Page 102 of More Than a Billionaire

“You can stay at my place.”

A nervous laugh escaped her. “I need alone time, Luca.”

“I know you do. I won’t be there. I’m going to Italy for the rest of the summer to stay with my uncle and work at the family vineyard.”

“Oh.”

“If you want it, it’s yours.”

Her heart warmed at his generosity. “I’ll think about it.”

He nodded.

“Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I mean it. I can’t tell you how much your kindness tonight meant to me.” She moved toward him and opened her arms to hug him, and he pulled her right in. And for the first time in months, there was a glimmer of happiness in her heart.

Summer at the winery might be exactly what she needed.

THIRTY-THREE

What do you mean, she’s gone?”

Franky stared dumbfounded at the old covered bridge before him. He and Ivy had been waiting there for Skylar to take their engagement pictures, but when she didn’t show and he couldn’t get ahold of her, he called Gus. Hearing that Skylar had left town was not what he expected.

“Where did she go?” he asked.

Gus was silent for several beats.

“Gus? Is she okay?” His mind went to all the worst places. “She’s not sick or something, is she?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. She took a leave of absence for the rest of the summer … for personal reasons.”

Franky was filled with a sudden mix of emotions, which he could barely process—worry, sadness, anger. He had so many questions. Why had she left without telling him? If she knew she was leaving, why wouldn’t she cancel their photo session and reschedule? How long would she be gone? What if she didn’t come back? And most important of all … why did she leave?

Ivy groaned beside him. “This is totally unacceptable. What a waste of our time. I have a case I need to be working on.”

He barely noticed as she marched to the car. All he wanted was information about Skylar. “Did she tell you why she left? I really need to know.”

“If she wanted you to know, she would’ve told you,” Gus replied.

“But you know, right?”

“I can’t break my sister’s trust, Franky. You know that.”

Franky let out a breath. “Okay, I get it.”

“Sorry, man.”

They said goodbye and hung up, but Franky didn’t move. He felt like screaming. He felt like throwing his phone into the river. He felt like crying.

The honk of the car horn startled him, and he looked over at an impatient Ivy. He understood that she had work to do, but now was one of those times that required a little more sympathy than she was giving him.

He decided not to throw his phone in the river after all and sent Skylar a text instead.

Franky: Sky, what’s going on? Gus told me you left town. Is everything OK?

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