Hired:The Italian's Bride

His lips touched the back of her neck and she quivered. Tilted her head without thinking, allowing him access to the gentle curve.

His arms tightened around her and his wide hands rested just below her waist, their warmth seeping through to her skin.

“You didn’t correct me just now.”

“No, I didn’t.” The words came out on a breathy whisper.

How could she possibly explain that the way he said it sounded different? How could she do that without making this more than either of them wanted?

“You would honor me if you let me use your given name, Mariella. It was the name of a woman I loved very much and I’ve missed the sound of it on my lips.”

Her lips parted but no sound came out. How could she refuse him now? They’d moved this far out of the realm of strictly business and she wasn’t at all sure how it had happened. She only knew they had a connection. Knew that somehow tonight they had shared more than simple family history. Somehow, in between the main course and this moment, she’d started to trust Luca. She’d let him in, whether he realized it or not.

She swallowed, opened her eyes and turned so that she was still in his arms, but facing him.

“You really mean that. That’s not a line, is it.”

He shook his head. “My nonna was very special to me. And she would have liked you, Mariella. She’d have liked you very much.”

Mari would have answered, but Luca bent his head and kissed her again, sending all her words scattering into the starlight.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“YOU wanted to see me, Mari?”

Mari looked up as Luca stopped at the door to her office. The smooth sound of his voice sent flutters over her skin and she shook them away. The intimate whispers of last night weren’t real. Today was what was real. She had to set the tone.

Last night had been a fantasy, dressed up in finery, gazing at stars from balconies. But today they had to get back to business. Gone was the dashing movie-star gorgeous hero, and in his place was the real Luca. The one in regular trousers and trendy shirts that showed off the lean physique of his upper body. She couldn’t stop the visceral reaction to his appearance any more than she could stop the instant knowledge that kissing him had been a terrible mistake.

No matter how wonderful.

“Luca, come in.”

He ambled into the office. She’d been here early, had made sure of it. Yesterday had been a one-off. Gallivanting on picnics and romantic dinners. Being held in his arms and kissing beneath the stars. That wasn’t reality. Reality was the Cascade and the job at hand. How easily she’d forgotten. How completely he’d managed to distract her.

He took a seat across from her desk, crossing an ankle over his knee. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here earlier. I had breakfast with Gina. And she doesn’t rise early. If I had known you wanted to see me…”

“You’d have what?” She folded her hands on top of the papers neatly arranged in front of her.

“I’d have made myself available.”

The dizzying thought of Luca making himself available to her spun through her veins, the anticipation of possibility seducing her away from her goal. No one had ever made her a priority. No one had put something off for her before. But for all she knew that could just be pretty words.

“You’re here now. And since we were out yesterday afternoon, there’s a lot to catch up on.”

She began explaining about contractors and union  s while he was looking at her. She stuttered over a word, realizing he was gazing at her face, her neck, the buttons on her jacket. He wasn’t paying attention. Scratch that. He was paying too much attention!

“Luca, are you listening?”

He straightened his shoulders and leaned forward a little. “Intently.”

Oh, indeed he was. She blinked, forced herself to keep to the topic at hand. “I needed to see you about these invoices.” She held out a sheaf of papers. “Luca, those numbers can’t possibly be correct.” He’d mentioned upgrading the spa facilities, but the numbers coming in didn’t make any sense to her.

He glanced down at the sheets. “Yes, that’s right.” He tossed off the matter. “What’s on your schedule for this afternoon?”

Her face blanched as she ignored his last question and focused on the fact that he’d said the invoices were accurate. “Look again. That decimal point can’t be right.”

He handed them back to her. “It’s all in order, Mari.”

She tapped her pen against the blotter, unsure of how to proceed. Surely he could see the folly in laying out so much money in addition to all the other things he was adding. She had seen the bill for the new draperies for the Athabasca Room and had nearly fainted. It had gone way beyond what they’d agreed when they’d laid out the budget. Now this…