Page 132 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

She opened her mouth to say no, when she realised that she needed to move to Step Two of the plan. Rin was doing well, had caught Enzo’s attention, but now Rin needed to play a little hard to get.

‘Well, there’s a party in Spain that—’

‘No!Non è possible,’ he said. ‘Icannotallow it.’

‘Why not?’ she asked, a little alarmed by the vehemence of his response.

‘Because Ineedyou,’ he implored. ‘I want to see Italy, to see this beautiful place of my ancestors through your eyes...it would,’ he said, laying it on a little thick, ‘give melife.’

Good god, what a line, Erin thought.Does that really work on women?

‘Maybe...’ Rin dangled. She couldn’t make it too easy for him.

And then she looked into his imploring gaze and despite herself, she saw it. The handsome Italian billionaire, the charm, the attraction...

‘Tell me you can stay,’ he cajoled.

‘I couldn’t possibly,’ Rin demurred coyly.

‘Oh, but youcould,’ he insisted, just as she’d hoped he would. ‘I’ve been positively bored for the last few weeks. You could join me on my tour of the coast. We’ll go to Positano, Amalfi and then on to Sorrento, it will be marvellous! I just can’t wait to show it all to you. We can start tomorrow.Sì?’

Rin bit her lip and nodded.

‘Wonderful. I will pick you up at nine am.’

‘Really?’ Erin asked, as if it had all been that simple.

‘Yes. And wear something...else,’ he said, casting an eye over her clothes.

Oh, she’d definitely be doing that. Erin couldn’t pull her plan off dressed like this. It was too uncomfortable and distracting. But despite that, this morning had been more than she could possibly hope for. The chance to get Enzo on his own, away from other distractions. Step Three already achieved and she’d only been in Italy three days! She couldn’t wait to tell Sam.

Enzo reached a hand into the air and clicked his fingers and Erin tried to hide the flinch of disdain that shivered down her spine.

Her father had done that when she was younger. Ordered people around as if he was better than them, than anyone. But he hadn’t been. It had all been lies. And when those lies had come tumbling down, his promises as empty as their bank accounts, she and her mother had been forced to go it alone, in a new home in a new area.

Erin wouldneverallow herself to be that dependent on a man. Ever. And Charterhouse was how she’d do it. For her mother. For herself. Once she got Charterhouse back, everything would be okay.

The waiter came with the bill, and a profusion of Italian passed between Enzo and the man before he bobbed his head and scurried away. Enzo reached for his wallet and retrieved an unnecessarily thick wad of notes before throwing them carelessly onto the table.

‘Well, then it’s settled,’ he said launching himself up from his chair, startling her a little.Again. The man was entirely too unpredictable.

He escorted her back to her hotel, for which she was almost thankful. The high wedge heels were a balancing act on the narrow cobbled tourist-filled streets. Arriving at the door to the small boutique hotel, he picked up her hand and brought it to his lips gently and slowly enough for her to stop him if she wanted to.

For just a moment, his eyes locked on hers, his lips hovering above the back of her hand, her heart thumped painfully in her chest.

Oh.

Thiswas the charm. This was the Playboy of Amalfi.

This was the man she needed to be wary of. Because while Rin could handle a man like Enzo Rossetti, she wasn’t sure that Erin Carter could.

Chapter Three

WhenEnzo messagedto say that he’d arrived the following morning, Erin had chosen to compromise between what she would wear and what she imagined Rin would wear. She knew that Enzo was unlikely to appreciate herusualchoice of clothing—which alternated between business suits and lounge wear with a conservative, but comfortable, leaning.

So, she had chosen a pair of wide legged trousers, comfortable but pretty sandals and paired them with an off-the-shoulder cropped linen loose-knit top from Rin’s side of the wardrobe. Dressing the part, hopefully, would aid in her deception. And if she ever felt a moment’s guilt, then she called to mind the snap of his fingers, the careless toss of money on the table, and the headlines about the heartbreak he left in his wake.

Mrs Agostino smiled knowingly at her as Erin left the hotel and came to an abrupt halt on the narrow pavement.