Julie smoothed the hair off her temple. “So now I can serve another purpose and be a buffer between the two of you?”
His body stiffened. “I’m going to pretend I never heard that.”
“Sorry,” she whispered before looking away.
“It’s my fault for frightening you about the inner workings of the Di Rocches.”
“Do you include Vigo under that umbrella? He acted terrified when you caught up to us. Is he like the others underneath?”
“Probably. I wouldn’t put it past Sansone to have sent his son on a hunting expedition.”
Her head came up. “In search of what?”
“To learn my plans. That way he can launch an offensive before I step foot in the office.”
“He’s that ambitious?”
Massimo rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb. “Sansone intends to be the head of Di Rocche’s one day.”
“He’s afraid of you. Why? He’s the first-born son.”
“Of Uncle Aldo, yes. He’s been in competition with me since I was born. When Pietra and I had to move to Milan to live with our uncle, Sansone couldn’t stand for his father to show us any attention.”
“But he’s ten years older—”
“That gave him an advantage, one he’s never failed to let his brothers or me and Pietra forget.”
“But how could he have possibly felt threatened?”
He gave an unconscious shrug of his powerful shoulders.
She shivered, knowing there was a lot more to it than he was letting on. “For what it’s worth, Vigo didn’t ask me one question about you.”
He flashed her an ironic smile. “He has eyes in his head. Like any normal male, he responds to a beautiful woman.”
“Be serious, Massimo.”
“You think I’m not?” he challenged.
Julie would love to believe him, but she didn’t dare read too much into it.
“Vigo was fun.”
“I’ll admit he’s still wet behind the ears. Maybe there’s hope for him yet.” Beneath his words Julie sensed he didn’t believe it.
She and Vigo were close in age. That probably meant Massimo didn’t consider her completely grown-up yet. Julie would do well to remember that so she wouldn’t make a fool of herself.
So far she was batting a thousand in that department. Every accusation she’d thrown at him was turning out to be unjustified.
“Since I’m back to being in your employ again, I’d better check on Nicky.”
His dark brows knit together. “I don’t like the idea of you considering yourself the hired help.”
Julie wasn’t particularly fond of it, either.
“I have an even stronger aversion to the appelation ‘nanny.’ Naturally I’ll go on paying you, but I prefer to think of you as a member of the family who has come to be with our nephew at my invitation. Capisci?”
The Italian word had slipped out. It was one she recognized. Her pulse beat a swift tattoo.
“Yes.”
“Bene. This evening when it’s cooler, we’ll take Nicky out to dinner with us. We’ve been trapped in the villa too long. Plan to wear something semidressy. It’s time the two of you were introduced to his Italian roots.”
Massimo had been away several years. He would have to be inhuman not to want to explore his own backyard again. Despite his extended family’s machinations, there had to be certain memories from his youth that were precious to him. She was already counting the minutes.
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