Saved by the CEO(30)

From the way the clipboard just slipped from Nico's grasp, she wasn't  the only one about to lose control. "What have you done to me, bella  mia?" he whispered.

Precisely the question Louisa was asking herself. But then Nico kissed her deep, and she was swept away.

* * *

"Absolutely not," Louisa said, shaking her index finger. "I'm not letting you talk me out of it again."

Oh, but the spark in her eyes said he was welcome to try. They were  discussing Louisa's moving back to the palazzo. The past two nights,  Nico had managed to convince her she should postpone her departure. Not  that she needed too much convincing.

Tonight, however, Louisa insisted she was sleeping in her own bed.

"Fine," he told her.

"Really?" Nico chuckled at how high her brows rose. She'd been expecting  an argument. After all, as they'd both discovered, the persuasion was  half the fun.

"Sure. You may sleep wherever you like. Of course," he said, trailing a  finger down the back of her neck, "you won't be sleeping alone."

She made a soft strangled sound in her throat that made him want to kiss  her all over. He loved how easily she responded to his suggestion and  how she stubbornly fought to keep him from knowing. Her eyes would  flutter shut and she would bite her lower lip. Inevitably her reaction  would leak out anyway, and then he would be the one fighting to hide how  she affected him. Surely, she knew how crazy she made him. He would  give her the world on a silver platter if she asked.

So if she wanted to go back to the palazzo, to the palazzo they would  go. The only reason he kept persuading her to stay was because he didn't  want to spend a night without her.

Frightening how much he needed her. Frightening and exhilarating. Was  this how his brother and sister felt when they fell in love? Or his  parents? If so, perhaps he finally understood them a little bit better.

Although he would never throw a plate at Louisa. Of that he was certain.

"You never told me what you thought of dinner," he said, slipping an arm  around her shoulder. The two of them had played guinea pig for Rafe's  fall menu.

"It was delicious," she replied. "I've never had rabbit before. And don't try to change the subject."

"Bistecca alla fiorentina is a Tuscan specialty. And I'm not changing the subject. I already agreed to let you win."

"Let me, huh?" She reached up and entwined her fingers with the ones on  her shoulder, a move that brought her face into perfect kissing  proximity. Nico had no choice but to brush his lips across hers.

"Always,' he murmured.

"Except when you don't. Like the past two nights."

Recalling how they'd spent those two nights, Nico felt a satisfied groan  rise in his throat. "I like to think we both won those arguments," he  replied.

It was early still; the stars had yet to appear in the sky.  Nevertheless, the fountain spotlights were already on. The brightness  bounced off the coins scattered in the basin.

Reaching into the water, he picked up the first coin he saw and held it up. "A halfpenny for your thoughts," he said.

She laughed. "I was thinking about how much things have changed since I arrived in Monte Calanetti."                       
       
           



       

"Good changes, I hope."

"Some very good ones," she replied.

She looked so lovely, with the light framing her face. An angel to rival  the nymph of the fountain. All those people tossing money and making  wishes. He already had his wish standing before him. A fierce ache  spread from the center of Nico's chest, giving birth to emotions that  begged to be released. "I love you," he told her, the words bursting out  of him in a rush.

* * *

Louisa's heart jumped to her throat. Of all the things he could have said, why did he have to say those three words?

"Nico-"

"I know," he rushed on, "it's too soon. It's too fast. Too... Too many  things, but then again, it's not." His hand trembled as he stroked her  cheek. "I think I have loved you for a very long time. Since long before  the wedding."

Louisa wasn't sure if she wanted to run or cry. He was right; it was too  soon. If she said the words back, it would mean accepting the fact she  had once again fallen in love without thinking things through.

Even if it was already true.

That he seemed to know what she was thinking made the panic worse. "It's  all right," he said, pressing his fingers to her lips. "I understand if  you're not ready to say the words back. I just needed to tell you."

She was about to tell him she needed time-a lot more time-when a voice  interrupted from behind them. "Nico! I thought that was you."

A wiry man with slick black hair approached them with a smile. "And  Signorina Harrison. How lucky that I should run into you. Saves me the  trouble of tracking you down by phone."

"Me?" She looked at Nico for help.

"I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself. I'm Dominic Merloni."

"From the bank?" Apparently he'd decided she was worth talking to after all.

If the banker noticed the chill in her voice, he was unfazed. "Yes, I  wanted to apologize for canceling our meeting so abruptly the other day.  There was a family emergency that took me out of town."

"How terrible," she said, not sure she believed him. "I hope everything's okay now."

"Better than ever, thank you. Anyway, since I didn't know when I would  be returning, I told my secretary not to reschedule anything. Now that  I'm back, I'm looking forward to sitting down and hearing more about  your project. You are still thinking of turning the palazzo into a  boutique hotel, are you not?"

"Yes! Definitely."

"Wonderful. Call my office tomorrow and we'll pick a time."

This was unbelievable. Here she'd convinced herself that her plans would need to wait another couple of years.

"Um..." She still didn't want to get her hopes up yet. Signor Merloni  might be willing to listen, but that didn't erase her weak credit  history. "I think before we meet, you should probably know that I'm  recently divorced. My personal credit history is relatively new."

"Oh, I don't think that will be a problem," the banker said. "I'm sure  you'll be a solid risk." His gaze darted to Nico as he spoke.

She should have known it was too good to be true.

"Well, it looks like we have occasion to celebrate," the winemaker said as they watched him walk away.

"Really?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. Whatever elation she was  feeling had vanished, wiped out when the banker had tipped Nico's hand.  "And what exactly do you want to celebrate? The fact that you talked  Dominic into meeting with me or the fact you're a controlling jerk?"

As she hurled the words at him, Nico stiffened. "Louisa..."

"Don't try to deny it," she said. "I saw Dominic looking at you. He was  about as subtle as an elephant. The guy might as well have come out and  said you were backing the loan."

"I'm not backing anything."

He also wasn't denying his involvement. "You did talk with him, though."

"I told him I thought the project had potential."

The Amatucci seal of approval. Which, as everyone in Monte Calanetti  knew, was as good as a guarantee. Louisa could tear her hair out. No,  correction. She could tear Nico's hair out. Every curly strand.

"I can't believe you," she said, shaking her head.

"I don't understand. What did I do that's so terrible?"

What did he do? "You went behind my back, that's what."

"I was trying to help you."

"Funny, I don't recall asking for it. In fact, I specifically asked you  not to help." Turning on her heel, she marched to the bench but was too  aggravated to sit down.                       
       
           



       

Nico marched up behind her.

"What was I supposed to do?" he asked. "You were putting your plans on  hold because of the man. Was I supposed to stand back and let your  dreams fall apart even though I have the ability to stop it?"

"Yes!" she hissed as she spun around to face him. "That's exactly what you should have done."

"You're kidding."

"No, I'm not. It wasn't your dream to save. It was mine."

"But you weren't doing anything. To save it."

"And that's my decision to make, too. I don't need you coming in and taking over."

"Taking over?" He looked stunned, as though someone had told him pigs could fly. "What are you talking about?"

He was kidding, right? They were arguing about his influencing a banker on her behalf and he was asking her to explain herself?

Then again, maybe he didn't understand. Taking over was so ingrained in men like him, they didn't know how not to be in control.