Page 48 of Contempt

Every woman’s dream.

Just not hers.

“Listen,” Lucia started to say, hoping to let him down easy, “it’s not the right time for me to be … dating.”

Yeah, that sounded okay.

Mostly.

Christian’s smile didn’t falter at all. “Why not, bella donna?”

“For a lot of reasons.”

And none that she wanted to share.

“Not even for dinner?” he asked. “A drink, maybe? Or … what if, as friends, or even … hmm, I happen to know a new gallery that’s opening, and there’s a painting I have interest in. Perhaps you could accompany me to it, and let me know what you think of it and if it’s worth the price they’re asking. Then, it’s all business—nothing else to it, sì?”

Lucia could have agreed to that, if only to appease his request and get him off her back. The thing was, she seriously suspected that if she said yes to his offer, then he wasn’t going to get the hint that she wasn’t interested.

“Sorry,” Lucia said, “I can’t. I’m a little busy with family stuff while I’m here, that’s all.”

“Shame.” Christian’s smile softened. “Could I at least give you my number? In case you change your mind—not that I expect you to, of course.”

“I—”

Quickly, he leaned over the table, and his hand came up to brush the loose waves of her hair over her shoulder. It was an easy touch—soft, and gentle. “You don’t have to call, mia cara. It’s a … just in case, kind of thing.”

Fine.

“Sure,” Lucia said, picking up her screen to unlock it.

Despite that, Christian didn’t move. He didn’t lean back to give her some space. No, he stayed incredibly close, and in fact, continued tucking her hair behind her ear. He had just taken the unlocked phone from her hands when a form over his shoulder caught her eye.

She blinked.

Breathed.

Her heart ached from the sight of the man walking toward them. Leather jacket on, dark eyes blazing with fire, and his gorgeous face searing into her memory. The reaction her body felt at seeing him was visceral, and raw.

Renzo’s stride was not quite the same as Christian’s as he approached Lucia’s table. Instead of easy, smooth steps, his were firm and determined. He looked ready to tear something apart, but the only thing he was looking at happened to be her.

She sucked in a quick breath.

It ached.

It didn’t feel like enough, honestly.

So many questions ran through her mind at the sight of Renzo. She had a bunch of shit right on the tip of her tongue—a breakdown was heavy in the back of her mind. He was too close, and yet, not nearly close enough.

This close, she was able to get a better look at him. He wasn’t the same—the changes were small, but they were there. His hair was a little shorter. His gaze, a bit colder. Gone was some of the softer lines on his face that had given him his youthful appearance the last time they had been together, and in its place were the rough, hard lines of a man. The nose ring was new, too, but fuck … she liked it. A lot like the ink peeking out on his hand, and his throat.

New things for her to discover, maybe.

Jesus.

She went there quickly.

Finally, Christian seemed to notice Lucia’s distraction as he went to hand the phone back over. It took one glance over his shoulder for him to see Renzo, but it was too late for him to say anything. Renzo’s angry expression turned into something softer, and sweeter. He even smiled.