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In that moment, Kayla felt lighter than she had in days. Suddenly anything seemed possible. Maybe she’d given up on the fund-raiser too soon. She pressed a hand to her lips. Perhaps everything would work out in the end, after all.
She sure hoped so.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“I DON’T UNDERSTAND.”
Kayla’s gaze narrowed in on Angelo as they stood beneath the crystal chandelier in the marble foyer. He’d been acting mysterious ever since they’d given their pitch to the royal couple the day before. Was it the kiss? It couldn’t be. He hadn’t been distant at the royal dinner. In fact, he’d been quite attentive—even if the evening hadn’t ended with any more kisses.
“Trust me.” His dark eyes twinkled with mischief. “You will understand soon enough.”
“It’d be easier if you’d just tell me where we’re going. If this has something to do with the pitch, you should tell me. I would have brought my laptop. Or at least I could have grabbed my tablet.”
“You don’t need it.” He took her hand and guided her out the door, down the palace steps and into an awaiting limo. “Trust me.”
“But how do I know if I’m dressed appropriately. The only formal clothes I have with me I wore yesterday for the pitch and then the dinner with the royal couple. I thought that we’d be leaving today.”
“I’ve delayed our departure.”
He had? She didn’t recall him mentioning anything to her. Then again, she’d been so caught up in her thoughts lately that she might have missed it.
“Don’t worry. I ran it past your boss.” He winked at her. “He’s fine with it.”
“He is, huh?” She wondered what Angelo was up to and why he was in such a good mood. “But why aren’t we flying back to Italy? I thought you’d be anxious to wrap things up there before we return to New York.”
“It can wait.”
She had absolutely no idea where they were headed. The curiosity was eating at her. But the driver knew. She turned to the front to ask him.
“Don’t even think of it,” Angelo warned as though he knew exactly what she intended. “He’s been sworn to secrecy.”
Her mouth gaped open. Angelo really did know what she was thinking. Thankfully he didn’t know everything that crossed her mind or else he’d know that she’d gone against his express wishes and worked on the fund-raiser during work hours.
And worst of all, her efforts were for naught. She’d reached out to everyone she could think of, but she had yet to come up with another big-name band on such short notice. But ever the optimist, she wasn’t canceling the event until the very last minute. There just had to be a way to help the kids.
“Hey, no frowning is allowed.”
She hadn’t realized that her thoughts had transferred to her face. “Sorry. I was just thinking of all the work I should be doing instead of riding around with you.”
“You’ll have plenty of time for work later. In fact, when we return to New York I imagine that you’ll have more work than you’ll ever want.”
She sent him a quiz
zical look. Was he trying to tell her something?
“Quit trying to guess. You aren’t going to figure out our destination.”
The car zipped along the scenic roadway. Angelo was totally relaxed, enjoying the terrific view of the tranquil sea. But she couldn’t relax. Not yet. Not like this. Not with the fate of the fund-raiser hanging over her head.
Kayla desperately wanted to ask Angelo for help, but she just couldn’t bring herself to trust him, knowing his adamant stance on such matters. But if she didn’t ask Angelo for help, what did that say about their relationship? Did it mean what they’d shared meant nothing?
The thought left a sour taste in her mouth. The Angelo she’d got to know so well here in Italy put his family above his own needs even at the risk of one of his most important accounts. But that was his family? And she was what?
She had absolutely no answer.
Realizing that he was still holding her hand, her heart thumped. She was certainly more than his assistant—but how much more?
He turned to her. Their gazes caught and held. Her heart started to go tap-tap-tap. Oh, yes, she was definitely falling for her boss.
