Page 36 of Empire of Temptation

In a blink it all came rushing back. Book club, the restaurant, wine.Luca. Holy shit, Luca. He’d carried me out of the restaurant.

My eyes flew open.

A strange room filled my vision. A ceiling that was too high, too white. Gold fixtures. Large windows. A huge bed withgray sheets and a gray duvet. A divan was in the corner with a folded pile of what looked likemy clotheson top.

I clutched the sheet around me. I was wearing only a bra and panties. Did Luca see me like this? God, please no. How much lower could I sink in that man’s eyes? Between the troubles at the restaurant, then finding me drunk at book club, he must really think I’m a mature and responsible adult. Jesus.

At least he put me in a guest bedroom alone.

Please let this be a guest bedroom.

I lifted my head off the pillow slightly.Shit!There was a head-shaped indent on the pillow next to mine. Did he sleep next to me?

Flashes of last night stabbed through my aching head.

Me, falling onto his bed. “Wow, this place is nice.”

Luca, handing me two pills and a glass of water. “Take these.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so, fiore mio.”

“Does ‘fiore mio’ mean ‘pain in my ass?’”

“No, bella. It does not. Get under the covers.”

“This sweater is too hot,” I said, whipping it off and throwing it onto the floor.

“I will leave you now,” he said, turning to go.

“Noooo, Luca. You have to stay.” I lunged for his arm. “Please. Don’t leave me.”

Oh, God. I’d begged him to get into bed with me. He’d protested, but I pushed.“What if I get sick in the middle of the night and no one is here to help me?”

“Then you will call and I will hear you.”

“No, Luca. I need you in bed with me. I won’t feel safe without you.”

He’d stared at me for a long time after that, but finally relented. He’d stripped out of his clothing and I really,reallywished I remembered every single detail about those few minutes. But it was fuzzy, like my brain was telling me that I couldn’t handle the full memory.Wide shoulders, narrow hips. Chest hair. And . . . had I asked the brand of his boxer briefs?

“I don’t know,” he answered, looking at me like I was crazy. “A personal shopper in Roma takes care of my clothes.”

I closed my eyes in humiliation. Finally, I went home with a man—except it was to sleep off too much wine. I was so lame, while he was handsome and sophisticated. And older. And possibly in the mafia.

Yikes. I had to escape.

I pushed up onto my elbows, then did some more deep breathing. Fuck, I felt awful. Where was my phone? The only thing on the bedside table was the half-finished glass of water. Did I bring my purse with me? Damn—my phone and purse were still at the restaurant. I left them in my office during book club.

Great job, Val. Mom would be so proud.

Crawling out of bed, I grabbed my clothes and hurried into the bathroom. There were way too many mirrors and bright gold fixtures for my liking, but I made the best of it and tried to get presentable. There was a new toothbrush waiting for me, which made me feel even worse. This was obviously something Luca did a lot, while this was my first time going home with a man.

And I could hardly remember any of it.

Had we . . . ?

No, I instantly knew nothing had happened. There were no marks on me, no aches or pains. I was fairly certain I would feel something if I had sex for the first time last night.

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