Chapter Six
Gio was glad of the stream of tourists who’d finally found this part of the Palatine Hill. Their presence meant he and Stella barely spoke as they made their way down towards the modern city.
He didn’t know what had happened up there but that kiss had knocked him like a sucker punch to the gut. Except instead of pain there’d been only pleasure, potent enough to thrum through his blood and awaken a longing he felt in the very marrow of his bones.
He’d kissed many women, made love to enough, but couldn’t remember feeling so undone. Undone yet at the same time triumphant, as if kissing Stella made him invincible.
Hearing voices, he’d lifted his head and could have sworn the day was brighter, the scarlet poppies scattered between the stones more vivid. He’d felt stronger, ready to take on anything.
He couldn’t recall enjoying a kiss so much that he’d been lost to everything except her generous mouth on his and her body pressed close.
Stella Barbieri’s body. Your enemy, remember?
He grimaced yet kept her hand in his as they made their way down the hill.
Of course he remembered. He’d seen the excitement in her eyes the moment he’d held her to him, known she was eager for him. And he’d recognised the dazed yearning in her features when he lifted his head. Because he’d felt it too.
For the first time he could recall, a kiss had swept him away. She’d swept him away, making him forget she was a spy, trying to inveigle her way into his secrets.
His belly clenched as he reminded himself why she was here.
To help Alfredo Barbieri, the man who’d destroyed his family.
Gio thought of his mother and older sister, now long gone because of Barbieri.
And Gio’s father who’d outlived them by years, though his soul had died the day they had.
He’d lived on, a shell of the man, desperate to revenge himself on Barbieri and bring him to justice since the legal system hadn’t.
And here was Gio, consorting with Barbieri’s daughter. Wanting her.
He told himself it had been a ploy to get close to her. If she thought he trusted her it would be easier to find out what she was after.
But he wasn’t into convenient lies. Of course he spent time with her to stymie her plans. But that wasn’t why he’d kissed her and didn’t explain his elation or the thrill he experienced, just having her hand nestled in his.
His flesh prickled. Instinctively he distrusted the feelings she stirred. They were new and intense and he, more than anyone, understood how destructive strong feelings could be. He’d watched them turn his father into a hollow husk, cut off from everyone, including his son.
Gio firmed his resolve and tightened his grip as they walked from the ancient site and headed towards the hotel.
‘You look very serious, Gio. Is something wrong?’
Everything.
He was accustomed to being in command, of himself and his life. He should be working instead of cosying up to Barbieri’s two-faced daughter.
‘I was thinking about that kiss.’
‘Oh.’
Something blazed in her eyes and he felt arousal stir. She looked away but not before he saw the tiniest hint of colour in her cheeks.
She couldn’t be blushing. Or was it because she too had got more than she bargained for with that kiss? The idea eased his mood. ‘I hadn’t planned it.’
‘No, it was the impulse of the moment.’
Gio studied her closely, choosing his words. ‘It was…more than I expected.’
Her head whipped around to face him so fast her ponytail flared wide before settling over her shoulder. She looked young and bright-eyed, innocent even. Though he knew she was in her mid-twenties and couldn’t believe any child of Alfredo Barbieri would stay innocent for long.
‘Yes, it was.’
Maybe Gio could use the truth to his advantage. Admitting his attraction would encourage her. If she felt sure of him perhaps she’d let down her guard. He didn’t even know if she was after commercial secrets or an opportunity for sabotage.
Whatever it was, he vowed she wouldn’t succeed.
‘Are you hungry? I know an excellent place near here for lunch,’ he suggested.
It was relatively quiet. Gio needed to dig further and discover her plans. If that didn’t work he could romance her into letting down her guard.
‘That sounds—’
Stella slammed to a halt as they turned a corner, her fingers grabbing his like a vice, nails pinching his skin.
He turned to see her milk-white, eyes huge, her mouth open on a gasp. A second later she spun around and stepped behind him.
Gio surveyed the street, eyes narrowed as he tried to pinpoint what had disturbed her.
There was nothing obvious, though his gaze lingered on a heavy-set man with curly hair, a brown suit and massive gold watch that glinted in the sun.
He didn’t look happy, his jaw set as he strode away. He looked vaguely familiar.
Gio turned and pulled Stella against him, his arm about her slim shoulders. ‘What can I do?’
Bruised velvet eyes met his and his blood stirred with protectiveness.
‘There’s nothing you can do. We’re nearly at the hotel, aren’t we?’
He nodded, realising the man might have come from there. Was he someone she was supposed to meet? Someone she didn’t want to meet?
Gio felt the tremors running through her and held her tight. She might be his opponent yet he hated seeing her so dismayed. She looked almost sick.
That was when he recalled where he’d seen the man. Yesterday when he’d researched Stella Barbieri there’d been photos of her with her family. The stocky man was one of her brothers, much older than her.
‘Someone scared you, didn’t they? Talk to me, Stella.’
‘It’s nothing. Just that I realised…’ She shook her head, straightening bowed shoulders, and stepped from his hold. Apart from her paleness and the darting glance over his shoulder, she looked in control of herself.
Gio was torn. Every instinct revolted at the idea of her scared, yet he hated the way she distanced herself, as much as he despised her deviousness. Could this be another ploy? An attempt to gain sympathy?
But her distress was real.
‘Tell me what’s wrong, Stella. Maybe I can help.’
Her smile wasn’t convincing. ‘Thanks, but I’m okay. It’s just that I have to change my plans. I can’t stay in Rome after all.’
‘Who are you scared of, Stella?’
‘I’m not scared! I just…need a little time.’
‘Tell me who that man was, the one with the gold watch.’
Her eyes searched his as if gauging whether she could trust him.
Or perhaps your imagination is working overtime.
When she spoke she surprised him. ‘He’s my brother. He wouldn’t hurt me but I don’t want to see him, not yet.’
Gio had been prepared for a convoluted lie. A story aimed at drawing him in. He hadn’t expected the truth.
‘I said I had some family matters on my mind. I just didn’t expect to see him here, that’s all. But I have to move on, sooner than I’d expected.’ Her mouth twisted. ‘It’s been lovely, spending time with you—’
‘Where are you going?’ She opened her mouth but said nothing. He could almost hear her brain trying to devise an answer. ‘You don’t have a destination planned, do you?’
Finally she shook her head. ‘No. But by the time I pack I will.’
‘Then allow me to suggest a solution. Someone I know has a villa by the sea on the south coast. I’m heading there myself for a short break, some quiet time to recharge the batteries.
’ It wasn’t what he’d planned, but the more he thought about it, the more he realised it was a perfect solution.
‘If you want peace and privacy it’s ideal.
Security around the villa is second to none.
’ He paused. ‘There’ll be no one there but me. ’
He watched her process that, emotions chasing each other across her features. Surprise, doubt, excitement.
‘Thank you but I couldn’t impose on your friend. I—’
‘He won’t mind and he won’t be there. Your brother will find it harder to locate you if you’re in a private home rather than a hotel. Unless you want to be looking over your shoulder all the time.’
He’d give a lot to know why she was running from her family. But one thing at a time. First he had to get her alone. With time and persuasion he’d pry free her secrets.
Stella opened her mouth then closed it. She twisted her bangle around her arm, her brow knotting in concentration.
‘Of course, you barely know me.’
‘It’s not that.’ Her smile was strained. ‘It’s true we barely know each other, but I trust you, Gio.’
‘You do?’
Maybe all this was part of her scheme and her reaction to her brother was feigned. But if she intended to get Gio alone to seduce information out of him, he wouldn’t object.
* * *
Stella shrugged, missing the warm weight of his arm around her shoulders. It had felt so comforting. The dreadful buzz of fear she’d experienced on glimpsing Rocco eased when Gio touched her.
She was used to standing up for herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been cuddled out of sympathy. Not since her mother died.
‘You’re a gentleman, Gio. You’ve treated me with respect.
You’ve listened and not crowded me.’ She drew a slow breath.
‘You left me at my door last night. You didn’t think that because we’d spent time together I was offering anything else.
’ Meeting his intense stare, she read his surprise. She laughed. ‘Some men do, you know.’
If he’d wanted more, would you have turned him away?
‘But I kissed you.’
‘We kissed. It was mutual.’ She shook her head. ‘This isn’t about trust. It’s just…’
‘Just what?’
‘I sort out my own problems. I prefer not to be beholden. And I don’t make spur-of-the-minute decisions. I’m methodical. I make plans.’
Yet two days ago she’d acted spontaneously. It had been her only option, finding somewhere far from her father so she could decide what to do about her untenable situation.
‘That’s admirable, Stella. But there are times when you just have to jump. When you have to trust your instinct and go with it. I’m offering you a safe place to make your plans and sort out your problems.’