Falling for Her Billionaire Boss

“And discuss The Cascade, don’t forget.” She winked at him. “Grazie, Luca.”

“Prego. Rest now.” He took the blanket—the same one he’d wrapped over Mari’s arms—and laid it gently over her as her lids drooped.

His fingers grazed the soft blanket and he remembered Mari’s eyes, closed, as he’d fed her crème brulée. Remembered the feel of her, warm and soft against him in the limo today as she’d slept. He’d wanted to slide his arm around her and pull her on to his lap, feel her curled around him.

She had no idea what drove him. No idea why he worked so hard to prove himself. But Gina’s comment about wanting something of her own made sense to him. He wanted to prove himself, to step forward and take a larger role at Fiori. His father had shouldered all the burden of the company, and family, as he and Gina had grown up. Luca had worked hard to take some of that burden, and now he just wanted what was due him.

In the beginning he’d thought it would be fun make Mari see life was more than a balance sheet. It had seemed like a game. And admittedly he was good at games. But it had backfired. He hadn’t counted on feeling attracted to her himself.

Chapter 6

When she walked into the room it was like someone punched him in the solar plexus, strangling all the air from his lungs.

Mari wasn’t Mari tonight. She deserved the fullness of her name. She was Mariella. Every inch of her, from her hair to her toes, was elegance and shy sexuality. He hadn’t known she could look like that. He had imagined what would happen if she let her hair down and left her tidy suits in her closet. But even that imagination had fallen woefully short.

“She is beautiful, Luca. An ingénue.”

Gina’s voice interrupted beside him as they watched Mari speak a moment to the hostess, a smile lighting her face.

“She keeps me on my toes.”

“There is something between you then.” She put her hand on his arm.

He shook his head. “No, Gina. She’s the manager here and she’s good at what she does. And we work together. That’s it.”

Mari turned from the hostess and made her way to them. Luca tried to ignore the thrumming of his pulse at the gentle sway of her hips. Mari had legs. Yards of them, it seemed. Navy silk draped and clung in all the right places in the wrap-style dress, revealing shapely calves that curved elegantly into matching strappy heels. The neckline rose up from a “v” to cover her shoulders with barely an inch of strap.

“I see how you look at her, Luca. Trust me, you’ll be happy that I’m here to free up some of your time.”

Luca tore his eyes from Mari’s image and glared at Gina. “If you think you’re going to hang around here and be a thorn in my side…”

Gina smiled sweetly. “Dear brother, I consider it a family duty. She looks at you the same way.”

Mari stopped in front of them and smiled, and for a moment his heart stopped.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.”

It was Gina who replied when Luca remained silent. “Not at all. We just arrived ourselves. I had a refreshing nap and now I’m ready to sample your chef’s delights.”

Luca moved to pull out Mari’s chair first.

“Thank you,” she murmured, and he caught the first scent of her perfume.

“That dress is stunning. You have fabulous taste, Mari.” Gina smiled disarmingly. “I hope Luca’s not bullying you into making all his changes.”

Mari smiled. “Thank you. And he tries, believe me.”

Luca sat down. “I’m very fortunate to be sitting with the two most beautiful ladies in the room.”

Gina laughed lightly. “Only the room? Mariella, I think we should be insulted.”

But Luca’s eyes had locked with Mari’s. She’d left her hair down and his fingers itched to touch it, to be buried in the mahogany richness of it. It curved around her face and shoulders, and as she brushed a little of it back, he caught sight of her necklace, a silly little creation of silver and sapphire leaves.

He wanted to lift her tiny hand and press a kiss to it, but he knew she’d frown on it. “I can see I won’t stand a chance with the two of you.”

Mari smiled and her eyes twinkled at him. “I somehow think you can hold your own.”

Luca ordered champagne and sat back, listening to Mari and Gina speak as if they’d known each other forever. But Gina had always had that way about her. Open and interesting. She had the grace and ease about her that brought Mari out of her shell like he hadn’t been able to. And seeing Mari relaxed made her shine. She was open in a way she’d never been with him.