will?” The words echoed around the patio.
“Why does everyone sound so shocked? It’ll be good publicity for the firm.” But that wasn’t his reason for agreeing—it was to see the smiles on the two women in his life...and his brother.
Marianna launched herself into his arms. Warmth swelled in his chest. He may not have been here to protect her and watch over her as he should have been, but at least he could give her something to look forward to while she sorted out the rest of her life.
Marianna pulled back and sent him a watery smile. “Thanks.”
He turned to Kayla. She looked like an excited kid on Christmas Eve. “How about you? Are you up for taking on some more responsibility?”
Kayla didn’t waste a moment before uttering, “Definitely. Just tell me what needs done.”
“Good.” He turned to his brother. “It looks like you’ve hired yourself a team. I’ll get started on the pitch as soon as we get back to New York.”
“New York?” Nico’s brows gathered together.
“Yes, that’s where we work. I’ll send through what I come up with, but it’s going to take me a little time. I have a rush project that I—we—have to wrap up—”
“This can’t wait. You have to get started on it right away.”
Angelo didn’t like the worried tone of his brother’s voice. “Why? What haven’t you told us?”
Nico got to his feet. “Does anyone need anything else to drink?”
Angelo knew a stalling tactic when he saw one. “Nico, spit it out. What is the catch?”
After Nico finished refilling Kayla’s iced tea, he turned to his brother. “The catch is the pitch has to be completed in no more than three weeks’ time.”
“Three weeks.” Angelo leaned back in his chair. “You sure don’t give a person much time.”
“And—”
“There’s more?”
Nico nodded. “The presentation has to be given to the royal family at the palace in Halencia.”
Nico sank down into his chair while Angelo charged to his feet. “This changes everything. I wasn’t planning to stay in Italy for three weeks. Nico, don’t you understand? I have a business to run.”
“You’re the boss. Can’t you put someone else in charge while you’re here?”
Angelo never sloughed off his work on other people. He stayed on top of things. Some people called him a control freak. He considered it the only way to keep the company on track. “That’s not the point. There are certain things only I can do.”
“The point is that when we need you, you’re never here.” Nico got to his feet and faced him. “Why should I have thought this would be any different?”
His brother’s words were pointed and needled at his guilt. “That’s not fair. I’ve lent you money for the vineyard—”
“This isn’t about you writing out a check. I’m talking about you personally investing yourself—your time—in something that’s important to your family.”
Angelo turned to Marianna, looking for support, but she moved to Nico’s side. When he sought out Kayla, she was busy studying her iced tea glass with such intensity that it was as if she’d never seen glassware before. He was alone in this. He knew what he should do, but it was so hard to just hand over the reins of the company he’d built from the ground up.
Three weeks was a long time to be away. And yet it wasn’t much time to create a compelling campaign for a wedding—a royal wedding. It had just started to sink in what a big deal this really was for his brother and sister, and the village, plus it would be amazing for his company—that is if they won the pitch.
Angelo raked his fingers through his hair. Letting go of the reins at Amatucci & Associates went against every business instinct. Yet, he couldn’t turn his back on his siblings again. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
Marianna turned to Kayla. “Will you stay, too?”
“Yes, Kayla,” Nico chimed in. “Will you help my brother? I get the feeling that he won’t be able to do it without you.”
Kayla’s eyes flashed with surprise. “I don’t know that I need to stay in Italy to do it.”
“It’d be most convenient,” Marianna pointed out. “I’m sure Angelo will need your input. After all, we’re talking about a wedding. And my brothers, well, they aren’t exactly romantic.”
“Hey!” Nico and Angelo protested in unison.
Both women burst out in laughter. Angelo supposed the dig was worth it as his sister’s face broke into a smile. And when he turned to Kayla, the happiness reflected in her eyes warmed a spot in his chest. She was a very beautiful woman. Why, oh, why did it have to be now when they were practically attached at the hip that he truly realized his attraction to her?
When she caught him staring, the breath hitched in his throat. He should glance away, but he couldn’t. He was in awe of her. Was it being away from the office that had him more relaxed about the proper conduct between employer and employee? Nonsense. He knew what he was doing. He could keep this together.
He gazed directly at the woman who took up more and more of his thoughts. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense. Will you remain in Italy and lend a hand?”
THIS WAS A very bad idea.
But it was so tempting. How could she let such a rare opportunity pass her by?
Kayla worried her bottom lip. Though she wouldn’t be working directly on the royal wedding, she’d be close at hand. Perhaps she could add an idea here and there. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to actually work on the project itself. Yet, she understood with the magnitude of a royal wedding that only the best of the best would work on the project, and that meant Angelo.
But she was needed back in New York. The ICL fund-raiser was quickly approaching, and seeing as it was her idea—it was her responsibility to make sure it went off without a hitch. However, she had put Pam, an associate at the after-school program, in charge while she was gone. And how much could possibly go wrong in three weeks?
“Please say you’ll stay.” Marianna looked so hopeful. “I could use someone on my side against my brothers, who think they know everything.”
That sold her. Marianna could definitely use some help keeping her brothers in line while she figured out her next move. “Okay, I’ll stay.”
Everyone smiled except Angelo.
Aside from the fund-raiser, there was nothing waiting for her back in New York, not even a goldfish. When she wasn’t at the office,
