Rebecca Winters - The Italians - Alessandro, Luca & Dizo - Alessandro's Prize / In a Storm of Scandal / Italian Groom, Princess Bride

Beautifully restored splendour lent a timeless aura to a modern event. Genuine artworks graced the expansive foyer, while the huge ballroom bore exquisite sconces, suspended chandeliers gave the illusion of light, enhanced by cleverly concealed electric bulbs to provide added illumination.

There had been several occasions when she’d attended charity fund-raiser events with her parents, but nothing on the scale of this evening’s affair.

Refined elegance seemed a perfect description, and it didn’t take much imagination to reflect on a former era of fashionable balls with members of the Italian and foreign royalty in attendance.

‘This place is really something,’ Lily said quietly, and incurred Alessandro’s musing look.

‘It appeals to you?’

‘How could it not?’

‘Alessandro. Caro.’

It wasn’t the two words so much, but the cadence in the feminine voice which uttered them. Seductive didn’t quite cover it, Lily decided as she turned slightly to see if the voice matched the woman.

Oh, my. In spades … and then some.

For even to the most jaundiced eye, the woman who moved to Alessandro’s side was a vision of perfection from her raven black wavy hair to the tips of her shoes. Beautiful facial features cleverly accented with skilfully applied cosmetics, gleaming dark, almost black, eyes, and a figure to die for clothed in what had to be a designer original. The right touch with jewellery, expensive but not ostentatious.

Definitely the wow factor.

‘Giarda.’ Alessandro’s greeting held warm affection and Lily offered a polite smile, only to freeze as he curved an arm around her waist. ‘I’d like you to meet Liliana.’

Not Lily, Sophia’s niece, just … Liliana, And why did her birth name sound so sexy as it fell from his lips?

‘Giarda is married to one of my business colleagues,’ he explained, and Giarda offered a light laugh.

‘Alessandro and my husband vied with each other for me.’ Her eyes twinkled with mischief. ‘Massimo won.’

‘How … nice.’ What else could she say?

‘For me, yes. Not so for Alessandro.’

‘I’m sure he recovered,’ Lily managed with a touch of humour, and Giarda inclined her head.

‘Of course,’ Giarda acknowledged with a warm smile. ‘We remain the best of friends.’ She turned towards Alessandro. ‘It pleases me to see you attached to such a charming young woman. You must bring Lily to dinner. I will be in touch to determine a mutually suitable evening.’

‘Thank you.’

Lily waited until Giarda was out of earshot before facing him. ‘I am not your young woman.’

‘You left out charming .’

‘Then there’s the touchy-feely thing.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘I refuse to act as arm candy.’

He regarded her with interest. ‘You imagine I would use you as such?’

‘Oh, please.’

‘So unsure of your appeal, Lily?’ Alessandro queried gently.

The air between them became electrifying, and for a few seemingly long seconds everything faded from her vision as she became caught up with a host of conflicting emotions.

Her relationship with James had been comfortable, pleasant, she admitted. Or so she’d imagined.

Yet Alessandro aroused a primitive passion deep within that made her yearn for the impossible.

There was a part of her that wanted to discard any reservations and simply enjoy what he offered for however long it might last.

Except that would be akin to treading a certain path to emotional self-destruction. Not something anyone in their right mind would willingly seek.

Alessandro took in the fast-thudding pulse at the base of her throat, and resisted the temptation to trace the hollow with a gentle finger. Yet here, now, was neither the time or place.

‘Alessandro. Lily.’

Whatever he might have said didn’t find voice as they turned in unison to greet Sophia.

‘I am a little late,’ Sophia explained as she brushed Lily’s cheek with her own. ‘Carlo was caught up in traffic.’ She stood back a little and regarded Lily with affectionate approval. ‘Cara, you look stunning.’

‘Beautiful,’ Alessandro added as he took Lily’s hand and brought it to his lips.

Her eyes dilated as they met his dark gleaming gaze only to attempt to make light of his gesture by offering a winsome smile.

‘I believe every available ticket has sold,’ Sophia revealed as she accepted a flute of champagne from one of the many waiters circling the room. ‘Guests tend to be generous when the funds being raised benefit terminally ill children.’

A request for guests to be seated as dinner was about to be served ensured a general move towards numbered tables, and Lily bore Alessandro’s light touch at the edge of her waist as he escorted them to their table.

Shared by fellow guests, among whom were Giarda and her husband Massimo—an attractive man whose dark features held a similar degree of ruthless power on a par with Alessandro’s.

They had fought for Giarda’s attention and Alessandro had accorded Massimo colleague, but were they friends in business, or adversaries? Lily posed as they took their seats.

A certain mutual respect became evident, she decided as the evening progressed. Alessandro was seated between Sophia and herself, with Massimo and Giarda opposite. The remaining five guests comprised a middle-aged couple, their son and two daughters.

Throughout the three-course dinner the eldest of the two daughters did her best to engage Alessandro’s attention, which to give him credit, he fielded with polite charm.

Lily silently assured she didn’t care and knew she lied. Which in itself was a conundrum, given the state of her emotions were in direct contrast to the dictates of her mind.

Come Monday she’d be involved with work, back in a kitchen, where she wanted to be. Social activities involving Alessandro’s presence would dwindle to almost nothing.

Not before time. She’d done complicated, now all she wanted was routine and a simple lifestyle.

The fund-raiser was announced as an outstanding success as individual donations brought the total raised beyond expectations.

Gradually the guests began to leave, pausing to chat with friends and consequently progress into the foyer became slow.

It had been sufficiently disturbing to be seated close to Alessandro throughout the evening; somehow it seemed even more so to have his arm resting loosely at her waist during their passage from ballroom to foyer.

An action Lily attempted to convince herself was merely a courtesy and failed, for there was a sense of rightness in the contact, and although she vigorously denied it she felt. what? Protected. Which was insane.

In the name of heaven, get real. Blame the champagne, although she’d merely sipped the contents from one flute.

Within a few minutes she’d slip into the car with Sophia, and Carlo would deliver her to her apartment.

Except when Sophia’s car drew level with the entrance it was Sophia who bade them both buona notte and slid into the rear seat, leaving Lily almost speechless as Carlo eased the large vehicle forward into the steady stream of departing traffic.

‘I’ll get a taxi.’ The words left her lips with stiff resolve, and all it achieved was Alessandro’s studied inspection.

‘That won’t be necessary.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of taking you out of your way.’

He indicated his sleek black car sliding to a halt adjacent the entrance. ‘Let’s go.’

Lily spared a look of muted defiance, and her eyes widened as he leant in close. ‘Do you really want to argue?’