The Playboy of Rome (20 page)

In truth, he needed some distance. A chance to think clearly. He had to break things off with Lizzie. It was the only logical thing to do. But why did it feel so wrong?

* * *

What was his problem?

Lizzie had never seen Dante in such a black mood. Did he really care about his car that much? She glanced over to see broken bits of the car being cleaned up. Okay. So she had totally messed up today. She knew it was her fault, but did he have to be so gruff? This wasn’t the man—dare she say it—the man she loved.

After he spoke with the tow driver and the
polizia
, he returned to Lizzie. His face creased into a frown. “I’ll call us a taxi.”

There was no way she wanted to spend any more time around him. She already felt bad enough and had offered to pay for the damages. There was nothing else she could do to make things better. “I’d rather walk.”

“You aren’t up for walking.” His gaze wouldn’t even meet hers. “You were just in an accident.”

His body was rigid. A vein pulsated in his neck. He was doing his best to bottle up his anger but she could feel it. And she couldn’t stand it. He hated her for wrecking his car. “Just say it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m calling a taxi.” He placed the call, ignoring her protests. “The taxi will be here shortly.”

She wished he’d get it off his chest. If they couldn’t even talk to each other, how in the world did she think they were going to have an ongoing relationship? Her mind was racing. She had to calm down. Everything was under control...except Massimo’s birthday party.

And that was when she realized that the gift—the whole reason for this illuminating calamity—was about to be hauled away inside Red. Her gaze swung around to the damaged car atop the tow. Anxious to get to the truck before it pulled out, she took off at a brisk pace. Her heeled black boots kept her from moving quicker.

“Lizzie!” Dante called out behind her. “What’s wrong? Would you talk to me?”

She kept moving until she was next to the truck. She reached up and knocked on the window. When the driver rolled down his window, she explained that she needed a package out of the vehicle.

“Couldn’t this have waited?” Dante sighed.

“No. It couldn’t.” Lizzie stood there ramrod-straight, staring straight ahead. She refused to let Dante get to her. Instead she watched as the driver climbed up to the car and retrieved the large package.

When the man went to hand it down, Dante intercepted it. “Let me guess. This is the reason you couldn’t wait for me.”

She nodded. “It’s the gift for your grandfather.”

The tension on his face eased. It was though at last he realized she’d been trying to do something for him and she hadn’t taken his car for a joyride.

When the taxi pulled up and they climbed inside, exhaustion coursed through Lizzie’s veins. It was so tempting to lean her head against Dante’s shoulder. They’d both been worked up. They’d both said things that they regretted. Everything would be all right when they got back to the apartment.

Satisfied that everything would work itself out, she leaned her head against him. She enjoyed the firmness of his muscles against her cheek and the gentle scent of his fresh cologne. She closed her eyes, noticing the beginning of the predicted aches setting in. But if that was all she ended up with, she’d be grateful. It could have been so much worse.

But she noticed how Dante didn’t move. He didn’t attempt to put his arm around her and draw her closer. He sat there stiffly and stared out the window. Maybe he was embarrassed about his heated reaction. That was understandable. She was horrified that she’d wrecked his car. Once they were home and alone, they could sort this all out.

CHAPTER TWENTY

I
F
THERE
WAS
another way to do this, he didn’t know what it was.

Guilt ate at Dante. Though the ride back to the apartment was only a few minutes, it felt more like an eternity. And having Lizzie nestled against him only made him feel worse about his decision to end things. But he just couldn’t live like this—always wondering when the good times would come to a crashing halt. And now that he’d had a small sample of what the pain and agony would be like—he just couldn’t commit himself to a relationship.

The sooner he did this—laid everything on the table with Lizzie—the less pain they’d both experience. It was what he kept telling himself on the elevator ride to the penthouse. But somehow he was having trouble believing his own words.

It was nerves. That was it. He didn’t want to hurt Lizzie any more than he had to. But in the end, this was what was best for both of them. After all, her life was in New York.

Once they stepped inside the apartment, Lizzie moved to the kitchen area. “I’ll need to make a list of what we need from downstairs.”

“For what?”

“The party. Remember, we’re in charge of the food. Your father wants to taste your cooking.”

The party where she would be introduced to his extended family—the party where people would start hinting about a wedding. His aunts were notorious for playing the part of matchmakers. That was why he ducked them as much as possible.

Dante sighed. This was all getting so complicated now. “Lizzie, can you come in here so we can talk?”

She rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a pen and paper. “It’s already getting late. We really need to get to work on the food prep. You never did say how we’re going to get all of this to the vineyard. You know, it might be easier if we’d take the supplies there and prepare it—”

He’d heard her ramble on a few occasions and each time she’d been nervous. “Lizzie, stop!”

She jumped and turned wide eyes in his direction. He felt even worse now that he’d scared her than he did before. He was making a mess of this.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted your attention.” He walked toward the black leather couch. “Come here. There’s something I need to say.”

Lizzie placed the pen and paper on the kitchen counter and hesitantly walked toward him. She knew what was coming, didn’t she? It was obvious this wasn’t going to work. He just wasn’t cut out to be anyone’s better half. He’d laugh at the thought if he wasn’t so miserable.

She perched on the edge of the couch with her spine straight. “Is this about the restaurant? About your meeting today. Did you go through with the sale?”

That was what she thought he wanted to talk about? He scrubbed his hand over his face. “No, this isn’t about that.”

“Oh. But did you sell it? Not that it’s any of my business. But I was just curious because of Massimo—”

“You don’t have to remind me. I know that my grandfather put his whole life into that business.” And this was just one more reason why he needed to end this relationship. She was already influencing his decisions—decisions that only a couple of months ago he hadn’t needed or wanted anyone’s input. “No, I didn’t sell the place.”

“I didn’t think you could part with it. It’s in your blood. You’d be lost without the restaurant.” A hesitant smile pulled at the edges of her lips. “Massimo will be so pleased to know the restaurant is in safe hands. It will make his birthday gift even more special.”

The collage. She’d been hurt because of him—because he’d forgotten to pick up the present. Guilt ate at him. An apology teetered on the tip of his tongue, but at the last second he bit it back. Comforting her would only muddy things. He had to end things as cleanly as possible—it would hurt her less that way.

“There’s something else we need to talk about.” There, he’d gotten the conversation started.

Lizzie sent him a puzzled look. “But we have so much to do for the party—”

“Don’t you see, we can’t do this? I can’t do this.” He turned his back to her, unable to bear the weight of seeing the inevitable disillusionment on her face. “We were kidding ourselves to think that we could ever have something real.”

“What’s going on, Dante? I thought that we were getting closer. I thought—”

“You thought wrong,” he ground out. He hated himself for the pain and confusion he was causing her.

“You...you’re ending things because I screwed up and wrecked your car?” The horror came across in the rising tones of her voice.

“It’s not that.”

He turned around then and saw the shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. It was almost his undoing. But then he recalled the paralyzing fear of thinking that something serious had happened to her. He just couldn’t cave in. It would mean risking his heart and waiting for the day that his whole world would come crashing down around him.

“Then it’s my past.” She looked at him with disbelief reflected in her eyes. “I should have never told you. Now you think that I’m damaged goods.”

“I never thought that. Ever.” He stepped closer to her. No matter what it cost him, he was unwilling to let her think such a horrible thing. “You’re amazing.” His fingers caressed her cheek. “Any man who is fortunate to have you in his life will be the luckiest man in the world.”

She stepped back out of his reach. “You expect me to believe that when you’re standing there saying you don’t want to see me again.”

He groaned. “I’m doing this all wrong. I’m sorry. I never wanted you to think this had anything to do with you. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.” He stepped toward her. “You have your whole future ahead of you.”

She moved back. “Save the pep talk. I’ve heard lines like yours before. I don’t need to hear it again. I was so wrong about you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I thought you were different from the other guys I’ve known. I thought that I could trust you, but obviously I was wrong.”

Her words were like spears that slammed into his chest. He didn’t know it was possible to feel this low. He deserved every painful word she spewed at him. And more...

To keep from reaching out to her, he stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Don’t you get it? I don’t do well with long-term commitments.”

She waved off his words. “Save it. I don’t need to hear this. I have packing to do.”

There was still the surprise party to deal with and Lizzie was in charge. But after the accident, he couldn’t imagine that she’d be up for any part of it. Still, he couldn’t just disinvite her. “What about Massimo’s party?”

Her gaze lifted to meet his. “Are you serious? You really expect me to go and pretend that everything is okay between you and me?” She shook her head, her long blond hair swishing over her shoulder. “That party is for your family—something I’ll never be.”

His gaze dropped to the black plush rug with a white swirl pattern. He choked down the lump in his throat. “What should I tell everyone?”

She gave him a hard, cold stare. “This one is all on you. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” She strode off down the hallway. Without even bothering to turn around, she called out, “Don’t worry. I’ll be gone before you return to the city.”

Her back was ramrod-stiff and her shoulders were rigid. He tried to console himself with the knowledge that she’d be better off without him. The fate of women who fell in love with a DeFiore was not good. Not good at all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

H
E
COULDN
’
T
BRING
himself to celebrate.

Dante worked his way to a corner on the patio. There was no quiet place to hide. The musicians his father hired didn’t know how to keep the volume down. And the cacophony of voices and laughter grated on Dante’s taut nerves.

It didn’t matter who he ran into, they asked about Lizzie. It was as though he and Lizzie were expected to head for the nearest altar as soon as possible. When he explained that Lizzie was returning to the States, they all sent him an accusing look.

He should be relieved. He had his utter freedom back. No chance that he could get hurt and grow old, miserable and alone like his grandfather, father and Stefano. No taking part in the DeFiore legacy. So why did he feel so miserable?

Dante could barely hear his own thoughts. There was nothing quiet about the DeFiore family. Everyone spoke over everyone else, hands gestured for emphasis and laughter reigned supreme. Lizzie would have loved being part of such a big gathering. And she’d have fit right in.

“How’s the
ristorante
?”

Dante turned to find his father standing behind him, puffing on a cigar. Dante hadn’t even heard him approach.

“It’s good.” Now that the decision had been made, he decided to let his father in on it. “There was an offer to buy the
ristorante
. It was made by some outfit looking to expand their portfolio.”

“Are you going to accept?”

It was good to talk with someone about something other than Lizzie and his failed relationship. “I thought about it. I considered selling and moving home to help with the vineyard.”

His father’s bushy brows rose. “You’d want to come back after you fought so hard to get out of here?”

Dante shrugged. “I thought it’d make things easier for you.”

“I don’t need you to make things easier for me.” His father’s tone was resilient. “I take it you came to your senses and turned down the offer.”

Dante considered telling him that they wanted the family recipes as part of the deal but that he just couldn’t go through with it. No amount of money could compensate for giving away those family secrets. Some things weren’t meant to be shared. But that wasn’t the real reason he’d ended up turning down the offer.

Dante nodded his head. “I almost went through with it. But in the end, I couldn’t do it.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Lizzie.” Her name slipped quietly over his lips as the pain of loss overwhelmed him.

“You were planning to run the place with her by your side? Like your grandparents had done?”

Dante didn’t trust his voice at that moment. He merely nodded.

“Then why are you here alone? Why did you let her get away?”

His father always thought he failed at things. Well, this time his father was wrong. “I didn’t let her get away. I pushed her away.”