‘Why would I do that?’ He was taken aback. ‘I like beautiful things.’
She laughed. ‘You like to collect them.’
He wasn’t going to deny it, neither was he going to apologise for the fact. ‘Who doesn’t like spending time with beauty?’ He wanted lots of time with her. ‘Beauty and her roses.’
She carefully put a sticker on the box to secure the lid. ‘You don’t need to try so hard,’ she said so quietly he leaned closer to hear. ‘You know you’d only have to crook your little finger.’
He was so staggered by the fierce satisfaction her unsolicited admission gave him he actually put a hand on the counter to steady himself. ‘Actually, I didn’t know that.’ He waited for her to look at him again. ‘You just don’t do anything the way I expect.’
‘Don’t I?’
‘You’re unpredictable. Definitely not like any other women I’ve met.’
‘You’ve met many and they’re all predictable?’ She looked at him with such disappointment.
‘Not gonna lie.’ He grinned unashamedly. ‘What is it that’s made you so different?’
She pushed the box on the counter towards him and whispered conspiratorially, ‘I didn’t have a normal childhood.’
‘Now, that is predictable.’ He laughed. ‘Because who does?’
She smiled brightly and nudged the box another inch towards him. ‘Here you go.’
‘Thank you,’ he said.
‘Have a great day,’ she said brightly.
He smiled as he scooped up the box of deliciousness. ‘Oh, I intend to.’
Have a great day? Did she think she was working in some giant fast-food company? Did she think she could actually flirt with the guy and get somewhere? Had she really just told him, You’d only have to crook your little finger?
Why had she said that? Why did her brain go AWOL the second he appeared?
And all that he’d done in response was to walk out without a backwards glance.
The fizz of electricity she’d felt on seeing him again was now snuffed out as she remembered just what Rafael Vitale had planned for his day—models, pastries, sunshine, models...all at a beautiful lakeside villa with an infinity pool and an award-winning heritage garden...and had she mentioned models?
Of course he was going to have the best day ever. And her involvement in it was over already. He might’ve kissed her last night but it had probably been out of boredom. Then she’d made a fool of herself by falling asleep on him and followed it up with another trivial medical issue this morning. He’d made no attempt to kiss her again. Now she’d just admitted she fancied him and he’d walked out.
‘Are you okay, Gracie?’ Francesca interrupted her thoughts. ‘I need you to—’
‘I know, I’m on it. Sorry.’
Francesca’s smile widened. ‘Who was he?’
‘No one.’ Gracie sighed. And she never wanted to see him again, right?
She’d have to tell Alex he needed to check on the roses himself tonight. She wasn’t going near the Villa Rosetta ever again.
Eight hours later she quickly walked along the curved, crossing paths of the stunning villa gardens, cursing Alex beneath her breath. He’d played the invalid card again at lunchtime and begged her to water the roses. Fortunately for him it was her other night off the evening shift at the pasticceria, so she could do this. But it was only for him. And this was absolutely the last time.
She’d biked slowly because it was still hot and because she really didn’t want to be seen by anyone. The place was probably still overrun with models. They’d probably have moved on from photos to frolicking—and it was too awkward. But when she’d walked down the driveway, the air was still and the villa grounds silent. Perhaps they’d all gone out on the lake? She got the hose out and swiftly started watering the beautiful plants.
‘I was hoping you’d come.’
He was behind her, sneaking up in that impossibly silent way of his. But she switched the hose off before turning this time—refusing to make that mistake again, refusing to blush at the juvenile double entendre her one-track mind read into his statement. But she failed on that second one. ‘Rafael.’
For some reason the guy was barefoot, yet he was still intimidatingly tall. Slacks, a white shirt, the sleeves rolled back to reveal tanned, muscular forearms.
‘Call me Rafe, Gracie.’ He glanced at the hose she still held. ‘Why isn’t it on an automated hydration system?’
She swallowed, flustered by the way the intimate version of her name rolled off his tongue so easily. ‘Alex likes to do things slowly and properly. By hand. He likes to check on every plant every day.’ She glanced behind him to the villa—still and silent. Unfortunately, she could be neither still nor silent. She fidgeted. ‘The photo shoot is over?’
‘Yes. They’ve returned to Milan.’
‘And you’re not having an orgy with all the models?’ The stupid question slipped out before she could stop it.
‘It’s a nice idea but wasn’t my preference for tonight.’ His wicked grin flashed. ‘Sorry to disappoint.’
Oh, she wasn’t disappointed and she couldn’t help smiling. Her heart rate wouldn’t settle and he closed the gap until he was right in front of her.
‘What?’ she asked, suddenly wary.
‘I’m not sure if you remember, but you kissed me last night. I was hoping you might do it again.’
Shock impacted her body. Remembrance of that kiss—she’d been trying not to think of it.
‘I kissed you?’ She was stunned by his interpretation of events.
‘Yes.’ His sudden smile was unnervingly boyish. ‘I liked it.’
She stared, now speechless. But the rest of her reacted intensely. Sensation ignited deep in her muscles, rendering it impossible for her to remain still.
‘I thought you might appreciate my honesty,’ he added simply. ‘Did you even remember that we kissed?’
‘I didn’t hit my head.’ She breathlessly backed up a pace. ‘I hadn’t forgotten.’
‘But you didn’t say anything.’
‘Neither did you.’
There was a long moment of silence when she couldn’t think what to say, she was so surprised. He simply looked at her, and the longer he looked at her, the warmer she became, the more tense. The more...wanting.
‘Do you think you’d consider kissing me again?’ he finally asked quietly. ‘I’ve been hoping you will. I haven’t been able to think about anything else all day.’
His statement shocked her so much she spoke before thinking. ‘Not even with all those models here to distract you?’
‘I don’t give a damn about any models. I just want you.’
His vehemence rendered her immobile. Intensity flared as all the memories she’d tried so hard to suppress all day came fizzing back.
‘If I kiss you again, will you kiss me back?’ she whispered.
‘Count on it.’
She couldn’t