Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Isabella

I shouldn't be here. I absolutely shouldn't be here!

But I knock on the door anyway, and when Mrs. Leoni answers, I feel really stupid. But I have my excuse so I lift up the box and say, " Mi scusi signora Leoni , I saw Vittorio in town and we were talking about…" I shrug. "I brought some cookies."

She smiles brightly and says, "I haven't seen you in a long time, Izzy. Do you still go by Izzy?"

"Except for both nonne . They'll never call me anything other than Isabella."

"My grandmother was like that, too," she says, "and all I wanted was to be Chris instead of Christina."

I wonder if she can see how nervous I am. I wonder if she knows I'm not here on an innocent voyage. She says, "Come in, Izzy," as she takes the box from me. "You did more than cookies, didn't you?"

"He looked so happy to be back where he could get good food," I say. I kind of freak myself out saying that because it feels like I'm being a whole lot… um, desperate.

"This looks wonderful," she says. She gets a tray and puts a plate on it. She puts cookies, pastry, figs, olives, and more on the plate. Then, she pours two big glasses of sparkling water, adds a wedge of lemon in each, and sets them on the tray. "He's not here in the main house."

My heart sinks but then she says, "The whole family is here and I want the grandchildren close so they've filled up all of the rooms. Vittorio is in the guest house. Do you remember where it is?"

" Si, signora, " I say with too broad of a smile. She hands me the tray and opens the kitchen door for me so I can step out to the side of the house.

Damn it, what am I doing? Vittorio can have any girl he wants. Why would he want a big girl like me? I follow the path down the side of the house past the very impressive tomato garden and a waterfall sculpture that's interesting as Hell because it has a sculpture, a Medici lion. The lion stands at the top and the water flows around it as well as the marble sphere on which its paw rests.

There are Medici lions all over Italy. This is a taste of the old country. It's lovely. I stop for a moment and just enjoy the sight and how it also fills me with longing to see Italy again. I've been there four times. I want to go again so I can visit my nonna on my father's side again. She taught me about cooking seafood. I want to learn more from her.

"Izzy?" The sound of Vittorio's voice startles me but I don't jump too much.

"The lion is beautiful," I say without turning around. I can sense him closer to me now. I slowly turn and I have to stop so the tray doesn't bump into him. "It makes me feel like I'm visiting my grandmother in Italy."

He smiles and says, "I get to be Italian and also have a last name that means lions, so it's even more beautiful for me." Damn, his smile is perfect.

"I brought some things," I say, "to, um, welcome you home." I'm immediately nervous as hell after saying that. I'm about to hand him the tray and add a word or two that suggests I'm doing it for my mom but he speaks first.

"You're not just beautiful, Izzy," he says, "but you're also wonderful. Come with me. You can't make me eat alone."

Beautiful.

When he says it, I actually believe he means it, too.

I follow him to the guest house, which is no small little bungalow, but a two-bedroom room villa with a kitchen. Bigger than most apartments. He takes the tray from me and sets it on the coffee table. He takes a moment to look over the various cookies and snacks I've brought and nods. "A good Moscato will pair nicely."

I smile. "Wow, you fight fires and know your wine. Amazing."

"Of course, I know my wine, I'm Italian."

He goes to the kitchen and comes back with a bottle that is something I could get at the local grocery store. I watch him pour, a small smile on my lips.

He notices. "What?"

"I just, well, I guess I didn't expect you to come out with the average store-bought thing. I remember how your dad always bragged about having the best of the best."

He sits down by me on the couch, and I feel like a silly high schooler having him this close to me. "You know, I earn my own money now and I buy my own things. I don't like to take from my father."

I nod. "I understand. My dad won't let me choose what salad dressing to use."

He shakes his head. "Well, that's why I'm in California. It's far enough away that I don't have to feel like every aspect of my life is under his control. And being a firefighter gives me a feeling of giving back."

The mood feels like it's becoming too heavy, that happens when your parents are mobsters, so I jump on talk of his life in California. "So, tell me what it's like to be a firefighter?"

He instantly brightens. "It's great, Izzy, really great. There's a real sense of family with the guys I work with at the station house." He takes a cookie and takes a bite. His face registers genuine shock. "Izzy, you made these? They're incredible. You should have your own shop."

First, I'm beautiful, and now this? Holy crap! "I don't think my dad would like that but thank you for the compliment."

"No, no, thank you." He takes another bite.

I sip the win and rack my brain for something relevant to say. ‘Do the guys at the station know you have this big of a sweet tooth? They may not like that."

He laughs and takes another cookie. "They're really a big bunch of toddlers so they understand."

"It sounds really great out there with them."

He brushes crumbs from his shirt and nods. "Yeah, they are. It's funny, in a lot of ways it's like being in the…" He gives a small smile. "This thing our parents do. I mean, there's a real sense of brotherhood and loyalty like with the family out here, but it's not all self-interested. Those guys really care about their job being to help others."

"Are you going to stay out there, Vittorio?" A small sliver of worry hits me that maybe, just maybe, I would never see him again after this trip.

And now, he looks me right in the eyes and I worry that I've made some bad faux pas. "I want out of this, Izzy. This… you know what. I want out for more than just now. Forever. I like working for a living at a legitimate job. I like being a firefighter. I like helping people. If I come back, it will only be for legitimate work and a legitimate life."

I sense how serious he is about it and my heart breaks for him because I know how hard it can be to make your own way in this world of ours. I can also tell he's not so sure about that last part. He wants to come back only for a legitimate life but he's not sure he can do it. He has more control over his life than I have over mine but that doesn't mean complete control.

He has a little more freedom than I do but a ton more responsibility. "I understand, I mean, my father just wants me married off to anybody who will have me." I realize how sad that sounds and I feel even more upset. "I want out, too, Vittorio. I really do. This mob life is draining, and ridiculous."

He smiles, probably because I skip the whole this thing we do process. Well, if there's any risk of bugs, he doesn't seem to care either. "Being the boss's son, well, it's just not something I enjoy. I figured that out today. My old friends see me, and they're treating me with all this deference I haven't even earned. "

"Well, I wish I could get some respect. I've been trying for years to get him to call me Izzy and to have people call me Izzy, but it's not dignified enough for a top of the chain under… for who I am. My dad says it's a stupid nickname that makes me seem like a kindergartener."

He laughs. "Wow, I hadn't thought of that nickname with you in a while. When I saw you in the store I just went to Bella because well, that's what you made me think of, something beautiful."

The compliment comes out of nowhere and I feel a blush rising up my body. "Um, thank you, yeah. I like Bella when you're the one saying it."

"Well, it will be our little secret then." He puts one hand on his heart and takes one of mine in the other one. "I solemnly swear."

I feel my breathing getting faster. "Seal the deal with a kiss," I whisper.

And he does.

Vittorio leans towards me, and I meet him halfway. Our bodies lean into each other as our hands roam. His lips are just as wonderful as I could've imagined. He kisses me like he wants to devour me, and I return his aggression with a dose of my own.

Holy fuck, I'm kissing Vittorio Leoni!

My head lights up with that fact, but my body shuts down any hesitation. I melt into him as his mouth moves against mine. I feel his hands travel over my breasts and then, move lower, and I can't believe that I'm about to have sex with my lifelong crush.

A knock on the door makes us both jump. It's followed quickly by a loud, stern voice. "Vittorio! Come answer the door."

We both know that voice. It's his father.

Vittorio stands up and I can see the tension build again in his body as he goes to open the door.

His father steps in and sees me sitting there. "Hello, Isabella, good to see you."

"Hello, Don Leoni, very good to see you as well, Sir,"I say with a deferential, very slight bowing of the head.

He nods with a smile and moves his attention to Vittorio. "You'll have to send Isabella home now. Your auntie and your uncle have traveled fourteen hours to see you."

He looks at his father. "I wonder how the news got out."

His father turns to me, ignoring his son's remark. "So sorry, Isabella, but dinner is already on the table and we didn't realize Vittorio would be having company, but ..."

I jump up as I cut him off before the inevitable invitation is issued. An invitation I couldn't refuse, and I really am not prepared for any kind of scrutiny. "I, um, am expected at home, actually. So, I need to get going. Thank you so much for everything, Vittorio. I'll be on my way now. Again, Don Leoni, it's wonderful to see you again."

In my nervousness, I actually curtesy to Don Leoni.

And with that brilliant move, I head for the door.