Page 10 of ‘I Do’ for Revenge

He had the same slightly unsettling sense that he’d had the day she’d walked out of his office in the wedding dress—that he’d missed something huge and vital. Then, he’d reassured himself that it was nothing. He was just used to having all the information and leaving nothing to chance. He hadn’t expected her to confront him on the day of the wedding.

She’d walked out of his office leaving more questions than answers. And now there were even more questions. Vito didn’t like loose ends or things that didn’t make sense. That was how you got caught out.

The fact that Flora Gavia was working as a waitress for an event company and that at least one person had recognised her was a potential problem. Perhaps it was part of a plan with her uncle. Perhaps shewasnow working solo, but until Vito knew for sure he’d have to keep her close.

CHAPTER THREE

FLORAWASMESMERISEDby the view of Rome from this vantage point. She was so engrossed she didn’t hear Vittorio return and nearly jumped out of her skin when he said from behind her, ‘Your hair is down.’

She whirled around to see a look of shock on his face. She put her hands to her head.Thiswas why her aunt had insisted on her keeping it straight when out in public. Its natural state was curly and wayward and untameable. Untidy.

‘I took it down because my head was sore.’ She started bundling it up again but Vittorio put out a hand.

‘No, stop.’

She did. Dropped her hands. She realised now that he didn’t look shocked, disgusted. He looked shocked, transfixed. She felt a swooping sensation in her belly.

He said, ‘It’s...beautiful.’

Flora felt heat come into her face. She was glad of the darkness. ‘Thank you. It was my mother’s... I mean, I inherited it from her.’

‘Your mother was English.’

‘Yes. My father was...Italian.’ Obviously. Her father had been her uncle’s brother. She felt seriously woolly-headed around this man.

She said, ‘I should go. I really need to get back.’

‘You have a boyfriend?’

Flora’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. The thought of having had the luxury of time to have a boyfriend was almost comical. She shook her head. ‘No, no boyfriend but I do have responsibilities and where I live...it’s a little bit different. I have to be back—’ She stopped. Vittorio Vitale didn’t need to know the minutiae of her living arrangements.

She said, ‘Look, I just need to go now, okay? Thanks for the food...and for—’

‘Losing you your job?’

She looked at him, surprised. ‘It wasn’t your fault. I dropped the tray.’ Well, it had been a little his fault, she’d heard someone call his name and had seen him and she’d been in such shock that she hadn’t looked where she was going and had bumped into something. But she wasn’t about to reveal that.

‘If I hadn’t tried to help you it might not have been so bad.’

Flora made a face. ‘Perhaps. Although, my track record for holding trays wasn’t great to begin with. That was the third one I’ve dropped.’

‘Ah,’ Vittorio said.

‘Funnily enough my uncle didn’t consider learning how to hold trays full of glasses to be of importance in my schooling.’

‘And yet that’s what you’re doing.’

Vittorio sounded curious. Flora went back into the suite. ‘I just need to get my bag and then I’ll be gone.’

‘I’ll give you a lift.’

Flora was putting her cross-body bag over her head of unruly hair. She tensed. ‘That’s really not necessary, I’m out on the edges of the city.’

‘I insist. I want to make sure you get home safely.’

Flora thought quickly. Maybe she could get him to drop her off somewhere nearby so he wouldn’t see where she actually lived.

‘Okay, then, if you insist.’