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Yet life had never felt more balmy or romantic than it did right now—standing under an old streetlamp with this very beautiful man, staring down at her with eyes that she could absolutely meet.

‘We got off to a bad start,’ he said.

‘We did,’ she agreed, ‘but it ended nicely.’

‘Yes,’ he agreed. ‘Goodnight, Stella.’

‘Goodnight, Gabe.’

Yet neither turned away.

Stella, he had found, was very hard to say goodbye to.

Now he put a finger to her cheek, and her skin was as soft as expected, but warmer, and he ran that same finger along her bare pink shoulder.

‘You are burnt.’

‘It will be gone by morning.’ Then she swallowed, frowning, because it almost sounded like an invitation. Maybe it was.

But then he dropped his hand.

And Stella discovered how it felt to want to be kissed so badly. Without contact, her lips were tingling as if she’d eaten a cake and icing sugar dusted them, as if she had to lick them or taste them or was just so aware of them. She was watching his mouth as he spoke.

‘Why don’t I take you out tomorrow?’

‘Tomorrow?’

‘The red sky promised us a beautiful day…’

‘Yes, but I have to work.’

‘I know. What if you extend your stay here by one night? We could go out in the helicopter and really see some sights—you could take a look at Vellascura from the sky, get some good aerial shots for your proposal. We could lunch in Capri.’

‘Really?’ She frowned, all jumbled up, because while his offer was wonderful, she wasn’t entirely sure it made practical sense, with time of the essence. Yet there was no real room for practical thoughts because they were facing each other.

They were talking about tomorrow when this night she was on fire.

‘I would take you through the palazzo, but my grandfather…’

‘Of course, it’s the last thing he needs.’

Gabe chose not to correct her. It wasn’t that she was a location scout, or even that his grandfather was unwell, but if he brought a beautiful woman back he would have the banns being posted at the church by next week.

Perhaps a slight exaggeration.

Not the beautiful part. There was a very rare unspoilt beauty to her. Her wild curls, the worried eyes that brightened when she smiled, and there was pleasure to be had in her company.

Gabe wanted more of that.

Just that.

The pleasure of her company.

Just for one more day.

He could allow for that lapse in his stony heart. Needed the reprieve, maybe?

But no, it might be better not to take her into the palazzo.