Chapter 11

Chapter 11

They'd need markers to the restaurant, Toni mused as midafternoon traffic eased. He easily navigated the unmarked country roads that stretched a little more than twenty minutes outside the city limits of Milan toward the villa, but he'd been driving the area since he was a boy.

He tried to see the roads with fresh eyes. Maybe just a sign here and there to assure their guests they were headed in the right direction? He paused, wondering if part of the novelty of what he hoped would be the most sought after food experience in Italy could be actually finding it.

He tabled the thought for after the soft opening, for which the list of attendees was growing enormously. So was his anxiety.

In the seat next to him Dani dozed, her head lulling to the side after only ten minutes on the road. He smiled. Sophia watched a video on her phone in the back seat. Teenagers. What was he going to do when she was older and going on actual dates?

Dani stirred, her face rising briefly, only to drift slowly back to her shoulder. Her hair was in a severe ponytail, making him long for the soft waves he'd seen just a day ago. Sitting with her over red wine and good food had been one of the best dates he'd had in a very, very long time. Even if she was quick to point out it wasn't a date.

When Nicole had sent him to the canal to check on her, he'd taken the charge with no question. Dani had left the party abruptly and he felt he had some explaining to do, maybe even some apologizing, for his ex-wife's behavior. Yet he remembered Dani's cool countenance as Ava threw subtle barbs about her full figure, making him aware that Dani was clearly no stranger to the slights. He glanced at her sleeping form again, taking in her smooth skin and parted lips. He wanted to apologize. He wasn't sure why it mattered, it just did.

"Papà, how much longer?"

"Not long." Glancing in the rearview mirror, her head was bent over her phone. "Do you ever put that phone down?"

"Of course. But I'm doing homework now."

"Texting is not homework."

"I'm reading. But getting texts."

"We had a deal, Sophia. You pass your next test, then you can talk to him."

"It's not him, Papà." Her voice rose.

"It better not be."

"You have a boyfriend?" Dani stirred and twisted toward the back, her brows raising in teasing question.

Toni cringed at Sophia's blush. "No...he's just a friend."

"But you like him." Dani and Sophia smiled at each other like secret conspirators, making him uneasy, like he was seeing behind a pink curtain.

"Well...he's a year older."

"What does he look like?"

"He's tall. With black hair, like really black. And green eyes."

"Sounds handsome."

"He is." Sophia said with an unconscious hair flip.

"No, he isn't," Toni gritted out.

They both peeled into laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"Have you seen him?" Dani asked.

"Yes. He hides behind a tree when I pick Sophia up from school. He's skinny."

"Tall and skinny? Sounds familiar," Dani said with a wink to Sophia he wasn't supposed to see.

"I am not skinny. You can't compare the physique of a boy to that of a man. It's like apples and oranges."

"Oh really?" Dani said with a half smile.

"Really. That boy has no muscle tone. He needs to play a sport. Like calcio."

"Papà almost played professionally, so he thinks everyone should play." Sophia sighed.

"And you play beautifully, cara mia. I taught her everything she knows."

"Maybe you could teach her friend."

"Over my dead body," he whispered to Dani, who suppressed a smile before turning front.

"What did you say, Papà?"

"I said go back to your homework. We're almost there."

Bright green hills and measures of clear blue sky were peppered with huge stone houses and acres of wildflowers.

"This is stunning." Dani stared out of the window.

"It hasn't changed much in the years my family have lived here. The roads are better, but not by much."

"Tell me about your family. What does your father do?"

"He is in banking, but you won't meet him today. He's—"

"Grandpa is in Brazil with a whole other family," came from the back seat.

"Cara mia, read your phone." Toni said into the rearview. Then he turned to Dani's shocked expression.

"My parents are divorced. My father had an affair in Brazil where he traveled frequently for work. I have a half sister who is about six years younger than me."

"What! That's insane. I mean, that must have been really hard on you and your mother."

"It was, but my mother has always been supported by her own family. She has five other brothers including Marcello. They helped us through."

"How old were you?"

"I was ten when he left."

"That must have been hard. A young boy losing his father."

He only nodded. He'd been devastated.

"I bet you are a better father for it though," she said low. "It makes sense why you are so protective."

Her insight surprised him. Being a good father was the most important thing to him in the world.

"All fathers are bears. Your father was protective, no?"

"No," Dani chuckled. "My parents were never married. And they both traveled so much that I only saw him for short stints at a time. Plus, my father is a Swedish hippie. He doesn't believe in discipline."

"I'm having a hard time seeing your glamorous mother with a Swedish hippie."

"He was a fashion photographer when they met. Now he owns a tattoo parlor in Manhattan." Dani held up her colorful left forearm. "It's an odd pairing, but they do seem to love each other in a strange ‘I can't ever live with you' sort of way."

"Do you have siblings?"

"No. You?"

"Just Theresa in Brazil. We're actually quite close. She is a designer and sends gifts to Sophia all the time."

Theresa. The name sounded familiar to Dani. Nicole spoke of a blonde hottie who went out with Destin. "Wait, not the Theresa who dated Destin?"

"They didn't ever date, although she tried to get him into bed numerous times."

"The blonde hottie is your sister?"

Toni laughed. "Yes, and she was heartbroken when your friend Nicole came and stole Destin's heart."

"How does your mother feel about Theresa?"

"My mother tolerates my father but she loves Theresa. We are a strange family, but we've made it work."

"Amen to that," Dani said.

"And on that note. We're here."

Villa Lorenzetti rose centuries old and majestic above them with stone walls covered in vines and wildflowers. A large greenhouse stood off to the right while a newly finished barnlike structure took over acres to the left.

"You grew up here?" Dani stared in awe. Her gaze scanned the greenery and landed on the pond surrounded by ducks several yards away. "It's like a dream."

"I went to a boarding school in the city. When school was out, I was here."

"Luca!" Before Toni could switch off the engine Sophia jumped from the back and ran toward his mother's small beagle mutt, who was running toward the car at full speed. His mother appeared from the side of the house, sliding her feet from her gardening slippers into her heeled shoes. Toni felt a rush of affection for her.

"I should probably warn you now that my mother can be...commanding."

Sophia and his mother embraced, and then she waved Sophia and the dog toward the house. Toni suspected a full meal waited for them.

"Meaning she likes things her way," Dani said.

"Exactly. But she's gentle about it."

"I think I can handle that."

He recalled his meeting of Dani's mother and imagined she could handle it.

Unlike Ava, who met his mother's suggestions and invitations with flat-out refusals. Ava never participated in picking vegetables in the garden for a family meal. She didn't want to get dirty or for the wind to muss her hair. She refused to pet the dog or even sit in the same room with him. She complained so hard that the Wi-Fi was spotty that he spent a ridiculous amount of money rewiring the house.

And his mother had tolerated all of it for him. She was his wife, after all, and the mother of her only grandchild. Yet his mother's patience, and maybe his own, had thinned the day his mother had thrown a family baby shower for Ava and she'd refused to eat the special meal his mother had prepared. It was too heavy, Ava had complained.

Just thinking about Ava's obsession with her weight during her pregnancy made him angry. She'd gained the minimum amount and Sophia was born premature with low birth weight. Seeing his baby on a feeding tube had been a nightmare. His mother had talked him through it.

Dani wasn't Ava, but what if there was something else? What if she hated the wind or needed to watch HBO? He refused to make his mother uncomfortable in her own home gain.

He sighed and slammed the car door, making Dani turn and search his face.

"Are you okay?"

He blinked. Ava had never been in tune with his moods.

"Yes. It slipped."

Dani opened the back door and reached for her coat and her smaller bag, which was nestled next to his and Sophia's belongings.

"I'll get that—"

She held their coats and slung both bags over her shoulder.

"You get the big ones," she said with a smile. Her ponytail swung and kissed her exposed neck. He tore his gaze from the supple skin at the open neckline of her Henley before it drifted farther down to the two undone buttons at her cleavage.

His body heated, recalling how soft she felt against him by the bridge.

"Antonio! Get her bags!" His mother's voice was like a splash of cold water.

"Mamma, she doesn't listen to me. Like you."

His mother came forward with a snort of laughter. Then she held out her arms to him, holding his face and kissing him on both cheeks. She turned to Dani with open arms.

"Welcome, Danica! Welcome. I am Grace Lorenzetti. We are so excited to have you here and I get to practice my English." Dani leaned in to the kisses with a smile and Toni relaxed, aware that his anxiety was popping through at random. He needed to calm down. It wasn't like he was introducing a new girlfriend. She would be working with them. And when Marcello was well, she'd be leaving.

He adjusted the roller bags in both hands and scowled.

"Food is getting cold. Come, come."

Toni watched Dani follow his mother into the house and once he'd gotten the rest of their belongings into the hallway, he found the three of them in the kitchen.

Sophia noshed on a pizzelle and Dani held a full glass of wine. The kitchen island was filled with meats, cheeses, olives, herbs and fresh vegetables. Olive oil and bread acted as centerpieces beside a bouquet of wildflowers.

"It's lovely here. Marcello mentioned there was a vineyard on the property."

"It's behind the restaurant. One of the special dining rooms has a gorgeous view." His mother opened the oven and removed two long pans of lasagna. "Sophia, stop eating all of the cookies and check the pasta."

"I'll do it." Dani found a fork and dipped it into the boiling pot. Expertly she rolled the spaghetti and flicked a string into her mouth. His mother caught his gaze and wiggled her brows. He rolled his eyes back at her. It was an age-old test his mother performed on all the women he brought to the house. If they asked to help they got points. If they knew how to test the pasta, they were marriage material.

Ava had failed.

"One more minute. That lasagna smells divine."

Toni snatched a pizzelle from Sophia's hand and put it in his mouth. "Mamma, you cooked enough for ten people."

"You and Sophia polish off one lasagna by yourselves. Danica and I want to eat too."

Without asking, Dani reached for the strainer and tackled the pasta. "What else do you need? I see garlic. Do you need it chopped?"

"You will be doing enough cooking starting tomorrow. Sophia needs to learn how to dice properly."

"Nonna, I'm better. Dani showed me." Sophia popped up from the table and found a knife and a small garlic bulb. They all watched as she began to slice, slow at first, then with a little more fervor.

His mother let out a happy yelp and tears sprang to her eyes. She grabbed Sophia to her chest.

"Such a good girl."

"Ma, it's a little garlic."

"It's tradition. Now, Toni and Dani finish setting the table. Sophia and I will finish here."

Toni poured himself some wine.

"Follow me."

Toni stopped at the elaborate setting. The cherrywood table shined. His nonna's good china and crystal goblets graced four place settings. A chilled decanter of Lambrusco sat at the head of the table. Silver utensils sat in a pile for placement.

What the hell? The last time his mother brought out the china he'd brought Ava to meet her. Alarm bells went off in his head.

He planted the wineglasses on the table and whipped around to Dani's confused look.

"I'll be right back."

"Sophia, go help Dani," he said, storming back into the kitchen. He waited till she left and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Mamma, why is the good china out?"

"Whaaat? I know it's not romantic having your mother and daughter at the table, but—"

"Romantic? What are you on about?"

"Marcello said you liked her."

"He what?"

"He said you couldn't stop talking about her when you visited last. I must say, she's not your usual type. She's a woman."

"Of course she's a woman—"

"I mean she's not a woman-child like Ava. This one has all the curves in the right places, huh? Like your mother." She winked and elbowed him, then turned back to cutting the lasagna.

Toni knew Dani's curves intimately, but he would never tell his mother that. Not because he was embarrassed. On the contrary, his mother was a modern woman, but he just wasn't sure Dani would feel comfortable and he was doing his best to keep his hands and his eyes to himself.

"I can't believe you just said that."

"I saw you looking at her body outside by the car. You like her."

They both turned when movement came from the doorway.

Dani put her palms up. "Um... I'm so sorry. Sophia spilled Toni's wine on the table. I'll just grab this cloth."

Dani avoided their gazes and quickly snagged the white cloth from the counter before leaving.

Toni sighed hard. "I can't believe this."

Toni stared at the doorway where Dani had appeared and disappeared.

"Grazie, Mamma."

"You're overreacting. She likes you too."

"Mamma, stop! Wait, why do you think that?"

His mother chuckled and picked up one of the lasagnas.

"A mother knows. Now bring the other plate. You need to eat something. You're too skinny."

Toni pinched the bridge of his nose and then dropped his hand when he heard a low snicker from the doorway. His mother was gone, but Dani stood laughing behind her fist.

"I've been sent to get you."

"How much did you hear?"

"If we are talking about the part where you were checking me out, then all of it."

"I wasn't—" he held up air quotes "—checking you out."

"I saw you, but it's okay. They are spectacular..."

"Oh, I remember how spectacular they are." Her blush urged him on. "But if making sure that you had a handle on the bags is checking you out, then fine. I did it."

"The bags weren't on my breasts, they were on my shoulder. You just did it again."

"Did what?"

"Looked at my breasts."

"Well, you're talking about them."

"Yes, we are talking." She circled her hand over her face. "And my eyes are up here. Ground rule number one..."

"Maybe you should take your own advice?"

"Excuse me?"

"You've been checking me out too."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"The other night. You couldn't keep your eyes out of my shirt."

"Um, maybe you should learn how to button it."

"Well, that shouldn't matter. My eyes—" he circled his face as she did "—are up here."

"You've lost it." Exasperated but smiling at the turnabout, she moved toward the lasagna.

Toni quickly picked it up and moved around her. He turned back when he reached the doorway.

"Uh, uh, uh, eyes up here." He smirked when her hands flew to her hips. She was looking. The thought made him smile.

Toni set the second lasagna on the table just as Dani entered, half smiling and shaking her head. They both took their seats.

"What, Mamma?" Toni said to his mother's cheerful expression. Her eyes darted between them.

"I'm going to get the champagne. Love is in the air!" Her arms rose toward the heavens.

"No!" Dani and Toni shouted.

"Mamma, no more wine for you."

"Mrs. Lorenzetti, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your son and I aren't in love. I'm only here to help Marcello and your family and then I'm going back home to...well... I'm not sure, but back to America. There's no love affair. Not even close."

His mother leaned in.

"It's because he's too thin isn't it?"

"Ma!"

"Toni, you lost weight during your divorce and never put it back on." His mother scooped the lasagna onto his plate. "Eat this right now."

"It's because of all the women he dates," Sophia said with a mouthful of lasagna.

Toni looked at his daughter. "Stay out of this. And get that phone off of the table."

"Dio, I hope you aren't doing that Timber, Toni."

Sophia tossed a prosciutto strip to the dog. "Tinder, Nonna."

Toni served Dani a large helping of lasagna and Caprese salad. "Ignore them. I do."

Dani laughed, then took a bite of her lasagna. The sound she made was one of pure pleasure. "Wow, this tastes even better than it smells." His mother beamed and served her another helping even though she was barely through the first.

Toni couldn't take his eyes off Dani as she closed her eyes and took another bite, slowly licking the fork clean. "Magnifico."

"Is there someone special in your life, Dani?"

Toni saw Dani tense. "No, not right now. But I'm not looking, either. I think it's time to reevaluate my priorities."

"Amen to that," Toni said under his breath.

"Maybe that's best, then love can overtake you when you least expect it." Her eyes darted between him and Dani.

His mother was as subtle as an elephant in a parade.

"I've always told Toni that what he likes is not what he needs. If he'd have listened, then you wouldn't have...well you know."

"Divorced," Sophia said with a mouth full of food.

Toni raised his eyebrows at the only good thing that came out of his marriage. "Enough."

His gaze shifted to Dani. She gave him a teasing smile and he was surprised at his body's urge to lean over and kiss her. He shoved his mouth full of food instead, grimacing when his mother continued giving advice.

"Danica, you need a man who can challenge you. It's more sexually exciting."

Toni and Sophia moaned in appalled horror. He glanced at Dani, nervous she was becoming offended by his mother's candid speech, recalling Ava's quick embarrassment every time his mother opened her mouth, but Dani laughed aloud, her brows lifted in wonderment.

"Mamma, please. Danica likes strong quiet types, like Martin, the manager at Armani Ristornante."

His mother blew a breath from her lips. "The man can do nothing without being told. You don't want that. Listen to an old woman."

"Can I try some wine?"

Three heads swiveled to Sophia. His mother, seeing it as a right of passage, poured her a little and guided her through the swish, smell and taste. It was a beautiful sight, but one Toni would rather put off for another ten years. His daughter was growing up. Boys, now wine. What was next? Tinder as his mother had brought up? At least the dating talk was over.

"Mamma, has Marcello decided on the surgery?" He needed a distraction from any more thoughts of who was and wasn't good for him. Because regardless of how much he teased his mother, he was beginning to wonder if what was good for him was sitting right next to him.