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The words seemed sincere. There was one way to find out, however. “You will do a favor for me.”
His jaw tightened, but he could not refuse me. “You have my word.”
“Don’t you want to know what it is?”
“Why? Are you giving me a choice?”
Smart man. “No, I am not.”
“Then we should not discuss it further. I will give you the name and number of my assistant. You schedule it through her.” He drew in a deep breath. “And I have a request of my own.”
The fucking nerve. I sneered. “You presume to bargain with me?”
“The sooner we discover who wants Giulio dead, the sooner we leave. Do you have an untraceable laptop I can borrow to do some digging?”
I was amenable to offering assistance, seeing as how I wanted them gone as quickly as possible. “I will do you one better. But you must agree to another favor.”
I could see the look on his face, the conclusion he’d drawn. I held up my hands. “It’s not another job. I don’t want—” I flicked a glance at the pair out on deck, then lowered my voice. “I don’t want him to know. You and Ravazzani can’t tell him. Ever.”
“Ever? That is a big favor.” He stared at me for a long moment, turning this over. “How do I know what you offer in exchange is worth it?”
“It is worth it. How do you think I learned your identity so quickly?”
He pressed his lips together, but said, “Fine.”
“Mon grand! Were you missing me?”
I turned as Theo approached, the tension in my shoulders easing as I watched him. His body in that tiny bathing suit was something criminal. Sleek lines and smooth muscles, he was every fantasy I’d ever had come to life.
I was already on my feet when he drew close. I couldn’t resist pulling him to me for a kiss, not even caring who saw. “Always, solnyshko.”
Theo pushed me onto the sofa and slid onto my lap. His skin was warm and silky, and I noticed he’d painted his fingernails a deep violet today. I picked up his hand and kissed the back of it.
Theo rested his forehead against my temple. “Do you like my polish?”
“I do. Why purple?”
“First, this is aubergine, and second, because it matches the sweater I am wearing to dinner tonight.”
“Is this sweater one of your designs?”
“Yes.”
“Then I know I will love it.”
He flicked the collar of my shirt. “Why don’t you have any of my clothes? Your closet is full of every designer except for me.”
Honestly, I had no idea. I never went shopping and hired someone to do it for me. The brand of clothes wasn’t important to me—but I was smart enough not to say this to Theo. “I will ask my personal shopper to buy some.”
“Don’t bother. I will send you some pieces.” He smoothed his palms over my chest. “Maybe design a few new ones.”
The edges of my mouth curled. “I would like that. I would like to know that you’re thinking about me when we are apart.”
He sighed heavily. “You know I will be thinking about you. I have a terrible suspicion I’ll be unable to do little else.”
My chest expanded with the same strange happiness I experienced only around this man. I’d begged and pleaded for another trip together because I couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing him again. The promise of spending the holidays together would be the only way I’d endure the next few months without him.
“Same, luchik,” I admitted.
