Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

His head lifted sharply. “What? No. Of course not. I wouldn’t have...especially at the villa...if there were.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t. Surprised me, yes. But considering your last relationship—Stephen not included—you have a right to ask.”

“Do I? What right? We’re friends. That’s all.”

He wasn’t sure he was ready for this conversation. He should have flown home. Avoided this whole thing. Because he was probably going to have to lie to her, and he hated that. Still, after Stephen’s abrupt departure, Will really didn’t want to create a big rift in the family. Not when they were already fragmented by his father’s death.

“Gabi...we both know this is more complicated than either of us like. Not just the situation, but...feelings.” He was stopping and starting so much he figured he sounded like an idiot. “Maybe I should get a hotel for tonight.”

Her eyes widened. “What if I don’t want you to get a hotel?”

Her question surprised him. “What are you suggesting? We established that we were friends—”

“Even you can’t fool yourself into believing that,” she interrupted, twisting her fingers together on the tabletop. “This isn’t easy for me, either. But tomorrow you are leaving. We both know it. You have a life to get back to, and Papa...he’s through his surgery. I have a company to run and so do you. But tonight...”

She turned quite red as she chanced a look up at him. “Tonight you’re here. And no one else is.”

“Gabi...”

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine. We’ll part as friends and that will be that. But if you do...want to, that is, I—I’m...” She was stuttering a bit now, nervous and insecure. She shouldn’t be. He couldn’t remember ever wanting a woman more.

“No one needs to know,” she finished. “I mean, we can be discreet.”

It felt like sneaking around, hiding things, when in reality he wished it were different and they could try being together. “And then what?” he asked, his voice hoarse. He didn’t know why he was giving her a reason to change her mind, other than he wanted her to be very sure this was what she wanted.

He did. So very much. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, though she was. It was how she loved her family. How she stood up to Stephen. Even the warmth and grace with which she spoke to her neighbors. He liked her as a person, desired her as a woman.

“I don’t want you to have any regrets,” he said.

“My only regret would be letting you walk away tomorrow without taking this chance.” Her voice was soft and rode over his nerve endings like silk. “It isn’t just chemistry, Will. You’re the right kind of man at the wrong time, but at least I might be able to keep the memory of a wonderful night.”

“Gabi,” he replied, knowing she would have her way. Why not, when it was what he wanted, too? He was tired of the heavy weight of his loyalty dragging him down. She was right. She was also the right kind of woman at the wrong time, and he wished with all his heart that he might have met her first. But he hadn’t, and so if tonight was all they’d have, he’d make sure it was a memory worth keeping.

Were they being crazy? Reckless? Probably. Was it a bad thing? Maybe, maybe not. After their kisses against the olive tree, he’d known this was what he wanted. “Here,” he said, tapping his lap. “I want to hold you in my arms and watch the sun disappear.”

“Oh, Will...”

“We have time, Gabi. If this is our only night, I don’t want to rush it.”

* * *

Gabi perched on his knee, then leaned back against his shoulder. The evening air was cooling but Will was so perfectly warm. His right arm came around her, holding her in place. The light was soft as it touched the trees, gaps in the green tops punctuated by ancient buildings in the town’s historic center.

This was her favorite place on a summer evening, and to share it with Will made it even more special.

He was so unexpected. So perfect. But she tried to imagine walking into a Pemberton family function on his arm and knew it was impossible. This really was all they had, and she wanted to soak in every precious second.

His fingers grazed down her arm, stroking back and forth, as she pointed out the general area of landmarks like the Arco Etrusco and the Piazza IV Novembre. How she wished she could keep him to herself for a few days, walk the cobbled streets, take him to the gallery. Show him the city she called home. An emptiness opened up inside, knowing it could never be what she wanted.

She couldn’t think that way, not now. They must embrace and enjoy every moment they had together.

“Is it strange that just sitting like this is wonderful?” he murmured, his lips close to her ear.

Goose bumps rose on her arms at the warmth of his breath on her neck. “I was thinking the same thing. It’s as close to perfect as I can think of right now.”

He shifted, so her knees were over his lap and her arm was around his neck. “Gabi, these last two weeks—not even—have been the craziest and best I have ever had. How is that even possible?” He shook his head with wonder. “I was so angry with you, and then I admired you, and then I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”