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“Sophia, would you mind keeping my father company while I greet our new guest?” I said from between gritted teeth. I didn’t wait for Sophia’s answer, too annoyed to care that I was frowning as I approached Donato.
“I don’t recall your name being on the guest list,” I said coolly as I met Dante beneath the twinkling arbor. “Why are you here?”
His gaze caught mine and for a moment I swore my heart skipped an extra beat. There was something intense about the way his gaze held mine that I couldn’t quite tear my eyes away. Normally, I was the one arresting people with my stare.
Sexuality was a weapon I freely used and made no apologies for, but suddenly I felt like the hunted instead of the other way around. I lifted my chin, ignoring my body’s sudden warming, and gave him a pointed look. “I could have you thrown out,” I told him.
“You could but that would be very ill-mannered of you,” he said, a slow, sensual smile forming on his lips. “I was invited.” He produced a gilded invitation and handed it to me as proof.
It was indeed an actual invitation. I frowned. “How did you get this?” I asked with genuine confusion.
“Is the how that important? I am here and I’m an invited guest so to throw me out would be incredibly poor form on your part.”
He was right. I couldn’t throw him out with an invitation in his hand and he was already attracting attention. Forcing a smile, I looped my arm through his and said, “Well, then, let me be the first to welcome you to Castello di Baroni’s Una Notte Magica.”
The minute our bodies touched I knew I should’ve thrown him out—because the immediate sparks between us were dangerous.
“Magical indeed,” he murmured, a sexy half smile playing with his lips. “Let me guess, you created this masterful entertainment for this evening?”
“It is one of my many duties,” I said, careful to keep my voice even and controlled, smiling as if I were pleased as punch to have him crashing my party. “Truly, I’m curious how you received an invitation. This is black-tie, invitation-only and I approve the guest list.”
“Not my style,” he said with amusement in his tone. “Suffice to say, I’m here and I look forward to an entertaining evening spent with good company.”
I didn’t like mysteries, much less mysteries perpetrated beneath my nose. My intuition tingled and I guessed, “Was it Mia?”
“And if it were? I would not have you punish her,” he said, his voice firming in a way that sent shivers dancing down my back. “She is a dedicated and loyal employee.”
“I wouldn’t punish her,” I said, annoyed that he thought I would do something so terrible for a small lapse in judgment. Mia had done no harm and probably thought she was helping in some way. “Let me guess, you charmed your way into gaining her ticket.”
“Charm is something that comes to me naturally, but I can promise you it wasn’t my intention to get invited. I didn’t even know about tonight until she produced a ticket. However, I was happy to accept.”
“And why is that?”
We paused, and he turned to regard me with open interest as he answered smooth as cream, “Because I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time in Italy than to spend it with you.”
It could be a line but he didn’t have a practiced way about him, and that caused my breath to quicken in the same organic way.
“I have no time for games, Mr. Donato.”
Was that a slight catch in my voice, a subtle quaver that gave away the liquid heat building in my belly? God, I hoped not.
The chemistry between us prickled with intensity and I felt myself losing my edge, which was as dangerous as it was alluring.
I never lost my edge.
Until now.
“I really should’ve had you thrown out,” I murmured as his head dipped toward mine.
“Probably,” he chuckled, seconds before his lips closed over mine.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dante
KISSING HER HADN’T been the plan but I took opportunity where I found it.
But in all honesty, I’m not even sure when game play had dropped from my brain and my primal instincts took over.
I’ve never been struck by a woman’s beauty, losing all sense of reason over a hot body and pretty face, but for a heartbeat, the only word I could muster to describe how I was feeling was—struck.
Struck by lightning.
Struck by lust.
Struck by awe.
And it was disconcerting as fuck.
That dress, clinging to every hill and valley of her lush body, her breasts high and practically spilling out like candy from a crystal bowl, did crazy things to my head—and other places.
Too many times I’d watched with scorn as men slobbered and made fools of themselves over beautiful women. I never imagined I might fall into the same trap, but in that wild moment I probably would’ve done anything to feel those luscious lips on mine for just a heartbeat.
The kiss ignited something deep inside me but somehow by the grace of God, I pulled myself back to reality and broke away.
This woman—lovely as sh
e might be—stood in the way of my goal. Strategy was in order.
“Before you judge Mia too harshly, she did manage to sell me an entire case of your Riserva, which I had shipped home to my father in New York. I’d say she’s a pretty good saleswoman.”
Cheeks flushed, Alessandra smoothed her dress and nodded, as if trying to regain her mental footing. Her scent still lingered in my nose, citrus and a tease of musk that did terrible things to my ability to focus. She exuded sexuality without trying, moving with effortless grace, yet the roll and sway of her hips were a moving violation.
“Mia’s job is not in jeopardy,” Alessandra assured me, but she was still struggling to put what’d happened into perspective. Our kiss had rattled her. Good—because it’d rattled me, too, but I was better at hiding it.
Every woman I’d ever spent time with paled before Alessandra and I found my tongue sticking uncharacteristically to the roof of my mouth.
“I’m sure kissing me wasn’t your sole intention for this evening. Why did you come here?” she asked.
Straight to the point, she pulled no punches, which I found invigorating. Hell, everything about her excited me right now but I had my game face on. “As I mentioned, I’ve come to enjoy fine wine and finer company. To that end, the evening has already started off well.” We were surrounded by people but it felt as if we were the only two in the courtyard. “Una Notte Magica...a fitting name. There is something magical in the air. Hard to believe how quickly you transformed the grounds from this afternoon into this wonderland.”
“I wear many hats here at Castello di Baroni, the least of which is party planner.” She stopped short and disengaged from my arm, turning to face me, all business. “I know what you’re doing.”
Hot boss lady. I like it. My brow rose with interest. “Oh? Pray tell. Please enlighten me.”
