Secrets and Seduction Las Vegas (Sexy Italian Imports Book 1) (32 page)

“Okay. Thanks, Doc.”

She popped up on tiptoes and kissed his chin. Stepping back, she glanced at the fancy Italian coffee machine. “I could use some coffee, then I’ll get out of here so you can write.”

“No, sweet.” He pulled her back into his arms. “You’re not getting away from me that easily. I’m making you breakfast, then we’re going to use the whirlpool tub, then we’re going back to bed.” He grabbed her bottom, lifted the shirt hem, and caressed her.

She had trouble breathing as her thoughts slipped to the night she’d just spent in his bed. “I have the day off. I’d love to stay here with you, if you don’t feel you need to work.”

He pulled her tighter against him, pressing his arousal against her mound. “What I need, woman, is you.”

She sighed, as happy as she’d ever felt. She put her hands on his face. “I know what you mean. I can’t get enough of you.”

“Mmmm. When you say things like that…” His eyes darkened with passion. He threaded his fingers through her hair and kissed her, hard and desperate, touching every inch of her mouth, her lips.

It was so overwhelming, she had to remember to take breaths. She felt shaky when he softened the kiss. “That was intense.”

“You don’t know how important you are to me.” He sounded very serious.

She tipped her head. “Where did that come from?”

He paused. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

She waited.

He looked unsure then let her go. “Coffee?”

“Sure.”

“Sit down. I’ll fix you some breakfast.”

What was on his mind? What was he trying to find the courage to tell her?

He made eggs, toast, bacon, and fresh, black coffee and asked if she wanted to eat out on the balcony. They sat in the mid-morning, sun enjoying the feel of the city as it slowly began to wake.

“Antonio, you know you can tell me anything.”

He stared, his jaw working. They ate in silence, then he brought their plates inside and came back with fresh coffee. He sat for long moments staring out at the horizon, then let out a sigh.

Was he going to talk now?

As if by divine intervention, his phone rang and relief washed over his face like a last-minute stay of execution. He looked at the ID. “It’s the guard in the lobby. Hello?” His face lit up. “Sure, send him up.”

Her eyes opened wide. “I’ll hide in the bedroom. I don’t have any clothes.”

He jumped up. “It’s my brother, Dante. You have to meet him.”

“Antonio, I can’t put my gown back on.” She felt a little panic.

He pulled her into his arms. “Go dig through my closet. You’ll find something.” He kissed her. “And Dante won’t notice.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure he won’t.” She ran and made it into the bedroom just as she heard the elevator open and the brothers greet each other in Italian.

Perfect. The first time she met one of Antonio’s family, and she had nothing to wear.

She put her bustier back on but didn’t have a pin to fix her underpants. Digging through the drawers in his closet, she found a pair of compression shorts that fit like capris on her and an unopened package of white T-shirts in a size that had to be far too small for Antonio. She’d have to remember to ask him about them. Picking up one of her shoes, she looked at the tall heel then tossed it aside. Barefoot would be less obvious.

She used his brush on her hair and dug out the sample-size mascara from her purse. Slicking on lip gloss, she turned side to side, looking at herself in the mirror. “Well, not your best look, Valerie, but it will have to do.” Regaining her composure with a calming breath, she went out to meet the brother.

The men sat in the living room holding espresso cups. They both stood when she joined them.

“Valerie Kane, I want you to meet my brother, Dante.”

She held out her hand, and Dante took hers in both of his, holding it softly. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Valerie.”

He looked so much like Antonio, it made her smile. His accent flowed thicker than his brother’s, more European.

“Thank you, Dante. And it’s good to meet you, as well.” She looked into his eyes, the same brown as Antonio’s but with a softer, more charming expression. Dante’s shorter hair fell in soft waves, and his face was easier on the eye. Antonio’s was edgier, more angular. They shared the same big frame and defined muscles.

“Would you like an espresso, sweet?” Antonio asked her.

“No, thank you.” She gestured toward the kitchen. “I’ll deal with the breakfast dishes and let you two catch up.”

Dante gestured to the couch. “No, please, join us. My brother was just telling me about you.”

She sat next to Antonio on the couch. “All good, I hope?”

“Of course.” Antonio gestured to the side table where he’d set her plaque. “Your award last night.”

“Yes, congratulations, Valerie. An incredible accomplishment.”

She tried not to blush. “I’m still reeling from it.” She looked at Antonio. “It was an amazing evening.”

He winked at her.

Dante set his ankle on the opposite leg. “I apologize for not calling before I stopped in. He’s always been alone when I drop by.”

She smiled. It was hard to believe she was the first woman in his home.

Dante lifted a brow. “I always assumed my big brother was living a celibate life.”

Antonio laughed loudly, as if his sibling’s comment was ridiculous, then looked at her—she wasn’t laughing—and turned it into a choked clearing of his throat. He wagged one brow at his brother. “It’s no interruption. Did you just fly in this morning?”

Dante nodded then a smile curled his lips. “I did, from Los Angeles, where I bought a condo.”

“You’re moving here?” Antonio’s voice rose in excitement.

“Yes, I’ve been asked to teach.”

Valerie looked at the painting above the fireplace. “You’ll be teaching art?”

“Yes, painting, sculpting, through the museums in LA County.”

Antonio grinned. “That’s great. When?”

“I’m having the condo—well, it’s actually three condos—renovated into one huge loft. It’ll take a few months then I’ll move my Paris studio here.”

“How exciting.” Valerie couldn’t imagine being so worldly, so urbane.

“This calls for champagne.” Antonio stood. “Valerie?”

“Yes, please. That sounds lovely.”

“I’m always up for champagne.” Dante finished his coffee.

Antonio walked into the kitchen.

She smiled at Dante. “Antonio will love having you close. The two of you will be the American branch of the family.”

His eyebrow went up, reminding her so much of Antonio. “From what my brother was saying before you joined us, it sounds as though there will be three of us acting as the American branch.”

Her smile left her lips. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“He sounds rather serious about you.”

That took the breath out of her. Antonio told his brother…what? Now she did feel her face growing hot. “I don’t know what to say. He and I are really just getting to know one another.” She looked at her hand, then at the couch, then fidgeted.

“Valerie, you’re blushing like a woman in love. You might as well admit it.”

Chapter Twenty Seven

Valerie’s gaze flew to Dante’s. She heard the cork pop in the kitchen. “You like to shock people, don’t you?”

His smile lit his face, and she could tell he would be absolutely irresistible to women. He lifted that brow again. “And you don’t like to answer questions about yourself, do you?”

She’d never been confronted this way about her personal life, and it threw her off a bit. “Are you worried about Antonio or just trying to get a reaction out of me?”

“Perceptive. Antonio said you are good at your job.”

“This isn’t my job.” The words came out clipped. “This is my life.”

“Can you separate the two, especially with your profession?”

Antonio came back into the room with the champagne bottle and three glasses.

“What’s going on?” He looked from one to the other.

“She’s analyzing me,” Dante said.

“Hm. He could use some therapy,” she replied.

Antonio laughed. “Perfect. You’ve gotten to know each other, and it only took five minutes.” He poured the champagne.

She smiled, Dante winked at her, and they silently called a truce. Why did she have such a difficult time with the Daniato men? She barely knew Dante, but he would be a fascinating case study. Not as fascinating as Antonio, but she was still working on getting to the bottom of that man.

She looked at Antonio. On the balcony, he’d almost opened up to her. When would he tell her the secret he was keeping from her? His demons. She watched him talk with his brother, his face lit with pleasure. She’d witnessed his mood swings first-hand, from ecstatic to ferocious. Did he have his demons under control? Or were the demons in control of him?

****

Friday morning at ten, Monica’s phone rang. She rolled over in bed and looked at the caller ID. “Hi, Joe.”

His laughter rolled through the speaker, making her smile. “I thought it would be safe to call at ten, but evidently not.”

“Mmmm. I had an emergency last night. Didn’t get to bed until four.”

“Oh, sorry, love. I’ll make this quick.”

Her heart swelled. He’d called her love. “No need to, I can fall asleep anytime. Anywhere.”

“I know, I found that out last week. Lightweight.”

“Honey, we were very ‘active’ for four hours. A girl needs time to recover from a macho man like you.”

“God, I wish I was there right now.”

His voice sent hot flashes straight to her core. “Me too.”

She heard him breathing then he cleared his throat. “Can I see you tonight?”

She sat up in bed. “Really?”

“Mm hm. My place or yours?”

“You ask that like it’s not a four hour drive. How about my place? I have to see a patient in the hospital tomorrow and Sunday.”

“Perfect. I’ll be there this afternoon.”

“Do you have the weekend off?”

“I do. And I promise not to answer my phone after I leave the hospital today.”

“I’d love that.” She took a deep breath. “I love you.”

“Monica. You have no idea what it does to me when you say that. I love you, too.”

“See you soon.”

“Not soon enough.”

They hung up, and she snuggled back into her pillow. She never thought the long distance thing would work out so well. But with the rising cost of gas, they’d soon be broke.

As her mind drifted off to sleep, she made a mental note to call her friend at the hospital in Summerlin and ask if they needed a good E.R. doctor.

****

Joe arrived as promised that afternoon.

She’d given him the code to her gate and had told him where the hidden key to her front door was kept.

She was kneeling in the rose garden when she heard his car pull in. She stood and brushed the dirt off her legs and took off her gardening gloves. Today he drove a Porsche, a black, shiny machine with chrome tire rims. The man had flamboyant taste. What did his apartment look like? Strange, she loved this man but knew so little about him.

He was hauling a duffel bag out of his trunk when she reached him. Dropping it, he grabbed her up in his arms. “Love.”

She snugged her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was tender then became intense as his mouth slanted over hers, his tongue explored, teased hers. His hands splayed against her back; one slid lower to her bottom, and he ground himself against her—and she ground right back.

He pulled back an inch. “Can we go in the house?” It came out a growl.

She fisted her hands on his shirt. “Yes, right now.”

He stepped back and handed her his duffle bag.

She took it. “So now I’m your valet?”

He turned her toward the house and patted her bottom. “I’ve got groceries to bring in. Go.”

“Oooh, you’ve brought food? What’s the occasion?” She opened the front door and held it for him as he carried a large box inside.

“I’m going to cook for you. All weekend. We’re not going to leave this house for anything.”

She smiled and shut the door behind them. “You are my fantasy come true, Dr. Pappa.”

He set the bags down, took his duffel from her, and picked her up in his arms. “Love, I’ve been fantasizing about this moment for a week.”

He carried her into the bedroom, and they emerged a half hour later only to put the groceries away and pull his car into the garage. They ate a quick appetizer and slammed down a cocktail then she led him back to bed for the evening.

Late that night, he cooked them a fabulous pecan-crusted salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. They sat on her back patio, overlooking the pool and spa.

When they finished eating, he pulled out his wallet and opened it. “Got a surprise for you.”

“A Nevada driver’s license?” She was joking, but he stopped dead and fixed a pointed stare at her.

“Meaning?”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I thought you might be thinking of moving…”

He folded his wallet and set it on the table. She could see the tension around his lips. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

Damn if he didn’t always know exactly what to say to confuse her. She looked down at her fork. “I don’t know what I was saying. Too much wine, I guess.” She stood and picked up her plate, but when she reached for his, he grabbed her wrist. “Monica, let’s talk.”

Her gaze flew to his. Gone was his angry tone, and in its place, she heard concern. His eyes were serious.

She set down her plate.

He turned his chair and pulled her into his lap. “We love each other.”

She nodded, for once speechless. Where was this conversation headed?

“I think we should be together.”

“We are. There’s no one else in my life.”

He cupped the nape of her neck, massaging softly. “I mean living. Living together.”

She drew in a shaky breath. “It’s a major step. One of us would have to commute four hours each way.”

He didn’t laugh at her attempted humor. “No, one of us would have to give up their practice and start a new one in another city.”

She nodded. “I have to admit, I’ve thought about it.”