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swung round, a gasp on her ruby lips. A few wisps of gold had escaped the hair she’d secured so neatly and her face was flushed with exertion. He smiled, imagining her panting for breath beneath him, her hips cradling him, her skin like silk against his.
    She must have read his thoughts for suddenly she was retreating, almost stumbling back along the white gravel path as he stalked towards her.
    She swallowed hard then seemed to gather herself. She stopped and stood straight, her hand going to her collar in that tell-tale gesture. Her chin lifted and her eyebrows arched as if challenging him.
    Hadn’t she realised yet he never ignored a challenge?
    Fabrizio smiled slowly and watched her mouth tighten.
    ‘Now that you’ve seen the grounds, and the security arrangements, I’ll leave you in Guido’s capable hands for the rest of the tour. I’m afraid I have—’
    ‘Whatever other work you have, you can forget it.’ He paused, letting that sink in. ‘You’re mine for the duration of this visit.’
    Her gasp of outrage was loud and delightfully satisfying. Had she really thought she could wipe her hands of him as if he was some nobody?
    ‘De Laurentis assured me you’d answer all my questions personally. And I have lots of questions.’ Purposefully he stepped forward, almost brushing her shoulder as he passed. ‘We’ll start in the kitchens.’
     
    IT WAS DUSK by the time they finished. Fabrizio had been meticulous in his attention to detail and relentless in his questioning.
    It was only the second time Jenna had seen Fabrizio the billionaire hotelier, rather than Fabrizio the charming, charismatic lover. Despite herself, she was impressed.
    Whatever his reasons for putting her through the torture of a day in his company, she was in no doubt how he’d transformed his already sizeable inheritance into a commercial empire of luxury hotels. She’d always known him to be quick-witted and intelligent, but hours answering his probing questions left her both exhausted and admiring. His interest in every aspect of the business, and the way his thoughts galloped ahead to potential opportunities and problems were impressive. Her goal was one day to run a hotel of her own and in other circumstances it would have been wonderful to work for him.
    If it weren’t for the history between them.
    She pushed open the double doors to the royal suite. The spacious foyer led into a grand salon, decorated in muted greens and golds, reflecting the colours of the gardens, sea and sandy beach visible through the open French doors.
    He walked past her, taking in with a sweeping glance the priceless antiques and meticulous perfection of the delicate silk hangings and fine art.
    Carefully she shut the door to the hallway and crossed the lovingly polished wood floor. Another five minutes to show him his suite and she’d be free. She sighed, imagining half an hour in a scented bath, sipping a glass of her favourite Frascati.
    ‘I applaud your attention to detail.’ He’d stopped to investigate the bottle of wine nestling in the silver wine cooler. Beside it was an artistically arranged platter of summer fruit and a selection of wafer-thin almond and citrus biscotti. ‘No grapes, I notice.’
    ‘You only enjoy grapes as a source of wine.’ Jenna shrugged. ‘Why serve what I know you don’t like?’ She made no apology for providing his favourite wine either.
    ‘Using your inside information about me?’ His expression wasn’t accusing, just curious.
    ‘Why not? I’m sure you’d do the same. Besides, it’s my job to ensure your stay here is a success.’
    Because then he’d acquire the hotel from Luca De Laurentis. She repressed a sigh. Once Fabrizio owned the place, she’d be out of a job and the one she’d been offered by Luca, while fantastic on paper, was far from the sort of work she dreamed of. A promotion to a huge city hotel would be challenging and a step up the career ladder, but Jenna preferred the challenges of