CINDERELLA.
Yep, that’s exactly how Kayla felt as she stepped out of the limo. Her nails were freshly manicured, her face was done up by a makeup artist and her hair was swept up with crystal-studded bobby pins. And that was just the beginning.
Angelo had surprised her with a gorgeous navy blue chiffon dress. Wide satin straps looped over her shoulders while a pleated bodice hugged her midsection. The tea-length skirt was drawn up slightly in the front while the back of the skirt flirted with her ankles. The thought that Angelo had picked it out for her and that it fit perfectly amazed her.
And there was lingerie—she wasn’t even going to ask how he got all of her sizes right. Heat tinged her cheeks. Some things were best left unknown. Her silver sandals, though a bit tight, looked spectacular. And he’d even thought to present her with a sparkly necklace and earrings. The man was truly Prince Charming in disguise.
She looped her hand through the crook of his arm as he escorted her into a very posh restaurant. Tall columns, a marble floor and white table linens greeted them. Palms grew in large urns. The soft lighting and instrumental music made the ambience quite romantic. When the maître d’ led them to the back of the restaurant and out a door, she wondered where they were going.
She soon found them standing on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. A sweet floral scent filled the air. Kayla glanced up to find a wisteria vine woven through an overhead trellis. The beautiful bunches of delicate purple flowers were in full bloom. Lanterns hung from chains and gave off a soft glow. The whole setup was just perfect for a first date—this was a date, wasn’t it?
Her gaze strayed to Angelo. What exactly had been his intention in giving her this magical day? Suddenly she decided she didn’t want to analyze it—she just wanted to enjoy it.
The maître d’ stopped next to a table by the railing. The view was spectacular, but even that word didn’t cover the magnificence of the sight before her. The sea gently rolled inland, lapping against the rocks below the balcony. The glow of the sinking sun danced and played with the water, sweeping away her breath. She didn’t know such a beautiful place existed on earth.
“If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.”
Angelo smiled at her. “Trust me. I’m having the same dream and I have no intention of waking up anytime soon.”
“You have made this a day I’ll never forget.”
“Nor will I.”
She continued to stare across the candlelit table at Angelo, who was decked out in a black tux that spanned his broad shoulders—the place where’d she’d been resting her head not so long ago. Even his dark hair was styled to perfection. Her fingers itched to mess up the thick strands while losing herself in another of his kisses. But that would have to wait until later. It would be the sweetest dessert ever.
The maître d’ presented the menus and explained the wine list to Angelo before walking away. Everything sounded delightful.
Angelo peered over the menu at her. “I hope you brought your appetite.”
She nodded, eating him up with her eyes. This was going to be a very long dinner.
However much Kayla wanted to throw caution to the wind, there was still a small hesitant voice in the back of her mind. And try as she might, it was impossible to ignore. She’d worked so hard to get to where she was at Amatucci & Associates—did she really want to jeopardize her dreams? And worse yet, if she did continue to thrive there, would she always wonder if her flourishing was due to the fact that she’d had a fling with her boss?
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look?” The flickering candlelight reflected in his dark eyes as he stared across the table at her.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“You mean this old thing?” He tugged on his lapel. “I just grabbed it out of the back of my closet.”
His teasing made her laugh. Maybe she’d worry about all of the ramifications tomorrow. “Is it possible that we never have to go back to New York? Couldn’t we just live here in this little piece of heaven and never let the moment end?”
“Mmm...I wish. I’ve never enjoyed myself this much. But we can make the most of our time here.” His eyes hinted at unspoken pleasures that were yet to come. “You know if we weren’t in public and there wasn’t a table separating us, I’d finish that kiss we started back at the spa.”
Her stomach shivered with the anticipation. “Then I guess I have something more to look forward to.”
“We both do.”
* * *
Like Cinderella swept away in her carriage...
The limo moved swiftly over the darkened roadway back to the palace. All Kayla could remember of the dinner was staring across the table at her date. Angelo had presented one surprise after the other, and somewhere along the way, she’d lost her heart to him.
She didn’t know when her love for him had started. It was a while back. Maybe it was when she first witnessed how much Angelo cared about his family. Or maybe it was when he’d given her a tour of his village and told her about pieces of his past—finally letting down that wall he kept between them. Then somewhere, somehow, Angelo Amatucci had sneaked into her heart.
Kayla loved him wholly and completely.
The revelation shook her to her core. Part of her wanted to run from him—from these feelings. They had the power to destroy everything she’d built for herself back in New York. But how did she turn off the powerful emotions that Angelo evoked in her? And did she want to?
Just a look and he had her heart racing. Her body willingly became submissive to his touch. And she reveled in the way he’d looked at her back at the spa. He had no idea that her insides had been nothing more than quivering jelly when she stripped down to her undies. But when his eyes had lit up with definite approval and then desire, her nervousness was quickly forgotten.
In his eyes, she saw her present and her future. She saw a baby with Angelo’s dark eyes and her smile. Startlingly enough, the thought didn’t scare her off. In fact, she liked it. Maybe it was never the idea of a family that frightened her, but rather she’d had her sights set on the wrong man.
“Hey, what has you so quiet?” Angelo reached out and pulled her to his side.
“Nothing.” Everything.
“I hope you had a good day.”
“It was the best.” She turned her head and reached up, placing a kiss on the heated skin of his neck. There was a distinct uneven breath on his part.
His fingers lifted from her shoulder and fanned across her cheek. “No, you’re the best.”
They both turned at once and their lips met. There was no timidity. No hesitation. Instead, there was a raw hunger—a fiery passion. And it stemmed from both of them. Their movements were rushed and needy. Their breath mingled as their arms wrapped around each other. Reality reeled away as though it was lost out there in the sea.
Right now, the only thing Kayla needed or wanted was Angelo. If they were to have only this one moment together, she wanted it to be everything. She wanted memories that would keep her warm on those long lonely winter nights back in New York.
Angelo moved his mouth from hers. His hands held her face as his forehead rested against hers. His breathing was ragged. “I don’t want to leave you tonight.”
She knew her response without any debate. “I don’t want you to go.”
For once, she was going to risk it all to have this moment with the man she loved—even if he didn’t love her back.
The limo pulled to a stop at the foot of the palace’s sweeping white stairs that were lit with lanterns trailing up each side. Angelo didn’t follow protocol. He opened the door before the driver could make it around the car. Angelo turned back and held out his hand to help her to her feet.
With both of them smiling like starstruck lovers, they rushed up the steps and inside the palace. Brushing off offers of assistance from the staff, hand in hand they swiftly moved to the second floor. They stopped outside her bedroom door and Angelo pulled her close. His mouth pressed to hers. He didn’t have to say a word; all of his pent-up desire was expressed in that kiss.
When he pulled back, he gazed into her eyes. “Are you sure about this?”
She nodded and opened the door. She’d never been so sure about anything in her life. She led the way into the room. This would be a night neither of them would ever forget.