Page 40 of Beneath the Dawn

Marti fought back tears as a lump settled in her throat. In a few days, she would leave here and return home. She would look forward to coming back to Wild Rose Point next summer, and would have to be satisfied being Dante’s every summer lover, if that was all she could ever be. It was better to have something than to have nothing.

She had never expected anything more in her life and blamed the romance novel she had finished reading yesterday for putting unrealistic expectations in her head. There would never be a happy-ever-after for her. It had been that way all along, and she was fine with it. Really.

During the coming days, she would have to find a way to be happy, even knowing that when she left, she would be leaving her heart behind with Dante.

***

“Marti, I would like you to meet Rossiano De Luca. We call him Rossi for short. His uncle, Ricco, is my godfather.”

She extended her hand. “It’s nice meeting you, Rossi.”

Dante smiled at Marti’s surprise at meeting Rossi. She kept looking between them in disbelief. He and Rossi always got that reaction whenever they went out together. Although he and Rossi weren’t blood-related, they favored each other. If she ever met Ricco’s son, Nico, she would think he was their younger brother.

“I guess you get tired of hearing that you have beautiful eyes,” Rossi said.

She chuckled. “People usually comment on what an odd shade they are. My sister and I can’t go anywhere without people noticing.”

“You have a sister?” Rossi asked.

“Yes.”

“Her sister is married, Rossi,” Dante broke in. “And you can release Marti’s hand now.”

“Oops. Sorry about that. I guess I got carried away. Your eyes spoke to me.”

Dante shook his head. Rossi was a known flirt and bona fide womanizer. He was also a jack-of-all-trades, and although everyone on his team was outstanding at what they did, Rossiano Giovanni De Luca was a man whose mind never slept. Thanks to his three master’s degrees and his Harvard Law School graduate status, he was always thinking of ways to keep the team one step ahead in everything they did.

“Please join us for breakfast, Rossi. Does the house meet your approval?” Dante asked.

He, of all people, knew how nitpicky Rossi could be. There were several hotel chains the man refused to stay in unless absolutely necessary. But then, he usually didn’t have to do so. Dante had a feeling Rossi had at least one woman in every state and several major countries as well. Ricco had long ago given up on Dante and Rossi settling down. Since he was hoping for grandkids one day, he had turned his attention to thirty-four-year-old Nico.

“Yes, it does. It’s a nice place, and the view of the ocean is spectacular.”

Once coffee was poured and the quiche Marti had taken the time to bake was served, they sat around drinking coffee like old friends. But Dante wasn’t stupid. He knew Rossi was curious about Marti. He hadn’t wasted any time coming to Wild Rose Point to meet the woman who had done more than just capture Dante’s interest.

“I have to leave town for a couple of days, Marti. Like I was telling you last night, Rossi will be here when I’m not.”

She nodded. “Do you get up before dawn and go swimming, too, Rossi?”

“Heavens no,” Rossi exclaimed.

“Only because that’s about the time he’s getting home in the morning,” Dante added. “His favorite pastime is entertaining women.”

“Oh,” Marti said, grinning, as she stood. “Well, then I’ve been given fair warning. I’m sure you guys have a lot to discuss, so I’ll go back to my place and prepare for a day on the beach.”

“Call or text to let me know when you’re inside and when you leave for the beach,” Dante said.

She smiled. “I will.” She then looked at Rossi. “It was nice meeting you, Rossi.”

“It was nice meeting you, too, Marti. Is that short for something?”

After a slight hesitation, she said, “Yes, it’s short for Martina. However, everybody calls me Marti.”

Dante had studied Marti during the interchange. He had a feeling there was more to her preferring her nickname than he had assumed.

“Then Marti it will be,” Rossi said, smiling.

Dante glared at Rossi, and although Rossi didn’t look in his direction, he knew his friend had picked up on his vibes. Although he hadn’t gone into any details about his relationship with Marti, Rossi wasn’t a fool and could read Dante like a book. But just in case he missed it, he would make sure Rossi knew that Marti was off limits.