Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Without thinking, Nadia responded to Maria’s quick dismissal of her idea. “Winnie is family to me.”
She could have smacked herself when the poor girl hastily excused herself to get dressed, while Maria watched her leave in confusion.
“Why did she take off? We have plenty time before we have to leave.”
“Winnie isn’t comfortable showing her emotions. She doesn’t want to get attached to anyone, and if anyone gets too close to her, she distances herself from them.”
Maria arched a perfect brow at her. “Then why did you tell her you consider her family?”
“It was a slip of the tongue. I know better.” Regretfully, she wished she could replay the last couple of minutes and not have brought up her searching for a job.
“I don’t know how you do it. You play mother to I don’t know how many kids. I do well just getting Angelica to bed at night at a decent hour. On top of that, you have to deal with their emotional issues. It must be disheartening at times.”
Nadia gurgled the end of her mimosa and laughed. “If I was afraid of getting the cold shoulder from someone emotionally closed off, I wouldn’t be engaged.”
“Poor Dante. He didn’t stand a chance against you, did he?” Maria said, giving her an appreciative look.
She put a finger to her lips. “Don’t tell him. He thinks he caught me.”
They were still laughing when Winnie came back.
“I guess we should go.” Nadia rose from the lounge chair lazily. “We should get some lunch before going to the dress shop.”
Going to one of her favorite lunch spots, they chatted about the wedding until it was time to go to the dress shop.
Trying her dress on was a more emotional experience than she had expected. Looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes met Maria’s bedazzling emerald gaze.
“You look beautiful.”
Nadia bit her lip. It had to be hard on Maria seeing her in the wedding dress, yet Dante’s daughter only showed happiness for her. “Thank you, Maria.”
Suddenly, Maria frowned. “What for?”
Taking a step toward her, she held open her arms. “Can I hug you?”
Her frown turned to confusion. “Do you have to?”
“I’d like to,” she said, taking no offense. The beautiful woman hardly ever showed any emotion and had many familiar traits to her older brother Lucca.
“Then go ahead,” she finally agreed.
Nadia enfolded Maria in her arms, letting all the love she felt for her come out in a motherly hug. After a moment, she stepped back. “Thank you. I needed that.”
Maria’s eyes held a faint shimmer of tears, realizing just how truly special and gifted of a woman her father was marrying. “I think I did, too.”
After dropping off Winnie, Nadia was ready to go home, already thinking ahead to what she would prepare for dinner. With her mind on her chances of getting Dante to grill steaks, she didn’t find Maria’s request strange.
“Have you seen the house next door?”
“No.” She hadn’t actually. Massive trees interrupted the vision of being able to see the home.
“Do me a favor and pull into the driveway.”
Doing as she was asked since now she was intrigued herself, Nadia could only see a massive fence barring further entrance to the estate.
Spitting off a series of numbers, Nadia was shocked. “How do you know the gate code?”
“I know the owner.” Maira shrugged it off before getting her to put the code into the keypad.
Driving up the large driveway, Nadia’s first glance at the home had her mouth dropping. The home was smaller than the Caruso family home, but it held a charm the austere appearance of the Caruso home did not. “This is gorgeous.”
“I thought you’d like it.” Maria’s lips held a smug smile. “You want to check it out?”
Nadia gave her a surprised glance. “The owners won’t mind us showing up unexpectedly?”
“They won’t. The Hendersons are on vacation. Dante told them he’d keep an eye on the property while they’re gone. We’ll be saving him a trip over.”
“If you’re sure, then hell yes.” No woman in her right mind wouldn’t take a look inside.
Eagerly getting out of the car, they entered the house. Nadia had to suck in a breath. With the layout a smaller version as well of the Caruso home, the entryway was breathtaking with a beautiful staircase and living room off to the side that held the same charm as the outside. The furniture was a mixture of different shades of creams and blues that somewhat reminded her of the multi-million-dollar yacht her and Dante had been on before it had blown up. If she didn’t know Desmond Beck didn’t own this home, considering Haley was now happily married to him, she’d almost think it was his and not the Hendersons.
“Wow, they must have spent a fortune on an interior decorator.”
“Thank you.”
Maria’s words had her turning her head toward her. “You did this?”