Adrianna thought she’d reached her limit when Dante had walked out of Ian’s penthouse and never looked back. She’d thought that was the worst life had in store that day. She was wrong.
When she pulled into the driveway and saw Dr. Baker’s car, she knew it was time.
Her father had struggled to stay alive for as long as he could but the end was here. The realization shot an aching pain straight to Adrianna’s heart and her anguish peaked to shatter the last shreds of her control. Before she knew what she was doing, she was beating the steering wheel in frustration.
After she’d let it all out, Adrianna knew what she needed to do. Taking a ragged breath, Adrianna took a long, deep breath and then went inside the mansion to say good-bye to her father.
Nigel was outside the bedroom door sitting on a bench. Too caught up in his own grief, he jumped when he heard her approach.
“It’s going to be all right, Nigel,” Adrianna found the inner strength to touch his shoulder and say. “We’ll get through this.”
Nigel was so overcome he couldn’t speak, so Adrianna went inside without him. She found Dr. Baker and the nurse at her father’s bedside.
“Adrianna, I’m so glad you’re here,” Dr. Baker said, reaching for her hand. “I’m not sure how much longer he could have held on.”
“Thank you, Dr. Baker, for being here.” She squeezed his hand.
“It’s time, Adrianna,” Dr. Baker whispered in her ear, “to say your good-byes.”
Adrianna nodded and kneeled down by her father’s bedside.
“I love you, baby girl,” her father managed to eke out. “I know I may not have always been the best father, but one thing has never altered and that’s my love for you. You are and will always be the light of my life.”
A lone tear slid down Adrianna’s cheek. “I love you, too, Daddy,” she whispered, grasping his frail hand in hers. “And you can leave this earth knowing that I forgive you, Daddy. Okay? I forgive you.”
Seconds later, his eyes closed and Adrianna dropped her head to his chest and sobbed.
Dante was deep into cooking for a catering event when Malik stopped by. He’d accepted a last-minute wedding for one hundred fifty people just to keep his mind off Adrianna and his career. The only way he knew how to not think about her was work. Hard, demanding work.
He was roasting several racks of lamb, making trays of homemade scalloped potatoes and grilling bunches of asparagus for the wedding. He’d been prepping in Renaissance’s kitchen for the past forty-eight hours and had tuned out the world. It was a daunting task, but it would keep his mind off what he might never have. Quentin, Malik and Sage had called him several times, but he’d ignored them. He knew they wanted to talk to him about the end of his relationship with Adrianna or perhaps his turning down Ian’s offer to continue the show. Either way, he hadn’t wanted any advice or suggestions on his love life or career or lack thereof.
“Hey, man, what are you doing here?” Dante asked when Malik popped his head in and saw the kitchen in utter chaos. “Shouldn’t you be at Peyton’s side? Isn’t she due to deliver any minute?”
“No and yes,” Malik replied. “My purpose here is dual fold. First, you forgot our standing gym date.”
It was then that Dante glanced up from wrapping up the scalloped potatoes to see Malik wearing jogging pants and a T-shirt.
“I’m sorry, Malik. I got completely caught up in preparing for this wedding,” Dante responded. “My apologies.”
“I figured as much,” Malik said, walking toward him. “It’s not like you to stand me up which is why I came. Sage told me that you turned down Ian’s offer to continue Easy Entertaining after the twelve episodes air. Are you sure that’s the way you want to go?”
“Turning it down wasn’t easy,” Dante said. “None of this is, Malik. I’m just having a hard time reconciling the woman I thought I knew back then with the woman I know today.”
“I understand you’re upset with Adrianna, but I have a feeling she’s going to need you now more than ever.”
“What do you mean?” Dante immediately stopped what he was doing and wiped his hands on his apron.
“You mean you haven’t heard?”
Dante frowned. “Heard what?”
Malik pulled out a copy of the New York Times from his jogging pants pocket. “Adrianna’s father, Howard Wright, died two days ago.”
“Whoa!” Dante covered his mouth with his hand. “I knew it was coming, but it just seemed like the old man had a steel will. Even after his deathbed confession to me, he’d been holding on for weeks. Why didn’t anyone bother to call me?”
“We tried and you didn’t return any of our calls,” Malik responded. “Sage assumed that your non-response meant that you didn’t want to have anything more to do with her, but when you didn’t show up at the gym, I realized I had better take matters into my own hands. I just couldn’t picture you being this cold and unfeeling.”
“Christ!” Dante rubbed his head. “Adrianna must be devastated. She may not have been close to her father, but she’d tried to make that up by moving back to New York. Do you know when the funeral is?”
Malik glanced down at the paper. “Day after tomorrow. Are you going to go?”
Dante didn’t hesitate before answering. “Of course.”
Malik smiled. Now there was the Dante he remembered.
“Have you heard from Dante?” Madison asked Adrianna as she helped her select a black suit to wear to her father’s funeral that day. Adrianna had tried on half a dozen already until she’d found one that was acceptable.
Adrianna shook her head. “Not in person, but I did receive flowers.” And it had hurt. Flowers? How impersonal! She knew he hated her for what she’d done, but to not even call to pay his respects? It made the loss of her father all the more unbearable.
All the arrangements had been made for the funeral as her father’s will was quite clear on the type of service he wished to have. It made Adrianna’s life very simple. Follow instructions. Put one foot in front the other. Don’t think about all you’ve lost.
“I just can’t believe that Dante would behave this way.” Madison was stunned. “He never struck me as the type to hold a grudge. He was always so kind and caring.”
“I guess that’s what happens when the woman you love breaks your heart twice. It turns it into a block of ice,” Adrianna said coldly, twisting her hair into an unsophisticated bun. She didn’t care how she looked. She just wanted to make it through the day without falling to pieces.
“Well, don’t you worry,” Madison replied. “If Mr. Dante Moore can’t bother to be here, you’ve got me, kid. You remember that. You always got me.”
“Thank you, Maddie,” Adrianna cried, and gave her a hug.
Dante tightened the tie on his charcoal suit and glanced in the mirror. How had he gotten here? How could he be going to Adrianna’s father’s funeral and yet feel so far removed from the woman herself?
He hadn’t called Adrianna because he hadn’t known what to say. The usual platitudes of “I’m sorry for your loss” just didn’t seem to cut it after all they’d shared. He felt helpless and unsure of what to do.
He was berating himself when the doorbell rang. When he opened it, Quentin, Malik and Sage were on the other side. They were all dressed in black suits and Sage was wearing a big black hat.
“You guys didn’t have to do this,” Dante began, but Sage silenced him with a finger to his lips.
“Don’t you even go there,” Sage replied. “This is what families do. We stand by each other’s side.”
“That’s right,” Quentin replied. “We’re here to drive you to the funeral and service.”
“We didn’t want you to be alone,” Malik added.
Dante nodded. “From the moment I met you guys, I have never been alone. And I thank God for it.”
“And you never will be,” Sage returned. The foursome crowded into a group bear hug.
They arrived at the church just before the service began. Dante chose to sit in the back podium as to not intrude on Adrianna and her family. He wasn’t sure she would even want to see him as he’d been less than kind to her the last few times they’d seen each other.
It was an elaborate service with members of the House and Senate speaking on the former governor’s behalf as well as a beautiful spiritual montage by a member of his church. Adrianna got particularly choked up when their butler, Nigel, went to the podium and spoke such kind words about her old man. She was keeping it together pretty well until she decided to speak the eulogy for her father.
“As the last member of my father’s immediate family,” Adrianna began, “I only felt it proper to speak on his behalf. My father, Howard Wright, was a proud family man. He was dedicated to serving the community and the great state of New York, but he loved his family even more. He loved his wife, my mother, Vanessa, deeply and only wanted the best for me, his only daughter. He wasn’t without his faults because the old man knew how to push my buttons.” Adrianna attempted to laugh, but instead it caught in her throat and she began to cough uncontrollably.
From the back of the room, Dante watched Adrianna struggle with her speech. He knew how important it was for her to speak, but he wasn’t sure she could handle the grief of standing in front of a roomful of people, many of whom were strangers, and speak about her father in the third person.
Somehow she managed to continue to her speech. “But what I never doubted was his unwavering love for me.”
Tears began to stream down Adrianna’s face in earnest and it was then that Dante knew what he had to do. He rose and walked up the aisle toward her. He couldn’t let her stand up there alone. Despite everything they’d been through, he’d promised her that she wouldn’t go through her grief alone—at least not now.
“What are you doing?” Sage had whispered from his side as he left his seat, but Quentin quieted her.
“Let the man do what he’s got to do,” Quentin had said.
“He’s got to protect his woman,” Malik had replied. He knew the feeling. When Peyton had been hurt after an abused student assaulted her a year back, Malik had seen stars, so he could only imagine the thoughts running through Dante’s mind as he saw the woman he loved in pain.
Adrianna tried to stop herself from crying and continue the beautiful speech she’d spent the past two days writing, but the grief just seemed to overtake her and a sob escaped her lips. It was then as she wiped her eyes with her father’s handkerchief that she noticed a lone figure walking toward the podium. As the person got closer, through the mist of her tears, Adrianna recognized it was Dante.
What is he doing here? Why has he come?
Those weren’t the questions she was thinking of; instead she was relieved, relieved to see the man she loved coming to rescue her from public embarrassment.
Without a word, Dante walked to the podium, wrapped his arms around Adrianna and led her off the stage. The minister took that as a sign that she was done and to continue with the service.
Dante led Adrianna to the first pew where Madison and her mother, Mimi, sat. They made room so Dante could sit beside her. And that’s what he did. He sat next to Adrianna and held her hand for the duration of the service.
“I thought you weren’t going to come,” Adrianna spoke in a weak and tremulous whisper.
“Of course I’d be here. Where else would I be?”
Dante’s voice had an infinitely compassionate tone. Adrianna glanced up and looked into Dante’s warm brown eyes and found comfort in his inherent strength. He didn’t have to come to the funeral. He owed Adrianna absolutely nothing, yet he’d come to hold her hand during one of the most devastating moments in her life. “Thank you.” She squeezed his hand in recognition.
“You’re welcome.”
When it was time to walk down the aisle in the funeral procession, Dante was right by Adrianna’s side. She leaned against him for support as she glanced around and saw all the sympathetic faces staring back at her. She was Howard and Vanessa Wright’s only heir and would inherit a fortune, so the world was watching her, but Adrianna didn’t care about the money. Because she would give anything to have her mother and father back with her.
When the limo pulled up to the curb for the family, Dante didn’t hesitate for a moment to jump inside with Adrianna.
“We’re so glad you’re here, Mr. Moore,” her Aunt Mimi said once the door had closed behind him. “Adrianna needed you.”
“Glad I could be here,” Dante said.
“It was a beautiful service,” Madison commented, offering a weak smile to Adrianna.
Adrianna nodded and blankly stared out the window.
Later, she wouldn’t remember much about the day. How sunny the sky was as they laid her father into the ground, or how white the gloves were that her father’s pallbearers had given her or how good the food tasted at the repast. She would just remember that Dante had come through for her.
Once back at the mansion in the Hamptons, family, friends, colleagues and onlookers came to pay their respects to Adrianna. She stood there and accepted their condolences gracefully, but Dante could see she was torn up inside. He didn’t know what to do except stand there. Nothing he could say would take away the pain she was feeling.
Quentin, Malik and Sage were some of the first to offer their condolences.
“We’re so sorry for your loss.” Quentin spoke first and leaned forward to give Adrianna a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you,” Adrianna murmured, “for…for coming.” Dante squeezed her hand.
“I know I’m the last person you might want to accept help from,” Sage spoke next, “but if you need anything—either of you—” she glanced in Dante’s direction “—we are a phone call away.”
“That’s right,” Malik added from behind her. “You’re not alone.” Malik patted Dante on the shoulder before the trio dispersed among the crowd.
Dante didn’t know how long he and Adrianna stood there, shaking hands, receiving hugs and accepting condolences. When it was over, he was exhausted, so he could only imagine how emotionally drained Adrianna was. Once the crowd had finally begun to taper off, Dante decided to take Adrianna upstairs.
“I’m going to put her to bed,” Dante told Madison.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Madison said. “The poor thing must be exhausted. I’ll bring up a plate, too, in case she should get hungry.”
“Thanks, Maddie.” Dante patted her shoulder.
Instead of trying to walk Adrianna up, Dante lifted her limp body in his arms and carried her up the stairs. Dante found her room easily as it was covered with several different black dresses and suits. Dante shifted Adrianna in his arms and pushed the clothes off the bed. They landed in a heap on the floor.
Gently, Dante laid her down on the bed and Adrianna curled up in a ball. Dante reached down to the edge of the bed and pulled up a blanket to cover her trembling body. He was about to leave, so she could sleep, when Adrianna’s hand peeked out from underneath the duvet and he heard her shaken voice. “Please don’t go.”
Those were the only words Dante needed to hear. He kicked off his loafers, removed his suit jacket and slid underneath the covers with her. He curled up behind Adrianna and spooned her in his arms until she fell asleep.
Dante awoke to the sun streaming into the windows and Adrianna in his arms directly facing him. Her legs were intertwined with his and her arms were wrapped around his midsection. Dante pushed a wayward curl out of her face and stared down at her. Losing a parent had to be difficult, but losing both had to be unbearable. He’d learned long ago to live without them because he’d never known his parents. He could sympathize with Adrianna’s plight.
Adrianna’s eyes popped open and the realization of what had happened must have hit her because she began to shake uncontrollably.
“It’s okay, Adrianna,” Dante whispered. His gut wrenched seeing her in so much agony. He wished he could take away some of the pain, but he couldn’t. She had to feel it. “You will make it through this.”
“I don’t know…if I c-can.” Adrianna hiccupped.
“In time you will mend and the pain will become less. It may not seem like that now, but it will.”
“Will you be by my side?” Adrianna asked, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
“Yes, I will.”
In the days that followed, along with her father’s attorney, Dante helped Adrianna put her father’s affairs in order. Adrianna wasn’t sure what she would do with such a large house on her own, but she couldn’t bear to part with her family home. The attorney agreed it wasn’t smart for her to make rash decisions and promised to follow up with her in a few months.
Dante never left her side which was why Malik drove to his condo to pack some of Dante’s clothes and bring them to the Hamptons.
“How is she holding up?” Malik asked when he arrived with a large suitcase in hand earlier in the week.
Dante shrugged. “As well as can be expected. How are Renaissance and Dante’s?”
“Q and I checked in and your sous-chefs have everything under control until you return.”
“Thank you. I truly appreciate it.”
“We told you, we’d do anything we could for you.”
“I know,” Dante said, “but this is above and beyond the call of duty.”
Malik frowned. “Like hell it is. You’re family.”
A grin overtook Dante’s features. “I’m really lucky to have you guys. Adrianna’s feeling pretty alone. I mean, she has her aunt Mimi and cousin Madison, but…”
“But it’s not the same,” Malik finished.
“You feel me.”
“So how long will you be up here, you think?” Malik inquired.
“For a few days. I can’t afford to stay too long, but I will until I think she’s okay to be on her own.”
“You’re a good man, brother.” Malik shook his hand on the way out.
“Give my love to Peyton,” Dante said. “And let me know if I become an uncle while I’m out here.”
“Now you know you will be one of the first to know.” Malik laughed and gave him a hug. “Our prayers are with you.”
“Was that Malik I heard?” Adrianna asked from the top of the stairs once the door had closed.
“Yes,” Dante replied. “He brought me some supplies.” Dante held up his suitcase.
Dante was staying for a while? Adrianna’s heart leaped into her chest. It was the first time she felt she could smile since her father had passed. “That’s great!” She tried not to sound too hopeful.
“How about some lunch, you two?” Nigel asked from the doorway to the kitchen. Adrianna hadn’t eaten a bite since the day before and had to be famished.
“Nigel, you don’t have to keep serving me,” Adrianna said, coming down the stairs. “Father’s gone.”
Nigel hung his head low. “I know, but allow me to do this for you, Ms. Adrianna. At least for now.”
“All right,” Adrianna conceded. “But only if you sit down and eat with us. Shake on it?”
“Deal.” Nigel shook her hand.
Adrianna plopped down on her bed in the dark several days later. She was completely drained. For the majority of the day, she, Dante and Nigel had packed most of her father’s personal effects to deliver to charity. She hadn’t wanted to do it so soon, but her father had been adamant that he hadn’t wanted her holding on like he’d done when her mother had died.
Back then, her father had refused to allow anyone, including Adrianna, to remove anything that belonged to her mother from the house. It was as if he was keeping the room as a shrine to her. So, when he’d known the end was near for him, he’d made Adrianna promise not to do the same thing. She could keep a few things, but his will was clear that everything should be donated.
Dante turned on the lamp on the nightstand. “Are you okay?” he asked, sitting on her bed after taking off his sneakers. They’d managed to pack up over a dozen bags of clothing, shoes, books and the like.
Adrianna nodded. “Yeah, I’m just tired.”
Dante swung his legs around on the bed until they were circled around Adrianna. “Come here.” Adrianna scooted back until she was leaning against Dante’s rock hard chest.
She felt even better when she felt Dante’s strong hands on her shoulders and neck as he gently massaged her with soothing strokes. “Hmm, that feels great,” she moaned.
“You deserve it,” Dante said. He continued his ministrations and slowly the tension eased from her body until he said, “I’m going to have to get back to the city.”
“Do you have to go?” Adrianna asked, turning around to face him. She’d gotten used to having Dante beside her. He’d slept next to her every night since he’d been here and she’d felt reassured.
“Adrianna…” Dante hated that she was looking up at him with pleading puppy dog eyes. “I have to. My restaurants can’t continue without me indefinitely. Dante’s maybe, but Renaissance is still new and I need to keep an eye on it. You know as well as I do that restaurants can have great initial reviews and after a few months service deteriorates. I don’t want to see that happen.”
Adrianna turned her back to Dante so he wouldn’t have to see how disappointed she was. “I understand. I’m a food reviewer, remember?” Not that she had done much reviewing these days, once her father’s health had begun to worsen; she’d taken a leave of absence from Foodies magazine and only taped Easy Entertaining. “I’m going to get ready for bed.” Without looking at Dante, she went into the adjoining bathroom and shut the door.
She grabbed a towel to smother the sob that escaped her lips. Dante had every right to leave. He hadn’t made her any promises that things had changed between them, that he’d forgiven her for her lies. He’d just been the kind, supportive man she’d always known him to be and stayed by her side in the wake of her father’s death. She should be happy to have had this time with him, but it wasn’t enough. She loved him. She loved him with all her heart and wanted him back.
Adrianna glanced at herself in the mirror and she looked a mess. Dante certainly wouldn’t find her attractive now. Quickly, she turned on the taps and washed her face. When she was done, she put on some moisturizer and brushed her hair until the curls hung in silky waves down her back. She grabbed her nightgown from the hook on the bathroom door, changed and returned to the bedroom.
Dante had removed his jeans and T-shirt which had been a staple during his stay and was bare-chested, wearing only pajama bottoms. Despite how upset she was at his leaving and losing her father, she felt a stirring in her loins for the man she loved. She watched him pull back the covers, turn off the light and slip inside the covers. She would love to luxuriate in his arms, if only for one night.
From across the room, Dante exhaled. Adrianna had emerged from the bathroom wearing a nightie that was sheer enough for him to see her dark brown nipples and the bikini panties she was wearing. The past few days it had been relatively easy to sleep next to her because she’d been grieving, but tonight something was different. He didn’t know what it was, but there was definitely sexual tension in the air.
No matter what he and Adrianna had been through last month, he was still as attracted to her as ever. That was the thing, sex was never their problem. Trust was. It was something fundamental in any relationship and Dante just wasn’t sure they could ever get it back once that trust was broken. Still, Adrianna was breathtakingly beautiful in the moonlight with her hair in loose waves down her back, her face free of makeup and her body draped in the scrap of lace.
Dante struggled to compose himself. She’d just lost her father, for goodness’ sake; she wouldn’t want to be mauled by him because he couldn’t control his desire for her.
He held the end of the covers up and Adrianna slipped underneath the cool sheets. She faced Dante, but this time unlike the previous nights, he was completely aware of her physically. Remain calm and detached, he told himself, but when Adrianna wrapped her arm around his middle, pulled him closer and kissed his neck, Dante lost his equilibrium.
“Adrianna.” He tried to push her away, but she wrapped one long, sexy thigh across his and inched closer. He knew she had to feel the bulge in his pajamas.
Adrianna tilted her head and pressed her lips against his. Dante tried to resist, but her tongue began tracing the outline of his lips and he lost his resolve and grabbed her buttocks, placing her firmly against his erection.
Their lips met again in a kiss of sweet surrender. Electricity poured through Adrianna’s body as if she’d been plugged into a socket. Dante’s fingers caressed the curve of her hips, back and up to her shoulders, before pushing the straps of her nightgown down to her waist and then past her hips. He gave each of her breasts a gentle squeeze before laving them with his hot wet tongue. His other hand relieved her of her bikini panties and tossed them aside.
His seductive journey of her breasts elicited a moan from Adrianna, but she refused to be passive. She reached underneath the covers and tugged at his pajama bottoms. Dante lifted his hips and she pushed them lower to his ankles. He drew his mouth away from her beautiful twins long enough to return to masterfully possess her mouth with his lips and tongue.
Dante wanted to lose himself in her, but Adrianna was already pulling away and kneeling to come in contact with his throbbing erection. Her hand softly closed around his member and she began to stroke him with her hands and then with her tongue and then both in tandem. Pressure began to build inside him and her name fell from his lips like a religious chant as his body strained for release from the intimate torture.
“Adrianna, oh, Adrianna,” he groaned as she took him to new heights.
When he felt himself on the edge, he quickly flipped her over and eased off the bed to reach for his pants on a nearby chair. Since he’d begun seeing Adrianna, he’d made a habit of keeping plenty of condoms in his wallet and was relieved they were still there.
Adrianna took the condom away from him, helped sheathe his engorged member and took the dominant position by climbing on top of him. She slowly slid down on his hardened shaft until he filled her completely. She needed to be one with him.
For several moments, she didn’t move and Dante nearly became unglued. Then she slowly started to rock and Dante relinquished control to her as Adrianna sent him on a mind-bending rollercoaster ride. Her movements were slow and measured so much so that Dante could barely hear her whimpers over his own groans. It was delicious agony and he locked his hands around her hips to accelerate the rhythm. Soon, their cries of release were echoing through the room as they both came together in a huge explosion.
Dante opened his eyes and pulled Adrianna close and when he did he felt her wet tears against his chest. What had he done? Dante felt terrible. How could have let his desires take over his common sense? Adrianna was in no state to make love and he shouldn’t have taken advantage. He’d gone too far.
Adrianna woke up the next morning and felt wonderful. She’d just spent a heavenly night in Dante’s arms. It had felt so good and so right, she’d cried tears of joy. She opened her eyes and turned to stretch and found Dante already dressed and packing a suitcase.
When he saw her head lift from the pillow, Dante said, “Listen, about last night…”
“You don’t have to say it.” Adrianna knew the truth. “I know it was good-bye.”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Dante responded, throwing a T-shirt into the suitcase. “I feel terrible. I took advantage of you in a weak moment.”
“You didn’t take advantage of me,” Adrianna replied, her eyes misty with tears. “I wanted you, too. No, correction, I needed you. I needed to be held, to be kissed, to be made love to. I needed to feel human again and you did that. Thank you.”
Dante stopped packing and turned around to face her. “I didn’t make love to you because I felt sorry for you.”
“I know that.” Adrianna pulled the sheet from the bed, wrapped it around her bosom and walked toward him. “You made love to me because you wanted to.” She took his large hand in hers and kissed it. “Despite everything, there’s still something between us, Dante. Something neither one of us can let go.”
“I have to go,” Dante said, tugging his hand free and closing his suitcase. “I’m sorry to leave…so abruptly, but I think it’s best. I don’t want to give you any false illusions that anything has changed between us.”
“Okay, I understand.” Adrianna didn’t, but it was his turn to run away and she would have to let him go for now, but she wasn’t giving up.
Dante’s driver was waiting for him outside and Dante thankfully jumped inside the town car and turned away from the house. On his way out, he’d run into Nigel who’d promised to look after Adrianna in his absence, but Dante had no intention of coming back. Getting involved with Adrianna again was dangerous for his health. He’d stepped up during the funeral and afterward because she’d needed a rock to rely on, but she was getting stronger by the day and would now have to stand on her own two feet. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—risk his heart again and have Adrianna betray him.