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35
Amber
Every head whipped around to the visitors, who were walking through the open doorway into the office. There were two men and two women, all of whom were wearing very expensive suits and had striking Italian features. But it was the man in the center, leading the way, who drew my eye.
When I had heard Jude and Owen describe Mr. Rossi, I pictured someone older. A man with gray hair and a belly. Someone who came fromoldmoney. But the man standing before us was my age, or maybe a few years older.
He was also the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life. And I had seen him once before, although I didn’t know it at the time. He was the other man with Owen on the rooftop the night of my sister’s birthday party.
Mr. Rossi strode into the room with the commanding grace of someone who had been born in the well-fitted Italian suit he was wearing. He was tall and lean, but with a hint of whipcord strength to his movements. He had a prominent aquiline nose, and sharp, yet warm, eyes behind it. His skin made me think of olive trees. His dark hair was thick and wavy, and I had never seen the high cheekbones and strong jawline on anyone other than male models. His face wasunnervinglybeautiful, like he was an actual Greek god that had come down from Mount Olympus to live among actual humans.
Not a Greek god, I thought with a flutter in my stomach.A Roman one.
Mr. Rossi smiled around the room as if we were all good friends rather than potential business acquaintances. Nancy outright gasped like a fangirl. When his eyes settled on me once again, I felt an intense compulsion to do whatever he wanted.
“This word,cunt-waffle,” he repeated, dark eyebrows tilting in a contemplative frown. “What is its meaning?”
Dave snickered. Nancy’s eyes went as wide as saucers. Both Wills stared at me like I had doomed us all.
Melinda came to our rescue, rushing forward with a reassuring smile. “It is American slang, Mr. Rossi! A term of endearment. For someone who is doing a good job. Isn’t that right?”
“Of course,” I said, and I was echoed by Owen and Jude and the other ACS employees.
“Ah, of course,” Mr. Rossi said warmly. “My English, I learned it in the United Kingdom, where such a word would probably be used as an insult. I am unfamiliar with American slang. Owen! It is such a pleasure to be seeing you again.”
I relaxed as he shook hands with Owen, and Jude, and then some of the other employees. He kissed everyone on both cheeks, and Nancy looked like she might faint on the spot. When his gaze turned to me, he paused as if he had just discovered something that surprised him.
“And who is this?” he asked in a soft, yet deep, voice.
“This is Amber Moltisanti,” Owen said, “our Senior Engineer.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Rossi,” I said.
He took my hand. “Please, I insist you call me Furio.” He bent at the waist to kiss the back of my hand, then embraced me as he had the others. His breath was minty and his lips were warm as he kissed both of my cheeks. It seemed so much slower, more intimate, than how he had done it to the others. His cologne was faint but prominent, something unique that I had never smelled before, and it added a whole bunch of exclamation points to what he said next.
“You are the most exquisite woman I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes upon,” Furio breathed.
The comment would have been out of line from most people. Yet from someone like Furio Rossi, it seemed as natural as a polite smile. He said it as if it were not a compliment, but a fact about the world. Rome was the capital of Italy, the sky was blue, and Amber was the most exquisite woman Furio had ever laid eyes on.
A flutter went through my stomach as he smiled warmly at me. Every lightswitch in my body had been flicked on, and I was bright and warm andawake.
What do I say to that? I feel like I’m gawking back at him!
He must have thought I was uncomfortable, because he quickly took my hand in his and said, “Please excuse me if I have been too friendly. In Italy we are often too forward with our compliments, and I do not want them to be misunderstood.”
“No, you’re fine,” I replied.Oh, you’re fine all right.
Furio introduced his four colleagues to the group, and I shook their hands and nodded, but I didn’t hear a word that was said. My eyes were totally locked onto the suave Italian man, Italianbillionaire, who was speaking with Jude a few feet away. He stood casually with a hand in his pocket, the pants hugging his ass like it was their job. I was so focused on it that I missed what one of the Italian lawyers said to me, but I managed to cover it up by nodding and agreeing with them.
Owen clapped Furio on the back and guided him toward the conference room. Furio glanced over his shoulder, giving me a final mischievous smile before disappearing inside.
I shivered, but in a good way.He’s not at all how I imagined him.
“Cunt-waffle,” Melinda muttered next to me. “Of course hehadto walk in at that moment.”
I cringed as I remembered it all over again. “Oh, shit. I’m so sorry!”
She gave me another look, then followed the others into the conference room.
