around and batting at the scraps of colorful tissue paper. Well, as long as Jules was happy, he was fine with it.
“I’ve got some work at the barn that I need to do. If you need me, I’ll be there.”
She gathered a stack of tissue paper and pushed a round punch through the sheets. “We’re good. Huh, Apricot?”
The kitten gave her a quick glance and then returned to playing.
Stefano felt guilty as he walked away. But seriously, having him make tissue-paper flowers would have been an utter disaster. Maybe he could help with her internet shopping. That was something he could do.
With a plan in mind, his steps toward the barn grew quicker. She didn’t want help from strangers, but that didn’t include him. They’d moved past being strangers a while back. Where they were headed he wasn’t quite sure.
He walked into the office just in time to find his father shutting down the computer. “Calling it a day already?”
Papa jerked his salt-and-pepper head up. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in. Umm...yes. I thought I’d take a break.”
“You feeling all right?”
“Of course.” Frown lines creased Papa’s tanned face. “Am I that much of a workaholic that you think because I am out of the office something must be wrong?”
Since when did his father become so defensive?
Stefano shrugged, trying to take a neutral stance. “Is there anything around here that needs my immediate attention?”
His father rubbed his jaw. Instead of the gray stubble that normally dotted it, it was clean shaven. “Not that I can think of. I’ve calculated the number of new barrels we’ll need for the fall harvest, and I’ve ordered the supplies. They should be here in a few weeks.”
“What about the email? Is it backed up? It always seems they come in faster than I can respond to them.”
“No, I just finished responding to the last email. Things are pretty quiet right now. I was thinking that perhaps we should consider increasing the number of wine-tasting events we host. It’d be good for the business, and I think it’d be well received.”
Stefano nodded. “You know we have one coming up before the wedding.”
“I do. I just think that we can do more.”
It’d been one of those things that he’d been meaning to get to, but there was always something else that needed his attention first. But it seemed his father was on top of everything. Good for him. Right now, Stefano was actually kind of enjoying this downtime.
“You headed out to the fields?” Stefano asked, feeling obligated to accompany him. “I can give you a hand.”
Papa’s bushy brows rose. “Um...no, that isn’t necessary. I’m going to have some caffè first. Why don’t you take the day off?”
That was the problem; he didn’t want to slow down because then his thoughts would take over and that would do nothing but get him in trouble. He’d start remembering his past mistakes. Or worse yet, he’d start thinking about Jules in all the wrong ways. The last thing he needed to do was to start caring about her.
His father clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s a beautiful day. Don’t spend all of it in here.”
After his father walked away, Stefano sat down at the desk. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied the coffeemaker. It was still on, and the pot was full. What in the world? Why was his father heading to the house for caffè when there was plenty here?
Stefano shook his head and gave up trying to figure out his father. He turned on the computer and found the email was in fact under control. The office was in decent shape. And there was absolutely no business requiring his attention. Good. Now he had time to help Jules with the wedding. His fingers flew over the keypad.
A little later, he headed back to the house, excited to tell Jules what he’d ordered. His steps grew faster the more he thought of her sitting on the floor in those short shorts with her bare legs showing and that contagious smile on her face. He didn’t know what it was about her that drew him in. She was unlike any other woman he’d ever known.
Maybe his problem was he spent too much time alone at this vineyard. But that was his punishment for what had happened to Gianna. He didn’t let himself go out and have a good time. He didn’t let himself think about the future because she didn’t have one.
However, now, for the first time since his wife’s tragic death, he wanted to live again. He wanted to feel alive. And that’s how Jules made him feel—heart-poundingly, soul-stirringly alive.
It was a strange sensation after living so long in self-imposed exile. He’d cut himself off from most of the outside world. He’d unknowingly followed in his father’s footsteps, even though he’d sworn that he would be different. Yet another thing he’d failed at, but he wouldn’t fail Jules. He’d do his best to help her make this wedding special.
As he drew close to the house, he saw someone exit the kitchen door. It was Maria, and she was laughing. In the past eleven or so years that she’d been tending to the house, he didn’t recall ever hearing her laugh like that—unrestricted and joyous. What could have put her in such a good mood—
His father.
Papa’s deep chuckle drifted through the air. Stefano came to a halt. What in the world was going on?
Stefano watched in amazement as the two, not noticing him, started off toward the vines as though they were going for a stroll—together. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he never would have believed his father was interested in Maria. How long had this been going on? And how had he missed it until now?
Did this explain the recent change in his father? The easiness Papa had taken on? The not working until all hours of the night? The added pep in his step?
Stefano raked his fingers through his hair as he tried to come to terms with the fact his father was back among the living. There was a mixed ball of emotions churning in his gut. He truly wanted to be happy for his father, but it nagged at him that he and his brother had suffered through their childhoods with an emotionally detached father. If only his father had made this change long ago, he could have saved everyone so much misery.
When his father and Maria were far enough off, Stefano made the rest of his way to the house. It seemed as though everyone was getting on with their lives—except him. But how did he do that? How did he forget what he’d done?
He didn’t have any answers, just more questions. The one thing he could do was get into the spirit of his brother’s wedding. Maybe Dante was right to roll the dice and see what life handed him.
The thought of Jules making all those silly paper flowers alone tugged at his conscious. He was the best man. And since there was no other bridal party, it fell to him to help her. Whether he was any good at it or not, he could try his best.
Spending some time with Jules was not silly—not at all. Besides, it would keep his mind off the fact that his father was changing—right before his very eyes. Suddenly Stefano felt as though he was standing still in life and soon he’d be left behind.
JULES RAN THE brush through her damp hair, pulling the dark strands back in a single ponytail. The cool shower felt rejuvenating. She’d just sat down on the bedroom floor to make some more flowers when there was a knock at the door.
Her chest tightened. She wasn’t expecting anyone to come looking for her. She thought everyone was out and about doing their own thing.
She scrambled to her feet. The door was locked, so it wasn’t like anyone would just come walking in on her.
“Jules, are you