on it.” Daníella lifted her head slightly, poking him in the side. “I don’t know. It feels pretty plush to me.” His hand came up to squeeze her bottom. She gasped in surprise. “You feel pretty plush yourself.” She laughed, and Carlo pulled her head down for a kiss. “I love you,” he whispered. “I love you, too,” she replied before laying her head on his chest. Now if I could get you to tell me why you called our relationship off, I could know what I need to do to keep our relationship from falling apart again.

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Chapter Fourteen Daníella almost killed herself trying to get to the hotel. Last night Sophia had stayed at Talía’s place to set their plan in motion. Daníella was dying to see Giovanni’s response to Sophia’s arrival this morning. A sigh of relief escaped her she saw Sophia hadn’t arrived yet. Daníella hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep last night, and therefore she’d overslept this morning. Now that she had made it to the hotel in time, she could relax. Daníella saw Carlo behind the front desk and made her way over to him. “Buongiorno.” She smiled when he looked up in surprise at the sound of voice. “Buongiorno. What are doing here?” “Trust me, you just have to watch and see.” Carlo looked at her in puzzlement as he came around the desk. “I take it that this has something to do with Sophia and Gio?” Daníella nodded. “Have you seen either of them?” “Giovanni is probably enjoying his last cup of coffee,” Carlo responded after a glance at his watch. A frown appeared on his face. “Sophia is running a little late.” “I’m guessing this is a part of an elaborate scheme of some sort.” Daníella didn’t get the chance to reply because Giovanni came around the corner. She greeted him, and he greeted her back. He was in a good mood, but it wouldn’t last for long. As if cued by Giovanni’s appearance, Sophia came rushing off the elevator and into the lobby. Daníella’s own mouth dropped open at the sight of Sophia. Talía had outdone herself. Sophia looked like she had rolled straight out of her imaginary lover’s bed and ran to work.

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From her rumpled dress to her smudged makeup, Sophia was a sight. Daníella struggled to keep a smile off of her face as Sophia neared them. “I’m so sorry for being late.” Daníella played the scenario up. “Did you have a late night? Sophia surprised all of them with sultry laugh. “Something like that.” Daníella could see Giovanni’s blood pressure rise before her eyes. Sophia apologized again quickly before excusing herself to freshen up. Daníella took another glance at Giovanni and had to bite the inside of her cheek from laughing. He watched Sophia walk away from them. As if Sophia knew Giovanni would be, there was an extra twist in her hips. Daníella gasped as she spotted a pair of lacy panties hanging out of Sophia’s purse. Daníella knew exactly when Giovanni spotted them. “Are those her underwear?” Giovanni growled under his breath. Daníella almost lost control of herself. “Uh, I’m going to go help Sophia.” She rushed off to join Sophia, leaving Carlo with the tough job of keeping a straight face. Sophia had just reached the door of her office when Daníella caught up with her. Daníella was barely able to push Sophia inside and lock the door behind them before she collapsed in laughter. Sophia was smiling as well. “I take it the plan worked?” Daníella nodded as she gasped for breath. “The panties hanging out of your purse were brilliant.” Sophia giggled. “It was Talía’s idea. She also did my hair and makeup.” Daníella shook her head as she wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes. “If I ever need tips on how to tease a man, I swear I’m going to go to Talía for advice.” “So do you think it really worked?” Sophia asked again.

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Before she could answer Sophia, the wall shook as a door was slammed. The foulest profanity either of them ever heard followed. Daníella looked at Sophia in shock when she realized it was Giovanni. Before she could stop herself, Daníella began to laugh again. Sophia just smiled as she began changing into her work clothes. Giovanni’s tirade went on the entire time Sophia dressed. A look of concern appeared on Sophia’s face. “Should I go talk to him?” Daníella shook her head. “No. As a matter of fact, ignore him for the rest of the day.” Sophia gave her a worried look. “I’m not sure I can do that.” Daníella squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Sure you can. You just talk to him when you have to and only about work.” “What if he asks me about last night?” “Then you tell him if he really wanted to know, then he should have been with you last night.” Sophia’s mouth dropped open. “What if he takes me up on the offer?” “Well, that is what you want, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” Sophia nodded nervously. “You’re right.” Daníella squeezed her hand again. “I’ll walk you out.” Sophia led the way out of her office. They could still hear an enraged Giovanni as they walked by. Amalía came around the corner with raised eyebrows. “Looks like everything went as planned.” Daníella nodded. “The expression on Giovanni’s face was priceless.” Sophia smiled. “I think the plan might have worked a little too well.” Daníella shook her head. “Keep an eye on her. She might be tempted to apologize to Giovanni for making him see what has been in front of his face the entire time.”

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Sophia shook her head. “I’m not going to apologize.” A small smiled appeared on Sophia’s face. “I kind of like this.” “The two of you have a good day. I told my family I wouldn’t be more than an hour late. I need to say good-bye to Carlo,” Daníella responded “We’ll let you know if anything else happens.” Daníella nodded as she headed back toward the offices. She smiled as Giovanni swore again. When she reached Carlo’s door, she knocked. He called out for her to enter. There was obvious amusement in his voice. She entered the office as he shook his head. “You women are dangerous when you put your heads together.” “I’m glad you think so, although I was a little shocked myself.” “Yes, well, I guarantee you none of us more than Giovanni. Antonio is going to hate he missed this.” “Sophia’s acting was stellar.” Carlo chuckled. “If her career here doesn’t work out, I will definitely help represent her as an actress.” “So how long do you think it will take him to calm down?” Carlo gave her a disbelieving look. “After seeing Sophia’s panties hanging from her purse—the rest of his life.” Daníella laughed as she rested her bottom against Carlo’s desk. “If that’s so, we might hold off on the plans we have for the rest of the week.” “Please do. Our insurance premiums are going to go through the roof if you all keep this up.” “I didn’t realize Giovanni had such a temper.” “He normally doesn’t, but Sophia has him wound so tight, Giovanni doesn’t know what to do.” Carlo lowered his voice a notch. “I also know for a fact Giovanni has not touched another woman since Sophia has become the focus of his attention.” Daníella smiled. “That’s good.” Carlo shook his head. “For us it’s bad.” “So what do you suggest?”

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“Find a way to get Giovanni to ask Sophia out on a date so he can see she really is a good woman—more importantly, the right woman for him.” She nodded, glad Carlo agreed with her. Sophia and Giovanni made a good couple. “I’ll try to come up with some ideas.” Carlo chuckled. “I have confidence in you.” Daníella gave him a brief kiss on the lips. “Well, that is nice to know.” She pulled back when he would have deepened the kiss. “As much as I would love to, I can’t. I have to get to work.” He groaned in response. “Will I get to see you tonight?” “Are you going to get off at a decent hour?” “For you, I will get off early if needed.” “That isn’t necessary, although it does earn you credit for being smarter than Giovanni.” Carlo gave her an appreciative look. “You just made my day.” She laughed. “I’ll see you tonight.” “I’ll be there.” Daníella left his office before she really was later getting to work than she said she would be. She planned to use tonight as a way to seduce Carlo into talking to her. Even if she had to tie him down to her bed to make him do so. They were at a point where the discussion had to take place for their relationship to develop any further. She thought about the way Carlo put off her questions, and it wasn’t something she enjoyed in the least. Yet, she didn’t have a choice when it weighed so heavily on her mind because she didn’t know all of the reasoning behind their breakup. The only thing she could equate it to was fear of the dark. Most people feared the dark because of the thought something bad lurked there. Well, she knew something bad lurked behind the reason Carlo pushed her away from him. She wasn’t certain if she was ready to hear what it was, but she needed to hear it—needed to know it in order to find out which direction she and Carlo were going in. Right

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now everything was good and, as far as she was concerned, couldn’t be better. It was almost as if they had never gone through a divorce, yet a glance down at her left hand told her they had. When Carlo had divorced her, she had made sure to send her engagement and wedding rings back to him. She had wanted him to have the visual proof of what he’d done, thinking he would come to his senses. Obviously the tactic hadn’t worked, at least not soon enough for her liking. Daníella waved to Amalía and Sophia as she left the hotel and made the short walk to work. Her mom and dad were alone when she arrived, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Nikkía and Silvana had become more bratty than usual. “Ciao, Mom, Dad.” She gave each of her parents a kiss on the cheek before walking over to her desk. “How has the morning been?” “Very good. Silvana and Nikkía have already gone out for their tours,” Estelle said. “Yes, and I’m very thankful,” Daníella retorted. Her mother laughed. “You know you love your sisters.” “You’re right, Mama, but only from a distance.” Her father chuckled. “And your mother wonders why I wanted to try one more time for a boy.” Daníella couldn’t help but to smile as her mother gave her father a sharp look. “As we have discussed several times, you weren’t the one who had to carry three babies around for nine months, nor did you have to give birth to any of them. You also got three lovable daughters out of the deal. I think you did pretty well.” Constantin leaned over and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. “No, you did pretty well.” Estelle’s expression changed to a smile. “And you are a sweet talker, but I love you for it.” Daníella shook her head at her parents. She loved them more than anything. They were great loving parents and always had been. The two of them always supported her and her sisters no matter how wild their ideas were. Daníella glanced down at the schedule. She grinned

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when she saw the next tour scheduled was for Vatican City. It was one of her favorite tours to give. The tour group was small with only eight people signed up. That was even better. Daníella was scheduled to give a tour of the Spanish Steps after the lunch hour. It worked out perfectly because it would give her time to get home and set up everything for Carlo’s arrival. He had surprised her last week by cooking dinner for her at his place. She’d enjoyed spending the night in his bed. It was a little more comfortable than her own and left her with the strong feeling of wanting to do it again, and soon. She was pretty certain she would. “Mom, Dad, do you have anything you need me to do before I go give my last tour today?” “We are caught up on everything. Your father and I are sitting here organizing the rest of the tours for the week.” Daníella turned back to face her computer. A few moments later she began packing up the stuff she would need for the tour. An hour later they were headed back to Rome, and Daníella realized she was tired and hungry. She walked into the office and took a deep relaxing breath. Her mother looked up and smiled. “How did the tour go?” “It went great. A few of the people today might call and set up another tour.” “Buon. Carlo called you for you a few minutes ago.” “What did he want?” “He didn’t say, but I don’t think it was anything important. We chatted for a while and then he said to tell you he called.” Daníella nodded before grabbing her purse and cell phone. “I’m going to lunch. Do you or Dad want anything?” “No, your father and I have leftovers.” She shook her head. Her parents were always resourceful, and she loved them for it. “Okay. I will see you guys back here in an hour.” “Be careful.” “I will.”

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Daníella headed toward the little café on the corner. It was cheap, quick, and she liked the food. She’d just received her food when she saw her parents walk by. They were holding hands, and her father held a picnic basket. The two of them were so cute together. Daníella hoped she and Carlo would have that kind of happiness. Speaking of which, she reached for her cell phone to call Carlo. He answered on the first ring. “Ciao, bella.” She smiled at the sound of his voice. “Ciao.” “What are you doing?” “I am having lunch. What are you doing?” Carlo’s chuckle traveled across the line. “Watching Giovanni storm around the hotel.” Daníella laughed. “I take it he is still upset about Sophia’s surprise this morning?” “Upset is an understatement. Leonardo and I are contemplating making him go home before he scares off the guests.” “Since you mentioned it, I have noticed the single female population is down around the hotel.” “Giovanni has chased them all off, and he doesn’t even know it.” Carlo told her about a scantily clad woman who offered an illicit proposition to Giovanni. Giovanni had turned the woman down flat without blinking. Daníella tried to refrain from laughing. “Sounds like Giovanni is in danger of losing his suave reputation.” “Right now, I don’t think he cares. His main focus is on Sophia.” “I still have to talk to Amalía, Tierra, and Talía and see if they have any ideas as to getting Giovanni to ask Sophia out. The only thing I have come up with is some sort of outing that forces the two of them together,” Daníella said. “That sounds good, although I thought about us playing matchmaker.”

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She paused, not really expecting to hear that from Carlo. “What do you mean?” “Maybe you and I can set up a place to meet for dinner, only you happen to bring Sophia and I bring Giovanni.” “Why, Carlo, it sounds like Tierra is starting to rub off on you.” “Yes, but you have to admit she’s good at it.” Daníella stirred honey into her tea. “Yes, she is, because her plans tend to work. The one that you just came up with would probably get us killed.” Carlo exhaled deeply. “Well, I just wanted to call you and say hello, as well as to tell you Giovanni is still slamming doors.” She took a sip of tea before responding. “What has Sophia’s reaction been?” “Classic. She is still playing up this morning’s performance, brushing by Giovanni, a lot closer than necessary, I might add.” Daníella laughed before shaking her head. To think Sophia said she wasn’t a good actress. “Just make sure you keep Giovanni from getting arrested.” Carlo sighed dejectedly. “I’ll do my best.” Daníella chuckled. “I love you.” “I love you, too.” Daníella disconnected the call and put her cell phone away before reaching for her sandwich. It looked good and tasted even better. The half-order sandwich would hold her over until dinnertime. She still had no idea as to what she was going to make, but it had to be good. A good meal followed by good lovemaking was sure to put Carlo in the mood for a serious conversation. If it didn’t, she just might have to resort to drastic measures.

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Chapter Fifteen Daníella took a deep breath as she put the finishing touch on dinner. She only had a few minutes until Carlo arrived, and she was more than ready. It had been a long time since she been this nervous. It was with good reason. Deep down, she was well aware of this being a defining moment in their relationship. Daníella placed the lid on the pot then headed to the bathroom to check her appearance. Her reflection spoke of confidence and seduction. She jumped when the doorbell rang. Taking another deep calming breath, she made her way for the door. The corners of her mouth tilted upward when she saw Carlo standing on the other side of the door looking as handsome as usual. He was holding a bottle of wine. Carlo put it to the side as he pulled her into his arms. His mouth came down on hers, and she melted into his embrace. Several minutes later he came up for air. “Hello to you as well,” she gasped. Carlo smiled. “You don’t have any idea how much I look forward to kissing you.” She licked her lips as if she were still savoring the taste of him. “I have a slight idea.” He chuckled as she moved back to allow him to enter her apartment. She took the bottle of wine he offered her. “I hope I chose well.” She gave the bottle a quick glance before nodding. “Perfect. The food is ready.” “Let me freshen up a little.” “I’ll be in the kitchen waiting for you.”

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She went into the kitchen and pulled the wine cork out of the drawer. For some reason, Carlo liked to do it, and she didn’t mind. Daníella lit the candles on the table then dimmed the lights in the kitchen. Carlo appeared a short while later. Daníella saw a smile appear on his face when he saw everything. “What is the occasion?” “I just felt like doing something different.” “I like it. Feel free to do something different anytime.” She gave him a quick kiss. “Good” Daníella began transferring the food to the table while he uncorked the wine. When everything was set, he held out her chair for her. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Carlo took his seat, moaning in appreciation as she began to uncover the food. She had made a quick but delicious meal. Her choice had been Chicken Marsala paired with rosemary mashed potatoes and spinach rabe. “Just make sure you save room for dessert.” He gave her a purely wicked look, and she shook her head. “I’m referring to real dessert.” “That is real dessert.” “You know what I mean.” “I do, but I’m still okay with having two desserts.” Daníella laughed as she began to make her plate. “I love you.” “I love you, too, tesoro mio.” And she didn’t doubt he did. What she did doubt was their ability to successfully stay together with secrets still between them. Carlo took his first bite of food and moaned. “Between your food, and my mother’s, I’m going to have to watch myself.” “I’m more than willing to leave the cooking to your mother.”

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Carlo shook his head. “I think we have a perfect balance—dinner at your parents’ once a week, dinner at my parents’ twice a week, and private dinners between us twice a week.” Since he worked the later shift the other two nights of the week, it balanced out pretty well. “The only thing that would make it even more perfect would be if I could convince you to come up to work on the nights I have to work late. We could have dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, and then you can sit and keep me company while I work.” “Considering that we have already christened your office carpet, I’m not sure it would be a good thing.” Carlo took a sip of wine. “Yes, but there are several things in my office we still haven’t christened. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be a good thing.” “You would think so since you weren’t the one who had to come up with a creative excuse as to why carpet burns are on your knees.” Carlo laughed. “You know you enjoyed it as much as I did.” “I didn’t say I didn’t.” “Good, that means we should do it again and soon.” Daníella almost choked on the bite of chicken she had just eaten. “You’re awful.” He winked at her. “And you love me for it.” The rest of the conversation during the meal was pretty tame. They took their time cleaning up before enjoying dessert. He carried the candles and what remained of his wine into the living room. She carried the platter of dessert and her own glass of wine. Carlo sat the candles on the coffee table before turning to look at her. “So what do we have for dessert?” Daníella sat the platter down and uncovered it. He smiled when he spotted the chocolate-dipped figs. “You are so good to me.” “Make sure you remember that.”

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He nodded before leaning forward to place a kiss on her lips. “Trust me, it would be hard for me to do.” His reply made her ugly fear show itself again, and she sat back. Daníella picked up a fig and bit into it. The dessert was a favorite of Carlo’s and was the main reason why she had made it. Secondly, she figured they would help to loosen up his lips. Carlo ate a few figs before sitting back to stare at her. “Tell me what is on your mind, tesoro mio?” She stared at him for a moment trying to figure out where she should begin. “I’m trying to figure out where I should start.” Daníella released up a pent-up breath as he sat back and let her collect her thoughts. One more of the several things she loved about him. The other thing was she knew was she could be honest with Carlo. “I’m worried about us.” A look of surprise fell over his face. “Why?” “Because as great as things are between us, there is one important thing we have yet to discuss.” His expression told her that she didn’t have to go into details. Carlo knew what she referred to. He finished off his wine before continuing. “You know part of the story, but not all of it.” He took a deep breath. “I made sure you were sheltered from a lot of things that happened with my accident, and I see I shouldn’t have. After my accident, I asked the medical staff not to tell you anything that would alarm you, so they didn’t. The diagnosis was grim, very grim. They told me I might not be able to walk again because my repaired pelvis might not be strong enough to support me.” Carlo reached for her hand. “It was one of the reasons I pushed you away, but the main reason was because my physician told me I wouldn’t be able to give you children.” It took a minute for Daníella to process what he’d just said to her. When she did, her composure crumbled. She tried to pull away from him, but he tightened his hold.

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“Let me explain, Daníella.” She shook her head, not sure what to say, but knowing she needed some space. Some time to clear her head and digest the information he’d just given her. “No, Carlo. I think you should go.” He gave her a pleading look. “Daníella—” “Go, Carlo. Now!” **** Carlo didn’t want to leave, but he did as she asked. He was concerned about leaving her alone to digest the information without him being there to answer any questions she might have. He also knew what he just revealed hurt her. Daníella wanted a family, and it wasn’t a secret to anyone. Knowing she may not be able to have that dream with him could change everything. She shouldn’t be alone right now. Maybe he could convince Amalía to come over and sit with her. “Go, Carlo. I really need to be alone right now.” He stood up, giving her a curt nod. “Give me a call when you are ready to finish this conversation, Daníella.” When Daníella didn’t respond, he left, his heart sinking further into his chest with each step. Carlo hadn’t wanted to tell her this information for this reason. Daníella had always talked about a family, and to know he couldn’t give her one tore at him. He froze in midstep when he heard Daníella cry out in what could only be described as anguish. It took everything he had to keep walking when her cry of anguish turned into sobs. He had hurt her as he had known he would. Once Carlo made it to his car, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Tierra’s number. She answered quickly. “Hello.” “I made a mistake, Tierra.” Concern laced Tierra’s voice when she spoke. “What do you mean you made a mistake?”

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Carlo sighed heavily. “I told Daníella everything.” Tierra was silent for a minute. “Then you didn’t make a mistake at all, Carlo. It was time she knew, but I take it the reaction to the news wasn’t good?” Carlo closed his eyes and leaned back against the headrest. “She told me to leave, Tierra. When I was outside her apartment, I could hear her crying.” It tore at him to say it. To know he was responsible for that. He’d vowed to never hurt her again. Even though he knew it was a promise he couldn’t keep he’d wanted to. “You have to go back to her, Carlo. The two of you can work this out.” He sighed, rubbing his eyes. “I’m not sure if we can, Tierra. Daníella has always wanted a family.” “There are other ways to have children, Carlo.” “She told me to leave.” “Of course she did. Daníella is hurt. Give her a few minutes then go back.” Tierra hadn’t been wrong so far in any of the advice she’d given him, but still he wasn’t sure about this. He had never known Daníella to react the way she had tonight. Not that he could blame her. “Are you sure, Tierra?” “I’m positive. You can’t leave her tonight without this resolved.” “What if she won’t let me in?” “You’ll find another way in.” Carlo thought about his spare key, sighing heavily. If it was one thing he did agree with Tierra on, it was this. “Okay, Tierra. I will give her a few minutes, and then I’ll go back.” “Good, and remember, Carlo, she loves you just as much as you love her.” “Grazie, Tierra.” “Siete benvenuto, Carlo. Call me back if you need me.”

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Carlo disconnected the call, taking a deep breath, hoping Tierra was right. Now, he had to figure out what to say to keep Daníella from walking away from him for good. **** Daníella pressed a cold compress to her eyes. They hurt so badly. She could barely see out of them, telling her that they were swollen. But she didn’t care. Right now she was hurt, and it was all she could think about. How could Carlo keep such a thing from her? If he had been present, she would ask him. But she had asked him to leave. At least that proved he cared enough to respect her request, even when it was clear he didn’t want to. Now that she was a little calmer, she wanted him to explain his idiotic reasoning. Daníella nearly jumped twenty feet in the air when a knock sounded at her door. “Who is it?” “Carlo.” She pulled the cold towel from over her eyes. Her vision was still blurry, but she could make out the door. “Daníella, let me in. We need to talk. I don’t want to leave with things like they are. I’ve made that mistake before. I refuse to do it again.” As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She stared at the door for another moment before realizing she wasn’t going to be able to open it that way. Getting up slowly, she made her way toward the door. Daníella took a deep breath as she opened the door. The look that appeared on Carlo’s face told her she looked worse than she originally thought. Stepping back, she allowed him to enter her apartment. Closing the door behind him, she turned to look at him. The pain in his eyes was somewhat unexpected. After what he’d just revealed,

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she expected guilt. Looking at him expectantly, she waited for him to say something. “I’m sorry, Daníella.” Carlo sighed heavily before continuing. “I should have told you.” “You’re right. You should have told me.” She walked to the couch and sat down before pressing the cold towel back over her eyes. “What hurts more is the reason you didn’t tell me.” She took the towel down and looked at him. “Did you really think I would leave if you couldn’t walk—if you couldn’t give me children? Did I really appear to be so selfish?” It reassured her when a look of shock appeared on Carlo’s face. He moved toward her, taking her hands into his. “No, that isn’t what I thought. That isn’t what I thought at all. I didn’t want you to be stuck with me considering what I could have been, especially when there was the possibility someone else could give it to you.” She snatched her hands from him quickly, angry. How could he think such a stupid thought? “But I didn’t want anyone else, Carlo. I wanted you.” His smile was sad. “I realize that now. When I look back, I can’t believe how stupid I was.” Daníella shook her head. All the time they lost because of his insecurities. “I can’t believe you doubted my love.” Carlo didn’t reply, and she didn’t expect him to. Judging by his expression, he hadn’t realized that was what he’d done until now. When she looked into his eyes, she had to hold back a wave of fresh tears. “Tell me, Carlo. Would you have left if it had been me—if I had been the one in the accident facing the possibility of never walking again, unable to give you children?” He remained silent because they both knew what the answer would be. It only made her feel worse. She knew if their roles had been reversed, he would have never thought about leaving her side.

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Carlo would have done everything to make sure she recovered fully. Exactly what she would have done for him if he had given her the chance. He reached for her hands again, bringing them up to her lips. “Ah, tesoro mio. Please forgive me for being so stupid.” Daníella sighed heavily as she looked at the man she loved. There was no way she could walk away from him twice. Then she would only be doing what he had four years ago—giving up on their relationship because of fear of the unknown. This time she had a choice. If she walked away, it would be her decision. The one thing she was sure of was Carlo’s love for her. He had proven that his love for her had never died, neither had hers. He just pushed her away because of a stupid miscalculation on his part. One she was willing to bet he’d never make again. In the time they’d rekindled their relationship, she realized Carlo had been just as miserable without her in his life as she had been without him in hers. She loved this man, and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. No way in the world would she give up on this now, but that didn’t mean she had to make it easy for him along the way. “Carlo, you have to promise me not to do this again.” “I’m not sure I can make that promise considering my record.” She laughed and knew he’d meant for her to. “I guess you have a point there.” He stared at her for a long moment before sighing heavily. “I might sound like a broken record, but I’m sorry, Daníella. I don’t know what came over me. How I could be so weak and insecure to allow such doubts to enter my mind. What I do know is that I love you and I want to be with you. I would have never married you in the first place if I didn’t. I wouldn’t have come back to you begging for another chance if I didn’t. I want to make this work.” “Carlo, please don’t make me regret forgiving you. It would kill me if you break my heart again.” Daníella reached up and cupped his

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cheek in her hand. “No matter what, Carlo, always remember that I love you.” He closed his eyes briefly, and when they reopened, she was blinded by the emotion she saw there. “And I love you, tesoro mio, with a love that passes all understanding now and always.” She fought back tears at his heartfelt words. “Then we can get through this.” Daníella leaned forward to place a kiss on Carlo’s lips, and deep down she knew they would. This was a new beginning for the both of them, and she planned to make the best of it.

THE END WWW.STEPHANIEMORRIS.WEBS.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stephanie Morris resides in Fort Worth, Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, dancing, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. In Stephanie’s opinion, there is nothing like curling up with a good book that you can’t put down, and she is addicted to writing them. Stephanie can be contacted through her website, http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com/, or via email at [email protected].

Also by Stephanie Morris BookStrand Mainstream: Indulgence 1: Propositioning the Rich Italian BookStrand Mainstream: Indulgence 2: The Seduction of Hayden

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

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