Taming the Notorious Sicilian

He was not his father. If this young cheat had tried any such behaviour in any of Salvatore’s businesses, he would have disappeared. For ever.

Rules were rules, even if they were only unwritten. They were there for a reason.

His father would never have dreamed of breaking them....

* * *

Hannah nursed her strong coffee, gazing absently at the huge flat-screen television against a wall of the bar showing music videos. She didn’t want to think of what was happening on the floor above her. If she thought about it hard enough she might just scream.

But when she tried not to think about it, thoughts of Melanie’s wedding filled the space instead.

How could she endure it? Every morning she woke knowing the nuptials were one day closer, the knot in her belly tightening another notch.

She would give anything to get out of going, but even if an excuse came fully presented on a plate she would not be able to take it. Melanie had appointed her maid of honour, a role Hannah knew she did not deserve.

The wedding was something she would have to find a way to cope with. Whatever it took, she would try to keep smiling so her little sister could walk down the aisle without her day being ruined.

‘Due bicchieri di champagne.’

Francesco’s sudden appearance at her side startled her.

‘Hi,’ she said dully, hating that her heart thumped just to see him.

‘Ciao.’ He nodded. ‘I’ve just ordered us each a glass of champagne.’

‘You said you would take me back to the villa.’

‘And I will. Five minutes. You look as if you need a drink.’

‘I need to get my phone and my passport, and go home. To England,’ she added in case her meaning wasn’t absolutely clear.

Francesco had been right from the start. She really didn’t belong in his world, not even on a temporary basis.

The injuries to Mario had been inflicted a long time ago and were, in effect, history. Mario’s loyalty to Francesco only served to reinforce this notion of a long-forgotten event, something that had no bearing on the present.

The person they’d caught stealing tonight... This was now; this was the present.

Hannah was a doctor. She had dedicated her life to saving lives. She could never be a party to someone else’s injury.

‘Come, Dr Chapman. You are supposed to be living a little. You are here to see something of the world and experience the things that have passed you by. You hardly touched your wine at dinner.’

‘I’m really not in the mood.’

Pressing his lips to her ear, he said, ‘I called the police.’

Her head whipped round so quickly she almost butted his nose. ‘Seriously?’

Two glasses of champagne were placed before them. Francesco picked them up and nodded at a corner sofa. Thoroughly confused, she followed him.

Sitting gingerly next to him, she would have ignored the champagne had he not thrust it into her hand.

‘Drink. You need to relax a little—you’re far too tense.’

‘Did you really call the police?’

‘As you implied, I make the rules.’ A slight smile played on his lips. ‘I thought about the prison system here. When I said I was calling the police, the thief begged for a beating.’

She couldn’t contain the smile that spread over her face or the hand that rose to palm his cheek. ‘See? I was right about you.’

At his quizzical expression, she added, ‘I knew there was good within you. You proved it by taking care of me so well after my accident, and now you’ve reaffirmed it.’

He shook his head. ‘It’s just for this one time, okay? And only because I respect your profession and the oath you took.’

‘If you say so.’ A feeling of serenity swept through her. Stroking her fingers down his cheek, she took a sip of her champagne.

‘Better?’

She nodded. ‘Much. I’ll feel even better when I have my phone back.’ She felt lost without it.

‘Finish your champagne and I will take you back.’

His eyes bored into her, daring her to drink it. The sip she’d had still danced on her tongue, tantalising her, just as Francesco tantalised her.

This was why she was here, she reminded herself. Not to involve herself in the intricacies of his life but to experience her own.

Putting the flute back to her lips, she tipped the sparkling liquid into her mouth and drank it in three swallows.

A grin spread across his face, somehow making him even more handsome, a feat she hadn’t thought possible.