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“Headlines be damned. Once they get to know you, they’ll realize what is written in the papers is garbage. In a few weeks no one in Monte Calanetti will even care about Luscious Louisa.”
“From your lips...”
While they were talking, he’d moved closer, narrowing the space between them until he stood no more than a foot away. Close enough she could see the dark hair peering out from the open collar of his shirt and smell the spicy citrus of his aftershave. “Louisa,” he said, his gentle voice sounding as though he were stating the simplest of truths. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the truth about a person.”
“Don’t be so sure. There’s an entire town back in Massachusetts that could prove you wrong.”
Nico chuckled. Despite the gap between them, his fingers had somehow found their way into her hair and were combing the strands away from her face. “You’re being dramatic, bella mia. I’m sure your true friends knew better.”
“They might have, if I’d had any.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” Distracted by his touch, she’d opened a door she hadn’t meant to open. “Like you said, I’m being dramatic.”
He didn’t believe her, but Louisa didn’t care. She’d revealed enough secrets for one day.
“I’m tired,” she said instead. “It’s making me say silly things.”
“You should get some rest, then.”
Easier said than done. True rest had eluded her for years. The last time she’d relaxed—truly relaxed—had been when? The first few months of her marriage? Such a long time ago.
Dear Lord, but she was tired of being on guard, and Nico’s touch felt so wonderfully comforting. With a soothing brush of his hand, her resistance slipped a little further. It felt so good having someone on her side. Nico’s shoulder was right there. Broad, capable, strong. Would it be so bad if she leaned on him for just a little bit? She was so very tired of being alone.
With a soft sigh escaping her lips, she curled into him.
“It’s all right,” she heard Nico whisper as his arms wrapped around her. “I’m here. I’ll take care of everything.”
* * *
This was a first for Nico. Taking a woman in his arms without any intention of making love to her. But as he drew her close, her sweet floral scent wrapping itself around him, his only thought was of reassurance. He knew why, of course. Louisa’s cool and distant mask had slipped, and the vulnerability he saw deepened the queer sense of protectiveness she’d awakened in him. Every time, the depth of what he was feeling shocked him. What was it about this blonde American that made him want to fly to America and strangle every reporter in the country personally for causing her such pain?
At least he could make sure the European press didn’t copy their American colleagues, even if he had to physically throw every paparazzo in Italy off his property. Cradling her head against his shoulder, he whispered. “It’s all right. I’ll take care of everything.”
Instantly, she stiffened. “No,” she said pulling out of his embrace. “Don’t.”
Nico opened his mouth to argue, expecting to see the same indignant expression he’d seen at the wedding, the last time she reacted this way. The color had drained from her face, turning her so pale her skin nearly matched the white blond of her hair. Her eyes were pale, too, as though she were struggling to keep fear from invading their depths.
If he didn’t know better, he’d say she seen a ghost.
What had he done? Or had something else happened in Boston, something more than the paparazzi trapping her in her home?
She blinked and the expression disappeared. Back was the Louisa he knew best. Distant and guarded. “It was wrong of me to lean on you like that,” she said. “I lost myself for a second. It won’t happen again.”
“There’s nothing wrong with turning to a friend when you’re upset.” He wondered if the word friend sounded as wrong to her ears as it did his. Surely holding a friend didn’t feel as good as holding Louisa did. There was an amazing rightness in the way her body connected with his.
“I know, but...” She looked past him, to the window that looked into the front office. Inside, Vitale and Mario could be seen talking. “You’ve already done enough, letting me hide here.”
That wasn’t what she was going to say. She was worried what others would think.
“You are not hiding; you are working. Believe me, it is you who will be doing me the favor.”
“Do you invite all your employees to stay at your house?”
