LITMIR.BIZ

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then again, this was her first trip to Italy. In fact, other than one business trip to Canada, this was her first expedition out of the country.

      “Welcome to Calanetti Vineyard.”

      Kayla glanced around, taking in the neat lines of grapevines. “Does all of this belong to your brother?”

      “No. His vineyard is just a small portion of this land, but he produces some of the highest quality wine in the country.”

      “And you grew up here?”

      “I did.” Angelo pulled the car to a stop in front of a two-story villa. The home featured earth tones that blended in well with the land. “My brother will be expecting us. I phoned him from the airport.”

      As if on cue, the front door of the villa swung open and a man stepped out. Kayla did a double take—it was like looking at a slightly younger version of Angelo. The man approached the car wearing an easy smile. His eyes were dark brown like his brother’s, but there was an easiness in them. They were quite unlike Angelo’s dark and mysterious eyes.

      When Nico opened the car door for her and held out his hand, she accepted his offer. Then she noticed the biggest difference of all. Instead of her stomach quivering with nervous energy in response to Nico’s touch, she had no reaction at all. What did that mean? How could two men who looked so much alike have her reacting in such opposite ways?

      It had to be that Angelo was her boss. That must be it. There was simply no other reasonable explanation for the electric charge that Angelo gave her every time she felt his gaze on her or when their fingers brushed as they passed papers back and forth.

      “Benvenuta.” Nico’s voice carried a thick, warm Italian accent. When she sent him a puzzled look, he smiled. “Scusi. Welcome.”

      She smiled back, immediately liking Angelo’s brother. “I’m so glad to be here.”

      “My brother doesn’t bring many visitors home. In fact, you are the first. You must be special—”

      “Nico, this is my assistant.” Angelo frowned at his sibling.

      Nico’s dark brows rose and then a knowing smile pulled at his lips. “I hope my brother doesn’t work you too hard while you’re in Italy. There’s so much to see. I’d love to give you a tour of the vineyard—”

      “She doesn’t have time for that stuff. She’s here to work.” Any hint of the easiness Angelo had displayed in the car was gone—hidden behind an impenetrable wall. “Now where is Marianna?”

      “I don’t know.”

      “What? Didn’t you tell her that I was on my way?”

      “I did.” Nico folded his arms over his broad chest and lifted his chin. “I think that’s the reason she left so early this morning without even bothering to grab a bite to eat. I haven’t seen her since, but then again, I haven’t looked for her, either.”

      “You let her walk away—?”

      “What did you want me to do? Lock her in her room?”

      “Maybe if you’d have done that a while ago, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

      Nico’s arms lowered and his shoulders straightened. “You’re blaming me for this?”

      Angelo’s body visibly tensed. “Yes...no. If only I’d have known something was wrong, I could have...”

      “Could have what?”

      Kayla’s gaze darted between the two men who glared at each other. It was time to do something and fast. “This certainly is a beautiful place you have here.” She acted as though she were totally oblivious to the torrent of undercurrents. “Angelo told me you produce some of the finest wine in Italy.”

      At last, the brothers quit glaring at each other. Nico turned to her. “My brother got that much right. I’d be happy if you’d sample some while you’re here.”

      “I’d be honored.”

      This palpable tension certainly wasn’t what she’d been expecting for a family reunion, but then again, after overhearing the heated conversation when Nico had phoned the office, she shouldn’t be too surprised. She turned her attention to her always-in-control boss, who looked as though he was about to lose his cool edge and have a meltdown. Intriguing. There was definitely a lot more to him than what she’d witnessed so far.

      “I should have come back before now.” There was a weary, pained toned to Angelo’s voice. “I let the past keep me away.”

      Nico turned back to his sibling. “What happened to you was a long time ago. It wasn’t right, but a lot has changed since then. You no longer have an excuse to stay away.”

      “But I still have a company to run. I don’t have time to drop everything and travel halfway around the globe to check up on things. As far as I knew, everything was all right.”

      “Maybe if you didn’t work all the time and bothered to call occasionally, you’d know how things were going around here.”

      Questions crowded into Kayla’s mind—questions that were absolutely none of her business. But that didn’t stop her from wondering what had happened to drive Angelo away from his family. He obviously loved them or he wouldn’t have let his cool composure slide. And what caused him to keep his emotions under lock and key in the first place?

      Angelo raked his fingers through his hair. “Maybe I should have called more.”

      “Yes, you should have.”

      The thud of a door slamming shut punctuated Nico’s words. Kayla hesitantly glanced off in the distance as a young woman marched toward them. Her brown hair was wild and curly as it fluttered in the breeze. Her lips pressed into a firm line and her eyes narrowed in on the two men. This must be Marianna.

      “Enough!” The woman came to a stop between Angelo and Nico. “You two are being ridiculous. Anytime you both want to quit with the overprotective-brother routine, we can talk.”

      Though she was at least a foot shorter than her brothers, Marianna certainly didn’t hesitate to step between them. Something told Kayla that little sister wasn’t a shrinking violet with these two as her brothers. She’d definitely have to be strong-willed. Silently Kayla cheered her on.

      Angelo’s broad chest puffed up before he sighed. When he spoke, his voice was much gentler. “Marianna, if only I’d known—”

      “Stop.” The young woman pressed her hands to her hips and pulled back her slender shoulders. “Neither of you are to blame for my choices.”

      Angelo’s brows drew together in a formidable line. “But—”

      “I’m not done.” Her shoulders remained ramrod straight. “I’m a grown woman, if you hadn’t noticed. But then again, you’ve been off in the States and missed the fact that I’ve grown up. Maybe if you’d spent more time here, you’d have realized this.”

      Kayla’s heart went out to Angelo. He’d obviously made mistakes where his family was concerned, and they weren’t shy about calling him out on it. In his eyes, she could see pain and regret. Beneath his hard, protective shell lurked a vulnerable man.

      Angelo’s stance eased and his head lowered. “I know I should have been here for you—”

      “No. This isn’t what I want.” Marianna shook her head, sending her hair flying. “I don’t need you feeling guilty. I need you to understand that I can make my own decisions.”

      “See, I told you,” Nico piped in. “Trying to deal with her isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

      Angelo turned to his brother. “Maybe if you’d have told me sooner—”

      Nico’s dark brows drew together in a formidable line. “Told you—I tried calling you but I always got your voice mail. And

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