WMIS 08 Forever With Me (9 page)

“Probably. But if they were, it was discreet. I do know that they had a great deal of affection and respect for each other.”

“That’s nice,” I murmur.

“So, we came to California. Mama’s boss, Arturo Baldovini, was building a big resort near Sonoma.”

“Wine country,” I murmur with a grin, as Dom refills both our glasses, emptying the bottle.

“Exactly. Once we settled in, I did well. I took jobs with the vineyards during the harvest, earned my own money. I graduated from high school there and then went to college at Sonoma State University.”

“Why there?”

“I didn’t want to be far from my mom, just in case she needed me.” He shrugs. “But then the resort was finished in my sophomore year, and Arturo and Mama returned to Italy.”

“And you stayed.”

“I stayed. I love it here. I worked my way through vineyards all over California, learning everything I could, so I could one day own one of my own.”

“You don’t really even have much of an accent unless you speak Italian.”

“I’ve lived here a long time. Well, until Mama got sick about five years ago. I was thirty, and I got a call from Gianna that Mama was sick with cancer, and that I should go home. So I did.” He sips his wine and cringes. “She passed less than six months later.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Well, the point of all of this is, while she was living, it never really occurred to me to look for my biological father. My life was happy and full, and I had a wonderful family. And during the few moments that I did wonder, it felt like I was being disloyal to her.
 

“About a month after she passed, I was going through some of her things and I found a box full of journals. I set them aside, intending to read them one day, but I wasn’t ready yet.

“Arturo came to see me, and said that Mama had asked him to help her invest her money, which he had, and to my utter shock, had done it well. She left me millions, Alecia.”

My jaw drops as I watch his face, the awe and the love crossing his face.

“Arturo said, ‘Your one dream has always been to own your own vineyard. This is your chance to own it anywhere in the world you want.’”

“And you chose here.”

“I chose this land before I knew about Steven.”

“No way! That’s too big of a coincidence.”

“It’s true.” He lifts a bottle off the floor at his feet and deftly uncorks it, then pours us each a fresh glass. “I’d owned this place for about two years when I came across that box of journals again. I pulled one out of the box, and a letter addressed to me fell out of it. She said that she was sorry for not telling me sooner about my father, but that she didn’t know how it could affect
him
. She didn’t give me all of the details, and Steven has filled me in on what she didn’t say since then, but he was on a business trip and picked her up in a bar. It was a one night stand thing, and after they had sex, he confessed that he was separated from his wife, and that he missed her and his children.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. He’d left her his business card, so she knew how to reach him, and when she found out she was pregnant, she did call the number on the card, but his wife answered.”

“They’d reconciled,” I guess.

“Yes, and Mama couldn’t bear the thought of ripping his family apart. So, she didn’t tell him.

“I almost didn’t look for him, knowing about his family. I didn’t want them to think that I was trying to start some drama, or interrupt their lives. But I admit, I was curious.”

“I would be too,” I add. This wine is going to my head.

“So, I hired a private investigator, and within about a month, he found him.”

“And all that time, you were less than an hour away.”

He nods thoughtfully and then shakes his head. “I was so fucking nervous. We went through the blood tests to verify paternity, but that wasn’t the hardest part.”

“What was?” I ask, expecting him to say meeting his siblings.

“Meeting Gail.”

“Really? Gail’s great!”

“I know that now, but Alecia, how do you say hello to a woman, knowing that her husband had an affair with your own mother well over thirty years ago that
you
are the product of?”

“You tell me.”

He shakes his head again and sips his wine. “She hugged me.” His gaze turns to mine and he frowns in wonder. “Took one look at me and just wrapped her little arms around me and said, ‘I’m so sorry that you lost your mama, sweet boy.’”

“Oh my.” Tears fill my eyes at the thought.

“Yeah.” He takes my hand in his and threads our fingers together. His hand feels cool and smooth against mine. “I know it had to hurt her, Alecia. But she has never once treated me with any kind of malice.”

“She never would.”

“The second hardest part was meeting the siblings.” He laughs now, and brushes his knuckle down my cheek. “That was not easy. But over the past year, we’ve come to know each other, and most importantly, trust each other.”

“It’s a big, overwhelming, amazing family.” I smile, as I think of the whole family. “They are the funnest people I know.”

“Me too.” He chuckles. “I’m lucky to have them. They’ll never be a pain in my ass.”

“They’re lucky to have
you
,” I whisper. “Natalie’s baby shower for Olivia was my first job with them. That was more than two years ago now. I’ve helped with every wedding, shower, birthday party, and major event since then. I think you’re all lucky.”

“Who’s lucky to have you,
cara
?”

I blink at him, and just then my phone beeps with an incoming text.

Saved by the bell
.

I glance down and then laugh.

“What is it?”

“One of my brides. She’s changed her flower choices four times already, and her wedding is in three months. I don’t even know why she’s bothering. The marriage will be over inside of eighteen months.”

“That’s a cynical attitude for a wedding planner,” Dom says dryly.

“Just because I plan a good party, doesn’t mean I believe in love.” I glance up to see him cock a brow and wait for me to continue. “Let’s just say that I’m not a firm believer in happily ever after, and yes, I’m speaking from experience, and no, I’m not telling you that story tonight.”

“A story for another night, then.”

“Or a story for never.” I take a deep breath and stretch, and as I look around, I realize that night has fallen and the stars are twinkling brightly around us. “It’s late. I have to be up early.”

Dom stands and helps me to my feet, then escorts me inside and up to my room, just down the hall from his own room.

I hope I don’t pick now to start sleep walking, because he has me so tied up in knots I’ll most likely end up in his room, crawling into bed with him.

“Thanks for walking me up,” I say, when we reach my door. “And thanks for the story. I enjoyed it.”

“Much to my surprise, so did I. I haven’t told that story before.” I’m facing him, but not touching him. I can smell his body wash and that scent that’s simply Dominic, and my whole body tightens.
 

What is up with the chemistry between us?

Before I can turn away, he gently glides his knuckles down my cheek, then lifts the other hand and cups my neck and jaw, and the air around us is shimmering with longing and lust. He leans down and sweeps his lips lightly over mine and then, just like yesterday, kisses me tenderly, nipping at my lips gently. Finally, he pulls back just an inch to catch his breath and tips his forehead against my own.

“Sleep well,
cara
,” he whispers, as he pulls me against him for a long, firm hug. Even in my heels, I fit just under his chin, and being pressed against his chest is the best feeling
ever.
He’s hard and warm and…
comfortable.

I could stay here all night.

So I do the only thing that makes sense and I pull slowly away, not even trying to mask the confusion and longing that must be on my face.

“Sleep well, Dominic.”

He watches me with heated blue eyes as I turn away and close the door to my room behind me, then lean my back against the smooth wood.

How can a man kiss me like it’s the first time…
again
?

Chapter Six

I wipe the fog off the mirror in my larger than life bathroom and stare at my bloodshot eyes.

Damn sexy Italian.

I slept like shit because all I could think about was the way his lips feel on mine, how standing in his arms is the safest I’ve ever felt, and that sexy accent of his when he speaks Italian is enough to melt a girl’s panties at twenty paces.

I have too much to do today to have him on my mind. I have to keep my head in the game. My eyes on the prize. My…crap, what’s that metaphor about the target?

Either way, I don’t have time to get all moony over Dominic Salvatore.
 

Just as I begin to rub lotion into my still-wet legs, there’s a knock on my door.

While shrugging into a robe, I pad across the bedroom and open the door to find a smiling Celeste holding a breakfast tray.

“Mr. Salvatore asked me to bring you something to eat. Can I set this inside for you?”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I reply, and reach out to take the tray from her. “Thank you, I’ll take it.”

“It’s no problem. And just between you and me?” She laughs and crosses her arms over her chest. “He chose everything on that tray. It was actually very…surprising.”

“Surprising?”

“I’ve never seen him take so much interest in breakfast before. Have a good day.”

She waves and leaves, and I carry the tray to the seating area before the window. The silver tray is covered in a cream colored cloth, and boasts a small vase with a single pink tulip, making me grin and my heart soften, just a bit.

Under the silver dome lid, I find scrambled eggs, bacon and yogurt.

And he even remembered how I take my tea.

He’s not just a sexy Italian. He’s a
sweet
sexy Italian.

As I nibble a piece of bacon and sniff at the soft pink petals of the tulip, I notice a small white card with my name written in bold handwriting.

Inside is a note.

Alecia,

Good morning. I hope you slept more soundly than I did. Couldn’t stop thinking about how badly I wanted to keep kissing you, and mess up your gorgeous hair. Thank you for listening last night.

Dom

I read it three more times with a silly grin on my face, and feel my belly fill with gigantic butterflies.

Oh boy. What in the hell am I going to do with him?

***

“I don’t give a shit if every hole has been dug, you’re going to fill them and re-dig them.”

Isaac Montgomery, the eldest of the Montgomery clan, is pissed, and for good reason. The person in charge of digging holes for the tent measured incorrectly.
 

“You got it, boss.”
 

“Mark,” he calls over to Mark Williams, another member of the huge family, and a part of Isaac’s crew. “How is the arbor coming?”

Mark cringes and joins us. “Hey, Alecia.”

“Hi, Mark. What are you doing here today?”

“Scott’s kid came down with appendicitis, so I’m taking over this job.” He turns to Isaac. “We don’t have enough supplies. One of the guys forgot to restock his truck last night.”

“What the fuck?” Isaac asks, and props his hands on his hips. “Since when did this become an amateur operation?”

“He’s headed back to town to get what we need, but we’ll lose two hours.”

That means we’ll
all
be working an extra two hours today.

“Okay, it is what it is.” I consult my iPad and make notes. “Mark, do you know when the outdoor restrooms will be delivered?”

“My brother just had to order the hoity-toity toilets,” Isaac laughs.

“I’m sorry, but I refuse to put a Honey Bucket out for the guests to use,” I reply, and shake my head.
 

“Hell, the men could find a bush,” Mark says with a smirk, and then laughs when he sees the scowl on my face. “I’m just kidding.”

“This isn’t a frat party, you know.”

“Wait until the music and liquor start.” Isaac pats my shoulder almost apologetically. “And it’s not the boys you have to worry about.”

“Our girls know how to have a good time,” Mark adds with a smile.

“Oh, I’m aware, and I’m looking forward to it,” I reply. The girls are a blast, if a bit of a handful. “You know you love it.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Isaac confirms with a half-smile. “I’m going to go check on other details before I leave you in Mark’s capable hands.”

“Let me know if you need anything.” I nod at the guys and turn away just as my phone begins ringing. “Hello, Tonya.”

“What the fuck, Alecia? I’ve texted you
nine times
today!”

“I’m aware. I haven’t had a chance to respond.”