Page 48 of Her UnBearable Protector

“I’m trying to come to grips with what Caprice did. I had no idea she hated me so much.” She stepped away and set her purse down on the table beside the door. When she looked back at her father she was smiling. “But, the show… I’m so relieved! I knew we had a strong collection when I saw the way the models looked, but I didn’t expect the kind of reception we received.”

Fishing his phone from his suitcoat pocket, Giovanni looked down at the screen with a confident nod. “The orders are still pouring in.” He looked up at his daughter with a proud smile. “I knew you were talented. I knew you had a unique vision. I expected a good show and solid reviews. I hoped for orders strong enough to keep us working toward the next show.” He walked up to his daughter and set the phone in her hands.

Her hands were shaking as she swept through the messages from their sales staff. The titles from fashion blog reviews made her tear up. Durante and Bellezza were trending on social media sites. The orders were already four times what they needed to keep afloat.

“Your mother,” her father draped his arm over her shoulders, “would be so proud of you. You were always her light and now you are a light to the world.”

Natale turned into his embrace and gave him a big kiss on his cheek. “And you were my rock and my support. I know we both miss Mama but you have always been there for me. If it wasn’t for your encouragement I would never have gone after my dreams.”

Giovanni shook his head. “You would have, because even with all you’ve been through, you live and breathe hope and strength. You are the embodiment of Bellezza and its success is all yours.”

“Thank you, Papa.”

Looking at the clock, Giovanni stood and reached down to his daughter, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. “I’ll be on my way home.” Gathering his coat he turned his gaze to Salvatore. “Mr. Orsino, would you like to walk out with me?”

Salvatore met her eyes for a moment before he addressed her father first. “I was planning to stay, unless Natale would like to come to my home.”

She remained still on the couch, stunned by his words.

“Either way, I don’t plan to leave her again, not tonight, not anytime in the future.”

Narrowing his eyes, Giovanni gave the young man a stern look. “I don’t approve of a casual living situation with my daughter. She deserves-”

“I am well aware of her value, sir, just as I am aware that I don’t deserve her.” He gave her a look that said he meant every word, and as she watched, a little bit of his bear entered his eyes, adding his tacit approval as well. “I plan to prove my worth to her, every day, for the rest of our lives.”

Salvatore waited, somewhat patiently for Natale’s father to speak. When he finally did, his measuring look changed into a grudging smile. “I can tell by Natale’s expression that she’s made up her mind. She likely made it up days ago if I’m any judge of my stubborn girl, and I think I am.” He settled his gaze on Salvatore again. “I’ll have you know that if you hurt my daughter, I don’t care how big or imposing you are. I will cut you down to size on sheer will alone.”

He held out his hand as he crossed the room to her father, smiling as the elder man took hold and gave it a solid shake. “If I hurt her, I will gladly let you.”

Giovanni held out his hand to his daughter and she met him at the door, giving him a loving hug and a kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Papa.”

“And I you, Vita Mia. You deserve to live your dreams and I think you are well on your way to having them come true.”

“And perhaps,” she moved away from her father and stepped into the circle of Salvatore’s arms, “finding the kind of happiness that you and Mama had together.”

“Then,” Giovanni sighed as he gazed at his daughter, “you are truly blessed. Goodnight, Natale.”

He stepped outside and closed the door before she could answer. She felt that he was overwhelmed, perhaps as much as she was.

Lifting her gaze to meet Salvatore’s, Natale wondered aloud. “You want me to go to your apartment tonight?”

They both turned to look at the clock.

Pressing a kiss to her temple he leaned back to look in her eyes. “It would only take a few minutes to drive there from here,” he explained, “but I would rather remain here tonight and hold you in my arms sooner, rather than later.”

She shrugged, the motion pushing on his muscular arms. “But I’m already in your arms.”

He drew her closer and held her against his body, carefully fitting every inch of her curves against his. It wasn’t enough, he needed more. He needed to be closer to her. To have every inch of skin bare against her.

He just wasn’t sure she was ready.

Chapter Fourteen

A few minutes ago, with her father sitting comfortably beside her, Natale was ready for bed, her eyelids heavy, her movements slow, languid.

Now, held in Salvatore’s muscular arms, feeling his hands slowly smooth over her back, she leaned further into his embrace, but sleep was the last thing on her mind. When his hands slid over her backside, his firm fingers bit into the backs of her thighs and drew her closer. Pressed tightly against him she didn’t have to ask if he was tired, the way his body pushed against hers as he pulled her close spoke volumes. Salvatore wanted her just as much as she wanted him. “Salvatore?”

His eyes devoured her, his chest expanding and contracting with each deep breath. She knew he was drawing in her scent and she wanted to return the favor. Fitting her hands in between the tight squeeze of their bodies, she felt the cool cotton of his shirt under her palms and the soft rush of silk on the backs of her hands from her own dress. Natale found the first button, making quick work of it, then the next. She worked her way up from the middle of his chest to his neck, pushing both sides of the shirt open to bare his chest.

---