Reunited With Her Italian Billionaire

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Marco continued to stare at the column of numbers in front of him. The same column of numbers on the same screen he’d been staring at for the last fifteen minutes. Finally, in disgust he pushed his chair away from the desk and swiveled around to stare out his floor-to-ceiling office window at the traffic outside. Forty-Fifth Street was fully alive. Pedestrians were out in droves cutting through rows of stationary cars.

For someone who prided himself on his concentration skills, Marco certainly didn’t feel focused today. He’d wasted the better part of an hour accomplishing next to nothing.

He rested his head back and stared at the sky. The sun had abandoned it hours ago. Thick rolling clouds littered the horizon. A faint haze of drizzle curtained the atmosphere.

All in all, the day had changed to match his mood completely.

What in the world was he doing here? Nothing in the paperwork or the operations needed immediate attention. If anything, his managers were going to great lengths to pretend he wasn’t in the way. His unexpected visit had cut into various meetings and several executives’ schedules. He was merely hampering business.

That made him angry. That reminded him of the reason he was in New York in the first place. Brianna.

The woman was a thorn in his side. The plan had been so simple. Go to New York. Check on Enzo. Come to a fair agreement regarding his son and all the other loose ends that unraveled at the end of a marriage. It all brought him back to the same question. Why was he still in New York?

Because he was a jealous, mindless fool. Over a woman who was never really his. If he witnessed one of his friends in the same situation, he knew exactly what he’d do.

The phone rang and he snatched it to his ear. “Marco Dirici.”

“I know who you are. At least I think I do.”

His grandmother. A smile tugged at his mouth. “Hello, Nonna.”

“I’m your nonna in name only, I see so little of you.”

“You usually can’t wait to get rid of me.”

“You know that is absolutely not true.”

“There are times I wonder.”

She snorted. “How is our little bambino, eh? I’ve so missed him.”

At the mention of his son, warmth spread through Marco’s chest. “He’s wonderful, Nonna. You should see how he’s grown in the months since we’ve seen him.”

What followed was a virtual quiz. Nonna asked him about everything from Enzo’s diet to his toilet habits. Then she hesitated. When she spoke again, Marco immediately sensed unease in her voice. “How are things there, Marco?” she asked.

He sighed. “You mean with Brianna.”

“The house just isn’t the same without her.”

He picked up a pen, tapped it against the desk, then dropped it. “Our separation was for the best.”

“You can be so sure?”

“Nonna, I don’t have time for this.”

“You don’t have time for your grandmother? Of course not, Mr. Hot Shot Businessman. Why would you want to speak to a silly, feeble old woman?”

That comment was downright laughable. His grandmother was about as feeble as an army general. “Nonna, that won’t work. You’re not going to guilt me into talking to you about this.”

“Fine.” Nonna’s voice was brusque. “But I won’t let you hang up without giving you some hard-learned advice.”

Marco sighed. Nonna had made it clear before he left that his only goal on this trip should be to bring his wife and son back. She had no idea how irreparable things had gotten between him and Brianna. This was so not the time to try and explain it to her. “Unwanted advice would be more accurate.”

“I don’t know what went wrong between you and that lovely bride of yours. But you should do everything in your power to rectify it.” She paused, as if considering whether to add her next comment. Marco wished she hadn’t. “I saw the way you looked at each other, son. Surely there’s still affection between you two.”

Marco did not want to get into this. And certainly not with the woman who’d raised him. He’d rather walk through hot coals. What Nonna had interpreted as affection was nothing more than a fierce physical attraction that had struck him nearly blind with wanting when he’d first met Brianna. An attraction that had resulted in a child the very first time they’d been together.

He was trying to come up with yet another tactful way to say “none of your business” when Nonna continued. “That child, my great-grandson, I only have his best interests at heart. I care more for that boy than—”

“Nonna.” He cut her off, and this time the warning was clear in his voice.

She wouldn’t be intimidated. No surprise there. “You listen to me, young man.” Marco had no doubt she was shaking her finger at the phone. “That child needs to feel secure, he needs to sense that he’s completely protected. It’s so important for the stage he’s in.”

Marco closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s why I’m here, Nonna. To make sure he knows I’ll always be there for him.” And to make sure that Brianna knew that as well.

“I mean now, Marco. Presently, when all these decisions are being made.”

Enough was enough. “Nonna, I love you, but you really don’t need to concern yourself with this.” As in, it’s really none of your business. A concept older Italian grandmothers didn’t seem to understand.

“Of course I do, I love that boy. You and Brianna are pulling his world apart. Do everything you can to give him any sense of comfort possible. Or the consequences...”

Marco straightened in his chair. As much as he was trying to resist, he somehow couldn’t help taking the bait. “What do you suggest?”

“Ay, ay, ay,” Nonna said, as if he was missing something very obvious. “Bring them home. You have given up on your wife much too easily. Why will you not fight? Until the two of you figure it all out?”