The Heart Of The Game (39 page)

I think you should wear the green silk,” Amber said as she plopped down onto the bed beside Zoe. “It brings out the gold in your eyes.”

Coco turned from where she sat at Zoe’s mirrored vanity. “
I
vote for the red one. It is the holidays, after all.”

“The red will look exquisite on Spice,” Zoe said, handing Amber the dress. “You have the hair to carry it off.”

Amber wrinkled her nose. “You know how I loathe that nickname.”

Zoe laughed. “After three months of chasing down rare herbs in Tibet, the name suits you better than ever.” Zoe pulled the green dress out of the garment bag and laid it on the bed. “Where’s Pippa?”

“Down in the studio with Anastasia,” Amber said, smoothing a hand over the silk. “Pip’s not so sure she’s ready for full immersion yet. If I hadn’t insisted, she would’ve stayed in China for another week.”

“I’m glad you insisted,” Zoe said softly. “This is the first time we’ve all been together since... since Mama.” She felt tears welling. Surrounded by her sisters, preparing for the party their father had planned for weeks, should’ve been a joyous occasion. The preparations for the gallery opening were going better than planned and she’d be going back to Rome in less than a week. But seeing Cody at Alex’s had thrown her. And now, with her family gathered around her, she’d begun to question the reasons she was so obsessed with the gallery project.

Amber draped an arm around Zoe’s shoulder. “Coco told me about the gallery. I’m coming, you know. For the opening. We all are. Mama would’ve been so proud of you. I know I am.”

“Papa isn’t,” Zoe said truthfully. Her father hadn’t spoken to her all day. His icy silence was like a gray film, muting everything.

“He’ll come around,” Amber said in her best cheerful tone. “He just has it in his head that we’re all going to stay in the nest forever. You should’ve seen his face when I told him I’m taking the fellowship to study herbs in Switzerland. I’ll stay here until spring term starts, but then”—she waved her long graceful arms—“I’m off. We can meet up to ski. It’ll be fun, you’ll see. The important thing is you’re following your heart.”

Coco shot Zoe a look. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Not now, Coco. No more lectures. I’m not in the mood.”

Amber drilled Zoe with her best sister glare. “What have I missed?”

Coco slipped on a pair of silver sandals and admired them in the floor-length mirror. “Just that our esteemed sister has the hottest guy on the planet after her and she’s running away.”

“I’m
not
running away,” Zoe protested.

A loud knock at the door saved her from explanations. She was tired of explaining. Especially since her motivations were tangling with her emotions and her emotions were winning.

“Okay to come in?” Rafe looked beyond handsome in his dark gray jacket and patterned silk tie. Zoe hadn’t seen him since he’d arrived from Rome that afternoon. Soon they’d be living in the same city once again; spending time with her brother would be good. Her dogs bounded in behind him and leaped onto her bed.

“If you can tolerate this
gruppo
,” Zoe said, forcing a light tone. She patted each dog in turn, kissing them on their foreheads and breathing in their warm, welcome scent. Their tails wagged as she opened a jar of treats and handed one to each of them.

“I see that I’ll always come in second to them,” Rafe said with a laugh and a nod to Pulu and Kaja.

“I have my priorities.” She hugged Rafe. “You look delicious. I’ve missed you.”

He kissed her on both cheeks. “I’ve missed you too. This is the first chance Gaetano and I have been able to get away, what with the late harvest and the grape crush. The house looks beautiful, Zizi.” He held Zoe at arm’s length. “But you aren’t dressed, and the party’s starting. What have you been doing up here all this time?”

“Discussing Zoe’s move back to Rome,” Coco blurted out.

Rafe’s eyes narrowed.

“I was going to tell you tomorrow,” Zoe added quickly. “After you and Gaetano had a chance to settle in.”

Rafe ran a hand through his hair. “That’s not a good idea. Not right now.”

“Too late, it’s all set.” She told him briefly about the gallery opening.

“You’re right—discussing this tomorrow is a better idea.” His tone chilled her. “In the meantime, get a move on
sorellas
. There’s a celebration awaiting its stars. The Trovare clan is already on their second glass of champagne.”

He turned and left without looking back.

“I hate it when he takes on that ‘I’m the king of the universe tone’ with us,” Amber said as she slipped into Zoe’s red dress. She helped Zoe zip up the green silk sheath, then said, “You need these to finish off your look.” She pulled a string of pearls from the pocket of the jeans she’d shed. “I bought them for you in Shanghai.”

Amber fastened the pearls around Zoe’s neck.

Zoe fingered the perfect white pearls and then touched her nose to her sister’s. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

“
Perfetto
,” Coco murmured as she slipped into the silver dress Zoe had helped her choose. She looped her arm through Zoe’s and then Amber’s. “Ready or not, world, the Tavonesi sisters are on the prowl.”

Zoe pulled her arm from Coco’s. “You two go ahead. I’ll be down in a minute.”

Though her sisters grumbled, they left her in peace.

She sat at the vanity and pulled out the slip of paper she’d folded into her silver keepsake box. She uncurled it and read it for the third time that day.

Before trying to please others do what makes you happy.

A light knock at her door startled her. For a moment she wished it were Cody. But it wouldn’t be. Never would be again.

“I thought I’d check out your digs,” Jackie said as she slipped into the room. She took one look at Zoe and sat beside her on the vanity bench.

“I know that look.”

Zoe handed her the fortune. Jackie nodded as she read the words and then handed it back.

“You won’t know what’s true until you address what’s pulling at you,” Jackie said. “Alex told me about your gallery project. About how you want to go home.”

“I’m leaving in three days.”

Jackie fingered the silver-backed mirror that sat on the top of the vanity, one of the few possessions Zoe had brought from Italy that had belonged to her mother. “I’ve been told not to give unsolicited advice—one of my many bad habits. And not one I’m likely to break,” she added with a toss of her head. “Comes with being a bossy elder sister, I suppose.” She caught Zoe’s eyes in the mirror. “Another bad habit is ignoring advice from Alex when I judge that he’s off track. That comes from being contrary.” She smiled. “Also a habit I’m not likely to break.”

“I’m a bossy elder sister,” Zoe said. “So fire away.”

“I’ve discovered that home is a soul’s residence as much as it is a physical place. If your soul’s home is Rome, you have to go back. If for no other reason than to discover how you feel there. Now. After Cody.”

After Cody.
Jackie’s words made her decision seem so final.

“Finding life’s true calling is a process. A hell of a tough one too,” Jackie went on. “I
never
imagined living in America. I thought I’d never leave Africa, thought I’d make my life there; the villagers had become my family. But the sea and its creatures always called to me, since I was a child. I couldn’t ignore that voice, that call. I tried, believe me, but it just droned louder. And then, when I took the job at the rescue center here, I discovered my heart’s work. And this place began to get under my skin. But even so, I thought I’d work here for a few years and then start a rescue center in some remote corner of the planet.”

“But then you met Alex.”

“Meeting Alex shocked me. But would I have committed to a life with him if he had lived in Kentucky or Kansas or some place that kept me from doing what I loved?” She held Zoe in an open gaze. “I can’t tell you I know the answer. I
can
tell you that love has a way of putting our feet on vastly different paths than we imagine we’ll be traveling.”

Zoe clasped her hand in Jackie’s. “Thank you for coming up here tonight. And for understanding.”

“You’ll never know if you don’t go back, Zoe. Open the gallery, reenter your life in Italy. If you selectively close off an important part of yourself, it’s as bad as a lie. As soon as we shut down, the barricading spreads. To love, you have to be all in. You can’t have one foot in another place; the split will kill your spirit.”

Zoe stroked her fingers along Jackie’s hand. For a woman who could wrestle six-hundred-pound sea lions, Jackie had remarkably delicate hands. Zoe kissed Jackie’s cheek and saw the surprise in her eyes. “I have six sisters, and I love them all. But you have become a sister of my heart.”

“Mmmm, back at you.” Jackie squeezed Zoe’s fingers as she stood. She smoothed a hand down her dress. “I should head back down. Alex will never forgive me for abandoning him to the masses. You coming?”

“In a bit.”

Jackie nodded and headed for the door. “I should warn you,” she said on her way out. “Cody’s here. See you downstairs.”

Zoe’s heart rushed. She tucked the fortune back under her plane ticket to Rome and lowered the lid on the box. It closed with a barely perceptible click. Or was it her heart that she heard shutting down above the strains of music and the voices of the party rising from downstairs?

She’d never dreaded a party more in her life.

One thing about the Tavonesi clan: they knew how to throw a helluva party. But Cody wasn’t interested in the festive setting or the tables groaning with food or the women who made eyes at him as he wound his way into the lavishly decorated ballroom.

“Cody!” Coco stopped him. “Since my dear sister can’t seem to find it in her heart to ask you, I’ve decided it’s time I ask you myself.” She took a big gulp of champagne from the crystal flute she held. “I’m making a calendar.”

“People like calendars.” He scanned the room. No Zoe.

“That’s what I think. And I’d like you to help me. All the funds from the sales will go to rebuild the homeless women and children’s shelter and—”

“I don’t know much about marketing, but sure, Coco, no problem.” He didn’t have time to listen to a pitch. “Where’s Zoe?”

“She’ll be down in a minute. About my project—”

“I’m happy to help. I read about the shelter last week. I like the Inspire program—great idea to make sure the moms have bankable work skills and support.”

Coco stared at him.

“What?”

“Sometimes I find it hard to believe you’re real.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He nodded toward the champagne glass. “How many of those have you had?”

“Two.”

“I need to find your sister.”

“Lucky her.”

He took the glass from her hand and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter. “Eat something.”

He hurried to the foyer. And saw Zoe surrounded by men—none of them her cousins or his teammates. And Vico stood beside her, impeccably dressed. Vico’s tie was perfectly knotted. The only mar in his elegant appearance was the bulge in his right pocket. Maybe a flask. Cody’s father used to carry a flask of scotch with him at all times. He shuddered, remembering those days. Days that he hoped were sealed in the past. Vico saw him approaching; the bastard smiled.

“I need to talk with you,” Cody said as he slipped to Zoe’s side.

“You and half of Sonoma,” said a tall, older man with a thick Italian accent. “Our polo princess has quite a following.” The man turned to Zoe. “You look lovely tonight, my dear.”

Zoe blushed.

“If you think she’s beautiful here, you should see her in Italy,” Vico said in a smooth tone that made Cody want to punch him. “She comes alive when she’s in her home environment.”

Cody remembered his dad’s warning and did his best to ignore the flash of anger that Vico’s baiting enflamed. He knew now how a caged animal felt when taunted by something outside the bars.