by Alexx Andria
I lost myself inside her, jetting in fast, exhaustive spurts that left me breathless.
God yes, this was heaven, I realized.
In another life, sweetheart, you were mine—and I was yours.
But not in this one.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Alessandra
I WALKED INTO the office the following morning, my step light, a smile on my lips until I saw Como and realized with a sinking heart that Dante was right. I had so hoped Como would come to his senses and stop this nonsense before our working relationship suffered, but my hopes were quickly dying. “Good morning,” I said, trying to start the conversation off nicely. He ignored my attempt with a stare of distaste.
Prior to arriving at the office, I’d stopped at a local café in the hopes of bridging the gap between us with a peace offering. The unfriendly scowl stamped on Como’s face didn’t bode well.
Ignoring his frosty expression, I set down his coffee with a “Can we talk?” delving straight into the discomforting topic. “I feel we need to clear the air.”
But Como wasn’t in the mood to be civil. “You’re fucking him, aren’t you?”
His blunt question shocked me into stunned silence. I struggled to keep my composure at his breach into my personal business. “How dare you talk to me of business that has nothing to do with you? Our friendship does not include such privileges, Como.” I shook my head, fuming. “You are my employee. I do not answer to you.”
I didn’t want to lose Como as a friend nor as a trusted business associate but I was vibrating with righteous anger. Not only was his question inappropriate but it put me on the defensive when I had no reason to suffer the weight of his judgment.
I met Como’s hot glare with one filled with disdain. “I am an adult and I don’t have to justify what I do in my private time. Whom I’m spending my time with outside of this office has nothing to do with you. Perhaps you should spend less time worrying about things that do not concern you and focus more on your own personal life. If you didn’t have your head so far up my ass, you might see what’s right in front of you.”
Como blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“You’ve wasted your time pining after me when a good woman has eyes only for you. Though now, I realize she deserves better. You’re not the man I thought you were.”
Como sensed the tables turning and must’ve realized the pit he’d fallen into, and that the freefall was going to kill him. “Alessandra, I only say these things because I care,” he said stiffly, but I was finished listening.
“My mistake was tolerating your outbursts out of deference to our friendship and long working relationship, but you’ve killed whatever respect I had for you. Whom I see or what I do on my private time is my business. I don’t need your approval—or anyone’s approval for that matter.”
“Not even your father?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I cast him a sharp look. “Are you threatening me with something?”
“I’m just saying it’s possible your father might not appreciate that his daughter is letting her personal life cloud her judgment with his wine business.”
His wine business? “Watch your tongue,” I warned. Como seemed bent on destruction. I fought to keep from slapping the attitude from his fool head. My fingers curled into fists. “You’re out of line.”
Como didn’t back down. “Well?”
“Well what?” I returned with ice in my tone.
“How would your father feel about you fucking the man who came sniffing around only a few weeks ago to buy this winery out from beneath you?” he countered with a sneer. “I’ve never seen you act so foolish. For all you know, this man could be using you to get information about Uva Persa. This is why women are poor businesspeople. They let emotion rule their head.” He shook his head as if he had the right to be disappointed. “You’re making a huge mistake.”
“The only person in this room making a huge mistake is you.” I didn’t want to prove his theory correct by ripping his head off for spouting such offensive shit, but my heart was thundering in my ears at my attempt to remain calm. “Dante has zero interest in Uva Persa. He doesn’t even know about the new wine.” I narrowed my gaze, adding, “All we do is have sex, we don’t discuss personal things.”
My vicious jab hit the mark. Como’s face reddened and his breathing became short, looking as if he were ready to explode with rage. “He’s a Donato. They are ruthless. He would say or do anything to deliver this winery to his father. He’s hungry for a win. Can’t you see that? You’re just a prize to be won and this winery is simply the spoils of victory. A victory you’re practically handing to him on a silver platter! Sergio deserves to know that his only daughter has doomed this place with her foolishness!”
“What do you know about the Donatos?” I hissed. “You speak as if you have some kind of firsthand knowledge of bad behavior.”
“Perhaps not firsthand but I did some digging on my own. They are savage Americans and they will destroy your family’s legacy,” he insisted.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, seeing red. If I didn’t get Como out of my sight I’d bury a wine bottle in his face. “Get out, Como. Get out and don’t come back. You’re done here. I don’t want anyone working for me who thinks so little of my abilities. I have spent years building up this company on my own and to have you tear me down simply because you’re jealous... I won’t tolerate another minute of your presence. Get the fuck out!”
“Alessandra—” Realizing he’d screwed up, Como tried to backtrack.
“No! You’ve said your piece, now get out. I’ll have accounting cut you your last check and mail it to you. Don’t step foot on the grounds ever again.”
Como’s mouth thinned to a fine line as rage and hurt warred in his eyes. “Fuck you, Alessandra,” he spat, sweeping his arm across his desk and sending everything flying, including the espresso, which splashed against the wall. He smirked at the mess, saying as he walked out, “Have fun cleaning up the ruin that is to come.”
I shook as I tried to regain my composure. Would Como run to my father and tell him of Uva Persa before I had the chance? I cursed my cowardice. If I hadn’t avoided telling my father about my investment, Como’s threats would’ve meant nothing. But my avoidance had created a ticking time bomb and Como was holding the detonator. My father should hear about Uva Persa from me, not out of the spiteful mouth of a scorned man.
There was a chance he’d seek another form of retribution. Would he try to leak the launch of Uva Persa to the media or sabotage the event in some other way? There was little I could do to stop him, but I was prepared to take legal action if necessary, and I’d make sure security was tight on launch night. I hated thinking that way about Como, but after his threats, I had to do whatever was necessary.
I fought tears. Como had been my friend and my trusted ally. Would he betray me in such a way? Part of me refused to believe he could. Giant tears rolled down my face as I tried to make sense of what had gone so terribly wrong so quickly.
Dante’s words rang in my head, the warning about mixing business with pleasure, and all I wanted to do was bury my head against his chest. Dante had been right. I never should’ve allowed anything to happen between Como and me all those years ago. What had been convenient for me had turned into something far more for Como and I’d missed all the signs.
The whole time I’d seen him as a work ally, he’d been working toward what he’d thought was a future together.
I could never love Como the way he’d hoped. I would never look at Como the way I did Dante.
Oh God, Dante. Was I falling in love with him? I didn’t want to love Dante. I didn’t want to acknowledge the deep sense of rightness that fit perfectly between us when were locked eye to eye, skin to skin.
This was the most awful thing in the w
orld.
Falling in love was supposed to feel amazing, wonderful and magical.
But I felt none of those things. I felt scared, apprehensive, off-kilter.
What the hell kind of joke was this?
Dante didn’t love me. He was enjoying a vacation fling and I’d been fine with that up until this moment.
What happened now?
Nothing.
My family’s legacy was on the line. I didn’t have the luxury of playing out whatever was happening between Dante and myself. My gaze drifted to the launch plans for Uva Persa. With Como gone, I would need help.
There was only one person I trusted more than anyone else in the world.
I grabbed my cell phone and called Sophia, my hands shaking as I held the phone to my ear.
She answered on the second ring. Her voice was an instant calming balm to my ragged nerves. “Hello, love, are you okay?”
The words tumbled out in a pained rush. “I had to fire Como. He lost his mind over the situation with me and Dante. He became crazy jealous and left me no choice. I lost my partner right as Uva Persa launches in a week and I am freaking out. Please help me, Sophia,” I pleaded, my throat closing as I trembled like a leaf. “I don’t know who else I can ask.”
Sophia didn’t waste time pestering me for more details. She simply said, “I can be there in a half hour,” and that was that.
“I love you, Sophia,” I said.
“I know you do.”
I shuddered with relief. Sophia was smart and she caught on quick. I had no worries that she’d be able to pick up where Como had left off, but I hated that I was taking her away from her own life to deal with the chaos of mine.
When this was all over, I’d do something extraspecial for her. She certainly deserved the best and I aimed to give it to her—if I survived the Uva Persa launch.
Pushing a shaky hand through my hair, I went about the work of cleaning up the mess Como had created, wiping away the spilled coffee and trying to salvage what paperwork I could.
Finished, I rose and went to my desk, sinking into the chair as I closed my eyes, focusing on the end game.
Nothing would stand in the way of making Uva Persa an international success.
Not Como. Not even my feelings for Dante—which would have to wait until I figured out what the hell was going on with my heart.
I laughed through a sheen of tears and I knew everything was going to be okay.
One way or another.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Dante
“I CAN’T BELIEVE I’m doing this,” Alessandra said, shaking her head as if she’d lost her mind. “How in the hell did you talk me into a walking tour of my own city?”
“I make a very persuasive argument,” I answered with a charming grin, standing with our group at the Piazza del Campo central meeting point. “Well, that and the fact that I’ve got you so twisted around my cock that I’ll need a crowbar to pry you off so I can board the plane home.”
“Get over yourself,” Alessandra said, laughing. “But I have to say, I’m a little intrigued by the idea of seeing parts of the city that I’ve taken for granted.”
I didn’t care how we got to this place, but I was very happy that I managed to talk Alessandra into taking a day off work to do this tour with me. Frankly, I think a fair amount of divine intervention was involved because Alessandra had a lot on her plate and yet she was still willing to take a break and play tourist together.
And, what a sexy tourist she made. A wide-brimmed floppy hat shielded her pretty face from the sun and even though her white shorts weren’t special in any way, the way she carried herself made what she wore seem like couture.
“What is it with European women that makes anything they wear look like the height of fashion?” I asked, appreciating the view. Alessandra laughed and dismissed me with a wave of her hand as if I were being dumb. “No, seriously. I’ve dated runway models with less style than you dressed down for a day trip. I mean, you’re wearing tennis shoes for crying out loud, and yet you look sexier than anyone else in this city.”
Okay, maybe that part was over the top but it was also true. I could see only Alessandra. I tried to drag my gaze away—I was staring hard enough to burn a hole in her skin—but my eyeballs wanted to stay put. God, what’s with me these days? It was like I didn’t even recognize myself anymore.
Fuck it, I wanted to just go with the moment. Was that so bad? My hand curled over hers and I drew her in for a quick kiss before our guide started talking to the small assembled group.
“Buongiorno!” the guide called out with a wide, inviting smile. “My name is Carlo and I will be your guide today. I hope you’ve worn good walking shoes because we will be using our feet for the duration of this tour.”
I grinned, a smart-ass quip on my tongue, but Alessandra quelled my urge to spout off with a look. I had to remember this was her town, not mine, and I needed to be mindful of her reputation. I would leave Siena behind but Alessandra would remain.
Although I was intrigued by the promise of learning about the architecture of the city, my main interest was spending as much time as possible with Alessandra.
Her hand in mine felt natural, right. “Are you ready to play tourist with the most handsome American in the city?” I asked.
“Good God, I’m not sure the narrow corridors can accommodate your swelled head,” she retorted with amusement, her eyes sparkling. “But yes, I am ready. This should be fun, and if nothing else, I’ll get lunch out of the deal.”
I pulled her close and kissed her laughing mouth, promising, “I’d be happy to feed you my cock later if you’re still hungry.”
And just like that, we were the only two people there even as we were surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a known tourist trap; but I didn’t care. I craved Alessandra like a bear sought succulent berries at the height of summer.
“You’re impossible,” she murmured with delight, squealing a little when I squeezed her round ass with both hands, pulling her against my cock. Her mouth tilted with a sensual smile as she added with just a hint of mischief, “But I like you that way.”
“Good.” I gave her a resounding kiss before releasing her to straighten my ball cap. “Let’s do this. I’m ready to see what Siena has to offer. You and I will continue our conversation later when we’re both naked.”
It wasn’t an invitation or a boast, simply a statement of fact, and she knew it. The fact that she gave me no pushback told me that she was just as eager as I was to end up entwined in each other’s arms, and that was enough to put the biggest grin on my face that had nothing to do with the tour.
Hell, at this point, I could be touring a sewage facility and I’d be just as happy. The tour began and we walked hand in hand as if we were dating. As if it was perfectly acceptable to be casually strolling down the lane together when in fact, neither one of us would’ve ever been caught dead doing exactly that with anyone else.
By the time we reached the museum/chapel of Owl Contrada, I felt comfortable sharing something that might potentially ruin the mood. Nonetheless, it was important to bring up. “Look, I’m probably way out of line but...that guy Como... I get a bad vibe from him.”
Alessandra’s happiness dimmed and she said, “Como is no longer with Castello di Baroni. I had to let him go. I fired him two days ago. I haven’t seen nor heard of him since.”
I couldn’t say I wasn’t relieved. There was something about the man that set my teeth on edge, and while I was willing to admit it probably had something to do with the fact that he was clearly into Alessandra, there was an obsessive quality to the man’s attention that I felt was unhealthy. “I’m glad to see him gone,” I said, being honest. “He had crazy eyes.”
“I’ve known Como for a very long time. I won’t talk badly about him,” she warned, setting up boundaries, which I respe
cted. I didn’t need to run the guy into the ground but I was glad he was out of the picture. “He was hurt but he stepped over the line and I couldn’t handle his interjections into my personal life any longer.”
“He was jealous,” I said. “Jealousy in the workplace is never a good thing.”
“Indeed.”
“I sense that it hurt you to let him go.”
She nodded unhappily. “He was my right hand in everything. Especially a project that I’ve been working on for five years that is finally coming to fruition. Losing him a week before launch...it’s a blow but I’ll recover. My friend Sophia has agreed to step in and help.”
My ears piqued with sudden interest. “Which project is that?” She’d hinted at this before but never completely shared. I sensed it was big enough to matter, which meant it could mean leverage for me. Alessandra risked a glance from beneath her lush lashes, hesitating. I charmed her with a smile. “Come on, do you really think I’m going to swoop in and try to steal whatever it is you’re working on? I have no interest in your winery but I am interested in knowing what has you worried and stressed.”
She laughed as if realizing I made a certain amount of sense. “To understand the magnitude of what I’ve done you’d have to understand the world I work in. We are in the Chianti business and in order to qualify for a Chianti Classico label, there are very strict guidelines in which we have to adhere. The rules are restrictive and have yet to evolve.”
“And you want to challenge the rules.”
“I think there’s room for innovation and that by tweaking the rules, we could usher in a lucrative new world.”
“Seems smart,” I agreed, loving the way her eyes lit up when she talked with such passion. “So what is this secret project?”
Alessandra drew a deep breath, biting her lip as if torn between pride and excitement, and fear of sharing too much. I waited, hoping that my interested silence would push her to spilling—and it did. “I invested my own money in a new wine using tenerone grapes, an ancient varietal that had all but been extinct until recently. I put everything I had, along with my grandfather’s help, into the new label, Uva Persa, and it launches next week under the Castello di Baroni brand. It’s going to make or break our business.”
