The Billionaire's Prize

They returned to the castle, where the girls had dessert and coffee waiting for them in the dining room. Guido enjoyed the snack while they chuckled about Dea’s tackle, then he excused himself to go up to bed.

“Don’t forget tomorrow,” Rini called after him. “Once we’ve eaten breakfast, we’ll go out on the cruiser.”

“Sounds good.” With a smile for the three of them, he left the room.

* * *

Alessandra came to Dea’s bedroom the next morning in order to French-braid her hair before breakfast.

“Thanks for doing this for me. I can’t do it right. Now it won’t get in my face.”

“As you know, I had mine cut short years ago because I spent so much time in the water scuba diving.”

“I’m thinking I might get mine cut too, after I get back to Rome.”

“Oh, no, Dea. Your gorgeous long hair? Are you sure?”

“It drives me insane while I’m working. I used to wonder why Juliana wore her hair short. Now I know. Hair gets in the way when you’re kneeling in front of a mannequin to work on a hem. We’re constantly bending over to examine a drawing or a cut of fabric. All you need is an irritating strand to fall at a critical moment.”

“Well, it’s your call,” Alessandra murmured. “Now let’s hurry down to breakfast before the guys eat everything in sight.”

“I just hope Guido’s forgiven me for tackling him. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I do. It’s called frustration beyond bearing! They’re both so good at everything it can drive you crazy! I’m sure no one ever did such a thing to Guido before.”

“That’s what has me worried.”

“Rini laughed about it after we went to bed. He’s sure you’re the only woman who ever got the best of Guido.”

“Now I’m worried he’ll pull something on me today.”

Alessandra’s eyes sparkled. “Just don’t let your guard down.” Her warning excited Dea.

After her sister left the bedroom, she dressed in shorts and a yellow top worn over her orange-and-white-striped bikini. Once ready, she grabbed her tote bag and flew down the stairs in sandals to the dining room. At the entrance, a pair of inky-blue eyes met hers across the room, causing her pulse to race.

“Buongiorno, Dea.” His deep voice curled through to her insides.

This morning Guido had put on a white T-shirt and cargo pants that couldn’t hide his powerful legs. He held a mug of coffee and looked so sensational she was taken back. A nervous smile broke out on her face. “I hope you didn’t wake up with any aches or pains.”

“I’m managing to survive,” he mocked gently.

Uh-oh. “Where is everyone?”

“Alessandra grabbed a jam cornetto and went out to help Rini load the cruiser. Come and join me before we head out.”

Since Guido was still here, maybe it meant he’d been waiting for her. Her heart flipped over again.

“Cook makes the best cappuccino in the world.”

“I agree,” he murmured over the rim of his cup.

Aware of his scrutiny, she walked over to the hunt board and reached for a pastry. After pouring herself coffee, she moved to the table to eat. Once he joined her, she couldn’t resist asking, “Are you a champion water-skier too? Alessandra said Rini can’t wait to get out on the water and ski double with you.”

He sat back in the chair, studying her through shuttered eyes. “I’ve done a little of everything.”

“But soccer is your passion.”

“One of them.”

A shiver of excitement ran through her. The intimation of what his other passions might be brought heat to her cheeks. With his dark blond hair slightly disheveled, she discovered he had a potent male appeal no woman could possibly ignore. His girlfriends must be legion.

Once they’d finished breakfast, they left the castle for the dock around the back. During their short walk she thought about him and Rini being such close friends since childhood. They were so different, except in two major ways. Their masculine charisma was lethal and they both had an air of authority that seemed to be part of their natures.

Dea had met many men over the years, but none of them possessed those extraordinary qualities. She might have known that Rini’s best man would be someone who stood out from all the rest too. He wasn’t anything like his father. At least she didn’t think so, but what did she know?

Maybe if she’d stayed at the table the night of the wedding reception and had gotten better acquainted with the head of Rossano Shipping Lines, she’d have seen similarities that hadn’t been apparent at first. Guido was his son after all.

In the past Dea had had a problem with making snap judgments about people. It came from a fear that people saw her as only a superficial narcissist—an unfair label given to models in general. Her mother had pointed out that she put up a defensive shield because part of her felt insecure. Dea had had to learn to give everyone a chance.

Since she’d gone back to school, she’d been making a conscious effort to get along with people. While she and Gina had been at the shop discussing one of the designs that wasn’t working, she’d learned the other woman loved the theater. Dea would never have guessed that—all Gina seemed to talk about was Aldo, who lived in her apartment building.

He worked in a garage and wasn’t happy because he couldn’t make good money. The last thing he’d do was spend the little he had on going to watch a play he had no interest in. Soccer was a different story. Dea had offered to go to the theater with Gina, who was delighted. They planned to see Othello at the Silvano Toti Globe in Rome the next weekend. It would give them a chance to study the costuming while they enjoyed Shakespeare.