Enzo raked her body with his gaze once again, and the hint of a smile was back. “So, it turns out Ernie was never the prize at all.”
“What?” Kathleen frowned in puzzlement.
“During the fracas by the Duomo, Ernie broke. Must have happened when the guy on the bike threw him through the air, and he landed on the pavement.”
“Ohh. That’s kind of sad. Ernie was ugly, but I had kind of taken a shine to the guy.”
“Not so sad. Inside was a treasure map, complete with an X marking the spot.” He snorted.
“A treasure map?” Kathleen’s voice went up an octave, and her heart picked up pace again. “Really? What location is on the map? What kind of treasure is it? Oh my God, a treasure map! Who would have thought that ugly little Ernie would be carrying something so important?” All signs of exhaustion disappeared with the excitement of a treasure map. Suddenly, she wasn’t so sleepy.
“I know, right? The perfect place to hide the map.”
“So, come on, I want details,” Kathleen demanded. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
Enzo grinned. “I can see you’re excited. The answer to your question is, I don’t know.”
“Wait, I asked multiple questions,” she clarified.
“Yes, and I don’t know the answer to any of them. There are no words on the map, no identifiable landmarks, and the symbols, although obvious, don’t really tell me much. There is a fountain and a statue or two, but seriously, that could be anywhere in Europe or the world, for that matter.”
“Well, what about what kind of treasure? Does it say anything about that?”
Enzo shook his head. “It doesn’t even have anything you can judge scale by.”
Kathleen put her hands on her hips, forgetting all about only wearing a towel. “Well, what does it show?”
“Not much.”
“I want to see it,” she demanded.
Enzo grinned and got out of the chair. “It’s down in my office.”
“Great. Let’s go.” Kathleen started walking toward the door.
“You might want to get dressed.”
Kathleen, who was by the door, glanced down. “Shit.” She whirled around and banged right into Enzo’s chest.
“Oh, sorry.” She met his gaze, and electricity danced across her skin. His lazy smile made her breath catch. She hadn’t been this close to him before, and it was wreaking havoc with her senses. She knew she should back up and move around him but again that seemed like giving in. Like he would win the unspoken battle between them.
He reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “Ah, Kathleen.” His eyes darkened, and her mouth went dry.
She licked her lips, and his gaze followed her every move.
She opened her mouth to say…something, anything to break the spell, but it was too late. His head dipped down, and he captured her mouth in what was at first a soft kiss, but then it turned more demanding as his tongue slipped between her lips. He probed her mouth, and she met him with every move.
He wrapped his arms around her, and his fingertips were heated where they stroked her bare skin. She leaned into him, twining her arms around his neck and pulling their bodies closer. Her heart rate soared as he deepened the kiss. Excitement thrummed in her blood. She wanted more. To feel more of him. To have him against her skin.
He ran his hand down her back and cupped her ass through the towel to press her against him. Heat pooled between her thighs. God, she wanted this.
The peal of her cell phone destroyed the sexual charge between them. Enzo broke off the kiss with a look she couldn’t quite decipher on his face before he let her go. “Come down to my office once you’re dressed. I’ll show you the map, but don’t mention it to anyone.” He gave a nod to the phone, which continued to ring from where it rested on the bed. He turned and went out the door.
Kathleen had to grasp the dresser for a second to get her balance before lurching across the room to her cell. “Spam Risk.” That’s what it said above the number.
“Just fucking great,” she growled. Interrupted by telemarketers. Sometimes life truly wasn’t fair.
In Enzo’s office, Kathleen sat across from him, her gaze shifting around to study each item on his desk. “Where’s the map?”
