A Moment on the Lips(35)
‘Not necessarily. He keeps himself very much to himself,’ Signora Ricci said.
And getting information out of him was like pulling teeth. ‘I want to do something nice for him, but I don’t know what. Maybe take him out somewhere nice.’ Carenza wrinkled her nose. ‘But he hates films, so he probably wouldn’t like the theatre much, either.’
‘He hates anything that he thinks is pretentious,’ Signora Ricci said.
‘You’re telling me. You should’ve heard him about the art I was going to put in Tonielli’s,’ Carenza said dryly. ‘So do you have any idea where I can find something really good to say thank you, something he’d never think of doing for himself because—well, he always puts himself last—but he’d really, really like?’
Signora Ricci gave her an appraising look. ‘You know, you’re not what I expected.’
Carenza had a pretty good idea what the older woman had thought of her. ‘A princess, you mean?’
Signora Ricci looked embarrassed. ‘Yes.’
‘I could shake him when he calls me that. Except he’s been really good to me. He didn’t have to help me, but he’s been brilliant. And patient.’
Signora Ricci raised an eyebrow and laughed. ‘Dante, patient?’
Carenza thought of the way he’d ripped off her knickers, and blushed. ‘Sometimes.’
‘Well, I’m Mariella.’ Signora Ricci extended her hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Carenza.’
‘You, too, Mariella.’ Carenza shook her hand warmly. ‘So, can you give me any ideas of the sort of things he likes?’
‘Did you know it’s his birthday soon?’
‘No. He never said a word to me.’ And Carenza had a feeling he was going to downplay it. Not because he had issues about his age, but because he never spoiled himself, never took time for fun. A crazy idea formed in her head; the more she tried to suppress it, the more insistent it became. ‘Can I ask you something mad—and ask you not to say anything to him?’
‘That depends,’ Mariella said carefully.
‘He’s been my mentor, teaching me how to be a serious businesswoman. I want to do a bit of mentoring in reverse, and teach him to have fun.’ Taking it much further than she’d planned for tomorrow night.
‘First, you’ll have to get him to stop working for long enough,’ Mariella said dryly.
‘This is where my mad idea comes in. Knowing Dante, he’ll be working on his birthday. So is there any chance you can move his meetings for that day and the next, and block out the whole time for me instead—but without telling him?’
‘And what exactly are you planning to do with him?’ Mariella asked.
Carenza told her, and Mariella smiled. ‘He’ll have a hissy fit on you.’
‘No, he won’t. You know how he hates people talking about him. When he finds out, he’ll be in an airport. Among loads of people. He’s not going to make a scene.’
‘You’re devious.’ Mariella gave her an approving look.
‘I’ll need his passport. I can hardly ask him to bring it with him. Oh, and there’s packing.’
‘I can sort that out for you,’ Mariella said. ‘Tell me what you need, and I’ll make sure everything’s ready in a case under my desk.’
‘That’s fantastic. Thank you so much.’
‘One other thing. He always spends his birthday evening with his family.’
Ah. Carenza hadn’t thought of that. ‘Then I guess I ought to run this by them first.’
‘I can’t give you his mother’s number. But if I accidentally leave my contacts book open on my computer and go to the toilet, I can’t help it if you’re incredibly nosey and look on my screen, can I?’
Carenza laughed. ‘And you say I’m devious?’ She gave the secretary a high five. ‘Thank you, Mariella. This is going to be perfect.’
CHAPTER NINE
TEN o’clock on a Saturday night. Before Dante had met Carenza, he would’ve been working. Maybe in his office, maybe helping out in one of the restaurants, but definitely working. If anyone had told him a few weeks ago he’d be going clubbing with her—and even looking forward to it, just a tiny bit—he would’ve laughed.
You’ll definitely like my dress. And my shoes.
He wondered just what she had in mind. Possibilities bloomed in his head. One thing he did know, he was going to enjoy peeling her dress off afterwards. And so was she.