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I could get attached.
Maybe I already was.
My climax came fast, nearly too fast. I pulled out in the nick of time before I spurted inside her, spilling on the small of her back. Panting hard, Alessandra groaned against the cushion while I staggered away to find something to clean her up. I returned with a small towel and wiped her back. I spun her around, grabbing her ass with one hand and her chin with the other, and stared into her dazed eyes. “That was a preview for tonight. Wear something short and tight. I want to see those gorgeous tits on display.” Yet even as my firm tone brooked no argument, I reached down to help her with her jeans. I felt the tremble in her body and I knew she’d be thinking about that orgasm for the rest of the day, which was exactly what I’d planned.
I kissed her softly—the opposite of how I’d fucked her—and then walked her to the door.
A slow, contented smile formed as I closed the door behind her.
Alessandra didn’t know it yet but I’d say that negotiation went very well.
Very well, indeed.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Alessandra
I HURRIED INTO my office after a quick shower at my apartment and found Como glaring as if I’d just spat on the Turin Cathedral in full view of the archbishop. My plan was to ignore whatever was biting him in the ass and focus on the business at hand, but Como’s thunderous expression warranted a conversation before the day was completely ruined.
“Is there something on your mind?” I asked, settling at my desk, turning on my computer. My thighs ached, reminding me of Dante, and my cheeks flared with heat as my breath caught. I cleared my throat when I saw Como watching me with full accusation in his eyes. Exasperated, I said, “Spit it out already, Como. We have work to do.”
“You didn’t come home last night.”
“And you know that why?”
Como shifted in his chair, embarrassed. “Because I went by your place. I thought you might be hungry. I brought some of Mama’s leftover linguine.”
Como’s mother was a fantastic cook. I graced him with a genuinely apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I missed it but I had a business dinner.”
Not entirely a lie but not the truth either. I wasn’t about to tell Como about Dante, though. The niggling sense that Como was writhing with jealousy in spite of our previous talk made me nervous.
“I didn’t see any plans in your schedule,” he said, frowning. “Who did you meet with?”
“Not important. It was nothing. If you’re finished grilling me over my evening, I’d like to discuss some of the advertising campaigns getting ready to launch for Uva Persa.”
“Are you seeing someone?” Como persisted.
“Not your business if I were,” I answered, growing impatient. “Please remember your place, Como. You work for me, not the other way around.”
“I care for you.”
I tried not to show my exasperation and chose my words carefully. “I know you do. I care for you as well, as a friend. Please keep sight of that fact.” At his crestfallen expression, I sighed and said, “Como, we are the best of friends. We should not let anything get in the way of that friendship. Besides, you are my right hand and most trusted ally in this new venture and I need you focused by my side. Please say that we can remain friends.”
“I will always be here for you, Alessandra,” he said with a stiff upper lip. “Even if you are set upon being foolish with that American.”
I tried not to react. How could he have known I was with Dante? Was it possible he or another colleague saw me kiss him at Una Notte Magica? Regardless, Como was the one being a fool. I cast a short smile Como’s way. “I would never be the one to act foolish with anyone, particularly with my dream on the line. Have you so little faith in me?”
“No, of course not. I believe in you and always have,” he said, his brown eyes warming. “You are an incredible woman.”
“Then stop treating me as if I were made of glass and in need of protecting. I can handle my own affairs and that includes whom I choose to allow into my personal time. I don’t wish to visit this topic again, am I clear?”
Como didn’t look pleased but he nodded in understanding. Relieved to move on, I said, “Excellent. Now, did we get the color scheme resolved for the branding? I want the label to be perfect and we are nearly ready to go to bottling.”
Como nodded and produced an art sheet, which I looked over, pleased with the new changes. “Thank God,” I murmured, breathing a sigh of relief that we were able to make the changes before going to press. “Tell Victor we are good with the changes. Go ahead and roll with the labels.” I returned the art sheet to Como, adding, “Have you heard from La Pergola and Paul Bucose?”
Como answered with a proud nod. “Both have RSVP’d for the launch. They are excited to see what all the buzz is about. Uva Persa is going to be the hit of the season.”
“Let’s hope.” I resisted the urge to chew on my nail, a bothersome bad habit left over from my childhood that had managed to follow me into adulthood. In order to give my new experimental wine a stellar push into the world, I was putting everything I had into the launch, which kicked off with an exclusive tasting with some of the most renowned restaurateurs in the world. While Castello di Baroni used to grace the tables of aristocrats, my wine would be the preferred choice for the new generation of important people. At least that was my hope and dream, but I was well aware that I was putting all of my eggs into one basket and it could all go crashing to the ground. I couldn’t think about that possibility, not now. “Excellent job, Como,” I praised, shoving my fears to the bottom of my thoughts. “We’re all set for the launch, then?”
“Everything has fallen into place nicely,” he agreed but then brought up another sticky subject. “When are you going to tell your father that you’ve started this new wine on your own?”
I licked my lips, hating the anxiety that single question produced. “When it’s ready,” I answered firmly but I knew I was stalling. My father was old school and even though he supported me with Castello di Baroni, I was fully aware that if Enzo had lived, I wouldn’t be in the position of power I was now.
My father was old and simply didn’t have the energy to run the winery as it should be and even though I was a woman, he would not suffer a stranger running our family business.
So that left me—the least intolerable option.
I drew a breath, hating that it hurt my heart, but my father would never change, just like I couldn’t change the minds of those staunchly refusing to alter the formulation required for the Chianti Classico label. Innovation paled in the face of tradition and no one could see that it was turning the industry into a stale pond run by old men.
“Your father might surprise you,” Como said, reading my mind. “Change comes slowly but it comes nonetheless. He is very proud of you.”
I smiled, accepting Como’s words in the spirit they were given if I didn’t quite believe them. My father was still waiting to see when I was going to come to my senses and marry Alberico, which wasn’t going to happen.
Sophia walked in, a welcome surprise. “Hello, love,” she said, pressing a quick kiss on my cheek before settling in the chair opposite my desk. “Would you like to get some lunch today?”
Lunch sounded wonderful. Sophia was a marketing consultant, often working with wineries in the area, and it was always a treat when we could meet. I’d skidded out of Dante’s hotel room before eating and I was famished. I checked my watch. “Actually, I could eat now. Want to see if any of the cafés are still open?”
“It’s too late for coffee but they might have some fresh bruttiboni left over from breakfast,” Sophia suggested, rising. “Let’s do it.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said, grabbing my purse, but I paused when I caught Como’s frown. “Is everything okay?”
“I just think we need to go over some i
ssues with the latest Chianti shipment, seeing as you came in late already.”
“I think you can handle that,” I said with full confidence. “And I’m starved. I’ll be back in an hour or two.”
I left Como dissatisfied with my answer but I wasn’t happy with the way he was trying to micromanage me since Dante came into the picture. I really hoped Como came to his senses soon because his attitude was getting on my nerves—which wasn’t good for his job security.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Dante
I RETURNED TO Alessandra’s office at the end of the day, purposefully choosing the time so that she couldn’t turn down my offer for another night spent with me.
I knocked at the entrance and received a scowl from the lanky man I assumed was her assistant, and a blush of surprise from Alessandra, which I thought only made her prettier.
“By my clock, it’s quitting time,” I announced, going to her desk to plop down in the chair. I cast a grin toward the frowning man and said, “Am I right? Aren’t you ready to call it a day? Grab a nice bottle of Cab and put a pin in this workday?”
“May I help you?” the man asked stiffly. “This area is private. I’ll have to ask you to return to the gift shop, where it’s appropriate for guests.”
Alessandra chuckled and said, “It’s fine, Como. Dante is right. I’m ready to relax for the evening.” She rose and gathered her purse but before I could crow with what felt like an easy victory, she said, “But I’m sorry, I already have plans with my friend Sophia tonight.”
My brow went up as a slow smile tickled my lips. I knew she hadn’t forgotten my directive from this morning. I also knew all I had to do was whisper in her ear all the dirty things I was going to do to her and she’d be wet enough to bend over her own desk. I let my gaze slide to her desk, then back to her. The sudden flush of her cheeks told me she knew exactly where my thoughts had gone, and that pleased me. But she was playing hard to get. That was fine... I liked to play, too.
