Page 28 of Tour Wars
Luca’s grip tightened on her arm. “I’d like it if you stayed.” He directed his gaze at TJ. “Would that be a problem for you?”
“No, of course not, but…” TJ caught Emilia’s eye. “It’s late, and…um…Em might not want to walk back to the hotel by herself.”
Before she could respond, Luca spoke up. “She’ll be fine. I’ll make sure she gets back safely.”
The challenge in his voice sent her pulse racing. This wasn’t a man who liked being denied anything. She’d already turned down his offer for lunch when they were at Pompeii. If she didn’t concede this time, he might suspect she was trying to avoid him. As long as they stayed at the restaurant, she’d be safe.
“Do you want me to stay?” TJ asked her.
Yes.But she couldn’t say it, not when his first responsibility was to look after the guests. “I’ll be okay. It’s just one drink.”
He gave a quick nod. “All right, then. I’ll see you tomorrow at the breakfast buffet. We should get there just before it opens.”
She was gripped with the urge to grab his hand and squeeze it for reassurance, but such a bold act would surely upset Luca. “Sounds like a plan. Thanks.”
As he gathered up the guests, she longed to join them but turned back to Luca, her polite smile firmly in place. “Just one drink. I shouldn’t stay too late.”
“I understand. We’ll have a digestivo—a little drink to aid in the digestion. Perhaps some amaretto or sambuca?”
“Amaretto sounds lovely. Thank you.” To be honest, she didn’t want any more alcohol. During dinner, their server had constantly refilled everyone’s wineglasses, making it difficult for her to keep track of exactly how much she’d imbibed.
Once their drinks came, Luca leaned in closer, his voice a soft purr. “Now that we’re alone, I must speak honestly. You look positively radiant tonight. A true goddess. That dress suits you far better than the Buon Viaggio polo shirt.”
Though his praise sent uneasy prickles along her spine, she kept her tone light. “You think so? Don’t tell Angelo because he might be hurt. He loves red so much that it’s the signature color for Buon Viaggio—our tour flags, our polo shirts, the company logo, everything.”
He chuckled. “I suppose it makes for good branding, but I prefer you dressed like this.”
“Um…thanks.”
“I imagine you’re used to receiving compliments from the men on your tour. I’ll bet they can’t keep their eyes off you.”
Stop it. Please.Not only was his behavior inappropriate, but it also reminded her too much of her ex. Right from the start, he’d praised her beauty and acted like she was the most important person in his life. In reality, she’d been anything but. She suspected Luca operated the same way. A manipulative narcissist who knew how to present the best version of himself while hiding a darker underbelly.
She sipped her amaretto slowly, savoring the sweet taste of the almond liqueur. “Will you be joining us for the entire tour?”
“I hope so, but I won’t be able to participate in all our activities in Rome. I need to take care of some business in the city.” He reached over and took her hand. “Am I correct in assuming you won’t be leading tomorrow’s tour?”
“For the next two days, we’ll have local guides who are area experts. TJ and I will be accompanying the group but not leading it. Once we leave Rome, that will change, and we’ll take turns switching off or split everyone into two groups so that we can give them our full attention.”
“Please ensure that I’m inyourgroup, not TJ’s. When we were at Pompeii, your lively presentation was a joy to watch.”
“I’ll do my best.” She cringed inwardly, remembering how he’d behaved. How his eyes had rarely strayed from her figure. How he’d let his hand linger on the small of her back or brush up against her ass. Even TJ had noticed it.
“Wonderful,” Luca said. “I look forward to our days ahead.”
Just where was he going with all this flattery? Was he trying to woo her into bed? Or was she reading too much into tonight’s conversation? Thanks to her ex, she found it hard to trust any man who lavished her with compliments. Maybe Luca was the type who took pleasure in charming women of all ages.
It’s more than that. You need to trust your gut.
When her phone buzzed with a text notification, she flipped it over and glanced at it.
TJ: The guests are secured. Are you okay? Do you need me for backup?
“Everything all right?” Luca asked.
She swallowed, trying to clear the knot from her throat. “Um…yeah. I just had to check in case one of the guests needed me.”
“Do they?”
