She was shaking inside. Shaking, but determined. She tossed her napkin on the table and jumped to her feet. “You heard me. You’re thinking of what you want, not what’s right for Mia. Don’t any of you care about her?”

“You mock the family. You disrespect all of us.”

“I don’t,” she told him. “I care about everyone. But I respect that each of us has the right to choose.”

“Either you support the family or you don’t,” Grandpa Lorenzo told her.

“I refuse to offer blind support to something I know is wrong. Mia is my sister and I love her. I’ll stand against all of you before I let you force her to do something that will break her spirit.”

Her grandfather began muttering in Italian. She knew what that meant.

She glanced around the table. “It’s always been this way with the family. There’s no room for personal opinion. There’s only ever one right way. One philosophy that fits. Grandpa’s. Sometimes that doesn’t work. You can’t force feelings. You can’t make someone want what you want. It’s wrong.”

“This has been decided.” Her grandfather glared at her. “You’re not a part of us. You’re no longer a Marcelli.”

Katie felt as if she’d been slapped.

“Pop, that’s enough,” Marco said. “Katie’s entitled to her opinion.” He glanced at his daughter. “Even if it’s wrong.”

Katie turned to him. “You’re getting to be just like him. You used to encourage us to think for ourselves.”

“That’s where he went wrong,” her grandfather said. “You should listen and do what you’re told.”

“Lorenzo!” her mother said. “Stop it. Katie will come around.”

“No, I won’t,” Katie said. She looked at Brenna. “While I’m being thrown out, I’m going to tell you one last time that you’re wrong about what you’re doing to Jeff. You may get what you want, but in the end you’ll regret it. And when you’re curled up and hurting, I’ll be there because I love you, even when you’re an idiot.” She turned back to her parents. “Don’t make Mia choose, because if she accepts that house, you’ll have lost her forever.”

“Get out!” her grandfather roared. “Never come back. You are not my granddaughter. You’re not anyone I want to know.”

Pain sliced through her. No one stood against him. Not one spoke up for her. She swallowed, then left the room.

Zach watched her go.

Marco faced his father. “That was unnecessary.”

“She needs to learn.”

“She already knows plenty,” Zach said as he stood. “She’s loyal, loving, and a whole lot more caring than any of you deserve.”

He tossed his napkin on the floor and headed toward the kitchen. From there he walked outside and found Katie seated on the bottom step.

He crouched next to her. “You okay?”

She shook her head.

He pulled her arms away from her knees, and she raised her chin. In the light from the porch he could see the dampness on her cheeks.

“He threw me out,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “He’s never done that to me before. To Brenna and Francesca when they were teenagers, but I was always the good granddaughter.”

“He doesn’t mean it.”

“He does right now. Later he’ll calm down, but it may take a while. Besides, do you see anyone but you out here? They’ve all turned their backs on me. They’re wrong about Mia.”

Tears spilled from her eyes. Zach sat next to her on the step and held open his arms.

She hesitated, then leaned against him. He held her close. “They’ll come around. You were right. They’ll figure it out eventually.”

“Not for a long time. No one will call me. They won’t leave messages, they won’t check on me. I’ll be alone. It’s like being dead.”

He wanted to tell her that she was confident and capable, but knew that wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Instead he stroked her back and said it would be all right.

“When?” she asked.

“By Thursday.”

She laughed, then sniffed. “Promise?”

“No. I can’t promise that.”

She straightened. “I know. I appreciate you trying to make me feel better.”

“Is it working?”

“Some.” She glanced past him to the house. “They’ll talk about it among themselves. The Grands usually support me, but they want Mia and David to move close, so this time they won’t. Obviously my folks want that, too. Brenna and Francesca are already mad because of Jeff. Mia…I don’t know what she’ll think.”

“That you defended her.”

Katie looked at him. “It’s probably not enough to get her to stand against the family.”

“Why don’t you go back inside and talk to them?”

“I can’t. My grandfather said I wasn’t a part of the family. I’m not welcome back until that changes.”

More tears spilled onto her face. Zach brushed them away, then kissed her cheek.

“Want to ride home with me?”

“I can’t leave my car.”

“Then I’ll follow you home. I want to make sure you get there safely.”

She nodded and stood. “At least I didn’t bother unpacking my car.” She pulled her keys out of her pocket, then looked at him. “You’re missing dessert.”

“I’d rather be with you.”

“That’s really sweet.” She wiped the back of her hand over her cheeks. “I guess this whole scene kind of proves your point about relationships. Maybe you have the right idea about walking away before things get messy.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I know. I just hate this.”

He didn’t know how to help, so he put his arm around her and led her to her car. “Come on, Katie. Let’s get you home.”

16

K atie drove back to L.A. with the comforting glow of Zach’s headlights in her rearview mirror. By the 405 freeway she’d convinced herself that her Grandfather wouldn’t take more than three weeks to get over being mad. The longest one of his rages had ever lasted had been a month. So by the time the fund-raiser was over, her life would be within a week of getting back to normal.

Great. The good news was she would be so busy over the next couple of weeks that she wouldn’t even miss talking to her mother or her sisters. Unfortunately, she didn’t believe a word of it.

She cried through the next ten miles, then got herself under control by the time they reached her exit. She’d expected Zach to keep going down toward the beach, but he surprised her by following her into her driveway, then stepping out of his car and walking up the drive.

He might be tough, mean, and determined, but he was also kind. He cupped her face.

“How you doing?” he asked.

“Okay.”

“Liar.”

She smiled. “I’ll survive.”

“Would you like me to stay?”

Stay?

He pulled her close. “I’m talking about holding you, Katie, not trying to get in your pants.”

She raised her head and looked at him. “What if I want you there?”

He sighed heavily. “All right, but only because you’re begging me.”

She laughed. “You make me crazy.”

“Then my work here is done.”

Surprisingly, he did hold her for a long time. Secure in Zach’s arms, Katie sprawled across her bed and cried her heart out. When she was finally finished, she blew her nose and looked at him.

“You were probably hoping for something more romantic,” she said.

“No. Just to be here with you.”

“Great line.”

“Not a line.”

She stared at his dark eyes and knew that she wouldn’t mind getting lost in them. When everyone she loved had turned their backs on her, he’d come through. Funny how he was the last one she would have expected that from. Sometimes he was a real bastard and sometimes he was the world’s nicest guy.

“Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

They looked at each other. She waited for him to make his move and when he didn’t, she realized he wanted her to be sure. That if she’d changed her mind about wanting to make love, he wouldn’t complain. He would just hold her.

The thought nearly sent her into another crying jag, but instead of giving into tears, she moved close and kissed him.

His lips were warm, his arms strong as they came around her. Within the tender confines of his embrace she forgot her family, her pain, her loneliness—everything except being with Zach. His tenderness reached inside and gently nudged her romantic heart into wakefulness. His touch excited her body. The combination made her slip closer and press herself against him.

While she’d initiated the kissing, he quickly took over. His head angled as he licked her bottom lip. She parted for him, wanting him to excite her, pleasure her, heal her. He placed a hand on her side and gently urged her onto her back. Her long hair spread out on the pillow, and he toyed with several strands.

“How you doing?” he asked quietly.

She opened her eyes and looked at his face. Concern darkened his irises, passion thickened his voice.

“Good.”

He stroked her cheek. “Despite my reputation, I don’t travel with protection. Any condoms in this girly place?”

She smiled. “An unopened box in my nightstand.”

“I like a woman who plans ahead.”

“I’m very organized.”

“I know.”

He leaned close and pressed his mouth to hers. She wrapped her arms around him, surrendering to the sensations that flooded her. He moved his hand from her face to her stomach where his long fingers rested lightly on her sweater. His tongue slipped into her mouth and brushed against hers.

He kissed her deeply, thoroughly, erotically, until she couldn’t breathe. Slow kisses went on forever and made her bones melt. Teasing kisses that made her squirm. Passionate kisses that sucked the will right out of her and left her wanting to beg. Kisses that made her feel she’d never been kissed before. Not like this.

Slowly he moved his hand, sliding up her belly, along her rib cage, and between her breasts. She found herself touching him back. Tracing the width of his shoulders and the powerful muscles in his back.

Zach stroked her arms, returned to her stomach, then repeated the circuit. Up and over, between her breasts to her shoulder, her arm, crossing her stomach, slipping close to the apex of her thighs without actually slipping between them.

She found it difficult to keep breathing. Her skin seemed tight, and if her breasts swelled any more, she was going to spill out of her bra. She wanted to start screaming instructions. And then something amazing began to happen. The anticipation took on a life of its own.

Because she knew that eventually he would touch her in every place she wanted to be touched. As their kiss went on and his hands continued to move, she thought about him touching her breasts or between her legs and the tension grew.

When he reached for the hem of her sweater, she nearly moaned in relief. He tugged off the garment and tossed it onto the floor, then flicked open the front hook on her bra. The lace sprang free, leaving her breasts exposed to the evening air. For a second her heart stopped. She froze in anticipation. Then he touched just the tip of one finger to her hard, tight nipple.

The sensation was exquisite. She almost bit her tongue as fire shot through her. Before she could fully comprehend the feeling, he gently pinched her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She gasped. Then his mouth was on her other breast, and she had her fingers in his hair urging him on.