Page 45 of Take Me Under

I exhaled sharply, forcing the bile down.

“To hell with them,” I bit out. “I dare them to show up again while we’re there. We’ll make it so awkward, they won’t want to return.”

Caterina huffed. “I might have told Alessio to spit in their drinks.”

That startled a laugh out of me. I could just picture it—Alessio, the longtime bartender at La Terrazza, giving them his signature unimpressed stare as he leaned in to accidentally contaminate their cocktails.

The brief moment of amusement faded, replaced by an old familiar pain. A heavy weight pressed down on my chest, the betrayal sitting there, cold and resolute. I was done crying over them. Done being angry. But the sting of what they had done, the way they had tried to make me believe I was the problem—that was harder to shake.

Maybe I had no control over the past, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to let them take anything else from me.

Certainly not La Terrazza.

And definitely not my peace.

“Back to my dilemma with Anton,” I said quickly, needing to change the subject. I refused to succumb to the bitter, hollow ache that thoughts of Cade and Briana always provoked.

“I don’t see how this is a dilemma.”

“Humor me. I want your honest opinion about what I should do.”

Caterina sighed. “I already told you. Let yourself live a little and see if the two of you connect. Go to dinner with the guy. Hell, have sex with him until dawn, too. It will be good for you. But it doesn’t have to be more than that if you don’t want it to be.”

“And what about this proposal? A month with me in exchange for money.”

“Would it be so bad?”

I frowned. “I think we’re choosing the wrong movie. This is more like Julia Roberts inPretty Woman. While this is a far cry from the story of a rich man and a prostitute, it still gives me the same vibes.”

I shifted to sit on the edge of the hotel bed, my phone pressed to my ear as I absentmindedly picked at the hem of my shirt.

“So, I’ll say it again. Would it be so bad?” Caterina pressed. “I mean, just think about the clothes Richard Gere bought her!”

I rolled my eyes. “I can buy my own clothes, thank you very much.”

“Oh, shit. That reminds me. What are you going to wear tonight?”

“I don’t know. I hadn’t even thought about that.” I flopped down on the bed again, suddenly stressed about my lack of wardrobe choices. I reached up and rubbed my temple. “The only clothes I brought with me are my gala dress and some casual pieces—nothing even close to suitable for going out.”

“Well, you’re in New York,” Caterina pointed out. “There’s no shortage of places to shop. Surely you can find something.”

I bit my lip, thinking back to the store I’d passed the night before, just down the street from the hotel. The window display had caught my eye, especially the red skirt and matching heels on the mannequin. It was a consignment shop, which would be perfect for my small budget.

“Actually, there’s a store near the hotel. I walked by it last night. They had this gorgeous red skirt and heels in the window. It might be exactly what I need.”

“Red, huh?” Caterina replied thoughtfully. “That could work. And you could add that ruby necklace from Madeleine, too.”

I thought about the necklace with the deep red stone, and how it caught the light like fire. It was on loan, and I could only imagine it’s worth. I couldn’t chance wearing it for a casual night out.

“I can’t. It was only supposed to be for the gala, not a night out on the town. Madeleine has already arranged the insured shipping. I have to return it as soon as I get home.”

“Rena, come on,” Caterina pressed. “You’re going out for dinner in New York, not running errands around Lucca. That necklace would be stunning on you. And who knows? Maybe it’ll give you the confidence boost you need for sexy time.”

I laughed, imagining my friend waggling her eyebrows. I was about to brush off the idea again, but then I paused, recalling how Anton had seemed to admire the necklace—the way his dark eyes had lingered on me. When he undressed me while I was unconscious, he’d removed everything but my panties and the necklace.

Was that deliberate?

Getting up from the bed, I began to pace the room. Having dinner with him tonight wasn’t just a casual thing. He was influential, powerful, and dangerous. And I wanted him—desperately. An ache formed between my legs just thinking about how we might be. But being around him also made me feel off-balance.

---