Page 358 of Valentino

Ahhh…….. Kill me now, the women here are all beautiful, what if he meets someone else? What’s a man like him doing in a place like this anyway?

As if he needs to speed date.

A bell sounds and the men begin to walk to the tables, I hold my breath as I wait.

This is so nerve wracking.

A blonde man walks over and smiles, “Hello.”

Go away.

“Hi.” I force a smile.

He pulls out the chair and sits down opposite me, “My name is Gregory.” He says in an English accent.

“Hi Gregory, I’m Halle.”

I came to Italy to meet an Italian Gregory, buzz off….

Gregory chats away and he’s nice enough but my eyes roam the room to find Romeo.

What table is he sitting at?

Has he seen me?

The bell rings.

“Nice to meet you Gregory.” I smile, not lying it was nice to meet him but I hope to never see him again.

“You may now change tables.” The MC calls over the microphone.

I glance over to Allegra, “Oh my god.” She mouths and I giggle, she must have liked her first speed date.

“Mind if I sit down.” A heavily accented deep voice asks; I glance up to see big beautiful brown eyes. The ones who have been haunting me.

“Hi.” I breathe.

“Hello.” He sits down opposite me and leans back in his chair, dominance oozes from his every cell as he holds out his hand for mine. “Bruno.”

I put my hand into his and he lifts it to his lips and kisses the back of it, “Halle.” I murmur, mesmerized merely by his presence.

“So very beautiful, Halle.”

I smile unable to think of a reply, every logical thought has left my brain.

His dark eyes hold mine and the air crackles between us.

“How was your weekend?” He asks as he continues to hold my hand in his, goosebumps scatter up my arms from his touch.

“It was good. And yours?”

“It could have been better.” He raises an eyebrow and I want to explain why I left the club without saying goodbye.

Act cool.

No…I’m not going to mention it, I don’t want to seem too keen.

“Tell me about yourself Halle.” He sits back in his chair.