Alessandro's Prize (7 page)

‘Giarda is married to one of my business colleagues,' he explained, and Giarda offered a light laugh.

‘Alessandro and my husband vied with each other for me.' Her eyes twinkled with mischief. ‘Massimo won.'

‘How…nice.' What else could she say?

‘For me, yes. Not so for Alessandro.'

‘I'm sure he recovered,' Lily managed with a touch of humour, and Giarda inclined her head.

‘Of course,' Giarda acknowledged with a warm smile. ‘We remain the best of friends.' She turned towards Alessandro. ‘It pleases me to see you attached to such a charming young woman. You must bring Lily to dinner. I will be in touch to determine a mutually suitable evening.'

‘Thank you.'

Lily waited until Giarda was out of earshot before facing him. ‘I am not
your
young woman.'

‘You left out
charming
.'

‘Then there's the touchy-feely thing.' Her eyes flashed. ‘I refuse to act as arm candy.'

He regarded her with interest. ‘You imagine I would use you as such?'

‘Oh,
please
.'

‘So unsure of your appeal, Lily?' Alessandro queried gently.

The air between them became electrifying, and for a few
seemingly long seconds everything faded from her vision as she became caught up with a host of conflicting emotions.

Her relationship with James had been comfortable, pleasant, she admitted. Or so she'd imagined.

Yet Alessandro aroused a primitive passion deep within that made her yearn for the impossible.

There was a part of her that wanted to discard any reservations and simply enjoy what he offered for however long it might last.

Except that would be akin to treading a certain path to emotional self-destruction. Not something anyone in their right mind would willingly seek.

Alessandro took in the fast-thudding pulse at the base of her throat, and resisted the temptation to trace the hollow with a gentle finger. Yet here, now, was neither the time or place.

‘Alessandro. Lily.'

Whatever he might have said didn't find voice as they turned in unison to greet Sophia.

‘I am a little late,' Sophia explained as she brushed Lily's cheek with her own. ‘Carlo was caught up in traffic.' She stood back a little and regarded Lily with affectionate approval. ‘
Cara
, you look stunning.'

‘Beautiful,' Alessandro added as he took Lily's hand and brought it to his lips.

Her eyes dilated as they met his dark gleaming gaze only to attempt to make light of his gesture by offering a winsome smile.

‘I believe every available ticket has sold,' Sophia revealed as she accepted a flute of champagne from one of the many waiters circling the room. ‘Guests tend to be generous when the funds being raised benefit terminally ill children.'

A request for guests to be seated as dinner was about to be served ensured a general move towards numbered tables,
and Lily bore Alessandro's light touch at the edge of her waist as he escorted them to their table.

Shared by fellow guests, among whom were Giarda and her husband Massimo—an attractive man whose dark features held a similar degree of ruthless power on a par with Alessandro's.

They had fought for Giarda's attention and Alessandro had accorded Massimo
colleague
, but were they friends in business, or adversaries? Lily posed as they took their seats.

A certain mutual respect became evident, she decided as the evening progressed. Alessandro was seated between Sophia and herself, with Massimo and Giarda opposite. The remaining five guests comprised a middle-aged couple, their son and two daughters.

Throughout the three-course dinner the eldest of the two daughters did her best to engage Alessandro's attention, which to give him credit, he fielded with polite charm.

Lily silently assured she didn't care and knew she lied. Which in itself was a conundrum, given the state of her emotions were in direct contrast to the dictates of her mind.

Come Monday she'd be involved with work, back in a kitchen, where she wanted to be. Social activities involving Alessandro's presence would dwindle to almost nothing.

Not before time. She'd done
complicated
, now all she wanted was routine and a simple lifestyle.

The fund-raiser was announced as an outstanding success as individual donations brought the total raised beyond expectations.

Gradually the guests began to leave, pausing to chat with friends and consequently progress into the foyer became slow.

It had been sufficiently disturbing to be seated close to Alessandro throughout the evening; somehow it seemed even
more so to have his arm resting loosely at her waist during their passage from ballroom to foyer.

An action Lily attempted to convince herself was merely a courtesy and failed, for there was a sense of
rightness
in the contact, and although she vigorously denied it she felt…
what? Protected
. Which was insane.

In the name of heaven,
get real
. Blame the champagne, although she'd merely sipped the contents from one flute.

Within a few minutes she'd slip into the car with Sophia, and Carlo would deliver her to her apartment.

Except when Sophia's car drew level with the entrance it was Sophia who bade them both
buona notte
and slid into the rear seat, leaving Lily almost speechless as Carlo eased the large vehicle forward into the steady stream of departing traffic.

‘I'll get a taxi.' The words left her lips with stiff resolve, and all it achieved was Alessandro's studied inspection.

‘That won't be necessary.'

‘I wouldn't dream of taking you out of your way.'

He indicated his sleek black car sliding to a halt adjacent the entrance. ‘Let's go.'

Lily spared a look of muted defiance, and her eyes widened as he leant in close. ‘Do you really want to argue?'

She caught the flashbulbs of eager paparazzi, foreseeing how her reluctance would appear on celluloid, and she slid into the passenger seat with a forced smile, which she maintained until Alessandro cleared the venue and entered the main stream of traffic.

‘I could easily have summoned a taxi.'

‘Not unless you chose to wait in line for up to an hour or more. Something I would refuse to allow you to do.'

She opened her mouth to verbally damn him, only to close it again.

Silence seemed the best option, and she maintained it
until Alessandro drew the car to a halt outside the entrance to her apartment building.

With undue haste she released her seat belt and reached for the door clasp, only to have him cut the engine and step out from the car.

‘Thank you for the ride home.'

The external lighting accented his profile as he stood tall, like a dark angel for a few measurable seconds before he crossed to her side and held out his hand.

‘I'll see you indoors.'

Lily tilted her head and threw him a dark look. ‘It isn't necessary.'

His eyes speared her own, and with slow deliberation he cradled her face and lowered his head to capture her mouth with his own.

For a stark moment she became helplessly caught up in the sensual magic of his touch. A soft groan rose in her throat as she wavered between kissing him back or attempting to move away, instinctively aware she should take the latter action if she wanted to preserve her emotional sanity.

Except…
ohmygod
, he was good at this.
Far too good
.

A kiss…it was just a kiss.

Yet it became more, almost as if he was intent on staking a claim.

The temptation to wind her arms around his neck became difficult to resist, and she leaned in, threading her fingers through his hair as she kissed him back, loving the way his tongue stroked her own, teasing a little in an erotic dance that drove her wild.

She wanted to touch him, skin on skin, so she could explore his hard-muscled body. To nibble a little, taste and savour until he groaned and sought more; to become lost, beyond rational thought as she indulged in the release sex would provide.

Except that was all it would be…sex. And she didn't do one-night stands. Or sex without commitment.

Worse, what in hell was she
thinking
?

Two months ago she'd caught James
in flagrante delicto
, and vowed never to place her trust in another man ever again.

So
…chill.
Stop this
now,
before it gets out of hand
.

Alessandro sensed the moment she began to withdraw, and he lightened his touch, sliding his hands up her arms to cradle her face as his mouth lingered a little, caressing the soft swollen contours before he slowly raised his head to search her features.

Eyes dark with passion, cheeks slightly heated, the faint quiver of her lips, and the edges of his mouth lifted a little in a gentle smile as he caught hold of her hand.

‘I'll see you to your apartment, then leave.'

He crossed to the lift, pressed the call button and when the doors slid open he led her inside.

Lily didn't offer a word as they reached her floor, nor did she object when he took the key from her nerveless fingers and unlocked her apartment door.

Seconds later he handed her the key and gently pushed her inside.

‘
Buona notte
, Lily.'

The door closed, and she automatically deactivated the alarm system, then she crossed into her bedroom, discarded her clothes, pulled on sleepwear, and slipped into bed to lie awake into the early hours of the morning.

‘T
WO
veal parmigiana, one salad, one steamed vegetables,' Lily read, and she began plating up the order for Hannah to collect and serve.

Day two on the lunch shift, and the restaurant was almost at full capacity.

Giovanni, the head chef, was a tough but fair taskmaster, ensuring the food chain worked at maximum efficiency.

Very little, if anything, escaped him, his eagle eye known to catch the smallest imperfection.

Ego didn't exist in his kitchen, although Cristo, the second chef, while not verbally temperamental, could on occasion lift his hands in the air and throw the darkest of looks at anyone who dared get in his way.

Lily loved the energy necessary to prepare the day's menu… The delicate sauces for the various pasta dishes. The exquisite desserts that resembled a visual work of art.

Food—watching her parents select the best quality, prepare, cook and present it—formed her earliest memories, developing her own creativity with the need to explore, experiment, study at home and abroad, in a bid to perfect her expertise in the art of cuisine.

Osso buco
was next up, and Lily plated up, added spinach and pine nuts drizzled with olive oil, together with toasted
ciabatta
.

Any time soon the orders for mains would dwindle, and be replaced by dessert orders, followed by coffee. By mid-afternoon she'd be able to toss her apron in the laundry bin and finish for the day.

Just as she was about to do so she heard Giovanni call her name, and she turned as he moved to her side.

‘Cristo has a family emergency. Can you work his shift this evening?'

She didn't hesitate. ‘No problem.'

Together they went through the dinner menu, Cristo's work was re-assigned, and Lily checked the large pantry and cold room.

Busy
didn't cover it as the restaurant began to fill with evening clientele, and deft speed became essential as the wait-staff presented order after order for the kitchen staff to fill.

The need to work well together became paramount, and Lily did what she did best, worked under pressure by focusing on what needed to be done.

There were a few moments of light relief as Hannah's sense of humour came to the fore.

‘Canadian on table five isn't happy with his steak.' She achieved an impressive eye-roll. ‘Medium rare in Canada is
not
what we served him. He wants the meat pink with a red-blood centre. No oozing blood, but close.'

A fussy customer needed to be a happy customer. ‘OK.' Lily fired up the grill, cut a fresh beef fillet, seared, checked and plated it. ‘Good to go. With the chef's compliments.'

Within minutes Hannah reappeared to collect another order. ‘Success. Although he would have preferred
Canadian
beef.'

‘Really?'

‘
Really.
I very politely explained the restaurant only
bought the finest beef from a hill farm owned by a caring family whose stock was personally hand fed.'

Lily's eyes gleamed as she tamped down the urge to laugh. ‘You didn't.'

‘Uh-huh. He appeared impressed.' Hannah collected the order and sailed back to the restaurant.

The pace was fast, and it was good to reach the late evening plateau where most of the customers had moved on from their main course and were content to linger over dessert and coffee.

It was almost the end of the evening shift when Giorgio, the maître d', entered the kitchen and crossed to Lily's side.

‘There is a gentleman who wishes to speak with you.'

She cast him a look of surprise. ‘Did he give you his name?'

‘James. Signor James.'

Her
ex
? Ex-fiancé, ex-friend…ex-everything?

James
?
Here
in Milan, at
this
particular restaurant?
You have to be joking?

Coincidence didn't stretch that far.

While it wouldn't have been difficult for him to connect her to Sophia, there was no way her aunt would divulge where Lily lived or worked. Yet somehow James had managed to find out, and for some reason, he'd decided to board a flight to Italy and force a personal confrontation.

Hell
…the silent curse stuck in her throat.

Like she needed this?

Calm, she could do calm, and she offered Giorgio a wry look. ‘The man is an ex-fiancé and no longer a friend of mine.'

‘You do not want to speak with him?'

‘Please. If you don't mind.'

Giorgio inclined his head, and Lily returned her attention
to plating up an order, unaware the maître d' slipped into the private office and made a phone call before returning to the front desk.

Hopefully James would accept the relayed words and leave.

Yet there was a certain degree of trepidation as she dispensed with her apron and bade the remaining kitchen staff goodnight.

Surely James wouldn't wait for her?

Except there he was, standing at the edge of the pavement as she exited the restaurant, making it impossible for her to avoid him.

With long strides he moved towards her and attempted to take her hands in his own, swiftly she locked them together behind her back.

‘James,' Lily acknowledged stiffly. ‘What are you doing here?'

‘To convince you, in person, that I made the biggest mistake of my life.' He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘Emails and phone calls weren't achieving anything.'

What could she say that she hadn't relayed verbally at the time, and later via email?

‘Our relationship was over the moment I walked into my home and discovered you in bed with another woman.'

‘It didn't mean anything.' He took a step closer. ‘I was a fool. Please give me a second chance,' he implored with desperation. ‘I love you.'

She doubted he ever had.

‘We've done this. Let's not do it again.'

‘Lily—'

‘Just…go, James.'

‘Lily, I'm begging you.
Please
.'

She didn't see it coming and she
should
have, as he pulled her close and brought his mouth down on hers with a hungry
force that stunned and sickened her as she fought to free herself.

With a deep-throated growl she kicked him
hard
and took advantage of his momentary surprise to wrench away from him.

‘Don't touch me, you…
imbecile
.' She wiped a hand over her mouth and glared at him in a manner that spoke volumes. ‘If you come near me again, I'll have you arrested for harassment.'

‘You can't be serious.'

‘Very.' Succinct and vehement.

He went to reach for her again…and this time Lily was ready for him.

‘Don't.'

‘I suggest you take Lily's advice,' a deep, slightly accented
familiar
voice drawled, and she swung around to face Alessandro leaning against his gleaming black car parked at the kerb.

How long had he been standing there?

Lily tilted her chin as she regarded his inscrutable features. ‘I can manage this.'

‘Of that I have no doubt,' Alessandro concurred in a silky drawl that sent shivers scudding down her spine.

James, however, directed Alessandro a resentful glare. ‘This is between me and my fiancée and none of your business.'

‘
Ex-fiancée
,' Lily corrected at once. ‘As of almost two months ago.'

‘We're working at reconciling.'

‘There is no
we
,' she assured with considerable force.

‘And no chance of a reconciliation…
ever
.'

Alessandro switched his attention to James. ‘A definite
no
, wouldn't you agree?'

‘She doesn't know what she wants,' James declared in a
dismissive tone, and failed to notice the tension edge up a notch.

‘It doesn't appear to be you.'

‘Really?' James spared him a hard look. ‘And you are?'

‘A friend.'

James turned to Lily and indicated a compact hire car. ‘I'll follow you home, and we can talk in private.'

Alessandro searched Lily's features. ‘Is that what you want?'

He reminded her of a panther, waiting, watchful, and dangerous.

‘No,' she replied without hesitation, and saw him turn towards James.

‘I suggest you leave,' he indicated silkily.

‘Or you'll do
what
?' James demanded trenchantly.

Alessandro didn't move so much as a muscle. Yet only a fool would ignore the coiled strength apparent in his stance. ‘Ensure you never forget my name.'

James took in the expensive suit, the indisputable air of power, the luxury car and looked at Lily with bitter anger.

‘You
owe
me.'

She met his gaze squarely. ‘I owe you nothing.' He'd lived in her home, for which she had paid all the bills, maintenance, even groceries. Not to mention forfeiting deposits paid on the wedding reception venue, florist, limousines, honeymoon… The list was endless.

James hands clenched into tight fists, and for a moment Lily thought he meant to launch a physical attack. Then without a further word he moved to his car, slid in behind the wheel, and drove off with a roar of the engine and fast-spinning wheels.

Lily took a moment before she turned to face the inimitable man who stood regarding her with masked interest.

‘You, of course, just
happened
to be passing by.'

‘I was in the neighborhood.'

She looked at him with a degree of scepticism. ‘You expect me to believe that?'

‘Does it matter?'

His scrutiny intensified when she didn't answer, and her eyes widened as he cupped her chin and tilted her head.

Her mouth felt slightly numb from James's onslaught, and without thought she soothed her swollen lower lip with the edge of her tongue.

Alessandro bit back a barely audible oath as he drew her close. She touched something deep inside him, a need for
one
special woman in his life.
Family
of his own, children.
Love
, the true abiding kind, from which he'd considered himself immune. Until now.

A faintly wry smile curved his generous mouth as she tucked her head into the curve of his shoulder and rested there for a few seemingly long minutes.

Unbidden, he slid a hand to her nape, then slowly smoothed it down her back.

She fitted so well, almost as if she was meant to be there, and he lowered his head to brush his lips to her temple, ignoring his instinct to put her in his car and take her home…to
his
home.

Not an option, yet. And he experienced a measure of regret as she stepped away from him.

Alessandro retrieved his wallet, extracted a card and handed it to her. ‘My cell-phone number. Any problems, call me. Understood?'

‘Thank you.' Lily pocketed the card. ‘Goodnight, Alessandro.'

He trailed light fingers down her cheek. ‘Drive carefully.'

She inclined her head, and he watched as she crossed
to her car, waiting until she disappeared from sight before easing away from the kerb.

To pass Lily's apartment building in order to reach his own involved little effort on his part, and he swung by, relieved to see she was safely indoors, with no sign of her ex-fiancé's hired car anywhere in sight.

A text message to Sophia on his arrival home would ease her concern following James's enquiry as to Lily's whereabouts. Giorgio's awareness of the situation was an added benefit.

 

Lily spent a restless night as James's pleading words and empty promises echoed in her mind. Not the least of which that he'd sought to lodge an appeal in person, given she had made in perfectly clear their relationship was dead and buried. How could he possibly imagine she might consider a reconciliation? Why would any woman in her right mind go ahead with a wedding on discovering her fiancé had been conducting a long-running affair behind her back?

Please
.

Eventually she must have fallen asleep, for she woke as the dawn fingered through her bedroom shutters, and she rose, dressed, drank strong coffee, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, then she made the call to reassure Sophia and soothe her aunt's concern.

Alessandro in the guise of white knight wasn't mentioned, while the need to change her cell-phone number to a private listing became paramount.

Effecting the change involved a personal application, form-filling, presentation of required documentation, but eventually she was given a new number. Something she fitted in before and after her lunch shift at the restaurant.

Her list of things to do completed, she arrived home, as she was beginning to regard the apartment, as the sun sat
low in the sky, and just as she set her bag on the kitchen counter her cell-phone rang.

Sophia…had to be, as her aunt was the only person to whom she'd given her new number.

‘Lily, I'm so pleased I caught you. Alessandro requests you call him in connection with arrangements to dine with Giarda and Massimo tomorrow evening. I believe you have his cell-phone number?'

‘I do.'

‘
Ciao
, darling. Be careful.'

Of whom? Lily queried silently. James or Alessandro? A hollow laugh rose to the surface. Each man was equally dangerous. Just in a different way.

Purchases unpacked, she retrieved her cell-phone and Alessandro's card, then she dialled his number.

He picked up on the fifth ring, his voice crisp as he intoned, ‘Del Marco.'

‘Lily,' she reciprocated. ‘Sophia relayed a message for me to call you.' She paused fractionally. ‘Is this a good time?'

‘If you count standing dripping wet and naked, having just stepped from the shower,' Alessandro drawled.