The Italian's Runaway Princess. Andrea Bolter
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Название: The Italian's Runaway Princess
Автор: Andrea Bolter
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Контркультура
Серия: Mills & Boon True Love
isbn: 9781474078122
isbn:
A little wiggle traveled between his shoulder blades when she said the word rescued.
Now that he had, in fact, rescued her, what was he going to do with her? He’d find her a hotel. But some of Grasstech’s investors were in town for dinner and he needed to get dressed, so it had to be quick. He wasn’t looking forward to all their chitchat that bored him to tears. Nothing of substance was ever discussed at these things. Plus they’d all be bringing their stodgy spouses. The wives would ask why a nice young man like him didn’t have a wife or a girlfriend.
With enough on his mind already, Luci’s problems couldn’t become his. Yet she’d been so shaken by those nasty boys following her, she finally accepted his offer of help.
She readjusted her purse on her shoulder, the one that contained her jewels. “May I ask you, Gio, would there be any hotel at any price that you could recommend for the night? I’ll have to reevaluate my budget, but I do need somewhere for tonight.”
He could give it a try. Pulling his phone out of his jacket pocket, he punched in a hotel search, hoping he’d recognize the names of some that were reputable.
“Yes,” he spoke after calling one. “Do you have any rooms available for tonight? I see. Grazie.”
He phoned another. “Have you a room tonight? No? Grazie.” After three more, his patience was up.
“That’s all right, Gio,” Luci said, although the quaver in her voice belied her words. “I’ll find somewhere.”
With her obvious lack of street savvy? What if some other criminals tried to take advantage of her like the boys did with the jewelry? He might not know this vulnerable young woman, but a gentleman was a gentleman and he could not send her away alone.
“Why don’t you stay here tonight?” Gio voiced the thought that had been bubbling up, despite raising caution. “I’m staying in this one.” He pointed to one of the side-by-side cottages. “Why don’t you sleep in the other?” He hoped that suggestion wouldn’t prove to be a mistake, but he couldn’t think of what else to do. He’d station her here, and the staff at his office could help get her situated tomorrow.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t.” Luci quickly shook her head with a side-to-side motion. “It wouldn’t be right.”
He put his hand over his heart in mock insult. “What do you take me for? I assure you I offer only to fulfill my quota of rescuing beautiful maidens from the mean streets of Florence.”
Was he flirting with her?
“How are you doing so far?”
“I’m desperately behind. You’d be helping me out.”
She looked at him with a bite to her lip. He knew she was deciding on his merits versus his potential risks.
“I’ll only consent if you let me repay you in some way.”
The idea quickly fell from his lips. “I have a very dull dinner with some investors to attend tonight. They will have no doubt chosen the poshest restaurant in Florence with a continental menu that manages to avoid anything authentically Italian. They’ll pick an impressive bottle of wine chosen for its price and torture the sommelier as they swirl it around in their glasses pretending to know something about the vintage. They’ll discuss the weather and the latest political scandal in Italy, and it will make watching paint dry sound compelling. Would you like to join me?”
“With an invitation like that, how could I possibly refuse?” Luci answered with a huge smile that shot straight into Gio’s heart. He returned the grin.
Once he’d extended the invitation to dinner, it suddenly sounded like a marvelous idea. She was far more interesting than the blah-blah-blah he’d have to exchange with the investors. Rightly, they’d save any substantial conversation for boardroom conferences.
Why shouldn’t he have a pleasant evening with an attractive woman? He knew he’d never take it any further than that. It was just dinner. And bringing her with him was better than leaving her alone on his property tonight. He’d get her out of the villa in the morning.
“It’s set then? Pick you up right here?” He gestured to the fountain.
“I have a cocktail-length dress. Will that be sufficient?”
“And obviously you can accessorize.” He pointed to the purse with all of the jewels. “You’ll be the toast of the town.”
“I hope not.” Luci’s eyes opened in alarm.
“I was only joking. See you at eight.”
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