The Billionaire's Sweet Revenge

TEN

If only they were alone.

Then again, if they were alone, Gabe would keep this beautiful, kindhearted woman in his bedroom for days on end. Just the small gesture of calling his uncle had her so excited—and thankful—that Gabe didn't know how to react. When she practically threw herself on top of him and began kissing him, all of his resistance vanished.

Adrianna kissed him with so much emotion, it softened his heart. He couldn't understand the feelings running amok through his system. But right now, all he wanted to do was feel…and enjoy…

The man steering the boat for them cleared his throat. Loudly. Adrianna's body stiffened, and Gabe cursed under his breath. They definitely needed to be alone in order to do what he wanted them to do. And yet, the time was way off.

As she sat up, her face beamed with embarrassment. Gabe laughed and sat up with her. He took hold of her hand, pulling her closer on the seat. He pointed to a building. "Do you see that structure right there?"

"Yes." Her voice was strained when she answered.

"That's called Palazzi Barbaro. It is one of Venice's least altered of the Gothic palaces. It was built around the 1400's."

"How remarkable."

Her voice was lower than normal, so he glanced her way. She wasn't looking at the building, but at him, instead. His heartbeat hammered faster against his ribs. They definitely needed to get out of this gondola and into a private bedroom. Soon!

Chuckling, he shook his head and continued the tour. It didn't take long for Adrianna to finally start admiring the old buildings, and she even asked questions about some of them. She used her cell phone to take pictures…even of him, which he didn't mind. Not now. Now that he knew which sister she really was, he wasn't embarrassed at all to be seen with her.

Once the tour of the canal ended, he took her to have lunch at one of the finer restaurants. Walking next to her, he felt almost under-dressed. She looked so lovely in her blue dress that matched her cobalt eyes. Her blonde hair hung long over her shoulders and down her back. She was absolutely stunning. He was tired of seeing women who thought they had to dress like a million-dollar model, and spend lots of money to have their hair and their fingernails done. They wore jewelry like they were the wealthiest women in the world. But being with Adrianna, he enjoyed her casual look. He liked the fact that she didn't wear three layers of make-up, and if her hair was windblown, she didn't fuss over it to try and get it back into place.

Another thing he liked about being with Adrianna was that he forgot about his hectic life. He could be himself, and she would accept that.

He recognized several people inside the restaurant—mainly models. The women made it a point to leave whoever they were with, just to come up to him to talk. They ignored Adrianna, which upset him greatly. Politely, he excused himself and told them he was with a date.

The maître d', escorted Gabe and Adrianna to his favorite table in the corner of the room where they had more privacy.

Gabe didn't need to open the wine menu. He looked up at the maître d', and smiled. "I would like the house's finest wine."

"Yes, Sir." The man turned and left to do Gabe's bidding.

"Oh, Gabe, this place is beautiful."

Adrianna's eyes sparkled as she looked around the dining area. The tables were covered with white linen cloths, and the chairs were covered with decorative fabric. Pictures of old Italy were displayed on the walls, and two huge silver and gold chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

He reached across the table and took hold of her hand. "I'm glad you like it."

When her eyes met his, she sighed. "I'm having the best time ever."

"Me, too."

She arched an eyebrow. "Why don't I believe that?" She motioned to the models who'd already accosted him at the entrance. "I'm sure you have better times with women like that."

"Actually, no." When her stunned expression met his, he gave her a sincere smile. "I am relieved that I am with you and not one of those phony women."

A blush touched her cheeks again. He really did enjoy seeing her this way.

"Forgive me, Gabe, but it's hard for me to believe you could have fun with someone like me, when you've been with women like that." She glanced at one of the models again. "I think I've seen her on the cover of Vogue."

"Yes, you have." He lifted Adrianna's hand and kissed her knuckles. "However, that particular woman complains so much that she gives me a headache whenever I'm with her. I have gone out with her twice, and she is never satisfied with the restaurant, or her hotel, or anything." He switched his focus to one of the other models. "Kim over there, has no brain in her head. She is as dumb as a rock. I am not kidding."

Adrianna laughed out loud, and then quickly placed a hand over her mouth.  "Gabe, you're awful."

"No, amore, I am being honest."

The maître d' returned with two goblets and their bottle of wine. He opened it and poured a small amount into Gabe's glass before handing it to him. Keeping his eyes on Adrianna, he sniffed the wine and then took a sip. He loved how she didn't look away from him.

He glanced at the maître d' and nodded. Once their wine was poured, and the maître d' left, Gabe lifted his glass. Adrianna copied.

"To the most amazing woman I have ever met." He winked at her.

"Actually," she said, "we should be toasting to the most amazing man I've ever met."

Chuckling, he clinked his glass against hers before taking a sip. "I suppose, since we think the other is amazing, that we should consider ourselves the perfect couple?"

Her expression changed as desire brightened in her face. "Yes, I think you're right."

Gabe could stare into her eyes all day, but if he did that, he'd want to take her somewhere that was much more private than this table. Besides, he was hungry, and he was sure she felt the same.

He glanced at his menu. "What are you hungry for?"

When she didn't answer, he lifted his attention to her. Her stare was one of longing, passion, wanting…

"Do you really need to ask? I think you know what I'm hungry for."

Inwardly, he groaned. She definitely felt the same yearnings he felt. But the more he thought about taking her to his room, the more he realized that she was very innocent. He suspected that the first time he kissed her on the airplane. Adrianna was nothing like her sister. Would he be her first?

Excitement mixed with doubt flowed through him. Although he'd love to be her first, he didn't want it to be like this. Whirlwind romances were only good for one night stands. Adrianna was definitely not that kind of girl. She was a librarian…a humanitarian! He couldn't do that to her knowing he'd ruin her life.

However, thinking about when she and her sister would leave Italy and return home, made his stomach twist with grief. Once she returned back to the United States, he would have to go back to his wild life. For some reason, that didn't appeal to him any longer. In fact, the thought of settling down and raising kids on his vineyard sounded more pleasing.

"You've gone quiet," she said. "What are you thinking?"

There was no way he could tell her what he was thinking. He scrambled to think of what to say instead. "I have been thinking about your sister." He pulled out his cell from his pants pocket. "Before I lose myself in the pleasure of your company, I had better call my uncle to see if he can squeeze your sister in for an appointment."

Happiness covered Adrianna's face, making her even lovelier. "Oh, Gabe. I don't know how to thank you."

He grinned and gave her a wink. "I am sure we can think of something."

Just then, the waiter came to the table, so Gabe put off calling his uncle for a bit longer.

"Are you ready to order?" the waiter asked, flashing a charming smile toward Adrianna.

She glanced at Gabe. "What do you like?"

"If you like fish—"

"I love fish," she answered quickly.

"Then you should get the tamarind-flavored salmon."

She nodded and turned back toward the waiter. "I'd like that, please."

"And I will have the same," Gabe added.

Once the waiter took their salad orders, he left the table.

The exhilaration dancing in Adrianna's eyes made his heart flip. He reached across the table again and grasped her hands. He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her knuckles. He'd love nothing more than to make her happy like this every day.

"So tell me," she began, "what kind of work—"

"Boun pomeriggo, Count Marcelli."

Gabe's attention snapped up to the man who had the nerve to interrupt Adrianna. Paolo Treloni, the Prime Minister of Venice, stood by Gabe's chair, smiling wide.

"Ciao," Gabe replied.

As the prime minister started speaking to Gabe in Italian, irritation flowed through him. Was the older man blind? Couldn't he see Gabe was with a beautiful woman…holding hands, no less? And yet the other man chatted on about state business.

Gabe looked over at Adrianna, who politely smiled at the prime minister, but Gabe could see she was as upset over this interruption as he was. Quickly, Gabe met the other man's gaze and held up his hand to stop him from talking.

"Forgive me for stopping you," Gabe said in Italian, "but I think we can discuss this at a later time. I am here with my good friend, Miss Olsen." When she heard her name, her eyes widened. "Paolo Treloni, this is Miss Olsen."

The prime minister reached his hand to Adrianna. "Pleasure to meet you," he said in English.

"Nice to meet one of Gabriele's friends," she answered back.

"Count Marcelli," the prime minister said, turning his attention on Gabe, "perhaps you could bring your lovely friend to the engagement tonight at my estate."

Gabe really didn't want to, only because he wanted Adrianna all to himself, but when her eyes sparkled with excitement, he knew he couldn't turn down her silent request. "Mia cara? Would you mind if we dropped by for an hour or so tonight?"

"Not at all. I would love to go."

Paolo bowed slightly to Adrianna. "Ciao, Miss Olsen."

"Ciao," she replied, but not quite getting the right accent.

Gabe chuckled, but it made him happy to know she was at least trying.

After Paolo left, she leaned closer to Gabe, squeezing his hand tighter. "What kind of engagement is it? And what exactly am I expected to wear?"

"Because I am part of the royal family, I am required to make an appearance. There will be food, dancing, and a lot of talk of politics. I do not mind so much the food and dancing, but I would rather not talk politics."

She laughed. "I don't blame you."

"But these engagements are always best dress. Because you probably didn't pack an evening gown, after lunch I shall take you to buy one."

She sucked in a quick breath as her smile faded. "Oh, no. I can't let you do that."

"Yes, you can, and you will." He brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles. "Because I want to do this for you. I want to turn you into Cenerentola…my Cinderella for tonight's function."

She giggled. "And are you my Prince Charming…or my fairy godmother?"

"You are comical, no?" He smiled. "But I will be whatever you want me to be."

"Then I choose Prince Charming."

He nodded. "Your wish is my command, mia cara."

"Gabe," she said softly, "even if you don't buy me a gown, you have made me feel like Cinderella already on this trip. Thank you."

His heart melted. How could it not when he gazed into her gracious, beautiful face as her eyes twinkled like diamonds? Sometimes it worried him how quickly his feelings multiplied since they first met, especially since he realized she was the other sister. If he didn't end this infatuation soon, he wouldn't be able to let her out of his life.

Although it was tempting to keep her here, his life was just too hectic for a permanent relationship now. He couldn't ask someone like her to put her life on hold just to accompany him on his many trips around the world as he helped build the family's wine business…not to mention being a big part of his sister's fashion world.

Within seconds, their food arrived. She withdrew her hand and started to eat. He took one bite, and remembered he needed to call his uncle. But just as he lifted his cell to dial, the phone buzzed, announcing an incoming call. The caller ID read: Dante Moretti.

A cold chill passed through Gabe. Why was his best friend calling Gabe now?

"I need to take this call," he told Adrianna before answering. "Ciao."

"Marcelli, I have one question for you."

His friend's voice sounded stern, and yet very upset.

"What is that?" Gabe asked.

"What are you doing with Valerie Olsen? Can you not remember what she did to me?"

How did he know… Gabe searched the restaurant. His friend must be here. He stopped his search when his gaze landed on Dante Moretti standing by the entrance way with his eyebrow arched. The other man's accusing glaze turned Gabe's blood to ice.

This was not good!