Star-Crossed Sweethearts / Secret Prince, Instant Daddy!: Star-Crossed Sweethearts / Secret Prince, Instant Daddy!

She sobered slightly as she settled back in her chair. “I only ask that, when you are ready, you will listen to what he has to say.”

Angelo nodded and sipped his water. Still, he had to know. “Why is it so important to you?”

She seemed perplexed by the question. “We are family, Angelo. Familia. What is more important than that?”

He envied Isabella’s passion on the subject. This made twice in a matter of minutes that she’d referenced their shared bloodline. He wanted to be swayed by her argument, to get behind it with as much conviction. Even with half as much. But the truth was, “The only family I’ve had for a very long time is Alex.”

Her gaze held compassion as well as empathy. “I understand from your brother that your mother died when you were teenagers.”

“She drank herself to death,” he said bluntly. “Cindy…” An embarrassing rush of emotions washed away the rest of his words. He shook his head and tried again. “She was never going to win any Mother of the Year awards, you know? But she was all we had.”

“My mamma is gone as well. She died when I was young.” Her gaze softened. “I still miss her.”

Alex had mentioned that Luca’s second wife, Violetta, had been killed in a tragic fall. Fate could be crueler than addiction, even though some might argue that it didn’t matter since the end result was the same. But fate put things outside one’s control. “That’s rough. Sorry.”

“I remember her a little, as does Valentino. He is the youngest. Cristiano, who is two years older than I am, has more memories.” Her expression clouded.

“I get the feeling that even though you weren’t the oldest, you took care of them.” What little he knew of Isabella pointed to a take-charge person. After all, she’d been the one to initiate contact with Angelo and Alex. The peacemaker, the bridge-maker. He’d admire the characteristics more if they weren’t running against his own goals.

“I did.”

“And you helped out here.” He made a circular motion with one hand.

“Yes. Our father was lost in his grief after Mamma died. He needed me.”

Luca and his needs. It took all of Angelo’s willpower not to sneer.

“Why aren’t you bitter?” He hadn’t intended to ask that question, so he shook his head. “Never mind. I came here to apologize to you, not to pick another fight.”

“I will answer anyway. Bitterness serves no useful purpose, Angelo. I would have liked a different childhood, sì. One with fewer cares and responsibilities, but…” Isabella’s shoulders rose.

“Well, you’re obviously happy now.”

“I am. Very.” Blue eyes that were so like his own lit with an emotion that Angelo had yet to experience for himself.

“Alex said you’re married, and to a real prince, no less.”

Her smile grew wider. “Maximilliano Di Rossi.”

“I spoke to him today. He wasn’t very happy with me.”

Her laughter was pleased and wholly female. “He can be very protective.”

“So I gathered.”

“You will meet him and some of the others at the—” Isabella broke off and blushed.

“At the what?”

“Party.”

“Let me guess. I’m to be the guest of honor,” he said dryly.

She wrinkled her nose. “Would you rather not have such a gathering? If that is your wish I can call the others and explain. They can meet with you individually during the course of your stay in Italy.”

Now there was an even less appealing thought. Better to get it over with in one fell swoop than prolong the agony over days. “No. A party is fine. When is it and where?”

“We thought we would give you a chance to settle in first, get to know some people. So it is planned for a week from Friday at eight o’clock. Our plan is to close Rosa early for the occasion. Valentino will be here. Cristiano, unfortunately, can’t be. He’s a firefighter and was injured during a blaze in Rome.”

A strange feeling of concern stirred for this stranger who shared his bloodline. “Is he…okay?”

Isabella’s smile was all-knowing. “He will be.” Then, “You are sure a family party is all right with you?”

“Yes.”

Her expression turned wily when she mentioned, “You could bring someone.”

“Who would I bring?” he asked, though he had the feeling his sister had someone in mind.

She did. “How about Atlanta Jackson? I have heard from no fewer than three sources already this morning that you were spotted sharing cannoli with the pretty actress at the café up the street.”

And Atlanta’s abrupt departure? Had they mentioned that?

“Is everything all right, Angelo?”

“Fine. It’s just that she came here hoping to get away. She doesn’t want to draw any attention to herself.”

“Nor will she,” Isabella assured him. “The villagers are curious about her, but they will leave her be. No one will ask for autographs or pictures. The wealthy and famous come here because they know they can count on our discretion. In turn, they keep our economy going.”

“Good. She’s going through a rough patch professionally and personally. The last thing she needs right now is to find herself being tailed by the media, legitimate or otherwise.”

“I have read some of the things her ex is saying.”

“Lies.” But Angelo didn’t think Zeke’s cruelty or control were the only demons she needed to exorcise.

Isabella tilted her head to one side. “You seem very…concerned about her. Have you and this Atlanta known one another for very long?”

“We don’t really know one another at all,” he said slowly.

His sister smiled before helpfully suggesting, “Perhaps you can remedy that while you are here.”

Atlanta rubbed her throbbing forehead with one hand and pressed the telephone to her ear with the other as Sara Daniels, one of the few true friends she had in Los Angeles, confirmed her worst fears.

“I hate to tell you this, but you’re still making headlines. When I stopped for coffee on my way into work this morning, I saw pictures of you and Angelo Casali together in Rome’s airport on the front page of a couple of tabloids.”

Even as she bit back a groan Atlanta forced herself to ask, “What are they saying about me now?”

“Hon, you don’t want to know.”