Page 30 of Incognito

No, she didn’t have time to date. She’d be better off sticking to the plan of getting rid of Clay once and for all and trying to save Telford Towers in the process.

“Everything is organised. The store will gift wrap and deliver Paolo’s present.” Dante appeared before her, rubbing his hands together like he’d successfully conducted state business rather than negotiating a simple toy purchase. “Are you ready to leave?”

“Uh-huh.” She smiled, enjoying his enthusiasm, marvelling at how easy it felt to be in his company.

No pressure, no expectations, just a laid-back vibe she’d never experienced with a guy before. Her time with Clay had been fraught with tension once the initial starstruck stage wore off; he’d seemed so polished, she’d always been afraid of making a faux pas. She’d aimed to please; he’d always find fault no matter how small or insignificant.

Yet with Dante, she felt more relaxed than she had in ages. Strange, considering her problems hadn’t eased. If anything, with every day that passed, the screws on Telford Towers tightened.

Determined not to ruin the evening they’d had, Natasha banished her morbid thoughts and turned to Dante. “Are you hungry? Perhaps we could grab dinner along with that coffee?”

He grinned, his face lighting up. “I didn’t want to push my luck.”

“Push away,” she said, actually winking at a guy for the first time in her life—while inwardly cringing at how pathetic she must look.

“Dinner it is.”

They rode the escalator down one floor, before leaving the department store and heading for a quaint trattoria, complete with old wooden tables, red and white checked tablecloths, and candles stuck into empty Chianti bottles, across the road.

“You do like Italian food?” She managed to keep a straight face at his surprised look.

“Of course. I’m Italian—” He broke off as she laughed and he shook his head. “You are teasing me. Or as I’ve heard people in your country say, you are ‘pulling my leg?’ My sister has gained this same strange sense of Australian humour. It confuses me.”

“No worries, mate.”

Natasha’s exaggerated Aussie drawl seemed to confuse Dante further as his brow crinkled in consternation, so she led the way into the restaurant and chose a table near the front window, determinedly ignoring the cosier, romantic options tucked away at the back.

“What’s your sister like? You haven’t said much about her.” She slid into the chair Dante held out for her, silently thrilled by his old-fashioned manners. “I have to admit, I’m surprised she’s giving you total control over her son’s birthday party. And even more surprised you’re staying at a hotel for your week of anonymity instead of with her.”

Dante’s frown deepened. “Our relationship is complicated.”

Intrigued, Natasha leaned forward. “Okay, now you have to tell me about her.”

He sighed, worry tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Gina is a wonderful woman, but a little self-absorbed. She loves to be spoiled and expects everyone around her to lavish her with attention, including me, who’s been aware of her games since childhood.”

That explained why he’d reacted to her barb at the toy shop about him spoiling Paolo. He didn’t want his nephew to end up like his sister.

And despite Dante saying his sister was wonderful, Natasha already had an impression of a selfish rich princess who was so self-absorbed she couldn’t be bothered organising her son’s birthday party.

For someone who had worked in the family business forever, she didn’t abide laziness or ego, and it sounded like Gina had both in spades.

“Gina has had my mother twisted around her little finger since birth, but being a female and not in direct succession to the throne, she hasn’t had the same responsibilities in Calida that I have.”

The tensions bracketing his mouth deepened. “Once Gina became of age, no-one could control her. I think Mother was relieved to have her meet an Australian cattle baron after she travelled the world, get married so quickly, and settle here.”

A rebel princess. Looked like that particular trait ran in the family.

“And she’s lived here ever since?”

Dante nodded, his brooding expression darkening his eyes to midnight. She’d never seen him so serious and she bet there had to be more to this story than he’d revealed.

“Gina is a single mother now. I don’t blame her husband for leaving.” He shrugged. “Not many men could live with someone as pushy and opinionated as her. Hence, why I chose to stay in a hotel during my time in your country. I love my sister, but living with her, even for a week after all this time apart, would drive me insane.”

Natasha didn’t know whether to feel sorry for Gina or judge her more harshly. Could she be as bad as Dante said, to the point she’d driven away her husband?

“Is she that bad, or is this a case of sibling rivalry? The poor prince gets saddled with all the tough responsibilities because he’s the heir, while his little sister gets to run wild?”

His look could’ve frozen Hades. “I don’t blame her for wanting freedom, but I do blame her for bringing a helpless child into this world and making him suffer for his mother’s mistakes.”

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