This was the downside of being a team owner. His job was to encourage the rest of the team to carry on to a national victory. Realizing what he had to do tonight, he knew he wouldn’t be able to get over to Dea’s until long after she went to bed.

  After he watched the ambulance take Dante to the hospital, he congratulated the team and had a short pep talk with them. Once the guys left, he phoned Dea. She answered on the second ring.

  “Guido. How is Dante?”

  “He’s gone to the hospital. I’ll know more by tomorrow morning.”

  “You sound exhausted. Don’t come over tonight. It’s late. Go home to bed and if you can, concentrate on your latest win. You’re almost there.”

  “I don’t know. Without Dante, our strength has been reduced.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. You have other players who will step up. One of them will realize this is their opportunity to become a new star for the team. Sometimes wonderful things come out of tragedy.”

  If she was speaking from experience, then she’d learned a great deal about life. Her fighting spirit was exactly what he needed right now. “Thank you for those words. They mean more than you could know.”

  “I’m happy you said that. Here I was afraid that my arrival during the game prevented you from watching the rest of it and you resented me.”

  He let out an exasperated sigh. “What I resented was having to let you go at all. May I have a rain check for tomorrow evening? I’ll bring takeout to your apartment after work and we’ll watch the game we missed. How does that sound?”

  “I’d love it, but tomorrow evening my aunt will be in Rome and we’re going out to dinner with Juliana.” He had to swallow the bad news that they wouldn’t be able to see each other as soon as he’d wanted. “Maybe the next night? I’ll show you some of my ideas for your villa. They bombarded me all night long. Where do you keep all your trophies?”

  Her mind leaped around and fascinated him so much that laughter escaped his lips despite his disappointment. “My parents’ villa.”

  “How many do you have?”

  Guido shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “Enough to fill a room?”

  “Why?”

  “You know that little nook off the den? It would be a great place to keep them. Kind of like your own museum. I can see a wallpaper motif of a real lion head with the words Cuor di Leone above it. On one side could be family pictures of your parents. On the other, pictures of you at different ages to immortalize the Rossano name.

  “I can hear what you’re thinking,” she added, “so here’s the plan. You could have double doors hung that locked and couldn’t be opened unless you used a remote. I know how modest you are, so if you don’t want anyone else to see it, then there’s no problem.”

  He was so touched by her words he had trouble finding the right response. “I can see you think bigger than life.”

  “It comes from living in a castle with the enormous painting of Queen Joanna dominating the foyer. We Caracciolos can’t think any other way.”

  His throat had swelled with emotion. “I’ll call you Tuesday and we’ll make plans. Miss me, Dea.” He hung up and headed to his car. The next time he was with her, he was going to have the most important discussion of his life with her.

  * * *

  Miss me, Dea.

  She’d heard the huskiness in his tone. Didn’t he know she wouldn’t be able to breathe until they were together again?

  Luckily Dea was kept so busy at work the time flew until she went out for an enjoyable dinner with her aunt and Juliana Monday evening. During the meal her mentor praised Dea’s work. She also announced that they’d be working at the opera house for the next three evenings while rehearsals for Don Giovanni were going on. The opera would open the following week.

  Exciting as that prospect would be in the professional sense, it meant Dea wouldn’t be able to see Guido until Friday. When his phone call came Tuesday afternoon, she had to tell him news that was hard on her too. “But I promise that nothing will keep me from meeting you at the airport on Friday at four thirty.”

  A full half minute of silence met her ears before he said, “I don’t know if I can last that long.”

  “I feel the same way,” she admitted, but something else was bothering him, evidenced by some nuance in his voice. “How’s Dante?”

  “He’s out for the season.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “He received flowers at the hospital, among them some roses with a card that was signed by Dea Loti and said, ‘A fan who is wishing you back to health as soon as possible.’ Do you have any idea how honored he felt?”

  “Good. He got them!”

  “All the guys have come in and out of his room and read your card. Now his celebrity status has shot through the roof. Sergio and Mario are green with envy.”

  “Guido...those flowers were meant to cheer you up too.”

  “You succeeded. How am I supposed to wait until Friday?”

  “The same way I am. Work, work, work.”

  “There’s steel beneath all that beauty.”

  “And a warrior lives inside you! Your team is going to be superb at their next match, all because of their legendary owner.”

  “The things you say,” he whispered. “If you were with me right now...”

  “We’ll be together on Friday. I’m staying positive for you. A presto, Guido.” She hung up before blurting that she loved him, but that day was coming soon.

  * * *

  At four fifteen on Friday, Dea arrived at the airport by taxi, so eager to see Guido her cheeks were flushed and she thought she might be running a temperature. She hurried out on the tarmac to the section for the private planes. In the distance she saw the Scatto Roma jet. The door was open and the staircase had been placed against it.

  He was here! She ran all the way with her overnight bag and raced up the steps straight into his arms. Guido put her bag down and buried his face in her hair. “I saw you coming. Thank heaven you’re early. I couldn’t have stood to wait another minute.”

  “Neither could I!” She pressed her mouth to his, kissing him so hungrily she almost knocked him over like she had playing soccer with him. Dea was no longer the same person. This man Guido—the love of her life—was eating her alive while he carried her all the way to his bedroom. For the next while she lost cognizance of her world. Overwhelmed with the pleasure he gave her, she hardly realized a voice had sounded over the plane’s PA system.

  “Signor Rossano? Do you wish to take off now?”

  On a groan, Guido lifted his head and pulled out his phone. “We’re ready.”

  “Bene.”

  His blue eyes were glazed with desire as he looked down at her. “We have to go to the club compartment.”

  “You shouldn’t have brought me back here.”

  “I couldn’t do anything else.” He snatched another kiss from her lips and helped her to stand. Her hair was a complete mess and her lipstick had long since disappeared. She felt herself wobble on the way to the front of the jet, where they strapped themselves in their seats.

  His eyes never left hers as the plane taxied out to the runway. Soon the engines screamed and they lifted off into the early evening sun. Once they’d achieved cruising speed, the steward brought them dinner.

  “To shorten the time we’re in the air, we’re flying directly to Ischia and will drive a rental car to our hotel in Ciglio. How does that sound?”

  She finished munching on some bruschetta. “I think you already know.”

  “Tell me how things are going at the opera.”

  “It’s a whole other world. You can’t imagine how exciting it is to see the singers get dressed in their costumes. All our hard work is on display, but I have to tell you one funny thing. Gina wasn’t given the right dimensions for Leporello’s jacket. When he tried it on, his considerable belly prevented it from closing. Gina and I tried not to explode from laughter.”

  Guido flashed her a broad smile.

  “Juliana saved the day by finding a red scarf that she wrapped around him so the front edges would lie flat. When he reached for notes, we were all afraid the scarf would burst, but it didn’t. Her ability to innovate at the last second makes her the queen of costume designers.”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing the opera performed.”

  “Me too. It starts next week.”

  “You’ll have to show me the costumes you designed.”

  “I only helped.”

  “Now who’s being modest?”

  She finished her coffee. “Do you think your team is ready for the game in Siena?”

  His brows furrowed. “They’re going to have to be, but Drago can only do so much.”

  “One of the other players will step up. Have no fear.”

  “You really believe that, don’t you?”

  Heavens—in chinos and a sport shirt, the man was so incredibly attractive with that dark blond hair that she couldn’t help staring. “Yes. They want you to be proud of them. You’re their hero.”

  He made a protesting sound. “You don’t know that.”

  “Oh, yes, I do. I’ll never forget the look of worship in Aldo’s eyes when he met you in person. Your team’s feelings for you have to be a hundred times stronger.”

  “Did I ever tell you how good you are for me?”

  “I don’t know how you can say that when I caused you to miss watching an hour of the game last Sunday evening.”

  “There’s a lot more I want to say on that subject, but I’ll wait until we’re completely alone.”

  How wonderful that sounded. A minute later the steward removed their trays and told them they’d be landing soon. Dea sat back, aching to get Guido all to herself. Within three minutes the Fasten Seat Belt sign flicked on and they began their descent. In the dying rays of the sun, Ischia rose up to greet them.

  A rental car was waiting on the tarmac. Guido loaded them inside and drove them out to the main road. Guido pampered her to the point she felt sorry for every woman who would never know what it was like to be with a fabulous man like him.

  It soon became clear that the island was overrun with tourists. She wished they didn’t have to stay at a crowded hotel tonight, no matter how charming it might be. “We should have brought sleeping bags we could put down at the villa.”

  “On those hard subfloors? Not exactly my idea of comfort, but I’m living for the day when it’s ready for occupation.”

  Dea eyed him covertly. “There’s still your sailboat. We could pick up some goodies in the village and sleep on board.”

  She heard a harsh intake of breath. “You must have been reading my mind. I wanted to take you there in the first place, but it’s intimate. Contrary to what you’ve probably heard about me, I’m not the kind of man who sleeps with every woman I fancy. I would never treat you that way.”

  “You thought I’d feel more comfortable staying at a hotel with adjoining rooms?”

  “I’m trying hard to be a gentleman with you.”

  “Please try harder not to be.”

  His deep unexpected laughter filled the car’s interior. “There’s no other woman in the world like you, Dea. How did I get so lucky?”

  “I’ve been saying that to myself about you ever since our own little soccer game.” She ached with love for him. “I’m afraid I’m not known for my subtlety. To be honest, I’ve never been to bed with a man.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Does it show so much? Is that why you haven’t tried to take advantage of me?”

  “A woman who knows her value is more desirable than you can imagine.”

  “Well, I hate to ruin that image you have of me because it’s all I can think about when I’m with you.”

  “Now she tells me.”

  His teasing was driving her crazy. “Surely at this point you must realize that if I thought you were a true playboy out to use me, we would never have made it this far.”

  “I think that’s a compliment of sorts. But in case you’ve got the entirely wrong opinion about me, I’ll be honest too. Over the years I’ve had a few very short-term intimate relationships with women. None since my birthday last year, however.”

  The birthday on the yacht... “That night changed history for both of us, Guido.”

  “You’re right. That was the night my world underwent an upheaval from which I’ve never recovered and don’t want to.” He reached over and put a hand on her thigh. Through the fabric of her cotton pants, she felt his touch electrify her body. “If you really want to spend the night on the boat, there’s nothing I want more. We’ll head straight to Sant’Angelo now.”

  “I’d love it,” she answered in a trembling voice. “But if you’ve already made reservations, I—”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll cancel them now.”

  To her delight he pulled out his cell phone and made the call, ensuring a perfect night. All week she’d imagined them alone and away from other people with no pressure. It looked like she was going to get her heart’s desire, and she preened like Alfredo when he found a spot in the sun.

  Within an hour they’d picked up food and had walked over to the pier. They planned to go sailing in the morning. Dea had brought her bikini in case they decided to swim and sunbathe. But they would stay right here for tonight.

  Guido led her to his one-man sailboat moored in its own slip. When she saw the name of it painted on the side, she let out a cry and stared at him. “The Bona Dea?”

  He nodded. “The Good Goddess.”

  Her eyes rounded. “How long have you owned this boat?”

  “I bought it off a fisherman two years ago. He’d owned it for fifteen years and had named it for the ancient Roman goddess of fertility, your namesake, as it turns out.”

  “I don’t believe it!”

  “Truth is stranger than fiction. I was in love with your name long before we met. It just took meeting you in the flesh to complete my entrancement.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  DEA BLUSHED AND climbed on board. It was no surprise to Guido she knew her way around a boat. She’d lived by the water all her life, even if she hadn’t learned to water ski until he’d helped her.

  Together they went below with their overnight bags and freshened up. She helped him make the bed with clean sheets and a blanket from the cupboard. After pulling out an extra quilt, he took it and the pillows up on deck so they could be comfortable.

  “Come here.” He propped himself against them and drew her down so she lay against him on the padded side of the boat. It rocked gently in the water. Once he’d covered them with the quilt, they enjoyed some of the nuts and chocolate they’d bought.

  The lights of the village reflected in her eyes. “It’s like looking at wonderland, Guido.”

  He kissed her temple. “You like this place?”

  Dea nestled closer. “What a question.”

  “I’ve spent many nights right here on the water.”

  “I can see why.”

  “Can you imagine yourself living here?”

  “That’s not a trick question. Or is it?” She lifted her head to look at him. Her glossy hair drifted across his cheek. “What are you saying?”

  He kissed every part of her face. “Do I really have to answer that?”

  “Guido—” By now she was sitting up. Her body had gone taut with emotion. “Please don’t tease me. Not about this. I couldn’t take it.”

  His expression grew serious. “I’m in love with you, Dea. So in love that I never want to be apart from you.”

  “You are?” she asked in a shaky voice. Tears glistened in her eyes.

  “Do you really need convincing, my love? I want to marry you right away and spend the rest of my life on this island with you. I want so many things. I’m bursting with the need to tell you. Forgive me if I’m moving too fast, but I can’t help it. I’ve loved you for too long believing there was no hope.”

  She put her hands on his shoulders. “I’ve been waiting, dying for you to tell me. I was afraid I might never hear the words. I’m madly in love with you, Guido.”

  “I thought maybe I had a chance with you when I saw a poster of me in your bedroom at the apartment.”

  “You saw it?”

  He nodded. “I knew you’d bought two posters. The evidence gave me hope, something I badly needed.”

  “Oh, darling. After our day on the water with Alessandra and Rini, I knew I was truly falling in love for the first time in my life.”

  “It happened to me when you tackled me.”

  “But I didn’t know that! You left the castle that morning before I could say a final goodbye to you.”

  “You know why. I knew it was too soon to ask for all your passion.”

  “And all my truth,” she reminded him. “You think I didn’t want the same thing?” Dea gave him another fervent kiss and shook him gently. “When I discovered you’d already gone that Sunday morning, I felt such pain go through me that I knew you’d taken my heart with you. What if I never saw you again? I was terrified until you called me to go to lunch.”

  “Adorata, I’ve lived in terror since that night on the yacht. If I couldn’t have you, I didn’t want another woman. For a while I was out of my mind fearing I would never be able to have my heart’s desire.”

  She kissed him hard. “No more talk about the past. I want to be your wife, Guido. I’ve already designed our whole villa, complete with the most adorable nursery you ever saw in your life. We’re going to have children to keep both sets of grandparents busy. Is this your official proposal?”

  The lovelight in her eyes blinded him. “It’s official, bellissima.” He reached in his pocket and put a diamond solitaire on her ring finger.