Now that I know you’re coming home with the baby, you’re going to need it.”
For once Massimo agreed with his uncle. The thought of taking a five-month-old baby halfway around the world on a commercial airliner had been a daunting one.
“Mind the doctor, Uncle. Ciao.“
The selfish part of Massimo would like nothing better than to continue working at his favorite hobby with his nephew in tow, but he’d made a promise to Shawn and Pietra. The jungle was no place to take a baby. Maybe in Nicky’s teens.
Julie hadn’t been far off. His hobby was an addiction.
But for now his nephew deserved everything Massimo could give him. As she had said, he needed love most of all. Being his aunt, she would always provide that, even after Massimo didn’t need her help anymore.
Until that day came—a day he couldn’t think about right now—they would figure things out as they went. Though he was considerably older, she knew a hell of a lot more about babies than he did. He’d never even changed a diaper.
Unfortunately for Nicky, he was stuck with a substitute father he hadn’t even met yet. Massimo assumed the rest would fall into place in time. How difficult could it be to give a baby a bottle?
Speaking of which, he took some water from the bar’s minifridge to quench his thirst. Old habits died hard.
Fifteen minutes later he arrived at the town house and knocked. Behind the front door he could hear an infant wailing.
Niccolo …
The sound tore at his gut, making his pain excruciatingly real.
Mr. Marchant opened the door. Beyond his shoulder Massimo could see Julie’s mother. He recognized them from pictures. Both were dark blond. Attractive. She was walking around with the baby, trying to calm him down. There was no sign of Julie.
“We meet at last, Massimo. Come in.”
* * *
“Kendra? This is Julie again.”
“Oh, hi!”
Relieved the cute teenager was home she said, “Do you know any tricks to help us? Nicky just keeps crying. Even my mother can’t get him to stop. Before I call the doctor again, I thought I’d find out what you do to help him settle down.”
“Try the little musical swing they bought last month. He likes that.”
“Where is it?”
“It should be right by the rocker.”
“I don’t see it, but I’ll look around. Thanks for the tip.”
“Sure. The poor little thing. Good luck.”
Julie knew for a fact she hadn’t seen it anywhere in the house. Maybe the back patio?
She hurried down the stairs. Her heart skipped a beat to discover Massimo in the front room with her parents. The tension was thick. When had he come? After what had transpired at the hotel, she’d been dreading this moment.
Her father made the introductions while Massimo held an out-of-control Nicky in his strong arms. For a brief moment their eyes met. She expected to read fury in his. Instead his whole expression was enigmatic, throwing her off balance.
To complicate her feelings even more, his Italian features mesmerized her. She got a fluttering sensation in her chest before rushing out the back door of the kitchen.
Sure enough the swing was sitting next to the wrought-iron table and chairs. She brought it inside and carried it into the living room. “Let’s try this.”
While Massimo set the baby inside it and fiddled with the straps, she knelt down to turn on the various switches. “Kendra says you like this. Let’s find out, shall we?”
The music began to play, but Nicky’s crying only grew louder. There was no motion. “It’s not moving. Maybe it’s broken.”
“I’ll do it by hand,” Massimo murmured, getting down on his haunches, accidentally bringing their arms and thighs together. Julie pretended not to notice the contact even though she felt it through every cell of her body.
Though his chin wobbled and there were a lot of hiccups, by some miracle Nicky eventually quieted down.
Bless Kendra.
“I believe you’ve got it going,” her father said.
Massimo let go of the seat to test it. Sure enough, the swing was doing its job.
Julie let out a heavy sigh and stood up.
She happened to glance at Massimo, who’d risen to his full, intimidating height. “Mission accomplished,” he whispered. Along with the sorrow she caught a glint of relief in his eyes. Again she felt stirrings inside her that made no sense, not when he was the enemy.
“I can’t imagine what Shawn and Pietra were thinking when they gave you custody of our grandson. Central America is no place for him. Furthermore you know nothing about raising a child.”
Good for her mom! With that opus she’d gone for the jugular. Though her hostility wasn’t going to help anything, as Julie had already found out, she was saying all the things Julie felt.
“I happen to agree with you on both points,” he responded quietly. “That’s why I’m taking him back to Italy.”
“While you traipse off to the jungle once more, leaving him to strangers who won’t care one whit for him?”
“Margaret—”
“It’s all right,” Massimo said, eyeing Julie’s parents. “If my life had been different, archaeology would have been my career, not a hobby. As it stands, I’ll be returning to take my place in the family business.”
What? Julie reeled.
Pietra had indicated her brother would never go back. Julie didn’t believe him for a minute!
“Nicky will be living with me in the home where Pietra and I were born,” he continued. “Before their deaths our parents lived in Bellagio on Lake Como, only a short distance from the office in Milan.
“The villa is Nicky’s heritage. My staff will be devoted to him. They’re getting things prepared for him as we speak.”
“But the people who love him are here,” her mother asserted, not the least swayed by the trappings. “He’ll be surrounded by strange faces.”
She’d taken the words out of Julie’s mouth. She could only applaud her mom.
“I was hoping to solve that problem by hiring your daughter for a while.” His glance switched to Julie with a complacent gleam that caused the hairs to stand on the back of her neck.
“That is if you’re willing, and if you’re able to leave your work, of course. Pietra told me you’ve spent time with Nicky, which
