Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) (9 page)

She was so entranced by the scene that it was a moment before
she noticed the woman, tall and regal, standing by the piano and regarding her
with cool, dark eyes. In fact, there were two more of them, a brown-haired beauty
sitting on a sofa by the window with a younger-looking woman who now hopped up
to greet her.

“Hello,” she said as she approached. “I’ve heard so much
about you, Arie. I’m Sophia, Rome’s sister.”

Arie almost sighed her relief out loud. A friendly
greeting. It seemed that she was off to a good start. Gratefully, she took the
girl’s outstretched hand. “Pleased to meet you, Sophia.”

But her relief was short-lived because now it was time
for her to meet the matriarch and Mrs. Milano did not look happy at all.  It
wasn’t that Rome’s mother looked unpleasant. On the contrary, there wasn’t even
a hint of a frown on her face. But she wasn’t smiling, either, and that said a
lot. As she approached she seemed cautious. Aloof, even. Arie could tell that
this woman wasn’t going to accept her as quickly as her daughter had. It was
obvious that she wasn’t getting close until she’d had a chance to feel Arie
out.

“Welcome to Italy, Miss Angelis,” she said as she
reached out to take Arie’s hand. “I’m glad we’re finally getting a chance to
meet.” Emphasis on the word finally. Obviously, she’d had many a conversation
with Rome about his intended. Arie could just imagine the questions that had
flown. Who was she? What kind of woman was she? What was her background? Was
she of good stock? Mrs. Milano looked like the type for whom those things would
be of the utmost importance.

But Arie refused to be intimidated. The woman wanted
cool? Well, she could be that and more. “Thank you, Mrs. Milano. I’m happy to
meet you, too.” Now that was a lie if there ever was one but she could play
nice just as well as anyone. And, for the sake of her beloved, she would play
nice. Only for Rome.

“And I’m Lucia.” Miss Brown Hair had come to join her
mother and, just like the older woman, she was regarding Arie with a look that
could only be described as wary.

“Pleased to meet you.” Arie took the proffered hand and
gave it a shake that said she was here and she wasn’t going anywhere soon. She
didn’t know where she’d gotten this newfound bravado but, no matter how she was
quaking inside, she would never give them the pleasure of seeing her sweat.

She got a reprieve when Rome stepped forward to gather
his mother and then his sisters in big bear hugs. “Where’s Papa?” he asked as
soon as he’d released them. “I want him to meet Arie right away. He’s going to
love her.”

Yeah, like your mom and sisters love me
? It was a good thing Rome couldn’t read minds or else her thoughts
would deflate him for sure. When he’d said he couldn’t wait to show her off he
hadn’t been joking. She could see it in his goofy grin and the way he kept
looking at her like she was some kind of trophy he’d brought home to show his
family.

She should be flattered, she knew, and she was touched
by his pride in her. She really was. She just wished he would take off his
rose-colored spectacles and see that he was the only one going crazy over her. Maybe
then he would wrap up the visit real fast so they could beat a hasty retreat
back to New Orleans.

“Your father is waiting for you,” his mother said. “He’s
in the library.”

“Great. Let’s go, honey.” He took Arie’s hand and they
were off again, barely giving her enough time to take proper leave of his
mother and sisters.

“Slow down, will you?” she whispered fiercely as she
tried to pull her hands from Rome’s grasp. “What’s your hurry?”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot how tiny you are. Your little legs
can’t keep up, can they?”

“Hey, you. Take that back. My legs are long enough,
thank you very much.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“You’re just moving too fast. We’ll get to see your
father soon enough. Just slow down a bit. Let me see the house.”

Rome kept on walking but he slowed down and shook his
head. “All of a sudden you’re interested in this old house.”

Glad for the slower pace, she began to breath just a
little bit easier. “I love old houses,” she said with a shrug. “Sue me.”

That got her an equally smart response from Rome. “You
keep it up, Missy. You’ll get your spanking soon enough.”

Perverse creature that she was, Arie could hardly wait
for ‘soon enough’. Except that the ‘soon enough’ that came first was their
arrival at the library.

“Come in.” The voice that answered Rome’s knock was big
and booming, not at all the voice of a man who’d recently had a stroke. The man
sounded as sturdy as a bull.

When Rome opened the French doors he stepped aside so
Arie could precede him, which was the polite thing to do. Pity it made her feel
like he was sending her on to be the sacrifice.

“So this is Aristotle Angelis.” Vittorio Milano was an
imposing figure, stout and tall, with a shock of jet-black hair streaked with
gray. He came forward to meet her and, like his wife, his words were pleasant
enough but somehow the greeting didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Rome told me you
were named after the wise Greek himself.  Interesting.  It's part of why I've
been waiting so eagerly to meet you. What took you so long to pay us a visit?”

“The time was…not right until now.” What kind of a
question was that, anyway? She couldn’t just drop in like an old friend. She’d
had to wait until Rome was ready. Not that she’d been in any hurry.

“Well, I’m glad to finally lay eyes on you. Rome has
been talking about you nonstop.” Vittorio took Arie’s hand in a grip that
almost made her snatch it away. Didn’t the man know his own strength?

“You’re looking good, Pa.” As soon as his father had
released Arie Rome stepped forward to embrace him in a hearty hug. "All is
good?”

“All’s good and things are even better now that this
little lady is here.”

“Oh?” Rome cocked an eyebrow but then he gave his father
a knowing smile. “You like her already, don’t you? I told you she was
irresistible.”

“Yes, yes,” Vittorio said, sounding almost impatient. “Now
leave us alone for a while. I want Miss Angelis all to myself.”

Rome shook his head. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not
getting a chance to fill her in on all my dirty little habits.”

“No such thing, my boy, no such thing. I just want to
get a chance to know her, that’s all.” As he spoke he was turning Rome toward
the door then he gave him a little shove. “Now go spend some time with your
mother so Aristotle and I can talk.”

And, as easy as that, the wily man got rid of Rome,
closing the door firmly behind him. Then he turned back to face Arie and that
was when she knew she was in deep doo.

“Now, little lady,” Vittorio said as he folded his arms
across his chest, “what are you up to? What are you doing with my son?”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“What’s Pa up to?” Rome made to get up but again his
mother put a hand on his shoulder.

“Have another biscotti. You look so thin.”

“Ma, stop clucking over me. I look fine and you know
it.” He glanced down the hallway. “They’ve been talking for over ten minutes.”

“Which is such a short time for your father to get to
know your fiancée. I’m sure they have a lot to talk about. In fact,” she got up
and produced her handbag from God knew where, “let’s give them some space. Can
you run me out on the road for a little while? You and I have some catching up
to do, too.”

“What? Now?" Rome had to fight to keep the
annoyance out of his voice. “Can’t we do that some other time?”

“No, now Rome. Can’t you tear yourself away from your
fiancée for a little while? Not even to spend some time with your mother?” She
gave him a look filled with hurt but he could tell it was exaggerated. “Is this
how it’s going to be from now on?”

Rome gave her a grimace but he got to his feet. “All
right, let’s go,” he said grudgingly. “But I don’t want to stay long. I don’t
want Pa grilling Arie too long. Fifteen minutes, that’s all I can give you.”

But it turned out that Rome was gone a lot longer than
that. He’d thought his mother wanted to pick something up at a nearby store but
instead she directed him onto the autostrada, telling him there was a friend
she absolutely had to see today. It would be a quick visit, she promised. She
would just run in and run out but it was an old friend of the family who she
knew would love to see him.

When Rome pulled up in front of the sprawling home he
turned off the engine, folded his arms across his chest and sat back in his
seat. Then he fixed his mother with a scowl that would leave her in no doubt
about how he felt about the trick she’d played on him.

“Really, Ma?” he asked when she looked away, a sly smile
curling her lips. “You had to go there?”

Lily Milano had the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m
sorry, Rome, but I knew you wouldn’t have come if I’d told you where I was
going.”

“You’re right about that one,” he said. “So did you
really have something to do here or was that a trick, too?”

“No, there’s something I have to pick up. Honestly.” She
pulled her purse onto her lap. “But you’ll need to come in, too. I told Daniela
you’d be dropping by.”

“What the devil?” Rome could not believe his mother. “Why
would you do something like that?”

“Please, Rome, let’s not fight over this. You’re already
here so you may as well come in with me.” She opened the door and, not waiting
for him to help, she got out and began to walk toward the house. “And please
don’t lag behind.”

For several seconds Rome could only sit there, shaking
his head. That was his mother, an expert in getting what she wanted when she
wanted. She’d pulled such tricks on his father a couple of times. He just
hadn’t expected her to pull that sort of thing on him.

Despite the fact that he’d flown his fiancée all the way
from the United States to meet his family his mother had gone and tricked him
into dropping by the house of his ex. Trust Lily Milano to pull a crazy stunt
like that. What did she think? That seeing Daniela would make him change his
mind?

But, as she’d said, he was already here so there was
nothing to be done but go inside and act civil. He couldn’t very well sit there
like he was hiding out in the car.

With a sigh of annoyance Rome got out of the car and
slammed the door shut then he followed his mother into the home of Daniela Scalise,
the woman he’d broken up with just over a year earlier.  Before he’d even rung
the bell the door opened and there, looking as stunningly beautiful as ever,
stood Daniela.

“Rome. Long time no see. Come in.” Before he could
object she’d flung the door wide and was waving him in like she was used to
seeing him on her doorstep. She was acting like it wasn’t the first time they’d
crossed paths since they’d parted ways so many months earlier.

Slowly, cautiously, he made his way into the room. The
only reason he was even entering was that his mother had gone in before him. At
least he had a chaperone.

That was what he thought but when he went inside Lily
Milano was nowhere to be seen. He looked around the spacious entryway then
peered into the living room. Both empty. “Where’s my mother?” he asked, not
bothering to hide his frown.

“Oh, she went out back with Luisa,” Daniela said with a
shrug. “Some new roses came in from the greenhouse. You know how crazy your
mother is about flowers.”

“Oh.” Rome didn’t have much more to say after that. Right
then what he wanted to do most of all was hop into his car and head back home
so he could curl up on a sofa with Arie on his lap. He almost sighed, knowing
that wasn’t going to happen any time soon. When his mother got into one of her
raves over a brand new plant it would take a while to pry her loose.  In the
meanwhile that left him in the embarrassing position of trying to make
conversation with Daniela.

As if reading his thought she let out a tinkly laugh. “Don’t
be a stranger. Go on into the salon. Make yourself comfortable.” When he
hesitated she laid a gentle hand on his arm. “I’ll bring you something to drink.
Just relax.”

That did it for him. Not wanting to prolong contact he
drew his arm away and walked off to the salon where she’d received him so many
times before…until that fateful day when she’d told him she’d fallen in love
with another man.

Rome went off to wait for his mother but he did not
relax as Daniela had instructed. The woman was up to something. He didn’t know
what but he wouldn’t rest easy until he’d figured it all out. And he would
start by drilling his mother. She’d been the one to lure him here so on their
way back she would have a lot of explaining to do.

Within minutes Daniela was back with two glasses of
white wine. She gave him a smug smile and tossed her head, letting her long,
black hair fall in a soft cloud around her face.

“You look good, Rome.” Her voice was low, almost
seductive. “But you look tense. You should relax more. You’ve always had a
problem with that.” As she spoke she came closer then held out the glass of
sparkling wine to him.