The Italian Billionaire’s Nubian Queen

“I… Well, I’m flattered, but… I wanted to check a few things out before my sister woke up.”

“You have a sister. If she’s as lovely as you are, we’ve been very blessed. Will you be at the events today?”

Was it her imagination, or had his lips twisted as if in mockery when he said ‘events’? It had probably been her imagination. He might not be the one who ran the company, but he still had the name. He probably owned quite a bit of it. For the hundredth time, Alyssa promised herself that she would start taking more of an interest in the people in her business, not just the wines. She never managed to follow through, usually, but now she thought she had enough incentive to do so.

“Of course. I have a small shop where I sell wine. I have a small selection of some of the more up-market Colombo wines, too. They’re my guilty pleasure.”

“Ah, the Colombo wines. The best, or so I’m told.”

“They’re definitely the best in class in quite a few classes.”

She would’ve gone on, but he didn’t look interested. Odd, thought Alyssa, but she let it go.

“I’m sure you’re an expert in the matter, like most people here. And back home.”

“I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I love to learn. I… I’m sorry, Mr. Colombo, but I really must go.”

“Mr. Colombo is my brother, of course. I hope you will call me Gabriel. I hope you will allow me to call you Alyssa.”

“Of course,” said Alyssa, and when he continued to look at her, she added, “Gabriel.”

“I like how my name sounds on your lips, Alyssa. We’re well met, I think. I hope you will have lunch with me, if not breakfast. And perhaps after lunch, we can take that walk you promised me.”

Alyssa didn’t remember promising a walk, and for all his politeness, she couldn’t wait to get away from him. She didn’t want to go for a walk with Gabriel Colombo. She didn’t want to be alone with him. For all his beauty, she didn’t want to get to know him.

She tried to shake it off.

“I’m sure you’ll be far too busy.”

“I’ll make sure that I make the time. Ciao, bella. Take care of yourself.”

Alyssa nodded, and she kept the smile in place, but avoided his eyes as she walked on.

She shivered a little, as if she needed the warmth of the sun. What the hell was wrong with the Colombo brothers? One was rude and creepy, and the other was charming and unsettling. It was frankly a miracle that they made wines that brought people together, wines that had such depth to them. There was nothing dark about them.

Between the two, thought Alyssa, she might actually prefer the rude one who liked ordering people around. But thankfully, she didn’t have to choose, so…

Before she could finish that thought, she walked straight into a wall.

Or so it felt.

She reeled and found herself steadied by a pair of strong hands.

“Are you all right?”

The annoyed, clipped tone with no trace of any exotic accent—she recognized it. For the second time that morning, she found herself facing a tall, dark-haired man. A beautiful one, but with just a little something rough about him. Not the kind of smooth beauty that had unsettled her a few minutes ago.

And the eyes weren’t blue.

These eyes were definitely green. She felt as if she knew them well. She’d dreamt of them all night. She’d dreamt of…

Oh no. No, she wasn’t going there.

“I’m fine, I… I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

He was glowering at her, and his hands were still on her arms. She wanted to tell him, crisply and curtly, that she could stand very well on her own but she was frankly not entirely sure if she could. Something about that morning was unsettling her, and the impact of those green eyes looking into hers with that forbidding look in them wasn’t helping her at all.

“Sorry!” she yelped before she could stop herself.

“Do you not look where you’re going?”

“I… Well, you weren’t looking where you were going, either,” she pointed out, her temper awakening and steadying her wobbly legs. It was true enough. It took two to… walk into each other, not just to tango.

“I beg your pardon, Ms. Benjamin. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I’m… Sorry. I was lost in… Well, actually, I just met your brother a little way back.”

“Excuse me?”

He looked at her as if she was crazy.

“What? Gabriel Colombo, he said his name was, and he looked a lot like you, so I assumed he was your brother. Wasn’t he your brother? Oh God I made such a fool of myself if he’s not your brother! I talked to him as if he knew all about Colombo wines!”

“Calm down, please. Gabriel Colombo is my brother, but he’s not here, at this event.”

Alyssa frowned.

“Really? About as tall as you are—Well, no, actually, probably about an inch or two shorter than you are. I misremembered how tall you are, I think. Hair a shade or two darker than yours, blue eyes, and a very Italian accent. Did you go to different schools or something? How is it that he has an accent and you don’t?”

Why was she blathering on like that? He’d gone completely still. His hands were still on her arms and the grip tightened uncomfortably.

She tried to pull away, but he didn’t even seem to notice that he was holding her, let alone holding her too tight.

“Could you let me go? I’m fine now.”

“Oh. Yes, of course.”

He dropped her like she was a piece of hot coal. She rubbed her arms, glad she didn’t bruise easily. The man really should have a care for how strong he was.

“I apologize, Ms. Benjamin. You caught me by surprise.”

“I’m the one who feels caught. You have very strong hands,” grumbled Alyssa.

To her surprise, he looked absolutely chagrined and ashamed. She unbent just a little. He looked human, for once.

“It’s okay, you just don’t know how hard you grip things sometimes. It happens. Like when you accidentally bruise peaches.”

“Have I bruised you?”

Now he looked absolutely appalled.