Italian Billionaire's Black Love (BWWM Interracial Romance) (2 page)

“Impressive.” She picked up the menu and scanned the items, even though she already knew what she wanted. She just needed a moment to get herself under control. Between his sexy mouth and flirtatious grin and the arrogance coming off him in waves, she didn’t know if she wanted to jump him or strangle him.

Impressive, that’s it?
He wouldn’t believe it. She was too cool after finding out he was a billionaire, especially when he saw the desire in her eyes when they first met. “I think so,” he muttered and picked up his own menu.

She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “That’s obvious,” she muttered before she sat her menu down and looked at him again. “So, what’s the deal, Alessandro? Am I supposed to be so bowled over by your face and your wealth that I fall at your feet and jump in your bed?”

He shrugged. “It has been known to happen.” He flashed his dimpled smile and waited for her to return it. She didn’t. “I know you were thinking about it.”

Her eyes narrowed in his direction.
The arrogance of this sexy bastard!
Eve sat back with her arms crossed and she noticed the moment his gaze shot to her cleavage. “Honestly, Alessandro, I was thinking about taking you for a ride, but you opened your mouth and ruined it.”

Alessandro stared at Eve, intrigued by that one fiery curl that curved into her cleavage as she rifled through her purse. He knew she was playing hard to get. The smarter women always did, but eventually they all surrendered for a night or more in his bed. She would be no different and that was a shame – he had enjoyed the date so far. “I guess it’s a good thing we have this entire meal so I can change your mind.” She stood and stared down at him, fire burning in her eyes and not of the lustful variety.

“Sorry, lover boy, this,” she waved between their bodies, “isn’t gonna happen.” She slapped a one hundred dollar bill on the table and walked away.

Alessandro was surprised, to say the least. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had left
him
at all, never mind before he’d had the chance to spend some money on her. He laughed at the most shocking part of all, she’d left money for the wine! Women usually made a move as if they were going to pitch in on the bill, but they never did. Yet Eve not only just paid, she’d actually left enough for the wine and a tip. It was too entertaining, and she was too feisty for Alessandro to be upset at how the date had turned out. Of course, he would have rather the date had ended with him buried deep between her legs, but that could wait for another time because there
would
be another time.

I want you, Eve, and I always get what I want.

***

“Carla, the man was an ass. He was arrogant as hell, and he acted like I should be grateful and fawning to be out with him.” She was still shocked by Alessandro’s arrogance days later. But now that it was over and she didn’t have to worry about seeing him again, she could laugh.

“Yeah, but he was totally smokin’ hot, right?”

Eve smiled. “Yes, Carla, he was very fuckable. I even thought
for a brief moment
about ending the night with a bang, but he opened his mouth and that thought went with the way of finger waves.”

“Seriously? He was so charming and nice when we met.”

Eve snorted. “Yeah, well, apparently he’s only nice to women he thinks aren’t after his money and apparent fame. Which by the way, Carla, you could have
Alessandro,”
she mimicked the way her friend said his name, “was actually A.C. Scotti.”

“I didn’t want you to hold it against him.”

Eve rolled her eyes, even though her friend couldn’t see it. “Well, I didn’t have to, he made an ass of himself all on his own.” She finished her glass of wine and removed her lasagna from the oven. “And, if you ever do that to me again, Carla, I will make sure you leave my chair bald.”

Carla cracked up at her friend. “You keep threatening me and I’ll have to tell people you don’t know how to do hair anymore.” She knew it was an empty threat because the only hair Eve did these days was her own and Carla’s.

“No one would believe it, especially since I got that mention in
People
magazine.” Now that Carla was over her matchmaking for the moment, Eve was relieved she could get back to what was important: her business.

“Does this mean you’re not up for dinner with Valentino and me?”

“Is Alessandro going to be there?” The silence told her everything she needed to know. “Sorry, I’m busy that day.”

Carla chuckled. “But I haven’t told you the date yet, Eve.”

Her sigh was dramatic. “Well, I’m pretty busy all of the days.” Carla’s laugh was contagious even through the phone. Her doorbell rang. “Hang on, Carla, someone is at my door.”

“Don’t open it if you can’t see their face, I saw this thing on
Dateline
…”

“Char,” she warned as she opened the door. “Unbelievable,” she muttered.

“What? Is he trying to force his way in? Should I call 911?”

Eve laughed. “No, Carla, my goodness! It was a delivery guy with a gigantic bouquet of stargazer lilies and white roses.”

Carla squealed. “Oh my goodness, that’s so romantic! They’re from Alessandro, right? I mean,
of course
they are, who else would be sending you flowers? Your favorite flowers, at that.”

“Yeah, Carla, how would anyone know my favorite flowers?”

Carla ignored her and kept rambling, “Is there a card? What does the card say?”

“Carla!” When her friend finally calmed down, she read the card. “There is a card and all it says is
‘
This isn’t over. –Alessandro.’”

“Wow! Girl, I’m over here fanning myself because that is so hot! Are you sure nothing else happened between you guys?” She paused and Eve could hear the ice clinking in her glass. “What isn’t over, Eve? Tell me?”

She sighed in frustration. “It’s nothing, Carla. I’m sure this is just because no other woman has ever turned him down or bought him an expensive bottle of wine.” She knew that’s all this was about,
his ego
.

“Maybe,” Carla hedged, “but it could be like the romance novels where the billionaire always falls for the different girl who’s impervious to his charms. That girl could be you!”

Eve shook her head in amusement. She loved Carla’s optimism. “I don’t need some billionaire to storm into my life and sweep me off my feet. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, but wouldn’t it be great if he
did
sweep you off your feet?”

“Not even a little bit.”

“You are a love Scrooge.”

“I think you mean a realist.” Her doorbell chimed again.

“Whatever, Eve. Stop being so cynical and just enjoy this. And go answer your door, dammit. I want to know what else you’re going to get.”

“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be over the top and crazy expensive, just like the flowers.” She pulled open the door and a shocked gasp escaped.

“What, Eve? What is it? Tell me.”

“Nothing, Carla,” she answered, barely above a whisper.

“I told you this wasn’t over,
amore mio
,” Alessandro’s deep voice echoed in the hall. “Not by a long shot.”

Chapter Three

Alessandro wasn’t accustomed to chasing down a woman; he usually had the opposite problem. Women flocked to him and were willing to do whatever he wanted for a chance to become his lover because it was very well known that Alessandro Scotti had no plans to marry. Yet here he was being driven to a house in the Hollywood Hills because of the enchanting woman who walked out on him.
Him!

He knew women, however, and he was sure she’d be so taken with the obscene bouquet he’d sent, Eve would be more than eager to go out with him. It was one thing to say you were a billionaire, it was quite another to prove it by spending the cash and Alessandro wasn’t afraid to spend. It was only money.

She would agree to go out with him and prove herself like all the rest. Alessandro would take her to bed a few times and this ridiculous obsession would be over. He relaxed now that he had a plan to follow. Things always went smoothly when there was a plan.
Bed and forget
.

“Sir, we’re here,” his driver interrupted his thoughts.

Without waiting, Alessandro stepped from the sleek black luxury sedan and looked around. The neighborhood was decent, but Eve could afford to live in an area far nicer than this. “Cal, park in the driveway, I won’t be very long.”

“Very good, sir.”

With long confident strides, Alessandro climbed the stairs, rang the bell, and waited. He could hear her voice on the other side of the bright red door.
Probably gushing over her bouquet
, he thought cynically. When the door opened to reveal Eve with all her sweet caramel skin on display in a sports bra and yoga pants, he suddenly felt a very different kind of frustration. And, when she told the person on the phone he was “nothing,” he shook himself from his stupor. “I told you this wasn’t over,
amore mio
,” Alessandro’s deep voice echoed in the hall. “Not by a long shot.”

She slammed the door and hung up the phone. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Alessandro strode down the hall and into the living room. His eyes swept over the solitary glass and bottle of wine on the counter and he boldly opened her cabinets until he found a second glass. “This isn’t bad. It isn’t the good stuff I drink, but it’s drinkable.”

“So glad you approve.” Her arms were crossed over her chest, enhancing the brown cleavage he couldn’t help but notice. “Alessandro, I’ll ask you one more time, what the hell are you doing here? I didn’t invite you over, and I certainly didn’t invite your opinion about my wine.”

Damn, she looked incredible with her amber eyes alight with anger. Her chest heaved and that proud pose made a man want to do dirty things to her sexy body. “I already told you why I’m here, Eve. I want you.”

“But I don’t want you.”
Liar,
her inner realist told her. He was gorgeous as sin and she actually wouldn’t mind a tumble between the sheets with him, but he was demanding and she didn’t have time for a complicated tryst.

His mouth kicked up in a lazy grin that said he knew all her secrets. “Oh, but you do, Eve. There’s no need to deny it. We’re both adults.” He took a slow sip of his wine, letting the dry liquid slide down his throat. “Besides, I can take care of you – in bed and out.”

She scoffed. “You assume I need you to take care of me. I don’t. I take care of my needs.
All
of them.”

Damn if that thought didn’t cause all kinds of dirty thoughts to flash in his mind. Eve spread out on her bed, legs wide as her fingers plunged in and out of her sweet pink slick, her eyes closed in ecstasy as she screamed out his name. He took a long fortifying sip to expel those thoughts. “Well, as much as that thought turns me on, I’d like to be the one seeing to your needs.”

She finished off her glass. “No thanks.”

Alessandro sat forward, his arms resting on powerful legs. “Why are you being so difficult, Eve? I know you want me as much as I want you, so what is it?”

She sighed heavily as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Some days, it felt like that was the case. “Look, Alessandro, it’s nothing personal, but I’m not interested in whatever you’re offering. You’re too needy, and I just don’t have time for that.” She really,
really
wished she had time for his brand of needy.

His gaze connected with hers for a long moment and he did something he hadn’t done in quite a while. He laughed. “That was just what I needed today, Eve. Oh goodness, you’re a funny woman.” He laughed harder when she narrowed her gaze in his direction. “I’m not needy, I just want you. Is that so bad?”

She shook her head and went to retrieve the wine bottle. She looked at him as she poured. “It’s not bad or good Alessandro, it just doesn’t matter. You’ll expect me to be at your beck and call, flat on my back whenever you want me, and that’s not going to happen.”

“You don’t have to be flat on your back,” he gave her a cheeky smile and laughed when she mumbled something about billionaire bastards. “Is it because I’m white?”

Now it was Eve’s turn to laugh. And laugh. “Don’t be an idiot, Alessandro. Carla wouldn’t have hooked us up if that was an issue.” She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, taking notice of the flare of desire that lit his brown eyes. “Alessandro, just stop. You’re too used to having your way and this, it isn’t even about me. It’s about you and your giant ego.”

He stood and looked his fill for several minutes, taking in the details of her beautiful face and that shapely figure. He couldn’t wait to get her naked and underneath him. “My ego is just fine. I just want you, plain and simple. I’ll go for now, but let me tell you, Eve, this isn’t over.”

She heard his lazy walk and the click of the front door closing behind him and sagged in relief. “That man could test the patience of a saint.”

***

“You got a delivery, boss lady.” Marcus poked his head in her office with a curious smile on his face. “This is the third delivery this week, Miss Eve. Does someone have a secret admirer?”

She pasted a plain smile on her face. “No, I have a stalker.” She waved off his concern and accepted the large box he tried to hide. The black and silver box was almost the size of her desk and she was reluctant to open it. Alessandro had sent her increasingly extravagant gifts all week, keeping his promise that it wasn’t over. First, he sent her a pair of outrageous stilettos with diamonds all over them and then, it was the sexiest lingerie she had ever seen. Sheer white bra and thong, lace topped stockings and garter belt. It was sexy as hell and awful presumptuous.
Damn arrogant man with his gorgeous face
. Today, she had a good idea what was in the box.

“Open it up, girl, I’m dying over here!”

Marcus was giddier than she was, but she couldn’t disappoint him. “Oh, alright.” She lifted the box and removed the tissue paper, gasping at the sight of the evening gown as she lifted it. “Wow.”

“Oh, Miss Thang! Whatever kind of stalker you have, find out if he has a brother for me because that dress is to die for.”