THIS HAS TO WORK.
Angelo sat in the back of a limousine outside Kayla’s apartment. He’d been trying to call her ever since he’d found her resignation letter and the hotel suite empty, but she wasn’t taking his calls. He’d just arrived in New York earlier that day after wrapping things up in Italy. Thanks to Kayla, Monte Calanetti was hosting the royal wedding.
He’d have left earlier but he couldn’t. Nico and Marianna had been counting on him to stay until the royal decree was announced. Now that he and his siblings had achieved a peaceful relationship, it was as if they were truly a family again—something Angelo hadn’t known how much he’d missed. And though Marianna still refused to divulge the name of the father of her baby, she knew without a doubt that both he and Nico were there for her—to support her no matter what decision she made about her future.
He’d returned to New York with orders from his brother and sister to track down Kayla and sweep her off her feet.
Since she’d been gone, he’d had time to realize how black-and-white his life was without her in it. He’d overreacted when he realized that he loved her. But now that he’d come to terms with the depth of his emotions, he hoped what he had planned was enough for her to give him—give them—a second chance.
Thanks to Kayla’s very helpful assistant, who was a romantic at heart, he and Pam had secretly been able to piece the fund-raiser back together. And Kayla had been notified that a very special sponsor would be sending a car to escort her to the event.
He hated waiting. It seemed like forever since he’d last laid his eyes on her. He wanted to march up to her apartment and beg her forgiveness, but he couldn’t take the chance that she’d slam the door in his face. Worst of all, she’d end up missing her big night at the fund-raiser. He couldn’t let that happen.
Instead, he’d stayed behind in the limo and sent up his driver with instructions not to mention that he was waiting. He needed a chance to talk to Kayla face-to-face. There was so much that he wanted to say—to apologize for—but he still hadn’t found the right words.
The car door swung open and Kayla slid in the car next to him. She wore the navy dress he’d given her for their date in the Mediterranean. It hugged all of her curves and dipped in just the right places. It left him speechless that any woman could look so good.
When her gaze landed on him, her eyes opened wide. “What are you doing here?”
“What does it look like?”
Her gaze scanned his dark suit. “It looks like...like you’re set for a night on the town.”
“And so I am.”
“Well, it can’t be with me. I’m quite certain that it goes against your rules to date an employee.”
“Ah, but what you’re forgetting is that you’re no longer an employee of Amatucci & Associates.” He sighed. “We need to talk.”
“Now’s not the time. I have a fund-raiser to attend. Alone.” She reached for the door handle, but before she could open it, the car started moving.
“And it looks like I’m your ride.”
Her gaze narrowed in on him. “Angelo, there’s nothing left to say. You said it all back in Tuscany.”
“Not everything. Why did you quit without even talking to me?”
“First, I have a question for you. I thought it was strange when an internationally acclaimed rock band wanted to play for our fund-raiser on short notice. No one would tell me how Slammin’ Apples heard about our need for help. Now I know. It was you, wasn’t it?”
He wasn’t so sure by the tone of her voice if this was going to go his way or not. “I was the one who called in a favor or two to have the band show up tonight.”
“That isn’t just any band. They are amazing. They’ve won national awards.”
Angelo was going to take this all as a good sign. “I’m glad that you are pleased.”
Her brows gathered together. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
“Kind of like how I didn’t ask for your help with gaining permission from Louisa to use the chapel.”
She shrugged. “I don’t quit in the middle of projects.”
He hoped this news would thaw her demeanor. “And thanks to you, Monte Calanetti is the official host of the royal wedding.”
“Really?” A big smile bowed her lips and eased her frown lines. “I mean, I’m really happy for them.”
“I knew you would be. Nico and Marianna send along their sincerest thank-yous.” This was his chance to fix things. “I’m sorry about what was said in Tuscany. I never ever meant for you to quit. I need to make things right. You’re far too talented to let go.”
The light in her eyes dimmed. He’d obviously not said the right thing. For a man who made his fortune coming up with just the right words to turn people’s heads and convince them to buy certain products or ideas, why was he messing this up so badly? Why couldn’t he find the words to tell Kayla what she truly meant to him?
And then he knew what it was—what was holding him back. He was afraid that she wouldn’t feel the same. He didn’t want her to close the door on him as his parents had done so many years ago.
But still, he had to do it. He had to put himself out there if he ever wanted to win Kayla back. And that was something he most definitely wanted. After their month in Tuscany—he couldn’t imagine another day without Kayla’s sunny smile or her beautiful laugh.
Yet before he could sort his thoughts into words, the car pulled to a stop. Without waiting for the driver, Kayla swung the door open.
“Kayla, wait.”
Without a backward glance, she faded into the sea of people waiting to get into the convention center. Though he rushed to get out of the car, by the time he did so she’d vanished—lost in the excited crowd.
He’d lost his chance to speak his piece. Maybe showing her how he felt would be better. He just hoped that his other surprise worked, because he just couldn’t lose her now, not after she’d shown him that there was a different way to live—one with love in it.