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“I’m working,” she said quietly.
“Five minutes.”
“Marco…”
But she hesitated, because if he was going to end it, she wasn’t sure she was ready to have that conversation just yet. Except, wasn’t it better for the axe to fall?
With legs that were slightly unsteady, she pushed back her chair. “Where am I going?”
“Level twenty, at the end of the corridor.” He disconnected the call before she could say another word.
Marco knewhow important it was to respect Portia’s boundaries. He’d known that, even before she’d opened up to him about her asshole ex, but having heard her admit how much the infidelity had hurt her, how scared she was of being hurt again, he’d basically had it written in big, bold letters: BE CAREFUL. She was a flesh and blood woman with a good heart, soul, kindness in her eyes, and he didn’t want to become someone else she had to try to forget.
So he’d stayed away for a few days. Giving her space. Giving them both space, even when he craved her body like he couldn’t believe. Even when she tormented his dreams.
They’d agreed this was just sex, and he had no issues with that, but it was truly the best sex of his life, and he wanted more of her, all the time.
He deserved a medal for being able to keep away from her for as long as he had.
The knock sounded at his door. He braced, turned slowly, preparing himself in a way that was new, different.
“Come in.”
It wasn’t Portia’s fault that the sun flooded in with her, catching her from behind thanks to the full-size windows across the foyer. It wasn’t her fault that the sun bathed her in gold, made her look like an angel.
She closed the door; the sun disappeared but not the sort of gold-tinge to her aura.
“You wanted to see me?” She asked, voice quiet, and something caught his attention, because she sounded strained. Tense.
“Please, take a seat,” he gestured across the office.
Her eyes flitted to his, nervously, then scanned his office, a small frown on her lips. Was she wondering why he had such a big office, given that he rarely came in here?
“I’m fine standing,” she said after a beat. “I can’t stay long.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. He’d harboured some fantasies of stripping their clothes and having sex on the plush leather sofa in his office but one look at her tense features made him abandon all thoughts of that. She was like a skittish cat. He didn’t want to frighten her away.
“Then I’ll get right to the point.”
She waited, hands by her side.
“I know there’s room for awkwardness in Florence. You’re probably nervous about how that’s all going to work. I just wanted to reassure you that Dante won’t suspect a thing. We’ll make a way to see each other that’s not on his radar. Okay?”
Portia’s eyes closed for a second, her chest moving as she inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry. What?”
“Florence. Friday. Obviously you’ll have your own room, but we’ll be in the same hotel. I’ll give you a key to my room. Use it whenever it suits.”
“Marco,” she said with a shake of her head. “You’re not making sense.”
“Dante’s meeting with Acto,” Marco said. Then, as realization dawned, “He hasn’t told you I’m coming?”
“No,” she agreed crisply, eyes huge. “You’recoming?”
“He doesn’t have the time to get across the figures. He wants me there.”
“But you never do stuff like this,” she groaned. “You can’t come.”
Marco ignored the strange dropping feeling in his gut. It was nothing. Surprise, that was all, because he’d thought she might be excited by the chance to have a sneaky, romantic getaway between work commitments. He knew he had been. The idea of not only seducing Portia in a five star hotel but also taking her out in one of his favourite cities, had made it impossible to refuse Dante’s request.
