In the days between their lunch and the dinner, he sent her flowers to her office. An outrageously large and overly bright combination that he knew would embarrass her.
And that would be the talk of the Valli offices.
It amused him to imagine it. Just as it amused him to recall their lunch. And the different Serena’s he’d come across in such a short time, after only ever seeing the perfect ice princess for so long.
But it was clear, she was not perfect. There was a strange hidden woman underneath the surface. There was something sharper there too, that he brought out when he irritated her enough. It poked at something deep within him, something he hadn’t figured out quite how to articulate to himself. So he kept poking, waiting for clarity.
He could not recall a time he’d ever been so fascinated to see what made a woman tick, but then again, when women shared his company, they generallywantedto, with little reason to hide themselves away.
It was a marvel, and while the idea of being connected to her in any way, especially beyond business, was of course an atrocity, he was certain her plan would work.
She was that good at embodying a lie. How else had he spent all this time thinking her perfect, only to find her in thick-lensed glasses and octogenarian shawls surrounded bycats?
So when his driver stopped in front of Serena’s home, Luciano did not hold on to any worries. The dinner party would be beyond mundane, and pretending to care about Serena’s needs would be an odd experience, but he had no doubts they’d be successful.
He stepped out and studied the castle—it could only be called a castle—in the falling light of dusk. It was not elegant. There was no sense that this was an abode of luxury, though the insidewasluxurious.But the outside gave more the aura of centuries long gone, when life was weary, bloody battle after weary, bloody battle.
This was a battle—though hopefully not bloody—so maybe the mood of it fit. He strode up the heavy set of concrete stairs that wound around, not romantically, but practically, and up to the main doors. He noticed what he could not have last night in the dark. There were hints of color here and there. A pot the color of the sea full to brimming with red and orange blooms to one side. A colorful stained glass trinket hanging from a hook that tinkled in the breeze along with the sounds of waves in the distance. A full awning of weeping wisteria shaded the entry.
He knew now that these were all glimpses into therealSerena, and he wondered…would he catch a glimpse of her now? That owlish little creature trying to pretend to be a lioness.
No, she’d be ready this time. He had no doubt. And he had the oddest sense of disappointment at that.
The door opened before he’d even stepped forward, and the man who’d argued with him that Serena was not to be seen the last time he’d been here answered.
His expression was grave. His eyes were wary. He gestured Luciano inside.
Luciano smiled charmingly at him when he said nothing.“Buonasera.”
“Ms. Valli will be down momentarily, Mr. Ascione. You may wait here.”
Luciano looked around the entry way. It was grand, indeed, but hardly the place to sit and wait. Luciano doubted very much that the typical visitor was asked to stand in the bright white room andwait.
But before he could suggest that, Serena appeared. She was walking at a quick clip, checking the contents of her purse as her high heels clicked against the stone foyer floors.
There was no denying Serena was beautiful. Even in her ridiculous pajamas and alarmingly large glasses the other night, one could not deny that there was somethingwithinher that glowed, that enticed.
The business version of Serena was always sleek, elegant and…demure, he supposed, was the best descriptor.
But there was something…altogether different this evening.
She wore color. A vibrant, gleaming green. She…sparkled. He didn’t think that would have caught him off guard all on its own. He was used to glittering, brightly dressed women. It was the brevity of that skirt, and the surprisingly long, lean legs now viewable because of it, made all the longer by the gold heels she wore.
Worse than the surprise was the awkwardly potent bolt of lust that fisted inside him. Unexpected and unwanted. Because lust was usually quite welcome, easily dealt with. He did not find himself attracted to women he had no intention of having.
And there was certainly no appeal to having Serena Valli.
She looked up absently.“Buonasera,”she offered, but her gaze was moving to her butler. “Pierro, you’ll make certain Kate gets her medicine with her food this evening?”
“Of course.”
She nodded, as if that settled that, and Pierro drifted out of the room with one last disapproving look in Luciano’s direction.
Luciano would have asked her who the hell Kate was, but her hair was pulled up, and wisps sprang free in lazy curls. Her hazel eyes were painted dark, which somehow brought out the flecks of green and gold in them. Her lips were bright, which showed off just how full they were.
It wasn’t that she looked any different than she usually did in the grand scheme of things, particularly considering the neckline of the dress was high, the sleeves long. It was just that she was portraying herself in a style that made her look like anyone he might have on his arm.
It twisted some signals inside of his brain. Because he could admit she was attractive, but he could not admit he wasattracted toher. She’d put on a costume of sorts, but he could not allow it to trick him.
