Page 14 of Pregnant in the Italian's Palazzo

The maître d’ still awaited her response and Aria straightened her shoulders, determined not to lose her composure. ‘You can tell Signor Bacchetti that I am flattered by his offer to dine privately, but I am going to have to politely decline. He is quite welcome to join me here atmytable, however.’

‘Signor Bacchetti does not dine with the other guests,’ the man replied, clearly stunned at the audacity of her response.

‘Well, it will be a novel experience for us both, then.’ She took a tiny sip of wine, trying not to react at the sudden nausea it caused as it mixed with her swirling nerves.

The man disappeared from view and it took all of Aria’s control not to crane her neck to look back. After a couple of minutes she gave in and felt her entire body react at the sight of Nysio making his way across the restaurant floor, his gaze filled with intent. He had told her that he shied away from the attention his name got him here in Florence, but she hadn’t truly understood what he’d meant until now. The waitstaff around him bowed their heads in deference, a shocked hush carrying across the restaurant as though he were a celebrity or royalty...or both.

Frantically trying to get her erratic heartbeat under control, Aria remained frozen in her seat until he was but a few steps away, then realised she should probably stand up to greet him. The restaurant was full and it seemed as though every eye was upon them when he finally reached her.

‘Buonasera, Aria.’ His lips curved up ever so slightly on one side and she suddenly had another flashback to that night on the jet.

‘I thought you didn’t dine with other guests,’ she said breathlessly, powerless against the shiver that coursed through her when he leaned in and laid a customary kiss on each of her cheeks. He lingered on the second cheek, his breath fanning over her ear as he paused there for the briefest moment.

‘I usually prefer to dine away from prying eyes, yes. But I think I can tolerate it...in the right company.’ His voice was smooth as silk as he let his eyes wander down over her body for the briefest moment, but it was enough to set her pulse racing all over again. This man was a menace to her composure, an absolute menace.

‘Has no one ever told you it is considered rude to refuse a dinner invitation from the owner of the establishment?’ he said silkily as he helped her back into her chair before sliding into the seat across from her.

‘You...ownthis place?’ She whistled low, looking round at the ornate vaulted ceilings and priceless art that lined the walls. ‘I knew you were wealthy, but clearly you undersold it. I planned to buy you dinner, to thank you for rescuing me in Manhattan, but now I’m wondering if we should split the bill.’ She laughed.

‘You are now here as my guest. There will be no splitting the bill.’ He uttered the phrase with distaste, as though she had deeply offended him, gesturing to the waitstaff nearby to come and take their order. ‘If I had known you were planning to accept my offer, I would have ensured no expense was spared. For now, an upgrade to the penthouse will suffice.’

‘Okay, hold on.’ Aria sat up straight, feeling her irritation rise. ‘You’re rich, I get it. But I didn’t come here to be given a free ride on the luxury billionaire train.’

‘Why did you come, then?’

‘I came to see Florence and I can pay for my own room, Nysio.’

‘You can. But I’d like to show you my Florence, if you’ll let me?’

If she’d thought his accent while speaking English was sexy, his voice as he spoke rapid-fire Italian almost set her aflame. She could do little more than sit and stare as he conversed personally with the chef, gesturing with his hands and pausing to translate and enquire in English about her individual preferences for food. When she explained that she didn’t eat a lot of meat, he ensured that an array of tasting platters was brought out, each dish gourmet and more utterly divine than the last.

Occasionally, he seemed uncomfortable when other diners stared or spoke in hushed whispers, but mostly the meal passed in pleasant conversation as she talked about her recent entrance into unemployment. She attempted to sound relaxed, but he still frowned at her words.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Thanks. I’m okay, though. I actually took some of your advice.’

‘My advice?’

‘I’ve always dreamed of starting up my own lingerie line, but I was comfortable in my job and I told myself I could never do it. But then you told me about how you incorporated your talents into your family business and made it your own...well, I found that quite inspiring.’

As the last of their desserts were cleared away, the air between them had become tense and fraught with countless words it seemed neither of them were quite brave enough to say first. He surprised her by taking her arm and guiding her through the lobby of the hotel where it opened out onto a private courtyard. The sky was rapidly darkening to dusk, making the building glow amber, and tiny golden lamps accented the sprawling fountain in the centre.

‘I think Florence has ruined me for all other cities.’ She sighed with pleasure.

‘Sometimes it feels like that,’ he murmured, seemingly mulling over something in his mind as he paced away from her to inspect a statue in their periphery. When he spoke again, his eyes were more focused. ‘The necklace suits you.’

Trying not to raise a brow at his odd manner, she smiled, her hand instantly moving to the golden pendant resting on her collarbone. ‘It was very kind of you to send it. You didn’t have to replace it.’

‘I felt it was only fair, considering it was my fault the last one was lost.’

Aria’s breath caught as she took in the heat in his eyes and knew that he too was remembering the events from that night. His eyes did not waver from hers. His hand dropped to his side in a clenched fist as though he was trying not to touch her again. Or was she imagining that?

‘I didn’t see the note you sent until this evening. You didn’t respond to my gifts, you told me to stay away. I told you that I would not pursue you and I am a man of my word. But if I had known you were here...’

‘You would have rushed straight to me?’ She laughed, then paused, realising he was completely serious.

‘Without a second thought. Still, it was not soon enough.’ The last word escaped his mouth on a breath and again his hand rose, this time making contact with her skin as he gently grazed the side of her elbow. ‘Aria, I am going to ask you one question and one question only before I do something that I’ve wanted to do from the moment I walked through that door this evening.’

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