Page 176 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

‘Stay?’

He saw Susie tense as he said the word, as if her body was warning her...

‘I have to go and visit the winery,’ he told her, and then he looked up at her blue eyes. She was uncertain whether to stay, and that helped—because he was uncertain if he should have asked. ‘It’s not exactly fun—I have to speak with the manager and such—but we could get lunch?’

‘I’d like that.’ Susie nodded.

He pulled her down onto his knee. ‘You’ll have to try and keep your hands off me, or Gio and Mimi will find out.’

‘I’m sure I can manage.’

She felt shiny with pleasure—not just because this wasn’t goodbye, it was the way he made her feel.

‘I’m not so sure I’ll be able to,’ he told her, and they shared a slow kiss, his jaw rough and his tongue exquisite. And it was so much nicer to kiss than to say goodbye.

‘You have to go to Gio’s,’ she reminded him as his hands moved her dress up.

He turned her around so she straddled his lap.

‘I know I do,’ he said, with both a smile and a dash of regret.

But even as he went to tip her from his lap she resisted. Not demanding more kisses...she had something to say.

‘Talk to Gio about the jewellery...’

‘Sorry?’

‘You said it was difficult to get him to open up. I think talking about the jewellery with him might help...’

‘We’ve already spoken about it. I told him I would take it to Milan.’ He halted, recalling the conversation. Gio had been talking and he had shut it down.

The jewellery was a painful topic for Dante.

For all of them.

‘Okay,’ Dante said. ‘I’ll give it a try.’

Now Susie stood. ‘I ought to pop back home...’ She gestured to her dress. ‘Get a change of clothes.’

Then she thought of another rather essential matter—her pills, sitting in her bedside drawer.

‘Meet back here?’ he checked.

She nodded.

‘I’ll order a driver.’

‘Pick me up if it’s easier.’

‘I’ve got a lockbox,’ he said. ‘I’ll give you the code. Just let yourself in whenever.’

‘You’re sure?’ she checked.

And no, he wasn’t sure—because Dante did not give out such information, or have people in his space without him. And yet all his rules seemed to be falling by the wayside.

This was more than he’d expected, or perhaps even wanted, but it was hard to let go of bliss, hard to shut the door on such a delicious reprieve.

‘Meet back here,’ he affirmed.