* * *
‘Sebastiano?’
Poppy had made her excuses at the table and rushed after Sebastiano, catching him halfway up the stairs.
His gaze swept over her as he turned and waited for her to reach him, making her agonisingly aware of her body in a way only he managed to do.
‘What is it, bella?’
Flustered by the time she reached him, Poppy took a deep breath to steady her heart rate. ‘I just wanted to say that if you would prefer to stay here and work then please do. I have some studying to get done for an exam I have in a couple of weeks anyway.’
‘It’s too late now,’ he said unhelpfully. ‘But by all means, bring your study notes if you want. And a jacket. The sun is out, but it will be cold on the water.’
‘I don’t expect you to babysit me, Sebastiano.’
Liking the sound of his name on her proper English tongue a little too much, Sebastiano scowled. ‘I’m not babysitting you. I’m taking your advice and showing my grandfather my reformed ways. I would have thought you would be commending me rather than reprimanding me.’
Poppy might have commended him if she wasn’t feeling so out of sorts. Something had changed when he had kissed her last night. She hadn’t wanted to admit it but now it was all she could think about and she didn’t know how to stop it.
‘Why don’t we just go and enjoy ourselves?’ he suggested. ‘If nothing else it will be a good distraction from the realities of life.’
* * *
Poppy had no time to ponder that esoteric comment until later. It came back to her as she watched Sebastiano, his legs braced wide as he steered the sleekly hulled vessel through wind-ruffled waves. Poppy pulled her jacket more firmly around her and turned her face up to the sun, the yacht’s billowing white sails catching the wind as they raced across the water. She had to admit the whole experience of skimming over the clear blue sea in a shiny yacht and taking in the romantic Italian coastline was nothing short of exhilarating: the smell of the sea and the call of seagulls flying over head, the feel of the salt water spray intermittently carried on the wind as the waves crashed against the side of the boat. It was almost as exhilarating as the thrill she got from watching the man at the helm.
Sebastiano had taken over from the captain after lunch and she could tell he loved being out on the water. It was the most relaxed she had seen him since they had arrived, and again she wondered at his cryptic comment about wanting to be distracted from the realities of life.
As far as Poppy could see Sebastiano had a pretty good one, born to a privileged family who loved him dearly, and having amassed enough money to last him several lifetimes without having to think about it. Looking at him now, he was like a modern-day pirate, commanding everything and everyone around him with the authority of a man born to power, his thick sweater moulding to his broad shoulders, his glossy black hair blowing in the wind. She couldn’t imagine what was missing from his life. Other than his grandfather’s endorsement for him to take over as CEO, but any fool could see that that was imminent. Especially if she played her part well.
‘Poppy, can you take this to Bastian?’
She glanced behind her to see Evelina holding up two steaming mugs of coffee.
‘Of course.’
Rising to her feet, she made her way towards the helm, her ponytail whipping around her in the breeze. Just before she got to him his eyes gleamed with interest. ‘You planning to hand that to me, or throw it at me?’
‘That depends on whether you plan to keep reminding me of my faux pas every time I bring you coffee,’ she countered, warning herself to keep her emotional walls in place when he showed his more playful side.
‘Since it’s too cold to lose my shirt, I’ll not mention it again,’ he promised, a slight smile tugging at his lips as he took the mug from her. ‘How are you enjoying your first boating experience?’
‘It’s fantastic. Thank you. You’ve given me so many firsts I can hardly keep track.’ First ride on a plane—private or commercial—first trip to Italy, first truly passionate kiss. Blushing at the direction of her thoughts, and worried he could read exactly what she was thinking, she sipped her own coffee. ‘How did your meeting with your grandfather go earlier?’
‘So so.’ He grimaced. ‘The old goat is still stalling.’
‘Why would he be stalling?’ Poppy asked, instantly worried. ‘Do you think he doesn’t believe we’re a couple?’
‘No, it’s not that. I think he doesn’t want to give up control of CE. He’s as stubborn as an ox and wants everything to go his way.’
Poppy couldn’t help the small smile that touched her lips, and of course he noticed.
‘I do not have to have everything my way,’ he denied with an arrogant tilt to his head, his eyes narrowing menacingly.
Poppy laughed softly. ‘If it helps, you’re usually right. Or so everyone in your office thinks.’
His eyebrow rose with cynical amusement. ‘Tell my grandfather that. He might listen if it comes from you.’
He gave a frustrated sigh. ‘His problem is that he doesn’t trust the latest innovations, and thinks I’m going to continue current trends and off-shore our workforce.’