Page 144 of Modern Romance September 2025 1-4

She would be quite the enjoyment.

He gritted his teeth against the traitorous voice of his former self and kept a safe distance between them. “Am I meant to eat with an audience?”

Her cheeks were flame red, but she didn’t scurry away. She moved carefully, as though she felt fragile. She took a few steps away from the desk, giving him access to the tray of food. Too decadent. It all smelled like heaven.

Or she did.

“I thought we could go over my plans before you met with the lawyers to have me sacked.” Her voice was not quite itself, but it didn’t shake.

“I do not plan on having you sacked,” he muttered, pouring himself coffee. It wasn’t the bitter, weak brew he allowed himself on the mountain. It was rich, deep, delicious. He wanted to spit it out.

But it moved down his throat, warm and decadent. It eased through his body with treasonous delight.

“Then perhaps we could go over your plans,” she said.

The devil on his shoulder was straining at its leash. He could not stop himself from a slow, sensual smile. Full of promise. Full of intent. One that made her pupils dilate and her breath catch in her throat.

“Oh, I have quite a few plans for you,tesoro.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Ameliafeltlikeshe was on fire. She felt like she’d run a marathon. She felt a million physical things she could not name, all pulsing through her like…like…

She didn’t know. And still she understood that it would bedangerousto know. For the both of them.

So she could not stay here, in this moment of physical reactions short-circuiting all her faculties. She had to move forward. She had to…to deal with business.Business.

She cleared her throat, then had to clear it once more to speak. “I am happy to discuss whatever plans you wish.” She’d meant to say this as professionally and formally as possible.

Instead, her cheeks heated even more, because she knew it sounded more like anofferthan a business proposition. Likeplanshad nothing to do with the castello or Christmas or his soul.

She was not offering anything. Why she needed to remindherselfof that, she wasn’t quite certain.

Perhaps if she had some experience, she might understand. But she’d never had much of a life outside the castello. Never thought much about pursuing one. Even when her father had been alive, the thought of leaving hadn’t crossed her mind. The castello had become home, her father her lone constant. She hadn’t been eager to leave, to chart a course, and her father had never pushed her to.

Only now did she realize that meant she’d missed out on the normal things a woman of twenty-four might have experienced. Flirtation.

Lust.

Perhaps if she had some experience, what she’d said to himmightbe an offer.

And that was a terrifying thought, all things considered. Especially when that sharp smile didn’t change, when that gaze that felt as hot and heavy as a brand only became more so.

When her entire body reacted, like she’d simply been a match waiting for friction to come alight. If she were someone else, would that be the kind of thrill she jumped into headfirst?

You are not someone else.

She needed to get a hold of herself. She needed to getoutof here, because he wasn’t pulling on a shirt. So he stood there, barefoot and naked from the waist up, the fascinating grooves and dips of his chest and abdomen a picture she wanted to sear into her memory.

Didn’twant to.Couldn’t.

He was herboss, and perhaps she had friendly feelings toward allowing him to see the good inside himself for herfather—a man he was closer in age to thanher—Diego would not view her in such a way.

Would he?

Get a grip, Amelia.

“But for now,” she said, her voice a high squeak that she sought to tame with the rest of her words, “I will leave you to get ready for your meeting.” She forced her mouth to curve upward, but it felt nothing like a smile. Perhaps a grimace, at best. She turned on her heel and warned herself to walk slowly and gracefully out of his room.