Francesca grinned. “I’m not going to tell you.”

“That’s okay. I can imagine, which is really depressing. Just don’t go falling for this guy. Remember-Katie’s relationship with Zach aside-marriage sucks.”

“I know. I’m not about to go there a second time. I don’t love Sam, I’m just using him for sex.”

Brenna laughed. “You make me so proud.”

“Their house is huge. It’s really pretty and there are vineyards all around. Brenna is the sister who knows the most about wine. Katie runs some company that organizes parties, and Mia-I didn’t meet her-she’s in Washington, D.C., studying languages and stuff. The Grands were great. There was so much food. It was like a buffet or something, but it was just their house. And then we talked about Katie’s wedding, and the whole family makes the dress. Well, just the women. But Katie said I could help.”

Kelly paused and sucked in a breath. “With the sewing and stuff. And I’m going to. Not because it’s like fun or anything, but to be polite.”

Sam actually rubbed his eyes. He checked the clock over the stove and saw the second hand moving in the normal direction.

So if he hadn’t fallen into an alternative universe, what the hell was going on?

He didn’t recognize the girl sitting across from him at the dinner table. She looked like his daughter, but she didn’t sound like her. Plus, this kid was smiling. Until this second he hadn’t known Kelly had teeth.

“I’m glad you had a good time,” he said cautiously.

Francesca gave him an “I told you so” smile. “The Grands loved Kelly. I’m afraid she might have a bruise from all the cheek-pinching, though.”

Kelly rubbed her cheek. “Grandma Tessa pinches really hard, but she’s still nice.”

“I agree,” Sam said as he cut into the lasagna. “They provided us with dinner.”

“They would have given you enough for a week if I’d let them,” Francesca told him. “When I mentioned you didn’t have anyone to do your cooking, I thought maybe Grandma Tessa was going to move in.”

“Grammy M made these scones,” Kelly said. “They were really good. And there were cookies. We brought a pie back for dessert.”

Sam shook his head. Francesca could crow all she wanted, and he wouldn’t complain. She’d been a hundred percent right. Kelly had been transformed by grandmotherly affection and a big family.

He smiled at his daughter. “Several boxes were delivered to the office today,” he said. “I’m guessing it’s your things. I already put them in your room.”

Kelly’s eyes widened. She bounced to her feet, then actually hesitated. “May I be excused?”

Sam almost fell out of his chair. “Ah, sure,” he said.

She ran out of the room.

He turned to Francesca. “Was she just polite?”

Francesca grinned. “I know. It’s incredible. As it turns out, she’s been hiding good manners from us. You should have heard her with the Grands. She even said ma’am.”

“I’m stunned.”

“I’m thrilled. I think this is a big breakthrough, Sam. Kelly had a good time, but more important, she relaxed. Once she feels safe and secure, you’re going to see a whole new child.”

“That would be terrific. So how did it go with your family?”

She patted her mouth with her napkin. “As expected. They’ve picked out china for us, but not the flatware.”

“You okay with that? You didn’t have to take her. Not that I’m not grateful for the transformation.”

She sighed. “I tell myself it’s for a good cause. And it is. But there were lots of questions and speculations.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s not your fault.” She smiled. “I only have my gene pool to blame.”

“But I do owe you. Kelly is a different kid, and I’ll pay a lot to keep her that way.” He chuckled. “Name your price.”

He expected her to tease him or be suggestive. Instead her expression turned apologetic. “It’s nothing so simple as money. My family has a big Fourth of July party every summer. My mom invited you and Kelly to attend. Kelly has already accepted on your behalf.”

Sam didn’t mind. “A party sounds fun, as long as I can bring my grandfather along. With Elena out of town, he’d be all alone.”

“No problem. It’s just two hundred of our closest friends.” She swallowed. “The thing is my family now thinks you and I are more than friends, and there’s going to be fairly serious matchmaking. You need to be prepared.”

He smiled. “Are they going to talk about how wonderful you are?”

“No, more likely they’ll want to see your last two tax returns, check out your teeth, and get you to commit to a wedding date.”

“The hard sell, huh?”

“They will redefine the term.”

“I can handle it.”

She shook her head. “You say that now, but you haven’t faced them yet.”

“I can handle anything.”

A sudden explosion of sound made the house shake. Sam winced and glanced up at the ceiling. The steady beat of a drum vibrated through his chest.

“I guess she has a CD collection,” Francesca said helpfully.

“And a powerful set of speakers.”

10

Brenna sat on the edge of her desk while her grandfather paced the length of her small office.

“They’re high quality grapes,” she said, trying to sound calm when all she wanted to do was scream. “Those four acres have a reputation for producing some of the best Pinot Noir in the state. The buyer called to tell me he’s pulling out of the deal and wanted to let me know so I could buy them. No one knows about this yet. I could make a fabulous wine with those grapes.”

Grandpa Lorenzo paused in front of a map of the Marcelli property. He traced the line between their land and that of the Giovannis’.

“No.”

Just like that. No.

Anger burned inside of her. The request wasn’t unreasonable. What she really wanted was to buy the four acres, but she didn’t have the money, and her grandfather wouldn’t be interested. Not when he was talking about selling.

“Why?” she asked before she could stop herself. Arguing never changed his mind.

He stared at her, his dark eyes narrowed. “We don’t buy grapes from strangers. Marcelli Wines are grown on Marcelli land. Our name means something.”

“It’s not going to mean shit when you sell it.”

The words were out before she could stop herself, then she told herself she didn’t care. She was tired of him not listening.

Her grandfather stiffened, then muttered something in Italian. She didn’t understand what he was saying, which was probably for the best.

“We could start a new label,” she said. “The big companies do it all the time.”

“Too much work. No point.”

He dismissed her with a wave, then walked out of her office. Brenna picked up her Day Runner and threw it across the room. The binder snapped opened and pages went flying everywhere.

It wasn’t fair, she thought. Not that fair ever meant anything. She’d sealed her fate the day she’d decided to marry Jeff. Her other option-eloping with the enemy-would have made her entire family go ballistic, but at least then she would have been following her heart instead of her head. As it was, she had only herself to blame. Well, herself and a very stubborn grandfather.

Her phone rang.

“What?” she demanded.

“Hey, don’t snap at me,” Francesca said. “Whatever’s going on there isn’t my fault.”

Brenna sagged into her chair. “Sorry. I just had a run-in with the old man.”

“I’m guessing you weren’t victorious.”

“Am I ever?”

“Not with him.” Her sister sighed. “Want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Okay, then I’m calling to invite you to join Katie and me for lunch. As she’s the one with the wildly successful business, she’s buying. Are you in?”

“Absolutely. I need to get away from this place.”

“You look mad enough to spit,” Francesca said when she walked into the café and saw Brenna already sitting at an outdoor table.

Her twin rose and hugged her, then collapsed back into her chair. “I had another go-round with our esteemed grandfather. He makes me insane.”

Francesca sat and put her purse on the stone floor. “About the Pinot grapes?”

Brenna sighed. “I know better. I’m not stupid. But I went ahead and asked, and of course he said no. What’s the point, right? I mean if he’s really selling.”

Francesca touched her arm. “You don’t know that.”

Brenna’s dark brown eyes clouded with sadness. “I doubt I’m going to like the outcome of any plan he has. I can’t believe I’ve finally figured out where I belong, only to learn it’s not going to exist anymore.”

“Okay, who died?” Katie asked as she walked over to the table.

“No one,” Brenna said as she rose. “Just any chance I had at happiness.”

Katie hugged her. “Okay, so we’re going to need wine and dessert at this lunch.”

Francesca smiled as she stood. “I’m thinking real dressing on our salads, too. None of that low-fat stuff.”

She kissed Katie’s cheek, then held her sister at arm’s length. Katie wore her long reddish-brown hair up. An elegant summer dress with a short-sleeved jacket made her look like the successful businesswoman she was. Katie had always been pretty, but since falling for Zach, she had positively bloomed.

“You look great,” Francesca told her as they sat.

“Thanks. It’s the whole ‘in love’ thing. All that happiness aerates my skin or something.”

“It’s the sex,” Brenna said. “Hot monkey sex on a regular basis is way better than any night cream.”

“Is this your professional opinion?” Katie asked.

“Sure. I’m writing up an article. You’ll be able to read it in the medical journals next month.”

Katie laughed. “Then I’ll be young forever.”

“You’re going to tire Zach out.”

“I think he’s man enough to keep up with me.” Katie’s humor faded. “So what’s the crisis?”