He nods and opens his gift. I watch and hold my breath. He chuckles and looks up at me with suspiciously moist eyes once he has the box open.
“A race car track?” Gio says with amusement in his voice.
“It’s the exact one you guys broke,” Dante says after swallowing hard a time or two.
“The one mom got you before…how did you know about that?” Dario asks.
“I told her,” Dante says.
“I know you’re not eight anymore, but I just thought you would like it.” I shrug.
“Thanks so much. This means a lot. Why don’t you go ahead and open yours?”
I lift a brow at Dante. He returns it with a small grin. I lift the lid from the heavy box after I try to give it a shake.
I fight not to cry when I see the box full of books. I look up at Dante and blink a few times. Not only has he bought me books, but they are my wish list. I pick one up and inhale.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“I noticed you still have a blank shelf in your studio. I thought they would all look perfect there. You’re welcome.”
I stand to give him a hug. Dante stands and wraps me in his embrace. He smells so good. There’s cologne that makes you do a double take and then there’s cologne that makes you stop in your tracks and lick your lips. Dante’s would be the latter with a side of melt off your panties.
Now these…these are the butterflies, the sparks, the tummy-warming sensations I’ve been searching for. Too bad they’re for a man I can’t have.
“Grandpa, Nonno, Uncle Lucas,” Bella squeals.
I turn to see three older men enter the room. One with thick dark-brown hair and bright hazel eyes like the brothers. Another with salt-and-pepper hair and another with thick, jet-black hair. Bella runs into the arms of the man with the thick dark-brown hair. The other two men are loaded down with gifts.
To my surprise, they aren’t the only new arrivals. I lift a brow just as the man with the dark-brown hair speaks.
“Gio, look who I found pacing outside of the front door. When I asked you about her, you said you didn’t know where to find her. You wouldn’t lie to your nonno, would you?”
I look to Gio to find him staring at Nyla with so much heat in his eyes I start to squirm. Jace places a hand on Gio’s shoulder and leans in to whisper something to him.
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Nonno. I didn’t know her whereabouts when you asked. Ny, it’s good to see you well and in person.”
“Gio,” she says sharply.
I’m so confused. Gio and Nyla saw each other about four or five weeks ago for sure, as far as I know. Nyla is scheduled to start as my replacement in the New Year. So, I know she went in for the interview. However, I keep my lips sealed. There’s something going on here I know nothing about.
Gio turns his gaze to me and nods me over. I hesitate for a moment before my sister gives me a subtle nod. I move over to Gio’s side and push my glasses up my nose.
“Nonno, have you met Dante’s new personal assistant and Ny’s little sister?” Gio says.
The older man turns his sharp eyes on me. They brighten and he moves across the room. I feel a little self-conscious as I stand in my pajamas Bella asked me to wear before asking for me to fix her hair like mine.
“You must be Liz. I’ve heard so much about you. You’re the only weakness I know your sister to have,” the man says.
“If you think so,” Jace snorts under his breath beside me.
At this point, I have so many questions. Clearly, my sister knows this man. He has called us both by our family nicknames and he speaks with such endearment for my sister.
“I’m Grandpa Di Lorenzo, but you, my dear, can call me Giuseppe.”
“He’s my nonno G,” Bella says proudly.
He places a hand on top of Bella’s head. “Yes, I am. Did I miss you opening all your gifts?”
“No. I didn’t open yours and Grandpa’s.”
Nonno G chuckles. “No, you haven’t.”
The other two men carry the gifts they’re holding over to the tree. The salt-and-pepper–haired man comes over and looks at me with an appraising eye. I give him a nervous smile and he holds out his hand to me.
“I’m Frances Esposito, Dante’s father.”
“Yes, we’ve spoken on the phone before. I’m Lizzy M—”
“Hemmingway,” Gio cuts me off.
I cover my shock quickly. I actually go by Manning. My father’s name.
“Lizzy Marie Hemmingway,” I say when Mr. Esposito looks at Gio questioningly.
“Lizzy Marie, what a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
“It’s actually Elizabeth Marie,” Dante says.
I look to him with wide eyes. I didn’t know he knew my real name. Again, I find myself smiling at him.