His plate cleared, Jonathan considered his companion’s determined expression. He had trouble understanding Isabella wanting her family’s enemy freed. But then he recalled that in spite of the two grandfathers’ strict orders to avoid each other, their grandsons had socialized in and out of school and maintained their friendship. In addition, Isabella seemed quite affected by the fate of her family’s foe.
An uneasy suspicion needled him. Had she been attracted to—or was she still emotionally involved with one of the brothers?
“Were you also friends with the Raveno boys?” Jonathan couldn’t suppress a certain edge in his voice.
A frown knitted her forehead and she narrowed her eyes. “The big boys never took me along on their secret expeditions but I hid and often heard my brothers plotting. They threatened to cut my hair if I tattled on them. As a little girl, I admired them so much. They were my heroes, so tall and strong and daring.” Her eyes filled with regret and longing.
For the past in general or for one particular hero?
An unpleasant pinch of jealousy tweezed his insides and his fingers fisted. “Do I detect a Romeo and Juliette story here?”
Surprise arched her eyebrows. “No Juliette on my part. For years, Marco infuriated the heck out of me with his languorous gazes and his vain attempts at seduction. Boy, did he annoy me.”
Relieved, Jonathan chuckled. “He’s probably outgrown it by now.”
“No. Emma called me today and said Marco is planning to come here and take me back to Palermo to marry him.”
“No way on Earth would I let him.”
Isabella grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Jonathan. I knew you’d protect me if needed.”
“Of course I’ll protect you.” He squinted at the little palm enclosing his big hand. A sudden warmth invaded his body and his pulse assumed an erratic beat. “Who’s Emma by the way?”
“My best friend, and Lorenzo’s girlfriend. They’re crazily in love with each other. She promised to keep Marco away from me if I could get Lorenzo out of jail.”
Jonathan raked his hair. These girls were pretty confident in their own powers. Over-confident even. “How do you both plan to accomplish your goals?”
“I’m not telling more secrets.” She shrugged and her strap slid from her shoulder, baring a paler strip of flesh.
His muscles tightened in response and a gasp escaped him. His boss’s sister was way too attractive for her own good—and for his, too. Jonathan reached for his beer and chugged it to cool his blood.
“We’re not close enough friends for me to share my plans,” she added.
He choked on his drink. Not close enough? I’ll show you how close we can get.
His fingers gripped the mischievous strap, slowly moved it up, and spread to enclose the roundness of her shoulder. Her flesh scorched his hand, or was it the opposite?
“Isabella,” he whispered, unsure of what he wanted to say or do.
Warm breath fanned his lips. Had she moved her head toward him or had he moved closer?
“Jonathan,” she whimpered against his mouth.
Her flowery perfume encircled him and teased his senses. His brain fogged but his body quivered with repressed energy. He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her delicious lips, molding his around hers and tasting beer and her sweetness. She wrapped an arm around his neck.
He wanted to snatch her off her chair and roll with her in the sand, mingle kisses and caresses, and ignore her brother, their mafia, and the whole world.
The sound of shattering glass startled them.
“Oops, I knocked the glass.” She pouted and then burst out laughing. “Can’t control my reflexes when I’m kissing you.”
Propelled out his pleasurable moment, Jonathan rubbed his neck. Had he lost his mind, kissing her at the table of a restaurant in full view of the patrons?
He surveyed the area behind them.
“Don’t worry. No one noticed. It’s quite dark where we’re sitting, and people are busy eating and chatting.”
Pathetic that she should be the one reassuring him.
A cold shower would be welcome. Actually a dip in the ocean would also help. “Let’s go swim before it’s too dark.” He glanced at the water and snorted. It was already dark. He called the waitress and paid their bill.
Isabella slipped off her stilettos and hid her purse in her beach bag. Jonathan removed his loafers and dragged a beach chair near the water. He shed his clothes, threw them on the chair, and turned to her.
Oh my… His Adam’s apple bobbed and his eyes rounded. Rooted in place, he watched her slide her dress down to her hips, wriggle to drop it to her ankles and emerge in a skimpy black bikini contouring and highlighting every curve and valley of her scrumptious body.
“Are you coming? Jonathan?”
“Huh?”
“Poor thing, you had a long day. Wake up.” She grabbed his hand and sauntered to the water. The gentle waves burst against her thighs and hips. Like a happy mermaid she let go and splashed him, laughing, and playing.
He couldn’t laugh. He couldn’t play. His gaze roamed over the generous breasts, spilling out of her bra, and lingered on her trim waist.
“Let’s swim. The ocean is all ours.” To cool his overheated body, he dove and kicked the water in a vigorous crawl. When he surfaced again, she was floating on her back, eyes closed, hair drifting around her face like a copper pillow. The moonlight streamed silver rays on her lovely figure and highlighted her tanned skin. The rise and fall of her breasts accelerated, beckoning him. His body thrummed with arousal. Giving in to temptation, he traced her mouth with the pad of his thumb.
Her eyelids fluttered, then opened and her gaze bored into his. The air in his chest vanished. Without a word, he pulled her against him and kept her embraced.
Entwining her fingers behind his neck, she tilted her head and kissed his cheek. Her sensual, full lips licked his, nipping at his lower one. His mouth settled on hers, sure and possessive. Her lips parted to welcome his tongue and her legs encircled his waist. Exactly as he’d fantasized in the afternoon when her brother called him to his office.
The thought of her brother cooled his ardor more effectively than a cold shower.
“Isabella, we better go.” Her eyes glazed and she stared at him. “It’s getting too late.”
“Oh.” She cocked an eyebrow, tempting him with an enticing smile. “What time did your mamma give you for curfew?” she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice as she shook her head with a sympathetic move that annoyed the hell out of him.
“You spitfire.” He pressed her against him and their mouths melded together for a searing kiss that left them out of breath. Silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of water lapping against the sand and the algae. He trailed kisses over her cheek, down her neck and the exposed part of her breast. Soon they would reach the point of no return.
“Jonathan, you’re right. We should go home before it’s too late.”