Page 4 of Too Hard to Resist

Anyway, it didn’t matter now. I was going to meet an amazing man.

I knew I’d said that I was done with dating, but this email changedeverything.

After all the heartache and frustration, the search for my Mr Right was over.

No more dating apps.

No more dick pics (unless I asked for them, of course).

No more frogs.

No more fuckboys.

I wouldn’t have to put up with any more crap from Rude Ronalds.

My perfect match had been found.

And I was off to sunny Italy to meet him!

2

ROMEO

‘Oh, my God! Are you that actor from those sexy films?’ Cindy, one of the new hotel guests, called out as she rushed over to where I was standing by the hotel’s main swimming pool.

She had arrived later than scheduled last night and one of my colleagues had checked her in, so this was the first time we had met in person.

‘No.’ I plastered on a smile. It did not matter that she could not remember his name. I already knew who she was referring to. ‘I am your Love Alchemist, Romeo. I will explain everything when the official welcome briefing begins in ten minutes.’

‘But you look just like him!’ She wound a strand of her long dark hair around her fingers. ‘You’re tall, dark and sosexy.’

She licked her lips then rested her hand on my bicep.

Merda.

I quickly stepped back, causing her hand to drop. And when I scanned the daybeds on the opposite side of the pool I saw her partner, Giles, glaring at me.

This was not good. Naturally, Giles was not happy to see her flirting with me and the management would not be either.

This was not the first time someone had said that I looked like the actor Michele Morrone. I was flattered. Although I had not seen his films, he was a handsome guy, so it was a compliment. But all I wanted was to do my job and help the couples that had been matched to fall in love. And when the guests started to becomeoverfamiliar, it usually led to trouble.

But it was important to keep our guests happy, so I had to find a way to communicate that I was not interested, without upsetting Cindy, which I knew from experience would not be easy.

‘Grazie.’ I widened my fake smile. ‘Would you and Giles like to dine inside or outside of the restaurant this evening?’ I said, hoping the swift subject change would help.

‘I dunno. So, is he like related to you, or something?’ she said, not taking the hint. ‘I swear he could be your twin. You’ve got the same jet-black short wavy hair, gorgeous olive skin, beautiful beard andyour body…’ She bit her lip. ‘Your muscles, arms and chest are like…wow.’

‘I am very sure that we are not related. Is there anything else that you and Giles would like to make your stay here at the Love Hotel more comfortable? I can check if we have availability in the spa for a couples massage?’

‘Willyoube doing the massage?’ She tilted her head flirtatiously.

‘No, it is a lesson, for you to learn how to give a massage to your partner and vice versa.’

‘What if I’d preferyouto do it?’ She touched my arm and I stepped back again. I had hoped that changing the subject and moving away would communicate that touching me was not okay, without offending her, but it looked like the subtle approach was not working.

‘Cindy, I am flattered by your compliments, but like I said, I am your Love Alchemist. My job is to bring matches like you andGilestogether. I do not get involved with guests. Those are the rules.’

‘Rules are boring. I’m sure you can make an exception…’ She winked.

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