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too risky.
    So why are you holding onto his arm
like he’s your lover?
    Why
indeed? It felt so damn good to walk down the street with him. It had been a
long time since she’d gone out on a date, let alone had a meal in such a nice
place. He was handsome, easy to be with, and so far he hadn’t given off a
creepy vibe. She was going to enjoy this lunch and then she’d take it one day
at a time.
    She
was only human, and Dominic was the kind of man she’d fantasized about her
entire adult life. It would be very difficult not to fall under his spell.
     

Chapter
Five
     
    Angela
whistled softly as they walked inside. “Damn. I feel like I should be wearing a
ball gown.” Opulence didn’t adequately describe the atmosphere, with its quiet
music, dark wood, and elegant fabrics. She felt like she’d stepped back in time
to an era when only royalty enjoyed such luxury.
    He
winked at her, and the gesture sent tiny contractions to her pussy. “Only if we
were here in the evening.”
    A
sense of humor was so damn sexy. Why
couldn’t he be a boring stick-in-the-mud? That would make it easier to ignore
that smoldering dark look, and the way her body tingled when he was near.
    The
maître d’ obviously knew Dominic, because he practically ran toward them. “Two
for lunch, Mr. Greco?”
    “Yes,
and we’d like privacy, please.”
    Is that so? Why?
    They
were led to an alcove at the back of the restaurant, partially closed by a
heavy burgundy drape. No one else was close to them. Dominic ordered an
expensive bottle of wine in perfect Italian, and she didn’t bother opening the
menu. She’d puke if she looked at the prices.
    “Will
you choose for me?” she asked. “I’m sure I’ll love anything they serve here.”
    He
smiled at her. “How do you know that?”
    “The
smell.”
    His
laugh sent chills down her spine. “I’d be delighted to order for you. Any
allergies or dislikes I should know about?”
    She
shook her head. “None.”
    When
he ordered an appetizer of lightly breaded calamari, and entrees of pasta alla norma and stuffed swordfish rolls, plus salads for each of
them, Angela wondered how much work she’d get done this afternoon. She’d be
asleep from all this food. After their server left, she asked him if he ate a
lunch this lavish every day.
    “No.
This is a special occasion.”
    She
was about to say something else, but their wine was already there. She’d never
seen such quick service. Did he own the place? After he’d tasted it and they
each had a glass, Dominic lifted his. “To the start of what I hope is a
wonderful relationship.”
    She
drank first, savoring the taste, and then she put down her glass and took a
deep breath. “Dominic, I am really grateful for the job. Honestly. But what is
all this? You take my arm inside the building, I’m in a ridiculously expensive
restaurant with you, and this feels more like a date than a business lunch.”
    It
was one of the boldest questions she’d ever asked of an employer. Then again,
she’d never worked for anyone like him, and she’d never been so obviously hit
on by any of her bosses.
    He
took another sip of wine while he held her gaze. It was impossible to read the
expression in his eyes, but she didn’t think he was angry. Rather that he was
carefully choosing his next words.
    “All
right.” He placed his glass on the table and fixed her with a neutral stare.
“Time to stop dancing around and come clean. Angela, I have a confession. It’s
going to be very difficult for me not to want more from you than a work
relationship. I think you’re beautiful and intelligent, and I also sense
something mysterious in you that intrigues me. You’re quite irresistible.”
    She
swallowed hard. There was something mysterious about her all right, but God
help him if he found out because then he’d be in danger, too.
    “Surely
I’m not the first man to have told you that.”
    “I’ve
um … I’ve avoided getting close enough to anyone to get to