Wife (Betrothed 1)

I’d had some decent lovers in Milan…but none of them had looked like this man.

Hades.

He addressed my stepfather first. “Gustavo.”

My stepfather walked over to him and shook his hand. “Thanks for coming by. I know you’re a busy man.”

“A man is never too busy to make money.” It was the first time his eyes turned to me, and without his giving any significant reaction, it was clear he recognized me. It was the subtle narrowing of his eyes, the slight clench of his hard jaw. Slowly, his hands returned to his pockets as he studied me.

When we’d first met, I was nothing but a shy girl. I was barely an adult and didn’t possess the courage to handle an experienced man. His confidence had unnerved me, made me back up against the wall and turn rigid with fear.

But not anymore.

I rose to my feet and glided to him, working my heels like they were comfortable sandals. With my hand outstretched, I greeted him like he was a business associate. “Nice to see you again, Hades.”

He didn’t pull his hand out of his pocket for a second, as if my offer were inappropriate. Our first meeting had been anything but professional. We were two walking hormones who ground up against the wall like it was our last night on earth. I still thought about that climax sometimes, the first one of its kind. It was powerful, profound, and so much better than the pathetic ones the boys had given me.

He finally took my hand. His fingers moved all the way to my wrist, and he immediately squeezed me firmly, the pressure making my blood circulate from both fear and arousal. His eyes never left mine, and he didn’t seem to care if my stepfather picked up on the heat between us. “I’m sorry about your father. He was a good man.” It didn’t feel like a false sentiment. My father had been dead for years, and Hades didn’t need to acknowledge it. Seemed like he meant it.

I dropped the handshake first. “Thank you.”

“Good, you’re acquainted.” Gustavo gave me a gentle pat on the back before he stepped through the doorway and into the hallway. “Hades and I will take an hour, maybe more.”

“Can I sit in?” I asked, knowing he would say no.

“Not today,” Gustavo said. “In time.” He rounded the corner.

Hades lingered for a second longer, letting his eyes take me in as if he could easily picture me naked. Innate confidence burned in his eyes, as if nothing and no one could ever make him question who he was. He took a gentle step back, not wanting to take his eyes off me. Then he finally turned around.

My eyes immediately went to his ass.

Still tight, I saw.

3

Sofia

I didn’t see Hades again.

I wasn’t entirely sure what business he had with Gustavo. He mentioned something about working in finance a long time ago, but I couldn’t recall the specifics. Maybe he never even told me that information…I just assumed. When I asked Gustavo, all he said was, “He handles the money.”

That didn’t make sense.

I was determined to be a respected member of the team at Tuscan Rose, so I wouldn’t get involved with someone who was also on the payroll, not that I assumed anything would happen in the first place. That kiss had been four years ago, and we were complete strangers. Perhaps he’d been just as bored at that party as I was, so he followed me just to get away from the stiffness.

I could feel embarrassed by our past, but I refused. It was one moment, one night. Nothing much to say about it. He was even sexier than I remembered, so I couldn’t pretend that he wasn’t a walking piece of eye candy. He was gorgeous…plain and simple. But gorgeous men were only good for one thing.

Fucking.

I started my shift in the concierge department that evening, helping American guests decide where to make dinner reservations in this historic town. Most of them were newlyweds, so their excitement was palpable. I also booked a few spa treatments, and by nine, I finally got to walk out the door.

Instead of heading home…to my mother’s…I decided to go out instead. I had a couple friends in Florence, and after a few texts, we met somewhere crowded and dark, going straight for the hard liquor and skipping the wine.

I had wine for breakfast. It was practically water to me at this point.

“How’s the new job?” Esme had blonde hair and blue eyes, looking nothing like me but definitely more beautiful. She wore a white dress with a black blazer on top, finished with her job at the art gallery.

“It’s gonna pay my bills, so it’s pretty good.”

She chuckled. “Are you in training to take over?”

“Yes and no. Right now, I’m just shadowing my stepfather and doing a few small tasks.”