Page 55 of How Not to Mess with a Millionaire

“Is there anything else I can get you?” Greta asked.

He’d almost forgotten the stewardess was still standing there. That tended to happen when Zoe was around. Everything but her faded into the background. “No, thank you. We’ll call if we need anything.”

With a polite nod, she disappeared down the aisle and through the pocket doors that separated the galley and crew quarters from the passenger compartment. Dante turned back to Zoe, who was eyeing him over the rim of her glass, one brow quirked so high it almost disappeared under her bangs.

“Why didn’t you tell me we were meeting your brother?”

“Luca may act tough, but inside he’s a big teddy bear. He’ll love you.”Like I’m starting to.

Dante pushed the disturbing thought deep, deep down, plucked a grape from the tray, and fed it to the pig, who had made himself comfortable on Dante’s designer loafer, staring hungrily up at the table. He snuffed it up and wagged his tail appreciatively.

Zoe took a sip of her Prosecco. “Word to the wise, a lady appreciates a little advance warning. Gives her time to prepare.”

“Prepare?” he asked, reaching for his own drink.

“You know, steel herself mentally. Make sure she looks presentable. Avoid embarrassing situations like flashing her ass cheeks to unsuspecting grandmothers.” She grimaced.

“Trust me. Nonna was totally charmed, flashing aside.” And the skin had been a nice bonus for him.

“Well, I was totally humiliated.” Her grimace turned to a groan. “Please, God. Never again.”

“I guess now would be a good time to tell you a couple of my university buddies will be joining us. We have a monthly poker game.”

“Aha.” She snapped her fingers, startling the pig, who leaped to his feet, squealing. “So that’s what this trip is all about. Poker. I thought you had business in Rome.”

“Why can’t it be both? A little business. A little pleasure.” He set his glass down and slipped the animal another grape, which stopped his whining. Then instead of bringing his hand back to his glass, he let it rest on Zoe’s smooth, bare thigh, under the hem of her sundress. “Maybe a lot of pleasure.”

Her eyes went from the pale gold color of champagne to a rich, dark amber. “What did you have in mind?”

Before he had a chance to tell her about the aft cabin with a king-sized bed, Greta reappeared.

“We’ll be taking off in a few minutes. The pilot asked me to make sure you were buckled in.”

“Thank you, Greta.”

He fastened his seat belt and motioned for Zoe to do the same. Seeing that they were secured, Greta nodded and went back into the galley, sliding the pocket door shut behind her.

“Now, where were we?” He lowered his hand back to her thigh as the plane started to taxi down the runway.

“But Greta—”

“Is strapped into her own seat, where she’ll stay until we’re in the air. And even then, she won’t disturb us unless I ring for her.”

Zoe looked down at his hand then back up at him, her lips twisted into a sort of half smile, half smirk. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”

“If you’re asking if I’m a member of the mile-high club, the answer is no. But I’m hoping that will change in about”—he glanced at his Rolex—“twenty minutes.”

“That fast, huh?” There was no halfway about it this time. She was definitely smirking at him. “You’re not usually that quick on the trigger.”

“I didn’t want to set the bar too high. Better to exceed expectations than fail to meet them.”

The plane lifted into the air, pushing them back in their seats. Dante took advantage of the involuntary movement to slip a finger under the edge of her lacy panties, making her gasp.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she said, her eyes fluttering closed.

He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Eyes open. I want to see them get all soft and hazy when you come.”

She complied, her eyelids slowly rising. “My eyes get all soft and hazy when I come?”