Neighbors and More (High Rise Series) (23 page)

“Tell us everything. Alexa is strong enough to take it.” With
his good arm, Dante reached out to hold her hand.

“An overdose is an easy way to get rid of people. Your
friends would have heard of your suicide from the news. By then the criminals would
have paid their debtors and disappeared in Europe.”

“Oh my God.” Her head reeled from the incredible plot that
was supposed to destroy her.

“You saved yourself by not drinking the drugged Amaretto.”
Dante squeezed her hand.

“Their plan A failed, and Steve drowned. They tried to divert
the police’s attention on you by putting the ring in your drawer and denying
your claims of a trip to Atlanta. But the continuous presence of your lawyer at
your side pushed them to act quickly before you discovered the existence of the
check you signed.”

“I owe you so much, Dante.”

“I’m glad I could help, but let Detective Ladd finish his
report.”

“Carter tried to get rid of you in the ocean before you
started uncovering things. Steve had already written a two million check to his
company from the joint account he opened in his name and yours, while waiting
for your check to go into his account. Dianna felt that things were becoming
unhealthy for them. She pushed Carter to steal your jewelry and cash the check
so they could leave as soon as possible. They were supposed to fly to London
today if you haven’t messed up things for them by entering Carter’s apartment.”
Ladd rubbed his chin. “I hope you know what you did was illegal, breaking into
his apartment.”

“Detective Ladd,” Alexa pointed her finger accusingly. “It
wouldn’t be fair to punish Dante for bringing criminals to justice.”

For the first time since she’d met the detective, a smile
hovered on his lips. “Ms. Alexa, you always misjudge me. Your friend, hmm, I
mean your lawyer is not going to be prosecuted for breaking into Carter’s
condo. The Chief of Police and I have decided that
in
the light of the evidence Cantari found in the 502 apartment, he’d be granted a
pardon.”

“Thank you, Detective Ladd.” Dante
extended his hand for a handshake with the detective, while Alexa heaved a deep
breath of relief.

“I’ll leave you now, and wish you a speedy recovery. Have a
good day, Ms. Alexa.”

“You, too.” She returned his smile, finally forgiving him
for suspecting her at the beginning of the investigation.

“Dante, we need to talk.” She settled back in her chair
after the detective left, and crossed her hands in her lap.

“Wow, it looks like a very serious subject,” he said in a
voice that was anything but serious.

“First, I want to thank you for everything you did for me,
and—”

“Stop there, Alexa.” He frowned, all humor gone. “Please,
don’t ever try to thank me or talk about gratitude. I hope our relationship
encompasses more than feelings of obligations.”

“They could have drowned me, kidnapped, or killed me.”

“No, for the record, you saved yourself from your attacker
in the ocean, and you saved me from losing my sight by banging on Dianna’s head
at the right time.” He chuckled and added. “I wish I had a picture of that
scene.”

A laugh escaped her. “But you supported and helped me, and
risked your life for me.”

“I would do it again anytime,
cara mia
.” His good
hand reached over the lowered bedrail and caressed her cheek.

“Oh.” She blinked a few tears of emotion and focused on the
subject high on her priority list. “Dante, I told you I was planning to go to New
York, and then to Paris.”

His jaw tightened. “Do you still plan to go ahead with this?
At the time you wanted to run away from the nasty atmosphere in this building.
But the people causing it are gone. Well except Greg.”

“Greg is not a problem anymore. Last night he even
apologized for being selfish toward me.”

“No kidding. I can’t imagine your ex being that humble.”

“Well his girlfriend’s duplicity has disturbed him so much
you wouldn’t have recognized him last night. He seemed so lonely, so lost. I was
sorry for him and asked him to come and talk. Gosh, I felt like I was mothering
him for a change.”

“I’m glad you cleared the air with him.”

“And I asked some crucial questions. For a change, he told
me the truth.” Memories assaulted her and clenched her heart. “I learned that
my mother never left me behind. It’s my father who threw her out and didn’t let
her see me again.”

“I’m sorry for your mother, and for you, growing up without
her.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “As my
nonna
would say, your
mom has probably been watching over you when we were fighting yesterday and
before in the ocean.”

Alexa nodded. She’d thought the same. “We fought and
survived and won.”

Things were falling in the right place for him. As for
her... She released a heavy sigh.

His eyes captured hers. “Alexa
,
you don’t have
enemies at the Blue Waves anymore. Do you still want to go away?”

Really, she didn’t have to go away. Especially when she
loved Fort Lauderdale and its gorgeous beach so much, the view of the ocean on
one side and that of the Intracoastal on the other. And she loved Dante. Her
gaze traced his chiseled features and lingered on his sensuous mouth.

But if she stayed, she’d fall into his arms every time he
beckoned, and she’d become dependent again, waiting for him to call or stop by
her apartment.

Reason and desire battled in her heart. “I have to go.”

Trying to raise himself on the pillows to better observe
her, Dante squirmed and winced with pain.

“What’s wrong?” Alexa jumped to her feet, ready to help him,
just after she’d announced she was leaving him.

 “I’m trying to raise myself. I’ll call the nurse.”

“No, I’ll help you. Here hold onto me.”

He suppressed a grin, held her shoulder for support, and
kept stroking her back while she arranged the pillows. “Now, I’ll pull you up.
Is it better?”

“Much better.” He didn’t release her. He kissed her. His
tongue careened in between her parted lips with confidence and waltzed a happy
dance with hers. When she cradled his head, he moaned. “You see how much I need
you.”

“You don’t really need me, Dante. And I can survive on my
own now.”

“Of course, you can. Let’s not talk about need. There are
more important feelings to dwell on. I don’t want to lose you,
cara
mia
.
You’re very precious to me.”

“Oh, don’t worry. We’ll still be friends.”

Who cares about friendship?
Dante wanted much more
than a friendly relationship with Alexa. Damn it why did he have to be stuck in
this bed? He glared at his bandaged arm and growled.

“Are you in pain?”

“Yes. Very much in pain. Here.” He pointed to his heart. “Darling,
a hospital bed is the last place I’d ever imagine for a romantic interlude. I
had hoped to be on the beach or on your balcony, anywhere but here to tell you
I love you. I can’t live without you, my love.” His good hand caressed her
cheek. “
Ti amo tanto, amore mio
.”

“Oh Dante.” Her eyes opened huge, so green, so limpid, so
full of love.

“If you stay in Fort Lauderdale, I’ll be at your side day
and night. If you want to go to New York, I’ll come with you. If you want to
study in Paris, I’ll visit and wait for you to come back, but please promise
you’ll marry me before going anywhere.”

“Oh Dante, you really want to...”

“Yes, I really, really want to marry you and keep you
forever. I can’t drop on my knee right now, but will you say yes?”

“Yes. Yes, I love you. I was so afraid to fall in love, but
I think I can handle it.”

“You can handle anything, my love. Even better, we can
handle things together. See I can’t even hold you correctly for a proper kiss,
so I hope you’ll help me kiss you the right way.”

Epilogue

Four months later, groups gathered around a flowered gazebo
erected in front of the Blue Waves building. The beach bustled with elegant
women in short evening dresses walking barefoot on the sand, and male guests in
open shirts or printed Floridian tops. Dante moved from one neighbor to
another, exchanged greetings with friends, and accepted congratulations.

Not too far away, his sister laughed at something Juan was
telling her. Dante snorted at the besotted expression on the lawyer’s face.
Isabella had the young man practically eating out of her pretty fingers.

On the terrace, Greg hovered near the bar, a drink in his
hand, and chatted with Julia Bairey and Tom Dallen. Dante heard fragments of
conversation. “They are both behind bars for a long time,” Julia said. In white
pants and black silk shirt, Julia looked as elegant as usual.

 “They were such a bad influence on Steve,” Tom answered,
his arm around her waist. “Your nightmare is over, darling.” Maybe Julia had
suffered from Steve’s dishonesty. She was better off with a nice guy like Tom.

“The bank is foreclosing on apartment 502, and my 1003 is
for sale. I couldn’t spend another day in it after
that
woman’s
treachery,” Greg said with a disgusted tone. “Here is the groom,” Greg had
spotted him. “Hi Dante, come and have a drink.”

Dante checked his watch. Ten more minutes before the bride’s
arrival. “Sure.” A drink would help him stop looking at his watch and glancing
at the door every minute. “How do you like your apartment?”

Greg smiled broadly. “I love the 2101. So glad Alexa sold it
to me and agreed to leave all the furniture and decorations. I love the view
and the spacious rooms. I heard your grandmother and sister are going to be my
neighbors in 2102.”

“They are moving to the Blue Waves, next week.”

“Aren’t you going to miss the beach?” Tom asked.

“We plan to visit often and enjoy the beach.”

“So how is
your
new house?” A curious gleam brightened
Julia’s eyes. “I heard it’s a gorgeous mansion on the Intracoastal.”

“Well, it’s my grandmother’s house, but it’s too big for her
and my sister. Alexa is renovating it. She’s planning to start a decorating
business from home as soon as we return from our honeymoon.” He didn’t specify
that he and Alexa had been camping in one of the many rooms while Alexa oversaw
the remodeling of the house and helped Isabella decorate the apartment. The
exchange had been suggested by his grandmother and suited them all.

“Dante,” Greg took him aside. “How was the trip to New
York?”

“Good. Both productive and sad. Alexa met her mother’s
friend, heard stories about Annabelle, and collected many of her pictures.
Somehow she found her closure.”

Dante glanced at his watch. Two more minutes left. “Excuse
me now.” He took off his shoes and socks, left them in a corner on the terrace,
and strolled to the gazebo.

 “What a lovely location for a wedding,” his grandmother
Regina
exclaimed from the portable chair set for her on the sand. “And
perfect weather in the high eighties. You look so handsome,
bambino
” she
added with a proud look, as she tilted her silk umbrella to direct more shade
on her head.

With an impatient look, Dante checked his white shirt, open
at the neck, and wiped a speck of sand from his long white pants. He spotted Jay
standing next to the priest he’d convinced to perform the wedding ceremony on
the beach and joined him under the gazebo to wait for his bride.

At four o’clock sharp, the music started and the guests
turned toward the building. A hum welled up. “Ah, here she is.” Dante’s breath
caught in his chest and a smile parted his lips at the lovely vision proceeding
toward him, all by herself, a bouquet of five pink roses and a single white
lily, in her hands.

Dante swept his gaze from her red painted toes, to her
tanned legs and thighs revealed by the short swinging hem of her muslin dress.
She was simply adorable, her generous décolletage enhanced by two straps,
embroidered with gem stones like her top. A ruby cross, gift of his
Nonna
,
was displayed on her chest. Her curly hair cascaded on her naked shouldered and
she’d pinned a white hibiscus flower over her left ear.

Instead of waiting for her, under the gazebo, he took a few
steps forward to greet her and brought her hand to his lips. “You’re so
beautiful. I love you.”

They walked hand in hand and stood in front of the priest
who started the wedding ceremony. “Dearly beloved... Who gives this woman in
marriage?”

“I do,” Greg answered firmly.

As they exchanged their vows, Dante slipped on her finger
the three-carat diamond ring that his father had given his mother years ago,
and they bowed their heads for the marriage blessing. “I now present to you Mr.
and Mrs. Cantari. Dante, you may kiss your bride.”

While the guests burst out in applause, Dante gathered her
into his arms for a long tender kiss. “I love you, Mrs. Cantari,” he said
against her lips.

“I love you too,” she whispered back.

Greg clapped his hands to attract everyone’s attention. “The
reception will start now. Please, proceed to the terrace to get your drinks and
appetizers. Dante, Alexa, my sincere congratulations.” He kissed Alexa’s cheek.

“Thank you for throwing us a wedding party,” Dante said as
he shook hands with his former rival.

“I’m the one who should thank you for allowing me to do it.
And Alexa, I’m so glad you accepted for a wedding gift the earrings I gave you for
your college graduation.”

“I’m wearing them.” Alexa tossed her hair backward,
revealing the impressive diamonds. She’d returned all the other pieces to Greg.

“A toast for the bride and the groom,” Juan called. In his position
as best man, he raised his glass and wished the newlyweds many happy years
together.

The musicians played a slow tune, and Dante pulled his bride
in his arms for their first dance as a married couple.