Page 78 of Ciao, Amore

“Hey. I need to go check on Kiki. She’s overtired, and it’s a bad sign if even herfavorite parentcan’t calm her down,” Terri said with a slow grin pulling at her lips. “I’ll check in later.”

Losing the “everything’s fine” posturing, Dani slouched in her chair. It was exhausting, being asked these same questions by her family and her friends when she didn’t have a fucking clue what she wanted other than the impossible: to unwind time and stay with Nico.

Thoughts of what she could have or should have done differently their last night together tormented her. Maybe she should have given an immediate yes to the proposal and kept her doubts to herself. Maybe she should have allowed herself to be fucking happy for once.

The useless fantasy constantly playing in her head that he would somehow show up and beg her to take him back was unhealthy. She knew her family’s concern for her was justified. She wasn’t herself. Hadn’t been herself since he’d walked away with his shoulders stiff and never looked back.

She did miss being with her family. Friends were nice, cousins were nice, but maybe it was time to put this adventure on pause. Maybe going home wouldn’t be so bad, at least for a little while. London could wait a few weeks. Who knew, maybe she’d change tickets and head to Asia instead like Terri had.

From across the room, her parents, Terri, and even Ken were smiling at her.

Weirdos.

Wearily, she contemplated the trek across the crowded room to get the next drink. A shadow fell across her lap, a tall one. It was probably her cousin’s new brother-in-law who’d been pestering her for a date since she’d arrived. He didn’t give a shit that she was heartbroken and took every chance to ask her out whenever she saw him.

“Fuck off, Dirk, I am not in the mood tonight,” she snapped.

“What? I just walked in, and you’re callin’ me a dick already? I see some things haven’t changed.”

That voice. No fucking way…

Dani resisted the first impulse to turn. If this was a dream, or if she was drunker than she’d thought, or if she was so far gone with misery that she was hallucinating, she didn’t want to turn around and find out the dream, the drink, the delusion, was only that.

“Amore.” The voice was softer now, as were the fingertips that swept her hair gently away from her neck. That familiar touch left a trail of heat on her skin; it was the touch that haunted her with its memory every day and every night. “I like your hair straight. It’s a good look on you. I could have done better, though.”

30

PARTY CRASHER

NICO

For the secondtime since meeting Daniela Grace, Nico wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of emotions that surged through him at the sight of her. The first time had been a shock to the body; this time was a hit straight to the heart. She revived him. But after all these months spent alternating between rage and an unfulfilled craving that left him hollow, it was overwhelming to be in a room with her again.

How he was managing to sound like a normal human being, he had no idea.

Daniela’s first response after her initial freeze was laughter, accompanied by a suspiciously watery sniffle.

“Yeah, right. You and your EZ Kutz certificate.”

Humor from her, no matter how small, was a positive sign. He hadn’t been sure if she’d fling her empty glass at his head and storm off, but deep down, he knew she wouldn’t. Time and again, she’d proven herself to be much classier at handling tough moments than him. He tried not to think about how he’d behaved the last time they’d seen each other or the shameful way he’d ignored her afterwards, gathered his courage, and circled her chair to face her.

Her loveliness blew him away. It wasn’t just the dark hair flowing in carefully arranged waves to the middle of her back or the sequined indigo bridesmaid’s dress that flaunted the delicious V of her cleavage. It was those eyes that poured sunshine on him and warmed his soul, even here in the winter chill of this northern city. Her gorgeousness was in the expression on her face as he ran his gaze over her every feature, as he dared to lift a hand to trace a gentle line across her cheekbone. Her warm skin was every bit as supple and soft, her eyes holding the same tenderness as the first time he’d said he loved her, back in Positano.

“I’d ask how you knew I was here, but I’m going to assume you had informants.” Sure enough, when Nico followed her gaze to her family, they were grinning at them, her father especially, who offered Nico a quick reassuring wink. “Which one of them told on me?”

“Your dad. But he wanted it to be a surprise, so he didn’t tell Terri or your mom,” he admitted with a small grin. Dani took in his suit and then his face with wide eyes as he sat in the chair Terri had vacated and leaned forward, toward her. “He called me up and said he needed someone on this side of the Atlantic who knew how to play dominoes. I promised I’d partner up with him against you and Ken after this.”

“Wish someone had let me in on this plan,” Dani said.

She was still all eyes, absorbing him. Being this close to her again, under her direct heat, was like staring into the sun. He tore his eyes away from her and regarded the party.

“This is nice. I hope I don’t have to ruin shit tonight by kicking someone’s ass for hitting on you. Like whoever you just called a dick.”

“Ha. That guy. He’s not on Brizio’s level, but if he gets there, I’m sure you’ll swoop in and save the day, Aragorn.”

At the nickname, she smiled at him. His poor heart. He was dying to reach over and touch her, kiss her, indulge himself in that familiar scent that was even now washing over him in a tidal wave.

“So, assuming you’re living in Parma now, how is it?” she asked. Her luscious lips quirked, and she joked, “Or did something else crop up in the meantime? Patrick ask you to run for mayor of Dublin? Or maybe you’re a filmmaker now, about to make the best new gangster movie ever made?”

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