Saved by the CEO Read Free

glossy, his looks created from the pages of fashion magazines whereas Nico was more earthy. The kind of man who got his hands dirty from actually working with them, not from helping himself.
    She remembered the roughness of Nico’s calloused hands as his thumbs had fanned her cheeks...
    And how effortlessly he’d managed to dance her into a secluded corner without her realizing. In charge till the end, just like Steven.
    “We need to make it clear to everyone involved that we don’t want to be too commercial,” she heard him say. “It’s one thing to increase tourism, it’s another to lose the very thing that makes Monte Calanetti special.”
    Rafe agreed. “Absolutely. Ideally, we want events or attractions that highlight our traditions and Old World charm. That’s what the tourists want. Maybe there’s something we can do around the Madonna and Child painting in the chapel. Something historical.”
    “I read the other day that Santo Majorca is building a spa around its underground springs. Too bad we can’t unearth a spring here.”
    “Wouldn’t that be nice?”
    “Ow!” Louisa jumped as pain shot up from her shin. Damn it, but Dani wore pointy shoes. That kick would leave a bruise.
    The two men turned to look at her. “Everything all right?” Nico asked.
    “Fine,” she said, rubbing her leg. Beneath her index finger she could feel a small divot. There was definitely going to be a bruise.
    Across the table, her friend didn’t even have the decency to look apologetic. She was too busy gesturing with her eyebrows for Louisa to say something. Louisa replied with a shake of her head.
    Why not? Dani mouthed.
    Because of a zillion reasons. The concept was still too vague and unformed, for one. She wasn’t ready for people to start poking holes in her idea. Or take it over, she thought, sliding a look in Nico’s direction. She wasn’t sure she was ready period.
    “Did I miss something?” Nico asked.
    Of course he would say something. Those sharp brown eyes didn’t miss a thing, not that either she or Dani were being very subtle.
    “Louisa’s been working on a terrific idea,” Dani said.
    “Really?” He turned to face her. “What is it? If it’s something that will help, by all means tell us.”
    “It’s still at the very beginning stages. I haven’t worked out all the details yet.”
    “But the general idea is brilliant. She wants to turn the palazzo into a hotel.”
    Some of Nico’s enthusiasm faded in favor of concern. “What kind of hotel? You’re not planning to alter the property, are you?”
    “Nothing drastic, I assure you,” she said as she shot a narrow-eyed look in Dani’s direction. Why couldn’t she have found an unenthusiastic best friend? “I was thinking of something more like a high-end boutique hotel.”
    “Isn’t that a great idea?” Dani piped in, clearly unfazed by Louisa’s glare. “People love to stay in historic buildings. Remember that couple last month who told us they were staying at Palazzo St. Rosa? They couldn’t stop raving about the place.”
    “She’s right, they couldn’t,” Rafe said. “No matter how hard I tried to make them.”
    “They showed us the photos, and the place can’t hold a candle to Louisa’s.”
    “That’s because Palazzo di Comparino is special.” Intended as both a compliment and a warning, Nico’s comment made Louisa bristle. It’d been nine months since she’d moved in and he still acted as though the palazzo was his responsibility. And Dani wondered why she didn’t want to talk about her plans.
    “Special, yes,” she replied, “but it’s also very large and expensive for one person to keep up.” Especially if said person had no other source of income. “Opening it to the public is one way to cover some of the expenses.” As well as help her stay independent. Being in charge, having total control of her life again, seemed almost too good to be true.
    Maybe she could finally put the past behind her.
    No