“I’m trusting you with this, Lorenzo,” Marco says with a knowing look at me. “I don’t want you slacking, not even with the new addition to your household.”
I growl in annoyance. Is it that obvious that I’m already obsessed with Lydia? Marco stands up from his seat and begins to hobble toward the window, admiring the Italian vista outside.
“You know where loving a woman got me,” Marco says, tapping his cane on the floor. “It’s wise to treat love just as dangerous as hate. You are the best of the best, Lorenzo, you always have been. You know I love you like a son. I don’t want to see you suffer for that girl.”
“I can take care of myself,” I growl. Marco chuckles quietly.
“I know you can. But women are a mystery even to the smartest of men. They have power over us like no other.” He turns to me with a hardness in his eyes. “Don’t let her turn you weak, Lorenzo.”
CHAPTER TWO
Lydia
I throw myself into my work right away, needing any reason to think of something other than Lorenzo. Still, even as I’m on my hands and knees, cleaning out the magnificent fireplace in the dining room, all I can think about is him. How is it possible that one meeting with one man has changed me forever?
I know that it’s ridiculous to think that we have some special connection. He and I are nothing alike. He’s successful and rich, and at least twenty years older than me. He’s handsome and intelligent and intimidating. I’m the polar opposite of him, but they do say that opposites attract. Maybe he and I are meant to be simply due to that fact…
No, I need to stop thinking like that. The more I try and convince myself that there’s some sense to this, the more I’ll get my hopes up that something might happen between me and him. The last thing I need is to fall in love with my boss. Wiping my brow, I remind myself that I’m here to work, to experience a different culture, to keep my head down, and save up some money. I am not here to fawn over a sexy older man.
I sit back and sigh. I’ve only been here for a few hours and I’m already regretting my decision to come. I can handle hard work. I can handle long hours alone. What I can’t handle is knowing I’m under the same roof as the only man I’ve ever been interested in and I can’t even talk to him. I want to know more about him. I want to uncover the mysteries of his personality. What does he do for work? Why has he been alone in the countryside for so long? Did he feel the sexual chemistry between us as much as I did?
“I expect that fireplace to be spotless,” a voice behind me says. I turn around and see a beautiful Italian woman standing there with her arms crossed over her chest. Her lips are pursed as though I’ve done something unspeakably bad. She’s possibly one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen, with flowing dark hair and a slim figure. She looks like she means business in her five-inch black heels and her short dress. I swallow.
“I’ll make sure it is.”
“Good. I like my home to be pristine,” she snaps. My eyes widen. Her home?
Is this Lorenzo’s wife?
Jealousy rushes through my veins. I assumed Lorenzo was all alone out here, but of course, he has a wife. He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever met, there was no chance he was ever going to be single. The woman in front of me looks me up and down coldly.
“So you must be Lydia. I’ve heard things about you,” she says, her lips curled into a snarl. I swallow.
“You have?”
“My brother had a lot to say when I got home earlier,” she says. I feel relief rush through me. She’s his sister? So was I right? Is he a loner? Is he single? I have so many questions and absolutely no answers. I swallow.
“I’m looking forward to being in your service.”
“I bet you are,” she hisses. She towers over me. “Let’s make one thing very clear. Stay away from my brother. You will regret it if you don’t.”
“I...I don’t understand.”
“You’re a distraction he doesn’t need,” she snaps. “I don’t expect you to understand but you will, eventually. The last thing he needs is someone distracting him from his work, he’ll start making mistakes. Mistakes that could get him killed.”
My eyes are wide. What the hell is she talking about? How can I and Lorenzo becoming closer to one another be a life and death scenario? Is she just being dramatic to scare me?
“Back off, Bianca.”
In the doorway, Lorenzo has appeared. He looks a little weary like he’s seen a lot. It makes me wonder once again what his job is. Bianca is making it seem like he does something very dangerous. Something that could get him in serious trouble...and maybe drag me into it too…
I find I don’t even care. I knew from the moment I met him that there was something dangerous about him, but it didn’t bother me. I want him anyway. Our eyes meet from across the room his eyes are burning with something passionate and unfamiliar. Is it lust? Is it anger? I can’t tell. Maybe it’s both.
“I’m just making sure she knows her place,” Bianca hisses. I resist the urge to wrap my arms around myself protectively. I don’t know what her problem with me is, but she’s making me feel very unwelcome here. She seems very protective of her brother, for sure...but why? Does she speak to the rest of the staff like this or is this vendetta against me personally? Does she know how much I want him?
“It’s not for you to decide her place,” Lorenzo growls. “Leave. I want to see you
