Saved by the CEO(28)

"Looks like I've been replaced by bigger news." Finally. Heaven help the  poor person who took her place, whether they deserved the attention or  not.

"So you don't mind the mention?" Nico asked.

Honestly? She'd rather they not mention her at all, but given how bad  things had been? "Two lines on page thirteen I can handle."

At last, a true smile broke across Nico's face. "Good. I'm glad. I was concerned..."

"About what? That I would freak out?"

"You did before." He pressed a knee to the edge of the bed, and leaning  close, cradled her face in his palm. "I never want anything to hurt you  that badly again."

"Never is a very big promise," she told him.

"Not where you're concerned. If I have to buy up every newspaper in Italy to keep the paparazzi from hounding you, I will."

A shiver ran down Louisa's spine. He's just trying to make you feel safe  and special. Even so, when he said things like that she couldn't help  thinking of Steven.

"No need to do anything so drastic. I'll settle for your arms around me."

"Ask and you shall receive, bella mia." A twinkle appeared in his eye. "Is a hug all you need?"

Well, when he looked at her like that... She grabbed the neck of his  T-shirt and tugged him forward. "Now that you mention it, I might have a  few other requests."

* * *

Following their lovemaking this morning, he'd wanted nothing more than  to burrow with her beneath the sheets and, maybe after some rest, make  love again. Unfortunately, Louisa insisted they needed to make an  appearance at the winery before the gossip got too out of control.

As he leaned back against the bed watching her dress, he marveled at how  light and full his chest felt. Never in his entire life could Nico  remember feeling this way. It was as though overnight the entire world  had grown brighter: every color more brilliant, every smell and sound  more pronounced. And Louisa-beautiful, beautiful Louisa-he couldn't get  enough of her. Not sexually, although making love with her was amazing,  but of her. Her company, her presence, her happiness. It overwhelmed him  how much he wanted to keep her close and protect her.                       
       
           



       

Suddenly, it hit him. He was in love.

For the first time in his life, he, Nico Amatucci, was truly, madly and  deeply in love. The knowledge swelled inside him, inflating his heart  until he thought it might burst.

To distract himself from the desire to haul her down the hall and back  into his bed, he pretended to check the messages on his phone.  Comprehension was difficult, what with his beautiful American standing a  few feet away clad only in jeans and a bra.

"You should move your clothes into the closet," he said as he watched  her taking a shirt from her suitcase. This long under his roof, and she  hadn't unpacked? They would need to remedy that.

"Actually," Louisa said, "I was thinking it might be time for me to move back to the palazzo."

What? He sat a little straighter. "So soon?"

"It's hardly soon, Nico. I've been here two and a half weeks. This was only supposed to be until the press died down, remember?"

He remembered. He didn't want her to go. Her decision felt too much like  her deciding to leave Monte Calanetti. How could she want to leave when  they were only just were discovering their feelings.

It took all his effort to keep his voice light and not spoil the moment  with his panic. "I suppose," he said, heaving the most dramatic sigh he  could muster, "if you prefer to sleep alone in a cold palazzo than in my  warm bed..."

"I never said I preferred the cold palazzo." She mocked his exaggerated  voice with one of her own. "But I will have to go back eventually."

"I know. Not tonight, though?"

"Well..." He could tell from the sparkle in her eyes that she was only pretending to hesitate. "Okay, not tonight. But soon."

"Soon," he said, with a smile. He was surprised at how strongly he  wanted her to stay. This new passionate self was going to take some  getting used to.

Returning his attention to his phone, he noticed a message from Rafe. Agenda Items for Next Tuesday, the subject line read.

"Did Dani say any more about what Rafe wanted to talk about at this meeting?" he asked Louisa.

"Just that he wanted to get plans rolling on some type of event to  attract visitors now that the harvest is wrapping up." She was buttoning  the same silk blouse she'd worn when moving in. "He was thinking maybe  something in February," she said. Around Valentine's Day."

"A holiday that will attract couples to his restaurant. Why am I not surprised?"

"Well, it is a romantic time of year. What could be more romantic than candlelit dinners with fine wine?"

"True." No sooner did she say the words than the image of the two of  them nestled together in a corner table came to mind. "Very romantic  indeed," he murmured.

"You could relabel one of your wines for the occasion. The winery must have something bubbly. A prosecco maybe?"

She was on to something. The winery had a very nice prosecco they  produced on a limited basis. He could easily convince the local  businesses to incorporate it into any plans they came up with.

Tossing his phone aside, he got up and, giving in partially to his  desire, wrapped his arms around her waist. "Beautiful and brilliant," he  said, kissing her neck. "You are definitely a prize worth keeping."

"Glad you think so."

Was it his imagination or did she tense slightly before breaking the embrace. She had a smile on her face, so he must have.

"Isn't Valentine's Day when you were hoping to open the palazzo to  guests?" Since she obviously wasn't going to leave Monte Calanetti now,  she could put her project back into motion.

To his surprise, she answered his question with a very sarcastic laugh.  "I'm pretty sure those plans bit the dust when Dominic Merloni canceled  our appointment."

Dominic Merloni. That shortsighted idiot. "He is not the only financier  in Italy. There are other banks. Other sources of funding," he reminded  her.

Louisa set down the hairbrush she was using to look at him. "Who's going  to lend Luscious Louisa money? It was naive of me to think I could  slide by on my maiden name. Too much of my past financial history is  tied to Steven's."

"There is still the investor route. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be interested. I've already said I would-"

"No." Her refusal was sharp and sudden, cutting him off. The reaction  must have shown on his face, because her voice immediately softened.  "We've already had this conversation Nico. I can't take money from you."

"Yes, but..." But that was before they became lovers. Surely, the situation had changed. Why not let him help?                       
       
           



       

"The whole idea of the hotel was to create something of my own," she  said, cutting off his protest. "If I take money from you, then it won't  feel that way. Especially now. The papers claim I'm dating you for your  money," she added, picking up her brush.

"I thought you no longer cared what the papers said."

"I said I could deal with a small mention. What I don't want to do is give them more ammunition."

"So, what are you going to do? Give up on your plan?"

"I'm not 'giving up' on anything. The palazzo is going to make a  wonderful hotel. Just not as soon as I hoped, is all. In another year or  so, maybe, when I've had time to build a better financial profile."

Hearing Louisa put her dream on hold broke his heart. It wasn't right,  her suffering another setback because of that cretin she'd married.  Especially when he had the wealth and connections to make things happen.

Maybe... He looked down at his phone. Maybe she wouldn't have to wait  too long. Wouldn't hurt to make a few phone calls and see if he could  open a few doors, would it?





CHAPTER ELEVEN

MORE THAN A few heads turned when Louisa and Nico entered the winery  together. Dozens of pairs of eyes all staring knowingly in her  direction.

Suppressing the old, familiar apprehension, Louisa nodded hello to  everyone. "Looks like our secret is out," she said. The din of the  machinery forced her to holler directly into Nico's ear.

He turned and looked at her with such concern, her heart wobbled. "Will you be all right?" he asked.

"I'll be fine." Even if she wouldn't, there was no way she could tell  him that when he was looking at her so tenderly. "If I was worried about  discretion, I wouldn't have kissed you in front of the whole village,  would I?"

Nico looked about to reply when one of the workers called his name.