Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

V incenzo Santoro

I glanced at Jenna, who was still watching me with those big, beautiful, thoughtful eyes.

"I'm going to get changed out of my bathing suit," Jenna said, while turning toward my daughter.

"Sure, we'll be eating dinner soon, if it's ever ready that is," Bella teased.

"Ten minutes," I sighed, shooting a mock glare at my daughter.

As Jenna walked away, I couldn't help but follow her with my eyes. The way she moved, the confidence in her stride—it was all too enticing. Not wanting Isabella to notice, I quickly turned back to the stove.

I continued stirring the sauce, but my mind was miles away. The rich aroma of perfectly spiced tomatoes, basil, and copious amounts of garlic filled the room, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside me.

Despite my best intentions, my thoughts kept drifting back to Jenna.

Jenna Michaels, with her bright hazel eyes and quick friendly smile, was more than just Bella's best friend. She had always been a fixture in our home, and I had grown fond of her over the years.

But lately, things had changed.

The way she looked at me, the way my heart responded, all of it was deeply unsettling. I shouldn't be thinking about my daughter's best friend like this. It was wrong on so many levels, yet I couldn't help myself.

I tried to focus on the task at hand, tasting the sauce and adjusting the seasoning, but my mind kept replaying the conversation we had earlier. Her defiant tone, the spark in her eyes—it stirred something deep within me. She deserved someone good, someone her age, not an old man like me with a troubled past.

I sighed, setting the spoon down and wiping my hands on a towel. It wasn't just the age difference that bothered me. It was the promise I had made to myself after Maria died.

I had vowed to be the best father I could be, to protect Bella and keep her safe from the darkness of my past. Falling for Jenna, acting on these feelings, would betray that promise. It would put everything I had worked so hard to build at risk.

Maria's face flashed in my mind, her gentle smile, and the way she used to laugh. Losing her had nearly destroyed me. I had buried myself in my work, first in the family business and then in my restaurants, trying to numb the pain. But nothing could fill the void she left behind. And now, with Jenna, those old wounds threatened to reopen once again.

"Dad, you're being weird again," Bella said from her spot at the kitchen table behind me.

I forced a smile, trying to push Jenna out of my mind. "Just thinking about dinner, sweetheart."

Isabella rolled her eyes and took a sip of water. "You always overthink everything. It's just spaghetti and meatballs."

She was right, of course. I tended to overthink and worry too much. But this was more than just dinner. This was about the future, and more important, about the people I cared about the most.

I turned back to the stove, stirring the sauce again, trying to distract myself from the thoughts swirling in my head.

What was I thinking? This was Jenna .

Sweet, young Jenna.

She had her whole life ahead of her, and I had no right to complicate it with my feelings. She deserved someone who could give her everything, someone without the baggage I carried.

Someone better than me.

Even as I told myself this, I knew it was too late. Jenna had already woven herself into my nearly every thought, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake her loose.

But I was going to have to.

For more than just Jenna's sake.

For my daughter's too.

When the spaghetti was finally ready, the three of us sat down at the table together.

Dinner was a quiet affair, at least on the surface. Bella chattered away about her latest debate team victories, her voice full of enthusiasm as she launched into one of her stories. I nodded along, making the appropriate sounds of interest, but my attention kept wandering to Jenna.

She had changed out of her swimsuit into a simple light pink sundress, her tanned skin gorgeous against the color and her hair still slightly damp from the pool. Every time she laughed at something Bella said, a pang of something sharp and unwelcome twisted in my chest.

I tried to keep my focus on my daughter, but my eyes kept drifting back to Jenna, watching the way she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear or the way she brought a bite of food to her lips.

Or the way her eyes occasionally caught mine.

"Are you even listening, Dad?" Bella's voice cut through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present.

I blinked, realizing I had missed whatever she had just said.

"Sorry, sweetheart. What was that?" I asked, trying to remember whatever it was that she was talking about.

"I said there's a party this weekend. A bunch of people from school are going," Bella repeated, giving me a suspicious look. "Jenna and I are thinking about going."

Jenna glanced at me, then quickly looked away, focusing on her plate.

"Yeah, it should be fun," she added, though her tone was less enthusiastic.

I felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of Jenna surrounded by young men that were her age and full of potential, vying for her attention. The rational part of my brain knew I had no right to feel this way, but it didn't stop the surge of possessiveness that flared up anyway.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. "You two just got back from school. Maybe you should take it easy this weekend."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Dad, we're not kids. We can handle a party. Besides, it's a good chance to catch up with everyone before the summer really starts."

The uneasy feeling rolling through me wouldn't subside. Bella had a good point. The two of them were sophomores in college now and I couldn't control them anymore. If they wanted to go to a party, who was I to stop them?

I glanced at Jenna, who was carefully avoiding my gaze now. "What do you think, Jenna? Are you looking forward to it?"

She shrugged, still not meeting my eyes. "I guess so. It could be nice to see everyone again."

Isabella grinned. "See? It's settled then. We'll go and have a great time."

I forced a smile, but inside, I felt a mix of worry and frustration.

Dinner continued, but I barely tasted the food. Every time Jenna spoke, my heart ached a little more. I tried to remind myself I had no place in her life beyond being Bella's father. But as the evening wore on, the truth became harder to ignore.

After dinner, as we cleared the table, Bella excused herself to call a friend, leaving Jenna and me alone in the kitchen. The silence between us was too heavy and I couldn't take it any longer.

"Jenna," I began, my voice low and serious. "About the party?—"

She looked up at me, her hazel eyes wide and searching. "Yes?"

I hesitated, searching for the right words. "Just… be careful, okay?"

Her expression softened, and for a moment, I saw something in her eyes that mirrored my own feelings. "I will, Vincenzo. But you don't have to worry about me."

I wanted to say more, to tell her how much she meant to me, but I knew it wasn't the right time, not that it would ever be.

Instead, I nodded and gave her a small smile. "I know. Just… be safe."

She smiled back, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I will."

As Jenna turned to leave, she hesitated at the doorway. She glanced back at me, her eyes searching mine for a long, silent moment.

"Vincenzo," she said softly, taking a step back into the kitchen.

"Yes, Jenna?" I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. The distance between us seemed to shrink, the air thickening with tension.

She took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage. "I know you're worried about me. And I appreciate it, I really do. But you don't need to. I can take care of myself."

I nodded, struggling to keep my emotions in check. "I know you can. But that doesn't stop me from wanting to protect you. You're important to me, Jenna."

Her eyes softened, and she took another step closer. "You're important to me too, Vincenzo."

My heart pounded in my chest, and I took a step forward, closing the gap between us. "Jenna, I?—"

"Dad!" Bella's voice echoed from the hallway, breaking the moment. I stepped back, the spell between us shattered. Jenna looked down, her cheeks flushed.

"I should go find Bella," she said quickly, turning to leave.

"Jenna," I called, and she paused, looking back at me with those piercing hazel eyes. "If you ever need anything—anything at all—you can come to me. Don't ever forget that."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "I won't forget that. Thank you, Vincenzo."

And with that, she left, and I took the first full breath I'd been able to since she'd walked into the room.