Page 5 of Hidden Heir, Italian Wife

Bree blossomed under his attention, leaning in and talking animatedly with her hands. When she accidentally brushed her ankle against his shin beneath the table, awareness sparked in her belly and never abated. At one point, he caught her wrist so he could study her bracelet, which was a pretty silver bangle she’d bought in Florence with a matching one for her mother. He caressed her wrist before releasing her, leaving her bloodstream fizzing like champagne.

He asked about her degree, which was in business administration. She told him about her father’s suggestion she work in health care, which had been one of the few times he’d taken a moment to show an interest in her life.

“He’s a heart surgeon so I know how demanding the health care sector is. I’d prefer something with lower stakes that might have opportunities for travel. I’ll see what’s available when I get home.”

“Where’s that?”

“Virginia. Is all your family in New York? Do you get home much?”

“They are, but I prefer Italy.” His tone cooled enough to let her know that’s all he wanted to say about it. “What does your mother do?”

“She’s a model. My father was still in school when I was born. Times were tight so she took any work that was offered. I still sometimes walk into a bank and see my mother’s face on a poster, advertising high-yield savings accounts.”

His mouth tilted, then the heat of admiration filtered into his gaze. “If you look like her, I can imagine she’s in high demand. Your eyes are like this water. Blue? Green? Changeable and enigmatic.”

“A misrepresentation. I’m actually very boring.” She resisted putting her sunglasses back on, feeling naked.

“I disagree.”

She reminded herself he was only doing what he’d said he would do, but she was charmed all the same. He was so ridiculously attractive! Her gaze kept attaching itself to his mouth and watching his expressive hands and staring into his eyes. She wanted to touch his hair and press against his chest and tuck her face into the nook of his throat.

The sexual tension simmered as they chatted through their exquisitely prepared meal, splitting a bottle of wine, then lingering over espresso and sharing a pistachio granita.

As their last dishes were removed, Bree looked for their server. “I was serious about buying my own meal.”

“Don’t insult me. It’s already taken care of.”

“When? It takes more than lunch to seduce me, you know.” It was a lie. She was already looking forward to their goodbye kiss. Already thinking about more.

“I haven’t even started trying to seduce you,bella. You’ll know when I do.” His gaze met hers and sent a hot spear of pure lust into her belly, exploding with heat in her loins. “Where is your luggage?”

“At my pied-à-terre. I booked it before my girlfriend asked me to meet her in Zurich so I—” she cleared her throat “—have it until I leave this evening.”

“I’ll walk you.”

Her knees felt too weak to support her as they left. Alphonso waved them off without presenting a bill, but she had lost interest in that. Her world had become the smooth hand that clasped hers as she led Jax down the hot shadows of the streets between the closely set buildings. Her stomach was full of butterflies, her senses piqued with anticipation.

“I’ve never done this,” she confessed, pressing her shoulder against his so she could keep her voice down. “Brought someone home who I’ve just met.”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” His hand loosened on hers, offering to let her pull away.

“I do want to.” She tightened her grip and drew him up the outer stairs to the tiny, wrought iron porch of the studio flat.

The single room was dim and cool. She’d closed the blinds against the sunshine before leaving this morning, but the spicy fragrance of the nasturtiums in the window box filled the air. There was a double bed, a small table over a red area rug, and a kitchenette with a microwave and a kettle.

“I’m nervous,” she admitted as he closed the door behind them. “I’ve always considered myself a relationship person. It feels strange that this isn’t the start of one. Which I don’t expect,” she hurried to add. “Frankly, I don’twantanything serious. I want rebound sex. I just don’t know how to do it.”

“Allow me to show you.” He drew her toward him and pressed her back to the door.

Her heart spun as she reoriented herself with her naked shoulder blades against cool wood. Her hands reflexively went to his chest as he braced his arm over her head and dipped his mouth toward hers.

Wow. His chest was warm and contoured andsolid. Deliciously intriguing.

“This, by the way, is me seducing you,” he teased, and his lips brushed hers.

An electric buzz shot through her system. Her lips parted, but he didn’t accept the invitation. He nuzzled her cheekbone and temple, nibbled the rim of her ear, murmured something in Italian that sounded pretty and was probably filthy.

His free hand caressed her throat and drew a line along her shoulder and down her upper arm, making her nipples tighten with anticipation, but he didn’t touch her breasts. He only trailed those tickling caresses along the skin of her arm while she tried to chase his lips.

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