there’s something I’m missing and I’d like to understand.”
Surprise reflected in her green gaze. “I...I don’t have money to buy them a proper wedding gift. I know it’s silly, but I want to create a cozy wedding with a personal touch. Lizzie doesn’t know I’m doing all of this. And don’t you tell her.”
He felt like such an unfeeling lowlife now. The money aspect had never even crossed his mind. And he had to admit Jules’s gift would surpass even the most expensive offering because it came from the heart.
“Your gift will be their favorite.” And he meant it. “What can I do to help, aside from making flowers? I don’t think mine would be suitable for anything but the garbage.”
Jules’s stance eased, and she asked if she could use his computer to order some favors. She listed off things he never would have thought of, including wedding bubbles and sparklers. It would definitely be a wedding to remember.
“You’re welcome to use my computer anytime. Now, how about taking a break to eat?”
She settled back on the floor, right in the middle of the mess. “I’ll get to it later. I’m excited to see how many of these I can get done today. And Apricot is being a big help.”
Stefano looked dubiously at the kitten running around and batting at the scraps of colorful tissue paper. Well, as long as Jules was happy, he was fine with it.
“I’ve got some work at the barn that I need to do. If you need me, I’ll be there.”
She gathered a stack of tissue paper and pushed a round punch through the sheets. “We’re good. Huh, Apricot?”
The kitten gave her a quick glance and then returned to playing.
Stefano felt guilty as he walked away. But seriously, having him make tissue-paper flowers would have been an utter disaster. Maybe he could help with her internet shopping. That was something he could do.
With a plan in mind, his steps toward the barn grew quicker. She didn’t want help from strangers, but that didn’t include him. They’d moved past being strangers a while back. Where they were headed he wasn’t quite sure.
He walked into the office just in time to find his father shutting down the computer. “Calling it a day already?”
Papa jerked his salt-and-pepper head up. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in. Umm...yes. I thought I’d take a break.”
“You feeling all right?”
“Of course.” Frown lines creased Papa’s tanned face. “Am I that much of a workaholic that you think because I am out of the office something must be wrong?”
Since when did his father become so defensive?
Stefano shrugged, trying to take a neutral stance. “Is there anything around here that needs my immediate attention?”
His father rubbed his jaw. Instead of the gray stubble that normally dotted it, it was clean shaven. “Not that I can think of. I’ve calculated the number of new barrels we’ll need for the fall harvest, and I’ve ordered the supplies. They should be here in a few weeks.”
“What about the email? Is it backed up? It always seems they come in faster than I can respond to them.”
“No, I just finished responding to the last email. Things are pretty quiet right now. I was thinking that perhaps we should consider increasing the number of wine-tasting events we host. It’d be good for the business, and I think it’d be well received.”
Stefano nodded. “You know we have one coming up before the wedding.”
“I do. I just think that we can do more.”
It’d been one of those things that he’d been meaning to get to, but there was always something else that needed his attention first. But it seemed his father was on top of everything. Good for him. Right now, Stefano was actually kind of enjoying this downtime.
“You headed out to the fields?” Stefano asked, feeling obligated to accompany him. “I can give you a hand.”
Papa’s bushy brows rose. “Um...no, that isn’t necessary. I’m going to have some caffè first. Why don’t you take the day off?”
That was the problem; he didn’t want to slow down because then his thoughts would take over and that would do nothing but get him in trouble. He’d start remembering his past mistakes. Or worse yet, he’d start thinking about Jules in all the wrong ways. The last thing he needed to do was to start caring about her.
His father clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s a beautiful day. Don’t spend all of it in here.”
After his father walked away, Stefano sat down at the desk. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied the coffeemaker. It was still on, and the pot was full. What in the world? Why was his father heading to the house for caffè when there was plenty here?
Stefano shook his head and gave up trying to figure out his father. He turned on the computer and found the email was in fact under control. The office was in decent shape. And there was absolutely no business requiring his attention. Good. Now he had time to help Jules with the wedding. His fingers flew over the keypad.
A little later, he headed back to the house, excited to tell Jules what he’d ordered. His steps grew faster the more he thought of her sitting on the floor in those short shorts with her bare legs showing and that contagious smile on her face. He didn’t know what it was about her that drew him in. She was unlike any other woman he’d ever known.
Maybe his problem was he spent too much time alone at this vineyard. But that was his punishment for what had happened to Gianna. He didn’t let himself go out and have a good time. He didn’t let himself think about the future because she didn’t have one.
However, now, for the first time since his wife’s tragic death, he wanted to live again. He wanted to feel alive. And that’s how Jules made him feel—heart-poundingly, soul-stirringly alive.
It was a strange sensation after living so long in self-imposed exile. He’d cut himself off from most of the outside world. He’d unknowingly followed in his father’s footsteps, even though he’d sworn that he would be different. Yet another thing he’d failed at, but he wouldn’t fail Jules. He’d do his best to help her make this wedding special.
As he drew close to the house, he saw someone exit the kitchen door. It was Maria, and she was laughing. In the past eleven or so years that she’d been tending to the house, he didn’t recall ever hearing her laugh like that—unrestricted and joyous. What could have put her in such a good mood—
His father.
Papa’s deep chuckle drifted through the air. Stefano came to a halt. What in the world was going on?
Stefano watched in amazement as the two, not noticing him, started off toward the vines as though they were going for a stroll—together. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he never would have believed his father was interested in Maria. How long had this been going on? And how had he missed it until now?
Did this explain the recent change in his father? The easiness Papa had taken on?
