Love's Precious Surprise (The women of Landry's Landing and the Fabrizio men) (5 page)

“Yeah he’s way too gone for that, I think he fell in love with Toni on the day they met. But he knows the deal so he’ll treat her with the respect she deserves.” Luc added with a wide smile.

Daniele and Toni enjoyed light conversation as they ate their lunch at a table for two in the corner of the café. Although they’d known one another for almost a year now this was actually the first time they’d shared a meal alone. Usually there was always someone around like the kids or other family members or a member of the staff or even the media.

Whatever the reason they just hadn’t had the opportunity to be completely alone for more than a few minutes at a time. Even sharing the guesthouse they usually only saw one another in passing or sharing an office people were always coming in and out of there. And it hadn’t helped that he’d pissed her off shortly after his arrival. Unfortunately it had taken quite some time for her to forgive him for his stupid mistake. It was nice to finally have a chance to enjoy each other’s company.

He was happy to see her relax around him something that he knew wasn’t easy for her. She was laughing at his corny jokes and smiling even when they were quietly eating their food. He wanted to see her like this always and he would do whatever it took to make that happen.

“Since lunch is going so well would you maybe consider having dinner with me tonight?” Daniele asked hopeful that she’d say yes.

Toni gazed across the table at him as she considered his dinner invitation. Having lunch with him in the middle of the day was one thing but was she ready to have dinner alone with him at night no less.

Of course she was having a nice time with him she never realized how funny he could be. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much, her cheeks were starting to ache from all the smiling.

“Yes I’ll have dinner with you Daniele.” She answered with a bright smile.

“Wow, I feel like I’ve won the lottery first lunch now you’ve agreed to have dinner with me. Do you know how excited I am that you said yes? I was afraid you were going to say no you were making me a little nervous for a minute.” He admitted with relief in his voice.

“I seriously doubt that I was making you nervous.” She teased.

“Are you kidding look at how sweaty my hands are and I was holding my breath waiting for you to give me an answer.” He said.

“Boy you know dang well that you were not holding your breath so stop playing.” She said.

“I’m not playing didn’t you see me sitting over here turning blue from a lack of oxygen if you’d taken any longer I would’ve past out on the floor.” He said teasingly and grinned when she laughed.

“You really need to cut it out people are starting to stare at us.” She said as she attempted to contain her laughter.

“They’re staring at us because your beautiful smile is lighting up the place and they’re just trying to see where that bright beam of light is coming from.” He replied sweetly as he gazed into her green eyes and watched as her cheeks turned red.

Toni turned her gaze away and placed her hands on her face to hide the plush that she felt burning her cheeks. She couldn’t remember ever blushing in front of anyone before. She’d blushed alone in front of the mirror plenty of times since meeting Daniele. Each time she fantasized about him in the privacy of her own room. The thought of him kissing her lips or gently touching her in a way no other man ever has.

She knew they were fantasies that would probably never come true but that didn’t stop her mind from producing them. All the times that she’d insulted him had been her way of defending herself from the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Kind of like what she was feeling right now as if her heart would burst from her chest as it pounded uncontrollably.

Daniele cleared his throat to get her attention. “Well I guess now that we’ve finished our lunch we should get back to the office before they come looking for us.” He said to relive the awkwardness that had descended upon them since making his last comment.

Toni nodded not trusting her voice not to crack if she tried to answer him. She glanced up at him as he stood and come around the table to pull her chair out for her.

“
Thank you.” She whispered softly as she stood.

When Toni and Daniele arrived back at the office they were greeted by way too many smiling family members. The two exchanged questioning glances as they wondered why everyone was grinning at them.

“Did we miss something was there a family meeting that we didn’t know about?” Daniele asked looking puzzled.

“No there wasn’t a meeting we just missed you guys at lunch.” Indy said.

“Didn’t Luc and Asia tell you that we decided to have lunch with just the two of us today?” Daniele asked.

“Yeah she mentioned it so did the two of you enjoy yourselves at lunch?” Gigi asked with a smile.

“Yeah we had a nice time but we should probably get back to work now.” He said.

“Toni you haven’t said anything is everything alright, did you enjoy lunch?” London asked.

“Yes, I did and everything is fine but Daniele is right we really should get back to work so if you’ll excuse us.” Toni said before grabbing Daniele by the arm to make a mad dash for their office and then closed the door behind them.

“I know that little heifer did not just blow us off like that.” Indy said with a bit of irritation in her voice.

“Calm down Indy maybe she didn’t feel like talking about it right now.” London said.

“Yeah Indy don’t start overreacting I’m sure she’ll tell us all about it when she’s ready.” Asia said.

“What I know ya’ll aren’t talking to me, calm down, overreacting, why don’t the two of you just shut the hell up. I dropped everything when that little girl called me for help and now she doesn’t want to tell us about her little lunch date. Oh hell naw I don’t think so.” Indy said as she turned towards Toni and Daniele’s office.

“Whoa, gattino don’t you think that you should take a couple of deep breaths before talking to Toni.” Gio said as he gently grabbed his wife’s arm to stop her.

“I tell you what tiger, I’m going to take a couple of deep breaths and by the time I’m done your hand had better not be on my arm.” Indy said as she glared at his hand on her arm.

“Is that so and just what are you going to do if my hand is still on you? And if I were you I’d watch how you answer that gattino.” Gio said as he stared at his hot-headed wife.

Indy stared at her husband not saying a word as she saw the look in his eyes she knew that her best bet was to keep her mouth shut. But Indy never was one to back down the minute she opened her mouth to speak she knew she should have just kept it shut.

A look she knew all too well flashed in his eyes before he bent down and lifted her over his shoulder and headed for the door.

“Put me down right this minute Gio.” Indy yelled as he continued to head for the door.

“Nope, I gave you a chance to play nice but as usual you didn’t take it. And so you know what happens when you rile this tiger if you want to act like a wildcat instead of a kitten then I guess you need to be tamed.” He said as he reached the door before turning back to the others for a quick second. “Oh can one of you tell mom not to bring the kids home until I call we’ll be busy for a few hours.”

“We certainly will, ya’ll go have fun now.” Gigi said laughing.

“Keep laughing Shorty, when I get back I’m going to kick your little short ass.” Indy yelled.

“Girl please, when Gio is done with your crazy ass I’ll be surprised if you can stand, so I doubt you’ll be able to kick my ass.” Gigi said laughing harder as Gio carried her out the door.

“Wow I guess they’ll be having a little afternoon delight.” Asia said teasingly.

“Actually that sounds like a great idea I’m in the mood for a little afternoon delight of my own bellezza.” Luc said as he lifted his wife into his arms.

“Sounds good to me baby.” Asia said as he carried her out the door.

“So sunshine are you in the mood to put that couch in your office to good use or should I just let you get back to work?” Gigi asked taking a step back as she gazed up at her husband.

“Oh no you don’t you can forget about leaving any time soon Cara.” Pierce replied as he took her hand and led her to his office closing and locking the door.

“Well I guess I should get back to work this new spring line isn’t going to finish itself. Since everyone else is busy you should probably call your mom so that she knows to keep the kids at her place a little longer today.” London said as she headed down the hall to the office that she shared with Gabe.

A few seconds later Gabe walked into the office while talking to his mom on his cell phone. “Yeah mom we’re all a little busy with this spring promotion coming up soon so would you mind keeping the kids a bit longer today? Okay thanks we’ll see you later love you mom.” Gabe said as he ended the call.

“Your mom doesn’t have to watch Raphael one of us can go get him.” London said glancing up at him.

“The two of us are going to be a little busy.” Gabe said as he closed the door and locked it. “I know you didn’t think I was going to pass up a chance to make love to my sexy wife.”

“I wasn’t sure if you were in the mood or not lover.” London said softly.

“Dolcezza, I’m always in the mood for a taste of your sweetness you should know that by now.” Gabe said with a smile as he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the couch.

Inside Toni and Daniele’s office they both stood with their ears pressed against the door listening to see if anyone in their family was headed their way. After several minutes of quiet they both stepped away from the door.

“I thought for sure that one my sisters were going to come bursting through that door.” Toni said as she took a seat behind her desk.

“Yeah I thought the same thing especially since they were waiting for us the minute we got back.” Daniele said as he also took a seat behind his own desk.

“I know they’re just concerned but sometimes they can be a little overwhelming. I’m not quite use to having so many people care about me.” She said.

“I hope that you know that I’m one of those people that care for you?” Daniele said sincerely.

“I think I’m beginning to realize that.” She replied with a shy smile.

Daniele’s heart swelled ten times its size with her words, he finally felt a glimmer of hope that she really was planning to give him a chance. He would make sure that he didn’t disappoint her or do anything to betray her trust in him.

“Good, because I truly do care for you all I’m asking is for a chance to prove to you just how much.” He said softly.

“Well I’m giving you a chance and so that we are perfectly clear this is your one and only chance. So if you screw this up in anyway then whatever relationship we could have had will also be screwed.” She said wearing an expression that was as serious as her words.

“You certainly don’t pull any punches do you, woman?” He asked lightly.

“That’s right I’ve learned never to make the same mistake twice. So you had better make damn sure you make good use of this one and only opportunity that I’m giving you because if it turned out that you’re playing games with me Daniele Fabrizio, I’ll make hell rain down on you like a thunderstorm during a hurricane.” She said in a tone that let him know that she was not kidding.

“Do you really think that I’m that stupid? I mean honestly does it look like I have a death wish. If I did do something that completely asinine I know damn well that I’d have you and both our families to answer to. You know what that would mean right?” He said.

“No so why don’t you tell me what it means.” She replied gazing at him skeptically.

“It means
il mio amore prezioso
that not only will I have to deal with you kicking my ass but I’ll have to deal with both our families kicking my ass. So to avoid all of that I think I’ll just do my best to shower you with all the love I possibly can.” He said with a tone of determination.

Toni smiled up at him with her green eyes sparkling happily. “Well that certainly sounds like a good plan to me. Now what time are you taking me to dinner?”

“How about around seven-thirty, does that work for you?” He asked as he enjoyed the look joy on her face and the way her green eyes sparkled when she was genuinely happy about something.

Every time he saw that smile it did something strange to his heart like he lost a little bit of it to her each time. Her smile was to him was like sunshine on a rainy day, a warm drink on a cold day, she was like his shining star on a blackened, starless night.

Tonight would be not only their first real date but it would be the first night of the rest of their lives together. He had a lot to do in order to get ready for tonight he wanted to make it special for her. He wanted to give her a night she would remember always so even if she decided not to stay with him thoughts of their first date would definitely stay with her.

“That works just fine for me.” She replied still smiling.