Page 62 of Love Lessons
“It’s pricey,” she says quietly. “A hundred euros. It’s a little outrageous. But I wanted you to see it.”
“Money is not one of my issues,” I say, looking at the shirt in the mirror over her dressing table. “Can you snip this tag off? I know I gave you a lot of shit for wanting to shop for me. But I think I like it. Can you do the suits, too, when we’re back in New York?”
She beams like I’ve given her a dozen roses. “It would be mypleasure.”
“Oh, please. I know better ways to give you pleasure. Is tonight the right time for your next lesson?”
Her mouth opens and then closes again. She swallows. “If it’s no trouble.”
I bark out a laugh. “Seriously, contessa. Don’t get too excited. This guy you’re trying to impress—is he going to be bowled over by ‘if it’s no trouble’?”
“Obviously not,” she says, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “But he won’t be doing me some kind of weird favor, either.” She frowns. “Hopefully.”
“Christ.” I put my hands on both her shoulders and give them a squeeze. “We’ve got to work on your self-esteem. Do you think I’m looking forward to tonight because I feel like doing aweird favor?”
“I have no idea,” she says softly. “I made it weird by making it weird, and I don’t know how to make it not weird.”
“Weird is not a concern of mine, doll. I don’t care if I dress weird. I don’t care if I look weird, and I don’t care that you propositioned me for sex lessons. I’m not big on doing sexual favors when I’m not in the mood. But I’m big on doingyou. Have I not made that clear several times?”
She tilts her head and looks up at me with wide brown eyes. Her face is so expressive, she really ought to be an actor. “Yes, I guess you have.”
I have the strongest urge to unbutton my shorts and do her right this second. But someone is yelling “dinnertime!” down the hallway.
So it will have to wait.
TWENTY-ONE
Seduction is Fun
VERA
Dinner tonight is a cookout—grilledburgers and sausages out on the patio. Afterwards, Neil pours us each a glass of prosecco so we can toast the sunset together.
I’m sitting in a lounge chair, feeling lazy and satisfied as the sky turns orange, pink, and then purple. I’m perfectly content.
But then Charli moves off her chair and goes to share Neil’s. He puts an arm around her and kisses her passionately.
And, ouch. It hits me right in the center of the chest. I want what they have. I don’t mean the seven-bedroom villa on Lake Como, although I’d take one of those, too. But I want that magic—I want a man who’s looking forward to being crowded in his chair just so he can kiss me.
Charli is special, though, my inner voice reminds me.A top athlete. Bolder than you by half. And stunningly pretty, too.
“Hey, I’m working on it,” I tell that voice.
“Sorry? What did you say?”
I glance up and see Ian standing over me, holding the bottle of wine. “I was, um, talking to myself. Oops.”
He gives me a smirk. “More hooch?”
“Sure. Thanks.” I hold up my glass, and he squats down beside me and pours out the rest into my glass. “Wait. Don’t you want more?”
“Fuck no. I’m moving on to beer.” He pins me with a hot glance. “Am I invited over later?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “In fact, I was thinking of heading upstairs soon. Give me a head start?”
His smirk returns. “Sure, contessa. Will do. Can’t wait to see what moves you’re going to try on me tonight.” Then he gets up and saunters off.
* * *
