Ruthless Perfection (The Rosa Legacy #1) (20 page)

“You’ve been painting,” her mother said.

“We revamped the bathroom today,” Isabel explained.

Her mother looked at her. Suddenly Isabel realized in the heat of the day, she had changed into a pair of shorts and tank top.

“Isabel, I can see your scars.”

“Mama, it is fine. I know I have scars, but I shouldn’t be made to feel my body is grotesque.”

“I’m not saying you should hide your body away. Just dress modestly.”

Isabel looked at her mother. Her face held concern, but Isabel no longer felt ashamed.

“I’m not ashamed of the way I look. If anything, the scars remind me I’m lucky to be alive.”

Her mother began setting out the plates. “I just worry about you. People might feel uncomfortable, or they might ask questions.”

After a brief silence, Isabel said, “I know you worry, but I’m fine. I can’t help how people will feel, but if someone asks I will tell them.”

The three of them sat down to a simple meal of chicken and salad. Her father opened a bottle of wine and Isabel took out her grandmother’s wine glasses. Isabel told them all about her trip to Italy. She purposely didn’t mention Marc; it was still too difficult and recent to talk about. But she did describe the marble cliffs and the opera. She mentioned Alda quite a bit and her parents relaxed and enjoyed the evening.

Over the next few weeks, Isabel finished editing the documentary. She had sent a few messages to Marc through email for final approval for different sections but hadn’t heard back from him.

She missed Marc. He had dismissed her without any regard for her feelings, but her heart ached for him. Sometimes she would catch a glimpse of a tall man with dark hair on the sidewalk and for a split second would begin to hope, only to be disappointed.

In two days she would be presenting the film to the Mayes Arts Organization that sponsored it.

Isabel checked her email again and began to worry that she wouldn’t have any communication with Marc until her grandfather’s retirement party the following week. She was proud of her work but wanted Marc to see it before it was released.

Isabel closed out of her email and decided to begin packing for her next project. She had been notified that she was invited to go to New York to film a series of stories about average people who did extraordinary things. She already knew some of the crew and had accepted the job.

Chapter 14

Isabel glanced at her phone again. She was going to be late for the retirement party. After a series of mishaps, she had missed her train in New York. Not only was she nervous about seeing Marc again, but now she was also going to be late to the event.

Getting off the train in Boston, she decided to find a taxi instead of waiting for the next commuter train. Balancing her equipment and suitcase, Isabel was grateful when a businessman gave her his taxi. The man handed her his business card saying, “Text me when you want to buy me a beer.”

As the taxi, pulled away from the curb, Isabel made eye contact with the man. He was quite attractive, but she had no interest in flirting or dating. If she even allowed her mind to consider the possibility, it felt like her heart would break all over again. Why was Marc still so important to her? Hopefully tonight she would slam the door shut to that part of her life. She needed to wipe Marc Santoro from her conscious thought.

When the taxi dropped her off at her apartment, she contemplated not going to the event. She had already sent the final film by courier to Santoro Designs. Let Marc host the evening without her. But she thought about her grandfather and knew this was his retirement celebration. She couldn’t do that to him. She needed to put on a brave face and show up.

After trying on many dresses, she chose a simple black sleeveless cotton sheath with a high neckline and a full skirt that fell several inches above her knees. Examining herself in the mirror, she realized her scars were partially visible, but the fun lines of the dress gave her the confidence to wear it. She wanted Marc to know that she had gone on with her life.

The late August evening was pleasantly warm, so she left her apartment without a wrap and walked to the train station. With the evening rush hour winding down, it was easy to locate a seat. As she glanced out the window, doubt and fear welled up inside her. Even though the Mayes Arts Organization raved about the film, it was possible that Marc would think that she revealed too much.

Memories of their night together three weeks ago began to infiltrate her thoughts. She remembered his sensitivity when they made love, and she couldn’t believe he had dismissed her without a second thought. For a few fleeting hours she had started to believe that he was interested in her, that he could see past her scarred body.

It was eight o’clock when she got off the train and walked the short distance to Santoro Designs. She could see the bright lights and hear the music before she climbed the steps. A few guests were lingering outside, enjoying the night air.

Opening the heavy glass door, she walked into the gallery space and immediately saw him. He was wearing a dark suit and the corners of his mouth lifted in a brief smile.

She glanced through the crowd and noticed her grandfather was surrounded by old friends.

Marc stepped forward and handed her a glass of champagne.

“I was beginning to worry that you wouldn’t come.”

“I wasn’t sure if I should, actually.” Her mind raced forward. How could he just make small talk after everything that happened?

“We need to talk,” he said.

Isabel could barely meet his gaze. Just seeing him in person made her feel like she was going to shatter into a thousand pieces.

“There is nothing to say.” She glanced around the crowded room and hoped someone would interrupt them. The last time they had seen each other, he couldn’t wait to get rid of her.

“Please, Isabel,” he said, lightly touching her lower back and directing her into the open gallery area. She noticed people were turning toward them with wide smiles on their faces.

Her eyes were drawn to a series of sculptures on display. She placed her untouched glass of champagne on a center table and moved closer to the artwork. There were six marble statues of a young woman wearing very little. They were all of her.

She turned back to him in shock. “I don’t understand. I barely modeled for you.”

“You didn’t have to. Your image is permanently imprinted.”

She looked back at the marble statues and began to realize that the room had become very quiet. Each statue was unique and captured a different memory.

She felt his hands on her shoulders. The warmth felt so good, but she didn’t want to hope for the impossible. She needed to start a new life. All of a sudden it became too much.

“Isabel,” she heard Marc calling out to her as she escaped the room.

She disappeared into one of the back workrooms, but she heard Marc follow her and close the door.

“Please don’t.” Isabel could feel tears running down her cheeks and tried to wipe them away.

“Isabel, we need to talk.”

She kept her back to him. “No. I don’t want to go over everything.”

Marc turned her toward him and his expression was grim. “I have no regrets about the night we spent together. It was incredible until the siren went off.”

Isabel tried to move away, but his hands moved down onto her upper arms and held her captive.

“I need to explain,
cara mia
.” His voice was soft, drawing her in.

But instead of talking, his mouth came down on hers, provoking a response. For a brief moment she enjoyed the feeling of his tongue sliding into her mouth.

But she pushed against his chest, and when he lifted his head, she made herself speak. “You will destroy me. Everything I have worked toward will be lost.”

His bronze skin paled and he held out his hands to her, but she didn’t want to risk rejection all of over again. Isabel forced herself to walk away, her heels striking against the concrete floor was the only sound she heard.

“I was afraid.”

Isabel stopped and looked back at him. His words shocked her. He was so strong and powerful. He was always in control.

“I spent my entire life hiding who I really am. Being an artist was completely unacceptable to my father. The quarry business destroyed my mother.”

Isabel looked at him with compassion.

He continued. “I have spent my entire adult life deflecting what others wanted of me. So naturally, I wanted no part of the film or Alda playing matchmaker.”

Isabel was surprised by his revelation.

“But I didn’t expect to be completely captivated by your mere presence. I haven’t been able to work or do much of anything since you captured my heart. I never expected to say this, but I love you.”

Isabel let out a gasp. “Marc, I …”

“Let me finish. I wanted to gather you into my arms when you came to the quarry on that last day. You were so beautiful, but a man was clinging to life and I didn’t trust you. I thought you might exploit what we shared.”

“Why would I do that? We were just getting to know each other. Why would I try to hurt you?”

“I learned at a very early ago not to trust anyone. I downplayed the stories about my parents because I didn’t want you to use them. But everything you found out about my family’s tragic past was true.”

Isabel rushed to him and threw her arms around him.

Marc held her tight. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sent you away. I should have trusted that you would stand by me.”

“I don’t know how you could have doubted that.”

“I know that now. It took me a while to work through the events and realize that I could trust you with my heart and soul.”

“I understood that you were preoccupied dealing with the police and the accident, but you acted like you never wanted to see me again.”

“I was reacting to the situation. It was much later when I let myself feel again that I realized how much I missed you. It took forever for the situation there to improve so I could fly back and find you.”

Isabel held onto him. “I can’t believe you missed me. I was heartbroken, but whenever I remembered our parting, I felt rejected all over again.”

“
Cara mia
, please don’t. I never want you to leave my side again. I want you forever and ever.”

“Why didn’t you come and see me or answer my emails? Why wait for tonight?”

“It took me a few weeks to organize and finish the sculptures. I wanted something tangible to show you, to convince you how much I care about you.”

Isabel looked at him and said, “Marc, I love the statues, but your words would have been enough. And that was a rather public display out there.”

“I had hoped to propose, but you stormed off.”

Marc kissed her again, and she pulled him closer, not quite believing her good fortune.

Isabel asked, “How long did it take to create the statues?”

“I started on one in Martha’s Vineyard and then here and finally several in Italy.”

“Really? I thought you despised me at first?”

“No, I was fascinated by you and somehow you kept appearing in my work,” Marc revealed.

Isabel put her head on his chest and allowed her happiness to sink in. She felt inexplicably pleased that he was fascinated with her and driven to capture her image.

“Have you spoken to your aunt about this?”

Marc hesitated, then said, “I asked her about you. I wanted to know how she knew I would fall in love with you. She said she didn’t know actually. She and your grandfather couldn’t help but play matchmaker for a little while in the hopes I would settle down. But in the end they realized that you were an enormously talented filmmaker and whatever would happen was up to us.”

When Isabel remained quiet, he continued. “At that point she was taken with the project; she no longer cared about finding a wife for me. But when she saw my reaction to you she couldn’t help a little matchmaking just in case.”

“But you had no reaction to me. You didn’t even want to allow me to film in Carrara,” Isabel insisted.

Marc ran his hands down her back. “I was infatuated from the first moment I met you, but it took a little while to accept it.”

“Didn’t you realize how I felt about you?”

“I never thought that far. I was so used to deflecting what everyone wanted from me that I never let myself consider what you might want until it was too late.” Marc looked into her eyes and she could see the strain and worry on his face.

“Too late?” Isabel asked.

“Yes, after you left I realized I was much more than just fascinated with you. I was in love with you, but I was worried that after shutting you out, you would want nothing to do with me.”

Isabel smiled at his declaration. “I love you. I think I would forgive you anything. Even revealing how you feel about me in front of a hundred people.”

“Come, there are a hundred people waiting for our return.”

As they rejoined the party, the guests waited in anticipation.

Marc released her and got down on one knee, and her heart nearly stopped. He took a small box out of his pocket and asked, “Isabel Neri, will you become my wife?”

There were tears in her eyes when she said, “Yes.”

Marc stood, and after placing the ring on her finger, he picked her up and twirled her around in his arms before placing her back on the floor.

She looked down at the spectacular diamond engagement ring.

“Your cousin, Emelia, produced the ring in less than three days.”

“How did you manage that?”

“It was immensely difficult as she is not accessible to the public but I found a way.”

Isabel wanted to pinch herself.

As they were walking to the podium, she asked, “What if I hadn’t come tonight?”

He whispered in her ear, “Then I would have shown up on your doorstep and pleaded with you to give me another chance.”

She smiled up at him. She couldn’t believe they were getting another chance. She felt as if she were floating on a cloud.

Marc smiled at the crowd, saying, “I must apologize for pre-empting Alberto’s celebration.”