When She Fell for the Billionaire(9)

Chapter 3





Luca had fallen under her fucking spell. He thought he was above the dictates of his cock, but apparently that body part of his had not matured as well as he had thought it had.

The combination of a gorgeous face, knockout body, and a certain reserve were guaranteed to make men chase her. No wonder men found her irresistible. Cazzo! And that kiss on the beach…he had to enter the hotel by the service entrance unless he wanted everyone in the lobby to see his hard on.

He definitely wanted much, much more. And judging by her reaction to their kiss, she wouldn’t be averse to taking things further. Luca knew she was attracted to him but was strangely reticent. It was probably part of her strategy, that playing hard to get.

She had not said yes to his invitation to lunch, but Luca felt it in his gut. She would be there. It was a clever ploy. The thrill of breaking down her walls was a challenge he couldn’t resist.

Luca had a morning meeting with the key hotel staff for the relaunch of the The Medeia Seirenada, one of the hotels in the chain of the Konstantinos Worldwide Group. Casa Argenti, the home and furniture line of the Argenti House of Fashion, had been tasked to refurbish the interiors of the 5-star hotel in time for its relaunching after the royal wedding. It was the project of his sister as creative director but as she had taken ill, Luca had taken over. The timing was perfect. Royalty and some heads of states from other countries were arriving in Seirenada and were staying at The Medeia. The relaunch would benefit from the presence of the international press.

His mobile rang.

“Have you made contact?” Markos Konstantinos’ tone was brusque. Of the four brothers, the president of the family business was the least charming. He was blunt, sometimes to the point of rudeness.

“Buon giorno, Markos,” he drawled, just to irritate his long-time friend. He checked his reflection in the mirror in the bathroom to check the smoothness of his shave.

“And a good fucking morning to you, Luca,” his friend growled.

He decided not to bait him any longer. “Yes. I’ve made ‘contact,’” He heard the deep intake of breath on the other line.

“And?” Markos demanded.

“And what?” Sabrina Connelly turned out to be a delightful surprise. Markos’ previous ex, whom he had to distract at another occasion during a party, had been a shrew.

“How did she seem?”

“Beautiful, just as I expected.” And intriguing. That was unexpected.

“I’m not interested in what she looks like.” Markos made a gruff sound of impatience and ignored the roundabout compliment on his good taste in women. “Does she know of your connection to me?”

“I let her know.”

“Did she mention anything about trying to see me?”

Luca felt a stirring of possessiveness. “Actually, she didn’t.” The statement filled him with satisfaction.

“The family?”

“No.”

He heard Markos sigh. It sounded like a sigh of relief.

“I don’t seem to recall your ex-girlfriends giving you this much trouble. You should have just sent Sabrina Connelly off with some diamonds.” In Luca’s experience, it expedited awkward break-up scenes.

“Given her diamonds?” Markos sounded puzzled.

“I didn’t think you’d be such a cheapskate with your lovers.”

Markos cursed softly in Greek. “You think Sabrina Connelly is my ex-girlfriend?”

“I’ve had on some occasion doubted your taste in women, Markos, but I think you outdid yourself on this one. I find myself very attracted to her.”

Why the hell did Markos keep answering him with questions? The thought of his friend or other men having possessed Sabrina before flooded his gut with acid, but right now he didn’t fucking care. He had to have her. Get her out of his system. He was going to wipe out any trace of other men who had been with her before. He just didn’t want any complications.

“You’re attracted to her.” Markos tone was slow and measured.

That was the understatement of the year if there ever was one.

“I just want to know if it’s really over between the two of you.” His friend remained silent, but Luca forged on: “I’m going to make her mine. I don’t share.”

There was a short pause. Then his friend’s voice sounded strangled when he said, “There has never been anything between me and that woman.”

His friend’s forceful denial sounded…odd. Did Markos still have feelings for the girl, after all? No matter. He had given his word. “Molto bene,” Luca said with satisfaction.

“You’re welcome to her. What are your plans with the girl?”