Page 6 of Her Italian Wedding (Sweet Treats 9)

“So what’s next?” I ask weakly, already feeling heady. “Should we say goodnight? Should we rest before going out to the Lodge tomorrow?”

Matteo and Domenico share a glance.

“Are you tired, cara?” asks one of the men. “We can leave if you like.”

“Oh no,” I babble. “I didn’t mean to hint that you should leave. Of course, stay longer and let’s get acquainted. I’d love to learn more about Milan and of course, the structure you’re building.”

The two men chuckle deeply and with that, we take seats on the couch before Matteo gets up, looking around.

“Is there a wine fridge in the suite?” he asks. He spots one beneath the bar and strides over before opening the glass door. “Perfect!” he exclaims, holding up a bottle of cabernet. “Can I offer you some wine, Melissa?”

“Oh, I can’t,” I demur. “I’m only nineteen, so I’m not at the legal age for drinking yet.”

But that’s when the men wink wickedly.

“Yes, but in Italy, the legal drinking age is sixteen,” they say. “Come, have a glass.”

Before I know it, a half glass of ruby-red cab is poured for me, and I take a sip. The taste is fruity, nutty, and yet also bright, and I swallow gratefully, letting the elixir trickle down my throat.

“Mmm, this is really good,” I say. “It hits the spot.”

“Yes, it does, doesn’t it?” asks Domenico while sipping at his own wine. “The vintage is certainly excellent. You’ve lucked out with the hotel, cara.”

I giggle again.

“I have, haven’t I? Now, tell me what you have in store for the new lodge you’re building. Is it going to be huge? Is there more than one building? Where is it located?”

Matteo and Domenico nod slowly while sharing a look.

“Yes, to all those questions. We’ve purchased a plot about sixty miles away from Central Milan, and yes, there will be multiple buildings on the plot. We’re not going to hold back either. We’re installing a wine cellar, a movie theater, two pools, as well as a barn for horses and a corral.”

I scrunch my nose with surprise.

“A corral? Really?”

“Oh yes,” answers Matteo smoothly. “Italy has a strong riding tradition. Horses have been prized by Italians since the Middle Ages, and many girls enjoy showing horses and competing in various events. We want to treat our daughters right, and this is just another amenity to make sure they enjoy themselves during their stay.”

I whistle, impressed.

“Oh my goodness, the women will be very excited. Except that there are no daughters right now, right? I’m the first.”

Domenico nods.

“Yes, you’re the First Daughter, so to say. You’ll help us get everything off the ground, and we value your input, sweetheart. If we build anything that you think the daughters won’t enjoy, please tell us. It can be difficult for two old geezers such as myself and Matteo to know what young ladies like.”

I laugh.

“You’re not old! But that leads me to another question: do you have any daughters of your own?”

The two alpha males look mournful.

“Sadly, no. Neither one of us has children,” says Domenico. “But we want children, definitely. Italians are also very family-oriented, and bambinos are very much a part of the equation.”

I nod.

“I agree,” I say. “My parents wanted to have more children after me, but they never succeeded,” I say slowly. “So I grew up alone. I wish I’d had a sibling,” I say wistfully.

The two men look somber.

“I’m sorry,” says Matteo. “That is a true misfortune. Italians value family, and as the Americans say, the more the merrier.”

I nod and take a deep breath. Am I ready to reveal my sad past? After all, my life is happy now so I try not to think about my background too much. But I decide to go with it because my family history is how I found my way to Dads and Daughters.

“Yes, family is everything, isn’t it? My mom and dad were young when they had me,” I begin slowly. “We had a great life, although they kept trying for more children. That was the one challenge that kept cropping up. They kept trying and trying, but with no luck. One day when I was seven, I came home and the trailer was empty. At that time, Lula was pregnant again, so that was very odd. Plus, at seven, it was odd to be alone in the trailer. You can’t just leave a seven-year-old to find dinner on her own.”

Matteo and Domenico nod, their blue eyes somber.

“What happened next?”

“Well, I was alone, and I didn’t know what to do. So I went next door, and hung out with our neighbor Crystal for a few hours. She plunked me in front of the TV and fed me dinner. I even fell asleep on her couch because my parents had actually gone to the hospital.”

Matteo and Domenico nod gravely.

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