CHAPTER FIVE

      KAYLA GRIPPED THE armrest tightly.

      The line of cypress trees was no more than a blur as Angelo accelerated away from the vineyard. He didn’t say a word as they zigzagged through the valley before starting their ascent up a hillside. The vegetation was so green and lush that she couldn’t imagine there was a village, much less a five-star hotel, within miles of here.

      “I need to apologize.” Angelo’s voice broke the awkward silence. “I didn’t mean to have you witness our family drama.”

      “It’s okay. I know how families can be.” She couldn’t help but want to know more about him and his family. “Your parents, do they live around here?”

      He shook his head, keeping his eyes on the road. “They left the vineyard to us kids and moved to Milan. It was best for everyone.”

      Kayla wasn’t sure what to say to that. Obviously there wasn’t a close relationship between him and his parents. Did she even want to know why? It’d just move them further from boss and employee and into a new relationship—one that she didn’t want to examine too closely.

      Angelo downshifted for a curve. “I know that you come from a close-knit family, so it’d be hard for you to understand a family that functions better apart than together.”

      Kayla was surprised that he kept talking about his private life when she hadn’t even asked him anything. It was as if these thoughts were pent up inside him, and he needed to get them out if he was to have any peace.

      She searched frantically for words of comfort. “Every family is different. Not better. Not worse. Just different.”

      “But this is my fault.” His palm smacked the steering wheel. “I shouldn’t have left for New York to go to college. I should have found a way to stay here. Marianna was so young when I left, and my parents—well, they were so consumed with each other that they didn’t have time to worry about anyone else.”

      “I’m sure they did their best.”

      He shook his head. “You don’t know my parents. They are the most passionate people I know. And not in a good way. One minute they love each other and the next they are getting divorced. That’s the end. They never want to see each other again. To say our childhoods were unstable is putting it mildly.”

      Kayla struggled to keep her mouth from gaping open. Her parents were the most mild-mannered couple. Their voices were rarely raised to each other, and they still gazed lovingly at each other like a couple of starstruck teenagers. Kayla knew they wanted her to experience the same sort of love and happiness. That’s why she didn’t hold it against them for trying to guide her life. It’s just that she was different. There was so much more to life than love, marriage and babies. And she wanted to experience all of it.

      Angelo cleared his throat, but his voice still rumbled with emotion. “I just couldn’t take any more of their fighting and making up. It was so unnerving to never know if my parents were passionately in love or on the verge of calling their divorce attorneys. And there was no way I could take Nico with me—not that he’d have gone. He has this unbreakable tie to the vineyard—to the village. He never would have done what I did. And maybe he’s right. Maybe if I’d stayed then Marianna wouldn’t be alone and having a baby.”

      “It’s not your fault.” Kayla resisted the urge to reach out to him. “Your sister is a grown woman. She has to be allowed to make her own choices. Right or wrong. You couldn’t have prevented this.”

      “But maybe if I’d been here, she’d have felt like she still had a family that loves her. Then she wouldn’t have taken off on this trip of hers only to let some smooth-talking guy take advantage of her.” Angelo’s body noticeably stiffened.

      “I’m fairly certain that no one could take advantage of your sister. She seems quite strong, like her brothers. She just needs some time to sort things out.”

      He sighed. “I’m sure she’s plenty confused. And I suppose Nico and I did nothing to help by arguing. It’s just that every time my brother and I get together, we disagree. We are very different. That’s why I reserved us a suite at the hotel. I knew staying at the vineyard would just lead to more drama, and that’s the last thing any of us need.”

      “But you two didn’t argue at the end.”

      “That’s because we both agree that Marianna needs both of us—whether she likes it or not.”

      “Good. Maybe you can build on that.”

      “Perhaps.”

      She decided that enough had been said for now on that subject. Angelo needed time to calm down. “Is the hotel far from here?”

      “No. It’s just at the rise of the hill.” His voice had returned to its normal reserved, unemotional tone.

      “Really. I never would have guessed. I can’t wait to see the village.” But if Angelo was serious about this being a productive trip, she wasn’t sure that she’d get to see much of Italy. The thought dampened her mood. “Do you think I’ll have some time to look around the village?”

      He glanced at her before turning back to the road. “There really isn’t much to see.”

      She’d beg to differ with him. Everything about Italy was special for this American girl. This was the biggest adventure of her life. How could he think this place was anything but special?

      “I...I’ve never been here before. I was just hoping to sneak in some sightseeing.”

      “As long as you get your work done, I don’t care what you do with your free time.”

       Oh, good!

      As the car climbed the hill, Angelo pulled to the side for an older truck that was barreling toward them. Once back on the road, the car’s tire dropped into a rut and bounced Kayla. The seat belt restrained her, but her bare thigh brushed against his hand as it gripped the gearshift. Heat raced up her leg, under her skirt and set her whole body tingling.

      “Sorry about that.” He quickly moved his hand back to the steering wheel.

      Had he noticed their touch? Had it affected him, too? Was that why he’d moved his hand? Or was she just being ridiculous? Definitely being ridiculous. She knew when men were interested in her, and Angelo certainly wasn’t. A frown pulled at her lips.

      So why then did it bother her? Sure, he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. But, he was her boss—the key to her career. She wouldn’t—she couldn’t—let some ridiculous crush get in her way after everything she’d sacrificed to get here.

       Time to think about something else.

      “I didn’t have time to do any research before we left New York. What should I see while I’m here?”