“I DON’T UNDERSTAND.”
Kayla’s gaze narrowed in on Angelo as they stood beneath the crystal chandelier in the marble foyer. He’d been acting mysterious ever since they’d given their pitch to the royal couple the day before. Was it the kiss? It couldn’t be. He hadn’t been distant at the royal dinner. In fact, he’d been quite attentive—even if the evening hadn’t ended with any more kisses.
“Trust me.” His dark eyes twinkled with mischief. “You will understand soon enough.”
“It’d be easier if you’d just tell me where we’re going. If this has something to do with the pitch, you should tell me. I would have brought my laptop. Or at least I could have grabbed my tablet.”
“You don’t need it.” He took her hand and guided her out the door, down the palace steps and into an awaiting limo. “Trust me.”
“But how do I know if I’m dressed appropriately. The only formal clothes I have with me I wore yesterday for the pitch and then the dinner with the royal couple. I thought that we’d be leaving today.”
“I’ve delayed our departure.”
He had? She didn’t recall him mentioning anything to her. Then again, she’d been so caught up in her thoughts lately that she might have missed it.
“Don’t worry. I ran it past your boss.” He winked at her. “He’s fine with it.”
“He is, huh?” She wondered what Angelo was up to and why he was in such a good mood. “But why aren’t we flying back to Italy? I thought you’d be anxious to wrap things up there before we return to New York.”
“It can wait.”
She had absolutely no idea where they were headed. The curiosity was eating at her. But the driver knew. She turned to the front to ask him.
“Don’t even think of it,” Angelo warned as though he knew exactly what she intended. “He’s been sworn to secrecy.”
Her mouth gaped open. Angelo really did know what she was thinking. Thankfully he didn’t know everything that crossed her mind or else he’d know that she’d gone against his express wishes and worked on the fund-raiser during work hours.
And worst of all, her efforts were for naught. She’d reached out to everyone she could think of, but she had yet to come up with another big-name band on such short notice. But ever the optimist, she wasn’t canceling the event until the very last minute. There just had to be a way to help the kids.
“Hey, no frowning is allowed.”
She hadn’t realized that her thoughts had transferred to her face. “Sorry. I was just thinking of all the work I should be doing instead of riding around with you.”
“You’ll have plenty of time for work later. In fact, when we return to New York I imagine that you’ll have more work than you’ll ever want.”
She sent him a quizzical look. Was he trying to tell her something?
“Quit trying to guess. You aren’t going to figure out our destination.”
The car zipped along the scenic roadway. Angelo was totally relaxed, enjoying the terrific view of the tranquil sea. But she couldn’t relax. Not yet. Not like this. Not with the fate of the fund-raiser hanging over her head.
Kayla desperately wanted to ask Angelo for help, but she just couldn’t bring herself to trust him, knowing his adamant stance on such matters. But if she didn’t ask Angelo for help, what did that say about their relationship? Did it mean what they’d shared meant nothing?
The thought left a sour taste in her mouth. The Angelo she’d got to know so well here in Italy put his family above his own needs even at the risk of one of his most important accounts. But that was his family? And she was what?
She had absolutely no answer.
Realizing that he was still holding her hand, her heart thumped. She was certainly more than his assistant—but how much more?
He turned to her. Their gazes caught and held. Her heart started to go tap-tap-tap. Oh, yes, she was definitely falling for her boss.
But what would happen when this trip was over? What would their relationship be like when they returned to the reality of their Madison Avenue office? Or worse yet, what if he found out that she’d been working on the fund-raiser instead of devoting all of her attention to her work?
“Relax. Everything will be okay.” Angelo raised her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand.
Her stomach shivered with excitement. Throwing caution to the wind, she uttered, “When you do that, relaxing is the last thing on my mind.”
“In that case...” He pulled her close and with her hand held securely in his, he rested his arm on his leg. His voice lowered. “You can get as worked up as you like now.”
His heated gaze said a hundred things at once. And all of them made her pulse race and her insides melt. He wanted her. Angelo Amatucci, the king of Madison Avenue, was staring at her with desire evident in his eyes.
If she were wise, she would pull away and pretend that none of this had happened. But her heart was pounding and her willpower was fading away. She’d been resisting this for so long that she was tired of fighting it—tired of denying the mounting attraction between them.
Maybe this thing between them wouldn’t survive the harsh glare of the office, but that was days away. They were to remain in Italy until the royal couple had all of the inquiries answered and their decision made. In the meantime, what was so wrong with indulging in a most delightful fantasy?
Once again, Angelo seemingly read her mind—realizing that she’d come to a decision. He turned to her and leaned forward. His lips were warm as they pressed to hers. Her eyes drifted closed as her fingers moved to his face, running over his freshly shaved jaw. His spicy aftershave tormented and teased. It should be illegal for anyone to smell so good. A moan bubbled up in the back of her throat.
The car stopped, jostling them back to the here and now. Angelo was the first to pull away. Disappointment coursed through her. Her eyes fluttered open and met his heated gaze.
“Don’t look so disappointed. There will be time for more of this later.” He smiled and her discontentment faded away. “Remember, I have a surprise for you.”
“Did I forget to tell you that I love surprises?”
He laughed. “I was hoping you would.”
She glanced out her window, finding nothing but lush greenery, flowers and trees. She struggled to see around Angelo, but with his arm draped loosely around her, she couldn’t see much.
“I can’t see.” She wiggled but his strong arm kept her next to him—not a bad place to be, but she was curious about their location. “Where are we?”
“My, aren’t you impatient? You’ll soon see.”
She couldn’t wait. Though she still had problems to resolve, for just this moment she let them shift to the back of her mind. She might never have this kind of experience again, and she didn’t want to miss a moment of it. And it had nothing to do with the surprise that Angelo had planned for her.
It had everything to do with the man who could make her heart swoon with those dark, mysterious eyes.
* * *
Mud. Seriously.
Angelo frowned as he sat submerged in a mud bath. He felt utterly ridiculous. This was his first trip to a spa, and though he’d set up the appointment for Kayla, he’d thought he might find out what he was missing. After all, Halencia was known for its world-renowned spa. It ought to be renowned for the exorbitant prices and, worse yet, the cajoling he had to do to get an appointment at the last moment. He’d finally relented and name-dropped—the prince’s name certainly opened up their schedule quickly. But it had been worth it when Kayla’s face lit up.
He glanced sideways at her as she leaned back against the tub’s ledge with her eyes closed. Her long red wavy hair was twisted up in a white towel, safe from this muck. She definitely wasn’t the prim-and-proper girl that he’d originally thought her to be when he’d hired her as his temporary assistant. No, Kayla definitely had a bit of a naughty, devil-may-care attitude. And that just intrigued him all the more.
“I’m sorry.” Angelo didn’t know what else to say. “I guess I should have done more research before making the reservations, but we were so pushed for time with the royal pitch that it just slipped my mind.”
Kayla lifted her head. “It’s really no problem. I’m enjoying myself.”
“But how was I to know that they would set us up for a couple’s spa day?”
Her eyes lit up. Her smile stretched into a grin and her eyes sparkled with utter amusement.
“Hey, you aren’t inwardly laughing at me, are you?”
“Who? Me? No way.” She clutched her bottom lip between her teeth as her shoulders shook.
He wasn’t used to being the source of entertainment, but she certainly seemed to be enjoying herself. He supposed that made it worth it. Although, when he’d found out what was involved in the deluxe package, he did think that she was going to balk and walk away. But he’d been worried for no reason.
Kayla wasn’t shy. In fact, she could be quite bold. The memory of her in hot pink lacy underwear before she’d stepped into the mud had totally fogged up his mind. Although, when he’d had to strip down to his navy boxers, he’d been none too happy. How could he have overlooked the need to bring swimsuits? Talk about taking down each other’s defenses and getting down to the basics.
“What are you thinking about?”
He turned to Kayla, finding her studying him. “Nothing important. So, are you enjoying your trip?”
“Definitely. But...”
“But what?”
“I get the feeling that you aren’t enjoying it. Why is that? Is it because of your sister’s situation?”
He shrugged. “I suppose that has something to do with it.”
“What else is bothering you? I’d think after being gone for so long that you’d be happy to be back in Italy.”
“And you would be wrong. Returning to Monte Calanetti and interacting with my siblings and villagers is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”
She arched an eyebrow and looked at him expectantly.
Why had he opened his mouth? He didn’t want to get into this subject. It would lead to nothing but painful memories. And he couldn’t even fathom what Kayla would think of him after he told her the truth about his past—about how he ended up in New York.
She reached out her hand and gripped his arm. “You know that you can talk to me. Openness and honesty are important to a relationship—even a friendship or whatever this is between us. Besides, I’m a really good listener.”
Even though they were submerged in this mineral mud stuff, her touch still sent a jolt up his arm and awakened his whole body. After telling himself repeatedly that she was off-limits, he wanted her more with each passing day. He turned and his gaze met hers.
She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid his eyes on and it wasn’t just skin-deep. Her beauty came from the inside out. She was kind, thoughtful and caring. She was everything he would ever want in a woman—if he were interested in getting involved in a serious relationship.
But he wasn’t. He jerked his gaze back to the large window that gave an amazing view of the Mediterranean Sea, but it wasn’t the landscape that filled his mind—it was Kayla. She consumed far too many of his thoughts.
“Angelo, talk to me.” Her voice was soft and encouraging.
For the first time in his life, he actually wanted to open up. And though his instinct was to keep it all bottled up inside, he wondered if that was the right thing to do. Maybe if Kayla, with her near-perfect home life, were to see him clearly she wouldn’t look at him with desire in her eyes.
But could he do it? Could he reveal the most horrific episode in his life? More than that, could he relive the pain and shame?
He gazed into Kayla’s eyes, finding compassion and understanding there. He swallowed hard and realized that perhaps he had more strength than he gave himself credit for. Though taking down his ingrained defenses to expose the most vulnerable part of himself would be extremely hard, he firmly believed it would be for the best. If it would put an end to this thing between him and Kayla, how could he hold back?
He cleared his throat. “Remember when I told you that I left Italy to go to school in the States?”
She nodded. “It’s the bravest thing I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t have done it—”
“But the thing is... I didn’t do it because I wanted to.”
Her brows drew together. “What are you saying?”
“My father and I didn’t get along and that’s putting it mildly.” Angelo’s body tensed as his mind rolled back in time. “My parents have always had a rocky relationship. On and off. Divorcing and remarrying.” He shook his head, chasing away the unwelcome memories. “It was awful to listen to them.”
He stopped and glanced at Kayla, whose expression was one of compassion. And then she did something he didn’t expect. She reached over, grabbed his arm again and slid her hand down into the mud until she reached his hand. She laced her fingers tightly around his and gave him a big squeeze.
He exhaled a deep breath and continued. “My father is not a small man and he can be quite intimidating. When I’d had enough and my mother needed help with his temper, I...I’d step between them. My father did not like that at all.”
“You don’t have to tell me this.”
“Yes, I do.” He’d started this and he was going to see it through to the end. “It didn’t matter what I did, it was never up to my father’s expectations. I don’t think there was anything I could have done to please him. And by the time I graduated school, I was done trying. And he was done trying.”
“One day he blew up at me for not doing something in the vineyard. His bad mood spilled over to my mother—this was one of their good periods, so she didn’t want to ruin things with him. When I tried to intervene between him and her by trying to soothe him, my father...he...he threw me out.”
Kayla’s fine brows rose. “But surely he calmed down and let you back in.”
Angelo shook his head as he stared blindly out the window. Suddenly he was back there on that sunny day. His father had pressed a meaty hand to Angelo’s chest, sending him stumbling out the front door. His mother’s expression was one of horror, but she didn’t say a word—not one thing—to contradict her husband. Instead, she’d agreed with him. Angelo’s hurt had come out as anger. He’d balled up his hands and lifted them, taunting his father into a fight. But his father had told him that he wasn’t worth the effort. How did a father do that to his son? How did he turn his back on him?
Angelo blinked repeatedly. “He told me that I was worthless and that I would never amount to anything. And then he told me to never darken his doorway again. He closed the door in my face.”
“But your mother—”
“Wanted to make her husband happy. Don’t you get it? Neither of them...they...didn’t want me.” His gut tightened into a knot and the air caught in his lungs as he fought back the pain of rejection.
This is where Kayla would turn away—just like his parents. She would know he was damaged goods. Not even his own parents could love him. He couldn’t face Kayla. He couldn’t see the rejection in her eyes.
“So you just left?” Her voice was soft.
He nodded. “I wasn’t about to go back.”
“But you were just a kid.”
“I was man enough to make it on my own. I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t live with him after that. And he didn’t want me there. Nico brought my clothes to me, and with the money I’d saved from odd jobs over the years and my inheritance from my grandfather, I left. If it wasn’t for Nico and Marianna, I’d have never looked back.”
“And this is why you avoid serious relationships?”
He shrugged. “There isn’t any point in them. The relationship will fail and somebody will get hurt. It’s best this way.”
“Best for who? You? You know that not everyone will treat you like your parents.”
Suddenly he turned to her. His gaze searched her eyes. What was she saying?
Her warm gaze caressed him. “You can’t keep yourself locked away from love because you’re afraid. Some things are worth the risk.”
She is worth the risk.
He leaned over and dipped his head, seeking out her lips. Every time he thought he’d learned everything there was to know about Kayla, she surprised him again. What did he ever do to deserve her?
He deepened the kiss. She responded to his every move. Her heated touch was melting the wall of ice inside him that he used to keep everyone out. Every second with their lips pressed together and their fingers intertwined was like a soothing balm on his scarred heart.
He needed her. He wanted her. He...he cared oh, so much about her.
A person cleared their throat in the background. “Do you need anything?”
Yeah, for you to leave.
Fighting back a frustrated groan, Angelo pulled back. If it wasn’t for their attendant, he might have continued that kiss to its natural conclusion. Yes, he’d have definitely followed her into the shower and finished it.
In what seemed like no time, they were ushered from the mud bath into a shower and then into a private Jacuzzi. Angelo didn’t know what to do with his hands. Well, he knew what he wanted to do with them, but with their attendant floating in and out, those plans would have to wait for later. For now, he stretched his arms along the rim of the tub and pulled her close to him. He just needed to feel that physical connection.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” He just had to be sure.
“This is perfect. Thank you.”
“Well, not quite perfect. I did overlook the need for swimsuits.” The heat of embarrassment crept up his neck.
“And miss seeing you in your boxers?” She waggled her brows at him. “I think it worked out perfectly.”
“But you had to ruin your...um, clothes. They’re all stained now.”
“Oh, well. It was worth the sacrifice.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to replace your...things.” Why did he get so tripped up around her? It wasn’t like him. But then again, everything was different when he was around Kayla.
“Will you be picking them out yourself?” Her eyes taunted him.
“Sure. Why not?”
“Do you have much experience with women’s lingerie? And exactly how will you know what sizes to get?”
Boy, this water was starting to get hot—really hot. “Fine.” His voice came out rough, and he had to stop to clear his dry throat. “I’ll give you the money and you can get what you need.”
She grinned at him. “I never thought of you as the kind to take the easy way out.”
He had the distinct feeling there was no winning this conversation. No matter which way he went, he was doomed. “I’ll make you a deal.”
“Oh, I like the sound of this. Tell me more.”
“We’ll go together. I’ll pick them out, but you have to promise not to wear them for anyone else.”
Her eyes widened and then narrowed in on him. “Why, Mr. Amatucci, are you hitting on me?”
“I must be losing my touch if it took you this long to figure it out.” He didn’t even wait for her response before his head dipped and he caught her lips with his own.
Their relationship was unlike anything he had known previously—he never tired of Kayla. In fact, he missed her when she wasn’t next to him. And her kisses, they were sweet and addicting.
What was wrong with him? He never acted like this. And he never took part in flirting. He never had to. Normally women gravitated to him and things were casual at best. But with Kayla it was different—he was different. He barely recognized himself. It was as if he’d let down his shield of Mr. Angelo Amatucci, Madison Avenue CEO, and could at last be himself.
However, Kayla had taught him that a relationship didn’t have to be turbulent like his parent’s relationship. She’d opened his eyes to other possibilities. She’d shown him through her patience and understanding that, with openness and honesty, things didn’t have to be kept bottled up inside until they exploded.
She hadn’t been afraid to voice her disagreement over ideas for the wedding pitch. Nor had she been shy about vocalizing her objection to his no-charity-projects rule at the office. And though he hadn’t agreed with her on some of the things, he’d been able to communicate it without losing his temper. Was it possible that he wasn’t like his parents? Or was Kayla the key to this calm, trusting relationship?
He wasn’t sure what it was, but the one thing he was certain about was that he wanted to explore this more—this thing that was growing between them.
When their attendant entered the room, they pulled apart. Disappointment settled in his chest. But the thought of picking up where they’d left off filled him with renewed vigor. This wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning.
“I just have one question.” Kayla gave him a puzzled look. “What exactly are we supposed to wear when we leave here? Please don’t tell me that we’re going commando.”
He burst out laughing at the horrified look on her face.
“Hey, this isn’t funny.”
“Relax. I have another surprise waiting for you.”
The worry lines on her face eased. “You do? Aren’t you a man of mystery today?”
“I try.”
“So tell me what it is.”
He shook his head. “Just relax and let the water do its magic. You’ll learn about your next surprise soon enough.”