For some reason the question made her laugh. “Ah, Rome, if you only knew.”
He kept toying with the spoon, not looking at Daniela, focusing his attention on the utensil in his hand. It was either that or explode and he wasn’t going to do that. He would not give her the pleasure. “What should I know, Daniela?” he asked, his tone deliberately pleasant. “You’re dying to tell me so why don’t you?”
She chuckled. “You know me so well.” Then she reached over and took the spoon from his fingers and dropped it with a clatter onto her saucer. “I’m not playing games,” she said with a sly grin. “I’m simply doing someone a favor.”
He raised an eyebrow then sat back in the chair. “A favor. Can you be a bit more specific?”
She shrugged. “If you insist. I’m doing your mother a favor. She asked me to…scare off a certain someone who’s no good for you. After all we meant to each other how could I say no?”
“My mother set you up to this? So this wasn’t you trying to start up where we left off?”
“Goodness, no. Of course not.” Daniela looked like she thought it was the most ridiculous idea in the world. “I’m happily engaged to a wonderful man, a man I truly love. Why would I want to get back together with you?”
“Why indeed?" He shook his head, knocking the thought loose from his mind. “So you’re engaged,” he said, turning thoughtful. “Does my mother know this?”
The question made Daniela hesitate. “No, I guess not. I never mentioned it.” Then she shrugged. “But that’s not important. She knows I’m in a relationship. After all, that’s why you and I broke up.”
She said it so casually, like it was what everybody did. You’re in the middle of a relationship until you find someone you like better and then you move on, just like that. Not that he was complaining, though. She’d done him a huge favor when she’d fallen in love with someone else.
“What do you know about the woman I’m in love with?”
“N…nothing.” Daniela blinked. “Why do you ask?”
“I ask because I find it a bit strange that you’re so quick to destroy my relationship when I willingly gave you the freedom to pursue yours.” He could see his words were having an effect on her so he pressed on. “You know what it is to fall in love. Why are you so happy to deny me that pleasure?”
“I…it was your mother. She said the woman wasn’t right for you.” Daniela swallowed. “I was only trying to help her.”
Rome gave a snort of annoyance. “Don’t do anybody any favors, especially not my mother. Not where I’m concerned, anyway.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Do you remember how your family reacted when you broke up with me?”
Daniela winced then she nodded. “They thought I was being an idiot. They didn’t want me to be with Warren at all.”
“Exactly. They would have loved it if we’d stayed together but you made your choice and I respected that even if it took your family a while to accept.” He tightened his lips and when he spoke again his voice was cool. “Now I would appreciate it if you would pay me the same courtesy and respect my choice and stay the hell out of my business.”
A crimson blush crept up Daniela’s neck and she dropped her eyes. “I’m sorry, Rome. I didn’t think…”
“Well, please do,” he said, not letting her off the hook. “There’s a lady sitting in another room in this house who was hurt by your thoughtless actions. I’m going to have to work real hard to make things up to her.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again and this time she actually looked like she meant it.
But now that he understood her motive Rome had no desire to spend another minute with Daniela. It was time to tackle his parents.
Without another word he pushed back his chair, got up and walked out of the room. He could feel Daniela’s eyes boring into his back the whole time.
He could only hope that when it came to affairs of the heart she’d learned her lesson – to mind her own freakin’ business.
***
“I can’t believe you guys.” Rome had to fight to keep from raising his voice at the two people who had cared for him since birth. He could not believe they would go to such lengths to sabotage his life and his chance at love. “How could you do this to me?” he demanded, his voice hoarse from the strain of holding on to his temper. “What did I do to deserve this?”
“It’s because we love you, Rome. We only want what’s best for you.” Lily made as if to go to him but the look on his face must have told her that was the last thing he wanted just then because she stopped short and began to twist her hands nervously in front of her.
“I didn’t expect this from you, Mama.” He didn’t try to hide his disappointment. He knew Vittorio could be ruthless at times. He’d demonstrated that side of his personality in more than a few business dealings. But his mother had always been a source of support, nothing at all like the woman who had convinced Daniela to be her accomplice in deceit. What had come over her?
“We felt we had to do something. You were acting on impulse. We had to stop you from making a mistake.” It was Vittorio who was speaking now and his tone was totally unapologetic. “From what you told us, you met this woman and in less than two months you had asked her to marry you. A virtual stranger and not even an Italian.”
“So which was worse?” Rome shot back. “Her being what you call a virtual stranger or her not being Italian? Which was the worse sin?”
“Now you’re being unreasonable,” his father growled back. “You didn’t expect us to welcome her with open arms, did you? Take her into our family just like that without checking her out? Without testing her?”
“Check her out? She’s my choice, not yours. What makes you think you have the right?” Despite his efforts, Rome’s voice rose in exasperation.
But Vittorio didn’t back down. Milano that he was, he faced his son head on. “You’re forgetting something, my boy. You are heir to the family business. All of this rests in your hands. For the sake of the business, the family and the future we have to ensure that you make the best decision.” His lips tightened and he shook his head. “Daniela was the best choice, for the family and for you, but you let her slip through your fingers.”