Italian Billionaire's Unexpected Lover (The Romano Brothers 2)

It makes no sense to rent for ten years. As part of the sales pitch, Signora Rizzo had told Luciana how long the current tenant had lived in the apartment. It was a sign of satisfaction with the location. Luciana had had no idea at all that the tenant was Gianpierre Romano—her boss—whom she had now seen naked, and oh what a sight it had been!

“I’m sorry,” Luciana said. “I’m so sorry. We’ll go.”

She turned to leave but Signora Rizzo leaned a shoulder into her path. “You do not even want to see the place? It is beautiful.”

“I—” Luciana looked behind her but found Gianpierre gone. “I should go.” She shrugged. “I can’t even afford this place. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“But you could! If you sell,” she paused and her eyes saddened. When she continued, she spoke as if she were choosing her words carefully. “If you sell your sister’s place and your place in America, then use the money as a down payment, your monthly mortgage will be only a little bit more than your budget allows.” She shrugged. “It is a big place. Three bedrooms. Maybe if you take a tenant, the cost will become easy for you.”

Luciana looked around her. The floors were a rich, dark hardwood with a red tint and the walls were painted a creamy white. The arched doors were wide and the layout was spacious. Everything about it had an old-world charm, but also the clean lines of a modern space with all of the modern comforts. And, of course, the fact that it was Gianpierre’s became clear as she took in its decor. On the walls were displayed a variety of antique, medieval stone masonry tools. Rare world maps from varying eras canvased another wall, and circular tubes—the kind that held blueprints and building plans—were leaning in groups in every available corner. This was Gianpierre’s home.

“It even has exclusive access to the roof,” Signora Rizzo whispered as if sharing a secret. “You could have a garden up there.”

A garden… Luciana’s eyes shifted to the ceiling as if she could look through it to what was above and found herself nodding before she even spoke. “Yes, yes. I’d like to see it.”

Gianpierre reappeared from a side hallway. His tousled hair was no longer dripping water. He was barefoot and dressed in old jeans that were threadbare at the knees, and his shirt could have been worn by a pirate. It was white cotton with an open V neck. It made it impossible for Luciana to look anywhere but at the rising slope and carved valley of Gianpierre’s pecs. His sun kissed skin made her lips tingle with the need to kiss him.

Forcing her brain to think, Luciana amended her previous statement. “I’d like to see it, if it’s okay with… Signore Romano.” She chose not to use his first name. The real estate agent was still blissfully unaware of the situation that she had thrown Luciana into, and Luciana was happy to keep it that way. There was no need to add to the discomfort that the awkward situation had already created.

The color was high in Gianpierre’s face, a vein popping at his temple. He slapped his thigh and ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. Luciana was sure he was going to throw them out, but to her complete surprise, he said, “Sure. I will show you myself.”

She hesitated. The man almost fired me today, and now I’ve barged my way into his home. I should leave.

“Please, come,” he said, waving them forward. “Over here is the dining room.” He motioned to the side of the entryway where a table sat. It was covered with work paraphernalia, but beneath that, it looked to be crafted out of huge wood beams sometimes found along the ceilings of old structures.

Reaching for Natalia’s hand, Luciana moved deeper into the apartment as Signora Rizzo trailed behind.

“And through here is the kitchen.”

To call it a kitchen

felt like an understatement. It had a cathedral ceiling and the appliances looked as though they belonged in a chef’s kitchen. They all gleamed of shiny stainless steel, but the refrigerator had a cabinet front on it that made it disappear into the wall.

Luciana swallowed nervously. Replacing the kitchen appliances would be expensive, but there was no way Gianpierre would leave such high-end items behind.

Gianpierre tapped his finger against a pot hanging down from the corner of the stove’s hood. “I cook while I’m here, but I’m not here often, so the stove and the rest have not seen much use. They will remain good for years.”

What? “You plan to leave the appliances?”

Gianpierre shrugged. “I have nowhere else to put them. They were bought for this space.”

Luciana shot Signora Rizzo a worried glance as she wondered how much the high-end appliances would increase the cost of the apartment. But if Gianpierre bought them, maybe it won’t increase the cost any. Signora Rizzo’s quick note scribbling didn’t leave her with much hope of that, though.

“I have a gym on the roof, and I had a pool installed.”

Luciana’s mouth fell open.

“There is a pool up there?” Signora Rizzo exclaimed.

Gianpierre shrugged again. “The former owner said it was fine.”

Signora Rizzo scratched furious notes in her pad, and Luciana could practically hear the sound of a cash register chiming.

He made all of these upgrades to a place that he was renting! The price was going to be too much now, and she knew that she should just leave… but she didn’t. Gianpierre continued his tour and they followed along. He showed them the bedrooms next. They were spacious and well-lit with a stunning view of the bay. Then there was the family room, his office, a gorgeous bathroom, and finally a balcony.

When she stepped outside, a soft breeze blowing in from over the water swept Luciana’s hair this way and that around her face.

“This is where I like to have breakfast,” Gianpierre said as he pulled free a strand of hair that had wrapped itself around her neck and brushed it over her shoulder. His touch made Luciana shiver, but it seemed to mean nothing to him.