Wanton Heat (A Feel the Heat Novel) (Entangled Brazen) Read Free Page B

archaic royalty system that once dominated these islands was obsolete. The Italian government had more influence than he ever would. But the Ricci family owned land on Osturo and Ancora—a lot of it—and no matter how outdated the royals were here, his father had wanted to maintain the tradition of doing what was best for the people of the islands. So that’s what he would do, too.
    But he didn’t want to argue with Catarina, either. His grandmother had doted on Franco, her eldest son, and Dominic wanted to make her proud of him, too. She deserved that much for the hardships she’d faced.
    It had been bad enough she’d suffered two heart attacks following his father’s death. He didn’t want her having a third one that could prove fatal. He’d seen a few worrying signs lately: her occasional pallor and an increasing frequency of angina that she tried valiantly to hide. And despite her reassurances, he wanted her to have more regular checkups.
    “Well, if you’re not leaving the island to go in search of a little fun, maybe the fun can come to you.” She raised her glass in a silent cheer as he struggled not to think about how much fun Zoe Keaton might be.
    The woman was a menace, but he had to admit, she was an exceptionally sexy menace. The type of woman to make a man forget his past. A woman who could make a man forget his own damn name.
    She was not his type. But for several long minutes in the gardens earlier, he’d almost wished she could be.
    “Nonna, how many poor saps have you tried to pair up on this island over the years?”
    Catarina screwed up her brow, pretending to think. “Hmm…let me see. Six marriages. Four engagements. And several very happy tourist hookups—”
    “You need to stop trying to fix me up.” He bit back a grin at her wounded expression. Truth was, his nonna was more famous for her role as matchmaker on Osturo than she was as a figurehead queen. “It never ends well.”
    Catarina pouted. “Maybe because you’re so closed off you won’t let any woman close. Maybe those cool blondes you prefer, the ones I’ve tried to set you up with, aren’t right for you. Maybe I should find a different type of woman for you. Someone to challenge you. Someone like Z—”
    “You should stop meddling in my personal life and concentrate on more important things, like your health.” He pointed at her heart. “You’re seeing that cardiologist in Naples next month if I have to kidnap you to do it.”
    Catarina huffed and crossed her arms. “I said I would, if you let Zoe see Ancora so she can refine her campaign over the next week, listen to what she has to say, and keep an open mind.”
    He nodded. “I’ll listen to her business proposal, organize a tour of Ancora with one of the guides, then send her back to the mainland.” He thumped the table for emphasis. “That’s it.”
    “Sounds like you have it all planned out.” Catarina finished her drink, set her glass on the table, and stood. “I’ll let you have your meeting in peace.”
    She paused at the doorway and glanced over her shoulder. “But don’t forget what I said.” She turned away, but not before Dominic heard her murmur, “You need to start living again.”
    Dominic had a life. Not the one he’d envisioned, but a life nonetheless.
    A life under serious threat of being disrupted by a beautiful, tousle-haired blonde with a lush mouth and sinful eyes.
    Dio mio.
    The sooner he kicked her cute ass off his island, the better.
    …
    Zoe could get used to this.
    She padded into the bedroom, her bare feet leaving water smears. If the rain shower in the lavish, pale-gold marble bathroom had been impressive, it had nothing on the guest room she’d been assigned for the next week.
    It was divine. From the ice-blue walls to the cool ivory marble-tiled floor, from the mini-chandelier to the cherub-embossed cornices, every item in the room had exquisite attention to detail. Classy without being overbearing. She’d bet Catarina