The Ultimate Playboy(100)

                ‘The idea is to divide my time between the bar and the kitchen. I know I can trust you to hold the fort here?’

                ‘Of course.’ He peered closer at her. ‘Is everything all right?’

                She busied herself placing large chunks of freshly cut salmon in its foil wrappings.

                ‘It will be when the evening’s over. I always get the jitters at these events.’

                His knowing glance told her he hadn’t missed her evasiveness. Thankfully, Paolina entered the kitchen and Ruby sighed with relief.

                The planning team arrived at four. After that, deliveries flooded in. Flowers, a DJ and lighting specialists who set up on the terrace.

                But the most unexpected delivery came in the form of a couture designer bearing a zipped-up garment bag, which she handed over and promptly departed. The note pinned to the stunning powder-blue floor-length gown was simple—a beautiful gown for a beautiful woman.

                Joy burst through her heart, made her smile for the first time that day.

                For the job she had to do tonight, it was severely impractical, as were the silver shoes almost the exact shade as Narciso’s eyes, but as she walked into Narciso’s bedroom and hung up the dress she knew she would wear it.

                Narciso was late. He arrived barely a half-hour before his guests were due to arrive and walked into the bedroom just as she was putting finishing touches to her upswept hair.

                He froze in the doorway, and stared. ‘You look gorgeous, bellissima.’

                She turned from the mirror, a cascade of love, trepidation and anxiety smashing through her. How would he take the news of his father’s continued scheming?

                Remember where my son inherited his thirst for revenge...

                Forcing down the shiver of apprehension, she murmured, ‘Grazie.’

                His eyes darkened with pleasure. ‘You need to speak more Italian. Or better still Sicilian. I’ll teach you,’ he said as he shrugged off his jacket and tugged at his tie.

                Then he strode to where she stood. Snaking a large hand around her nape, he pulled her in for a long, deep kiss. Then with a groan he stepped back.

                ‘Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be with you.’

                ‘Okay.’

                ‘Dio, I must be growing a conscience, bellissima, since I keep dismissing the idea of calling this party off.’

                She forced a laugh. ‘You must be.’

                Shaking his head, he entered the bathroom. She stood there until the sound of the shower pulled her from her troubled thoughts.

                She was behind the bar, pouring the first of the cocktails into glasses, when he emerged.

                The sight of him in a superbly cut grey suit and a blue shirt that matched her dress made her heart slam into her throat. He’d taken a single step towards her when the doorbell rang.

                He rolled his eyes dramatically, then his gaze drifted over her in heated promise before he nodded for the butler to answer the door.

                For the next two hours, Ruby let her skills take over, serving food that drew several compliments from the dinner guests.