Taming Ricardo, The Italian Billionaire

She swallowed and squeaked, “Likewise.”

Ricardo turned to Steve. “Is there somewhere I can speak with Ms. Fisher privately?”

“I can loan you two my office. I have a few things to go and check on.”

Ricardo gave a nod. “Thank you.”

Kyra watched in horror as Steve exited the office, leaving her alone with Ricardo. The temptation to call him back, even to run, was strong. She couldn’t be in a room alone with such a man. But she wondered if it was embarrassment over her behavior on Friday that made her apprehensive about being in his presence or the fact that she was unwilling to admit to herself that she felt an attraction to the man. Since laying eyes on him, her heart wouldn’t stop somersaulting in her chest. She brought wide eyes back to him, not sure what to say.

“Mr. Bianchi-“

“Ricardo,” he corrected. “May I call you Kyra?”

The way her name came out in a deep, sexy accented drawl was like music to her ear. He made her name sound exotic. If she closed her eyes, she bet she could picture him whispering her name over and over while they made love.  Whoa! You’ve gone a bit too far, girl. Was it her imagination or did the temperature of the room skyrocket?

“S-sure.” She inhaled deeply, finding her composure so as not to sound like a stuttering idiot. “May I ask why you’ve come to see me, Mr… Ricardo? I don’t believe we have any business together.”

He chuckled and her intestines fluttered. What a melodious sound.

 I need to get a grip.

“You seriously don’t know why I’m here, Kyra? I love your name, by the way.” Again his gaze traveled the length of her body and the back to her face. “It suits you.”

She had to force herself to maintain eye contact. “Thank you,” she said nonchalantly, though, she was on the verge of hyperventilating. “And I don’t make assumptions. I would rather you tell me your purpose for seeking me out.”

He grinned. “We’re going to play that game, are we?”

Kyra blinked, her expression one of innocence. “I have no idea what game you speak of.” She cleared her throat lightly and eyed him from beneath her lashes. “So, Ricardo, have you spoken to Steve as yet?” She was dying to know if he told Steve what she had done.

He tilted his head and studied her for a few seconds before responding. “You seem rather worried about what I’ve said to your boss. Why, when you have no idea why I’m here?”

She cracked, to her disappointment. She simply couldn’t take the torture any longer. Kyra sucked in a breath and exhaled. “Look, I do know why you’re here. I’m terribly sorry for the message I left you, sir. It was very childish not to mention unprofessional of me. I wasn’t…I wasn’t myself that evening.” No way was she going to tell him that she had drunk dialed him. “If you want to file a complaint against me or if you already have, I completely understand. I was way out of line. I suppose, I deserve to lose my job for being so senseless. Again, I apologize.”

She waited with bated breath for his response, for him to tell her that he was going to destroy her career. But he said nothing. “Sir?”

He blinked. “I haven’t said a word to your boss.”

She nodded. “But you are going to. It’s okay, I deserve whatever comes my way.”

“I didn’t say I was going to mention anything to him.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh?”

“I was very upset, however. I still am. And I expect you to make it up to me.” 

Kyra’s brows shot up. Make it up to him? How the hell did he expect her to do that?