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“I take it you’ve had your share of-” Lucy decided not to probe further. She thought it would be way too inappropriate at that time.
“Broken hearts?” Antonio interjected for her. A grin touched the corner of his lips. “Not exactly. I’ve been very disappointed, Lucy. But I don’t give my heart to just anyone.”
Whoa!
“Oh. Um…I didn’t mean…I mean…” Lucy didn’t know what to say and she bit down on her lip again. “I meant to say that love is one heck of a ride. But we won’t know if we’ll enjoy it or not if we don’t take the driver’s seat and punch the gas pedal. We need to steer ourselves where we want to go.” Okay, wow, that sounded awkward. Lucy chewed on her lip again.
“Please don’t do that,” he said quietly.
“What?”
His gaze fell on her lips again. “Never mind.” He exhaled sharply and moved over by the French glass doors leading to the garden from the study. The view was spectacular. There was so much greenery outside and the hills in the distance created a picture-perfect painting of the outdoors.
“The view is very nice,” Lucy said to break the tension.
“It’s okay. It was there when the house was built in the 1940s.”
House? That’s an understatement.
“Oh, nice. I absolutely love the view over there. God, it’s beautiful.”
“Want a closer look?” Antonio invited in a low, sultry voice that caused a little explosion of butterflies in her stomach.
God, that man could say Atlas and it would sound sexy as hell. The truth was, she would like a closer look at him.
“Do you want a tour?” he continued.
“Well, I’ve seen quite a bit of the property.”
“I’m not talking about the estate.”
“Oh,” Lucy answered, stunned. To what exactly was Antonio referring?
“I’m talking about the part beyond that stretch over there.” Antonio raised his hand to motion to the area beyond the hills. “I know my grandfather wouldn’t have anyone take a tour there. Well, not just anyone. It’s actually an area we keep away from most people.”
“Oh, and you want me to see it?”
“I’m a spontaneous man, Lucy,” Antonio proffered. “I don’t always plan things. I act on things.”
Like acting on the moment, Lucy guessed. “I’d love to. Thanks.” Lucy got up and reached for her handbag and her cardigan on the chair. This was not about to screw up any more opportunities to be in Antonio’s presence. She really wanted more than anything to just be with him. Just to be near him. There were few people in her life who could command that sort of reaction from her. And Antonio was one of the few!
“Are you seeing anyone?” Antonio asked.
Whoa. Where did that come from?
Her knees just got light and her heart went pitter-patter in her chest. There was that funny tingling sensation in her belly again.
“E-excuse me?”
“You didn’t understand the question? Or you didn’t hear me?”
“Yes, I just can't believe you…” Think about what you are going to say before you say it, Lucy. Don’t put your stiletto in your mouth again. “I mean, am I seeing anyone? What kind of question is that? I could be happily married with three children.”
“You didn’t put that up on your Facebook profile and you don’t wear a wedding band.”
Oh.
“You’re stalking me on Facebook?” she asked as she gave a nervous chuckle. Oh, my God! He’s interested in me?
“You attached your Facebook address to your business card, Lucy.”
Oh.
“R-right. Of course.” Lucy blushed. She was sure she was beet red. How embarrassing. Why was she acting like a school girl speaking to her crush ... again?
Heck, she was looking at Antonio’s Facebook profile, too. Only she wasn’t one of his friends so she could not see anything on his page. Set to private, no doubt. Antonio certainly was elusive.
“Besides that, I always make it my point to run a check on everyone who comes into the family circle.”
“A check? You mean a security background check? You do surveillance on everyone you meet?”
