Lessons Learned

forgotten.
    “So now we have a free evening.”
    “That’s right.” With a sigh she leaned back in her seat and waited for him to start the engine.
    “We’ll have dinner at seven. Tonight, I make the arrangements.”
    A hamburger in her room, an old movie and bed. Juliet let the wish come and go. Her job was to pamper and entertain as much as possible. “Whatever you like.”
    Carlo pulled out of the parking space with a squeal of tires that had Juliet bolting up. “I’ll hold you to that, cara. ”
    He zoomed out of the garage and turned right with hardly a pause. “Carlo—”
    “We should have champagne to celebrate the end of our first week. You like champagne?”
    “Yes, I—Carlo, the light’s changing.”
    He breezed through the amber light, skimmed by the bumper of a battered compact and kept going. “Italian food. You have no objection?”
    “No.” She gripped the door handle until her knuckles turned white. “That truck!”
    “Yes, I see it.” He swerved around it, zipped through another light and cut a sharp right. “You have plans for the afternoon?”
    Juliet pressed a hand to her throat, thinking she might be able to push out her voice. “I was thinking of making use of the hotel spa. If I live.”
    “Good. Me, I think I’ll go shopping.”
    Juliet’s teeth snapped together as he changed lanes in bumper-to-bumper traffic. “How do I notify next of kin?”
    With a laugh, Carlo swung in front of their hotel. “Don’t worry, Juliet. Have your whirlpool and your sauna. Knock on my door at seven.”
    She looked back toward the street. Pamper and entertain, she remembered. Did that include risking your life? Her supervisor would think so. “Maybe I should go with you.”
    “No, I insist.” He leaned over, cupping her neck before she’d recovered enough to evade. “Enjoy,” he murmured lightly against her lips. “And think of me as your skin grows warm and your muscles grow lax.”
    In self-defense, Juliet hurried out of the car. Before she could tell him to drive carefully, he was barreling back out into the street. She offered a prayer for Italian maniacs, then went inside.
    By seven, she felt reborn. She’d sweated out fatigue in the sauna, shocked herself awake in the pool and splurged on a massage. Life, she thought as she splashed on her scent, had its good points after all. Tomorrow’s flight to Dallas would be soon enough to draft her Denver report. Such as it was. Tonight, all she had to worry about was eating. After pressing a hand to her stomach, Juliet admitted she was more than ready for that.
    With a quick check, she approved the simple ivory dress with the high collar and tiny pearly buttons. Unless Carlo had picked a hot dog stand it would suit. Grabbing her evening bag, she slipped across the hall to knock on Carlo’s door. She only hoped he’d chosen some place close by. The last thing she wanted to do was fight Denver’s downtown traffic again.
    The first thing she noticed when Carlo opened his door were the rolled up sleeves of his shirt. It was cotton, oversized andchic, but her eyes were drawn to the surprising cord of muscles in his forearms. The man did more than lift spoons and spatulas. The next thing she noticed was the erotic scents of spices and sauce.
    “Lovely.” Carlo took both hands and drew her inside. She pleased him, the smooth, creamy skin, the light, subtle scent, but more, the confused hesitation in her eyes as she glanced over to where the aroma of food was strongest.
    “An interesting cologne,” she managed after a moment. “But don’t you think you’ve gotten a bit carried away?”
    “ Innamorata, you don’t wear Franconi’s spaghetti sauce, you absorb it.” He kissed the back of her hand. “Anticipate it.” Then the other. “Savor it.” This time her palm.
    A smart woman wasn’t aroused by a man who used such flamboyant tactics. Juliet told herself that as the chills raced up her arms and down again. “Spaghetti sauce?” Slipping her hands from his, she linked them behind her back.
    “I found a wonderful shop. The spices pleased me very much. The burgundy was excellent. Italian, of course.”
    “Of course.” Cautious, she stepped farther into the suite. “You spent the day cooking?”
    “Yes. Though you should remind me to speak to the hotel owner about the quality of this stove. All in all, it went quite well.”
    She told herself it wasn’t wise to encourage him when she had no intention of eating alone