Believe (San Francisco Brides Series Book 2) Page 7

  Chapter Seven

  Lita cupped Lorenzo’s cheeks in her palms and gazed at him. He grasped her hands and kissed her palms. Warmth trickled through her, the light patter of an early-morning shower.

  Lorenzo rubbed her ring finger. “I don’t have a ring for you.” He brushed his fingers through her hair.

  Her head lightened. “It doesn’t matter.” She leaned her head into his chest. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to share her life, her dreams. Her throat tightened. This was unreal.

  But Lorenzo was real. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer. The soft wool of his suit rubbed against her cheek. His scent, his heat, made her dizzier.

  “I’m getting you a ring. I want to give you everything.” His voice was hoarse.

  Lita fingered his hand. The bandage she’d placed on it yesterday was rough on her skin. She moved back, looking up at him. “What you said, about the clubs…”

  “It’s done. I want a new life, with you.”

  “That’s all I want.”

  Lorenzo caressed the curve of her lower back. The warmth became hot, as if she’d turned the water the wrong way, scalding her skin. Lita wriggled. A low rumble sounded from Lorenzo’s throat. Lita parted her lips.

  The kitchen door swung open, banging. Lita squirmed, but Lorenzo held her tightly.

  “No, Vittorio.” Uncle Enzo waved his hands and strode in, Sophia and Carlo behind him. “Lorenzo, I told you—”

  “Lorenzo asked me to marry him and I said yes.” Lita smiled, despite the angry glare on Uncle Enzo’s face, and the shocked dismay on Sophia’s and Carlo’s faces. Only Paolo and Grandpop smiled with Lita. Lorenzo released her from his arms. Lita rubbed her arms, chilled.

  “Lorenzo…married?” Carlo shook his head.

  “Another wedding!” Paolo hugged Lita.

  Lita tried to respond, but her lips felt stuck together, her shoulders tensed. The disapproval and disappointment in the room clung to her like a tangled line of tape.

  “Marriage isn’t about the wedding.” Sophia’s voice was quiet, but firm.

  “Exactly.” Uncle Enzo stepped in front of Lita. “You are very dear to me, Lita. Lorenzo hasn’t proven—”

  “Basta!” Grandpop gripped Uncle Enzo’s shoulder. “Enough, Enzo. The boy is proving himself. He’s free from the business, from his father. He’s made a commitment to Lita. He knows we’ll hold him accountable.”

  “He may think he’s free, but it’s never that simple. You of all people know that, Vittorio.” Uncle Enzo shrugged his older brother off.

  “Please.” Lita placed herself between the divided group. “Lorenzo and I love each other. We love all of you. Please try to be happy for us.”

  “Lita and I are getting married.” Lorenzo stepped behind her and slid his arm around her waist. “No one can keep us apart.” His tone stung, the quick slice of a knife blade. Lita pressed herself into him, to stop from shivering.

  “You see how he is?” Uncle Enzo glared at his brother.

  Grandpop shook his head. “He’s young.” Grandpop’s tone implied “and stupid.”

  Uncle Enzo looked at Lita. His eyes softened. “Lita, Lorenzo will hurt you. Maybe not now, but when the novelty of new love wears thin…I won’t see you hurt, my dear.”

  Lorenzo’s stomach tensed against Lita’s back. Lita fingered her throat, then her necklace. “He promised he’d never hurt me. I believe in him.”

  “Enzo, let them be.” Grandpop’s voice was strangely hushed. “They have to learn for themselves.”

  There was nothing to learn—except more about Lorenzo, about what it would be like to be his wife. But that was a dream realized. Not something sad or hurtful, as her family implied.

  “What’s the commotion?” Janetta pushed through between her parents, her tiny petite frame not matching the strength of her voice and presence. “What’s Lorenzo pulled now?” Janetta smiled.

  “Shut it.” Lorenzo’s tone teased, no longer steely.

  “Lemon blossom, this is no joke.” Uncle Enzo shook his head at Janetta.

  “Lorenzo and Lita are getting married.” Paolo made it sound like the best thing ever. And it would be.

  Janetta laughed. “Gramps, are you kidding? This is the best joke I’ve heard in a long time.”

  Lita frowned. Lorenzo stepped forward, forcing Lita closer to Janetta.

  “I said shut it.” This time, the playfulness leaked out of Lorenzo’s tone, like water from a cracked glass.

  Janetta studied Lorenzo. She held up her hands.

  “Tell your fiancée to stop pouting. Congratulations.” Janetta shrugged. “Shouldn’t someone call Lee?”

  Lita gripped Lorenzo’s hand. Lee wasn’t going to be happy and Janetta knew it. Janetta and Lee were friends too—Lee had told Lita he and Janetta might start their own architecture firm, but they needed a business partner. That should have been Lorenzo—he and Lee used to talk about it in high school occasionally. But now Lee was angry at Lorenzo, and he wouldn’t approve of them getting married. Lee didn’t think anyone under twenty-five should get married, especially not his baby sister.

  “Janetta’s right.” Lita smiled, though a moment ago she’d wanted to slap Janetta. “We should call Lee.”

  “What happened to everyone?” Joey walked in with Vincente and Gina.

  The room crowded. Lita pulled Lorenzo’s arm closer around her.

  “Lorenzo and Lita are engaged,” Sophia said. Her voice was a high, artificially cheerful tone. Some of Lita’s father’s nurses had used a similar voice when they were about to draw blood, or do something else unpleasant.

  “Congrats,” Joey and Vincente said at the same time.

  “We can plan our weddings together,” Gina said with a smile.

  Lita nodded. At least a few people would support her and Lorenzo.

  No one else smiled. Lita closed her eyes. Dots of light shimmered. Her head felt tight. Happy, she should be happy. She was engaged to Lorenzo. He loved her. They were going to be happy.

  “Thanks.” Lorenzo’s breath, his voice, brought her back to the moment, back to him. “Sophia, can you manage dinner without Lita? Need to get her a ring.”

  “I’ve got plenty of help. You two go ahead.” Sophia smiled briefly.

  “Lorenzo…” Lita wanted to resolve the tension, wanted everyone to be happy for them. But that wasn’t going to happen right now. Her shoulders sagged. Lorenzo squeezed her hand. She laced her fingers in his.

  “No arguments. I’m buying you a ring now.”

  “Whatever you want.” Lita leaned into him. He propelled them forward, past the skeptical faces of her family.

  Lita walked forward. Lorenzo strode beside her and held her hand.

  “Be back for dinner,” Grandpop said. “We’ll call Lee and invite him.”

  Lita grabbed her purse from the table in the foyer and hugged it to her stomach.

  “We will. Thanks.” Lorenzo held the door for her. He led her to his car, his hand on the curve of her lower back.

  She glanced at him as he helped her into his car. His mouth was tight—no dimples to soften the intensity of his expression, the raw strength of his features. Lita stared forward, down the hill at the trees in bloom lining the street. The white puffs of flowers among the green leaves evoked a wedding bouquet. Lita glanced at her hands. Lorenzo slid into the car and drove off, toward Columbus. Within a few minutes, Lorenzo had parked on a side street lined with boutiques and cafes. He led her into a green building with gold lettering—Polito Jewelers.

  Lita’s stomach fluttered, the soft warmth of fresh sage out of the kitchen garden, the excitement of gathering the first harvest.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Polito.”

  Lorenzo shook hands with an old man who stood behind the long glass counter. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches shone and sparkled inside the cases. The man nodded at Lorenzo, his impassive expression cool as the slightly dim interior of the store.

  “This is
my fiancée, Lita Sabatini. We’d like an engagement ring.”

  Mr. Polito smiled, his white mustache bobbing up. He put out a wrinkled hand and shook Lita’s hand. “Wonderful.” He studied Lita.

  Her cheeks warmed and she glanced at Lorenzo. He eased his arm around her waist and pulled her into him. She smiled.

  “I have just the ring.” Mr. Polito moved a hand over a flat display of rings and selected one with a large rounded diamond set in a simple, thin platinum band.

  Lita’s smile grew. Lorenzo held out his hand and took the ring. He turned to Lita, grasping her hand. His gaze questioned. He smiled, his dimples showed. Lita laughed, releasing the tension from earlier. Then she held her breath. Lorenzo watched her as he slid the ring on her finger. His expression changed back to the serious intensity he’d had before. His brows pushed together. Her hand trembled slightly. This was forever.

  Lita studied the ring. It sparkled, beautiful in its simplicity and elegance. If only their love could be so easy. But nothing with Lorenzo had ever been easy. Still, happiness could be savored more if it had been worked for, not given as a right.

  Lorenzo released her. Lita leaned on the counter, unsteady. The shop, everything seemed somehow hazy, part of a dream. She closed her eyes and opened them again. She wasn’t dreaming.

  Mr. Polito went to the cash register, running Lorenzo’s credit card through. “Congratulations. You must be a special young woman indeed.” Mr. Polito spoke with a mixture of admiration and reserve. Lorenzo’s reputation was known throughout the city, probably further.

  Lita fingered the ring. All that was changed now. Lorenzo loved her, was committed to her. “Thank you.” Lita’s voice came out in a hushed whisper.

  “Give my best to your family, Lorenzo.” Mr. Polito waved as they turned to walk out.

  “You too.” Lorenzo held the door for Lita.

  She stepped out into the bright light of the afternoon. The pavement seemed to ripple in the heat. Lorenzo grasped her hand and pulled her into him. Lita glanced around at the cars and people hurrying by. Lorenzo cupped her chin, forcing her to look only at him. For a moment, her breath stopped, like when she’d fallen off a swing as a girl. Lorenzo kissed her hands before placing his on her back. She eased her hands behind his neck. He gazed at her, hungrily taking her in as he’d looked at that chocolate mousse the other night. Or maybe that look had been for her then too.

  “I promise to take care of you, Lita.” He kissed her forehead. “I promise to love you forever.” He caressed his lips over her cheek. Her breathing grew shallow. “I promise to be faithful.” He brushed his lips over hers.

  She gripped her hands closer around his neck, her fingers tickling in his hair. She deepened their kiss. She pressed herself closer to his hard chest, unable to get close enough, taste him deeply enough.

  A horn honked. Someone jostled her as they walked by. She loosened her hold and she and Lorenzo parted slightly. Lita licked her lips. Lorenzo rubbed a finger over her lips. Lita moaned softly. The breath seemed to breeze through her, awakening her slowly, joyfully, as Sleeping Beauty woke for the Prince’s kiss of true love.

  “I love you, Lorenzo.”

  He kissed her again then held her close. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear.

  They stood for a minute, the sounds of their breathing, the traffic and talking flowing around them, the rhythmic beat of waves on rocks.

  “I’d like to go tell Sal.” Lorenzo stepped forward. Lita kept herself against his side.

  “Why didn’t he come with you to Uncle Enzo’s? He told me he’d try.” They walked slowly to the car.

  “He had to work. Besides, he and Uncle Enzo still have their issues.”

  Lita clasped her hands as she sat in the passenger seat. Everything should be perfect, everyone should be happy. This was their fairy tale come true. She wanted the happy ending now, not more strife.

  Lorenzo slid into the seat next to her. His scent swirled around her in the hot car. She resisted the pull in her stomach to lean into him, to wrap herself next to him and forget everything else.

  He caressed her cheek. “No one’s going to keep us apart.”

  “I want everyone to be happy for us.”

  Lorenzo frowned and started the car. Lita twisted her ring. His silence sliced into her, tiny paper cuts stinging her with the truth—he didn’t believe the family would accept them together.

  “You’re happy, aren’t you?” Lita asked in a too-girlish voice. She plucked at her skirt.

  Lorenzo pushed out a breath. “You shouldn’t need to ask me that.”

  Her ears burned, like they used to when her favorite teacher—or sometimes Lee and Lorenzo—had chastised her when she was a little girl.

  Lorenzo pulled into the parking lot behind Sal’s and parked in his spot. He tweaked Lita’s ear. “You’re pouting again, kitten.” He chuckled.

  Lita crossed her arms. Lorenzo pulled her hands over his head so she embraced his neck. He kissed away her frown. She sighed, a release.

  “That’s better.” Lorenzo kissed her nose.

  She smiled. He hopped out and led her inside. The restaurant was fairly crowded, so it took Sal several minutes to break free and join them by the back door. Lita held out her ring hand to him, smiling.

  Sal smiled and clapped Lorenzo on the shoulder. “Congratulations. This is wonderful.”

  “Thanks.” Lita glanced at Lorenzo, whose dimples punctuated his cheeks. She leaned her head on his arm.

  “I thought you’d be at my father’s.” Sal smoothed his suit jacket.

  “Wanted to get Lita a ring.” Lorenzo held her hand. “We need to get back for dinner.”

  “Give my love to everyone.” Sal hugged Lita and nodded to Lorenzo. “You take care of each other.” He waved and walked back into the restaurant.

  “We will.” Lita kissed Lorenzo.

  He caressed her cheek. “Promise.”

  “Promise.” Lita gazed at him. His intense brown eyes gave her a shiver. This wasn’t a fairy tale. This was real, this was love, this was forever. She bit the inside of her lip. She and Lorenzo had said yes to each other. Once, on a women’s retreat, there was a talk about what happened after saying yes—the challenges of letting in grace, love. It was frightening. Miracles were.

  Chapter Eight

  Lorenzo rolled his shoulders. The kitchen was still crowded with his family, Paolo—who winked at him with a huge smile—and Lee, who frowned. Lita giggled, showing off the engagement ring Lorenzo had bought her earlier.

  “We need to talk,” Lee whispered in Lorenzo’s ear.

  Lorenzo nodded. He’d known this was coming. He went to Lita—she, Celeste and Aunt Sophia laughed and talked.

  “Lee and I have some business to discuss,” he said. “I’ll be back soon.” It wasn’t a lie, though his personal business wasn’t what Lorenzo wanted to talk to Lee about.

  Lita nodded and kissed him. It was criminal to leave her side, but Lee meant what he said.

  He and Lee walked to Uncle Enzo’s study. Lee shut the door with a firm tug. He turned and crossed his arms. “What the hell’s going on? You think you’re going to marry Lita? You think you can be the husband she wants? You?” Lee’s biceps flexed.

  “I love her. We’re getting married.”

  “She’s only twenty-two. She should be starting a career. First, she devotes herself to her father, and now you? She’s wasting her life.”

  “If she wants to find a job, that’s fine by me.” She didn’t, though—she’d talked to him about it when he and Lee had visited Italy last year. They’d had lunch alone one day with her father, and she’d talked about devoting herself to helping others in her community by volunteering. With her father’s inheritance, she was independent. “Lita’s life could never be a waste.” Lee wasn’t usually judgmental—but his friend was angry, more angry than Lorenzo had ever seen him, except when they’d discovered that boyfriend of Jane’s trying to rape Lita.

  “Right. Do you
even want to get married? You haven’t mentioned it for years.”

  “I want to marry Lita. I’d do anything for her.”

  “You barely know her.” Lee shook his head.

  “I’ve known her fourteen years. You want Lita to be happy.”

  “And you’re the only one who will make her happy? Come on.” Lee rolled his eyes.

  “You’ve never really been in love.” When Lorenzo had first kissed her, all his feelings for Lita—what he’d tried to convince himself was an unhealthy preoccupation—grabbed hold of him, wouldn’t let go. Like he wouldn’t let her go.

  “Maybe not, but I love Lita. I want what’s best for her.”

  “She’s an adult. She makes her own choices,” Lorenzo said. He rubbed his neck. He’d thought he and Lee would be bachelors forever. Looked like they wouldn’t even be friends anymore.

  “She’s always been stubborn.” Lee’s eyes stared past Lorenzo, as if he was seeing a different reality. “Janetta and I are starting an architecture firm. She suggested you as a business partner.” Lee’s gaze focused on Lorenzo. There was no friendship there, only an icy cast in Lee’s light blue eyes.

  Lorenzo’s mind spun. Lee was playing an angle, taking a page from Lorenzo’s book—enemies had to be watched. That’s what he’d become to Lee—an enemy. Love always had a price.

  Lorenzo’s shoulders edged up, his neck tense. He shrugged. “Sure. We can talk about it Tuesday.”

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “Shit,” Lee muttered. “Tuesday at ten. I want to see tests from your doctor too. You better not take it too far with Lita.”

  Lee didn’t trust him. But Lita did. He stood taller.

  Uncle Enzo opened the door. “Your fiancée misses you. What’s going on?” He stepped into the room and shut the door.

  “I’m worried about my sister,” Lee said to Uncle Enzo, still frowning.

  “Don’t. I’m here. I’ll see she’s taken care of.” Uncle Enzo patted Lee’s arm.

  “Thanks.” Lee shook his head as he shoved past Lorenzo.

  Did Lee really think he’d risk giving Lita a STD? If he had anything, he would never touch her. Maybe Lee thought Lorenzo’s diseased soul would damage her more. But Lorenzo had found a possible cure and he wasn’t going to let even Lee stand in his way.