SUSAN MEIER - One Passionate Night - Her Brooding Italian Boss / The Heiress's Secret Baby / Best Friend to Wife and Mother?

Something soft and warm floated through her. She was just about to curse herself for looking at him again when she realized she’d never felt like this with Bruce. She’d liked Bruce—actually, she’d believed she’d loved him. But she’d never felt this odd combination of attraction and curiosity that mixed and mingled with the warmth of their friendship and turned her feelings into something more...something special.

She cleared her throat. What was she doing? Fantasizing again? This guy was her boss! Not only that, but he was a widower. Someone who’d lost his wife and still grieved her so much he no longer painted. What would he want with her? Plain, simple Laura Beth Matthews, who—oh, by the way—was also pregnant with another man’s child. Her job was to organize him back to the land of the living, not drool over him.

He made eight pieces of French toast, divided them onto two plates and handed one to her.

Her stomach rumbled again. “Thanks.”

He passed the syrup across the bar. She slathered it on her French toast, but waited for him to pick up his fork before she picked up hers. If there was one thing she’d learned from her years of attending Olivia and Tucker’s baby events and Ricky and Eloise’s elaborate parties, it was to follow the lead of the host and hostess.

He took a bite of his French toast, then smiled at her. “So getting a job where you get to live in was a pretty nifty way to handle the apartment problem.”

She reddened to the roots of her hair. “Does it seem sleazy?”

“No. It’s smart. After I rotated out of the foster-care system, I’d have killed for a job that got me off the streets.”

“Yeah, but then you wouldn’t have scrounged your way to Italy, where your dad found you.”

“Scrounged.” He grinned. “I love American words.”

“Hey, you’re half-American!”

“Yes, I am. And proud of it. I use both worlds.” He frowned. “Or did.” Then he brightened. “Never mind. How’s the toast?”

“I love it.” She pushed her plate away having eaten only two slices. “But I’m full.”

Antonio took her plate and his and set them in a metal drawer, which he closed. “Staff will get this when we land.”

She laughed. “Wow.”

“Hey, you better get used to living like this.”

Though she didn’t think Antonio was as persnickety or as pampered as his dad, she decided not to argue the point. Especially since she’d had a sleepless night, agonizing over her problems. With her tummy full and the lull of the plane, she just wanted to curl up on one of the sofas.

She wandered back to her seat, buckled herself in—in case they hit turbulence—and almost immediately fell asleep.

She awoke to the feeling of someone shaking her. “Laura Beth...we’re here.”

She snuggled into the blanket someone had thrown over her. “We’re where?”

“In Italy.”

Her eyes popped open. When she found herself staring into the gorgeous face of Antonio Bartulocci, it all tumbled back. They were on a plane to Italy. His dad had hired her. She didn’t have an apartment. She was pregnant.

Her stomach dropped.

She was pregnant. In a foreign country. Starting a new job. Working for Antonio, who needed her. But she was attracted to him. She thought he was the sexiest, most gorgeous man alive and she would be living with him. But he didn’t feel the same way about her.

That relaxed her. It could be a good thing if he only saw her as a friend. As long as she hid her crush, there’d be no problem. Plus, being on call twenty-four-seven to help him get his life back would keep her from dwelling on her problems.

That was the real silver lining. Not just the money. Not just a place to live. But someone to take care of, so she could forget about herself.

She pushed aside the soft cover. Her days of daydreaming she belonged in this world as anything other than an employee were over. She could take this job and run with it, create a halfway decent life for herself and her baby. Everything would be fine.

“Thanks for the blanket.”

Antonio smiled. “My pleasure.”

She found her purse and tucked her science fiction novel inside. Two gentlemen, Antonio and Constanzo waited for her to exit first.

Constanzo paused to say something to the pilots, but quickly joined them on the tarmac below the steps.

She glanced around. The sky was blue, as perfect as any she’d seen in Kentucky. Tall green grass in the fields surrounding the airstrip swayed in a subtle breeze that cut through the heat. “Another private airstrip?”

“You don’t think my dad’s going to have a plane and suffer the torment of going to a real airport and waiting to take off and land, do you?”

Pushing a strand of her hair off her face, she laughed. “Right. Spoiled.”

“Incredibly spoiled. You’re going to need to remember that.”

She frowned. It was the second time he’d said something odd about her getting accustomed to his dad. Still, he was her boss now. They might have been able to relate like friends on the plane, but here on Italian soil, his home turf, her role kicked in. She was his assistant. Basically, a secretary. But this was better than anything she’d even come close to finding in New York.

This was her life now.

Constanzo walked over. “Bags are on their way to the limo.”

Laura Beth said, “Wow. Fast.”

Antonio laughed. “So much for you to get used to about my dad.” He nudged his father’s shoulder. “Exactly how do you intend to explain to Bernice that you hired someone to help her?”

Laura Beth’s brow wrinkled.

Constanzo’s face reddened.

Laura Beth gasped as she faced Antonio. “You think Constanzo hired me to work for him ?”

This time Antonio’s brow wrinkled. “You’re not working for my dad?”

Constanzo’s face reddened even more as both Laura Beth and Antonio turned to him.

“I did not hire her to help my PA. I hired her to be yours.”

* * *

Antonio’s mouth fell open at his father’s audacity. Anger whispered across his skin, causing his temper to bubble. He took a minute to pull in a breath and remind himself that his father hiring a PA was nothing compared to his deceased wife’s handiwork.

Still, when he spoke, his voice was harsh, angry. “Why are you meddling in my life?”

Constanzo headed for the limo again. “I’m not meddling.” He strolled across the quiet tarmac. “You said last night that you were thinking about this. When Laura Beth and I struck up a conversation and I realized she’d be perfect for the job, I did what I do best...I anticipated.”

He almost cursed. “You meddled!”

Laura Beth touched his arm to get his attention. Her fingertips warmed his skin, caused his breathing to stutter.

“I didn’t realize he didn’t have your permission.”

Constanzo bristled. “I did not need my son’s permission. He said last night he was agreeable. I anticipated .”

Antonio stayed outside the limo, unable to get himself to move into the car with his dad and Laura Beth, who had hesitantly climbed inside. Confusion and resentment clamored inside him. He wasn’t just angry about his dad hiring someone for him; his reactions to Laura Beth were wrong.

He’d always liked her. And, yes, he supposed there was a bit of an attraction there. But suddenly, today, maybe because they’d had such an intimate chat on the plane, he was feeling things he shouldn’t feel. Good God, she was a sweet girl trying to find her way in life. And he was an angry widower. He did not want to be attracted to her, and if she were smart she wouldn’t want to be attracted to him. Worse, they should not be living together.

He had to fire her.