Love Remembered in Rome: The Italian Bachelors, #3

By Shanna Delaney

She left him years ago. Can the eternal city help them believe in second chances?

 

Holly has only rebelled twice in her life: Getting a degree in history instead of nursing, and dating Luca, the Italian-American who swept her off her feet sophomore year of college.

 

Neither rebellion lasted long.

 

Now, seven years later, her husband has died, shattering her appearance-perfect life and waking her up to the reality of how she has always been controlled, first by her mother, then by her husband. Desperate to finally break free, she searches for joy in the one place she'd given up on ever going: Rome.

 

Luca is too busy managing a luxury hotel in Rome to date. When the girl who broke his heart seven years ago shows up as a guest, there's nothing he can do except make sure she has an enjoyable stay—without letting her anywhere near his heart.

 

If there's one thing Holly knows from her history degree, it's that learning from the past is the only way into a brighter future. But that means finding the courage to stand up to her mother… and convincing Luca to trust her one more time. If they can get over their past, could they find their future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Thousand Fables
• Release date: Nov 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9798201176396

Shanna Delaney

Shanna Delaney loves traveling and writing stories that take readers to new places. When she was a teen, she could never go to a new place without imagining the perfect romance for that location; now that she’s happily married with three kids, she continues the daydreaming but lets her characters take the starring roles.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Holly tried not to look at her watch as her mother’s voice rattled on. Trying to rush this would only set her off on a new lecture about how Holly should have planned better so that she would have more than two hours to get through security and to the right gate for her international flight.

I still think you should just come home and finish your grieving in your own room and with people who love you. Mrs. Anderson's tone was as clipped as her short, no-nonsense brown hair, which was starting to show signs of gray. There's no need for you to waste your insurance money on a vacation when you ought to be figuring out the rest of your life.

Holly pushed back the nausea that always arose when she tried to think about the rest of her life. That was exactly why she was going on this trip—she needed a break from trying to figure out the rest of her life.

Her mother continued, not noticing Holly's unease. It's not like anyone expects you to throw yourself back into the marriage market or anything, she laughed shrilly, but you can't live on Ronald's money forever, God rest his soul. You really ought to stop wasting rent for that apartment and come home while you figure out your next steps.

Holly’s mother might've been surprised to know it was not expectation that she might start to date again that scared Holly. It had only been six months since her husband, Ronald, had died, but the secret Holly was hiding from everyone—especially her mother—was one she could barely admit even to herself: she didn't miss him.

Well, not in the way she ought to. It had been quite a shock, of course, and she'd felt awful for weeks, but the truth of the matter was she felt relieved.

Ronald had been a big part of her life, of course—everything she did had revolved around him. She’d made the foods he liked and put the dishes away exactly the way he preferred. He’d spent most of his time at the District Attorney’s office, and occasionally taken her to social functions—always events for his work. It had been easiest to just go along with whatever he’d wanted. And as long as she did, things were predictable. Stable.

That was part of why Holly had suffered from shock when Ronald had suddenly vanished from her life. Suddenly, life had not been predictable and stable. No one was telling her which day they would go to this charity event, or what meal to cook the next Tuesday. Instead of her budgeted weekly allowance, she was suddenly in charge of all the bills... and all the decisions that came with a funeral and her husband's financial investments—none of which she had known anything about. Ronald had been the planner, and had managed every detail of her life. That was the hole he'd left in her life—a managerial-sized hole in the fabric of her days, not a hole in her heart.

She tried to tune back in to her mother, who looked so perfectly put-together in her lavender tweed suit, but she couldn’t help glancing at the departures board nervously.

If you need a vacation, you ought to go to the beach. The Bahamas, or something. A cruise would be perfect for you—they take care of everything, all the food, entertainment. Her mother fussed at Holly's sweater, straightening it and picking a minuscule piece of lint off the sleeve. That's what we should do. We should all go on a cruise. Your father can take a week off work, and we can all go together. How does that sound?

Holly’s mother fussed at her sweater again, tugging the hem to straighten it as she said, And why Rome of all places? I thought we put all that nonsense behind us a long time ago.

Holly didn’t even attempt to defend or explain. Rome had always been a sore spot between them—the symbol of Holly's only two acts of defiance. First, the history degree she’d pursued instead of nursing school. But worse, the one her mother would never forgive her for, Rome had been the birthplace of Luca, the man who’d swept Holly off her feet at age twenty.

They'd had a wonderful year together before he'd left for Rome. At the time, Holly had thought she would follow him anywhere; but reality had set in soon enough. Luca had been a young girl’s fancy, a romantic ideal wrapped up with the allure of a place that fascinated her.

Holly's only real fights she could ever remember having with her mother had centered around Rome—it was no wonder her mother resented the place. It would do no good to reassure her that Holly was not searching for Luca—mentioning it would only convince her mother that her fears were correct.

No, Holly was not looking for Luca. But she also couldn't explain to her mother that she was looking for the hope and joy she'd had for her life back when her days had been full of studying an ancient civilization and her evenings had been full of a living descendant of that civilization.

Holly sighed and picked up her bag. Maybe at Christmas, Mom. I have to go now, but thanks for seeing me off.

Her mother looked at Holly’s left hand, which held her bag. Holly! she scolded, reaching out and grabbing her daughter's wrist. Where is your wedding ring?

Holly felt like she'd taken a drink of sour milk—it was the same way she'd always felt when getting caught misbehaving as a child. It's here, she said, pulling her necklace chain until the ring rose above the collar of her shirt for her mother to see.

Her mother clicked her tongue and reached for the necklace, spinning Holly around her so she could undo the clasp and pull the ring off. You're a single woman traveling solo in a foreign country—you simply must wear a ring or heaven knows what kind of trouble you'll get into. There are all kinds of men who take advantage of tourists. her mother said, grabbing Holly's hand and making her drop her bag in the process.

Holly winced as she heard her laptop clunk a little on the ground, and smiled gratefully at her father as he bent to pick it up for her.

Her mother continued, Thinking you're married might at least deter a few of them. She held up Holly's finger and nodded at it in a way that showed she was pleased with her own choice but still disappointed in Holly's.

It should have been such a small thing, seeing that ring on her finger again, but Holly’s breath stilled inside her, the weight of her guilt and relief about Ronald pressing like a physical force.

I really do have to go, Holly said, taking her bag from her father and giving him a quick kiss on her his cheek. She had to get away before her mother could see the effect of having that ring put back onto her finger. Distractedly, she gave her mother a quick hug and then hurried away, her mother hollering advice about antidiarrheals after her.

Holly had never been so grateful that unticketed people were no longer allowed through security.

LUCA LOOKED UP AT A knock on his office door. Come in.

Giacomo entered, looking sharp in the pressed tan slacks and red vest that were the hotel's uniform. He looked harried, though, which was not a good sign—Giacomo was one of the most unflappable men Luca knew, which was why he made such a perfect front desk employee.

Something wrong?

Giacomo pulled a linen handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his balding forehead. It is the Asians.

Luca sighed. He’d tried to teach Giacomo to see differences between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other Asian guests, but this was the one area where the older man struggled. And as Luca was heading up the new Chinese tourism initiative that had started only six months earlier, Giacomo had simply defaulted to coming to get him whenever there was someone he could not understand. Never mind that there were always at least two people in the building who spoke Mandarin at any given time—Luca had made sure of it.

Luca stood and motioned his arm toward the door, indicating that Giacomo should lead the way. To his surprise, though, Giacomo didn't move.

"No, you don't understand. It is the Asians."

Luca's eyes flew wide as he realized. From corporate?

Giacomo nodded. Their secretary called to say they will be arriving tomorrow to evaluate how well we have implemented the Chinese tourism initiative.

Luca sank back into his seat and rubbed at his neck with one hand. Sounds like I'm going to be busy.

Giacomo rubbed his hands nervously. Shall I instruct housekeeping to prepare the rooms?

Thanks, but I'll handle it. Luca didn't miss the look of relief that passed over Giacomo's face before he settled into his normal serene expression. How many are coming? And did they say for how long?

Four, and I don't know how long. But I could call again to ask?

Luca shook his head. We'll block off the suites indefinitely. I'll see if I can get it out of them subtly once they arrive—that's better than seeming like we are worried before they get here.

Giacomo took a step backward towards the door. If there's nothing else, then?

Luca held in most of his smile. "You came to me, Giacomo. Is there anything else you need?"

Giacomo smiled in return, enjoying the game of deference they always played, as Giacomo held seniority by age and length of time in the business but Luca had the higher position. Then I'll be going.

Luca turned to his computer and immediately began checking suite availability and the shift scheduling of his Mandarin-speaking employees. He'd been waiting for this evaluation for two months, but it was still a shock to have it dropped on them suddenly like this. Grabbing a piece of paper, he began jotting down a list of extras they would need to purchase and have ready in the suites when their guests arrived the next day.

He’d barely begun when Vittoria knocked and entered before he could even say a word. One glance at her determined face and Luca knew exactly what this was about.

Now is not the time for this, Vittoria. He tried to warn her off with his eyes, but Vittoria was not the kind to be frightened away so easily.

She placed her hands on either side of her slender waist and tossed back her long, straight, dark hair. "You never think it's time, Luca. If I listened to you, you wouldn’t go on a date until you’re fifty." Her green eyes were as intense as ever, and combined with the bold red lipstick she always wore, she was quite striking. Luca had thought more than once that if she ever offered herself as a potential date, he might be more likely to accept her meddling. As it was, though, she had only ever been interested in setting him up with her friends—an unending supply of them.

I mean it this time. I just got word that the Chinese delegation is coming in tomorrow. I'm going to be on duty twenty-four-seven until further notice. Definitely no time for girls.

Her face had begun to soften with understanding when he’d mentioned the Chinese delegation, but at his last statement, her nose, which was already slightly turned up at the end, wrinkled in disgust. Have you ever in your life had time for girls?

Luca couldn't help it. His mind went immediately to her—the only girl he had ever really loved.

The girl he had wanted to marry, to spend forever with.

The girl who had left his heart more crumbled and ruinous then the ancient pillars downtown in the Roman forum.

Holly.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nostrils. That had been a long time ago, when he'd been a silly boy in college. Now he was a hotel general manager, and on track to become one of the youngest regional managers in the company.

He opened his eyes to see Vittoria looking at him with way too much interest. Crap. He had let his guard down; she must have seen some evidence of his thoughts on his face.

Grabbing the half-completed list from the desk in front of him, he waved it at her. Run downtown. I need all of these items by tonight. Make sure the house slippers are the best you can get, and we'll monogram them before morning.

Vittoria took the list, but shook the finger of her other hand in his face as she did so. I'll find you the right girl yet. Just see if I don't.

Luca leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. As long as it's after the Chinese visit ends.

She shook her finger at him one more time as she left, but Luca wasn't worried. He'd only ever met one girl who had seemed at all right for him, and she was seven years and nine thousand miles away.

Shaking his head, he grabbed a fresh piece of paper and finished the list he had cut off early in order to get rid of Vittoria.