Ким Лоренс – The Italians: Alessandro, Luca & Dizo: Alessandro's Prize / In a Storm of Scandal / Italian Groom, Princess Bride (страница 13)

Alessandro watched her with narrowed eyes and reflected what her reaction might have been if he’d pulled her close and taken her mouth on his own … as he’d been strongly tempted to do.

Lily’s initial reservations were soon dispelled as she was introduced to the kitchen staff, shown where the various cooking implements were located, the contents of the pantry, the cold storeroom … and familiarized herself with the lunch menu.

Beneath Giovanni’s initial supervision, she prepared, diced, sliced poultry, veal, vegetables and tended to the making of fresh pasta.

Concentration and attention to detail kept her focused, and she worked with quick diligence, enjoying the adrenalin surge as the restaurant opened its doors for lunch, and the pace increased dramatically as kitchen staff plated up orders, checked, ready to be collected by the waiters and waitresses on duty and served.

Teamwork at a premium, Lily accorded, discovering Giovanni to be a hard, but fair, taskmaster who didn’t hold back if he declared a dish didn’t reach his standard of perfection.

Fortunately, to her immense relief, no harsh words were directed at her.

Once the desserts were plated, the pressure began to ease.

As the final few clientele departed and the restaurant doors closed, there was time for the ongoing clean-up to restore the kitchen to its former state, a break for kitchen and wait-staff alike, before the need to prepare the evening dinner menu.

Lily earned a discerning nod of approval from Giovanni, and an introduction to the wait-staff, one of whom was an attractive blonde girl in her early twenties from the UK, named Hannah, whose deep blue eyes twinkled with mischievous humour.

The break included a light meal, coffee, then it became necessary to work the kitchen in preparation for the dinner patrons.

Lunch was a walk in the park compared to dinner, which rated among the busiest Lily had experienced in a long time. It reminded her of her sojourn in Paris, with voluble directions uttered by tense kitchen staff when even the slightest delay arose in plating up orders.

Yet it was familiar territory, one around which she’d structured her life and enjoyed, even if it tended to frazzle the nerves on occasion.

However the sense of achievement and satisfaction overrode any temporary moments when things went haywire.

It was late, almost midnight when she removed her apron and cap, and tossed them in the laundry bin.

She checked her cell-phone and opened a text message alerting a car was waiting outside for her.

Giovanni approached her as she collected her bag.

‘The position is yours. You will alternate between the lunch and dinner shifts. Beginning Monday you’ll be on lunch shift to start with. Start time the same as this morning.’ He paused a moment, then offered a faint smile. ‘You work well.’

Her heart lifted a little. ‘Thank you.’

‘Buona notte. ‘

Most of the kitchen staff had already left, and Lily lifted a hand to the two who remained before she exited through the side door.

The sleek car was parked close by and she breathed a sigh of relief as a tall dark figure emerged from behind the wheel and crossed to open the passenger door.

Thank you, Lily breathed silently. A smooth ride to Alessandro’s apartment, a leisurely hot shower, then bed.

She was so caught up with the vision she didn’t immediately notice it was Alessandro, and not Carlo, who held open the door.

He saw the moment she realized who had driven to collect her, glimpsed the way her body stilled for a few seconds before she stepped past him and slid into the passenger seat.

‘Carlo was unavailable?’

Alessandro bit back a wry smile as he crossed to take his position behind the wheel and turned towards her. ‘You would have preferred his company?’

‘He is easy to talk to.’

‘And I am not?’

He held her gaze as she met his own, and wondered if she knew how well he could read her.

‘No.’

A slight smile curved his mouth. ‘Indeed? Perhaps you’d care to elaborate?’

She gave him a sweet smile. ‘No.’

He watched as she leaned her head against the headrest, and sensed her slight sigh as he ignited the engine and eased the car onto the road.

‘Tough day?’

‘Giovanni hired me.’

But he’d put her through her paces. Doubtless she was accustomed to long days in a restaurant of her own, but in a strange kitchen with unfamiliar staff, it would have been more taxing.

‘This is what you want?’

‘Yes.’ It provided a reason for her to stay awhile, and that was a good thing, Lily rationalized as the car purred through illuminated streets.

Oncoming traffic briefly highlighted the hard planes of Alessandro’s facial features, and she became conscious of his hands on the wheel as he handled the road.

There was a latent strength apparent that touched a nerve deep inside … something she attempted to dismiss, and failed.

Once she gained her independence, she’d probably hardly see him at all.

So why did that leave her feeling vaguely bereft?

Tomorrow she’d enlist Sophia’s help and they’d arrange to check out apartments, and shop. She’d need sheets, towels. A car, she added silently. Public transport after the lunch shift would be OK, but late at night? Although there was always a cab.

Lily became so caught up with a to do list it came as a surprise to realize the car had slid to a halt adjacent Alessandro’s apartment building.

The lift transported them swiftly to the designated level, where she preceded him into the softly lit apartment before turning to face him.

‘Thank you.’

She was pale, her eyes darkened with a fatigue she fought hard to control. He should extend a polite acknowledgement, and let her go upstairs to her suite.

‘So … thank me.’ His voice was a husky drawl, and he saw her eyes dilate.

The air grew heavy. charged, almost dangerous, and he caught the increased pulse-beat at the base of her throat. He cupped her chin and traced his thumb pad along the fullness of her lower lip, applied light pressure to its centre, then he trailed a gentle path to settle on the fast-beating pulse.

For a moment she lost all thought, aware on some level that this shouldn’t be happening, yet caught up with the unbidden need to lift her arms around his neck and press her body close in against his own.

Shocked dismay brought a return of sanity as she stepped back in a silent bid to put some distance between them.

He let her go, and she stood transfixed, caught in the thrall of sensual awareness.

It irked that he knew. Worse, that he observed her struggle for composure. Words she wanted to fling at him remained locked in her throat for a few long seconds, then she tilted her head and met his narrowed gaze.

‘Don’t play with me, Alessandro.’

Alessandro remained silent, his dark eyes steady as they locked with her own.

‘I’m not playing.’

He saw her eyes widen with a degree of uncertainty, and pressed home the advantage as he lowered his head and took possession of her mouth.

Gentle at first, teasing, exploring a little as he tempted her response. The need to deepen the kiss was overwhelming, and he ached to pull her in to the cradle of his hips, shape her to his body.

He could, easily … but at what cost?

For two decades he’d trusted his instinct, prior to which his life had been totally dependent on a deeply ingrained gut feeling that had saved him from grievous injury, or worse.

Too much too soon, and he might lose.

With considerable restraint he lightened his touch, lingered a little as he traced the generous curve of her mouth with his own, then he lifted his head and brushed a soft caress to her temple before releasing his hold.

For a heart-wrenching moment she looked lost, almost adrift, then she turned away from him, crossed the room and ascended the stairs without so much as a backward glance.

Sleep proved elusive, as Lily tossed and turned in bed in an attempt to dispel Alessandro’s forceful image, his touch, the sweet sorcery of his kiss. And the way he made her

feel.