Page 156 of Empire of Temptation

What the hell? Why was he here?

A loud ringing echoed in my ears as I faced him. He looked good. His hair was a little longer and the bruise on his cheek was almost non-existent. A few days’ worth of scruff graced his jaw, gray whiskers dotted in among the dark brown. His intense stare was locked on my face and my tongue felt thick as I blurted, “What are you doing here?”

“Ordering a drink. I heard this place has a good wine selection.”

“I don’t understand.”

“A Valpolicella, I think.”

I needed time to think, so with a shaking hand I poured him a glass of the red wine. “Should I start a tab, or did you want to cash out?”

“A tab. I’m going to be here a lot.”

I stared, unsure what to say. Then I noticed everyone staring at us, the room as silent as a tomb. I jerked my thumb toward the kitchen. “Come with me.”

I didn’t wait to see if he followed. I walked out from the bar and went through the swinging door. The usual hustle and bustle greeted me, the familiar sounds of a professional kitchen during service. When I reached my office I heard Giovanni greeting Luca like an old friend. They chatted in Italian, but I unlocked the door and went inside, pacing back and forth as I tried to figure out why Luca was here. We’d said everything that needed to be said in Catanzaro.

Maybe he was here on business?

Finally, the knob turned and he strode inside, all masculine graceand leashed power in his dark navy suit. I recognized the tie as one I’d chosen for him all those days ago. “Tell me what’s going on.”

One eyebrow quirked. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“No, not to me. Are you in town for business?”

“Sort of.” He set the wine glass on a file cabinet. “I’m moving here.”

My stomach dropped at the same time as my jaw. “What? You’re kidding.”

“Not permanently. I’ll set up here, then go back and forth to Catanzaro.”

Moving here. My brain tripped over these words. It made no sense. “Why?”

“For you. I want to marry you and you want to live here. I hoped we could compromise. We’ll split our time between Paesano and Catanzaro.”

Needing to ground myself in reality, I gripped the edge of the desk. Was this really happening? “Isn’t that dangerous for you?”

“Yes, and for you. But I brought a small army with me to keep us safe.”

“And so, what? You’ll vacation here while I work?”

“Not vacation. I’ll work, too.”

His smile grew, and there was something devious in the depths of his eyes. Like he had plans in the works. I didn’t care about those plans, not yet. I still couldn’t believe he was serious. “You bought the Portofino mansion.”

He nodded once. “You heard. Good.”

“Of course I heard. No one can keep a secret in this town.”

“Roberto can.”

“Oh, my god. No wonder he was hanging around tonight. He knew you were coming.”

Luca reached inside his coat pocket and took out a small box. My heart leapt into my throat as he flipped open the box and took out a ring. I saw a flash of white, but I was concentrating on his face,not his hands.

Luca met my eyes, his expression serious. “Valentina, you are everything to me. I have tried breathing and eating and existing without you, and I can’t do it. So I will move heaven and earth to give you what you need, if only you stay by my side. Marry me, have a life with me in both places. Because it doesn’t matter where we are, as long as you are with me, amore mio.”

“You’re really willing to live here for half the year?”

---