The Italians: Alessandro, Luca & Dizo. Rebecca Winters

not?’

      ‘No.’

      For a few brief seconds she became lost for words, unable to summon any that made sense, and the sassy response that rose to her lips remained unsaid.

      At that moment their host announced dinner was due to be served, and requested the guests be seated.

      Name cards designated placings, and Lily felt her stomach execute a slow somersault as she realized she was seated at Alessandro’s right, with Sophia to his left.

      The arrangement would offer no respite from his presence for an hour, two hours, she eventually amended, and they were yet to raise a toast to the newly engaged couple.

      Alessandro proved to be an attentive male companion, maybe a little too attentive as he appeared to regard her with a degree of affection, ensuring her glass was filled, solicitously abiding by her request for mineral water after the initial flute of champagne. There, adding supposition to innuendo that she was more than merely Sophia’s niece. The light brush of his hand, the warm smile.

      Charm, he possessed it in spades. Although only a fool would fail to detect the ruthless edge beneath his sophisticated persona.

      It was a combination that appeared to fascinate, Lily perceived, as she noted covert glances from, not one, but three attractive women seated at the table … not that she was counting, of course.

      A subtle invitation in the soft parting of perfectly glossed lips and a slow delicate sweep of the tongue.

      Was it his expertise between the sheets that attracted these women or the fortune he’d managed to amass?

      Inevitably both, she decided with unaccustomed cynicism.

      Hadn’t it been James’s modus operandi to act a part, then offer he needed a real woman prepared to meet all his sexual needs as his excuse for maintaining an affair?

       ‘Attenzione.’

      This was the moment to fill flutes with champagne and toast the newly engaged couple, something which was achieved with voiced enthusiasm.

      Lily banked down the faint stirring of envy as she took in the radiant Anabella and the equally enamoured Enrico.

      Had she been so enchanting, and glowing with love on the evening she’d accepted James’s ring?

      There had been pleasure, certainly, and contentment … but glowing?

      Not really. And there was the thing: what had felt sensible at the time, hadn’t been right from the beginning.

      A slight shiver slid down her spine as Alessandro stretched a casual arm across the back of her chair and leaned towards her to quietly offer, ‘Beautiful, is she not?’

      This close she was aware of the warmth from his body, the intense masculinity he projected with effortless ease.

      ‘Stunning,’ Lily conceded as she met his gaze with what she hoped was polite indifference, and felt betrayed by an increased beat of the pulse at the base of her throat.

      It was a relief when dinner concluded and their hosts encouraged guests to move into the adjoining ballroom where a DJ began to play so the guests could dance.

      Mood music alternated with upbeat modern, and Lily deliberately sought to mingle a little, aware Alessandro rarely moved from her side.

      ‘Dance with me.’

      Lily felt her eyes widen momentarily before she successfully masked her expression. A silent no rose and died in her throat at the thought of being enclosed in his arms moving to slow music beneath dimmed lighting.

      ‘I think …’

      ‘Don’t,’ he said quietly, and drew her onto the dance floor and into his arms.

      Relax. She could do this. They were in the middle of a dance floor in a large room filled with people.

      So why did she feel as if … what?

      As if they were the only two people in the room and no one else existed.

      It shouldn’t feel this good. To be perfectly in tune with every move, almost as if they’d danced together in a previous life. Madness, she mentally discounted.

      His hold was loose, almost formal, yet instinct warned he would draw her close in against him if she attempted to put any distance between them.

      Almost as if he sensed the pattern of her thoughts he pulled her in, and formal went out of the window.

       Oh, my.

      The breath hitched in her throat as he slid a hand down her spine to settle at its base.

      This close his cologne teased her senses, meshing with freshly laundered clothing and the faint muskiness of man.

      A sensual magic that swirled round her senses and stirred a longing for the impossible. It was easy to blame the haunting music and lyrics; the man who held her.

      Perhaps something too complex to fully comprehend.

      All she knew was the desire to capture the moment and hold onto it for as long as she could.

      Inevitably the slow track concluded, the beat changed and Lily excused herself on the pretext of offering her congratulations to the newly engaged couple, before seeking to compliment the hostess on a lovely evening, and offer her thanks for the invitation.

      ‘You are most welcome. Sophia is a very dear friend, and it is a delight to have you join her tonight. I trust you are enjoying your visit here?’

      ‘Very much, thank you.’

      Coffee, hot, strong and black with sugar, Lily decided as she made her way towards a table set to one side where staff were dispensing espresso. She accepted a cup, sipped the contents and had almost finished when she heard her name.

      ‘Lily.’

      There was only one male voice whose slightly accented voice caused her pulse to accelerate, and she turned towards him.

      ‘Alessandro,’ she acknowledged with a smile. ‘Seeking coffee, too?’

      ‘You.’

      Well, that’s succinct. ‘Really?’ She indulged in a deliberate pause. ‘Is there a particular reason?’

      ‘Several.’ He let that statement stand alone. ‘For the moment, one will suffice.’

      ‘And that is?’

      She was something else, Alessandro acknowledged with wry humour as he curved an arm across the back of her waist.

      ‘Sophia is ready to leave.’

      Lily attempted to put some distance between them, without success, as they stood together in the foyer while Sophia chatted with their hosts before moving out to the car.

      Lily focused her attention on the faint tracery of lights as Alessandro’s car descended the winding road. It was late, and Alessandro’s attention during the evening filled her mind as she attempted to make sense of it.

      Yet he fascinates you, an inner voice prompted.

       So what if he does?

       Maybe you should discover why.

      Not any time soon, she assured silently. She’d already suffered one betrayal, why would she discard sanity and risk another?

      It was a relief to reach the gates guarding her aunt’s spacious villa, and once indoors Alessandro bade them goodnight and leaned in to brush his lips to Sophia’s cheek before choosing Lily’s mouth in a light evocative caress that was over before it had really begun.

      As he intended.

      He caught the faint flare of helpless emotion in her eyes,