Page 96 of Dangerous Intent

“Oh! Mistletoe,” I said. “You know what that means you have to do.”

“What I want to do, I can’t do in public.” He shrugged. “Although, I have been arrested for far worse.”

“I’ll settle for a kiss.” I draped my arms around his neck. “You can do the other stuff later.”

“I’m planning on it.”

He pressed his lips to mine, tilting his head to the side and slowly pushing his tongue inside my mouth. The butterflies in my stomach broke free and fluttered in a fierce circle as he kissed me soft and deep.

I stumbled against him as he released me from his hold. He tapped my nose and winked, making my limbs weak and my head giddy with anticipation over what we were going to do when we got back to the villa.

“Let’s go.” He took my hand and led me through the lobby and toward the massive tree with thousands of white lights.

“That must be like fifty feet tall.” I admired the stunning tree adorned with silver and blue balls with some white sparkling ones mixed in throughout. “It’s almost as spectacular as the one in Rockefeller Center.”

“You haven’t even seen that one this year.”

“I’ve seen it every other year. My father and?—”

No!I didn’t want any memories of my dad creeping in and ruining my holiday season.

“You don’t have to hide your feelings from me.” Marchello rested his hand on the side of my face. “You don’t have to shield anything from me.”

“I’m not.”

“Okay.” His quiet voice wasn’t so demanding. He had a way of being there for me but not forcing me to say more than I wanted. The strong, silent type came in handy for my grieving process.

“Ricardo and I are going shopping and to see the tree when we get back.”

“Maybe I’ll join you.” He held my hand. “I used to go with my parents too.”

“I’d love it if you would come with us.”

“Ricardo might not.”

“He would if you were nicer to him. Ricardo respects you. He tells me all the time how much you remind him of your father.” I led Marchello around to the back of the tree where an impressive waterfall flushed down from the second floor and into a fountain in the lobby. The water reflected red and green lights as it flowed into the pool at the bottom.

“My father wouldn’t have unleashed on him the way I did.”

“Your father didn’t have me to make him deranged.”

“True.” He nodded. “I’ll try to do better when it comes to your friend.”

“Thank you.” I stretched up on my toes, kissed his jaw, and ran my cheek against his beard. “That means so much to me.”

“I would do anything for you.”

“I love my new tattoo.” I pressed my fingers over the clear bandage on my collarbone. “I can’t wait until it heals so I can show it off.”

“You didn’t even flinch.” He smirked. “Such a tough girl.”

“I’m your girl.”

He gazed across the lobby as Lorenzo and a few men dressed in designer suits, fancy shoes, and gold jewelry stopped by the private lounge where we had drinks earlier.

“Are they here for you?” I asked.

“I have to take a brief meeting with them to see if it would be beneficial for us to move forward in a business arrangement.”