Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"Look at this skin, it's perfect." Dani closed her eyes as Roberto pressed a spongy thing all over her face. If her skin was so perfect, why did she need so much foundation?

"Those are my genes, Roberto, make no mistake." Her mother was next to her, putting on her own false eyelashes in the mirror while three stylists buzzed behind them putting together the looks for the shoot.

"I know it. She's like your Mini-Me. Okay, Mini-Me, look up." Dani gritted her teeth as a mascara brush was dangerously close to her eyeball.

Walking through the offices of Vogue had been a bit of a dream come true, but sitting in a chair for hours in a small dingy dressing room? Not so much.

Roberto hummed RuPaul as he worked, instructing her to look up, then down, then purse her lips, then make an O. "This is so exciting. Mommy dearest is going to show you the ropes!"

Francesca's interrupted her blowout to turn her head. "Stop calling me that. I am not Joan Crawford." Her mother turned toward the mirror with a sultry look. "More like Dorothy Dandridge."

"Well, I heard she was crazy too," Roberto snickered. "Okay, all done. Open those eyes, Mini-Me."

Dani blinked at her reflection. She wasn't even sure it was her. If she saw a picture of this woman she'd think she was...gorgeous. Her gaze shifted to Roberto.

"You're a genius."

Roberto nodded. "I am. But you didn't need much help, Mini-Me. A little mascara here, some eyeliner there, and a BB cream to even out your skin tone. You're hot. Oh, to be young again. Right, Fannie?"

"You said it, Robbie." Francesca looked at her. "You look stunning, sweetheart."

Stunning.The word brought back heart-wrenching memories. She hadn't heard from him, which she supposed was normal when you said goodbye to someone, but in this case she was hoping he wouldn't listen.

She'd had fantasies of him barging into the hotel and declaring his love. Or at least a declarative phone call. She'd even accept a text.

"What's wrong, Danica?" Roberto put his hands on her shoulders and peered at her reflection.

"Nothing. I'm fine. Just nervous."

"She's having man trouble," her mother said, shaking out her roller-curled hair.

"Humph, aren't we all?" Roberto pursed his lips. "What'd he do? Cheat? Take your money? Is it drugs?"

"Robbie, who are you dating? Convicts?" said her mother.

He shrugged. "You know who I'm talking about."

"Oh jeez." Her mother rolled her eyes and Dani smiled at their easy friendship. Roberto turned to Dani and put a finger over his lips as he whispered.

"He's famous." Roberto giggled. "Dani, tell me everything."

"There isn't much to tell. He lives here and I don't. Plus he has family drama to work out. It's best that we ended our relationship."

Roberto stared at her with a sad face. "That sounds very mature. But why can't you find a job here and stay?"

"She doesn't want to. She wants to come to California with me," her mother said.

Roberto looked at her from the side of his eye. "You're here all the time. You can visit her." He turned to Dani. "Are you in love with him?"

Dani blinked at her reflection, and then her eyes slid toward her mother's watchful gaze. She was relieved when the head stylists announced it was time for wardrobe.

They chose three looks for them both: denim, casual and glam. Dani posed with her mother for the first few shoots, feeling more comfortable by the time they got to the glam shoot.

Her red sleeveless bodycon dress had lace along her midriff and upper chest so only one solid covered her breasts. Paired with black heels, it was the epitome of sexy. And it fit perfectly.

She didn't "suck it in" nor was she instructed to pose a certain way to minimize her body. She had fun with her mother and at the end of her shoot, she felt beautiful. Like a Botticelli.

Would she ever stop thinking of him?

Then her mother posed alone for the cover shoot and things got intense. Dani overheard the photographer whispering about her loose skin, her sagging breasts, her small belly. There was the ugliness her mother had tried to keep from her.

Head high, Francesca walked off the photo shoot amid a round of applause, but when she got to the dressing room, she was depleted.

She magically took her strapless push-up bra off from under her dress and threw it on the counter.

"That was killing me."

"You looked amazing, Mother."

"I hate that photographer." Francesca then turned to Dani. "Are you sure you want to come to LA?"

"Yes," Dani shrugged. "I think I could find work there."

Francesca lowered her gaze, then turned back to her mirror. "Roberto and I are going for dinner. Would you like to come? Oh, by the way. The dress and shoes you're wearing as well as the others are yours to keep."

"Nice perk."

"That doesn't always happen. But I wanted you to have them."

"Thank you, for the dresses. And for today." She felt closer to her mother in the last twenty-four hours than she ever had, but she still couldn't pull herself out of the dumps. Nor could she get Toni off of her mind. "I'm going to head back to the hotel."

Thirty minutes later Dani walked into her hotel lobby and turned her head at the concierge's soft gasp and nod of approval. Maybe she should have joined her mother and Roberto, she thought. Why let this make up and dress go to waste.

She was almost to the elevators when someone called out her name.

She slowly turned and scanned the lobby just as Toni stood from one of the lounge chairs.

Dani felt her heart flip-flop in her chest. Her first instinct was to run to him and throw her arms around his neck. Instead she gave him a neutral smile and strode toward him, frowning when an older man with a briefcase stood when she arrived.

"Hi, Toni."

"Dani." His gaze was fixed on her face, then traveled up and down her dress. His hands went in his pockets, and then he brought them back out. "Um, this is Signore Russo. He, um, he's handling Marcello's will. Why are you dressed like this?"

"I had a photo shoot with my mother. Did you say Marcello's will?"

"Oh, okay. And yes," he sighed, still staring at her with an intense gaze.

"You seem relieved."

"I am." His jaw clenched.

"What did you think I was doing in this dress?"

"Having dinner with someone other than me." Toni's gaze slid to the signore. "Russo needs to speak with you. Do you mind if I stay?"

"Are you going to frown the whole time?"

"Maybe." He gave her his seat and moved to an adjacent one, his gaze still on her.

"What can I do for you, Signore Russo?"

Toni didn't stop looking at her while the old lawyer found his glasses and shuffled through his papers. Toni looked like a lounging tiger ready to strike, his expression like a mask.

"Here we are. Miss Nilsson, you've been named as a beneficiary of one-third owner of Via Carciofo and one-third owner of Via Olivia. And it says here he has left you his knives. If you just sign here, the transactions will be complete."

It took Dani a moment to fully comprehend what Russo was telling her. It must have been all over her face, because Toni leaned over and grabbed her hand. "He left you his shares of the restaurants, Dani."

She squeezed Toni's hand. "And his knives." She was going to cry.

"Sì, signora." Once Dani signed her name, Russo handed her his card and left.

Toni took the empty seat in front of her. "Are you okay?"

"I think so. I just can't believe he's gone."

"I know."

"Did you know about the will?"

"I only found out today. He must have loved you very much."

"How do you feel about me having a part of your restaurants?"

"How do I feel?" The edges of his mouth flickered. "I know I said I didn't want to get involved but I haven't felt whole since you told me you were leaving. I don't want to run these restaurants without you. And I can't deny how strong my feelings are for you any longer."

"You have feelings for me?" She didn't dare believe it.

"Dani, you have no idea how much I want to poke out the eyes of every man that has seen you in this dress. You really have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?"

"Toni—"

"I can't stop thinking about you. Tell me you've been thinking about me too."

"I have. But—"

Toni unfolded from his chair, took Dani's hand and pulled her from her seat right into his arms. His mouth was warm and firm and he held her as if she was essential to his existence. Her hands ran over his arms, feeling the power of his body as he bent her back with the force of his need. It matched her own.

Toni eased her away from him when a group of tourists rapidly pressed the elevator button.

"Let's go to your room. This is too public," Toni whispered.

They didn't speak in the elevator, but Toni's hand secretly trailed up and down her back. When they walked down the hallway to Dani's room, Toni kept that hand solidly in the small of her back. Once inside the room, however, they crossed the suite to her bedroom and that hand spun her around and pressed her up against the inside of the door.

Their mouths fused, fierce and demanding. He pulled back slowly and his fingertips teased over the lace of the dress.

"Do you know how many men were looking at you in the lobby?" he said, shoving out of his jacket. His hand gripped then caressed her throat as he spoke, and then he turned her face to nip and suck at her neck. "Those men wanted to make love to you." He pulled back to look at her, his gaze burning with lust. "Just the thought of them touching you makes me crazy."

"Well, now you know how it feels. How is Ava doing?" His eyes flared.

"Ava is well aware of who I want." He jerked off his jacket and tossed it on the chair. Then she saw his gaze drop to her packed bags in the corner of the room. "How about I help you unpack those bags?"

"Why should I stay?" Dani remained against the wall, watching him prowl the room like a panther. His hands went from his pockets to run through his hair and back. She knew his cues now. Emotions were boiling she just needed them to spill over.

"You have a business to run now."

"Why shouldn't I just sell my shares to you and go home?" He ripped off his tie and threw it on the dresser.

"I'm not buying your shares."

"Someone will buy them." His eyes flashed.

"Don't you dare."

"I dare you to tell me why I should stay?"

He stopped then and stared at her. His mouth opened then closed. "We want to open the restaurant for good next week in Marcello's honor. He would want you to cook."

She slumped away from the wall and stalked toward him. She grabbed the back of his head.

"You chickenshit." Her lips crashed against his and Toni kissed her back with abandon.

He gently peeled her out of the dress, taking extra care with the lace fabric, kissing and sucking the newly exposed skin. Her bra and panties disappeared like smoke. "Leave the shoes," he instructed, ripping off his shirt and undoing his pants. "And get on the bed."

Dani lay back and reached for Toni. He stood over her, shirt gone, pants unbuckled. His gaze racked over her body.

"You're incredible," he murmured, pulling himself out of his pants and stroking the long length.

She was aching for him, getting hotter and wetter watching him run his hands over himself.

"Toni—" she breathed, his possessive attitude making her hotter and hotter.

"Spread your legs for me," he instructed, and her knees fell open at his command. "Mine," he murmured.

Her heart almost jumped out of her chest, desire pulsing through her at the thought of being solely his possession.

He lowered his mouth and nuzzled her breasts, his lips nipping and sucking her nipples until she was writhing uncontrollably.

"Turn over—get on your hands and knees for me." His voice was laced with raw need, making her shudder at the sound. She did as he asked and flipped her hair as she turned back to look at him.

She felt his palm smack then knead one bare cheek. The other hand smoothed over her shoulder and executed a light grip.

"You're not leaving," he breathed into her ear.

Then he thrust into her in one hard surge, burying his impressive length all at once. Dani moaned as the strength of his hips drove her face closer to the bed.

He groaned and stilled, bending to give her a small kiss on her back, and his hands settled on her hips in a strong grip.

He pounded into her, thick and strong, filling her fully with every relentless pump of his hips. One hand grabbed the heel of her black stiletto and bent her knee up, pushing her forward and opening her hips even more.

Dani clawed at the duvet as he drove deeper still, feeling like he was taking over her entire body.

He was wild and unapologetic inside her, and she loved every minute of it. Never had any man made her feel so desired.

She cried out as she came all around him, her swollen flesh gripping him, and pulled a throaty yelp from his throat.

Her body jolted and stars burst behind her eyes, yet he still surged hard and sure, gripped her body even more.

"You can't imagine how it feels," he said, his voice low in her ear as he leaned over her, "to have you come while I'm inside you."

Toni exploded in a rush of grunts as he thrust himself into her one final time, his hands digging into her skin as he rode out his orgasm deep within her.

They fell onto the bed into a heap of sweaty skin and heavy breathing, rolling over to lay next to each other. Toni moved onto his elbow and traced one of Dani's nipples with his fingertip. Dani let her eyes drift shut.

"I have to leave town for a couple days," he said, his voice throaty and full. "But I'll be back in time for the opening." His hand caressed her cheek, then gently turned her face toward his. "Unpack those bags. You're not leaving."

Dani opened her eyes and studied his handsome face. His voice sounded confident, but his eyes held a plea. "I'm staying," she said, looking into his eyes. Then added, "For now."

His brows slashed over his eyes at that comment, but he stayed quiet. His eyes held a warning that made her smile a little. She wasn't going anywhere, but he didn't need to know that.

She part owned not one but two restaurants, she wasn't going to throw that away.

Dani put on a robe while Toni dressed leisurely, kissing and touching her without hesitation or persuasion, like she was his possession. His woman.

"I'll call you tomorrow from the airport to make sure you haven't changed your mind."

"Yes, sir."

"I like that."

"Don't get used to it."

She walked him to the door and she gave him a long thorough kiss in the threshold.

"Tell Sophia I said hi."

"Yes, Chef."

"I like that."

"Get used to it." He gave her one last quick kiss and turned into the hallway, running straight into Francesca and Roberto. Her mother's eyes were wide and Roberto's hand flew to his chest. Dani could only imagine what she looked like and clutched her robe closed further.

Toni kissed Francesca's hand and nodded a hello to Roberto, and then the three of them watched him walk down the hall. Dani broke the ice.

"So, it looks like I might be staying, after all."