But wait, hadn’t I asked him about it?
“Do you want to have sex with me, Luca?”
“No more talking. Try to sleep.”
“Please, say yes. I’m tired of wondering what it’s like.”
There was a great pause from his side of the bed. “A man like me would ruin a woman like you. Stay far away from me, fiore mio.”
Oh, god. Just when I thought I couldn’t feel worse.
I placed my palms on the marble countertop and closed my eyes. He must think I’m a complete idiot. I had to get out of here,now.
A minute later I was back in the bedroom, searching for my shoes. I couldn’t find them. Maybe they were downstairs? I ventured along the upstairs hall, desperate to find someone to give me a ride home. I checked all the rooms, but the second floor was empty.
I went downstairs, but the house was deathly silent, not a soul around. Where were all those security guards from the other night?
“Ciao, signorina.”
I jumped at the deep voice and spun around to find Luca’s guard. I remembered him from the night I brought over dinner. Relief filled me. Now I could leave and never see this place or any of its inhabitants ever again. “Oh, hey. I’m so glad to see you. Can I trouble you for a ride home?”
He frowned. “Come. Signore DiMarco awaits.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I’m sure he’s busy. I’d rather?—”
Waving me toward a pair of French doors, he began speaking in rapid Italian, which I didn’t understand. Did this man not speak much English? I tried again. “No, please. I need to get home.”
He kept gesturing toward me, walking backward, and I knew a lost cause when I saw one. This man worked for Luca, so there’d be no getting around seeing his boss.
Resigned, I followed. “Okay, but just for a minute. I really have to go.”
“Va bene, va bene. Andiamo!” He led me through the dining room and out through another set of doors, where we ended up on a gorgeous terrace. Just beyond was a rolling green lawn and the river moving slowly in the distance. It was the perfect view.
Except for someone with a hangover.
I shielded my eyes and tried to breathe through the pain in my head.
A chair scraped on stone. “Ah, there you are.”
Luca came toward me, a black t-shirt stretched across his chest. Light loose pajama bottoms covered his lower half, and his feet werebare. I couldn’t help but study his long feet, which were the same olive skin tone as the rest of him. In general, feet were gross. But Luca’s feet? Totally sexy.
Do you want to have sex with me, Luca?
I looked away. This man did not want me, probably because I was constantly making a fool of myself in his presence. Now I was ogling him like I had the right? I needed to pull it together.
“I apologize for being undressed.” He lifted my face in his hands and kissed my cheeks. He smelled like coffee and mint. Softly, he said, “Buongiorno, Valentina.”
God, that accent. If I weren’t so miserable, I would’ve melted into a puddle on the floor. “Um, hi.”
“Come, sit. Have something to eat.”
“Oh, I shouldn’t. Really, I should go. You’ve already done far, far too much.”
“Nonsense. Come, have caffè and a roll.”
He took my elbow and began leading me to the table. Short of digging in my heels like a small child, I didn’t have much of a choice but to follow him.
He pulled out a chair for me, so I plopped down awkwardly. Luca walked over to his seat and gracefully lowered himself down. “Aldo will bring you a cappuccino. Until then, there are pastries and juice.”