Page 4 of Pregnant in the Italian's Palazzo

‘You would offer to help a stranger, just like that?’ She raised a brow, wondering if his hyperventilation had made him dizzy or something. He was clearly someone important. He would have far more pressing things to do.

‘What’s your name?’ he asked, his posture rapidly straightening back to what it had been twenty minutes before. When he had stood below her, gazing up at her with such imperious purpose. ‘You know mine, and you can do and internet search on me too if that helps. Once I know yours, surely that would make us acquaintances at the very least?’

‘It’s Aria,’ she breathed, trying not to be distracted by the effect that this man’s proximity seemed to be having on her. The sodden material of her dress was still warm from his body heat, but cold where the loose skirt blew against her thighs. She felt off balance and completely unsure of herself. Perhaps that was why she remained silent and actually considered his offer for a moment before shaking her head.

‘I have no passport or ticket, and my luggage is all locked in my friend’s apartment. Even if you could somehow help me resolve all of that and get me on a later flight, it would mean I wouldn’t arrive in London until much later and I have to get to work.’

‘I have never encountered a problem that I couldn’t solve.’

His words almost made her laugh, but then she looked at his expression and realised he was completely serious. He had the power to get her on a flight, even without her documents. She had gone out of her way to fly to New York at the last minute, knowing that her friend was in a worrying situation and possibly in need of rescue. Maybe for once she could put her own situation first and accept when someone appeared to be doing the same for her.

‘You came to my rescue here today, Aria. I’m simply asking for an opportunity to return the favour. I cannot restore your lost friend or your lost luggage, but I can get you home to London before dawn. That is a promise.’

CHAPTER TWO

FROMTHEMOMENTshe decided to throw caution to the wind and nod her agreement, things moved quickly. Aria felt butterflies fill her stomach as Nysio’s car moved smoothly through the rain-soaked streets of Manhattan and then out of the city. Her mind raced, guilt mingling with anger as she tried to tell herself that she was doing the right thing, putting herself first for once. She had tried calling back the number Priya had contacted her on but had got no answer, not even a voicemail.

She was so deep in thought that she didn’t realise that they were driving away from the main international airport until the car slowed down to enter a private airfield.

Security waved them through and her handsome rescuer brought the car to a stop alongside a sleek white jet. Aria felt her jaw sag. ‘When you said you could get me on a flight...I was thinking you had contacts in one of the airlines.’

‘Is this a problem?’ He frowned.

‘It’s a private jet.’ She stared out at the sleek unmarked aircraft, watching as a small crew descended the steps to greet them. ‘Do you seriously own your own aeroplane?’

A weak laugh escaped her lips and for a moment she thought she might be on the verge of hysterics as he stepped out of the car and walked around to the passenger side.

Was she actually about to accept a ride from a billionaire on a private jet? Her original flight had been the cheapest seat she could afford on a standard jetliner, where the seats were cramped on her hips and she almost always ended up sitting next to someone falling asleep on her shoulder or loudly munching on cheesy snacks.

‘I could try to get you on a standard flight if you prefer. I couldn’t guarantee the same timeframe or ease, but if the thought of being contained with me for the next eight hours is an issue...’

‘It’s not you,’ she said quickly. ‘I don’t usually accept help from anyone, never mind a complete stranger in the street.’

‘A trait we share, it seems.’ His jaw ticced. ‘But your kindness today was...unexpectedly easy to accept. I’d very much like the chance to repay you.’

His low response surprised her with its honesty and the reminder of the intimacy of the moment they’d shared on the street. She had witnessed his private panic and seen how unsettled he was by needing assistance. Maybe it was that common ground that made her step out of the car and close the door behind her with finality, her decision made.

His hand gently gripped her elbow as she stood in the chilled evening air. The crew made quick work of bustling them on board and a grey-haired man appeared, introducing himself simply as Gianluca. Her details were taken in a calm, efficient manner that made her wonder if this kind of situation was a common occurrence. They would be waiting for a short time for travel documentation and other red tape to be dealt with, but she was assured it would be sorted with minimal fuss. Evidently, when stranded in a foreign country, it paid to have wealthy connections.

It was strange to hear her host addressed as Signor Bacchetti, and Aria watched as he was called to the head of the craft to speak privately with the pilot, leaving her sitting alone down the opposite end of the enormous aircraft. Now that they were on board, would he expect her to go and sit somewhere quietly? She could usually small-talk anyone’s ears off but this guy...didn’t seem like the chatty type. She fiddled with the small gold pendant she wore on a chain around her neck, an old birthday gift from Priya. Fidget jewellery, her friend had called it. Aptly named, the solid gold letter A spun within a series of circles and made for a helpful tool when she just needed something to do with her hands.

Nysio was intense and brooding in a way that made every nerve ending on her body tingle with awareness. For a moment earlier, she’d been sure he was about to kiss her and the thought had made her panic, pushing him away. But then he’d made it clear that it was only gratitude that had him holding onto her so tightly and she’d felt...disappointed. Ridiculous, really, she wasn’t a teenager...so why couldn’t she stop wondering about what it might have been like? She inhaled a deep breath, trying to shake off the shiver that instantly travelled down her spine.

As a child, Aria had often been told by her parents and older sisters to stop bouncing on the sofa. Or tapping her feet, or chatting non-stop about the various aspects of her school day that wouldn’t seem to stop swirling around in her mind. One would think that as she grew up that kind of energy excess would have waned, but it had not. It had simply morphed into an internal restlessness that proved just as frustrating to manage. She’d been in her mid-twenties when a doctor had suggested ADHD as the root cause for her struggles.

Maybe it was simply the adrenaline of the day, but Nysio Bacchetti’s presence seemed to reinvoke the echoes of the kind of heated, needy sensations she’d hoped never to feel again. She prided herself on always remaining in control during the pitiful amount of dating she’d done over the past decade. She was a social creature by nature and had always enjoyed the excitement of meeting new people. But when it came to romantic entanglements, she played it safe, never getting in over her head. She had given her own foolish romantic heart away to Theo as a naïve twenty-year-old, and that experience had left scars deeper than she could have ever imagined.

She was so focused on taming her own swirling thoughts that she hardly noticed Nysio’s return. He lowered his tall frame easily into the seat directly opposite, his attention engrossed in a loose sheaf of papers that he’d spread out from a slim folder. He sighed and plucked a pair of sleek, black-framed eyeglasses from his inner pocket to begin reading, a fact that should not have made him look any sexier than he already did. But when he slowly licked one finger and flipped over a page with one strong hand... Aria’s traitorous mouth let out an audible sound of appreciation.

He looked up instantly, because of course he’d heard it. He was sitting directly in front of her. One dark brow quirked in question and Aria felt as though the heat of a thousand spotlights had zoned in upon her.

‘Was that a groan?’ he asked, placing his papers down to give her his full attention.

‘No...well, yes, but not for the reason you’re thinking.’

‘Oh? What reason might that be?’ His lips quirked at the corners and she was pretty sure he found her awkwardness to be immensely amusing. She glanced away, silently praying that he would turn back to his papers as she felt a definite flush travel along her chest and up towards her cheeks. Her redhead’s colouring was usually one of her favourite things about herself, but not today. Not when every X-rated thought she had around this man was so brutally obvious. If she had any doubt that he might not see the effect his presence had on her, he confirmed it when she looked back to find him still staring.

‘You are even more beautiful when you’re embarrassed,’ he said softly. So softly she almost thought she’d misheard him for a moment. He hadn’t given any indication of being attracted to her so far, had he?

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