actually considering them but, of course, this was Dante.
‘Well, are we still going to sleep together?’
‘What the hell?’
‘I’m serious. Sex is important.’
‘An actual date might be nice.’
‘It might,’ Dante agreed, ‘except you don’t want us to be seen together. So, what, do we come together now and then in our decadent palace?’
‘Heaven forbid that you invite me to your home.’
‘Ah, so that is what the sulking is about,’ Dante said. ‘Mia, the press will be outside, and...’ he told the truth, though he at least tried to lighten it ‘...I don’t like to bring women back home. I prefer hotels. It’s better for Alfonzo...’
‘Alfonzo? It’s better for the dog if he doesn’t meet the women you sleep with?’ Her incredulity was topped only by how much she hated his lack of commitment, because it was his commitment she craved.
‘We’ll go to my home if you really want to, but don’t blame me if we’re photographed again.’
‘No, we’ll go to the hotel.’
As the sun rose, of course his phone went off.
‘Pronto!’
It was Sarah, and he told her he’d be there by nine and that she didn’t have to worry about feeding Alfonzo. When he rang off he turned to Mia. ‘I’ll feed him after I drop you at the hotel.’
God, she was even jealous of his dog!
And then, because it was Dante’s phone, the second he ended the call it lit up again.
‘Pronto!’
It was his mother. Mia struggled to keep up with Angela’s very emotional, very rapid words, but it would seem she wanted to tell Stefano and Ariana before he faced the board.
Mia frowned, and had to sit on her hands when Dante suggested they all meet at Romano Holdings at eight.
There wasn’t time.
‘There isn’t time,’ Mia said, because the traffic was already growing. ‘You’ve got to get me to La Fiordelise, and feed Alfonzo. We’re already pushing things.’
‘Can’t you just wait in my office? There’s a private entrance to the car park.’
‘No!’ Mia was adamant, but then checked herself, not wanting to make this harder on him. After all, it was a big thing that Angela was about to be honest with the twins. ‘Fine, but as long as I don’t have to see any of your family or colleagues, and then we go straight to La Fiordelise.’
‘Fine,’ Dante bit back.
He loathed her shame.
As they arrived at the headquarters of Romano Holdings in EUR District they were both simmering with rancour as they slipped into the private entrance. Mia had on dark glasses and carried the suit carrier, more to shield herself, as they took the back stairwell up to the first floor in order to avoid the lobby. But finally, just before eight, she sat in Dante’s office.
She sat on a low sofa as Dante dropped his clothes without thought, opened up a panel and produced a shirt. ‘Choose a tie for me,’ he said, as he dashed into the shower.
What, was she his wardrobe assistant now?
She was rattled and unsettled at being back here. Though they had used the side entrance, she had seen the pack of press outside the main one, and she was nervous too that his family were here.
She chose a gorgeous aqua tie, but as Dante dressed hurriedly, he rolled his eyes at her selection and produced a grey one instead. ‘I’m not going to a wedding.’
‘I know you’re not,’ Mia said, ‘because you haven’t shaved.’
And despite their filthy moods they shared a smile.
‘I’d better go up.’ He was to meet his family in what had been Rafael’s private suite on the top floor. ‘You’ll be okay?’ he checked, and gave her a quick kiss. ‘There’s the kitchenette...’
‘I do know,’ Mia said. After all she had worked here, albeit briefly, but her sniping at being back here stopped when she saw his tense features. ‘Good luck with your family.’
‘Thanks,’ Dante said.
‘Will you come and tell me how it went before you go to the board meeting?’
‘I’ll try,’ Dante said, and then rolled his eyes, not so much at her, more at the grim morning he faced.
Mia showered and she rolled her eyes when she realised the dress and shoes were the ones she had worn the very first day she had met Dante.
She should have run a mile! Mia told herself, but knew that she lied.
Was it worth it? She asked Dante’s question.
Yes, because she loved him.
It was a relief to stand there in the still silence of his office and admit it out loud.
‘I love him.’
But she learnt something else as she