Which made him fair game for my bed.
A quick look to my father revealed he’d missed my kiss with Dante, for which I was grateful. I didn’t want to explain why a strange man was kissing me in the courtyard. Sophia, on the other hand, had seen everything.
I rejoined her, and she met me with a curious expression. She led with, “I have questions...so many questions...”
I laughed, leaning over to whisper so my father didn’t overhear. “Would you believe he was in my office earlier today with an offer to purchase Castello di Baroni?” Sophia’s expression mirrored my own at the audacity. “I know. I turned him away.”
“And he shows up here? How did he get an invitation?”
“Mia gave him her ticket.”
“Mia?” Sophia looked surprised. “Why?”
I shrugged. “Likely, he charmed her but she did manage to sell a case of the Riserva so I can’t be too irritated with her. Besides, Mia is sweet and probably had good intentions at heart.”
“You think she was trying to play matchmaker?”
I pursed my lips in thought. “Perhaps. I think she may be sweet on Como but he hasn’t the sense God gave a goose to notice.”
“Is he still trying to pursue you?” Sophia asked. “I thought you nipped that in the bud.”
“I tried. He is stubborn.” I drew a deep breath. “But I think I finally got through to him today.”
“Let’s hope. It was embarrassingly awkward to watch him pine after you,” Sophia said with distaste. “And unprofessional. I’m surprised your father never noticed.”
“Papa rarely comes to the office these days.” For which I was also grateful. There was nothing more troublesome than my father meddling where he was woefully underqualified. Of course, there was no telling him that, so it was better for everyone if he puttered elsewhere in his retirement.
Sophia nodded but returned to Dante. “You kissed him. What’s that about?”
“It just happened. I don’t think either of us planned to. I have dinner plans with him tomorrow. The jury is out whether or not I will kiss him again.”
That was a total lie. It was surprising lightning didn’t streak from the sky and burn me to a crisp as soon as the words left my mouth. I could still taste Dante. My tongue darted along the seam of my lips and my heart kicked up a beat. “I plan to see if he truly means to drop this whole matter with the winery. I need him to feel comfortable.”
Sophia gasped. “And you think an intimate dinner is wise? You don’t even know the man.”
“I said dinner, not marriage,” I said, smiling at Sophia’s concern. “It’s been a long time since I allowed a man to treat me. I look forward to a night out with someone who isn’t connected in any way to the wine industry.”
“I can understand that,” Sophia admitted grudgingly, but she still wasn’t sold on the idea. “But an American? They’re dreadfully uncivilized. They drink lattes after ten in the morning.”
“Don’t be a snob,” I teased, nudging her with my shoulder. “We needn’t hold that against him. He’s actually quite entertaining with a quick wit.”
And a mouth that made me think of things he could do with it that had nothing to do with food.
Sophia frowned as she queried, “Why did he want to buy the winery if he’s not in the business?”
“According to his story, his family built the manor and owned the original winery. His father wanted to return the property back to the fold. I refused and he accepted.”
“He did?” Sophia’s brow rose. “Just like that? He folded that easily?”
I shrugged. “His reasons are his own. I don’t care as long as he’s not sniffing around my business.” And regardless of what happened between us, I’d make sure that didn’t happen. I cast a sly smile Sophia’s way. “He’s handsome, is he not?”
“He’s quite handsome,” she agreed with a frown. “But I’m not sure it’s a good idea to see him again. A man like him doesn’t admit defeat easily. What if he’s trying to get closer to you to get information he can use as leverage?”
“I thought of that, but his explanation makes sense. However, rest assured, I won’t let him have anything of value that he can use later.”
Even as I swore to my friend that dinner was the only option I was currently entertaining, I already knew I wanted to take him home after. Sophia wouldn’t understand—she was quite old-fashioned about sex—and I didn’t want her to stress unnecessarily over something that was simply about physical need. Sometimes I wished Sophia would just run wild and sow some oats, but that wasn’t her style. I feared my beautiful best friend would die alone surrounded by cats if she didn’t start breaking out of her comfort zone and actually meeting people.
Ah, well, that’s a problem for a different day.
I tracked Dante as he moved throughout the crowd easily, garnering attention from every female as he went. Every so often, he’d send a smoldering look my way, which I boldly met. The chemistry between us was immediate and intoxicating. Even if Sophia was right and Dante was trying to seduce information out of me, it wouldn’t work. If he thought I was some silly female who swooned and fell in love with a man of his stature, wealth and looks, he was sorely mistaken.
I ate men like him for breakfast.
Lesser men, I destroyed.
Speaking of, Alberico made his way toward me and I suppressed my urge to be rude and send him on his way. With my father standing so close, I couldn’t possibly do something so obvious.
As it was, my father thought Alberico was a fine catch—which he might be, for someone else.
“Alberico,” my father called out, pleased to see him. “You are looking fine this evening. How are you?”
“I cannot complain, signor, particularly when the view this evening is exquisite,” Alberico answered, sparing a hot glance my way. I enjoyed the heat in Dante’s gaze but seeing it on Alberico made me want to find a floor-length coat. He grasped my hand and kissed it lightly. “May I say, you look incredible tonight, Alessandra...”
Ugh. Every time Alberico was around me, he practically drooled. How could my father not see that we were a terrible match? My skin fairly crawled when he touched me.
The stark difference between how my body reacted when Dante’s fingertips grazed my skin as opposed to Alberico’s was striking, and further p
roof—not that I needed any—that a Salvadori/Baroni union was never going to happen.
I allowed a tight smile and withdrew my hand, turning brightly to Sophia as I said, “Sophia, may I introduce Alberico Salvadori? How is it that two of my dearest friends haven’t yet met one another?”
Alberico turned his polite attention to Sophia as it would’ve been rude to do otherwise, bowed and kissed Sophia’s hand, as well. “Bellisimo,” he murmured. “It is a pleasure.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Sophia returned, casting a knowing look my way as I prepared my exit.
“Please, enjoy yourselves. I must see to the caterers as they should be getting ready to serve the entrée.”
I left Sophia behind with Alberico, not the least bit guilty for serving up my best friend to the thirsty Alberico. They made a better couple than he and I, anyway.
I’d make it up to Sophia. For now, I had a party to attend and having Alberico throwing those looks my way was nothing more than a distraction and an irritant.
My father could wish our families to join but I wasn’t on board with that plan.
Not ever.
Alberico wasn’t a bad man—not in the least—but he was not for me.
That much I knew.
I didn’t need a man. I needed a way to guarantee Uva Persa was a stellar success. Everything else was unimportant.
However, if I could squeeze in a few much-needed orgasms, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Particularly, orgasms with a man who promised no strings attached.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Dante
THE PARTY HAD been enjoyable but I hadn’t learned anything of value from circulating through the crowd last night. Those who didn’t have a crush on Alessandra were jealous of her success. I wondered if Alessandra knew how many people thought of her as a threat to their way of life.
Mostly, crusty old men with old money—like my father—were highly critical of Alessandra, even as they enjoyed her hospitality, drank her wine and ate her food. Misogyny was alive and well, hiding behind the stately cypress trees and lyrical Tuscan artwork, and it teemed beneath the facade of polite conversation.