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“I did. We heard back from the global merchandise company, and they loved the design. They want us to design warehouses all around Europe, modifying the design to fit the terrains in each country. It’s the biggest client we’ve ever had,” he says, pride evident in his tone.

“Congratulations, Gabo. That is amazing. I hope you have some good wine at the country house because tonight we have to celebrate,” I tell him as I squeeze him tighter to me, hopefully he can tell how proud I am of him. He melts in our embrace and I can’t help but love this little moment.

Ugh, I can’t wait for this man to make a move. I think I’m going to have to pack my vibrator for the weekend. Otherwise, I might do something that I will regret later, like sneaking into his room in the middle of the night and pretending I saw a ghost just to have my way with this handsome, smart, and thoughtful man.

“You might say I have a good wine collection, but I guess you’ll just have to wait and see for yourself,” he states as he kisses me on top of my head. He lets me go to grab my luggage. I practically melted on the spot—the kiss wasn’t sensual, but it sure made me feel like the most cherished person in the world.

“Ready?” he asks as he hits the elevator button.

“Ready.”

“Mario, Rocco, and Aldo will follow us in the SUV. You and I will go in your… car.” He shivers as he looks at my beautiful pink Bug, and I throw my head back in laughter. This trip is going to be a blast.

“Wait, where’s your luggage?” I ask, confused.

“I have everything I need there already.” He winks at me as he extends his hand. I give him mine, and he chuckles but places a kiss on my palm, and I feel my knees going weak. He’s such a gentleman.

“No, principessa. I was silently asking for your car keys.”

I open my eyes as it dawns on me that he wants to drive. Heat rises all the way to my cheeks; he must think I’m a child.

“Oh, I see. No need. I’ll be the one driving tonight.” I look at him directly in his eyes, letting him know there’s no room for negotiation here. I don’t expect him to give in—he’s used to getting his way. But to my surprise, he goes to the driver’s side, opens the door, and motions for me to get in.

“Thank you, kind sir,” I tell him as I get into the car.

“You’re welcome, signorina,” he says, kissing the back of my hand again, and I need to fan myself as he makes his way to the passenger door.

It turns out Gabo is a great copilot. He plugged in my phone instead of his so I could play one of my playlists. Every time I was hesitant about a turn, he simply told me where to go. No mocking, nothing but kindness and respect.

The moment I slow down to turn into his property, my mouth falls open. This is not just a countryside house—this is an estate, a villa, a mansion. Oh, my goodness. It’s absolutely breathtaking. The road that takes us to the house is guarded by tall field maples, and when the road ends, we are met by a massive stone house that creates a perfect harmony with its surroundings.

“So what do you think?” Gabo asks, and I just look at him. “Come on, let me give you a tour,” he says as he gets out of the car and walks around to open my door.

The house is absolutely dreamy. There are several living spaces, including a kitchen that rivals the one in his penthouse. When we step outside, there’s a huge pool in the backyard. I can’t wait to go on a hike in the morning, the hills surrounding the property look absolutely amazing.

“Signore Gabo, hi.” A lady in the kitchen greets him as we come back inside, opening her arms and waiting for a hug. She seems to be about Ines and Graciela’s age—our nannies back home—and just as sweet and nice as they are.

“Margareta, ciao,” Gabo replies as he hugs her.

“I haven’t seen you around here in a while. I was starting to get worried that you had sold the place and hadn’t told me,” she says as she squeezes his cheeks.

“You know I would never do that to you.”

“Good answer,” she says, patting his cheeks, and then her eyes are on me.

“And who is this gorgeous signorina we have here?” She opens her arms for me to hug her, and I do so without hesitation.

“That’s Bella, my guest and dear friend,” Gabo replies as he scratches his head.

“Oh, I see. Welcome, Bella. You’re as beautiful as your name,” she compliments me, and I smile at her.

“Thank you so much, Miss Margareta.” She pats my cheeks and motions for us to take a seat at the dining table.

“Mangia, mangia,” she says, placing two plates full to the brim in front of us.

“Grazie,” Gabo and I say in unison, and we both chuckle.

After eating, Gabo shows me to my room. I cannot believe he hadn’t brought me here before. All the decorations in this house are antique. The bed has four posts with a sheer cover hanging from them, giving it an ethereal feel, kind of like the one in his penthouse. However, the details on the ceiling are painted in gold. It’s stunning.

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