www.beautifultroublepublishing.com
Copyright © 2013, 2012, 2008 by Reid Randolph & Yazmin Taylor and Jeanie Johnson and Jayha Leigh
The characters Cannon Cascade and Godiva Seville and Nerva Imperates are copyrighted and used courtesy of Jeanie Johnson and Jayha Leigh.
The characters Vegas Knightsen, Sean Lodi, Rodeo Lodi, Tracy Lodi, and Byron Lodi are copyrighted and used courtesy of Yazmin Taylor. The characters Perry Sebastian, Alessandro Strozzi, Bibiana Strozzi, Adamo Strozzi, Christiano Strozzi, and Mattia Strozzi are copyrighted and used courtesy of Reid Randolph.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including but not limited to: printing, photocopying, faxing, recording, electronic transmission, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the authors or holders of the copyright.
This book is a work of fiction. References may be made to locations and historical events; however, names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the authors’ imaginations and/or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, events or locales is either used fictitiously or coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.
Published by
Beautiful Trouble Publishing, LLC
1589 Skeet Club Rd. Ste. 102-237
High Point, NC 27265
www.beautifultroublepublishing.com
Cover Art: Celia Kyle
Editor: Novellette Whyte
Proofreader: Rory Olsen
Formatting and Ebook Conversion:
Jim & Zetta, http://www.jimandzetta.com/
ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-61788-285-2
To Mom and Grandma N. Thanks for teaching me what it is to be a strong and capable woman. —Reid
For all the women who never thought they could be “that” girl. —Yazmin
To the crazy friends who do crazy things (such as going on snack runs at 2:00 a.m.) with us without asking questions…and without ever letting us forget it. —Jeanie and Jayha
Note about eBooks
eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving away eBooks is a copyright infringement. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author or Beautiful Trouble Publishing.
CAVEAT
This work of erotica contains adult language and sexually explicit scenes, which are smoking hot. This book is intended only for adults, as it is defined by the laws of the country in which the purchase is made. Keep this book out of the hands of under-aged readers.
Glossary
Bellissima: very beautiful
Fare il resto di voi andare in fiamme: Italian phrase meaning “make the rest of you go up in flames.”
Italian family:
Aunt (singular/plural): la zia/zie
Brother (singular/plural):
il fratello/fratelli
Daughter-in-law: la nuora
Family: la famiglia
Father: papà
Husband: Il marito
Grandmother/grandfather:
la nonna/il nonno
Mother: mamma
Parents: il genitori
Son: il figlio
Uncle (singular/plural): lo zio/zii
Wife: la moglie
S.p.A. A type of company in Italy that is limited by shares. Società per azioni (S.p.A.) is a public limited company.
Chapter Uno
Beautiful. A wonder to behold. She had classic features on a smooth, light mocha-colored canvas. Dr. Perry Sebastian sighed as she ran her fingers lightly over the newest hot creation from the handbag god, Marc Jacobs® for the LV® line. Handbags were her vice. Perry felt her excitement mounting as she gripped the leather handles of the pure work of handbag art. So what if her hand was shaking slightly? It was excitement, not nerves. She felt a shiver of delight course through her veins as the smooth leather literally caressed her palm. Lifting the handbag up to her nostrils, she breathed deeply. Bliss.
“Earth to Perry! You’re going to buy it before you cream yourself all over it, right?” The amused voice of Vegas Knightsen, Perry’s new best friend and traveling companion, intruded on Perry’s handbag fantasies.
Seeing there was no way she could continue perving on her handbag until she got to the privacy of her hotel room, Perry gasped in mock outrage. “Bite your tongue, Vegas! There will be no body fluids touching this magnificent piece of art!”
Of course Vegas just rolled her ever-expressive brown eyes and threw out another challenge. “C’mon, woman, we’ve got partying to do. The show is about to start!” Vegas would’ve said more but the sight of a tiny old lady with coiffed hair holding a purse dog with a matching hairstyle had rendered her speechless. For all of a hot second. “That’s just wrong on so many levels.”
It was wrong, but Perry wasn’t going to admit it when she could spend the time complaining about handbag purchase-interruptus. “What’s wrong is you attempting to rush me. This is an experience that should be savored, wench! Be gone with you. I need to have privacy as I get acquainted with my new lover.”
Vegas threw her head back and let loose the laughter that was an innate part of her. Seeing that Perry wasn’t about to be hurried, she stalked toward the entrance of the Louis Vuitton Store. “I’m going to have some personal time with my phone.” Translation: she was going to try and reach the next level of that candy game. Perry had never understand the appeal of stacking sweets but if that was the catalyst to her having additional time to get up close and personal with the sea of handbags, she wasn’t going to complain. “Come to me, my pretties,” she whispered as she caressed yet another bag she absolutely had to have.
Alessandro Strozzi was the type of man who noticed most things, especially when he decided that he wanted them. Maybe it had a little to do with the fact that the woman was talking to a piece of leather as if it were a lover she’d just met, or the way she caressed it. He couldn’t help but to desire her graceful hands on his body. Would she touch him with such reverence?
A man accustomed to having many women, Alessandro didn’t waste a lot time wondering why he was immediately intrigued by this woman. It wasn’t simply her looks, which were classic, or her demeanor, which was graceful. It wasn’t even her name, which was unusual for a woman. Perhaps the name Perry would’ve fit on another woman, but not on this woman who was so undeniably feminine…and if he made the right moves, the woman who would be so undeniably his.
“Check out Signore GQ at two o’clock,” Vegas said by way of a parting shot.
“You know there is such a thing as an indoor voice,” Perry said as she returned the bag to its place and picked up another.
“Sì, but there is something to be said for a woman yelling out her passion.”
Whatever Perry was planning to say next was quickly forgotten the moment she heard that voice. The baritone sent shivers down her frame. Looking up, she met the eyes of the most gorgeous man she’d seen since stepping off the plane at Malpensa International Airport, a mere twenty-four hours ago. For a moment all she could do was stand there and stare at the man who not only returned her stare but ate her up with his eyes. Feeling her cheeks heat, Perry almost dropped the handbag she was caressing. Almost.
First ensnared by the handsome man’s voice, she was now ensnared by his gaze. His dark looks coupled with the fluent Italian he spoke t
o the saleslady had her peg him as a native. His commanding presence made her take notice; his voice made her panties wet. She wondered what his voice would sound like saying her name.
Even though he was obviously making some kind of business transaction, the gorgeous man did so without ever taking his eyes off her. That in itself made an impression but what made a lasting impression was what happened when he smiled at her. That indentation in his left cheek signaled Perry’s downfall. He had a dimple.
Dressed in a moss-green cashmere sweater and black Armani® casual trousers, Alessandro wasn’t aware of the picture he made. He knew he dressed well, but that went without saying since he was Italian. Dressing well is what his countrymen did. Alessandro knew that women didn’t mind looking at him but he didn’t know exactly what it was that they found intriguing other than his money. He didn’t realize that the color of the sweater made his hazel eyes appear closer to green. Nor did he appreciate the fact that his rich brown hair stood as an invitation for women to run their hands through its length in an effort to see if it felt as decadent as it appeared. The fact that the way his hair brushed his shoulders emphasized their breadth was not something he considered; it was just an easy style for him to maintain. Individually, these features were beautiful but the fact that all of this was in one package resulted in eye-candy overload. Of course, his handsomeness was lost on him the majority of the time. A proud Italian, he considered it only natural that Italian men looked good.
It was the air of authority that he possessed that gave women pause. Alessandro was no doubt handsome but more than that, he was a man who commanded attention, loyalty, and obedience...everywhere, but especially in the bedroom. Sure, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and walked into a good-paying job fresh out of graduate school, but he’d worked his ass off. He didn’t want to just be another rich boy who lived off his family’s history and money. Even if he’d had those inclinations, his mamma and papà wouldn’t have allowed laziness. Neither would his own ego.
He worked hard and forged on where others would’ve thrown in the towel and thus he’d succeeded where others had failed. A man accustomed to getting what he wanted, Alessandro had decided that he wanted Perry. He hadn’t caught her surname but he wasn’t worried for when all was said and done, he would know all there was to know about this woman and she would know all there was to know about him. Mainly, that she was his.
Chapter Due
Normally, the beautiful people of fashion and the clothes that graced them were all that Perry needed to work up a good sweat, but nothing about this trip was normal. Coming on the last-minute trip with her new best friend, Vegas Knightsen was just one of many firsts for her. Public Relations Expert Extraordinaire (as she liked for the lesser people to refer to her), Vegas could be categorized as a force of nature unto herself. The human instinct for self-preservation prevented others from saying “no” to Vegas and thus incurring her wrath. Not a woman who flirted with danger, Perry found it easier to simply go along with Vegas.
Not a pushover by any means, Perry always made sure to voice her opinion. And pretending a courteousness that was more façade than truth, Vegas noted her opinion and then did whatever she wanted. It was fortunate that Vegas’s adventures turned out so wonderful, otherwise Perry would have a thing or five to say to the dynamo…as she was committing her. Joke. Kind of. Not really. Perry could envision herself committing Vegas to an asylum, just as she could envision Vegas breaking out while rocking a purple straight jacket.
So here she was in beautiful, romantic Milan, sitting next to the woman herself who was sitting next to some celebrity probably talking them into entrusting her with their image. Perry couldn’t help but mentally recite Mary Howitt’s “The Spider and the Fly.”© It was fitting, like a handmade pair of soft kid leather gloves. While Perry’s money was on Vegas to win whatever battle she was waging, she was sure that there wouldn’t be a cobweb in sight being that Vegas’s OCD wouldn’t allow such a thing. The now defunct NASA’s clean rooms would’ve been much cleaner if Vegas had been in charge.
Thinking of Vegas caused her to think of Vegas’ fiancé. All rough edges and never-ending abs, Sean Lodi was the kind of man people called when they needed someone extracted from enemy territory. Though Sean couldn’t make the trip, he’d made sure that Vegas knew he was but a phone call away and a horrible ending to any man crazy enough to mess with her. And just to make sure that Vegas didn’t forget that, Sean sent the most intimidating men who weren’t him along for the ride: Tracy, Byron, and Rodeo Lodi. While Perry was sure that having the Lodi brothers present was a good thing for the women of Italy, she suspected it could be a dangerous thing for the men of Italy. As far as protection went, the Italian Prime Minister would’ve envied their protection detail. However, Vegas and the Lodi boys had way too much in common, meaning they were a riot-in-waiting.
Thinking of the handsome Lodi men led her to consider other men—particularly tall, gorgeous Italian men who resembled runway models. Sitting in the exclusive, front-row seats that “fell off the back of a truck” according to Vegas, Perry should’ve been salivating over the spring line. Instead, her mind was back in that Louis Vuitton boutique replaying the meltdown that her body had undergone when she’d seen him. It was that damn dimple in his left cheek. The dimple had been her undoing. Her mouth watered, her heart beat increased, and her lace panties hadn’t stood a chance. She had to halt those thoughts because when she thought about panties she thought about him removing them…with his teeth.
Her fantasies were interrupted by the rich voice of Tracy Lodi.
“Everything okay, sweetheart?” Tracy asked, his Alabama drawl making one word of the entire sentence.
Turning to face him, she noticed the concern on his handsome face.
“I’m fine, Tracy. No need to worry about me,” she replied with her readymade smile firmly in place.
Vegas referred to that look as her public face and five whole minutes after knowing her had banned her from using it in her presence. Since Vegas was riveted by the clotheshorses on the stage, Perry felt safe using it.
“Oh, sweetheart, you can’t lie to Tracy. I know when a woman ain’t happy and you ain’t happy. And I just can’t have that.”
“I’m not even going to remark upon the fact that you just referred to yourself in the third person. However, I’m fine, Tracy. I really am.”
“You are indeed fine darlin’, but you ain’t okay.”
Tracy had noticed right away that Perry wasn’t having a good time. Though she looked straight ahead and clapped at the appropriate times, Tracy would bet good money that her mind was a million miles away. That was strange behavior for a woman who enjoyed fashion as much as she did. He didn’t need a dossier to alert him to that little detail. All he had to do was look at the woman. Perry had presence. He couldn’t help but picture her alongside Jackie O and the current First Lady. Now those were some stylish and smart women. While his brothers were breast and butt men, Tracy was a brain man. There was just something sexy as hell about a woman with a good head on her shoulders.
Perry was both smart and fashionable, but there was no way he could overlook her beauty. There was no doubt that she was beautiful…not pretty, not cute, not drop-dead gorgeous, but beautiful. Perry’s beauty was for real. There was nothing fake on Dr. Perry Sebastian—except for that damn smile. Though Tracy hadn’t known Perry for long, he knew her long enough to know the difference between her genuine smile and that thing that she tried to pass off as a smile. Oh, she still looked beautiful with that fake smile but when she smiled for real, it was like an Alabama win over Auburn—everything worth bragging about. Roll Tide.®
Right now Perry wasn’t smiling though, and Tracy simply couldn’t have that. Something about the woman triggered all of his protective instincts. He was sure that she could take care of herself but that wasn’t the point. A woman should never have to take care of herself, especially when there were men like him around. Perry Sebastian w
as a lady through and through and despite him being a little bit rough around the edges, he was a gentleman. He knew because his momma had made sure of that. Since so many lesser men populated the world, he made sure to announce his gentleman status to all and sundry. It didn’t matter what he was doing, be it introducing himself to pretty ladies or stomping mud holes in men who hadn’t learned the fine art of being a gentleman.
Speaking of stomping mud holes, he and his brother Sean had some mutual mud-hole-stomping exchanges. That sort of thing happened when you dragged a man out of bed at the ass crack of dawn. The only thing that had prevented him from giving Sean a limp was the thought of all the beautiful women he’d encounter in the beautiful city of Milan. There was also the fact that Vegas and Perry were going and as much as he loved those women, he couldn’t in good conscience let them loose on the other side of the world without a Lodi man there with them. Still, he had to put up some sort of protest.
“Why the hell can’t you go? After all, Vegas is your fiancée.”
“Because I’ve got two bikes to finish and there’s the fact that someone needs to remain here to be the go-between for the US Embassy and the Italian Embassy if something goes down. A, considering Vegas is part of the equation, something can go down. B, I’m the Lodi male with the most sense.”
“Debatable.”
“Whatever. What’s not debatable is the fact that you’re going. Besides, Perry will be there and while you don’t have a hope in hell of scoring her, being seen with her will put a stop to the rumors that you and Cannon are an item.”
“There wouldn’t be any rumors if you hadn’t started that shit, Sean. I’m strictly a ladies’ man and in case you haven’t noticed, ain’t a damn thing feminine about your apprentice Cannon. Even if I was going to date a man, I’d have to date a man who actually spoke. So far this year, Cannon’s spoken twenty-two words. I need someone to sing my praises and that’s going to take a minimum of a thousand words per day.”
The Girl Can't Help It (Unexpected Encounters) Page 1