Page 137 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

But that wasn’t enough, was it?

She was, she recognised, being dated. But she neededmore. She needed him ravenous. Desperate. Madly in love.

You need to give him a ticking bomb.

She read Sam’s message and typed out a reply.

I think the police take that kind of thing quite seriously these days.

Sam had sent back a string of laughing emojis and her last bit of advice.

You need to threaten to take away his toy.

And, to clarify, YOU are the toy.

Enzo was beginning to get frustrated. He hadn’t minded wining and dining Erin all over the Amalfi Coast, but he was wondering when she was going to try and take things further. Not that he wanted to sleep with her. That would be taking things too far considering the plans he had to leave her in such a humiliating way.

No, no matter how beautiful Erin Carter was, he would not knowingly or willingly allow a woman to prostitute herself in such a way. There would be a way round it, he was sure. Because he doubted that Erin would want that for herself either.

He tapped his finger on the white cotton tablecloth of the restaurant he’d told her to meet him at. She was a little late, he thought, checking his phone, which was unusual given her punctuality so far.

At least his father had finally stopped calling. A harshly delivered warning during their last phone call cautioning him not to ask for money, had put paid to that. The sooner his father realised that he’d get nothing more out of him, the better.

Some would perhaps consider it ironic that the moment Enzo had finally severed financial ties with both his parents, along came a gold-digger trying to sink her teeth into him. But no. Enzo had decided it was just the universe making sure that he’d learned his lesson. That people who professed love too easily and quickly were not under some strong emotional sway, but a financial one. Only and always.

And when there was a commotion near the door, he—like the other diners—looked to see. And Enzo wassurethat it was someone else’s gasp that filled his ear when he caught sight of Erin being escorted towards his table. He coughed to clear the thickening of his throat, and stood when she reached the table he was sat at.

She looked...incredible.

There was nothing of the overt, revealing clothes she had worn to breakfast that first time. No. This was...sophisticated elegance. This looked like the real Erin Carter. The white jumpsuit clung lovingly, but not overly, to every long line of Erin’s body. The draped sleeves, slashed between the shoulder and wrist, hinted at strong, toned arms, and although the V-neck was low, it was very careful about what it concealed. She had drawn not only his attention, but that of many of the other dining guests that evening.

Erin, it appeared, had decided to take things to the next level. And it was about damn time.

‘You lookbellissima, Rin. Truly,’ he said as he held out her seat, ignoring the amusingly resentful gaze of the waiter who had clearly wished to do the same.

‘Thank you,’ Rin said, blushing prettily, but her eyes were awash with regret.

‘What’s wrong,bellezza?’

‘I... I’ve had some sad news. I must return to En­gland,’ she confessed haltingly. And there it was, that look: chin down, gaze up, designed to engender the maximum sympathy.

Such sad news, he reflected, that she had to dress herself up to the nines to deliver it. Well played, Ms Carter, well played. Because hefeltit. The natural twist in his gut, the one that he had been prepared for, but was still a slave to. The one that had him wanting to beg her to stay. Emotional manipulation of the highest kind.

‘No,cara. Why?’ he demanded as if he hadn’t expected some kind of ruse like this.

‘It is a work thing. A project that really needs my attention.’

‘A work thing,cara?’ he questioned. ‘And there I was, thinking that all you did was shop, travel, and party!’ he proclaimed, repeating her words back to her.

She blinked, unexpectedly caught out. ‘It’s for a friend, really...’ She gamely tried to recover.

‘Eh, who is this friend? Tell them no. And tellmeyou can stay,’ he cajoled.

‘But, even if I could, I have nowhere to stay,’ Rin explained. ‘The hotel is booked out for the rest of the summer.’

‘No room at the inn?’ Enzo teased, and her smile wobbled a little in response to the saccharine sweetness of his tone. But he could hardly help himself. He was having so much fun.

‘Sadly not,’ she replied helplessly.