“He is nice, but he’s become supersensitive since his divorce. Why didn’t you come?”

  “Please tell him I had to work later than planned.” Guido probably saw through her lie, but she wasn’t about to tell him the truth.

  He moved closer with his hands on his hips. The tension was thick between them. “Did you enjoy the soccer match Sunday?”

  “I loved it, actually. Even with the few moves you taught me, I was able to understand some of it and enjoy it. Congratulations on your win. My ears rang with Dante’s name all the way home in the taxi.”

  A glimmer of a smile hovered at one corner of his compelling mouth. He cocked his head. “I was in the dugout. But if I’d known you wanted to see a match, you could have sat in my suite to watch it.”

  “I should think the last thing the owner of the team would want is to worry about entertaining a guest while you’re invested in an important game like that one.”

  “It depends on the guest. Why didn’t you just call and ask me to send you a couple of posters?”

  She sucked in her breath. “I didn’t want to impose on you. It was easy enough to go online. They were for my friend.”

  “So I gathered. Now that we have matters clarified, the reason I’m here is to ask you out to dinner. If you come with me, you’ll win my forgiveness for being ignominiously tackled. You owe me that much.”

  Another rush of heat swept through her. Looking at his virile physique now, she couldn’t believe she’d done such a thing. “I’ll never live it down.”

  “I won’t hold it against you forever,” he drawled in a seductive tone. “Do you have plans for this evening?”

  “No,” she answered honestly. “I intended to go home for a meal and watch a little television before going to bed.”

  “You like TV?”

  “A good film is one of my guilty pleasures.”

  “Can you give it a miss long enough to spend the evening with me?”

  Thump, thump went her heart. The last time she’d seen him was at the bistro. But her fear that she’d never see him again had vanished because he was standing right here in front of her. Dea wanted to get to know him better and this was her chance.

  “I’d like that very much, but I’ll need to go home first and change.”

  “Bene. I’ll drive you.”

  “I have my own car.”

  “Then I’ll follow and wait for you in front of your apartment.”

  At this point he probably knew exactly where she lived. “My car is parked in the alley around the corner. It won’t take me long.”

  “That’s good. Plan to wear whatever you like.”

  Dea felt feverish with anticipation as she drove to her apartment. In the rearview mirror she could see Guido behind the wheel of a sleek black Lamborghini.

  She pulled into the private parking area and hurried up to her apartment. Since he wore casual attire, she didn’t want to be overdressed. After a quick shower, she put on a silky thin-striped shirtdress in tan and cream with a drawstring at the waist and a curved shirttail hem. The sleeves fell to the elbow, a classic look. She teamed a pearl clip that held her hair in place with a small pair of pearl earrings.

  Once she’d slipped on tan heels, she applied lipstick and felt ready. When she left the apartment and approached his car waiting at the entrance, she trembled to think this fabulous man wanted to be with her this evening.

  He levered himself from the driver’s seat and opened the door for her. She felt his gaze play over her as she got inside. “You look stunning,” he murmured near her cheek. His breath sent rivulets of delight through her.

  Dea had heard compliments like that for years. But for those words to come from him meant more to her than he would ever know.

  “You look great out of uniform too.”

  Her daring comment caused him to laugh out loud before he closed the door and went around to get behind the wheel. She loved hearing his deep chuckle before he pulled onto the main road. The scent of the soap he used filled the interior. He drove with expertise, maneuvering through Rome’s hectic evening traffic with ease.

  To her surprise, they ended up at the heliport at the airport. She turned to him. “Where are we headed?”

  “It’s a surprise. We’ll be at our destination within a half hour.”

  She took a deep breath. “That sounds exciting.” Where on earth were they going?

  “I hope it will be. Come on. The pilot is waiting for us.”

  Within minutes they’d climbed aboard the helicopter. She sat in the back while he took the copilot’s seat. Dea was no stranger to flights in helicopters. Seeing Rome from the air was an experience she was very familiar with, but right now she couldn’t focus on anything but the striking male seated in front of her.

  The scenery changed and after a little while the helicopter dipped. She glimpsed Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Her breath quickened as they descended and suddenly the pilot set them down on a helipad. She looked out the windows and realized they’d landed on a ship.

  Not just any ship.

  He opened the door and put out his hand to help her down into the balmy night air. She turned to him in bewilderment. “You’ve brought us to the yacht.”

  Guido’s jaw tightened perceptibly. Something was going on inside him she didn’t understand. He drew her away from the helicopter. “Let’s start again, Signorina Loti. Welcome to Naples.”

  Time stood still while Guido’s words sank in. Dea’s thoughts flew back to that night on the yacht when she’d been introduced to him. But in her mind, she hadn’t been able to see him because his best friend had stood next to him and taken her breath.

  “When you look back on that night, do you even remember me?” he asked in a teasing voice.

  She swallowed hard. What did he want her to say? Dea needed help. “Rini turned and asked me to dance. I never had a chance to talk to you again.”

  “Would it surprise you if you knew I’d wanted to be the one to dance with you first? But Rini stood closer to you.”

  Oh, no... “I had no idea. Your fath—”

  “My father forced us on you and your model friend,” he interrupted her. “But let’s admit Rini was your choice. You couldn’t take your eyes off him and I didn’t stand a chance.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  DEA STARTED TO TREMBLE. She thought she’d put the memory of that night behind her, but Guido had brought it up because it had obviously been painful for him too. She’d heard it in his voice. “I—I’m sorry,” she stammered.

  “Don’t be. It wasn’t anyone’s fault and it happened over a year ago. I brought you here in the hope that tonight I could wine and dine you with no other distractions.”

  He meant Rini.

  This was the time for honesty no matter how frightened she was to discuss such a sensitive issue for both of them. “I admit I was attracted to Rini, but it was one-sided.”

  She heard him take a quick breath. “Are you over him?”

  Guido knew how to go for the jugular. It was part of his makeup. She bit her lip. Rini was his best friend. The answer to Guido’s loaded question could spell life or death for a future relationship with him. If he wanted one. She lifted her eyes to him.

  “His looks filled an image I’d carried in my mind since I was a girl, but it had no substance. I was never into Rini, because he was a figment of my imagination. Amazingly, Alessandra carried that same image in her mind. We’re not twins for nothing. But the moment she met Rini, that image took on substance for her and she fell hard.

  “The beauty is, he fell hard for her too and pursued her. As you know, they’re madly in love and terribly happy. Believe me when I tell you I’m beyond happy for them. I hope that answers your question. Please tell me it does,” she pleaded with him.

  After a long silence, he said, “Your honesty has blown me away.” To her relief, he broke into a smile that melted her bones. “You’re good at doing that.”

  “Am I never to hear the end of it?” she teased.

  “I don’t know. Come on.” He cupped her elbow and walked her over to the covered dining area on the top deck. “Are you seeing another man right now, Dea?”

  “No. What about you? Is there a woman in your life at the moment?”

  “Only you.”

  One table had been set for them with candles and flowers. Guido helped her sit down, then poured some wine for both of them.

  “I take it we’re alone.”

  “I told you there’d be no distractions tonight.”

  The steward brought their food to the table and removed the covers. A wonderful aroma of fish with lemon and rosemary wafted in the night air.

  She smiled. “In other words, your parents won’t show up.”

  “Not tonight.” His eyes searched hers. “Tell me—did they say or do something that made you uncomfortable at the wedding reception?”

  “Not at all, Guido. I’m afraid I wasn’t myself that day and am sorry if it showed.”

  But she could tell he wouldn’t let it go when he asked, “Was it my father making you uncomfortable? What did he say when he talked to you and your friend after the fashion show?”

  She put down her fork. “Nothing. He simply wanted us to meet you and your best friend before we left the yacht.”

  “Papà came on strong, didn’t he?” Dea averted her eyes. “I knew it. There are times when he can be unbearable.”

  “That’s because he loves you so much and is proud of you.”

  “You were probably afraid I was made in his image.”

  Guido was so intuitive it was scary. “You and your father bear a physical resemblance. Was he an outstanding soccer player too?”

  “He had no interest in the sport.”

  “But he came to all your games.”

  “Yes.”

  “Lucky you.”

  “He’s a hunter.”

  She took another bite of fish. “Do you hunt too?”

  “Maybe once a year when I go with him, but I prefer fly-fishing. What about your father?”

  Dea smiled. “Dad would rather camp out with our family.”

  “That’s something else I’m crazy about,” he informed her.

  “It’s so fun.”

  After the steward brought them a pastry dessert, Guido changed the subject. “What are you doing Saturday night?”

  She got a fluttery feeling in her chest. “Gina and I are going to see Othello. We made arrangements for it last week.”

  “Then getting together with you this weekend is out since I have another match on Sunday in Bologna.”

  He’d be out of town. Maybe he was as disappointed as she was. “When will you be back?”

  “Monday.”

  Dea wanted to see him again too. “What’s your Monday evening like?”

  A flicker lit up his eyes. “What do you have in mind?”

  “After work I’ll pick up some groceries and fix us dinner at my apartment.”

  “She cooks too?”

  The warmth of his smile invaded her insides. “I spent years in the castello kitchen after school watching and learning from the cook. When she did her shopping in Metaponto on the weekends, I often went with her.”

  “But you don’t have to cook for me.”

  “I’d like to. It’s fun now that I can eat things I long for. The only drawback is cooking for one.”

  “I know what you mean. I normally eat out.”

  “So—” she rolled her eyes “—you chip, drop, kick, sweep and cook too?”

  The corners of his arresting male mouth turned up. “Tell you what. After you get home from work on Monday, call me and I’ll pick you up. We’ll go shopping and spend a culinary evening together.”

  “Be sure to bring a video of your game against Bologna. I’d like to see at least a part of it.”

  “If we lose, I won’t bother to bring it.”

  She studied him over the rim of her wineglass. “You won’t lose.”

  “How do you know?” he whispered.

  “Your team played its heart out last Sunday. I imagine they’ll do it again and again.”

  “That’s the kind of faith that helps me push them. On that positive note, I’ll get us back to Rome.”

  “This was a long way to come, Guido. We could have gone anywhere to eat.”

  His features grew serious. “True. But it was important to me that I erase the bad memory of that night from my mind by doing this again.”

  She moaned inwardly. “I never meant t—”

  “I know you didn’t,” he broke in. “We’ll never talk about it again. Thank you for coming with me.” He stood up and helped her from the table. They walked toward the helipad at the other end of the yacht with his arm at the back of her waist. The Bay of Naples glittered with lights, making a glorious sight. To be with Guido like this thrilled her.

  “Please thank the steward and the cook. The food was delicious,” she said before climbing in the helicopter.

  “I’ll tell them.” She felt his hands squeeze her hips gently before she moved all the way inside. He shouldn’t have touched her like that. It sent a voluptuous curl of heat through her body.

  For Guido to bring her all the way here to clear up something so vital meant his attraction to her was more than skin-deep. Guido was a man of great substance. But he’d been hurt; otherwise he wouldn’t have asked if she was over Rini. To embark on a relationship with him, they had to build total trust between them.

  His sensitive nature had picked up on her pain at the wedding. If she got the chance, she’d explain to him that she’d been going through her own personal crisis that had nothing to do with his parents or anyone else.

  Dea shivered. The whole issue with Rini was hard to explain, but it was long since over. Much as she was dying to get to know Guido better, she realized there were things he was holding back from her about himself. She would work on getting him to tell her what was wrong.

  * * *

  The flight from Bologna touched down at the airport at one on Monday afternoon. Their one–nil win had made the whole team giddy. After a training session at the stadium with the players and coaches, Guido drove home on fire for the evening planned with Dea.

  It seemed like months instead of days since their dinner on Thursday night.

  He watched the video of the game and made notes. But he kept waiting for the phone to ring and lost his concentration. When it finally rang and he saw the caller ID, he picked right up.

  “Dea?”

  “Are you back?”

  “I’ve been at the apartment several hours. How are you?”

  “Relieved to know you made it home safely.” He liked hearing that. “Your win was all over the news last night. You must be ecstatic.”

  He was ecstatic all right, but she was the underlying reason for this joie de vivre he’d never felt before. “What time should I pick you up?”

  “If you’ll give me an hour, I’ll be ready. But why don’t we walk to the market at the Via della Pace? It’s close and they’ll have everything we need.”

  “I’ll be outside the entrance waiting for you. A presto, Dea.”

  Guido showered and shaved. As he was finding out, anytime he was with Dea, surprising things happened. To go grocery shopping with her would no doubt be an adventure, followed by a casual night at home. It was exactly what he needed after the stressful weekend when once again he thought the team wouldn’t win until the last few seconds.

  He pulled on a sport shirt and jeans, grabbed the disc with the video and left. Once he’d found a parking space near her apartment, he walked to the entrance expecting to have to wait. Instead she was outside drawing the interest of every male in the vicinity.

  Why not? She was wearing taupe-colored trousers topped with a sheer flutter blouse in a pale blue. The hem fell to her waist, emphasizing the feminine curves of her body. A mesh shopping bag hung from her fingers.

  Her long, sparkling brown hair with its gold highlights was tied at the nape with a thin pale blue ribbon. Her natural beauty staggered him. When she saw him, she broke into a smile that lit up her eyes. He moved closer, already feeling out of breath. “I’ve been looking forward to this evening.”

  “Me too. Are you hungry?”

  She should know better than to ask him a question like that. “Starving. I skipped lunch in anticipation of tonight.”

  “Good. I plan to feed you well. We only need to buy a few items. It’s just a short walk after we reach the corner.”

  “I want the exercise. It helps me unwind.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  Exhilarated to be with her, he headed down the street with her. “What’s on the menu for tonight?”

  “Chicken Tetrazzini. I thought it would be a nice change from fish.”

  “I like anything.”

  “Sounds like you’re an easy man to please. Lucky for me.” They rounded the corner and soon arrived at the market. “Help me find chicken breasts, white mushrooms and linguine. I’ll gather the rest.”

  “Like what?”

  “Parmesan cheese, fresh garlic, onions, parsley and thyme, and cream.”

  “We’ll need a good wine too.”

  “Why don’t you pick it out.”

  He knew a Tuscan Chianti that would go well with their dinner. They worked together. She reached for some herb focaccia bread and he found a couple of baba al limoncello pastries.

  Guido paid for the groceries and carried the bag home. It was bursting at the seams. He slanted her a glance. “Just a few items,” he ribbed her.

  “I guess I’m a typical woman after all. Sorry if it’s heavier than a soccer ball...”