Flirting with Love(49)

“That’s why I was with Tate. Inside, there’s a refrigeration unit for your pies and cabinets for your grooming supplies.” Emily pressed her lips together and lifted her brows at Daisy and Callie. “Not dating, just coordinating. I cannot wait to go to Italy.”

Elisabeth covered her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. “You did this for me?”

“I’d do anything for you.” Ross took her in a passionate kiss that had all the girls awwing, and Elisabeth melting in his arms. Exactly where she was meant to be.



The End





Please enjoy a preview of the next

Love in Bloom novel





Dreaming of Love





The Bradens





Love in Bloom Series





Melissa Foster





Dreaming of Love Excerpt - Chapter One


LUSH. VERDANT. HILLY…Amazing. Emily stood on the covered balcony of the villa where she’d rented a room just outside of Florence, Italy, overlooking rolling countryside and the spectacular city below. The sun was kissing the last light of day goodbye, leaving chilled air in its wake. She sighed at the magnificent view, wrapped her arms around her body, and gave herself a big hug. She couldn’t believe she was finally here, staying at the villa that her favorite architect, Gabriela Bocelli, built.

Gabriela Bocelli wasn’t a very well-known architect, but her designs exuded simplicity and grace, which Emily had admired ever since she’d first come across this villa during her architecture studies. That felt like a hundred years ago. She’d dreamed of visiting Tuscany throughout school, but in the years since she’d been too busy building her architecture business, which specialized in passive house design, to take time off. If it weren’t for one of her older brothers, she might still be back in Trusty, Colorado, dreaming of Tuscany instead of standing on this loggia losing her breath to the hilly terrain below.

She pulled her cell phone from the back pocket of her jeans and texted Wes.

You’re the best brother EVER! So happy to be here. Thank you! Xox.

Emily had five brothers, each of whom had hounded her about her safety while she was traveling. Or really, whenever they didn’t have their eyes on her. Pierce, her eldest brother, had wanted to use his own phone plan to buy her a second cell phone with international access. Just in case. She’d put her foot down. At thirty-one years old, she could handle a ten-day trip without needing her brothers to rescue her. It wasn’t like she ever needed saving, but her brothers had a thing about scrutinizing every man who came near her. Yet another reason why she didn’t date very often.

Still, she was glad they cared, because she adored each and every one of their overprotective asses.

Adelina Ambrosi appeared at the entrance to the balcony with a slightly less energetic smile than had been present throughout the day. Adelina had run the resort villa with her husband, Marcello, for more than twenty years. She was a short, stout woman with a friendly smile, eyes as blue-gray as a winter’s storm, and wiry gray hair that was currently pinned up in a messy bun. She must have mastered the art of walking quietly to keep from disturbing the guests.

“Good evening, Emily.” Adelina brushed lint from the curtains hanging beside the glass doors. Emily was glad they loved the property as much as she did. They rented out only two rooms of the six-bedroom villa in order to always have space available for family and friends. The villa was a home to them, not just a resort or a business, as was evident in the warm guest rooms.

“Good evening, Adelina. Any news on Serafina’s husband?”

Serafina was Adelina and Marcello’s daughter. She and her eight-month-old son had been living in the States when her husband, Dante, a United States Marine, had gone missing in Afghanistan while out on tour almost three months ago. Adelina had told Emily that she’d begged Serafina to come home and let her take care of her and baby Luca until her husband returned—and Adelina was adamant that he would return. Emily, on the other hand, wasn’t quite so sure.

“Not yet, but I have faith.” Adelina lowered her eyes, and with a friendly nod, she disappeared down the hall in the direction of her bedroom.

Emily turned back toward the evening sky, sending a silent prayer that Serafina’s husband would return unharmed.

“It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?”

The rich, deep voice sent a shiver down Emily’s spine. She turned, and—holy smokes. Standing before her was more than six feet of deeply tanned, deliciously muscled male. His hair was the color of warm mocha and spilled over his eyes, hanging just an inch above the collar of his tight black T-shirt. She opened her mouth to greet him, but her mouth went dry and no words came. She reached for the stone rail of the archway she’d been gazing through and managed a smile.

His full lips quirked up, filling his deep brown eyes with amusement as he stepped closer.

“The view,” he repeated as his eyes swept over her, causing her insides to do a nervous dance. The amusement in his eyes gave way to something dark and sensual.

It had been so long since Emily had seen that look directed at her that it took her by surprise. She cleared her throat and reluctantly dragged her gaze back to the view below, which paled in comparison to the one right next to her. The one who brought with him the scent of something hot and sexual.

Alluring.

How delicious are your lips?

Holy crap. Get a grip. It must be the Italian air or the evening sky that had her heart racing like she’d just run a marathon.

Or the fact that I haven’t had sex in…

“Awestruck. I hear Italy has that effect on people.” He leaned his forearms on the thick stone rail and bent over, clasping his large hands together.

“Yeah, right. Italy.” Emily’s eyes widened at the sarcasm in her voice. She clenched her mouth shut. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. He probably had this crazy effect on all women, and here she was gushing over him. She didn’t gush. Ever. What the hell?

He cocked his head to the side and smiled up at her. Emily drank in his slightly wide-set nose, the sexy peppering of whiskers along his square jawline, and the spark of playfulness in his eyes. A low laugh rumbled from his chest as he arched a brow.

Oh God. She felt her chest and face flush with heat and crossed her arms. A barrier between them. Yes, that’s what she needed, since apparently she couldn’t control her own freaking hormones.

“I’m sorry. I just got in this evening and it was a long trip. Eye fatigue.” Eye fatigue? She held her breath, hoping he’d pretend, as she was, that that was the real reason she was ogling him.

“I just arrived myself.” He held a hand out. “Dae Bray. Nice to meet you.”

Emily felt the tension in her neck ease as he accepted her explanation. “Emily Braden. Day? That’s an interesting name.” She shook his strong, warm hand, and he held hers a beat too long, bringing that tension right back to her body—and an entirely different type of tension to her lower belly.

“Maybe I’m an interesting guy. Dae. D A E,” he said, as if he had to spell it often, which she imagined he did. “Is this your first time in Tuscany?”

How could he be so casual, speak so easily, when her heart was doing flips in her chest? He didn’t have an ounce of tension anywhere in his body. He was all ease and comfort, his body moving fluidly as he shifted his position and leaned his sexy, low-slung-jeans-clad hip against the rail. When he crossed one ankle over the other and set his palms on the stone, his T-shirt clung to his wide chest, then followed his rippled abs in a sexy vee and disappeared beneath the waist of his jeans. Her eyes lingered there, desperately fighting to drop a little lower. It took all of her focus to ignore the heat spreading through her limbs and drag her eyes away.

“Yes.” Why does my voice sound breathy? She drew her shoulders back and met his gaze, forcing a modicum of control into her voice. “How about you?”

He shook his head, and his hair fell in front of his eyes. Could he be any sexier? One quick flick of his chin sent his long, shiny hair off his face, giving her a brief look at his deep-set eyes and chiseled, rugged features. Holy cow. Hold it together.

“It’s the first for me, too.”

Emily’s phone vibrated and Wes’s name flashed on the screen. She reached for it and read Wes’s message, desperately needing a distraction.

So glad. Be safe and have fun. You deserve it.

“Probably your husband wondering what you’re doing talking to some dude instead of taking a romantic stroll through the vineyards with him.” His eyes narrowed a hair, but that easy smile remained on his lips.

Emily met his gaze. “That would be a feat, considering I’m not married.” Not that she wouldn’t like to be. Recently, she’d watched four of her brothers fall head over heels in love. They hadn’t even been looking for love, and there she was, waiting to love and be loved and trying to keep the green-eyed monster inside her at bay. She was happy for them. She really was. But she couldn’t deny her desire to find that special someone who would cherish her for more than the Braden wealth. She’d come to accept that she wouldn’t find that in her small hometown. She’d buried herself in building a successful business to fill those lonely hours.

“Well, in that case, would you care to join me for a glass of wine?”