be silly. It’s my responsibility to get you around.” He hadn’t meant to be so rough with her. He was frustrated with himself, not with her.
“I don’t want to put you out. With you being busy, I can get there on the train.”
In truth, he didn’t have that much to do. This wasn’t their busy time, and his father was moving around the vineyard like a man half his age. If it was because of Maria, he would be the first to admit that love suited his father. “I said I’d take you.”
“Fine.” She turned to walk away.
Guilt gnawed at him. He couldn’t let her leave with things so tense between them. He couldn’t stand the thought of her hating him. After all, they were going to be family.
He jumped to his feet and took off after her. “Hey, I’m sorry. I just have a lot on my mind right now.”
She shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I know I’ve been a bother. Always getting in the way—”
“No, you haven’t. You haven’t done a thing wrong.” He didn’t want this cold indifference to drag on. “I know I’ve been tough to live with lately. Let me make it up to you.”
“You don’t have to bother.”
“But I want to.”
“I don’t know.” She wrung her hands together. “What do you have in mind?”
He thought back to what she’d said about wanting a family and a menagerie of animals. He couldn’t help her with the family, but there were animals at the vineyard. “How would you feel about a horseback ride around the grounds?”
She worried her bottom lip. “But I’ve never been on a horse before.”
“I’ll teach you.”
Her eyes lit up. “Are you serious?”
He nodded. “Does this mean you agree?”
“I suppose.”
Was that a hint of a smile pulling at her very tempting lips? He sure hoped so.
He suddenly found himself anxious to show her the ropes. Jules could be a lot of fun—when she wasn’t upset with him. She had a way of making him smile, and it’d been a long time since he’d done that. The guy he used to be—the one who used to talk smoothly with the women and make them smile—now seemed like a stranger to him. Maybe it was time he brushed up on his skills. After all, there was no reason to make Jules miserable. She hadn’t done anything wrong except get involved with him.
And how could things go astray while taking a horseback ride? After all, they’d be on separate horses. It wasn’t like he would have a chance to wrap his arms around her and pull her close. Her lips wouldn’t be right there in front of him, ripe for the picking.
He squelched the titillating thoughts. He had to see Jules like he saw other women. He couldn’t keep lusting after her. Her future was in New York.
* * *
Jules was proud of herself.
After some coaching from Stefano and the patience of a mild-mannered horse, she was feeling at ease as Stefano guided her around the vineyard. The place was even bigger than she’d imagined. Acres and acres of vines stretched out in every direction. Stefano regaled her with stories of his family’s history on the land and how they’d been able to expand onto neighboring lands.
She really enjoyed listening to him talk. She wasn’t so sure if it was the honeyed tones of his voice or the entertaining twist he put on the tales—each story bigger and more outrageous than the last. He got her to laugh, and it felt good. It was as if a dark cloud had rolled away, letting the warm sunshine rain down on them.
They stopped on a distant hillside overlooking the villa. She wished that she’d brought her camera. This was a scene worthy of being on the back of a postcard. On the other side it should read: heaven.
Stefano alighted from Bandit, his chestnut mare with the fiery mane. The horse was spirited just like her master. And when they rode, it was if they could read each other’s thoughts. Their ride had been smooth, and Jules had enjoyed watching them.
Stefano glanced her way as though waiting for her to get down. She wasn’t about to budge, not a chance. Not without his help. She didn’t relish the thought of falling on her backside, especially in front of him. She’d never live it down.
He started toward her. “Would you like some help?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
When he stood before her, she leaned over. His hands gripped her waist as though they belonged there. Her fingers pressed to his muscled shoulders. The heat of his body permeated his shirt and warmed her hands. Her gaze met his. Her heart tap-tapped. She felt herself drowning in his bottomless eyes. The breath hitched in her throat as her body slid slowly, agonizingly, down over him.
When they stood chest to chest, there was a distinct unsteadiness in his breath. And then there was a nudge behind her. The horse had given her a healthy shove until her entire body was pressed against Stefano’s unmoving form. In the next instance, his mouth pressed to hers. It was only then that she was willing to admit how much she’d longed for this moment.
His mouth moved passionately over hers as though he was starving for this kiss—for her. Her heart pounded in her chest. And the only thought in her head was the L word. Dare she admit it? How could she not?
She loved Stefano!
When had that happened? She wasn’t sure. But she knew it’d been growing and evolving for a while now. And she couldn’t deny it any longer. She was in love with Stefano DeFiore. Her heart soared as she met his kiss with her own vigor and excitement.
She felt as though she were floating on a fluffy cloud. She didn’t want to mess up this moment. She’d been waiting her whole life for him. Wrapped in his arms, it felt as though anything was possible. And it didn’t matter how steep the climb—she would reach the summit. She could do it.
Before she lost her nerve, she had to tell him. She had to let him know that she loved him with all her heart. Her insides quivered, and she didn’t know if it was the excitement of his kiss or the trepidation of vocalizing the L word—something she hadn’t said since she was a naive kid.
Using every bit of willpower, she braced her hands on his solid chest and pushed. Her mouth tingled, but she resisted the urge to smooth her fingers over the whisker-worn skin. There was a far more important task ahead of her. She hoped he felt the same way about her.
His confused gaze met hers. She couldn’t let him say anything. He’d ruin the moment, and she’d lose her nerve.
“I love you.”
Those three ginormous words hung there. Stefano didn’t move. He didn’t speak. She wasn’t even sure if he was still breathing.
As the silence stretched on, she started to question whether she’d truly uttered the words or just imagined the whole thing.
“Did you hear me?” She didn’t have the courage to repeat the words.
