Dante's Unexpected Legacy(31)

                ‘He is a great guy,’ Dante agreed. ‘You will like Allegra also.’ He gave her a searching look as he helped her into the car. ‘Will you visit her, Rose?’

                ‘If she asks me to, yes, I will.’ Rose found she liked the idea a lot. She’d lost touch with most of the friends she’d made in college, mainly because they were now pursuing high-profile careers, or if they had children they also had a husband. And Charlotte, her closest friend of all, lived in Italy.

                ‘You enjoyed the evening, Rose?’ asked Dante as he drove off.

                ‘Very much. Thank you for taking me there.’

                ‘Even though it was where we first met?’

                ‘Even so.’

                When they arrived at Willow House, Dante switched off the ignition and gave Rose a wry sidelong glance. ‘This is where we say goodbye, unless you will invite me in to talk for a while before we part.’

                Rose nodded. It was relatively early, and who knew when she would have another evening like this? ‘I could make more coffee—’

                ‘I have no wish for more coffee,’ he said and smiled. ‘But I would very much like more of your company.’





                                      CHAPTER FOUR

                ROSE UNLOCKED HER front door and led Dante into the small sitting room, which was unusually tidy, partly due to Bea’s absence, and partly because Rose had whirled round it like a dervish in case Dante came in when they arrived home. She took off her jacket and laid it on the back of a chair.

                ‘Are you sure you won’t have coffee?’ she said, suddenly awkward now they were alone together in the silent house.

                He shook his head and took her hand to draw her down on the comfortable velvet sofa that dated from Rose’s childhood. ‘This is a very warm, welcoming room,’ said Dante, surveying it appreciatively.

                ‘All my mother’s work,’ she assured him. ‘I’m lucky. Not many single parents own a fully furnished home, complete with willing babysitters close at hand.’

                ‘Davvero!’ Dante smoothed a hand over the upholstery. ‘There is a sofa a little like this in my house also, Rose. My grandmother was fond of velvet.’

                ‘Have you kept all her furniture?’

                ‘Yes.’ He sighed. ‘At first I thought this was a mistake. I kept waiting for Nonna to walk through the door to join me. But now, every time I go home I feel her warmth and love welcoming me.’

                ‘Your wife didn’t feel the same about it, obviously,’ Rose said, and wished she hadn’t as his face hardened into a mask.

                ‘I do not like to discuss her,’ he said, looking down his nose.

                She nodded coldly. ‘How true. You certainly made no mention of her the first time we met.’

                ‘I have apologised for this already, more than once,’ he said wearily and got up. ‘I think it is best I leave.’

                Rose jumped to her feet, chin lifted. ‘So leave.’

                For a moment she was sure that Dante, his eyes blazing blue flames, was about to storm out of the house there and then, but with a choked sound he pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. ‘Arrivederci, tesoro.’