Playing for Real: Paolo's Playhouse, Book 5 (6 page)

Julianne gathered up her things. “It was very nice meeting you. I look forward to talking with you soon.”

Richard took her hand again, held her once more with that steady gaze. “We look forward to working with you. If you see Paolo soon, give him our best.”

No. No. No.
She took a breath before she smiled and nodded. “I will.”

Chapter Three

Fina and their mother were already seated when Paolo left his third floor office and took the elevator down to one of the restaurants on the first floor. He met his sister and mother for lunch once a month and each time he noticed more of the weight of the years on his mother’s face. He kissed her cheeks and sat across from her at the round table. He leaned over to kiss his sister’s cheek as well.

“I cannot believe I am sitting with the two most beautiful women in the restaurant.” He winked at his mother and she smiled and blushed.

“Your sweet talk does not work on us,” his sister said dryly.

“Hush,” their mother said softly. “There is nothing wrong with a man complimenting the women he is with. I taught him well.”

“You look wonderful, Mama. You are feeling well?”

“Yes, thank you. And you, my son?”

“Very well.” He called the waiter over and ordered drinks, then turned to his sister. “How are my nephews? Keeping you running as usual?”

Fina smiled. “Of course.”

“And is my son still working night and day?” his mother asked, a soft reprimand in her voice.

He picked up the menu, although he knew the selections by heart. “You will be glad to know I hired a new manager to free up some of my time.” The new night manager meant his evenings were free for Julianne.

“Ah, so you did listen to your mother.”

“Of course. Do I not always do so?”

Fina laughed.

While they waited for their lunch, Paolo sat back and listened to his mother and sister talk about Fina’s sons. They were growing so fast. Paolo remembered when they were born. The love he felt for his nephews warmed his chest. He still hoped he might have sons of his own someday. Or a pretty little girl with fiery hair and big green eyes.

Paolo took a long drink of water and when he set down his glass he glanced up and was surprised to see a delicate woman with fiery hair following the hostess to a small table near by. Paolo was on his feet almost before he knew what he was doing. “Julianne?”

Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Paolo, hello.”

“Join us.” He glanced at his mother and sister. “I hope you do not mind. This is a friend of mine.”

His mother smiled. “Of course not. No one should have to dine alone.”

“I don’t want to intrude,” Julianne said softly.

“Not at all,” Fina said, a small gleam in her eye. “Please join us. I am Paolo’s sister, Fina. And this is our mother, Maria.”

“Julianne Barnes. I’m pleased to meet you.”

Paolo held out the chair for Julianne and couldn’t resist brushing her hair over her shoulder so he could feel the silky strands fall over his fingers. “What a lovely surprise.”

“I met with your friends Ingrid and Richard today. I just came from their shop. Thank you, by the way, for recommending me.”

“It was my pleasure.”

The waiter came then and took Julianne’s order. Paolo watched his mother and sister sizing up Julianne, wondering exactly what kind of friend she was.

“What do you do?” his mother asked when the waiter left.

“I have an interior decorating business.”

“I had a chance to see some of her finished projects and I was impressed,” Paolo said. “I didn’t hesitate to recommend Designs by Julianne to Richard.”

“So you showed him your photographs? Is he hiring you or are you dating my brother?” Fina asked in that no holds barred attitude he usually appreciated.

Julianne’s cheeks turned a becoming shade of pink. “Um…well, we’ve only had a couple…well, really only one real date so far.”

So Julianne did not consider their Monday night together as a date? She was more stubborn than he thought. She still wouldn’t accept that their dominance and submission could be a real part of her life. All right. He’d play along for the moment.

“We have another dinner date for Saturday night, do we not?” Paolo said softly. Julianne nodded and lowered her eyes to the table. “I have not chosen a restaurant yet. What would you like? Another elegant place or something more casual?”

“Go all out,” Fina said with a grin. “Expensive and fancy. He can afford it.”

“I can choose?” Julianne asked, her brow raised.

“Of course.”

“I enjoyed expensive and fancy last weekend. I’d love to see what you think is casual.”

“A challenge?”

She shrugged. “I’m curious.”

“Very well. Casual, it is.”

While the women chatted over their meal, Paolo discovered new things about Julianne. That she was an only child. That she loved gardening but lacked a green thumb. That her parents were divorced. He watched his mother’s and sister’s reactions to Julianne, pleased to tell they liked her.

“I should get back before Franco gets home,” his mother said after their plates were cleared away. She leaned over to pick up her purse from under the table.

“Franco?” Julianne turned to Paolo. “That’s your father?”

He nodded. “He is a science professor at the university.” He stood and kissed his mother and sister goodbye. Julianne said goodbye to them as well, then reached for her purse. Paolo sat down and placed his hand over hers. “Can you stay a little longer? Some coffee perhaps?”

Her gaze bounced to the door and back, but she set her purse back down beneath her chair. “All right.”

“Good.” He waved over the waiter, who poured coffee for them immediately.

“I understand you own this building,” she said, staring into her coffee cup. “Ingrid mentioned it.”

“Yes. I own several properties,” he replied carefully.

She studied him for a moment. “I discover more sides of you every time I see you. Artist. Business owner. Real estate investor. Dominant. Are there more?”

“Do we not all have many facets of our personality? Many ways we occupy our time? Many things we enjoy?”

“I’m an interior decorator.”

“You are more than that.”

She shrugged, lowered her voice. “I suppose you would say I’m a sexual submissive.”

“What do you say?”

“I think it’s too early to say. This is all too new. It may be the novelty of it. I’m curious, yes. But whether I would want this to be a permanent part of my life? I can’t say that for sure. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

“You are being honest. You should never apologize for speaking the truth.” He lifted her hand to his lips, lightly kissed the tips of her fingers. “I will look forward to convincing you that you indeed will desire to submit. Often.” He held her gaze. “Always.”

“Paolo…”

“I am afraid it is time to leave the restaurant. You have to prepare for this evening, yes?”

She bit her bottom lip. Nodded.

He helped her from her chair, then pulled her close and whispered, “Sensory play tonight,
cara
.”

She backed away to look him in the eye. “Sensory play?”

“Another learning experience for us both.” She looked unsure, so he cupped the back of her head and pulled her in for a quick kiss. “You will love it,” he said. “Trust me.”

Paolo walked Julianne out of the restaurant. He made sure he had his hand on the small of her back or at her elbow at all times. He wanted to keep that connection with her. But he realized it was not only a physical connection he wanted with her, but an emotional one as well. He could tell Julianne was holding a part of herself back and he worried she might always do so.

Regardless what Ben had said, Paolo knew what he felt for Julianne was stronger than what he’d felt for any other woman in a long time. Maybe ever. He had hope for a future with Julianne. A future he’d despaired of finding for the past ten years.

He walked her to her car, kissed her lightly again. “Be ready for me tonight.” She nodded and he stood in the middle of the parking lot and watched her drive away. The small clench in his chest was unexpected. Paolo turned back to go upstairs and put in a few more hours of work. He stepped up on the sidewalk and froze when he heard a soft, familiar voice call his name.

“Holly?” Ben was right. He couldn’t avoid her forever.

She stepped out of the doorway of a dress shop. She was still tiny, still wore her blonde hair long and straight. The slight smile on her face, however, was much different than the expression on her face the last time he’d seen her.

“Hi, Paolo.” She dropped her gaze. “Sir.”

Regardless how badly their marriage had ended, Paolo couldn’t help but remember the way she’d looked on her knees before him. The sound of her soft voice saying she was his.

That hadn’t lasted long.

“You look well,” he said carefully.

She took a couple bouncing steps toward him. Her silky red dress was cut low, showing a generous view of her cleavage. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”

Glad?
“The last time I saw you, you said you never wanted to see me again.”

She waved his comment away as if it meant nothing. “It was a long time ago.”

That was true. He could forgive her impetuous temper. Looking at her now, he realized he’d forgiven her long ago. “You look good, baby girl.” The endearment rolled off his tongue, reminding him of how very young she’d been when they met. How very young they both had been. “What are you doing back in town?”

“I moved back a few weeks ago.” She gazed up at him with her big blue eyes. “I’ve missed you.”

“It has been ten years. You cannot have missed me too much.”

But he couldn’t deny the charge he got from the look of adoration that settled on her face. “I keep remembering our time together. I didn’t have anything to compare it to back then, you know. I think I made a mistake. I think
we
made a mistake breaking up. Giving up.” She looked up through her long lashes and her glossy red lips slid into a mischievous smile. “I thought maybe we could go up to your Playhouse.” She placed her hands on his chest and stroked his lapels. “And we could do a little
negotiating
.”

Paolo took a step back and her hands dropped to her side. He scrubbed his hand over his face. There had been a time when he’d hoped Holly would change her mind. A time when he thought they could have made their marriage work. But he knew then, as he knew now, that it would have taken more of a compromise than he was willing to make.

“We did not want the same things. We never did. That is not going to change.”

If he hadn’t seen it often enough in the past, he might not have noticed the quick flash of temper on her face before it was gone. In its place was a shaky smile. “People change. I’ve changed. Maybe you’ve changed too.” She closed the space between them again. “We could make it work this time. I know we could.”

Holly’s suggestion stirred nothing inside him. Paolo thought of Julianne and his plans for the evening. Had he ever felt as much keen anticipation during his time with Holly? If he had, the memories had faded like paint in the sunshine.

“Sorry, baby girl.”

She stomped her foot, letting a little of the drama queen he remembered slip out. “You don’t even want to try, do you?” He used to think her pout looked so sexy, but not anymore.

He’d loved her once, when he’d been young and impulsive. When he’d been an eager young Dom and had basked in Holly’s unabashed adoration. She was right. He had changed. “No. I do not.” He shook his head slowly and turned away.

“Wait!” Holly reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his suit coat. “What? Do you think you’re too good for me now with all your money and your businesses and your famous Playhouse?”

Paolo stared down at the fingers crushing his sleeve until she released him and took a quick step back. “Go. Before you say something you will regret.”

She balled her hands into fists and sneered.

“I have work to do. Be well, Holly.” He turned and strode away before he said something
he’d
regret.

When Paolo got up to his office at the Playhouse, he called Richard. “I saw Holly.”

“I knew she wouldn’t give up.” His mentor had been one of the few people to warn him against a relationship with Holly. They’d first met at a club when they were both still in college. Richard had never said, “I told you so.”

“She approached me a few minutes ago. Confused the hell out of me.”

“Why?”

“She said she wanted us to get back together again.”

“And you’re surprised?”

“I have not heard from her in years. Of course, I am surprised.”

“Holly isn’t happy unless there’s drama. You know that. She’s looking for attention.” All right, so perhaps Richard had said, “I told you so” a time or two. “In fact…”

When he didn’t go on, Paolo had to ask, “What?”

“I shouldn’t say anything. Never mind.”