Page 41 of His Two Hidden Masks

“And we had sex in the Lover’s Suite in that same hotel.” He laughed. “I am so glad I met you, Clever Bella.”

“So here we are,” I said.

“Yes, here we are, in the magic of Venice.”

“To the magic,” I said, raising my glass. “Can we please order food. If I don’t eat something, I am going to be sick from cocktails and champagne.”

“You do know that if we have dinner together, we are breaking the rules, officially,” he said. “It’s no longer a one-night-stand.”

“I’ve spent years following the rules,” I said. “I’d like to break a few more.”

Dylan waved the waiter over. He brought us menus and I found myself ruminating on Dylan’s words. This magnetic man believed in signs. His name began with the letter D, and I met him in the moonlight.

I shivered as My Auntie Aurora’s prediction bubbled up in my memory. The cards said I would fall in love in the moonlight with a man whose name began with the letter D.

I had convinced myself the cards could be wrong, but what happened if the cards were right?

8

Thankfully, the moon stayed hidden behind the clouds as we dined. I think if I had seen Dylan bathed in moonlight, I would have climbed into his lap and begged him to slip his talented hands beneath my skirt and inside my panties.

It was as if he held a key to a door inside my mind that I never opened. I thought I knew desire before. I understood the difference between a good kiss and a bad kiss, but I had never looked at a man and craved the touch of his lips, his hands, his tongue, his cock like this.

I understood that men needed sex. Everyone knew they thought about sex a ridiculous number of times a day. It never occurred to me that my own desire could ever feel this strong.

The waiter took our orders. I was relieved to think about food instead of sex and destiny for a few moments. We ordered bruschetta to share. I ordered an arugula salad followed by lasagna while Dylan chose Spaghetti Bolognese. We finished the champagne, so Dylan ordered a bottle of red wine for us to share with our meal.

The waiter delivered our bruschetta. I glanced across the piazza and stiffened. Roberto strode in our direction from the Mia Sorella. Seeing him snapped me out of the fantasy that my life was uncomplicated, and the warm feeling of being on a date with a beautiful man vanished.

“Are you all, right?” Dylan said. He reached across the table and touched my arm as if it were natural to do so.

The trust between us shifted into overdrive, or maybe it was my need for him. I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t want it to slow down. I certainly did not want Roberto ruining whatever this was with his arrogance and judgement.

“It’s my ex,” I whispered, my stomach turning.

“Ahhhhh,” Dylan said, discreetly glancing over his shoulder at the piazza. “And is this ex around because Venice is a small town, or is he stalking you?”

“Stalking me, no,” I said. “He works with my family, for my father.”

“Awkward,” Dylan said, eyes narrowing. “And was he at the board meeting this morning?”

“Yes, he knew all about the acquisition before I did.”

“I suppose he may assume that I am James Street, as well.” Dylan reached out and placed his warm hand over mine.

As Roberto approached, he glanced at the table and flinched. “Good evening,” he said, his eyes darting between us, nostrils flaring ever so slightly.

Roberto had done due diligence on Street Entertainment, which meant he knew Dylan existed. Did he know which brother was holding my hand?

“Good to see you again,” Dylan said. “Today’s meeting was quite productive.” He surreptitiously winked at me.

“I did not realize you made separate dinner plans, James,” Roberto said, giving away his hand. “Umberto asked me to make sure you and your team dined with him this evening. I’mafraid you must have missed this comment at the end of today’s meeting. A three-course meal is being served in the main dining room. It’s been prepared.”

“I apologize,” Dylan said, reaching to pick up a bruschetta. “I don’t always remember to follow itineraries. I’ve been talking to Bella tonight about some of her ideas around Bella Baci.”

“Is that so?” Roberto said. His jaw clenched and the vein in his forehead throbbed.

“Please tell Alberto,” Dylan said.

---