is.”
“As am I.” He sent her a meaningful look, and she swallowed hard. If she was being hopeful she’d almost believe he was referring to her.
But that was ridiculous. He was only being kind.
“Alexander Worth.”
Alex turned at the sound of the heavily accented voice, a polite smile curving his lips when he caught sight of the man who stood in the lobby next to a small, bubbling fountain. A woman half his age draped over his arm, dripping with the largest jewels Tessa had ever seen. “Giorgio Ricci, how are you?”
Placing his hand upon her lower back, Alex led Tessa to the couple. The man smiled and reached for Alex, giving him a kiss on each cheek, causing Alex to chuckle. “I heard you were in the city.”
“We’re relaunching one of the stores tomorrow,” Alex said.
“Ah, si , si .” The man nodded, beaming. “I shall be there. I cannot wait to see the store.”
“I’m glad to hear it. The store is beautiful.” Alex paused. “What brings you here to the hotel?”
“Escorting my Giovanna for the evening.” Giorgio indicated the woman on his arm who offered a brittle smile in greeting. “I keep her here when she comes to visit. Cannot have the wife know, eh?”
Tessa’s skin chilled. This woman with the twinkling diamonds and dress cut so low her breasts threatened to fall out was Giorgio’s mistress. How…sleazy.
“No, I imagine you can’t.” Alex shifted, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
“Tomorrow evening, the wife, she is in charge of a very exclusive charity ball, and I’d be pleased if you and your lady friend were to attend.” Giorgio sent her a leering look and she recoiled slightly.
“Oh, I’m not his—” Tessa started but Alex cut her off with a smooth, “We’ll be there. What time does it start?”
They discussed times and locations in rapid fire Italian. Giovanna the mistress appeared bored though she shot Alex a hungry look, licking her lips when he glanced her way.
Tessa’s appetite vanished. Again she was reminded of her meager looks, her feeble wardrobe and her lack of polish.
She was in way too far over her head.
“Why did you agree to escort me to the ball tomorrow night?” she asked after Alex hustled her out of the lobby and into the bustling crowds walking along the sidewalk.
“You don’t want to go?” He glanced down at her, his hand still upon her back, guiding her through the throng of people.
She wanted to go more than anything, especially with him. “I have nothing to wear.”
“I can remedy that,” he said easily.
“If you’re going to offer me a dress, please don’t do it.” She couldn’t take clothes from him. She’d be no better than that mistress with the diamonds.
“How about I let you borrow a dress,” he suggested.
“Borrow?”
“The fashion houses do it all the time. Lend out their clothes for the exposure.”
Of course, she knew that. “No one will care what I’m wearing, let alone take a photo of me.”
“If you’re going to this charity ball on my arm tomorrow, trust me, someone will take your photograph.”
She didn’t get it. Why would he want to take her? She wasn’t paying attention as he led her down the sidewalk, turning down a short, dark alley before they came to a quaint wooden door that looked like it was once part of a castle. He opened the door for her, the delicious scents wafting from within making her stomach growl all over again and she eagerly went inside.
The restaurant was tiny, quaint and nearly every table filled despite the late hour. A short, stout man with a thick black beard came to greet them, his familiarity with Alex indicating he’d been at this restaurant before.
Tessa couldn’t help but wonder with who.
They were seated in the farthest corner of the restaurant by a small window. The location intimate, the table so small she bumped into Alex’s knees when she sat down. A fat, sputtering candle sat in a red glass votive, casting him in a fiery glow.
He’d never
“As am I.” He sent her a meaningful look, and she swallowed hard. If she was being hopeful she’d almost believe he was referring to her.
But that was ridiculous. He was only being kind.
“Alexander Worth.”
Alex turned at the sound of the heavily accented voice, a polite smile curving his lips when he caught sight of the man who stood in the lobby next to a small, bubbling fountain. A woman half his age draped over his arm, dripping with the largest jewels Tessa had ever seen. “Giorgio Ricci, how are you?”
Placing his hand upon her lower back, Alex led Tessa to the couple. The man smiled and reached for Alex, giving him a kiss on each cheek, causing Alex to chuckle. “I heard you were in the city.”
“We’re relaunching one of the stores tomorrow,” Alex said.
“Ah, si , si .” The man nodded, beaming. “I shall be there. I cannot wait to see the store.”
“I’m glad to hear it. The store is beautiful.” Alex paused. “What brings you here to the hotel?”
“Escorting my Giovanna for the evening.” Giorgio indicated the woman on his arm who offered a brittle smile in greeting. “I keep her here when she comes to visit. Cannot have the wife know, eh?”
Tessa’s skin chilled. This woman with the twinkling diamonds and dress cut so low her breasts threatened to fall out was Giorgio’s mistress. How…sleazy.
“No, I imagine you can’t.” Alex shifted, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
“Tomorrow evening, the wife, she is in charge of a very exclusive charity ball, and I’d be pleased if you and your lady friend were to attend.” Giorgio sent her a leering look and she recoiled slightly.
“Oh, I’m not his—” Tessa started but Alex cut her off with a smooth, “We’ll be there. What time does it start?”
They discussed times and locations in rapid fire Italian. Giovanna the mistress appeared bored though she shot Alex a hungry look, licking her lips when he glanced her way.
Tessa’s appetite vanished. Again she was reminded of her meager looks, her feeble wardrobe and her lack of polish.
She was in way too far over her head.
“Why did you agree to escort me to the ball tomorrow night?” she asked after Alex hustled her out of the lobby and into the bustling crowds walking along the sidewalk.
“You don’t want to go?” He glanced down at her, his hand still upon her back, guiding her through the throng of people.
She wanted to go more than anything, especially with him. “I have nothing to wear.”
“I can remedy that,” he said easily.
“If you’re going to offer me a dress, please don’t do it.” She couldn’t take clothes from him. She’d be no better than that mistress with the diamonds.
“How about I let you borrow a dress,” he suggested.
“Borrow?”
“The fashion houses do it all the time. Lend out their clothes for the exposure.”
Of course, she knew that. “No one will care what I’m wearing, let alone take a photo of me.”
“If you’re going to this charity ball on my arm tomorrow, trust me, someone will take your photograph.”
She didn’t get it. Why would he want to take her? She wasn’t paying attention as he led her down the sidewalk, turning down a short, dark alley before they came to a quaint wooden door that looked like it was once part of a castle. He opened the door for her, the delicious scents wafting from within making her stomach growl all over again and she eagerly went inside.
The restaurant was tiny, quaint and nearly every table filled despite the late hour. A short, stout man with a thick black beard came to greet them, his familiarity with Alex indicating he’d been at this restaurant before.
Tessa couldn’t help but wonder with who.
They were seated in the farthest corner of the restaurant by a small window. The location intimate, the table so small she bumped into Alex’s knees when she sat down. A fat, sputtering candle sat in a red glass votive, casting him in a fiery glow.
He’d never
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