Love in the Vineyard (Tavonesi #7)(6)

“It’s not a project.”

“Okay, without what you’re doing here at the Casa, with the vineyard. But you need to lighten up, have some fun. Take a break, for goodness’ sake. You haven’t been on a date since you moved here from Rome. Sophia must’ve left some serious tread marks on you.”

“She’s in the long distant past.”

“Then why don’t you date?”

“I visited Blair Turling last month when I went to Southampton.”

Coco clucked her tongue against her teeth. “Blair is a man-eater and—”

“She’s a great polo player.”

“Six chukkers of polo does not qualify as a date.” She poked her finger to his heart again. “Let somebody through that wall of focus and determination. You’ll be old and lonely if you don’t, no matter what great endeavor you have going.”

“And what, may I ask, makes you so wise about all this in your young years? With all the men you’ve had in and out of your studio in the past few weeks, I’d think one of them might’ve caught your eye.”

For all her outward bravura and ease in social situations, Coco often seemed closed off, as if a deep loneliness had carved itself into her heart and refused to set her free. He knew the feeling. Inherited wealth such as theirs could make a person suspicious of the motives of would-be friends and lovers and force a retreat into detachment and caution. And being Italian expats, recently relocated to California, hadn’t made it easy to chart the unfamiliar social waters.

Coco laughed. “Oh, they all caught my eye—that’s why they’re in the studio, why I chose them to pose for the calendar. But that’s business, Adrian. You’re the one who always says don’t cross business and the bedroom.”

“I said that?”

“Unless a zombie had taken over your body. I overheard you telling that to Dante. I was fourteen at the time, but your advice stuck.”

“You always were a pesky eavesdropper.”

“Maybe spying runs in our blood.”

“What was wrong with Jake Ryder?” Their cousin Alex’s teammate had shown pointed interest in Coco, but she’d rebuffed his advances from the start.

“He’s a ladies’ man. Fun, but I’d never trust him.”

“We may suffer from the same affliction.”

“Do not rope me into your fantasy world. At least I admit I have trust issues. And Papa hiding the fact that he was a spy didn’t help any.”

Adrian stood and paced behind the towers of lights. “I wasn’t thinking about trust—we’re both looking for perfection.”

“I keep my quest for the perfect in the realm of my art.”

“Uh-huh.” He fingered proof pages for her calendar. “So this is all about art, is it? I thought it was to fund the homeless-women’s shelter?”

She snatched the pages from him. “I didn’t say you can’t try to make a difference. But you can’t just march in and change the way the world works.”

“I hope you’re wrong. I don’t want to believe that life is just the luck of the hand you’re dealt. I want this place, this endeavor, to be an opportunity—a place where people can pursue their interests and preferences, develop their talents—really belong to something. And make a good living, have a stake in the success of the business. Own a piece of their future.”

“You’re just—oh, I don’t know—you just seem obsessed.” She eyed him. “You can’t give your inheritance back, none of us can. But you don’t have to beat yourself up about it. You’re like some sort of questing knight, blinded by a mission. There’s life too. You used to know that. I miss my playful brother.”

He tilted his head and tried unsuccessfully to suppress his smile.

“What?”

“I was just wondering how my baby sister got so smart so fast.”

She swatted him with the sheaf of prints.

“Yo!” a voice called from the doorway. Their American cousin Parker strode into the room wearing riding gear and carrying a duffel bag. He surveyed Adrian. “Where are your riding togs?”

“I was just headed to my house to change,” Adrian said, switching to English. Parker spoke decent Italian, but Adrian knew he struggled with it. He nodded toward Coco. “This one distracted me from the time.”

Parker looked from him to Coco. “Am I interrupting a sibling squabble? I’m quite good at peacemaking.”

“You’re good at fanning the flames of drama,” Coco said. “I was telling Adrian that he needs to get out more. Go on a date. Get a life beyond Casa del Sole Vineyards.”

Parker shoved the duffel at him.

“What’s this?”

“Your costume for tonight. The masquerade to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club. Eight o’clock sharp. You too, Coco.”

Adrian groaned. Coco shot him a mock glower.

“It’s a perfect occasion for you to meet the woman of your dreams,” Parker said with a grin.

“Except all he dreams about are vineyards and profit-sharing,” Coco added with a huff.

A wry smile curled into Parker’s lips. “Think of it as saving the world one party at a time.”

“Parties aren’t really my forte,” Adrian admitted.