“But she’s something else. There is nothing fake about her. I like her. Even Ricco likes her,”Dante added.
Skylar shook his head. “I’m glad you both like her, but it really doesn’t matter. Because I’m already in love with her. So please take good care of her. Goodbye.”
He hung up before Dante could offer any warnings…or remind him that his father had fallen in love at first sight, only to discover he’d been nothing but a mark.
Dante’s father, Mario, had been out of the country when Silas had met Edwina Montgomery, and the two engaged in a whirlwind romance. Skylar was positive that if Mario had been in the States at the time, he would have had Edwina investigated, and the report Mario would have provided to Silas, his best friend, would have ended the affair immediately. Especially when he discovered Edwina was still legally a married woman.
By the time Mario had returned, a heartbroken Silas had told him of Edwina’s offer to sell his baby to him for a price. Mario had stepped in, and before he had handed over any money, Mario paid her a visit, got her to sign all the necessary legal documents, and then, in a way only “Mario Avera the Henchman” could do, he’d put the fear of God in Edwina Montgomery by making it clear just what would happen to her if she made contact with Silas or her child ever again.
Although Skylar regretted his father’s years of heartbreak, in a way, he was glad Mario had not been there to intervene. Had he been, Skylar likely wouldn’t have been born. And he would not have experienced life as Silas Kingston’s son. He would not have known how it felt to be loved unconditionally and to love unconditionally in return. He would not have understood why his father’s charities meant so much to him and why he believed in helping the less fortunate.
Skylar knew that he would not have grown into the man he was today if he had not had Silas Kingston as a father.
He had admitted all of that to his father before he died, and the guilt he often felt from that. Silas, in turn, had told him not to feel any guilt because he would gladly suffer heartbreak all over again if he knew Skylar would be the result.
It had been the same night his father had told him about his terminal illness. It was then that Skylar finally discovered why the details of his birth and his mother’s disappearance in their lives had always been a guarded secret.
Skylar would never forget that night for as long as he lived. The world as he’d known it had come crashing down. If not for Dante, Ricco, and a few of his father’s faithful friends, some of whom were more than employees, he wasn’t sure he would have made it through that very difficult time. Then another thing his father had told him that night came to mind…
“Sky, don’t think every woman you meet will be like the woman who gave birth to you. I saw many red flags with Edwina when I met her, but I chose to ignore them. One day, you will meet someone, and the first time you see her, you will know if she’s the real deal or not. If she is, there’s a very good chance that she’s the one who is meant for you. The woman destined to share your life. Love at first sight happens a lot in my family. It was that way with my father, Savino, when he met his Ursula. My parents loved each other deeply. And the same was true for my grandparents.
I will always believe that I didn’t miss my opportunity for true love because I got the son of my heart instead.”
Skylar drew in a deep breath. His father had been right about the red flags. He’d seen them with every woman he’d ever dated…until Haven. It surprised him that Dante, who was known to be overly protective, guarded to a fault, and extremely judgmental when it came to anyone Skylar took an interest in, seemed to have readily accepted Haven as the real thing. She was almost too good to be true. But Skylar believed in his heart, as Dante did, that Haven was sincere. And just like her name, he felt as if he was in a safe place with her. Now all he had to do was make sure she felt safe with him.
Haven glanced around and then smiled at Skylar. “This is a beautiful restaurant.”
He smiled back. “I’m glad you like it. I’m thinking of buying this place. It’s conveniently located near the hotel and includes all the land it’s situated on. I think it would be a good investment.”
“I think so, too. And dinner was incredible. Will you be able to keep the chef and his team?”
He chuckled. “I intend to.”
“It sounds as if you’ve got it all worked out.” She took a sip of her wine. “By the way, I like Dante. I like Ricco, too.”
“And why do you like them?”
“They’re friendly and treated me well.”
He chuckled. “You’re the first woman who has ever said that about them. Most of my dates find them intimidating.” He paused and met her gaze. “You’re good at reading people.”
She leaned closer to him and whispered, “Well, last night you did say I was special and simply amazing. Now I guess you will have to add ‘smart’ to that list.”
Skylar laughed, and she loved the sound. He had reserved a private dining room for them that had a gorgeous view of the valley’s red rock formations. Earlier, they had seen the sun go down over them, and Haven thought she had never seenanything so beautiful. Well, she thought, glancing over at Skylar, not exactly. He was beautiful, too. He had been there to open her car door for her, saving Ricco the trouble. Ricco had jokingly reminded Skylar that that was his job.
“How were your sessions today?” he asked.
She took a sip of her wine, deciding not to admit that she hadn’t gotten anything out of them, because her thoughts had been filled with him. And that reminded her…“They were okay. But listen, there is something I need to tell you.”
She must have sounded pretty serious because he straightened up in his chair. “What?”
“I’m glad you told me who you were because several people saw us together last night, and today many of them approached me.”
“About what?”
“I think they figured they could use me to get to you. You wouldn’t believe how many CEO’s business cards I refused to pass on. Even my boss heard about us and called me from Chicago. She wanted to know if our relationship was serious because if it was, she could see how it could benefit the company I work for.”
He nodded. “And what did you tell her?”
