Page 76 of My Italian Love Affair

Where the tension stretches between us, tight like a wire about to snap.

Where her chest rises and falls just a little too quickly, and I can practically hear her thoughts screaming at her to pull away even as she stays perfectly still.

“I can show you,” I murmur, my voice lower now, rougher. “If you like.”

Her pulse hammers beneath my fingers, her breathing shallow.

I watch as her pretty pink tongue slips out to wet her lips, and that does something to me.

I swear she’s about to close the distance - her fingers tightening slightly against my wrist, her body leaning in just the smallest fraction - when suddenly, something shifts.

A flicker of awareness flashes across her face, like she’s just remembered herself.

Just remembered whatthisis.

She blinks, and then pulls away.

Her hands press against my chest, not forceful, but firm enough to put space between us; and just like that, the moment is gone.

Daphne exhales sharply, as if trying to physically push the moment away along with me. I watch as she squares hershoulders, tilts her chin up, and fixes me with the kind of look that tells me I’m about to get a dressing down.

Heaven knows how much I love it when she does that.

“Listen to me, Rossi,” she says, her voice tight, controlled. “I might have to tolerate you. I might have to work with you. But don’t mistake that for anything more.”

“Tolerateme? That’s a bit harsh,” I smirk.

She ignores me, which is disappointing.

Ilovegetting under her skin.

“And just so we’re crystal clear, I donothave a crush on you. I don’t evenlikeyou. In fact, I find you incredibly annoying -”

“Annoying?” I interrupt, feigning offense.

“Yes. You’re smug, you’re arrogant, you have an ego the size of this entire stadium.”

“Careful,giornalista,” I murmur. “You’re starting to sound obsessed.”

She splutters as her hands clench into fists at her sides.

“You. Are.Unbearable.”

I tilt my head as my eyes flicker over her pretty face.

“You know, you seem to notice a lot about me. My ego, my attitude, my habits. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s almost like you pay very,veryclose attention.”

“I’mpaidto be here,” she tells me. “I’mpaidto tolerate you - tonoticeyou, to pay attention.”

I grin, loving every second of this.

“Are yousureyou don’t have a little crush,bella?” I tease.

“Absolutely positive.”

“That’s a shame. BecauseIthink aboutyoua lot.”

I let my gaze drag lazily down her body before flicking back up to meet hers.

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