Her Best Friend's Brother by T. Dell (read the beginning after the end novel .TXT) 📕

quicker that way. Of course, the waitress started with Gio—two glasses of the house white and she barely glanced at the others as they ordered. Tony asked for a glass of water, and a cherry coke extra cherry. When Libby sat back down she found a glass of wine and tumbler of soda in front of her chair. Tony wanted to punch the air and do a victory dance when she reached for the cherry coke. His elation lasted only a moment.

moment.

“Balare?” Gio murmured, covering Libby’s hand with his own. They shared a private smile and headed for the dance floor.

“Did you know Betta; I have a friend who owns a restaurant in New York?” Gio held Libby close moving slowly in time with the music, but mostly concentrating on her face.

“Oh? Did you want to take a trip to New York while you’re here? We should you know. It is prettier in the fal, but summer is good to.”

“Perhaps.” Gio studied Libby in a way that made her want to fidget. As if he was trying to come to a decision. “My friend, Elaine, she lives in New York now, but spends her winters at home in Italy. I have been thinking lately that I could adjust my schedule in a similar way. Perhaps six months here, and the fal and winter in Rome?”

Libby stared at him a little dumbfounded. “You want to spend six months out of every year in New York?” Gio took a deep breath. “No. I was thinking perhaps of North Carolina. I thought you would enjoy wintering in Rome.”

Realization dawned on Libby. Gio wanted them to be together. Here and in Rome. Certainly she would say something—just as soon as she remembered how to breathe.

“Ah, Mia Betta. I never had a chance did I?” Libby was stil too busy forcing air in and out of her lungs to manage an inteligent reply. “Hmm?”

“Against big brother over there, I never realy stood a chance did I?”

“What? No, of course you did—do! Of course you do. It’s just that is a big change for you to make, and I’m not sure… I do want to be with you, Gio.”

“No, Betta. I think you want to want to be with me.” Gio kissed her lightly and leaned his forehead against hers. “We could have been fabulous together, you know?” Libby sighed. “I just think we might need some time…”

“I thought so too. I knew someone here stil had a hold on you, but I admit that I had hoped the distance and time would have proven insurmountable—for him. It is alright. I see the way you look at each other, and I want you to be happy.”

“Tony. He doesn’t see me that way.” Libby admitted quietly.

“I think then, that he is an imbecile.” This made Libby laugh. “Do you remember meeting my Nona?”

“Of course.” The previous Fal Libby had been unable to shake homesickness. Rome was lovely, but no one celebrated thanksgiving. Gio brought her to his grandmother’s house. Where Nona had cooked a ful Thanksgiving dinner. Of course she served baked ziti and bruschetta along with her turkey, but Libby was realy an it’s-the-thought-that-counts kind of person.

“Did you know she was only married to my grandfather for 16 months before he was kiled?”

“How awful.”

“Don’t let her here you say that.” Gio smirked a little. “Nona figures she knew more love in those 16 months than some people ever know in al their lives. She says she is lucky. And she never remarried— she says some loves are forever.”

“That’s lovely. Sad, but lovely.” Libby whispered, thinking of Nona living on memories al those years.

“It is the kind of love I want to find for myself. I think I wil go to New York. In the morning.”

“Tomorrow!”

“Si. I have four weeks off and I said I wanted to see America. I wil come back before I return to Italy. And then I think we wil be fabulous together—as friends.”

“Thank you Gio.” Libby didn’t know what else to say.

“Thank you Betta, my American adventure. Come.

Let’s get his attention shal we?” A twinkle lit up Gio’s face.

“You want to help me make Tony jealous?”

Gio chuckled, and spun Libby in a wide arc before puling her back to him. “Tony and every other man in the room. Did you not know that I have been the target of much jealousy this evening?”

The rest of the night passed without much incident.

Gio continued to provoke Tony lightly, and Tony continued to bristle at the words Mia Betta. But al in al they had a good time. When Gio excused himself, commenting that he was stil tired from his flight, Libby walked him to the door and hugged him tight. “See you in month?”

“In a month.” And with a kiss on her cheek he left.

Chapter Seventeen

Soon after Gio left, Mel and John folowed. “Ready Lib?” Tony asked in a quiet almost sulen voice as he stood up.

“Oh.” Libby remembered agreeing to stay in his guest room. “Umm yeah. I think I’l just go home to Stuart’s though.

Tony shook his head. “You’ve been drinking, which means you’re riding with me. And my car is headed home. Let’s go.”

Tony knew ful wel that Libby hadn’t had anything to drink in hours, and that Stuart’s house was more or less on his way home so he could have dropped her off there.

But he wanted her to himself. He had hated sharing her with Gio al night. Go Slow indeed! He was such an idiot. He should have met her at the airport with a minister in tow.

Now he had to compete with Italy’s answer to dancingwith the stars in person instead of just the memory of her European fling. Not that he was giving up. No way. He would fight as hard as ever.

Tony fumed inside his head al the way to the car, and the entire drive back to his house. He hated Gio!

Hated. Mel had mentioned he was older, but come on!

The