A Bride for the Italian Boss Read online

  The Vineyards of Calanetti

  Saying “I do” under the Tuscan sun…

  Deep in the Tuscan countryside nestles the picturesque village of Monte Calanetti. Famed for its world-renowned vineyards, the village is also home to the crumbling but beautiful Palazzo di Comparino.

  Empty for months, rumors of a new owner are spreading like wildfire…and that’s before the village is chosen as the setting for the royal wedding of the year!

  It’s going to be a roller coaster of a year, but will wedding bells ring out in Monte Calanetti for anyone else?

  Find out in this fabulously heartwarming, uplifting and thrillingly romantic new eight-book continuity from Mills & Boon® romance!

  A Bride for the Italian Boss by Susan Meier

  Return of the Italian Tycoon by Jennifer Faye Available August 2015

  Reunited by a Baby Secret by Michelle Douglas

  Soldier, Hero…Husband? by Cara Colter

  His Lost-and-Found Bride by Scarlet Wilson

  The Best Man & the Wedding Planner by Teresa Carpenter

  His Princess of Convenience by Rebecca Winters Saved by the CEO by Barbara Wallace

  A Bride for the

  Italian Boss

  Susan Meier

  www.millsandboon.co.uk

  SUSAN MEIER is an author of over fifty books for Mills & Boon. The Tycoon’s Secret Daughter was a RITA® Award finalist, and Nanny for the Millionaire’s Twins won the Book Buyer’s Best award and was a finalist in the National Reader’s Choice awards. She is married and has three children. One of eleven children, she loves to write about the complexity of families and totally believes in the power of love.

  I want to thank the lovely editors at Mills & Boon for creating such a great continuity! Everyone involved LOVED this idea. Thank you!

  Contents

  Cover

  Introduction

  Title Page

  About the Author

  Dedication

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Extract

  Copyright

  CHAPTER ONE

  ITALY HAD TO BE the most beautiful place in the world.

  Daniella Tate glanced around in awe at the cobblestone streets and blue skies of Florence. She’d taken a train here, but now had to board a bus for the village of Monte Calanetti.

  After purchasing her ticket, she strolled to a wooden bench. But as she sat, she noticed a woman a few rows over, with white-blond hair and a slim build. The woman stared out into space; the faraway look in her eyes triggered Daniella’s empathy. Having grown up a foster child, she knew what it felt like to be alone, sometimes scared, usually confused. And she saw all three of those emotions in the woman’s pretty blue eyes.

  An announcement for boarding the next bus came over the public address system. An older woman sitting beside the blonde rose and slid her fingers around the bag sitting at her feet. The pretty blonde rose, too.

  “Excuse me. That’s my bag.”

  The older woman spoke in angry, rapid-fire Italian and the blonde, speaking American English, said, “I’m sorry. I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying.”

  But the older woman clutched the bag to her and very clearly told the American that it was her carry-on.

  Daniella bounced from her seat and scurried over. She faced the American. “I speak Italian, perhaps I can help?” Then she turned to the older woman. In flawless Italian, she asked if she was sure the black bag was hers, because there was a similar bag on the floor on the other side.

  The older woman flushed with embarrassment. She apologetically gave the bag to the American, grabbed her carry-on and scampered off to catch her bus.

  The pretty blonde sighed with relief and turned her blue eyes to Daniella. “Thank you.”

  “No problem. When you responded in English it wasn’t a great leap to assume you didn’t speak the language.”

  The woman’s eyes clouded. “I don’t.”

  “Do you have a friend coming to meet you?”

  “No.”

  Dani winced. “Then I hope you have a good English-to-Italian dictionary.”

  The American pointed to a small listening device. “I’ve downloaded the ‘best’ language system.” She smiled slightly. “It promises I’ll be fluent in five weeks.”

  Dani laughed. “It could be a long five weeks.” She smiled and offered her hand. “I’m Daniella, by the way.”

  The pretty American hesitated, but finally shook Daniella’s hand and said, “Louisa.”

  “It’s my first trip to Italy. I’ve been teaching English in Rome, but my foster mother was from Tuscany. I’m going to use this final month of my trip to find her home.”

  Louisa tilted her head. “Your foster mother?”

  Dani winced. “Sorry. I’m oversharing.”

  Louisa smiled.

  “It’s just that I’m so excited to be here. I’ve always wanted to visit Italy.” She didn’t mention that her longtime boyfriend had proposed the day before she left for her teaching post in Rome. That truly would be oversharing, but also she hadn’t known what to make of Paul’s request to marry him. Had he proposed before her trip to tie her to him? Or had they hit the place in their relationship where marriage really was the next step? Were they ready? Was marriage right for them?

  Too many questions came with his offer of marriage. So she hadn’t accepted. She’d told him she would answer him when she returned from Italy. She’d planned this February side trip to be a nice, uncomplicated space of time before she settled down to life as a teacher in the New York City school system. Paul had ruined it with a proposal she should have eagerly accepted, but had stumbled over. So her best option was not to think about it until she had to.

  Next month.

  “I extended my trip so I could have some time to bum around. See the village my foster mother came from, and hopefully meet her family.”

  To Daniella’s surprise, Louisa laughed. “That sounds like fun.”

  The understanding in Louisa’s voice caused Danielle to brighten again, thinking they had something in common. “So you’re a tourist, too?”

  “No.”

  Dani frowned. Louisa’s tone in that one simple word suddenly made her feel as if she’d crossed a line. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”

  Louisa sighed. “It’s okay. I’m just a bit nervous. You were kind to come to my rescue. I don’t mean to be such a ninny. I’m on my way to Monte Calanetti.”

  Daniella’s mouth fell open. “So am I.”

  The announcement that their bus was boarding came over the loudspeaker. Danielle faced the gate. Louisa did, too.

  Dani smiled. “Looks like we’re off.”

  “Yes.” Louisa’s mysterious smile formed again.

  They boarded the bus and Daniella chose a spot in the middle, believing that was the best place to see the sights on the drive to the quaint village. After tucking her backpack away, she took her seat.

  To her surprise, Louisa paused beside her. “Do you mind if I sit with you?”

  Daniella happily said, “Of course, I don’t mind! That would be great.”

  But as Louisa sat, Daniella took note again that something seemed off about her. Everything Louisa did had a sense of hesitancy about it. Everything she said seemed incomplete.

  “So you have a month be
fore you go home?”

  “All of February.” Daniella took a deep breath. “And I intend to enjoy every minute of it. Even if I do have to find work.”

  “Work?”

  “A waitressing job. Or maybe part-time shop clerk. That kind of thing. New York is a very expensive place to live. I don’t want to blow every cent I made teaching on a vacation. I’ll need that money when I get back home. So I intend to earn my spending money while I see the sights.”

  As the bus eased out of the station, Louisa said, “That’s smart.”

  Dani sat up, not wanting to miss anything. Louisa laughed. “Your foster mother should have come with you.”

  Pain squeezed Daniella’s heart. Just when she thought she was adjusted to her loss, the reality would swoop in and remind her that the sweet, loving woman who’d saved her was gone. She swallowed hard. “She passed a few months ago. She left me the money for my plane ticket to Italy in her will.”

  Louisa’s beautiful face blossomed with sympathy. “I’m so sorry. That was careless of me.”

  Daniella shook her head. “No. You had no way of knowing.”

  Louisa studied her. “So you have no set plans? No schedule of things you want to see and do? No places you’ve already scouted out to potentially get a job?”

  “No schedule. I want to wing it. I’ve done a bit of research about Rosa’s family and I know the language. So I think I’ll be okay.”

  Louisa laughed. “Better off than I’ll be since I don’t know the language.” She held up her listening device. “At least not for another five weeks.”

  The bus made several slow turns, getting them out of the station and onto the street.

  Taking a final look at Florence, Dani breathed, “Isn’t this whole country gorgeous?” Even in winter with barren trees, the scene was idyllic. Blue skies. Rolling hills.

  “Yes.” Louisa bit her lip, then hesitantly said, “I’m here because I inherited something, too.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.” She paused, studied Daniella’s face as if assessing if she could trust her before continuing, “A villa.”

  “Oh, my God! A villa!”

  Louisa glanced away. “I know. It’s pretty amazing. The place is called Palazzo di Comparino.”

  “Do you have pictures?”

  “Yes.” She pulled out a picture of a tall, graceful house. Rich green vines grew in rows in the background beneath a blue sky.

  It was everything Dani could do not to gape in awe. “It’s beautiful.”

  Louisa laughed. “Yes. But so far I haven’t seen anything in Italy that isn’t gorgeous.” She winced. “I hate to admit it, but I’m excited.”

  “I’d be beyond excited.”

  “I’m told Monte Calanetti developed around Palazzo Chianti because of the vineyard which is part of the villa I inherited. Back then, they would have needed lots of help picking grapes, making the wine. Those people are the ancestors of the people who live there now.”

  “That is so cool.”

  “Yes, except I know nothing about running a vineyard.”

  Daniella batted a hand. “With the internet these days, you can learn anything.”

  Louisa sucked in a breath. “I hope so.”

  Daniella laid her hand on Louisa’s in a show of encouragement. “You’ll be fine.”

  Louise’s face formed another of her enigmatic smiles and Daniella’s sixth sense perked up again. Louisa appeared to want to be happy, but behind her smile was something...

  Louisa brought her gaze back to Daniella’s. “You know, I could probably use a little help when I get there.”

  “Help?”

  “I don’t think I’m just going to move into a villa without somebody coming to question me.”

  “Ah.”

  “And I’m going to be at a loss if they’re speaking Italian.”

  Dani winced. “Especially if it’s the sheriff.”

  Louisa laughed. “I don’t even know if they have sheriffs here. My letter is in English, but the officials are probably Italian. It could turn out to be a mess. So, I’d be happy to put you up for a while.” She caught Dani’s gaze. “Even all four weeks you’re looking for your foster mom’s relatives—if you’d be my translator.”

  Overwhelmed by the generous offer, Daniella said, “That would be fantastic. But I wouldn’t want to put you out.”

  “You’ll certainly earn your keep if somebody comes to check my story.”

  Daniella grinned. “I’d be staying in a villa.”

  Louisa laughed. “I own a villa.”

  “Okay, then. I’d be happy to be your translator while I’m here.”

  “Thank you.”

  Glad for the friendship forming between them, Daniella engaged Louisa in conversation as miles of hills and blue, blue sky rolled past them. Then suddenly a walled village appeared to the right. The bus turned in.

  Aged, but well-maintained stucco, brick and stone buildings greeted them. Cobblestone streets were filled with happy, chatting people. Through the large front windows of the establishments, Dani could see the coffee drinkers or diners inside while outdoor dining areas sat empty because of the chilly temperatures.

  The center circle of the town came into view. The bus made the wide turn but Dani suddenly saw a sign that read Palazzo di Comparino. The old, worn wood planks had a thick black line painted through them as if to cancel out the offer of vineyard tours.

  Daniella grabbed Louisa’s arm and pointed out the window. “Look!”

  “Oh, my gosh!” Louisa jumped out of her seat and yelled, “Stop!”

  Daniella rose, too. She said, “Fermi qui, per favore.”

  It took a minute for the bus driver to hear and finally halt the bus. After gathering their belongings, Louisa and Daniella faced the lane that led to Louisa’s villa. Because Dani had only a backpack and Louisa had two suitcases and a carry-on bag, Daniella said, “Let me take your suitcase.”

  Louisa smiled. “Having you around is turning out to be very handy.”

  Daniella laughed as they walked down the long lane that took them to the villa. The pale brown brick house soon became visible. The closer they got, the bigger it seemed to be.

  Louisa reverently whispered, “Holy cow.”

  Daniella licked her suddenly dry lips. “It’s huge.”

  The main house sprawled before them. Several stories tall, and long and deep, like a house with suites not bedrooms, Louisa’s new home could only be described as a mansion.

  They silently walked up the stone path to the front door. When they reached it, Louisa pulled out a key and manipulated the lock. As the door opened, the stale, musty scent of a building that had been locked up for years assaulted them. Dust and cobwebs covered the crystal chandelier in the huge marble-floored foyer as well as the paintings on the walls and the curved stairway.

  Daniella cautiously stepped inside. “Is your family royalty?”

  Louisa gazed around in awe. “I didn’t think so.”

  “Meaning they could be?”

  “I don’t know.” Louisa turned to the right and walked into a sitting room. Again, dust covered everything. A teacup sat on a table by a dusty chair. Passing through that room, they entered another that appeared to be a library or study. From there, they found a dining room.

  Watermarks on the ceiling spoke of damage from a second-floor bathroom or maybe even the roof. The kitchen was old and in need of remodeling. The first-floor bathrooms were outdated, as was every bathroom in the suites upstairs.

  After only getting as far as the second floor, Louisa turned to Daniella with tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize the house would be in such disrepair. From the picture, it looked perfect. If you want to get a hotel room in town, I’ll understand.”

  “Are you kidding?” Daniella rolled Louisa’s big suitcase to a stop and walked into the incredibly dusty, cobweb-covered bedroom. She spun around and faced Louisa. “I love it. With a dust rag, some cleanser for the bathr
oom and a window washing, this room will be perfect.”

  Louisa hesitantly followed Daniella into the bedroom. “You’re an optimist.”

  Daniella laughed. “I didn’t say you wouldn’t need to call a contractor about a few things. But we can clean our rooms and the kitchen.”

  * * *

  Raffaele Mancini stared at Gino Scarpetti, a tall, stiff man, who worked as the maître d’ for Mancini’s, Rafe’s very exclusive, upscale, Michelin-starred restaurant located in the heart of wine country.

  Mancini’s had been carefully crafted to charm customers. The stone and wood walls of the renovated farmhouse gave the place the feel of days long gone. Shutters on the windows blocked the light of the evening sun, but also added to the Old World charisma. Rows of bottles of Merlot and Chianti reminded diners that this area was the home of the best vineyards, the finest wines.

  Gino ripped off the Mancini’s name tag pinned to his white shirt. “You, sir, are now without a maître d’.”

  A hush fell over the dining room. Even the usual clink and clatter of silverware and the tinkle of good crystal wineglasses halted.

  Gino slapped the name tag into Rafe’s hand. Before Rafe could comment or argue, the man was out the door.

  Someone began to clap. Then another person. And another. Within seconds the sophisticated Tuscany restaurant dining room filled with the sounds of applause and laughter.

  Laughter!

  They were enjoying his misery!

  He looked at the line of customers forming beside the podium just inside the door, then the chattering diners laughing about his temper and his inability to keep good help. He tossed his hands in the air before he marched back to the big ultramodern stainless-steel restaurant kitchen.

  “You!”

  He pointed at the thin boy who’d begun apprenticing at Mancini’s the week before. “Take off your smock and get to the maître d’ stand. You are seating people.”

  The boy’s brown eyes grew round with fear. “I...I...”

  Rafe raised a brow. “You can’t take names and seat customers?”

  “I can...”

  “But you don’t want to.” Rafe didn’t have to say anything beyond that. He didn’t need to say, “If you can’t obey orders, you’re fired.” He didn’t need to remind anyone in his kitchen that he was boss or that anyone working in the restaurant needed to be able to do anything that needed to be done to assure the absolute best dining experience for the customers. Everyone knew he was not a chef to be trifled with.