Love's Precious Surprise (The women of Landry's Landing and the Fabrizio men) (2 page)

Toni closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the headrest of her chair as she took several deep cleansing breaths to calm her frazzled nerves.

Daniele entered the office and stopped just inside the door. He stood with his shoulder against the door jamb and his arms folded across his muscular chest as he watched Toni while she sat there with her head back and her eyes closed. All he wanted to do was ease the frown that marred her forehead causing wrinkles on her gorgeous skin.

He was determined to find a way to erase the sadness he sometimes saw in her lovely green eyes. He wanted to be the man to make her forget all the bad things that have happened to her in the past. Daniele would give everything he owned to give her the happiness that she deserves.

“Is it alright with you if I come in? I promise not to bother you or get in your way while you’re working.” Daniele said from the doorway.

Toni slowly opened her eyes as she raised her head to glance at him. “It’s not like I can stop you since we both share this office.”

“Even though we share this office I’ll leave if you ask me to I’ve caused you enough trouble for one day. So you tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it.” He said as he moved to stand in front of her desk.

“I seriously doubt that you’ll do whatever I tell you to do.” She said gazing at him skeptically.

“Well then I guess you seriously don’t know me, if you haven’t figured out by now I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.” He said as he stared down at her.

“Boy please, I am not going to play this game with you so go to your desk and get to work.” She said turning back to the work on her own desk.

“I’ll get to work but first let me make something very clear to you I am a Fabrizio man and we don’t play games. We say what we mean and mean what we say, so if I say something you can trust and believe that I mean every word I said.” Daniele told her before walking the short distance to his desk.

Toni turned in her chair to look at Daniele as he sat down in his chair. “What in the hell is with you Fabrizio men? It’s like a spell has been cast on all of you when it comes to the Landry women. With you I don’t know whether it’s just a deep case of lust or if you’ve just lost your damn mind, but whatever it is you can forget it.”

Daniele glanced at her and smiled. “You know the rest of the Landry women said the same thing but you see how that turned out, so I think I’ll just be patient and give it some time. I’m sure you’ll come around eventually.” He said turning back to his computer and the work on his desk.

Toni gaped at him wide eyed as he turned his attention to the work on his desk. “You know I think you really have lost your mind. Just because the other Landry women fell for Fabrizio men doesn’t mean that I will besides they haven’t been through the things that I’ve been through. Believe me intimacy is not in my future so stop wasting your time on someone like me Daniele. Find yourself a nice girl that can be as affectionate to you as you are to her.”

She said as she attempted to turn away from him and back to her desk but before she had the chance he was standing over her. He bent towards her and placed a hand on each of the armrests of her chair as their gazes locked.

Daniele wanted to tell her that the only thing that he’d lost was his heart to her but he knew that she wasn’t ready to hear that just yet. In the several months that he’s known her his feelings for her have grown from mild interest to admiration to full blown head over heels deep affection. He’d never been so impressed by a woman in his entire life the way she’s overcome all the things she’s been through to become the amazing woman that she was today.

He wanted to tell her just how blown away he was with her but he knew that wasn’t a smart thing to do, not yet anyway. One day very soon he wanted to be able to tell her all the things he couldn’t tell her right now.

Daniele wanted to be the man to show her how much she deserved to be loved and he planned to wait as long as it took to do just that.

“
I don’t know what it is that I have to do to make you understand that I’ve already found the only girl excuse me I meant to say woman that I want to be affectionate with. You may not think so right now but one of these days you’ll want someone that you can be intimate with and I plan to be right here when that happens. So if you think I’m going anywhere you can think again
il mio amore
prezioso.
” He said as he took one of her hands in his and placed a gentle kiss to the back of it dragging his lips slowly across the smooth flesh before releasing it to move away.

Toni sat stunned watching his retreating back as he went back to his desk and while she trembled inside. Her entire body felt tingly and her heart was pounding so hard she was sure that it would pound right out of her chest. She could barely catch her breath because of the affect that his simple kiss to her hand was having on her senses.

“
Daniele, wh…why did you do that?” She asked softly as she glanced over at him.

Daniele slowly raised his head and glanced in her direction. “Why did I do what, Toni?” He asked as if he had no idea what she was talking about.

“
Don’t play dumb with me, you know what you did.” Toni said just above a whisper still trying to catch her breath.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He said acting as if he didn’t kiss her on the hand.

“You know damn well what I’m talking about.” She said a bit louder this time as her nerves began to calm down.

He shot her a crooked smile. “Really, then prove it tell me exactly what it is that you think that I did.”

“You really have lost your mind haven’t you? Why should I have to tell you what it is that you did, when I’m sure you know perfectly well what you did?” She said getting a bit irritated with this game he was playing.

“I’m asking you to tell me what I did.” He said calmly.

“Why should I tell you something you already know?” She asked in return.

“For one, I don’t think you can form the words to say what it is that you think I did and two is because if you can form the words then I want to hear you say it.” He replied.

“Why are you playing this game with me?” She asked angrily.

“Il mio amore prezioso
, I promise you this is not a game this is called strategy.” He said with a slight smile.

“What do you mean strategy? And what in the hell is that Italian phrase that you keep saying to me?” She demanded.

“I tell you what if you answer my question then I’ll give serious consideration to answering your questions, deal?” He said in response to her question.

“Fine, what was your question again?” She said teasingly.

“Ah, that’s cute okay you just let me know when you remember, how’s that?” He said turning his attention back to work on his desk.

“You are impossible okay you kissed me on the hand.” She whispered quietly.

“And?” He asked.

“And, what? What do you want now?” She asked in frustration.

“And how did it make you feel when I kissed you on the hand?” He asked softly determined to make her admit that she felt something for him other than irritation.

“It made me feel nervous.” She said softly.

“And?” He asked knowing that she’d felt more than that.

“And it made me feel tingly and it made my heart pound and I couldn’t catch my breath. I’ve never felt like that before and I’m not sure if I like it.” She whispered as she glanced away from him.

“That’s how you’re supposed you feel when a man kisses you, no matter where he kisses you. That was the first step in my strategy to win your heart.” Daniele said in a sweet voice.

“So making me nerves and tingly is all part of your stupid strategy, how in the hell is that going to win this jaded heart of mine?” She said loudly in frustration as unshed tears filled her eyes.

“First of all your heart is only jaded because you’ve never had a man treat you the way you should be treated and I think it’s about time you did. I know that getting to your heart won’t be easy but I didn’t expect for a minute that it would be. I plan to take down that brick wall of yours one brick at a time.” He said gazing across the room at her.

Chapter Two

Toni stood under the spray of the shower as her thoughts ran rampant through her mind. She thought about the things that London had said to her and then there was Daniele and the crazy things he’d said. Not to mention the gentle way he’d kissed the back of her hand with his soft, warm lips.

Until now she’d always felt sick at the thought of any man putting his lips on her or even touching her for that matter. But for some unexplainable reason Daniele didn’t make her feel that way. It scared her a little the things she felt for him and she wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it.

Toni was seriously considering talking to her Landry sisters about this whole situation, because she was going out of her mind trying to figure it out on her own. With her decision made she quickly finished her shower and got dressed. She called Indy knowing that was the easiest way to make sure that she was able to talk to all of the Landry sisters because when Indy spoke they all listened whether they wanted to or not.

About thirty minutes later she was opening the door of the guest house which she now shared with Daniele to Indy, Gigi, Asia and London. The only good thing about sharing a place with Daniele was that they rarely saw each other because of their hectic work schedule.

As usual Indy had brought the wine, Gigi had brought supplies for their girl’s night facials, of course Asia had brought enough food to feed an army and London had brought plush designer robes for all of them.

Toni loved having them as her sisters they were strong, tough, beautiful and independent women. They were also the best role models any young woman could ask for she’d grown so much stronger since having them in her life. She didn’t know what she’d do without them they were always there for her when she needed someone to lean on.

When the nightmares had started again shortly after the confrontation with her stepfather’s brother they’d been there for her taking turns staying up with her because she was too terrified to sleep. Well that was until Indy had finally given her a swift kick in the pants to remind her that she was no longer that scare little girl that she once was.

She was a Landry woman now and there was no way in hell that they would let anything happen to her. Between them and the Fabrizio’s she had nothing to worry about they were the kind of family everyone wished they had.

“Damn girl, don’t just stand there close the door and go get some glasses.” Indy said as she took a seat on the couch.

“Bring some plates and silverware while you’re at it oh and don’t forget the napkins. You know what I’ll just help you it’ll be easier.” Asia said as she followed her to the kitchen.

“I was wondering if she was just going to sit her little boney butt there and make Toni get everything.” Gigi said as she put her things down.

“I heard that Shorty.” Asia yelled from the kitchen.

“You call me Shorty again and the next thing you hear is me slapping you little girl.” Gigi yelled back.

“You’re starting to sound like Indy in your old age.” Asia said as she stuck her head out of the kitchen door.

“Who in the hell are you calling old heifer?” Indy said as she glanced at Asia.

“See there you go again first of all I was talking to Gigi and second I was just teasing about the old age thing. Dang would the two of you please lighten up.” She said slipping back into the kitchen.

“Why do the two of you let Asia get to you like that you know she does it on purpose just to push your buttons and ya’ll fall for it every time.” London said with a grin.

“Shut up London!” Indy and Gigi both said in unison.

“Alright you guys this is supposed to be about my problem tonight so can ya’ll put the brakes on the rest of the drama for now.” Toni said as she followed Asia out of the kitchen.

“Of course we can Toni so what’s the problem and how can we help?” Gigi said with a smile.

“Are you kidding even I have enough sense to know what the problem is.” Indy said as she poured everyone a glass of wine.

“Well would someone mind telling me because I am clueless right now.” Asia said as she began filling plates with the food she’d brought.

“Honey it’s not just right now you’re always clueless.” Gigi said teasingly.

“You know sometimes you really get on my nerves.” Asia told Gigi.

“This is about Daniele isn’t it?” London asked Toni.

“Yes, and I don’t know what to do about him or my feelings for him. That’s why I wanted to talk to you guys. All of you have had to deal with a Fabrizio man and this one seems to be as stubborn as the rest of them.” Toni said helplessly.

“He may be as stubborn but he’s also just as kind and caring.” Indy reminded her.

“And loving don’t forget loving they have that in spades, girl.” Asia added.

“That’s really not helping, what am I going to do about Daniele?” Toni asked looking around at each of them.

“What would you like to do about him?” Asia asked.