Page 174 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

She let the conversation die, happy to watch as he raked his fingers through his hair to comb it and ran a hand over his unshaven jaw.

‘How do you have your coffee?’ he asked.

‘Lots of milk.’

‘I shan’t be long.’

It was a little awkward. She lay there silent, but managed a half-smile as he let himself out, then lay there some more and waited for the cringe of utter regret to spike now that she was alone.

Except...there was none.

Now the conversation had been had as to their recklessness, there was none.

She didn’t regret last night at all.

It had been a complete revelation.

A small part of her had thought that deep longing and fevered want didn’t exist for her.

Hauling herself from his delicious bed, she made her way to the bathroom. It was all marble and gold taps. No stars on the ceilings, though, but still decadent.

Bathed and smelling gorgeous, from all his lovely soaps and such, she wrapped herself in a huge towel and stared into the full-length mirror that leant on the bathroom wall... She tried to think of practical things, like where she’d left her clothes.

And although she would have loved to climb back into the high, rumpled bed, she pinched his comb instead.

Back in the bedroom, her eyes were drawn to a thick golden card. She couldn’t help but peek—and then was startled when she got caught...

Dante stood at the door and informed her about what she was reading. ‘The Lucca Spring Ball.’

‘Yes. It looks incredible. Mimi’s told me about it.’

She turned and saw that he had brought up not just coffee but her clothes. It really was time to leave, Susie realised as she replaced the thick card.

‘Sorry...’ She took the coffee from him and truly didn’t know how they should be together. ‘I wasn’t angling for you to invite me.’

‘I would hope not,’ he commented as he moved to lie sideways on the bed and watch her dress. ‘Given it’s six weeks away.’

‘And we’re just for one night.’ She’d got the message and wanted him to know that she had. ‘Anyway, it’s my birthday that weekend.’

‘How old will you be?’

‘Twenty-five—and my parents are coming.’

‘Is that nice?’

‘Very.’ She smiled as she clipped on her bra. ‘I can’t wait to have them here on my birthday.’ She separated her knickers from her tights, wishing there was a more elegant way to do things. ‘And have them all to myself.’

‘All to yourself?’

‘On my birthday.’ She knew she sounded petty and jealous—possibly she was—so she shook her head and smiled. ‘What are you doing today?’

‘I’ll check in on Gio...see if I can get him to talk. We’re not brilliant at it.’

‘How come?’ she asked. ‘I mean, you’re very direct.’

‘Do you talk easily withyourfamily about difficult topics?’

‘No,’ Susie admitted. ‘I just...’ She slipped on her dress and sat on the bed to do up the zip at the back.