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I start the music, sending my playlist to the speaker on the patio, and jump headfirst into the pool. I complete several laps before I sense a shadow at the edge. I reemerge and my eyes meet Gio’s, scolding me.
I tilt my head, submerging my hair. I don’t break the gaze. What is he pissed about? I push out of the pool and stand in front of him.
He’s in a shirt, a vest and dress slacks. So handsome. I’m dripping water, my body tanned and barely covered with my skimpy white bikini.
Gio’s eyes lick my body with a gaze that burns and leaves goosebumps at the same time. He licks his upper teeth.
“The water is wonderful. You should try it.” I don’t move to get a towel, ignoring my body’s reaction to his presence.
Hard nipples. Check. Clenched core. Check. Elevated heart rate. Check.
“I had a conference call, and you’re playing the music too loud.” But his tone doesn’t match the scolding in his expression. Probably because it’s not just my body reacting. Tent in his pants. Check.
“Why don’t you have fewer conference calls and more time by the pool? What happened on that call that couldn’t have waited?” I put my hands on my hips, smiling. “It’s fun here on the lake. You should give it a chance.”
He glares at me, his eyes dropping to my chest more than he’d like based on the clenched jaw. He adjusts his cuffs and strolls away. Well, I can’t call this a win, but it’s a tie.
He retreats to the house, but before he disappears behind the glass wall of doors, I notice his fingers tapping on his thigh. The rhythm can’t be mistaken for a nervous tick. It matches the music blaring from the speakers.
My smile grows bigger. Perhaps it’s only patience I need to make this work.
That patience dies when Gio comes back out half an hour later and announces he has to leave for several days.
* * *
I spend the next few days trudging around the property and talking to Hilda about my potential future. I don’t give her details of the state of my relationship and she doesn’t pry, but she gives me some very good financial advice.
On the third day, I go to the town where I scheduled a tour with a local guide. I might as well tourist the shit out of it before I leave.
A young man—tanned, all muscles and delicious smiles—meets me in front of a cafe. He looks more like an underwear model than a tour guide, but God does it feel good to have a man smile at me genuinely. It’s not the burning smile Gio is capable of, but this girl is starved for attention.
“I’m Ricardo.” He kisses my hand. “Would you like to start with the funicular and see the lake from the mountain, or do you prefer a tour of the town, signorina?”
“Hi Ricardo. Call me Mila. I’d love to see the lake from up there.” I shield my eyes with my hand.
“Let’s go then.” He puts his hand on the small of my back and I tense. But his intention is to steer me in the right direction, so I relax and let him guide me.
We spend several hours enjoying the sights and views, and when we finally return to the main square I’m famished, but also fully sated.
“Would you like to grab a meal, Ricardo?” I offer, because I don’t want to eat alone again.
He takes my hand, winks at me and kisses my knuckles, bowing. “I’ll be delighted to join you for a meal.” I can’t help but giggle at his over-the-top flirting. I’m not interested in him in the slightest, but it’s fun, and over the course of the day with him I pushed my sadness to the side.
“Let go of her now.”
We both startle and Ricardo drops my hand like it burns. My eyes meet Gio’s. Dressed in his three-piece suit, his fists clenched at his sides. His nostrils flare, and his jaw might dislocate if he doesn’t relax it soon.
I smile broadly, pretending to be unfazed by the encounter. Who does he think he is? After ignoring me for weeks, he pulls this caveman routine. “Gio, this is Ricardo—”
“I don’t fucking care who he is,” Gio spits, killing me with a look of hatred. “Leave. Now,” he orders the guide.
Ricardo looks at me, wide-eyed, silently asking if it’s okay to leave me with the lunatic in the suit. If I was smart enough to protect myself from Gio, I wouldn’t be in Italy in the first place.
I curl my lips gently up and nod. Ricardo scurries away.
“What the fuck?” I snap.
“I leave and you immediately find yourself a boy toy?” He grabs my elbow and drags me across the square.
