“That’s not fair,” Angelina said. “You have a right to a career.”
“You mean you wouldn’t give up everything for that special man?”
Angelina glanced away, not wanting to go into her personal life. “There isn’t a special man in my life. Since I’m single, I’m looking forward to a long, successful career. So far, I’ve only worked for my family’s business. And over the years, my brothers have been pretty protective. It’s time for me to strike out on my own. That’s why I’m here. I’m hoping to get a job at Rossi International.”
Shannon leaned closer. “And these brothers of yours let you fly off in a private jet with John Rossi?”
Angelina blushed. “I convinced them that there’s nothing personal between us.”
Shannon looked toward the front door. “You better tell John then.”
Angelina drew a shaky breath at the sight of John standing at the main entrance. He was talking with Sam, but his gaze was on her. His dark eyes were compelling, drawing her in, making her want what she knew she couldn’t have. But making her want it just the same.
John was a handsome man, but he had something more than looks. There was an air of confidence about him. She bet he was a powerhouse in the boardroom ... and in the bedroom. All at once heat rose to her face and she glanced away. What was she thinking? She’d made her choice.
A sudden emptiness surrounded her as she wondered if she would always feel this way. She’d had love once, knew how it felt to care so much about another person that nothing else mattered. And she knew how much it hurt when it fell apart. She would never risk her heart again.
That afternoon, John insisted Angelina see some of the countryside. More snow was due that night which was wonderful for skiers, but made it hard to get around. John had one of the horse-drawn sleighs waiting outside the main entrance when she came down.
“I hope you’re dressed warmly enough,” he said escorting her to the sleigh.
“I’m wearing long johns,” she said as she climbed in and sat down on the cushioned seat. He followed her, then covered their legs with a wool blanket.
The driver took the reins and called a command to the pair of Morgan horses. The sleigh jerked forward and soon was gliding smoothly over the snowy trail.
Angelina was enthralled with the scenery. The sun was going down behind the mountain, casting shadows over the pristine snow. Pine trees were heavy with white powder, the branches hanging low to the ground. Off in the distance, Angelina saw two deer.
“Oh, look,” she said. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
“One of the many advantages of being out in the wilderness. I don’t get to see much of that in New York City.”
Angelina looked at him. “We get some out at the lake. But with more development, we’re losing more of the beautiful creatures.”
“I guess you have to give up some things for progress,” he said. “And speaking of progress, Shannon said you did a wonderful job behind the desk.”
John was seated close beside her. Saying he made Angelina nervous was an understatement. “Shannon’s been a wonderful teacher. I just followed her lead.”
Their eyes locked. She couldn’t even manage a breath as her gaze lowered to his mouth, remembering how wonderful his lips felt against hers.
“She said you charmed the guests,” he said.
“Was that wrong?”
He shook his head. “That’s what we want. Rossi Hotels go beyond routine for our guests. That’s why people come to our resorts. That’s why they’re going to come to the Grand Haven.”
“So I did well?”
He finally smiled. “Are you fishing for a compliment?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Yes, Ms. Covelli, you did very well.”
John rested his arm along the back of the sleigh as Angelina rewarded him with a smile. “Now, enough about business. This is downtime.” He leaned back and listened to the silence, broken only by the occasional sound of the sleigh bells. But there was no relaxing. His body was on full alert with her next to him.
“Thank you,” she said, “but you didn’t have to take me for a ride.”
He turned to her. Seeing that silly red ski cap on her head, he grinned. She looked adorable. “I’m doing what I want to do.” A shiver went through him when her blue eyes looked up at him so trustingly. He cupped the back of her neck and brought her closer. Then his mouth touched hers fleetingly and pulled back. Their eyes met, hers darkened with desire. Without thinking of consequences, he returned, slanting his mouth over hers in a searing kiss that soon had them both heating up under the blanket.
Angelina groaned as his tongue swept past her lips, reaching deep inside and mating with hers. His hands slipped inside her coat and drew her tight against him. By the time he released her, they were both gasping for air.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t want that as much as I did.”
Her eyes shimmered. “No, I can’t.”
John wished her words gave him more satisfaction. Where would this passion lead them?
The next day, John left Angelina alone. She stayed busy with Shannon, but found she had plenty of time to think about John Rossi and the kisses they had shared. How the man had complicated her once-simple life! She found herself looking for him all the time. Just a quick glance from a distance had her heart racing again. She had to stop it Her reaction was probably due to the fact that the lodge was a romantic place, and everyone around them was coupled up. Yes, that was it. Once she returned home things would be back to normal, and she could focus on work.
Every bit of the hotel operation fascinated Angelina, and she absorbed information like a sponge, collecting ideas that could be used for the Grand Haven. With more training, she could make a big contribution to the success of the Haven Springs hotel. If only she could convince John.
After a continental breakfast in the inn’s café. the next morning, Angelina took the elevator up to the third floor where she was to meet the housekeeping supervisor, Helen. When she arrived she found the cleaning cart next to the Tuscany Suite—John’s suite. The door was ajar, so she took it for granted that John had gone skiing and Helen was inside. She pushed open the door and glanced inside the large apartment.
The individual beauty of each room never ceased to amaze her. The large sitting area of this one was adorned with a huge stone fireplace. The glass sliding door opened out to a balcony and endless views of the mountain.
“Must be nice to live like this,” she murmured.
“It is,” a husky voice answered.
Angelina swung around to find John standing in the doorway to the master bedroom. She gasped, seeing that she had interrupted either his dressing or undressing. He had on ski pants, but he was minus a shirt or sweater, anything that would cover his gorgeous bare chest. Her gaze followed the sprinkling of black hair that narrowed down into his form-fitted pants.
She swallowed hard and managed to speak. “I’m sorry... I had no idea that anyone was here,” she said as intense heat raced through her body to her cheeks. Just concentrate on his face, she told herself, but she couldn’t do it. His shoulders and arms were beautifully sculpted, and she had an undeniable urge to touch him.
“I’m running a little late, but I’ll be heading for the slopes. Give me a minute.”
“I’ll wait outside.” Her pulse pounded so loudly in her ears that she could barely hear him speak.
“Not necessary. I suspect you’ve seen a few men without shirts.” His knowing smile told her he was enjoying her discomfort. “I mean, since you have brothers.”
All Angelina wanted to do was escape, but her feet felt rooted to the floor.
He pulled a thermal shirt over his head, then a black sweater. Watching him dress seemed all too intimate.
“Too bad you want to spend all your time working.” John grabbed his nylon jacket and gloves off the bed and walked toward her with a smile. “Sure you don’t want to take the morning off and go skiing?”
They both turned toward the front door of the suite where a small brunette stood. She was also dressed for the slopes.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked John. She gave Angelina a once-over, and then a dismissive look.
“In a minute.” John turned back to Angelina. “You sure you don’t want to go?” he asked.
“No, I think it would be better if I worked this morning.”
He nodded, and went out the door. It didn’t seem as if he was that upset that she couldn’t go.
Confused, Angelina wondered why that bothered her so much.
Late that afternoon, Angelina returned to her suite, exhausted. But it was a good tired—she’d accomplished a lot with Shannon’s help. Right now, all she wanted to do was go to bed, but she knew that sleep would elude her.
As hard as she tried to stay focused on her work, John had managed to invade her head and distract her. He’d made her realize that her life had been empty. She’d been alone since Justin; she had managed, out side family, to keep away from personal relationships. But somehow John had gotten past all the barriers.
Angelina stood, walked to the window and watched the snow fall. She’d been fooling herself when she thought she could come here just for business. She wanted John Rossi, and that terrified her. Angelina shut her eyes, remembering the heated kisses they’d shared. The way he made her feel every time he was near. How his simple touch made her body come alive. A tremor raced through her.
There was a knock on the door. Angelina went to answer it and found Sam holding a long-stemmed red rose.
“This is for you,” the young bellman said with a smile, then handed her an envelope. She thanked him and walked back inside.
Knowing the note was from John, Angelina was almost afraid to open it. Finally she tore the envelope and read, “Angelina, have dinner with me tonight in my suite at seven. John.”
She could read between the lines. It wasn’t just dinner he was asking for. It was much more. And she’d be smart to tear up the note and go to bed and forget all about the invitation.
But since the moment she’d met the man, Angelina hadn’t been wise at all. John Rossi was able to get close to her and she couldn’t seem to stop it Worse, she didn’t want to. And now, she wasn’t thinking sensibly. She held the velvety red rose to her lips. She would go to John’s suite and take the one night of passion he was offering.
It was seven-fifteen. She wasn’t coming, John thought as he went to the table set up by the windows overlooking the mountain. The lights on the slope twinkled in the frigid night air.
As he bent over to blow out the candles, he heard a knock on the door. Suddenly, his heart began pounding erratically. He went to the door and found Angelina standing in the hall.
“Sorry I’m late. I ... couldn’t decide...”
He took her hand and drew her inside. “I’m glad you came. I wanted so much to spend this evening with you.”
Her gaze danced around the room. He could see the panic in her. “Look, Angelina, you can stop acting as if I’m going to pounce on you. I’ve told you from the beginning that nothing is going to happen unless you want it to.”
Her blue eyes met his. “That’s what I’m afraid of. I can’t seem to stay away from you. I know that I’m not the type of woman you’re used to, and I have no idea why you want me.”
He cupped her face. “I can give you about fifty reasons. One look from those eyes of yours and you turn me inside out.” He drew another shuddering breath. “I can’t think of anything but having you in my arms, kissing you until you can’t think.”
She swallowed. “John ... I’m not very good at this. But I want—”
His mouth closed over hers. The kiss was anything but gentle. It was hungry and needy and John wanted her to know the rules from the beginning. He broke off the kiss. “If you’re going to leave, cara, you’d better do it now.”
When she didn’t budge, he kissed her again, then picked her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom. “I want you, Angelina. So much I can’t think of anything else.”
“I want you, too.” she whispered, her arms locked around his neck. He released her and she stood next to the bed. He lowered his head and kissed her cheek softly, then gave his attention to her eyes, her nose, finally her mouth. Light lingering touches that caused her to whimper. He got the message and deepened the kiss. His tongue swept inside, mating hungrily with hers. She clutched his shoulders as he reveled in the feel of her body against his. He moved from her lips and began sampling her tempting neck.
He raised his head. “We may only have a short time together, but I want to make it perfect for you,” he said, then he found his way back to her seductive mouth.
Angelina refused to listen to her common sense. All she heard was the drumming of her heart mixed with the sound of soft music playing on the stereo. She wanted tonight. A memory of something she would never have again. She wasn’t fooling herself that John was going to confess his undying love for her, nor did she want him to. She wanted one night to forget the loneliness, to pretend she could have something special with a man.
When he broke off the kiss, she whimpered. He smiled, tugged the sweater over her head, tossing it away unnoticed. She trembled when his hands went to unfasten her slacks and soon they were sliding to the floor. Her nervousness grew as she stepped out of them, leaving her standing there in a lacy black bra and matching panties.
John was feasting his eyes on her body as if she were his next meal. “Oh, cara. You’re so beautiful.”
She gathered her courage and stepped forward. “Show me, John.” She went to work on his clothes. Her touch was shaky, but she managed to remove his sweater. “Make love to me.”
He stripped back the comforter, then placed her down on the cool ivory sheets. “I want you, Angelina. More than you’ll ever know.”
The only illumination was the moonlight through the window filtering across the big bed. He reached down and unfastened the clasp to her bra, freeing her breasts. His hands took over and began to drive her wild.
Angelina couldn’t stop trembling. She wanted so much to please John. Reaching out, she began to stroke his chest, feeling his hot skin against her hands, the sudden power she discovered to make his breath catch as her fingers grazed the nipple all but hidden in the swirl of dark hair. He leaned next to her ear and murmured loving endearments in Italian, causing another warm shiver to run down her spine.
“My turn,” he whispered as he slipped silently down beside her in the bed. He bent his head and his mouth covered one breast and sucked gently. Her fingers gripped the sheets as his tongue flicked over the sensitive nipple, making the tip taut, nearly sending her into orbit.
Then guilt overtook her. No matter how much she wanted John, she had no right to feel these things.
John sensed her holding back, tensing up. “Easy, cara. This isn’t a race. We’ll take this slow,” he whispered.
She nodded, then pushed against him. “Make love to me...now.”
“I plan to,” he promised as his hand went to her belly and slid lower to the edge of her panties. She tensed again then finally pushed away from him.
Reaching for the sheet, she covered her nakedness. “I’m sorry,” she breathed, panic laced through her words. “I thought I could....” She shook her head. “But, I can’t....”
John pulled her into his arms. “Shh. I told you we would only go as far as you wanted to go.”
She raised her head, tears filled her eyes. “You don’t understand.... I want to so much. But I would be betraying...”
Before she could explain, there was a soft knock on the door.
“Damn, I forgot about dinner.” John released her, got up and slipped on his sweater. “Don’t go anywhere,” he ordered. “I’ll be back.”
Angelina jumped out of the bed, fighting back the tears. More
angry at herself than sad at what she’d almost done. Was she crazy? She quickly put on her bra, despite her shaking hands. Next came her slacks and sweater. She wanted desperately to be dressed when she explained that she’d had a moment of insanity.
After slipping on her shoes, she looked up and saw John.
He looked angry.
“How were you planning on sneaking out? There isn’t a back door.”
“I planned to walk out the front door.”
“Think again,” he said. “You’re not leaving here until you tell me what was going on a few minutes ago.”
Angelina didn’t want to go into this. “I’d rather not talk about it.” She tried to walk past him and he grabbed her.
“Not before you tell me who you think you’re betraying.”
She looked away. “Can’t I just say I changed my mind and leave it at that?”
“I don’t think you changed your mind. Something else made you...” His grip tightened. “Who is he? I draw the line at being a substitute for another man. Now, who is he?”
The burning wood in the fireplace crackled. “Justin. We were to be married.”
John tensed, then dropped her hand. “Get out.” He turned away, realizing she had been using him all along.
She came up behind him. “It’s not what you think, John. I was to marry Justin.”
John swung around. “Is it my problem that the guy walked out on you?”
A tear escaped and she brushed it away. Damn it. John hated tears. He hated women who used them for their own purposes.
“He didn’t walk out. Justin died. We were going to be married, and we never got to make love... I’m sorry.” She turned and started for the door.
Ah, hell. He felt like he’d been kicked in the gut. He went after her. “Angelina, don’t leave.” He reached for her, but she fought him.
“Stop it, I just want to apologize,” he said. “I didn’t know.”
She nodded. Somehow he managed to guide her to the sofa. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. He brought her head to his chest and he held her for a long time. She fit so perfectly.
The Man, The Ring, The Wedding Page 12