Bidding on the Billionaire (Bad Boys Billionaire Bachelors Club) by Rachel Angel

act like a twit about it.  He had business that needed to be
done.  She’d take her chances and wait to eat with him when he got home tonight
so she could wind down from the day with him.
    The
shower was heavenly and Mandi enjoyed it thoroughly.  The shampoo and soap
smelled so good.  She wondered what she should wear when she went out
sightseeing around the town, and decided to wear a pair of jeans, fun sandals,
and a t-shirt.  It was casual, not too dressy, and comfortable, plus she liked
the way her butt looked in those jeans.  Maybe Sergio would too.
    The
tour with Diedre, Angelica, and Frederic was very fun and it was exciting to
see how people in the Italian culture shopped, spent their days, and enjoyed
life.  They had a passionate and exuberant quality to them that Mandi found
endearing.  Mandi got to meet many people who worked at the factory too and was
introduced as Mr. Sergio Leon’s friend from the States.  Mandi thought to
herself that friend seemed so unfitting.  She didn’t know what she was, but she
knew that she wanted to be more than just friends.  Even though she’d told
Sergio it was physical she was quickly beginning to realize that she’d lied
only to herself in order to connect with him on some level.  He’d probably seen
right through it and that’s why he wouldn’t actually have intercourse with
her.  Was he avoiding her now?
    By
5:00 that day Mandi was somewhat toured out and rather sick of the nagging
thoughts in her mind.  She wondered how Sergio could have gotten under her skin
in such a short amount of time—barely 48 hours.  It was crazy.  She passed on
dinner with Diedre, Marcel, and the kids in order to dine with Sergio later.
    Just
to pass some time waiting for Sergio to arrive home Mandi decided to give her
sketching a go and she tried to draw the beautiful statue that was standing
majestically in the corner of the veranda.  She looked at it and then down at
her sketch, commenting aloud.  “Not too bad considering how long it’s been
since you’ve tried.”
    “I’ll
say, it’s very good,” a voice from behind said.  Mandi jumped up and turned
around.  It was Sergio.
    “Oh
my gosh.  I didn’t hear you.”
    “Obviously,
you were into your thoughts, and your conversation,” he said, laughing.  Mandi
blushed.  She did talk to herself on occasion and couldn’t stand when someone
busted her doing it.
    “Are
you ready to eat?” Mandi asked. 
    “I’m
starving.”
    “How
was your day?  Hopefully you took care of all your business.”
    “In
my life you take care of one thing and then something else happens right away. 
It’s never ending, but it is part of the responsibility.”
    Mandi
looked at Sergio and she was pretty sure that she was indicating that she’d
gladly accept a kiss, embrace, or anything to get some assurance that Sergio
hadn’t regretted what happened on the jet.  She didn’t get it, but he was very
friendly and polite—just like a business dinner.  Hmm…
    Sergio’s
smart phone was sitting on the table next to him while they ate and it kept
buzzing.  Instinctually, he’d pause from what he was saying and lean over to
look at who it was.
    “Are
you expecting a call?” Mandi finally asked, not appreciating being second
fiddle to a phone.
    “No,
sorry.  It’s just a habit and I like to dress things proactively rather than
listen to a plethora of messages and whatnot.  That’s not as efficient.”
    “I
suppose that efficiency is…”  Mandi stopped midsentence because Sergio’s phone
buzzed again and she had lost his attention.  This time he answered it though. 
    He
got up and walked away, going out into the hallway so he was just out of
earshot.  Mandi sat there, wondering how long he’d be.  She sighed and took a
sip of her wine, delighting in its crisp flavor, but not delighting in the
feeling of isolation that was developing in the pit of her stomach.
    Sergio
came back into the room and covered his hand