Love's Precious Surprise (The women of Landry's Landing and the Fabrizio men) (7 page)

“
Yeah, and if things get a little hot for you making it hard for you to control your manly urges then I just want you to close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine us kicking your ass. Don’t make any moves that she doesn’t want you to.” Gio warned politely.

“
Look guys in case you all have forgotten I’m a Fabrizio. I learned how a woman should be treated around the same time I learned how to walk. I promise you no one on earth will ever care for Toni more than I do. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt or disrespect her. Tonight I plan to treat her like the queen she is.” Daniele said with a wide smile that made his light brown eyes twinkle.

“
I swear if you boys don’t stop giving poor Daniele a hard time I’m going to have your father take a stick to each of you.” Sera said as she came out of the family room where she’d been playing with her grandchildren.

“
Hi, mom we just wanted to make sure that Daniele remembered to behave tonight.” Gabe said to his mother.

“
He doesn’t need the four of you to tell him how to behave have you boys forgotten that your father and I helped raise Daniele just as we raised the rest of you boys. Now leave him alone so that he won’t keep his date waiting.” Sera said in a heavily accented motherly tone.

“
Thank you Aunt Sera.” Daniele said leaning over to kiss her on the cheek before turning to go.

Daniele knew that they were just being protective of Toni but he didn’t know how many times he’d have to tell them that he really and truly cared about Toni. Why would he do anything to hurt her when he wanted her in his life for as long as she’d have him? And hopefully after tonight she’d realize how much she means to him.

He arrived at the guest house and rang the doorbell then waited patiently at the door until she answered it. Daniele’s back was turned towards the door when she opened it he slowly turned to face her.

His mouth gaped wide as he stood in awe at how beautiful she looked tonight wearing the shiny green dress. Her make-up was subtly done enhancing her lovely features. Her naturally curly hair had been straightened to hang down her back in long flowing layers. Her bright smile lit up her gorgeous face and made her green eyes sparkle.

“
You could’ve used your key you know.” Toni said as she took a step back.

“
This is a date remember and a true gentleman picks his date up properly.” Daniele said with a grin. “You look incredible I mean you always look beautiful but tonight you look like an enchanting Goddess.”

“
Thank you I think, are you going to come in or are we going straight to dinner?” She asked shyly.

“
I think we should probably go straight to dinner. Are you ready to go?” He replied.

“
Yes just give me a second to get my jacket.” She said as she reached into the closet beside the door to grab the short jacket that matched her dress along with the tiny gold evening bag.

Daniele stepped closer to help her into her jacket before taking her elbow as he walked her to the limo that was waiting for them. Toni was surprised to see that he’d hired a limo for the night. The driver opened the door for them and Daniele helped her inside before the driver closed the door behind them.

“
You rented a limousine to take us from the guest house to the café?” She asked.

“
I want this night to be special for you so yes I rented a limo.” He replied.

“
I definitely won’t forget this. I’ve only been in a limo once before that was when Gabe flew me in from New York, it was a blast.” She said with a grin.

“
Well I hope you enjoy sharing a limo with me just as much.” He said.

“
I’ll let you know.” She said teasingly.

“
Oh okay.” He said in response as he grinned at her carefree attitude.

Toni looked away shyly as she thought back to the minute she’d opened the door for Daniele this evening. As she watched him turn slowly around her breath caught in her throat at seeing how handsome he looked. Dressed in black slacks and a white tuxedo jacket she’d never seen him appear so totally hot.

It didn’t take but a few minutes for them to get to the café and when they entered the Inn he led her to one of the smaller private dining rooms. He opened the door for her and stepped back to let her enter before him. Toni gasped when she saw that he’d filled the small dining room with long stem roses in every color. He’d also placed candles throughout the room including on the table set for two in the middle of the room.

“
Daniele you did all of this for me?” She asked in disbelief.

“
This is just the beginning
il mio amore prezioso
.” He replied softly.

“
Are you ever going to tell me what that means?” She asked in a soft tone.

“
Yes I promise I’ll tell you later tonight.” He replied.

“
Okay, I’m going to hold you to that so don’t forget that you promised.” She said.

“
I won’t forget I don’t make promises that I can’t keep.” He said in response.

Chapter Five

Toni was having the time of her life the more time she spent with Daniele the more she was really starting to believe he was everything she’d ever dreamt a man should be. He was making her fantasies come to life with the limo, all the flowers, and a candlelight dinner. Not to mention he had her laughing all evening with his crazy stories about growing up as a Fabrizio.

Daniele told her about being a former mixed martial arts champion and the reason that he stopped competing. Daniele told Toni about the day he’d met her and how seeing her had made him feel as if he’d been hypnotized by her beauty.

Now as they arrived back at the guest house he kindly walked her to the door then gently took her hand in his and placed a feather soft kiss to the back of it.

“
Thank for a lovely evening I had a wonderful time and I hope that we can do it again sometime soon.” Daniele said with a smile.

“
I had a wonderful time as well but aren’t you going to come in? After all you do live here or do you plan to stay at our aunt and uncle’s house again tonight?” She asked hoping that he was going to come in so that the evening wouldn’t end just yet.

“
You go on in, I’ll be in soon I just need a few minutes before I come in.” Daniele said taking a step back.

“
Are you alright is something wrong?” Toni asked as she took a step towards him causing him to take another step back.

“
I’m fine I…I just think I need to catch my breath before I come into the house with you.” He said.

“
Daniele did I do something wrong?” She asked in a worried tone.

“
Of course not why would you ask that?” He said.

“
Well because you keep backing away from me, so I thought that I’d done or said something wrong.” She said with tears in her eyes.

“
No
prezioso
you haven’t done anything at least not intentionally anyway. I keep backing away because I’m trying very hard to calm my raging body and when you’re too close to me it makes it a bit more difficult.” He replied hoping that she’d understand what he was trying to say to her.

Daniele had been partially aroused all evening and the closer they’d gotten to the guest house his erection had grown to a painfully explosive state. He wanted her so badly that he was practically trembling with need but he’d die before letting her know that. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her away because he couldn’t control his own body.

He watched her face as the meaning of his words finally sank in and her expression change several times before raising her green eyes to meet his light brown gaze. She stared into his eyes trying to find the evil malice that she always saw in the eyes of her sick, drunken stepfather.

But all she could see in Daniele’s eyes was a fiery passion that she could almost feel burning her insides. The look she saw in his eyes was one of those kind of looks she’d only read about in romance novels.

His gaze made her feel as if she was the most loved and desired woman on earth. His gaze was nothing like that of her stepfather’s which had made her feel cheap and dirty.

For the first time in her life she wanted to be loved by a man but not just any man this man standing in front of her. She wanted to feel his body next to hers she wanted to be wrapped in his arms as he made love to her like a man should love a woman.

Toni had never felt the intense attraction that she was feeling right now for Daniele. She was feeling such a deep desire for him that her body was shaking with the need to be loved by him. These were all emotions she thought that she’d never experience, but now that she was experiencing them she couldn’t imagine not feeling them.

She smiled slightly before holding her hand out to him. He hesitated for just a second as he continued to gaze at her.

“
Are you sure about this?” He asked before taking her hand.

“
Not really, but what I am sure about is that I want to give us a chance to see where this goes and we can’t do that if you’re somewhere else.” She said softly.

“
I tell you what wherever you want to go I’ll follow, you tell me what you want and need from me, I’ll give you anything and everything you desire. You’re in complete and total control.” He said smoothly.

Toni released the breath that she didn’t realize she was holding because she knew that Daniele had meant every word that he’d said. Hearing his words had slightly calmed her fears although she was still a little nervous. Still holding onto his hand she turned for the door and led him inside stopping for a brief moment in the foyer.

Daniele used his free hand to close and lock the front door before turning towards Toni once again.

“
Where would you like to go now?” He asked softly.

She chose not to answer him with words instead she moved towards the stairs as she continued to hold his hand. He quietly followed as she led him slowly up the stairs still unsure of what she wanted from him at this point. But no matter what it was that she wanted whether it was to just be in the same room together or if she just needed to be held he’d gladly do that for her.

As a matter of fact he’d do anything she asked him to that’s how much he cared for her. When they reached the second floor Toni stopped in front of the master bedroom door where she slept. She placed her free hand on the knob and hesitated he gently squeezed her hand as he tugged it slightly. “If you’re not ready to move in this direction we don’t have to. We can go back downstairs and I can hold you I don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for.” He said in a soft sweet tone.

She glanced over her shoulder at him before opening the door a tiny bit. “I can’t promise you that I can go through with this but I do know that I’m ready to at least give a try, if that’s okay with you.” Toni whispered.

Daniele leaned forward and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. “I told you already I’ll follow you no matter where you lead me because you are the one in control here not me.”

up she saw that her bedroom had been transformed into a vision straight out of a romance novel. Much like the private dining room he’d filled the place with roses in every color imaginable. The lights were dim and she could hear what sounded like ocean waves in the background. She inhaled deeply letting the sweet fragrance of the roses fill her nostrils bring a smile to her surprised face.

“When did you, how did you do all this?” She asked quietly.

“Let’s just say I had a little help.” He whispered with a pleased smile as he saw how happy this seemed to make her.

“Why did you do all of this if you weren’t even going to come in with me?” She asked sounding a bit confused.

He smiled before gently pulling her by the hand that he was still holding over to the full-length mirror in the corner. He turned her so that she was facing the mirror and her back was against his front. Leaning slightly over her shoulder he gazed at her reflection.

“This is why I did it, to make you smile, whether I see it or not. To know that I did something to cause this to happen to your beautiful face is all I need to make me happy.” He replied.

Toni looked away from his intense gaze and he reached around and lovingly took her chin between his fingers to bring her gaze back to his.

“Don’t look away I need you to see how beautiful you are especially when you smile. I wish you could feel what it does to me inside when I see you like this, the way it makes me feel when I see your gorgeous face light up and your green eyes shining with joy.” He said lifting her hand to his cheek holding it there so that she could feel the warmth of his skin against hers.

All the while he kept his gaze locked with hers and as she stared into his light brown eyes she could sense the strong attraction that was pulling them towards one another. The pull was so powerful that she could feel it tugging at her body.

Toni spun around to face him and before she lost what little courage she had she reached up and slipped her hands around his neck.

“Kiss me Daniele.” She whispered.

“If that’s what you want me to do.” He said as he gazed down at her. He pressed his palms against the warm bare flesh of her back then bent his head forward and softly kissed her on the lips. He’d planned for it to be a brief and simple kiss but when she slid her hands up to sift her fingers through his hair he automatically deepened the kiss while continuing to be gentle.