Carole Mortimer - Men of Power

“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 means you’re not a complete stranger to him like I am.”

The world stilled while she almost fainted from shock. Her parents looked equally nonplussed.

His gaze continued to bore into hers. She felt its disturbing penetration to the marrow of her bones. “How would you feel about helping me with our nephew until he’s used to his new home? Your mother’s right. I know nothing about babies.”

He knew exactly how Julie felt about it!

Not by one flicker of those dark lashes did he give away the fact that she’d paid a visit to his hotel room earlier. His discretion was only eclipsed by his cunning.

A shiver ran up her spine. To turn him down now would prove to him she hadn’t meant what she’d said. Yet to tell him she’d like the nanny job meant putting herself in a position where he’d exact retribution at some later time for her meltdown in his hotel room. Julie hadn’t known real fear until this moment.

“I love Nicky,” she said quietly. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. Resigning from my job will be no problem.” He already knew that. For some inexplicable reason he’d decided to grant her the wish of her heart. “Before we knew about the will, I’d planned to take care of my nephew.”

“I think it’s a terrific idea,” came her father’s heartfelt comment. “Don’t you, Margaret?”

“I … I suppose it is. I’m just having a hard time comprehending it.”

A faint smile of satisfaction broke the corner of Massimo’s hard, sensuous mouth. Julie had made a surreptitious study of it. The description seemed a contradiction in terms, yet both applied.

To her parents it might look like he was truly relieved someone else close to Nicky would share the burden with him. Julie knew differently.

“Pietra told me you have an important position with a software company in San Francisco—” he kept speaking to her. “Perhaps they’ll give you a leave of absence. If not, you won’t need to worry. I’ll be paying you considerably more for your time.”

She swallowed hard, unable to credit what she was hearing.

His eyes swerved to her parents who were still visibly stunned. “Naturally my home will be yours whenever you wish to visit Nicky. Come often and stay as long as you want. On holidays I’ll bring him to California and Hawaii. Nicky needs his grandparents. For his sake, we’ll make it work.”

The magic words.

Julie’s mother teared up. Her father patted him on the shoulder. “Indeed we will.”

Once more Massimo turned to Julie. “Pietra mentioned a boyfriend. He’s welcome at the villa, too. Anytime he wants to fly over to see you.”

She’d told him that relationship had ended, but he’d thrown that in for effect to make everything sound convincing. Nothing escaped his steel-trap mind. Within minutes he’d accomplished what Julie hadn’t thought possible—

He’d silenced her mother and reassured her parents they hadn’t lost Nicky. In the process he’d caught Julie before her life hit rock bottom, but she knew in her bones he meant to extract a price for the accusations she’d hurtled at him.

She looked down at the baby, who was finally asleep again. Knowing she’d be traveling to Italy with him took away some of the sting of the will’s contents. Enough to help her get through the graveside services they had facing them.

But in its place an indefinable fear had taken hold and wouldn’t let go.

THE spacious well-lit Di Rocche jet with its panoramic windows could hold fourteen passengers plus the crew. Once they’d taken off, and the lights from San Francisco receded into the night, Julie was scarcely aware of Massimo’s rather austere, well-dressed cousins, who did business in the aft conference compartment.