Page 44 of Under Her Skin
He did kiss her then, just a light brushing of lips against hers. Hero clenched her fists but didn’t pull away. “Later, then.” His voice was full ofmeaning.
Hero smiled. “Later.”
She waited until he had closed the door and heard the elevator ping down the corridor, before she scooted out and knocked on the room next to hers. Gaudio opened thedoor.
“Hey there.” His big grin made her feel a lot moresecure.
“Got a problem,” Hero said after hugging him. “I might need you to do some serious acting for me tonight to get me out of, well, um…having to sleep with GeorgeGaliano.”
As Gaudio’s eyes opened wide, she grinned and nodded to a chair. “Have a seat. This might take someplanning.”
“No fucking way.”
Hero chuckled. “There’s no way I’m actually going to go through with it. I’ve worked it out with Gaudio. He’s going to interrupt at the appropriatemoment.”
Arturo sighed. “I hate this. I hate not being with you, not being able to protectyou.”
“Don’t worry about me, baby. Have you called youruncle?”
“I have. He’s not doing so good. Peter has been over with him and says if I want to see him, I’d better do it soon. My last remainingfamily.”
“Not true, sweetie, but I know how you feel. I just keep thinking of Melly. I feel in my bones that she’s still alive, but what she’s going through, I just can’t imagine. She’s tough, but whoever this psychois…”
“I know, sweetheart. You have to do whatever you can to find your sister. Hero, I love you. I trust you. That the man’s hands will be on you…Jesus, I want to kill him. But I trustyou.”
“I will never, ever betray thattrust.”
George had obviously dressedfor a seduction. Hero tried to smile at him as he glided into the room. He reminded her of Al Pacino in Scarface. The effect was slightly comical, and Hero channeled her amusement into a welcomingsmile.
“You lookhandsome.”
He kissed her. “And you look ravishing.” He ran his hand down the side of her slinky red dress; Hero tried desperately to not squirm away. “I have to admit, I’ve been thinking about this ever since you came to Como, Hero. The same as every manhere.”
Hero smiled and turned to get her purse. When she turned back, George was closer than she had realized, and he pulled her into his body.God. She could feel his erect cock against her belly, and her stomach flipped indisgust.
“Shall we go down todinner?”
He smiled his snaky smile. “No, I changed the order. We’re eatinghere.”
A knock at the door and he opened it. Three waiters silently pushed three trollies into the room and then left just as quietly. Hero frowned. “Are you thathungry?”
George chuckled. “Just this trolley is our supper, dear one. The rest…is forlater.”
Oh, dear God, what the hell is he playing at?Hero gave a nervous glance to the adjoining door; she hoped like hell Gaudio wouldn’t miss hiscue.
The food was, she had to admit, exquisite. A light dish of marinated salmon, a side salad, and crisp, flame-grilled asparagus. George poured white wine for them. Hero studied him. He really was the most arrogant man she had ever met. She knew he felt sure they would be having sexlater.
Not happening, myfriend.
The thought of him touching her made her want to throwup.
But she smiled and conversed politely, trying to get the measure of him. The more he spoke, the more she was convinced he was too damn stupid to have come up with everything her tormentor had put her through, and moreover, he was too vain to get himself into any bloodletting. He couldn’t live the lifestyle he wanted from behindbars.
After dinner, Hero got up. “Shall we take our wine to thebalcony?”
George smiled. “I don’t think so, Hero. Come now. We both know why I’mhere.”
He got up and took her hand. “Come see the toys I have forus.”
