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“Just those who work closely with me or my family. I am very protective of those close to me, Lucy.”
She felt his words resonate inside her heart. She certainly could relate to that. Who could fault a man who only wanted to protect his family and those close to him? Heck, if she had that kind of money, she’d probably do the same. Or, maybe not. Either way, she was stoked that he took interest in knowing about her. What else had he found out about her?
Oh. My. Goodness.
“Come, let me take you to the slopes.”
“The slopes? Now? In the fall?”
“Yes,” he murmured as they walked through the French garden doors.
Before long, they had walked to a driveway where a two-passenger red convertible was parked. “We’ll drive up to the hillside. It’s quite a way,” Antonio explained as he opened the passenger side of the car for Lucy.
“Thank you,” she said with sincerity.
The interior smelled like fresh, new leather. The car itself sparkled under the sunset sky. It looked more like a showroom model than a car driven by anyone on a day-to-day basis. Maxine earlier mentioned that she saw Antonio exit a BMW. This was obviously a different vehicle. It would be no surprise that a man of Antonio's stature would have several luxury vehicles, no doubt. Probably each one for a different occasion. What a way to live!
“Very nice,” she commented, almost breathless.
“It gets me around,” Antonio virtually dismissed the compliment as he sat in the driver’s seat. He turned the key in the ignition and the car started with a smooth, quiet start.
Lucy's old sedan certainly never started that way. It was often obvious that her engine could use a bit of help or at least some fine-tuning. Heck, some mornings it never started.
They drove through the verdant hilltop path taking in the scenic view. “I didn’t know there was so much pristine land out here.”
“It’s a break from the city,” he said, casting her a sideways glance. His lips curled into a sexy grin. He looked adorable as the wind whisked through his dark, short mane.
“For sure,” she agreed as she held down her own locks of hair as the wind tousled it. She tucked the sides behind her ears but it was no use, the warm early autumn breeze continued to sweep her brunette hair into her face.
“The scenery is so beautiful.” Lucy's eyes drank in the greenery as they climbed higher up the hilltop.
“Not half as beautiful as you,” Antonio murmured in a low, deep voice.
Lucy turned to him. She was, in a word, stunned. Did he just say she was beautiful? Oh, God! Her belly was really bubbling up in a tingly way. Oh, God! “Thank you,” she replied sheepishly as she looked out at the scenery, trying to avoid his gaze. This was stupid. She was a grown woman. What was she afraid of?
“You want on some music?” Antonio asked with a dimpled grin.
“Sure. Can you get one of those oldies station or easy-listening channels?”
Antonio reached over the satellite radio and set it to a station.
Before she knew it, the song “Never Knew Love Like This” by Stephanie Mills boomed through the speakers. Lucy thought she would faint. Good thing she was sitting. The smooth, soul ballad with the catchy melodic tune sounded: "I never knew love like this before, now I’m lonely never more…since you came into my life…”
Oh, God! Lucy felt as if she could sink into her seat. What a coincidence for that song to play! How embarrassing. The song was one of the most beautiful ballads she’d ever heard. An old eighties tune but it certainly couldn’t have spoken for the mood any more than it did. It was as if Antonio’s car was alive and played music to what a person thought inside his or her mind.
Antonio glanced in her direction and his grin grew wider. Great! He sure was enjoying this, wasn’t he? He probably thought she was in love with him or some such nonsense. Egotist.
“Nice choice. The station, I mean,” he quipped.
Lucy resisted the urge to playfully slap his muscular arm. She wanted to pinch him but she didn’t.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head in amusement. By the time that song ended, the beautiful ballad “Lost in Your Eyes” by Debbie Gibson played. It had to be one of her all time favorites. Both of them were quiet in the car for a moment as they pulled up to the top of the hill with the gorgeous view of the mansion and the enormous green spread below.
