Lucio gently brushed her hair back behind her ear. "Don't be. It's a good idea. Close youreyes."
She followed his orders but she felt dizzy as she waited in trepidation. She puckered her lips and nodded. "Okay..."
Warm lips met hers and she flew, transported into heaven. He tasted of coffee and his firm mouth melted away fear just as another part of her was reborn. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed himback.
The kiss ended too soon and his fingers traced her arms. "You're sweeter than I thought,Amy."
Sweet was good. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Do itagain."
A light chuckle escaped him before his lips captured hers again. She released a soft sigh and held onto his shoulder for support. His kiss made her feel sexy but vulnerable and she loved thesensation.
This time when he ended the kiss, he took her hand and walked her back to the table. "My turn for aquestion."
He held her chair for her while she sat and then took his chair again. She leaned toward him, her fingers brushed against his, not wanting to end the moment. "What?"
Just centimeters apart he asked, "Have you had sex before,Amy?"
Her cheeks flamed and she crossed her legs under her chair. "Yes, buthonestly..."
Her voice trailed off. This wasn't something she’d ever said out loud and she shook her head, hoping to change thesubject.
He put his hand on hers and she felt a jolt. "Butwhat?"
She turned toward him. Could she tell him something she’d never breathed a word of to anyone, not even her dearest friend? Certainly not her sister. She clutched his forearm to keep him close, trusting him. "I didn't like it very much. How did youguess?"
His eyes narrowed and he massaged her hand. "Your kiss was moreinnocentthan I'm used to." And she'd thought his was the best. She let go of his forearm and scooted back slightly. "Who was this guy and why didn't you likesex?"
It was best to tell the truth, though she whispered so no one might hear and she put her hand on her forehead to hide in case others looked at her—not that there was anybody she could see. "Kevin Shepard. He was, no is, the Earl of Tomley, and my parents had set us up. He fit the profile of the men I usually dated, so they thought they’d compromised. I tried. It was just after college and before I went to London to work for Whitehall and Fisk. I was tense and it felt like it was more a chore. Two weeks later we broke up and I've not seen him since. My parents backed off and let me just focus on work… untilnow."
He kissed her hand. "I'm glad he's out of your life. You don't need anyone who doesn't take care of your needs inbed."
Kevin had been in a long line of narcissists to be truthful and he'd only been concerned with how good she looked on his arm. She sat back, picked up her wine, sipped it and let the liquid refresh her mind as the wait staff brought out what looked like a Shepard’s pie. Both stayed quiet until theyleft.
"So, I confessed about my dating life. How was dating over a thousand women? Or were the tabloids wrong? When writing my report on your family, I ran into trouble verifying thestory."
He dug into his food with his fork, tasted it and nodded with appreciation of the beef and gravy. Once he swallowed, he said, "Because of what happened in high school, I wanted to ensure that no one dared take an opinion again on the ladies I went out with. A few of them were nice, but despite what the newspapers say, dinner out with a woman does not mean I took her to bed. There is an infamous tell-all that's complete rubbish. That woman and I never made it throughcoffee."
She resumed eating and he did the same. In the book, the writer had described a man that sounded so different, so calculating, from the Lucio she’d remembered. But she focused on her food because the potatoes melted in her mouth. Finally full, she wiped her lips with her napkin. "So, you didn't insist she bring two friends to bed to keep you there for thenight?"
"You read it," hesaid.
"Yes." Shocked that she’d eaten the whole thing, she put her silverware down. "I think 40 million people boughtit."
"That sounds aboutright."
Amy sat back and finished her one glass of wine, studying him with a smile. Today's date had gone well. His kiss made her hope for more. "If it counts for anything, I believe you. How she made you sound in the book didn't ring at all true forme."
He finished his glass in a gulp and then leaned close. The heat of his skin made her ache in places she hadn't realized she had. "Thank you for that. I'm glad we can trust each other. Now, let’s gohome."
She stood at his slight touch that urged her forward, hooking her arm through his as they crossed the balcony. "I've not had a home in years. My flat always felttemporary."
"And small." He spoke with disapproval, then pointed up the mountain. "The North Palace gives us unencumbered views of Italy, Slovenia and Austria." He stopped and faced her. "May I kiss you one moretime?"
"Absolutely." A breathless thrill raced through her as she nodded, excited he’d respected her wishes but also wishing he’d just kissed without asking for approval. They still had to work out their relationship, but for now she puckered herlips.
She closed her eyes as his lips met hers for their third kiss. His hard muscles made her want to touch. She slipped her hands under his suit jacket to hold him and forget the rest of the world. Saying yes to him was the smartest decision she'd evermade.
7
