His Two Hidden Masks: Steamy International Billionaire Romance

Chapter 13

Dylan sat on a stool near the walk-in refrigerators. He held an acoustic guitar in his lap and strummed a melody that effortlessly shifted between melancholy and slow-dance sexy.

The tune was mesmerizing. His eyes closed, he swayed as his fingers moved up and down the neck of the guitar.

All I could think about were his hands running up and down my legs. My breathing changed as I stood anchored in the door frame.

“Sorry, Papa,” I thought. “So much for not seeing Dylan, I lasted all of ten minutes.” Watching Dylan play, I felt wholly uninspired to follow my father’s commands to ignore this beautiful man.

Dylan glanced up, giving me a nod that sent shivers through my body. With just a look, I felt undone. It was as if the world around us faded, and he was the only one in the room.

So, this was the other side of Dylan Street, I thought, the one he hid from most of the world, the one he chose to share with me.

The sound of a knife cutting into a chef’s block snapped me out of my haze. This wasn’t a private concert. This was an impromptu performance for me, Auntie Aurora, sous chef Andrea, and Vincenzo, the kitchen porter.

This was absolutely not going to go stay under the fucking radar unless I shut it down. In fact, it may have been too late.

“Good morning, Auntie Aurora, Andrea, Vincenzo,” I said as I walked past the silver work stations in the kitchen. I hoped I sounded normal; I feared I didn’t. If Dylan was in some sort of a musical fugue state, I could at least help him realize he was not alone. “What a lovely surprise,” I said, nodding at Dylan.

“Good morning, Bella,” Auntie Aurora said, in a sing-song voice. Her brown eyes sparkled as she stood beside Vincenzo, who was prepping chicken breasts while Andrea sliced onions. The air was spicy.

Dylan smiled, his eyes locking on mine, never taking his hands off the guitar that he continued to play. He nodded at Auntie Aurora, Vincenzo, and Andrea. Auntie Aurora stepped away from the prep table and motioned me over into her small office and closed the door behind us.

“I wanted to speak to you freely,” Auntie Aurora said. “He was playing when we came in. I recognized him from the board meeting, so I thought maybe he is eccentric. I don’t know. I let him keep playing.”

She smiled at me. “Was he looking for you, Bella? He certainly wasn’t here looking for me, although I can wish.”

“I don’t know why he is here,” I said, lowering my voice to a whisper, even behind the closed door. “And that isn’t James. It’s Dylan, his twin brother.”

Auntie Aurora inhaled as if this explanation was the answer she had been looking for. “I see now,” she squinted through the glass window of her door. “There is something about him that is different from the other one.”

“I hope so,” I said. “I just met with Papa. He has forbidden me to see Dylan, and he is ordering me to shut down Bella Baci. James let Papa know that Dylan and I had dinner together last night. I am furious. He had no right.”

“Amore, no,” Auntie said, reaching out to grasp my arm. She and her husband had never had children, and I knew she thought of me as a daughter.

“Oh, yes,” I said. “And I’m going to have to do it. I have no choice.”

“Stop seeing that man?” my aunt said. “Are you mad? Look at him.” Her eyes widened. “When did you meet him?”

“No,” I said. “I’m not telling you that.” I knew exactly where she was going with this line of questioning.

“Did you meet him in the moonlight?” She squinted at me, a slow smile creeping across her face. “His name begins with a D.”

“I know it does, and Auntie, I can’t think about this right now.”

“Ah, I know I’m right,” she said, grasping her hands beneath her chin with unbridled joy. “The beauty is, you don’t have to think about it. You don’t have to do anything.

If he’s the one my cards predicted all those years ago, there is nothing you can do to stop your love. It’s destined.”

My family was killing me. Could they possibly be more divided in their opinions and advice? No. The answer was a resounding no.

“I don’t want to stop seeing him,” I said, biting my lip. “But, Auntie, he is a tourist, and he will end up leaving, anyway.”

“Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. I don’t think you should let anyone interfere if your heart is telling you to go forward.”

“Why isn’t everyone in the family like you?”

“I don’t know love,” she said. “And your business? It’s just as important. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Yes, you do. You know the answer. The question is, will you listen to your heart?”

“I don’t want to shut down Bella Baci forever,” I said, tears flooding my eyes. It felt good to share my disappointment with a sympathetic ear.

“Then don’t. Forever, is a long time.”

I nodded and bit my lip, managing to keep the tears from spilling over. “I do think I have to stop today, but I will make a plan. I will find a way to make this work. I have to.”

Auntie did a small, adorable, fist bump into the air. “I love your fire.”

My mind spun as I thought about what it truly meant to defy my father. “First, I need to untangle myself from this kitchen, from my parents. I need to do this on my own, which means I need to secure funding, which takes time. Papa wants me to go to Milan.”

Auntie Aurora shook her head. “None of your dreams are in Milan, Bella.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know,” she said. She reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from my forehead. “Not yet, Bella. Not quite yet.”

When we opened the door, Andrea had stopped prepping chicken breasts, and Vincenzo stood transfixed, tapping his foot in time with the music.

“All right, all right,” Auntie Aurora said. “You may listen to this man’s beautiful music, but back to work. Dinner will not prepare itself.”

I stood in front of Dylan, leaving space between us. “So,” I said, crossing my arms, “I thought you had retired.”

“It was the craziest thing,” he said, his fingers plucking the strings. “I woke up and wanted to play music today. Can you imagine that?”

“You had a guitar with you?”

“I always have a guitar with me,” he said, as if I had asked if he enjoyed breathing air.

“Even though you don’t play anymore.”

“It’s a part of me. A part I just couldn’t access.”

“But now that has changed.”

“Something has,” he said, looking at me.

Lord, help me, I could feel his eyes peeling off my clothes layer by layer.

He continued to play, the falling notes reminding me of rain. The beauty of the music he produced with a single instrument was magical. I knew how talented his hands were when they played my body. Knowing they were also capable of making music this beautiful was dangerously intoxicating.

“How did you get in here?” I asked softly, surprised I could form words.

“This lovely blonde woman walked me in through the restaurant when I told her you and I had plans today.”

Lissa, I thought to myself. Of course. Perhaps that had been her small act of rebellion, her way of making things right after Papa had made her his messenger girl.

“You probably should stop playing here,” I said in hushed tones, leaning in closer.

“Should I?” His fingers moved across the strings so quickly, the melody sounded like a response to my question.

“Yes, the staff has work to do.” I nodded to Andrea and Vincenzo at their work stations.

“Don’t leave on our account,” Andrea shouted quite loudly, catching my eye. “This is so much better than the garbage music this one subjects me to.” She nodded toward Vincenzo.

“Before I go, I need a taste,” Dylan said.

“A taste of what?” I said, my temperature rising.

“A Bella Baci,” he said, gasping. “What were you thinking about?”

“You are very naughty,” I said as quietly as humanly possible.

“I warned you I was a handful.” He rocked his head back and closed his eyes, and his fingers played another round of notes that called up memories of sunlight bouncing across the silver surface of the lagoon.

“Fine,” I said. “One chocolate, and then you go.”

“Yes, I need a sample of your delicious sweets. I’ll be a good boy, I promise.” His deep brown eyes locked on mine. He was sitting so close to me.

“Okay, then. Guitar down.”

He strummed a few more bars, and nodded as he finished playing. Andrea and Vincenzo clapped from their station in the back. Auntie Aurora poked her head outside her office.

“Andrea. Vincenzo. Break time. Walk with me.” She gave me an approving nod as she and the crew exited out the kitchen door, leaving Dylan and me alone.

I offered Dylan the tray of samples. “You know we offer complimentary chocolates at the front desk and for turn-down service.”

“It will taste different, standing next to you,” he said. His hand lingered over the Black Sea salt caramels. “These look delicious.”

“Those are Madagascar vanilla bean, Spanish dark chocolate, and Black Sea salt from the Island of Folegandros.”

“You source all this yourself?” he said, holding the caramel up and twisting it in the light as if it were a delicacy.

“Yes.” I rubbed my forehead. My head hurt remembering my father’s ask. My heart hurt knowing I had to go through with it.

“It makes me happy. Finding the right ingredients feels like a puzzle to me, and I love putting the right pieces together to make something more beautiful.”

“Like music,” he said.

“Like music.”

He nodded, as if pleased with my answer, and popped one of the caramels in his mouth. Eyes closed, he chewed. “Christ almighty, woman,” he said after a minute. “That was like an orgasm in my mouth.”

“Come on,” I said, half-smiling.

“No, I’m serious.” His hands moved across the tray. He picked up a milk chocolate lavender and a jalape?o caramel.

“Go ahead,” I said, laughing.

I watched him chew each candy, his eyes closed. He swallowed and looked at me. “Bella Baci taste like joy.” He leaned forward, put his hand under my chin, and kissed me.

I sat down on a stool beside him and leaned into his kiss. The kiss deepened, our lips pressing against each other. His tongue swept through my mouth and a soft whimper escaped me.

“I know, baby,” he said, murmuring. “I know.”

His hand moved up my knees toward my thigh, as the energy between us burned hotter. Our kisses grew intense.

“We can’t,” I said.

“I just need to touch you.” His hand between my legs, he dragged three fingers over my pussy, sending a wave of tingles through my shaking body.

Blood rushed to my clit and my body opened for him like a hot house flower, wanting him, preparing to be penetrated by him, even as I sat there in yoga pants.

“Can I have you tonight?” he said, his hands pressing against me and sweeping over my mound in steady yet tantalizing circles.

“Yes, yes,” I said, my arousal coming on hard and fast. “Not here.”

“We’re alone, just you and me. I want you to come. I need you to come.”

My breath stuttered, as he massaged me faster. I gave in to my need. Grabbing his neck, I pulled his lips towards mine and pushed my tongue deep inside him.

His mouth on mine, my cries muffled by his lips, I arched my back as my orgasm broke me wide open. “Yes, yes, oh, yes.”

He never stopped kissing me. His lips moved slower and more softly in time with the slowing pulse between my legs. I put my hand on his hard dick. I wanted to slide my mouth around his cock and taste his come mixed with the sweetness of my candy.

He covered my hand and lifted it slowly off his erection. “Later, my love.”

I exhaled, releasing a whisper of a moan. He brushed a stray hair off my face. “How do you do this to me?” he said.

“Do this to you? You just played my body like I was your guitar.”

He smiled. “You feel better than a guitar. Watching you come is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.”

The back door opened as Andrea and Vincenzo returned from their break. Dylan straightened his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair. “See, we can be discreet,” he said. softly.

“I wouldn’t call that discreet. I’d call it risky.”

“I’d call it worth it.” Dylan stood. “Can I please have one more of your delicious Bella Baci before I go?”

“You make everything sound naughty,” I said, keeping my voice low.

“Says the woman who named her brand after beautiful kisses.”

I handed him the tray and let him take a few candies to-go. He popped a lavender caramel into his mouth and closed his eyes in appreciation. “These are so fucking delicious, like you. I can’t believe you make these here.”

“Yes, I do,” I said, biting my lip. “Well, I did. I am shutting down business for a while. Today.” I felt resolute stating my decision out loud.

“Why?” He looked genuinely confused. “I thought this acquisition was going to help your family’s business grow?”

I decided to tell him the truth. “Two things. One, it seems James let my father know you and I had dinner together.”

“And why the fuck does that matter?”

The matter-of-fact way he defended our right to do as we pleased was so fucking hot. “Apparently, James does not want me to distract you.”

“My fucking brother,” he muttered.

“Well, my father doesn’t want me to do anything to risk the deal. I already fucked up everything by leaving Roberto at the altar. So, he agrees with your brother and thinks my business is another distraction.”

I sighed and ran both my hands over my hair, smoothing down my ponytail. “Right now, I need my family for this business to work, and if I am going to change that dynamic, I need a plan. So, for now, Bella Baci is closing up shop. It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” Dylan said, his voice clipped and angry.

“You don’t know my father,” I said. “It’s not worth it his wrath.”

“You are telling me that because you broke up with your boyfriend, and because you met me, you are shutting down your business.”

“It’s not forever,” I said, my defenses going up around me. “I’m also worried that there may be a security tape of us together last night.”

Dylan’s eyes widened. “So, they are blackmailing you?”

“No,” I said. “Roberto was my fiancé, and I hurt him. You don’t understand.”

“You are right, I don’t understand.”

“He grew up with my sister. He was like family.”

“Family that blackmails you.” Dylan ran his hands through the top of his wavy, dark hair. “You should stand up to them.” His tone made me think he spoke from experience.

“Oh, you think so.”

“Yes, I do.”

“That is my decision, not yours,” I said, my rage spiking.

“Yes, it’s your decision to give up on your dreams so you don’t upset, what do you call him, Papa?” His statement hit me like a sucker punch.

“You should go,” I said.

Dylan was just one more man telling me what to do. No-fucking-thank-you. We faced each other, eye-to-eye in a stand-off. I did not blink. My chest tight, my head dizzy with anger. He was right to challenge me, but I was furious that he had dared.

He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself. He picked up his guitar and ran one of his hands through his gorgeous dark hair.

“Thank you for playing here today, but I don’t think you should do it again,” I said, my heart thumping in time with the ticking of the clock above the stove.

My father made me feel small. Roberto did, too. I had expected more from Dylan. The last two days with him had made me feel larger than life. My energy was powerful enough to light the room, the palazzo, the campo, all of Venice, all the world. I did not want to feel small ever again.

Dylan’s phone buzzed. He glanced at his messages. “Right, I need to see James. It seems my ne’er-do-well self is causing trouble everywhere.”

“So, it seems,” I said, keeping my tone even and cold.

Dylan hesitated as if he were considering giving me a kiss. He didn’t. I wouldn’t let him. Taking his guitar, he walked back into the restaurant, and I assumed, the Mia Sorella.

I exhaled as if I’d been holding my breath. My body was a cocktail of equal parts disappointment and desire. Auntie Aurora opened her office door, as if making sure it was all clear before standing next to me.

Without a word, she wrapped her arm around my waist. I rested my head on her shoulder.

“I don’t know what to do, Auntie,” I said.

“Yes, you do,” she said. “You have all the answers. You just need to quiet your mind and listen to your heart.” She kissed my forehead.

I loved being comforted by her, but I sometimes wondered if her faith in me was unfounded. She believed in the cards, in our ability to tap into the infinite power of the universe to shape our world and dreams.

I had not been able to shape anything but an irrational crush on a man who was gifted at making me come and angry. I closed my eyes and thought of his body, swaying as he played, as if he were dancing with a lover in the dark.

He was ridiculously sexy and maddening. I was furious, and yet I still wanted him.