Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The next morning Toni and Dani drove to Milan to drop Sophia off at school and visit the markets to schedule deliveries for the opening at the end of the week. Dani scheduled lunch with her mother, but before then Toni made good on his promise to show her the Botticelli exhibit at the Pinacoteca di Brera gallery.

Venus stood comfortable and seductive in her half shell making Dani wonder if someone posed for the painting or if she was a figment of Botticelli's imagination. The collection, on loan from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, was curated to focus on the artist's more pagan ideologies as the walls were filled with paintings of Greek and Roman mythology. Gods were square and muscular while the goddesses were fleshy and curvaceous. Sensual. Toni had used the term to describe Venus.

Dani had never felt that sensual standing nude in front of a mirror but there had been exceptions, recently. The things Toni had whispered in her ear the night before had made her feel sensual, and she had definitely been naked.

"His muse was the love of his life. But she was married to another," Toni murmured behind her. His breath at her ear left tingles down her spine, as did the way he laced his fingers into hers.

It wasn't supposed to feel this way.

She wasn't supposed to yearn for his touch or get excited when he brushed her arm. They had rules, which they had broken more than once, but just as the dawn broke through the clouds that morning they had agreed to focus. The launch was in four days and they didn't feel ready.

They may have sealed that pact with a kiss or two, but the minute she crept half-naked back to her room and closed the door, Cinderella had turned back into the maid, er, the chef.

"Venus was a real woman?"

"Her name was Simonetta Vespucci and she was a figure in several of his other paintings, as well. She died at age twenty-two. And he asked to be buried at her feet when he died."

"Isn't that a little rude? She was another man's wife."

Amused, Toni's gaze ran over her face. "Some would say it's romantic."

"Some would say crazy."

"There is no sense in love."

Toni led her by the hand and held it as they stopped in front of another painting.

Dani recognized Venus-Simonetta instantly in her pagan gowns. Then her gaze settled on the three scantily dressed women dancing to Venus's right.

"The dancers look like the statue at the restaurant. What did you call them? Graces?"

"Very good. It was a way for an artist to show the female body three ways simultaneously. There are statues like this throughout Rome. Full hips, round bellies." He pulled her closer to him and looked into her eyes. "Beautiful."

Dani licked her lips and tried to get her lust under control.

"How do you know so much about this?"

"I studied art history."

"Oh, I thought you would have studied business."

"I learned business from my family. But wine, the arts, music. I studied in college, and life."

"Music? Do you play an instrument?"

"I play a guitar."

"Of course you do."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I can see young Toni luring women with his smile and acoustic melodies."

"Well, I didn't have a bow like Cupid. I improvised."

Dani felt the atmosphere thicken. She knew all too well how good he was at improvisation.

Dani turned to the painting. Cupid hovered above Venus, but his bow was raised toward the Graces and a nearby unsuspecting male god reaching for an orange in a tree above him.

"Looks like someone is about to get lucky."

"I think you're about to get lucky."

Dani turned just in time to catch Toni's lips, and then he pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"Oops. Did I break the rules?" he said with a wicked smile.

"Yes." Dani looked around and saw only a few morning patrons. "We said we'd behave."

"Why does the word behave make people not want to behave?"

"I think that's just you."

"Va benne, angel." He kissed her hand, then let it go by her side. It felt cold suddenly. "Have I told you how beautiful you look this morning?"

Dani cocked a brow. He did tell her right before they had gotten into the car. He'd pulled her into his bathroom, locked them in and kissed her senseless. There were broken rules all over the place.

Dani chose an off-the-shoulder top for lunch with her mother. Toni trailed a finger over her exposed shoulder. "I like this top."

She shivered. Who was she kidding? Things weren't going to go back to the way they were. They had achieved a new level of intimacy and the only way to keep things neutral was to keep having sex. Dani swallowed hard.

"I think it's time for me to go."

"Don't run from me."

"I'm not running from you, I'm going to brunch with my mother. After ten minutes there, I guarantee I'll be running back to you."

"I like the sound of that." His smile faded. "Do you regret our sleeping together?"

"No, but I think we need to be careful. I don't want to upset Sophia or get your mother's hopes up."

"You're so logical. How did I not know this about you?"

"I think it's because your focus is usually just on yourself."

He feigned offense and gazed at her under narrowed lids. "Now you owe me one last kiss."

Her blood pulsed a little harder. "If I must."

Toni put his hand behind her head and pulled her mouth to his. She hadn't expected the raw sexual heat of his kiss or her own passionate response. They were in the middle of a semicrowded museum, and all she could think about was getting him naked and putting her mouth on his chest tattoo.

"Toni?"

Dani heard the small voice, then felt Toni stiffen and pull back. He twisted around and unblocked her view. There stood Ava, a snarl on her face, her eyes darting back and forth between her and Toni.

"It's not what you think," Toni said to Ava.

What? Dani flicked her gaze to the side of his face, studying his reaction as if she didn't hear what she thought she heard. Ava's gaze traveled over Dani, making her want to hide behind one of the statues.

"I know you...you're Francesca's daughter. The chef. You've really gotten desperate haven't you, Toni? First that teacher and now..."

"Ava!" Toni snapped. "Whom I spend time with is none of your business." Ava cocked her head and looked at Dani.

"He didn't tell you we were back together, did he?"

Toni stepped toward Ava, but she turned and hurried away, but not before giving Dani a disgusted look.

"Wait!" Toni called after his ex-wife, then whipped his head around to Dani as if suddenly remembering she was there. He didn't touch her, just stared at her as if he'd never seen her before. "I have to take care of this. Text me when you are done, we'll drive back."

He was gone just like that. As were the feelings she had been experiencing all morning. Suddenly her heart thudded like a rock and her skin felt grimy. Stupid top. Stupid girl.

She felt invisible. Maybe she really was a ghost.

Toni wasn't sure why he was running after Ava. Habit? Sophia? All he knew was that he didn't like the vindictive look in his ex-wife's eyes. The last time he'd seen her like this, he received a call from his lawyer saying Ava had filed for full custody. And by the way she snarled at Dani, Toni wasn't the only one on her shit list.

After he handled this, he'd find Dani and explain. The hurt and confusion that had passed over her face tore at his soul. What was Ava playing at? He needed this charade with Ava to end. He wanted stability. He wanted...Dani.

Toni caught up with Ava and cut her off before she hit the exit. A sadistic smile spread across her face at the sight of him.

He took her roughly by the elbow and led her to a less crowded corner. Then gritted his teeth as he spoke with barely leashed anger.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"It's a public museum, Toni. And I love Botticelli too. Remember?" Toni stared at her, hard. "Fine, Grace told me you'd be here."

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to see you."

"No, you didn't. That jilted lover scene was beautiful, Ava. You should have pursued acting instead."

"Did you see the look on her face? Nobody wants a guy with a crazy ex. But really, Toni, I did you a favor. She's not your usual style."

"And they don't get crazier than you, Ava. And I thank God she's not usual. It's refreshing to date someone who isn't a complete narcissist."

Her eyes narrowed. "Be careful, Toni. Our custody arrangement can always change. But that's not what I want. I want you."

Toni rolled his eyes dramatically. He wanted to say that she must overestimate her mothering skills to think a court would choose her over him. He took the high road instead. "What is this, Ava? Are you in debt? Because I am having a really hard time believing that you still love me when you have been recently photographed with another man."

"Ha! You're jealous."

"Jealous? Is that why you did it? To get to me?" He grimaced. "Sophia saw that picture and cried. Doesn't our daughter factor into any of your schemes?"

Ava's smile deflated into a hard line. "You're the one with the live-in girlfriend at the moment. After you promised we'd work on our marriage."

"We are divorced! And I never agreed to work on us. I said I'd think about it. I decided the answer is no. Meanwhile, you were perfectly happy signing those papers when your lover was around."

He could see that by the shocked look on her face that his barb hit home, but instead of rail at him, she broke down. Her shoulders trembled as she bit back tears.

"I don't understand how we got here, Ava. One day you're happy to be a mother to our daughter, the next you were out at all hours of the night with strange men. Was a family life with me and Sophia so bad?"

Ava clutched at her chest and a quick rush of tears sat in her eyes. She dabbed at them with a manicured nail, checking to make sure no one saw. Her tears had melted his heart many times, but this time he wasn't going to let this go. The look of hurt and mistrust in Dani's eyes had infuriated him. Whatever was going on had to be squashed. Now.

"What do you want, Ava? What do you really want?"

She gave him a long look under thick, perfectly glued on eyelashes and darkened brows. She was camera ready at all times, and yet Toni didn't recognize her, not anymore. When did she go from a fresh-faced cover model to this heavily made-up ice queen?

"My life hasn't been the same since we divorced. You were always the stable one, picking me up when I fell down. I want that back, I want us back. It will be better for Sophia..."

"Stop acting like you want this for Sophia."

"I do think of Sophia! Every day!" Her hands shook as she pulled out a tissue from her purse and dabbed more at her eyes. "My contract is up soon and they are not going to renew. My publicist and I tried to stage a few stunts to get my name out there again, see if we could force them into keeping me, or attract another avenue. Reality TV maybe?" She giggled uncomfortably. "They wanted me to do a sex tape—"

"For the love of God, Ava."

"I said no, Toni. But I had to do something. So I went out to the most prominent parties, got photographed with men. I'm not sleeping with any of them, I just needed the PR."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Did it work?"

"No. Your new girlfriend's mother is all anyone is talking about right now."

"She's an icon."

"She's old! It's ridiculous."

"This has nothing to do with me, so why are you pretending you want me back?"

"I'm not pretending. I'm going to retire. I'm going to change. We were good together once. You remember, I know you do." She slid herself into his arms, then stiffened when she saw something over his shoulder.

He followed her gaze and saw two suit-clad men in the doorway, their gazes where locked onto her. Slowly, she stepped away from him and righted herself.

"Who are they?"

"Um, drivers. I have a shoot today." She placed her tissue back in her purse.

"Think about what I said."

"About what, Ava?"

"About us."

Dani flashed in his mind. "No. There is no us. We are co-parents and...we could be friends, but no more."

"I don't believe that. You're just caught up in love again. It will be over soon. You'll come back to me."

"This is over, Ava." He said it with pointed distinction.

"It will never be over, Toni." She began to walk toward her drivers, then turned. "Oh, and good luck with the restaurant. I'll see you Friday night."

Toni's eyes widened. He'd forgotten that she received an invitation.

He checked the time and hurried back to the Botticelli exhibit. He'd promised Dani that he would drive her to brunch. If they hurried she could still make it. He rushed to where he last saw her. The crowd had thickened with tourists and art lovers, but there was no sign of her.