Page 36 of How Not to Mess with a Millionaire

She brushed a lock of hair off her face and squinted at him. “That depends.”

“On what?”

“On what I’m supposed to trust you with.”

“Our itinerary for the day. No guidebooks. No maps. No using your phone to search the internet.” He held the book back out to her. “Deal?”

“Deal.” She took the book and stuffed it back into her bag. “So what’s the plan?”

“You have to trust me, remember?”

“Fine.” She hitched the backpack up onto her shoulder and leaned on the railing. “But no museums or architecturally interesting churches, okay? That’s a little too close to work for me. And I want today to be just for fun.”

“I think I can handle that.” He rested against the railing next to her and bent to retrieve his cell phone from the carry-all at his feet, an idea beginning to form. He’d need a little help to pull it off. And he knew just the person for the job.

Less than half an hour later, they were on the dock in Capri, standing in front of a blue and white cabin cruiser withPrima Donnastenciled in gold leaf on the transom. A man’s head popped up from below deck. When he spotted Dante, he jumped out of the boat.

“Ciao.” He grabbed Dante in a bear hug, clapping him on the back. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too, Gianni.” Dante returned the hug. “Thanks for agreeing to take us out on such short notice.”

“You’re lucky. My charter canceled at the last minute, or I would have been halfway to Sorrento by now.”

Zoe looked from one man to the other. “So this is who you were texting on the ferry.”

“And you must be Zoe. Dante said this is your first visit to our little island. Glad to have you aboard.”

Gianni lifted her hand, kissing it. She blushed, no doubt awed by his wide, winning smile and shirtless torso, tanned and muscled from years of working on the water. Gianni had had that effect on women since birth. He was all happy-go-lucky charm and lighthearted charisma. The consummate good-time guy.

In short, everything Dante wasn’t.

He clenched his jaw against the irrational wave of jealousy threatening to swamp him. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

But that ship had sailed, at least metaphorically speaking. It was too late to turn back now. He’d have to grit his teeth and bear it.

“Let me take that for you.” Gianni motioned to Zoe’s backpack.

“Thanks.” She slid it off her shoulder.

“I’ve got it.” Dante snatched the bag and stepped onto the boat, his jaw still tight and his gut churning. “Let’s go.”

Gianni hopped in after him. “Always in such a hurry. That’s what happens when you’re a big-time businessman. Me, I prefer the simple life. Blue skies, open ocean, and a beautiful woman to share it with.”

Dante seethed silently as Gianni held out a hand to Zoe and helped her on board.

“How do you two know each other?” she asked, sitting on a bench seat in front of the transom and crossing those long, lean legs that made him want to throw Gianni overboard, carry her below deck, and wrap them around his waist.

“We’re cousins.” Gianni slung an arm around Dante.

“We’re not cousins.” He shrugged Gianni off and took a seat next to Zoe.

“We might as well be,” Gianni countered, his sunny smile never fading. “Our grandmothers were like sisters. They grew up next door to each other. Spent years traveling Europe together as fashion models.”

Zoe’s eyes widened. “Your grandmother was a model?”

He was right. This was a bad idea. Things were getting far too personal. If he wasn’t careful, they’d be swapping stories and spilling secrets that were best kept hidden.

Like Nicole.