“I know that. Of course I know that.” Concern mingled with the frustrated hunger underscoring her words. “You never could be. This was an accident.”
He fought for control, fought with every ounce of strength he possessed. “Which is why I’m going downstairs. Before I do something I can’t live with afterward.”
“But—”
He spun around, pushed to the limit of his endurance. “What are you saying, Gianna? That it’s acceptable to sleep with me, but I’m not someone you’ll marry?”
She drew back in alarm, clutching the remnants of the shift around herself. “No! Of course I’m not saying that.”
“Then what are you saying?”
She closed her eyes. “I want you,” she confessed.
“And I want you. But I won’t use you like some sort of one-night stand. How could I face Primo if I did that? How could I face your brothers?” He softened his tone. “Let’s slow down and do what you suggested. Let’s get to know each other better.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
His mouth curved upward in a dry smile. “As soon as you’re dressed we’ll leave, since clearly, Primo was right.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, he usually is.” She glanced at him hesitantly. “And after we leave? What then?”
“We’ll get to know each other better.”
Her brows shot up. “We’re going out on a date?”
“Nothing so formal. I thought I’d show you around Romano Restoration. It took a lot of work to put everything in place without you being any the wiser. But I wished to surprise you by having it fully operational when I arrived. It helped that Ariana was in Italy so she didn’t accidentally let it slip.” He glanced down at himself and grimaced. “Going to Romano’s will also give me the opportunity to change since my apartment is above the office complex.”
He didn’t dare remain in her bedroom a moment longer. He retreated to the kitchen where he leaned against the counter and drank a second cup of coffee. Maybe it would help him regain his self-control. Because if he planned on spending any time around Gianna, he’d need every bit of it. To his relief, she didn’t keep him waiting for more than ten minutes.
She appeared downstairs wearing a casual pair of camel-colored slacks and a cream silk blouse. Not as attractive as the shift, but definitely safer. She’d secured her long, gold-streaked brown hair with a simple clip, the curls rioting down her back in joyous abandon. Her makeup was minimal, a touch of mascara and lipstick. She’d used a heavier hand with the blush, no doubt to hide the lingering paleness resulting from the events of the night before.
“I’m set,” she announced brightly. Her gaze swept over him and a broad grin spread across her mouth. “My, aren’t you looking…dissolute.”
He glanced down at the dress shirt and tux jacket he’d rescued from her bathroom floor. He suspected the wrinkles might be permanent. “It’s the new me. I call it my morning-after look. What do you think?”
“Very sexy.” She actually sounded like she meant it.
He dumped the dregs of his coffee in the sink and rinsed the mug. Turning, he held out his hand. She didn’t hesitate, but laced her fingers through his. Their palms melded and the burn from The Inferno flared to life, creating an undeniable heat, tightening the bond that had been created when they first met. Together they headed for the garage.
A few minutes later they were moving easily through the Sunday morning traffic toward Romano Restoration. He found a parking spot on the street, though he could have used the underground lot that serviced the building. This was just more convenient. They entered through the front door of the office complex and took the private elevator to the floors housing his company.
The doors parted and he gestured for her to take the lead. “Romano Restoration occupies the top four floors plus the building’s penthouse suite,” he explained. “The lower floors handle the business side of the company—accounting, contracts, that sort of thing. The upper two levels deal with customer relations, and the more creative aspects. like architectural and interior design.”