Page 68 of Ciao, Amore

When he went upstairs, Nico found Dani where he’d left her in the garden.

“Hey,” he said, sitting down on her lounger and kissing her.

“How did it go?” Her eyes searched his face.

“I told him I’m agreeing to his request. I’m going to New York to settle the shop and then I’m coming back to Italy in about a month. He was happy.”

Dani rubbed his upper arm in a soothing motion. “I kinda figured that’s what you were going to say. I wishyouseemed happier about it.”

Nico shrugged with a grin. “I will be, once I’m with you.” He kissed her gently, leaning into her comforting embrace. “Anyway, I need to go run some errands. I won’t take long.”

The spot between Dani’s brows creased slightly. “Why can’t I come with you?”

Clearly, she was uncomfortable with the idea of running into anybody in the house. He wished that wasn’t the case. He wanted the people he loved to at least be able to be in the same room together without awkwardness.

“You’ll be fine here. I swear I won’t be away long, I just need to take care of some things. If you want, I can drop you off at the beach.”

“Yes. Some time on the beach would be good.”

A short drive later, they reached their destination. Nico dropped her off at the beach in the public section saying, “Yo. You’d better be here when I get back.”

She laughed, kissing him. “I promise, caro mio, I’ll be right here. No running off to some other town.”

“Good,” he murmured, kissing her. . “Let’s have some quiet time when I get back. If I have to go a month without your sweet pussy,amore, we need to make the most of it.”

Dani giggled, and his breath caught in his throat looking at her. A month away. How the hell was he going to handle that?

“I love you, my sweetheart.”

“I love you, too. Ciao,bello.”

24

REPAIR

NICO

When he returned,he and Dani settled in for a quiet night together in the villa. For once, they weren’t bombarded with knocking fists or demands to come out of their room. Even the kids kept their distance, except for Little Angelo who showed up and was ushered in to play. When Angelo came by to retrieve him, Nico let him in.

“Hey, big bro. Hey Dani,” Angelo said, nodding at them.

In stark contrast to his uncharacteristic anger the week before, Angelo was all smiles again. Nico loved that about his brother, how easily he forgave and forgot. After a hug, Angelo sat in the chair while Dani propped herself against the headboard, making sure Little Angelo didn’t tumble off the side. Nico sat on the bench at the foot of the bed.

Safe small talk was on the agenda for a little while, catching up on what the family had done while they’d been away. Although he laughed while he chatted about the kids’ shenanigans, there was an undertone of suspense beneath his banter.

Finally, the moment came. Angelo grinned faintly at Dani while Little Angelo snuggled on her lap, playing with her ear and signaling he was sleepy.

“Well. Trip’s almost up. What did you tell Nonno you were gonna do?” he asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and hands loosely clasped.

Nico mirrored his pose, looking at his brother with heat rising in his face.

“I said yeah. I’m coming back to New York with you guys. But after I get everything over there settled, it’s Parma or bust.”

Angelo nodded, exhaling with slightly widened eyes. For a time, he didn’t respond. “You sure you really want that? I get it, Nonno has his legacy, and he wants to pass it on, but bro, it doesn’t have to be you. Let Brizio and Steffi handle it. It’s definitely what they want.”

“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. I’m not doing it because of the legacy, or because it’s what Nonno wants.Iwant the business secure for all of us, too. Isa, Little Angelo, Enzo, all these kids. My kids.”

He glanced at Dani, who said nothing but raised an eyebrow. He grinned and turned back to Angelo.

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