The Italian Billionaire’s Nubian Queen

Alyssa stopped, wondering where all that had come from. It wasn’t news to her. She’d thought of all of it before. But she was telling all of her deepest thoughts to somebody who was practically a stranger to her, even if they’d shared something that intimate, and now she was taking him home with her.

It occurred to her that she wasn’t acting rationally, either. She had a lot of nerve, judging Brianna for being impetuous about whatever she was doing with Gabriel! At least Brianna hadn’t jumped his bones at her workplace and then taken him home with her.

She owed her sister an apology.

“I have good memories of my father, too. He taught me most of what I know, but I changed many things to suit me.”

“I know. Your father had more of a small family business. You turned it into a multi-billion dollar company. You have a lot of other holdings, too, don’t you? I mean your business. It’s not just wines and vineyards, you do a lot more.”

“I have a couple of restaurants, holdings in a few hotels, real estate.”

“That’s what I thought. Not that I’ve done any extensive research. You know, just because I was curious.”

“You have an inquisitive mind. It’s very appealing. And quite sexy. Now, shall we make a run for it?”

“We don’t have to, my car is right there,” said Alyssa, nodding towards the four-wheel drive.

“That’s your car?”

“Sure, why not?”

“It’s… big.”

“Sure. It’s handy. I pick up a lot of stock myself. It’s a lot easier if you have a big car. Mind you, I just liked it, too. It’s expensive even second-hand, but it’s fine, it’s worth it. I keep telling myself that a lot of things are worth it. They have to be, eventually, don’t they?”

“You’re worth it.”

“Well, I have a hood for my coat so just wait here. I’ll get in, open the door, and then you can dash in.”

“Of course. I don’t think I remember the last time a woman drove me home. This is novel.”

Alyssa had to grin. He was acting like a kid who’d found a secret stash of Halloween candy. It was quite adorable. She made the dash, opened the door, and waited. She had to admire how lithe and quick he was as he moved and got into the car, barely getting wet again. He began to get out of his coat.

“Umm, so, the heater doesn’t work that well,” she lied. “So you might want to keep your coat on.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll have to make sure your heater is fixed.”

Alyssa frowned, but she let it go.

They were obviously not on the same page. They might not even be reading from the same book. Or even books from the same shelf. Hell, maybe they were in entirely different libraries. But it seemed churlish to point that out right at that moment, so she drove home.

Was it odd that it didn’t feel odd to be taking Matteo home? She knew that she hadn’t tidied up so there would be a mess, but it didn’t embarrass her like it would have with most people. It was all right. She was taking him home.

“Your home isn’t far.”

She went still before shifting gear and driving on.

“You looked up where I live?”

“You Googled me, too Alyssa. I have more resources to use. I needed to be able to find you after landing here, in case I was delayed.”

All right, that was reasonable enough, but still…

“Still weird.”

“I suppose so, but we’re fated, Alyssa. We might as well accept it.”

“Wait, what?”

“Fated. I should’ve known. It’s a family legend.”

“It’s a what, now?”

“My grandfather was an orphan. That’s why our surname is Colombo—it’s a name given to orphans. He was found in a basket in front of a church. It used to happen quite often, unfortunately. When he was found, there was a letter in the basket. It said that he had been made in love, but the love could not be. She would not rest in peace until the love was found and sealed again.”

“What was that supposed to mean?”

“Well, nobody can be sure, but it sounds like the poor woman—my great-grandmother—conceived out of wedlock and found no support. She did the best she could, but knew her soul would never have peace until love was found and sealed again.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“You’re my love. I was supposed to find you.”

“That is quite a leap, and a great stretch, and very unlikely, Matteo.”

“The story goes that my grandfather was left at the church on a stormy night. Tonight is a stormy night.”

“Sure, but that’s also called a coincidence and it doesn’t mean anything more,” pointed out Alyssa.

“I have been dreaming of storms, and that cliff. You have, too, haven’t you?”

Alyssa’s pulse scrambled.

“What?”

“There was a drawing, in the basket, too. It was exquisite—and it was of a cliff, and the sea underneath it. I always believed that my great-grandmother couldn’t live with her own guilt. I believe that she took her own life.”

“Wow, that’s bleak.”

“But you have been dreaming of storms and that cliff.”

“I… Well, the weather has been bad and my life has been pretty weird lately so it’s really no big deal that I’ve been dreaming of storms.”

“Dreams mean things, Alyssa. This is not all there is to life. I believe we are fated. My dreams got worse after I went back. I couldn’t find you in them.”

“That’s… Well, you know, because you went back, I guess. Look, this is home.”

She pulled into the short driveway of the tiny house that had belonged to her grandmother, and had that feeling of being home that she always did.

“It’s very lovely.”

“Thank you. My grandmother used to keep quite a garden. I’m not as good at it as she was, but I try. Nothing’s blooming yet, though. In a few weeks, maybe. I… Look, the storm is letting up! That’s good. Come on.”

“Yes,” said Matteo, simply, and he took her hand as they walked into the little house that she called home.