"What?" Andre's eyes widened, and he looked taken aback by her question, "why?"

Carly regarded her with curiosity in her eyes, "did you see a picture or something? He's only hot until he opens his mouth."

Andre shot her a dark look, and she shrugged apologetically, "I said until he opens his mouth."

"What? I... no... not for me. I mean for Leonardo. He wants to see him," Kit explained. "You've met him?"

"She did once," Andre said in a tight voice. "We made the mistake of thinking maybe Luca and I could get past our differences. I took Carly to see him with me in New York."

"I'm the one that talked him into it, and it was a bad decision. Luca is an ass," Carly said, crossing her arms.

"Did father say he wants to see him?" Andre asked.

"Not in exact words, but it's obvious, Andre," Kit said as she got a tray ready for Leonardo. "Have you told Luca that he is sick?"

"Yes, I have, and he didn't care," Andre said, his face tight and full of tension. Carly was sensing it and rubbing his shoulders.

"I just can't believe that" Kit shook her head. "It's his father."

"Luca doesn't care about anyone or anything," Andre warned her. "Don't waste your time or get my father's hopes up."

"I have to try," Kit said softly.

"She's got that; I'm not giving up on this; look on her face Andre," Carly said as she ruffled his hair.

"He can't be that bad, can he?" Kit laughed off Carly's dramatics.

"His nickname for me is Goldie," Carly said as she folded her arms.

"Because you're blonde?" Kit guessed, "so?"

"Nope. It's short for a gold digger," Carly informed her.

Kit cringed at that, "seriously?"

"My brother wrote my dad out of his life, and he's not coming back, I have tried. I promise you. It only hurts to call him and get rejected," Andre said sadly.

"What happened between them?" Kit asked.

"I don't know all the details," Andre said quietly. "It started when Luca broke off his engagement with his fiancé Amanda. After that, he dropped out of law school. He and his father got into a huge fight. I mean huge; the entire living room was destroyed. Luca left, and they haven't spoken for almost four years now."

"How old was he at the time?" Kit asked, wondering what could have happened.

"Our age, just turned, twenty-two, and was only twenty-one when he met her. The whole thing with Amanda was fast from whirlwind start to the fiery end. I would guess she hurt Luca badly," Andre said.

"Why would you assume it was her? He's the ass," Carly pointed out, "and an obvious playboy."

"He wasn't then," Andre smiled sadly as a memory must've touched him. "He was a big romantic softy back then. With her, he fell fast and hard. I never liked her, something always felt off. Luca was always a little guarded but after her he became a different guy."

His eyes dazed off, and Carly sighed as she squeezed his shoulder. Kit left them to talk about it. She started upstairs with Leonardo's food and medicines.

She understood a thing or two about being hurt. But to take it out on everyone else? At least, that's what it seemed like Luca was doing. Kit couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Leonardo said it was very bad, so bad he didn't think they'd ever talk again. Despite all this, she was more determined than ever.

Leonardo didn't mention Luca again, and she kept her plans to herself. The last thing she wanted to do was get his hopes up and not be able to produce. Once she had Leo settled in for the night, she sat with him for a while.

The grumpy hard-nosed man was nowhere people talk about to be found today. He was kind and easy to care for so far. Granted, it was day one, but still. Kit was optimistic about this. They got along very well, and she enjoyed hearing his stories as much as he seemed to like telling them.

He lit up as he talked about growing up here in Willow Park, they chatted so long that she didn't realize how late it was until he nodded off. She slipped out, leaving him to get his rest.

She felt a strong sense of sadness wash over her as she stood in the hallway. She didn't expect such an instant bond like this, but already she felt herself growing attached. She realized this was going to be harder than she thought. Leonardo was a terminal cancer patient.

Kit wasn't sure how she was going to handle it when...

She shook her troubling thoughts out of her head and headed downstairs where she found Andre and Carly cuddled on the couch. Andre still looked upset, and Kit felt bad about worrying him. He did need Luca, too, whether he knew it or not. He was going to need his brother's support.

She sat on the chair near them and curled her legs under her.

"Your father is asleep," Kit informed Andre.

"I don't think he will come," Andre said quietly.

"We never know if I don't ask him," Kit pushed.

"Fine here," Andre said, handing her a piece of paper with a phone number.

"You won't regret this," Kit promised him.

"You might," Carly muttered under her breath.

Kit ignored her and went outside to make the phone call. Her heart raced in her chest, and her hands shook as she dialed the number.

"Hello?" A giggling girl picked up the phone.

"Is this Luca Donato's phone?" Kit asked.

"Luca's really busy right now. Could you call back later?" More giggling ensued after that.

"Tell him it's an emergency," Kit said.

"Luca, it's some girl," the girl whined. "Do you have a girlfriend or something?"

She heard a laugh and a deep velvety male voice in the background say, "I don't do girlfriends, honey."

The words were so gross, yet his voice was so hot... Focus, Kit! She scolded herself.

"Hello?" The silky voice was now right in her ear.

"Luca Donato?"

"The one and only, and who is this?"

"Um, I'm Kit Hart."

"Who? Did you say you're a Kit Kat?" That stupid sexy voice became teasing.

"No, Hart," she was growing annoyed.

"They do say that about me, yeah," he mumbled.

"Will you be serious? I need to discuss something very important with you," Kit said exasperatedly.

"It's not mine," he said instantly.

Kit reddened at that, all the way to her toes.

"I...no... excuse me?" She said, feeling increasingly flustered, "I'm from Willow Park, West Virginia. I'm calling about your father. I'm his nurse."

"Why is he dead?" he asked, and she was taken aback; the silky thing was gone. His voice became emotionless and detached.

"No," Kit said slowly; she clenched her fists to stay calm. "But he's not well. He has cancer, and it's terminal."

"I already know this; call me when he croaks," Luca said dismissively.

"No, wait, don't hang up," Kit begged. "He wants to see you before he dies."

"No, he doesn't," Luca spat out angrily.

"Yes, he does. He regrets whatever happened between you, he told me himself. Please, you can't let your father die without at least saying goodbye," Kit tossed it all out in an emotional plea.

"You'll have to find another way to get a chunk of his inheritance. I said goodbye to my father four years ago, and I'm not saying it again." Luca drawled out.

"Excuse me?" Kit felt herself go red again as anger overcame her. "I am not trying to get a chunk of anything. I'm trying to help a sick and sad old man. What about your brother? You're just going to force him to handle watching his father die all by himself?"

"I don't do guilt trips, honey. I'm sure you'll cash in if you flirt with the old man a little. Maybe he'll even give you, my share." Luca's voice hardened as he continued his tirade.

"I told you that's not why," Kit stammered. Now she was angry. Her left hand was clenching her phone, and her right hand was balled into a tight fist.

"Right..." He drawled. "Goodbye, Kitty-Kat."

Kit didn't even realize she had screamed until Carly and Andre came rushing outside.

"Are you okay?" Carly asked, her eyes wide.

"He is the most frustrating, stubborn... ugh! I have ever talked to!"

"So, it went well then?" Andre asked dryly.

*****

Kit was still fuming when she got home; she threw her purse down on the counter and grabbed one of her dad's beers from the fridge.

"Kit?" Stone asked, coming around the corner; he noted the beer in her hand. "What's got you all upset?"

"Nothing," she muttered. "You want a beer?"

"Well yeah," He scoffed, his grey eyes crinkling with amusement. He brushed his long shaggy grey hair from his eyes just in time to catch the beer she tossed him.

He sat across from her, "is it the new job?"

"Are we going to have a father-daughter moment?" Kit joked, "it's so after-school special."

"I'm all about hallmark moments," he said. He plucked a pipe from his pocket and swiftly packed it.

"I'd love to see the one where dad smokes a bowl while he gives life advice," she smirked as she watched him.

"I'd watch that one with you," he laughed. "So, come on, what's got you cracking beers?"

"I don't know where to start," Kit sighed.

"Did he fire you already? If he did, I'm giving that stubborn old man a piece of my mind." Stone added before taking a big draw from the pipe.

"No, he didn't fire me," Kit said as she sipped her beer.

"Oh good," Stone looked relieved, "I didn't really want to tell off a sick man."

"It has nothing to do with that. You're scared of him," she teased.

"He really let me have it before," he shuddered at the memory.

"He's a lot softer now."

"I imagine being sick would do that," Stone took another drag and blew it out. He was always courteous to not blow it at her. "What happened then?"

"He was great, we got along so well," Kit said quietly, "but I bonded with him, and I realized it's going to be hard. You know when..."

"That is something you're going to have to deal with all the time," Stone warned her.

"I know, dad, this is good for me career-wise. I'll learn something here. But the person in me knows how heartbreaking this will be," Kit explained.

"You seemed angry when you got home, though?" Stone questioned.

"I was. I tried reaching out to Leonardo's older son Luca, and he was a complete jerk to me. As a matter of fact, if you still want to give someone a piece of your mind...by all means," Kit offered, velvet voice, up freely.

"Where is he? He insulted my daughter. I'll wring his neck," Stone said, swigging down his beer.

"I don't think threats will get him here, and ass or not. I have to get him here... before it's too late," Kit groaned.

"Why won't he come?" Stone asked.

"They had some huge fallout four years ago and haven't spoken since," Kit explained.

"Leonardo regrets it now," Stone guessed.

"He didn't say it in so many words, but yes." Kit nodded.

"Luca wasn't at all receptive?"

"Not at all. He acted like he could care less," Kit sighed. "I'm not giving up yet, though. He got pissed when I brought up how he has neglected Andre in this. I think I hit a button there."

"You always need to accomplish the impossible," Stone marveled. "You're a lot like your mother in that respect."

"No, I'm not," Kit said. "She gave up; she walked away. I don't do that. I never do that when it's important, and this is important. I'm going to make this happen."

"Well, you know what, Kit?"

"What?" She asked, tipping back her beer.

"I believe if anyone can do it, it's you," he said, toasting her.

****

Kit was woken up by her phone ringing at three in the morning. She groaned and irritably snapped it open, knowing she had to be up in a few hours.

"Hello?" She moaned into the phone as she pushed her messy copper locks from her face.

"How much is he paying you?" It only took her a second to place the velvet voice that had irritated her so much earlier in the day.

"Luca?" She hissed, "do you have any idea what time it is?"

"No, I don't," he drawled on. "Now be honest; how much money is he giving you?"

"What are you talking about?" She groaned. "Are you drunk?"

"A little. Tell me the truth, Kitty Kat."

"Do not call me that ever again," she nearly growled.

"Fine, talk about a buzzkill," he mumbled.

"This buzzkill was sleeping, so goodnight, Luca," she was just about to hang up.

"No! I need to know the truth. How much?"

"What truth? I told you he wants to see you. That's it; no one is paying me," she said incredulously.

"He told you this?" Luca questioned, his voice hard. "His nurse? He told you he wants to see me?"

"I'm a friend of Andre's," Kit explained.

"Oh...I get it now," Luca laughed. "So dear old dad and Andre set this whole thing in motion then?"

"I always knew dad would corrupt him. Mold him into the little mini-me he always wanted," Luca spat out bitterly.

"Your father is facing the fact that he's going to die. He opened up to me. He talked about you and was filled with regrets. He wants to see you before he dies. You need to grow up and come see him," Kit chided.

Her nerves were all fired up and she rose from her bed to walk to her window seat, sitting in her dark room.

"He's done this sort of thing before, you know," Luca said suddenly.

"What sort of thing?" Kit asked.

"Paid someone to get me to do what he wants," Luca's voice was growing bitter again.

"He didn't pay me. He doesn't even know I called you," Kit spoke in a firm tone. "I'm not out for your father's money. I took this job to pay for school, and I happen to feel bad for him and Andre. They need you, Luca."

"You don't know him."

"Maybe you don't either," Kit countered.

There was a pregnant pause as he must've found himself at a loss for words.

"I know you want to come. So just come," she said to fill it.

"It's the last thing I want to do," he retorted.

"Then why are you wasted and calling me at three in the morning?" she quizzed. "It's been eating away at you since I called, hasn't it?"

"Good night, Kit Kat," he drawled.

"I told you not to call me that."

"You said not to call you Kitty Kat," he cut her off.

"It's Kit, just –"

He had already hung up.

"UGH!" For the second time in one day, she let out a frustrated cry over Luca Donato.

What had she gotten herself into with this promise?