“My pleasure.” He motioned her to precede him into the sitting room and waited until she’d chosen a seat, hiding his surprise and relief when she eased onto the sofa.
He uncorked the champagne, splashed some in two crystal flutes and joined her. “I’ve taken the liberty of reserving a table for us in the village.”
She took the glass, her smile fading. “I’m not sure I’m up for going out tonight.”
He moved closer and slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Are you worried you will run into Mario?”
She shrugged, staring at her lap, reverting to the restrained woman he preferred not to see tonight. “A bit.”
“You won’t find him here or in the village,” he said, drawing her close and dropping a kiss on her forehead. “But if you really don’t wish to go out, we can dine in. Your choice, bella.”
Her brow puckered and she fidgeted with her fingers, her body far too tense to find pleasure in anything right now. “I won’t let that man keep me a prisoner here or anywhere else. You’ve made the reservation so let’s go.”
He lifted his glass to hers, marveling again at this woman he’d underestimated. “Well said, bella. You are strong. Smart. Beautiful. To you and all you wish for.”
“And you as well,” she replied, clinking her glass to his, her smile quivering the slightest bit, as if she were fighting tears.
But she wouldn’t cry. He knew that much about her. This moment didn’t warrant tears. Within fifteen minutes they arrived at the ristorante in his limo and were promptly escorted to a private nook. The space was small and the lighting subdued. Perfecto!
Luc assisted her to her chair and took his own, still struggling with that odd sense of imbalance. “I’ve ordered a pinot grigio, but if you prefer something else...”
“That would be heavenly,” she said, looking relaxed.
He tasted the wine and accepted it, then asked for a selection of appetizers, gaining Caprice’s okay, which again came readily. And wasn’t that exactly one of the things he liked most about her? They were in sync on preferred designs, adventurous palettes and the hunger of carnal pleasures, the latter being what he wished to explore leisurely with her tonight.
His wish was for her to walk away from him and Italy feeling very much in control of her mind and fully attuned to the needs and provocative charms of her body. Together they were a powerful aphrodisiac possessing the power to bring him down to his knees.
He jerked when her hand pressed over his. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, fine,” he said, closing the door on emotions stirring to escape.
His feelings had no place here. This was her night. The one she’d deserved from him seven years ago.
“I want this to be a good night you will recall with pleasure,” he said. “Would you prefer a menu?”
She leaned back in her chair, her glass cradled in her hands, her gaze drinking him as if she were parched. “It seems you’ve designed this night for me. You decide, Luciano.”
“To your pleasure,” he said, just barely tipping his glass to her and liking this surety and boldness about her.
My God, he admired her strength. Whatever it took he would make this night very special for her.