Page 68 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

He nodded and strode away, not looking back. She knew because she stood there until he disappeared.

CHAPTER FIVE

The hotel restaurantwas filled with the comfortable buzz of conversation and the clink of cutlery and china as guests breakfasted. Alone by the window sat Stella, twisting her bangle while she stared across the piazza.

Today she wore blue jeans and a white shirt, her hair in a high ponytail that shimmered glossily in the morning sunlight.

Gio knew if he were closer he’d see threads of russet and dark gold amongst the rich brown. So many times yesterday those hints of warm colour had made him want to touch, wondering if her hair was as soft as it looked.

Her eyes had been dark and tempting. He’d wanted to taste her lips, discover if they could possibly be as sweet as he imagined.

Yet she wasn’t a soft woman. Even if he hadn’t known Barbieri had planted her in his hotel, Gio would have recognised that. There was a self-reliance about her, a caution, that said she was no one’s fool.

Hewas the fool. Last night outside her room he’d wanted to give her what she invited with those yearning looks and pouting lips. He’d almost kissed her, even knowing it was a game she played.

Yet his desire was real, building from that initial blast of awareness until it became an almost irresistible itch beneath his skin. A need that common sense couldn’t quench.

It had given him inordinate satisfaction to disappoint her and walk away.

But the joke was on him because he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind all night. He’d spent hours trying to work out what, precisely, she was after. When he’d finally drifted into sleep he’d met her in his dreams. In those he hadn’t walked away but had delighted in discovering all there was to know about her body and her ability to please him.

His jeans tightened as he remembered how thoroughly she’d pleasured him.

Sadly a dream lover did nothing to erase his hunger.

‘She’s been here a long time,’ murmured the manager, joining him near the doorway. ‘She finished eating ages ago.’

Gio watched her sip her coffee. ‘She’s waiting for someone or something.’

Him, obviously. Despite everything, or perhaps because of the way she’d managed to get under his skin, the thought pleased him. He looked forward to their next encounter.

‘Possibly. Or she could be gathering information. She’s been very friendly to the staff this morning.’

Gio watched her smile at a waiter who’d obviously stopped to ask if she needed anything. Even in profile her smile was bright, making him remember the full-wattage effect of her grin. Something clenched inside him. He told himself it wasn’t anger that she used that same smile to win the waiter over. Whatever she said it was more than an order for more coffee.

As if reading his mind the manager said, ‘Don’t worry. The staff are discreet. They’d never share anything they shouldn’t.’

Gio shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, disliking his urge to stride over and make her look athiminstead of the impressionable young waiter.

He told himself it was because he’d spent all yesterday trying to get her trust and prise her secrets free, with no success. She was too canny to believe she’d won him over yet. His only solace was thinking how frustrated she must have been last night when he’d left her.

She’d have to try harder if it was pillow talk she wanted.

‘You’ve spoken to the staff?’

‘Only to find out what she’s been asking.’ At Gio’s raised eyebrow, the manager continued. ‘Nothing obviously questionable. She’s been very friendly, complimenting the servers and asking about their backgrounds, getting to know them.’

The waiter left Stella’s table and, at a discreet gesture from the manager, approached them.

‘The lady by the window with her back to us, what was she talking about?’

The young man’s smile faded as if fearing he’d done something wrong. ‘Nothing much. The fine day. Sites she might visit in Rome. Whether I liked living in the city.’ He looked between Gio and his manager. ‘She was impressed by the service and how happy the staff seem. She asked if it was a good place to work and why.’

‘Thanks, Roberto.’ The manager nodded. ‘It’s excellent that she’s impressed. That’s all for now.’ When the waiter headed to another table he said, ‘She asked something similar of other staff members.’

Gio frowned. ‘She didn’t come all this way to find out why we have motivated staff.’

The manager nodded. ‘There’s something else you need to see. Have you got time now?’