Cinderella and the Brooding Billionaire by Michelle Douglas

Author:Michelle Douglas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-07-15T20:46:48+00:00

* * *

Luca tried to not question too deeply his satisfaction when Monique’s lids fluttered down over her eyes in appreciation as she sampled her first Italian gelato.

‘This is delicious!’

If forced to guess her favourite flavour, he’d have said chocolate, but she’d pointed to a creamy passionfruit instead. Normally he’d choose a coffee-flavoured gelato, but not today. Today he’d selected a rich smooth caramel that coated his tongue in sweet promise.

Her eyes flew open, rooting him to the spot. ‘Best gelato ever.’

He couldn’t move, couldn’t drag his gaze from those eyes, her smile or from the life that radiated from her every pore. As if aware of his scrutiny, as if the warmth of his gaze touched her skin, pink stained her cheeks.

He shook himself. ‘I am glad it does not disappoint. And what of the fountain?’ He gestured to the fountain in front of them. ‘Does it too live up to expectation?’

‘I think it magnificent. I need to pinch myself to believe I’m really here and that this isn’t just a dream.’

She craned her neck, taking in all she could. As if trying to memorise every detail. He did his best not to notice the way her tongue touched the gelato or the shine it left on her lips. If he kissed her now, she’d taste cool and tangy and—

Not that he had any intention of doing any such thing!

Sì, she was beautiful, but a dalliance with Benito’s godmother...? Dio, it would be very poor form indeed. Besides, he reminded himself, for as long as he continued to tread delicate ground with Signor Romano, he would not want whispers of any such liaison to reach the older man’s ears.

If only those thoughts could dampen the tendrils of desire that curled around him with a gentle but insidious tyranny. He took a big bite of gelato, hoping it would give him brain freeze.

‘The fountain and the square are both regal and charming,’ Monique finally said. ‘I suspect that might sum Rome up perfectly too.’

Except that was all conjecture on her part, and not based on experience. How could he have been so remiss and not shown her a little of what Rome had to offer before now? He’d kept her tied to the villa for the nearly three weeks. She must’ve felt as if she were under house arrest!

‘You sum up my city perfectly.’ He handed her a coin and gestured. ‘You must, of course, toss a coin into the fountain to ensure you will one day return.’

Her fingers closed around the coin as if relishing the heat it had absorbed from his body. He gulped down more gelato.

Placing her back to the fountain and closing her eyes as if to make a wish, she threw the coin high into the air over her shoulder. It glittered in the sunlight as it turned over and over, landing in the pool with a splash.

He beamed at her. ‘Now you will return.’

‘I hope so.’

He would see to it. He wanted Benito to know his godmother, and to know her well, not just as a passing acquaintance.

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