The Italian Billionaire’s Nubian Queen

“No, no,” she assured him hastily. “I don’t bruise easily. I’m fine, really. So you didn’t know your brother was here? Maybe I was mistaken. I’ve never seen him before.”

“I’m quite sure you weren’t mistaken, Ms. Benjamin. I don’t think you make mistakes so easily.”

Was there something hidden under those words? No, she was imagining it again. Boy, her imagination sure was running wild. She needed it to take a break. A long break, if possible.

“I try not to. I’m pretty sure it was him. Maybe there was some kind of miscommunication. You know, like a scheduling conflict. I’m sure it’s no big deal. Anyway, it can’t be a bad thing to have the brand represented twice over like this, can it? I’m sure it will all be just fine.”

Babbling again. She was babbling again, and what difference did it make to her whether things turned out fine for his brand? It had nothing to do with her. Absolutely nothing to do with her!

“Let me walk you back to your cabin.”

Alyssa frowned.

“I’m out for a walk.”

“Of course. I… Breakfast. Isn’t it time for breakfast?”

“What? I guess. I wanted to go for a walk before breakfast.”

“Yes, of course. Lunch, then.”

Alyssa looked at the man closely. Had he, unlikely as it seemed, hit his head somewhere when she’d run into him?

“I’m sorry, Mr. Colombo, but what on earth are you talking about?”

“Have lunch with me. Please.”

He looked like he’d had to remind himself to say that last word.

“Well, that is an improvement on last night.”

“I… Excuse me?”

Alyssa could’ve bitten her tongue. Last night, why had she brought up last night? He couldn’t know what her dreams had been like, of course that was impossible, but she knew it, and she really didn’t want to think about all of those dreams, not when he was standing right there next to her, looking at her like that, as if…

“Sorry. I didn’t sleep too well.”

“That makes two of us. Ms. Benjamin, it looks like we got off on the wrong foot with each other. But now that you’ve run into me and apparently given me some brain damage in the process, you could make amends by having lunch with me.”

“What?”

“Say you will have lunch with me, Ms. Benjamin.”

She just looked at him.

“Please,” he added, as if reminded by her look.

Alyssa had to grin.

“Call me Alyssa. And thank you, I do appreciate the offer, but I’m here with my sister and my friends, as I’m sure you saw. We have plans for lunch. Well, I think we have plans for lunch. Did we make plans for lunch? A lot of last night is a bit of a blur.”

“I know how you feel,” he murmured, and Alyssa had to keep herself from biting her lip in embarrassment.

She was willing to bet that he didn’t.

“Well then… Take care?” she asked tentatively, backing away slowly.

How odd. She’d felt that need to put distance between her and Gabriel, but the thought of being far away from Matteo…

“Lunch,” she blurted out.

“Yes?”

“Lunch. Yes.”

Matteo smiled at her and Alyssa told herself that at some point, she would give herself credit for not swooning right at his feet then.

Good God, what a smile! Was he allowed to have it without a permit? He should need a concealed carry or something of the sort with a smile like that!

“Lunch. I don’t know, I might be busy.”

Alyssa frowned, confused, before she realized that he was teasing her.

Well, how about that. He had jokes.

“I’m sure you can make time for me. How about a picnic?”

She was already trying to figure out ways to have lunch with Matteo Colombo without her friends and her sister getting all over it. She would have to find a way to excuse herself, and then stay out of sight, and…

“A picnic. It’s been years. All right, I can handle that. I’ll meet you here at one.”

“I… Hold on, that’s a bit…”

“At one, Alyssa. Do you have any allergies?”

Alyssa shook her head.

“Good. Anything you dislike?”

She shook her head again. There were plenty of things she disliked, but she couldn’t think of any of them right at that moment.

“Then I will see you at one. Take care, Alyssa.”

She nodded, and before she could come up with more ways to make herself look and feel like a fool, she turned around.

“Let me walk you to your cabin.”

She turned back, ready to say no. She didn’t need an escort to go to the cabin, for heaven’s sake. It was just a couple of minutes away. She hadn’t even gotten that walk but the way her heart was thundering, she felt like she’d gotten her workout anyway.

“Please.” And he smiled.

“Oh, all right,” she conceded, and fell into step beside him. He didn’t try to grab her hand, or touch her in any way. He seemed too preoccupied to even talk to her.

“Did I really hurt you?” he asked rather abruptly.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I promise. I’ve had worse from fighting with my sister.”

“Your sister. She’s the one who looks like you, but sad.”

“Do you think she looks sad, really?”

“Doesn’t she? I’m sorry, maybe I overstep.”

“No. I didn’t think you’d notice something like that.”

He gave her a glance that made her feel rather small.

“You believe in judging people you don’t know, do you?”

That was fair enough. She just shrugged.

“I’m here. Thank you for walking me back. It wasn’t necessary, but…”

“You’re welcome, Alyssa, and it was my pleasure. One, please remember.”

Alyssa sighed.

“I remember. I’ll be there.”

“Aly? Is that you?”

“That’s Bree. I’ve got to go. One, great,” said Alyssa, and she didn’t wait for Matteo to leave before darting inside and closing the door behind her. She stood there for a long moment, wondering just what had happened. What had all that been about?

What weird stuff was going on between Gabriel and Matteo Colombo? There was definitely something very strange going on there. Gabriel was probably the charmer, but he’d come across as a little too charming to her. Something about him had warned her not to trust him, though she couldn’t figure out what.

Was she judging people she didn’t know, as Matteo had accused her of doing?

Maybe she was. But she trusted her instincts. So why was it that her instincts had warned her that spending too much time with Matteo Colombo would turn her life upside down, and she’d still said yes?