Page 44 of Isabella

“Will you excuse me?” I say to Massimo once the server leaves. “I just have to run to the ladies room real quick.”

“Yes, of course. Are you okay?”

I muster up a smile and say, “Yes, definitely. I’ll be right back.”

After finishing in the stall, I wash and dry my hands before checking my appearance in the mirror. I’m about to head back out to Massimo and find out exactly what he meant about Nicco when the bathroom door opens. I pay little attention to it until the sound of a deadbolt locking causes me to dart my attention over to the door in the reflection of the mirror. My heart nearly jumps out of my chest as I take in the heated glare of my intruder.

“What the hell are you doing in here?” I say.

28

NICCOLÒ

Ihad to sneak in through the kitchen of Cucina del Sole. Leo’s cousin’s girlfriend’s little sister or something is dating one of the cooks, so he let me in through the back door. There was no way I’d be able to make it past Rocco without causing a damn scene.

It allowed me to catch Isabella off guard, and put me in an advantageous position. When I saw her get up from the table and head toward the bathroom, I knew that would be my only shot.

I lock the deadbolt to ensure no one can interrupt us. The sound echoes through the bathroom, capturing Isabella’s attention, and she finds my gaze in the mirror.

“What the hell are you doing in here?” she snaps. The corner of my mouth draws up into a smirk as I take in her abrasive attitude and how gorgeous she looks in her tall red boots and beige sweater dress that hugs her body in all the right places. The tie around her waist accentuates her curves, and her long dark waves cascade around her shoulders.

Isabella whips around when I don’t answer her and folds her arms over her chest, giving me a glare that should halt me in my steps, but it doesn’t.

“Why are you giving me that look, Niccolò?” she asks, narrowing her gaze on me.

“What look?” I ask innocently, knowing full well what she’s talking about as I stalk toward her like the predator I am when it comes to what’s mine.

And Isabella is mine.

She drops her hands to her sides and squares her shoulders. “Don’t play dumb. It’s not a cute look on you.”

A sinister laugh comes from deep within my chest, and I close the remaining distance between us in two long strides. Isabella’s hands fly up to my chest, and the heat sears into me through my shirt.

“Nicco,” she gasps.

“Mmm, that’s what I like to hear.” I love the way my name sounds on her lips.It’s been too fucking long.

She presses her fingertips into my chest, but I don’t pull back. I invade her space like she’s been invading my mind, and I cage her in, resting my hands on the edge of the counter I have her pushed up against. Our lips are so close I feel her shallow breaths on mine.

“You can’t be here,” she whispers, her gaze remaining on my chest.

“And why’s that?”

She whips her gaze up to mine, and a fire lights in her dark eyes that could incinerate me on the spot, but I’m here, and I’m not backing down. I’m done giving her space.

“I’m on a date, this is the women’s bathroom, and I don’twantyou here. Would you like me to continue with my reasons as to why you can’t be here?” She attempts to push me away from her again, but I remain rooted in place.

“Why’re you here with Massimo?” I can’t hide the disdain in my voice.

Isabella leans back so she’s practically sitting on the edge of the counter and raises a brow at me. “Massimois quite nice, so why the hellwouldn’tI want to be here with him?”

I growl at hearing his name roll off her tongue and her quickness to defend him. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath before releasing it, doing my best to steady my racing heart.

When I open them again and find Isabella’s, I swear that wall of hers that she’s built so damn high when it comes to me, dismantles for a moment before pushing its way back up, shielding her vulnerability from me.

“How did you even know I was here?” she asks, and while I don’t want to tell her I’ve been having Leo and Dante keep an eye on her, I know lying to her won’t do me any good.

She lets out an amused scoff and shakes her head. “Oh my gosh,” she says, taking her hands off my chest and folding them in front of her. The space is so limited between us, her arms brush against me with each breath she takes. “Don’t tell me you’ve been following me.”

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