a pleasant change, Alessandro mused as he sipped his coffee.
‘It’s been a lovely day.’ It was the truth, she acknowledged simply. ‘Thank you.’
He took hold of her hand and lifted it to his lips. ‘My privilege.’
Her eyes widened a little as she met his own, and for a few timeless seconds she couldn’t look away.
I don’t know where you’re going with this. Worse, why did she have this instinctive feeling he was several steps ahead of her? Steps leading where? Surely nowhere other than friendship.
And if so, why the sense of disappointment? It didn’t make sense.
Because you don’t want it to make sense.
Such contrariness didn’t bode well for her peace of mind as she gathered her composure. ‘Shall we leave?’
Alessandro summoned the waitress, paid the bill, then he rose to his feet and escorted Lily from the trattoria.
It was almost eleven when they drew to a halt outside the entrance to Sophia’s villa, and she released her seat belt with one hand and reached for the door-clasp with the other.
‘I have my key,’ Lily said quickly. ‘There’s no need for you to …’
Except he had already slid out from the car, and her remaining words remained unsaid as he crossed to her side, took the key from her fingers and inserted it into the front door.
‘Goodnight, Lily,’ he intoned gently. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow evening.’
She looked at him blankly.
‘A party given by one of Sophia’s dearest friends to celebrate her daughter Anabella’s engagement,’ Alessandro revealed.
How could it have slipped her mind? ‘Of course. Sophia mentioned it this morning. Goodnight.’ She moved indoors, locked up and reset the alarm as Sophia had demonstrated, then she crossed the foyer and ascended the stairs to her suite.
A small dinner party with friends to celebrate the host’s daughter’s engagement would make for a pleasant evening, Lily reflected as she ran a last-minute check. Black evening trousers, a stunning red silk chiffon blouse, black cropped jacket, which she’d remove on arrival, evening purse, black stilettos. Hair in an elegant upswept knot, diamond ear-studs, pendant and bracelet.
Good to go, she decided as she exited her suite and descended the stairs to join Sophia in the lobby.
‘Have I kept you waiting?’
‘Not at all,’ Sophia reassured. ‘Alessandro has just arrived. I was about to open the door.’
Which she did, and he stood in the wide aperture, a tall dark-haired figure in an immaculately tailored suit, exuding an overwhelming sense of masculine power.
‘Sophia, Lily.’
‘Caro,’ Sophia greeted with a smile as she accepted the brush of his lips to her cheek, while Lily flashed him a silent please don’t message, which he naturally ignored.
This close, even briefly, he stirred her senses and sent the blood coursing through her veins as she took in the subtle aroma of his cologne, the faint hint of freshly laundered clothing.
For one totally wild moment she had the craziest feeling her body swayed towards his of its own accord, something she immediately corrected, and missed the faint narrowing of his eyes.
Everything took on a different look at night, Lily mused as the car took a route leading towards the hills. Lights sparkled in the distance, providing a delicate tracery against the indigo sky.
Small was a misnomer, Lily decided as she saw the number of cars lining a large circular driveway leading to a magnificent three-storied villa set in beautiful softly illuminated grounds.
They were greeted by their host, then escorted by a staff member to what could only be termed a large ballroom where an impressive number of guests mingled while staff circled offering trays of canapés, champagne and wine.
Lily recognized a few familiar faces, guests she’d met on a few previous occasions over the past week, and during the ensuing half hour she received introductions to those remaining.
As well as the host’s daughter, Anabella, and her fiancé Enrico.
The couple looked so happy, with eyes only for each other, and the secret smile that lovers had, convinced that love alone would surmount whatever life could throw at them.
Had she been that happy on the night of her engagement to James? Content was the word that came to mind. Aware, perhaps, that she had everything she needed, having achieved much, and settling with a good partner was the next step.
At the time she’d thought it was love. How wrong she had been.
Focus, Lily bade silently. You discovered the fallacy and escaped before any real damage was done. Not all men are like James. Yet her confidence in judging men had taken a battering. It was simpler to avoid them, and as for considering a relationship … forget it.
A light touch at her waist brought her sharply back to the present as Alessandro settled his hand at the small of her back, and a slight feathery sensation slid down her spine.
Nerves, she accorded … and knew it was more.
Awareness. Sensual recognition. Sexual chemistry.
All three. And nothing she did, even attempting psychological analysis, and how crazy was that, was successful in diffusing the warmth, the heat, he generated in her body.
Not once in her life had she experienced such a reaction or felt so confused by it.
Hopefully any minute soon Alessandro would choose to mix and mingle, acknowledge friends and she could breathe easily again.
Except he remained at her side … there, almost as if he knew his presence affected her, and determined to press the advantage.
‘Sophia, a moment of your time, if you please.’
‘Of course,’ her aunt granted graciously as she excused herself and moved away a few paces to confer.
‘Nothing to say, Lily?’ Alessandro posed lightly, and she found it remarkably easy to summon a stunning smile.
‘What would you like to discuss? Fiscal affairs, the current oil spill? That should fill a void.’
He lifted a hand and trailed light fingers down her cheek, caught a glimpse of fleeting emotion in her eyes before it was quickly masked. Pain? Vulnerability? Perhaps both … and wondered why it should matter so much. ‘You have no need to feel nervous,’ Alessandro said gently.
She didn’t want gentle. Dammit, she didn’t want to play the musing conversational game—light innocuous words without substance that meant little.
‘Why should I be nervous?’ For a moment she held his gaze, and his soft laughter curled round her nerve-ends. Not the most comfortable sensation, Lily admitted as she held up a hand and began ticking off each finger.
‘Today I’ve had breakfast with Sophia, a sojourn in Como, shopping, followed by lunch, and more shopping.’
‘That is all?’
No, it wasn’t. Except she had no intention of revealing another email from James had appeared in her inbox, a further missive citing remorse, empty promises and begging for another chance. Another email she’d chosen to ignore.
She tilted her head a little and regarded him with deliberate solemnity. ‘Why don’t you tell me about your day?’
Alessandro’s eyes gleamed with humour. ‘Corporate meetings, a linked video conference, lunch with an associate.’
‘And now you’re here, socializing and doing duty with Sophia’s niece.’