“And if it were? I would not have you punish her,” he said, his voice firming in a way that sent shivers dancing down my back. “She is a dedicated and loyal employee.”
“I wouldn’t punish her,” I said, annoyed that he thought I would do something so terrible for a small lapse in judgment. Mia had done no harm and probably thought she was helping in some way. “Let me guess, you charmed your way into gaining her ticket.”
“Charm is something that comes to me naturally, but I can promise you it wasn’t my intention to get invited. I didn’t even know about tonight until she produced a ticket. However, I was happy to accept.”
“And why is that?”
We paused, and he turned to regard me with open interest as he answered smooth as cream, “Because I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time in Italy than to spend it with you.”
It could be a line but he didn’t have a practiced way about him, and that caused my breath to quicken in the same organic way.
“I have no time for games, Mr. Donato.”
Was that a slight catch in my voice, a subtle quaver that gave away the liquid heat building in my belly? God, I hoped not.
The chemistry between us prickled with intensity and I felt myself losing my edge, which was as dangerous as it was alluring.
I never lost my edge.
Until now.
“I really should’ve had you thrown out,” I murmured as his head dipped toward mine.
“Probably,” he chuckled, seconds before his lips closed over mine.
Dante
KISSING HER HADN’T been the plan but I took opportunity where I found it.
But in all honesty, I’m not even sure when game play had dropped from my brain and my primal instincts took over.
I’ve never been struck by a woman’s beauty, losing all sense of reason over a hot body and pretty face, but for a heartbeat, the only word I could muster to describe how I was feeling was—struck.
Struck by lightning.
Struck by lust.
Struck by awe.
And it was disconcerting as fuck.
That dress, clinging to every hill and valley of her lush body, her breasts high and practically spilling out like candy from a crystal bowl, did crazy things to my head—and other places.
Too many times I’d watched with scorn as men slobbered and made fools of themselves over beautiful women. I never imagined I might fall into the same trap, but in that wild moment I probably would’ve done anything to feel those luscious lips on mine for just a heartbeat.
The kiss ignited something deep inside me but somehow by the grace of God, I pulled myself back to reality and broke away.
This woman—lovely as she might be—stood in the way of my goal. Strategy was in order.
“Before you judge Mia too harshly, she did manage to sell me an entire case of your Riserva, which I had shipped home to my father in New York. I’d say she’s a pretty good saleswoman.”
Cheeks flushed, Alessandra smoothed her dress and nodded, as if trying to regain her mental footing. Her scent still lingered in my nose, citrus and a tease of musk that did terrible things to my ability to focus. She exuded sexuality without trying, moving with effortless grace, yet the roll and sway of her hips were a moving violation.
“Mia’s job is not in jeopardy,” Alessandra assured me, but she was still struggling to put what’d happened into perspective. Our kiss had rattled her. Good—because it’d rattled me, too, but I was better at hiding it.
Every woman I’d ever spent time with paled before Alessandra and I found my tongue sticking uncharacteristically to the roof of my mouth.
“I’m sure kissing me wasn’t your sole intention for this evening. Why did you come here?” she asked.
Straight to the point, she pulled no punches, which I found invigorating. Hell, everything about her excited me right now but I had my game face on. “As I mentioned, I’ve come to enjoy fine wine and finer company. To that end, the evening has already started off well.” We were surrounded by people but it felt as if we were the only two in the courtyard. “Una Notte Magica…a fitting name. There is something magical in the air. Hard to believe how quickly you transformed the grounds from this afternoon into this wonderland.”
“I wear many hats here at Castello di Baroni, the least of which is party planner.” She stopped short and disengaged from my arm, turning to face me, all business. “I know what you’re doing.”
Hot boss lady. I like it. My brow rose with interest. “Oh? Pray tell. Please enlighten me.”
“You’ve crashed my party for a reason. You’re seeking some kind of leverage to use because you think our negotiations are ongoing, which they are not.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’ve lost interest in the winery entirely and I’m simply looking to enjoy a nice evening.”
“I find that highly unlikely.”
“And why is that?”
She lifted her chin, assessing me without apology. “Because you’re the kind of man who doesn’t take no for an answer. Defeat isn’t in your vocabulary. Your arrogance—”
“Confidence,” I corrected.
Alessandra narrowed her gaze. “Arrogance clings to you like that tuxedo. You couldn’t hide or disguise it if you tried. It’s part of your DNA. Even if I told you a million times that you were wasting your time, that we would never sell, you’d still try to win.”
Astute observation. I smiled, pausing to accept two flutes of champagne from a passing attendant, handing her a glass before saying, “The invitation was a bonus. Mia took pity on me for being new to Italy and gave me her invitation. Perhaps she thought I’d make a new friend or two.” Knowing this would hit a chord, I made a point to gesture discreetly to the redheaded woman Alessandra had been standing with. “Perhaps with your friend…she’s quite beautiful.”
I wasn’t disappointed. Alessandra’s eyes flashed and she stiffened as she retorted, “She’s not your type.”
“How would you know my type?” I chided, amused. “You don’t know me.”
“You cannot kiss me and then make eyes at my best friend. Even for an American, that’s low.” Alessandra was quickly becoming my type but the game was afoot and it wouldn’t work to show my hand too early. “Your purchase offer isn’t welcome at Castello di Baroni and your attention isn’t welcome with my friend Sophia. Please don’t make things awkward by making me throw you out.”
That hot-blooded protectiveness was alluring as fuck. My breath quickened as a slow smile followed. “Are you always this delightful to guests?”
“You are not my guest,” she pointed out, sipping her champagne, smiling gracefully to a passerby as we moved through the courtyard to end in a slightly darker section where there were less people. “You are an interloper trying to poach on my property for your own gain.”
I wasn’t going to gain any ground this way. If Alessandra had her guard up every time I was around, I’d certainly lose. I needed a new tactic. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. May we start over?” I asked.
She hesitated, wary. “You assume that I am interested in starting over.”
“I respect your position as the head