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‘You see why it has to be perfect? Please, Sophie, say yes. I’ll be in your debt for ever.’
Marco knew not many people were able to resist Bianca when she turned the full force of her charm on them and Sophie was no different. ‘I suppose I could take a few more days off work. I have a lot of holidays saved up. I’m not a miracle worker,’ she warned his sister, ‘but I’ll do my best. Okay, if you really want me to, I’ll stay, but, honestly, you might be better off consulting a professional.’
‘I am so happy.’ Bianca clapped her hands. ‘When can you take a look? Tomorrow?’
It was time to intervene. ‘Tomorrow, Bianca, Sophie belongs to me. You can have her the rest of the week. No...’ as she tried to interrupt ‘...you need to practice patience, my child. Sophie, there’s someone over here I would like to introduce you to. Bianca has been monopolising you long enough.’ He pulled Sophie to her feet, giving his pouting sister a mock bow. ‘Arrivederci, Bianca.’
‘Who are you introducing me to?’ Sophie asked as he walked her away from the party, opening a door hidden in the ballroom panelling and ushering her into the small adjoining salon, lit only by a few low lamps. ‘I hate to break it to you, but the party is that way and there’s no one here. Unless it’s some ancestor of yours,’ she added, looking up at the huge portraits hanging over the mantelpiece. ‘He doesn’t look overly impressed with your choice of date.’
‘That’s my great, great, many more greats grandfather Lorenzo Santoro. He didn’t approve of anyone or anything by all accounts, a problem in pleasure-loving Venice.’
‘I won’t take it personally, then.’ She turned and faced him, her hair gleaming gold in the low lights, the dress swaying seductively around her thighs. ‘So if you don’t want to introduce me to Lorenzo, then who am I here to meet?’
‘Me. I haven’t seen you since New Year’s Eve, almost a week ago, and I’ve neglected you shamefully since you got here. I think it’s time I made amends.’ He noted with some satisfaction how her colour rose at his words, tinging her cheeks, throat and décolletage a delicate rose pink.
‘Oh...’ She looked up at him then, the blue eyes earnest. ‘Marco, it was really nice of you to ask me here in the first place. I’d really hate for you to think I was trying to force you into extending my invitation. Your sister seems so worried about her dress, I offered to help and the next thing I knew...’
‘Sophie, I know exactly what my sister is like, please don’t worry. If you wish to stay for the wedding, then I would love for you to do so, but if she railroaded you...’
‘She did, but it’s not exactly a hardship to stay here and explore Venice a bit more.’
‘Then it’s settled, you stay. And, Sophie?’
‘Yes?’
He took a step closer. ‘Let’s get one thing straight. I wasn’t being nice when I asked you here.’
‘You weren’t?’
‘Not at all. I wanted to see you again.’ His gaze dropped to her full mouth. ‘I wanted to renew our acquaintance.’
‘To renew our acquaintance?’ she echoed. ‘So that’s what they call it nowadays.’
Another step. ‘Do you know what this room is?’
That elusive, kissable dimple peeked out at the corner of her mouth. ‘Another room for unsuspecting guests to get lost in?’
‘Did you see how the door was almost hidden in the panelling? It’s an assignation room. Ancestors would slip away in the middle of a ball to meet their lovers here discreetly.’
‘Not Grandfather Lorenzo surely?’
‘Probably not him. But the rest of the Santoros. We’re a degenerate lot.’
‘Consider me warned. So, Signor Santoro, did you bring me here for nefarious purposes?’
His voice was soft but full of intent and satisfaction ran through him as he saw her shiver, her eyes dilating at his words. ‘I wanted to say hello to you properly.’
‘And how were you planning to do that?’
She was teasing him, leading him exactly where she wanted him to go, exactly where he wanted to be. Here, now, no need to plan or think ahead. Just two people enjoying all the benefits of mutual attraction. He took another step and then another, backing her up until she hit the wall, her breath coming in short pants. Slowly but with absolute intent Marco put one arm on the wall and leaned in so she had to look up at him, her body guarded by his, surrounded by his. It took all his strength not to pull her in close, crush her against him, not to lose himself in that mouth, that small perfect body, her sweet-smelling hair. ‘Hello.’
