“Tonight?”
“I see you have a dress and a pair of shoes.”
It pains me to say no to him, but I do not want to break the date with Tullio either. “What time?”
“Eight.”
“I am not available until ten.”
“The restaurant here.”
I feel his eyes follow me down the hallway until I’m back in the hotel proper. I want to duck my head when I pass Mr. Davies and Signora Faraldi, but I keep my chin up instead. Neither of them says anything to me, and I know it’s because of Tullio. I do not want to push my luck, though, so I finish whatever Signora Faraldi tells me to do, and before she can complain that I’m not doing it fast or good enough.
After my shift is over, I rush back to the small place I share with the other workers on the property. I take a quick shower and obsess over how I’m going to style my hair. The other girls look at me when I walk out with my hair down and the dress on. I’m too excited to even care about their thoughts.
However, I am a bit nervous about dining in the restaurant. It will be dim with all the candles, but I’ve worked at this hotel for years, and the staff knows me. I don’t think Mr. Davies will be pleased with me dining with guests. I haven’t before. I’ve always said no. But there was something compelling me to say yes to both Tullio and Giordano. It was the blood racing through my veins when they both had touched me.
I take a deep breath and keep my eyes forward as I walk into the hotel and veer off for the restaurant. It has views of the sea, and the candlelight plays on the glass windows showcasing it. The restaurant goes quiet as I walk in, and I’m not sure if it’s the dress or something else. I’m pretty sure it’s the dress.
Tullio is waiting for me, and his eyes lower in a way that makes my heart drop to my feet when he sees me.
He sets his warm hand on my lower back, and I almost melt from the light contact. It was stronger than I remembered it from earlier. He smells like cigar smoke, leather, and suede. His tux is dark, and his eyes are shimmering from the candlelight, just like my dress.
We’re led to a table, and he holds my seat out for me.
Once he gives the waiter our drink orders, we stare at each other.
“You’re even more beautiful than I remember,” he says.
I wave a hand and he catches it.
Our eyes connect again and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stay seated. I almost want to pop up and run out. It’s hard to meet such intensity.
“It is the dress,” I barely get out.
“The dress is just an accessory.” He sets his lips on my hand, over my fingers, placing a kiss on them. My hands are cold, even though the weather is warm, and so are his lips. “It’s you, Ms. Ducci.”
My breath has accelerated, and I can only nod in appreciation for his compliment. He keeps my hand in his as the waiter comes back to leave our drinks. We’re silent for a minute or two while soft music serenades us from the band. They are playing “Always.”
Tullio clears his throat, about to speak, but his eyes move up as a shadow darkens our table. My breath completely stops, and I try not to outwardly show my surprise. Giordano Capitani is the dark shadow, and his eyes are on me.
“Do you two know each other?” Tullio asks, and his voice sounds suspicious.
“My date,” Giordano says.
Tullio looks at me.
I look between the two of them. “I take it you two know each other?”
“You can say that,” Giordano says. “We’re business partners.” He sits down at the table without permission.
Neither of these men seem to need it—for anything.
And I’m sandwiched between them.
The waiter comes back and asks Giordano if he’d like a drink. He orders the same drink as Tullio. The three of us sit in silence, only the sound of the soft music to cut through some of the tension. I stand to go, because I was instantly attracted to both of these men, and I do not see how this can work. Both men are up as I am, and both men have a hand on my arm, and then both men have guns pointed at each other.
The entire restaurant goes quiet, a few gasps linger in the air.
