For Lorenzo's Love: Mediterranean Lovers

By Kate Hofman

Lorenzo  and Lissa Monferrato have the perfect life—a wonderful marriage, a beautiful, healthy 2 year old daughter, and Lorenzo’s development company has just reached billion dollar status. Things couldn’t get much better.
But things could get much worse.

Someone is threatening Lissa. Someone wants Lorenzo for herself. Someone is not above murder to get Lissa out of the picture.
When a new project takes Lorenzo out of town with Amber, his secretary, she pursues him sexually and he fires her on the spot.
But Amber is not done.

Will Lorenzo figure it out just how evil Amber is in time to save Lissa’s life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Hofman
• Release date: Dec 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502245977

Book preview

Prologue

Ocean Breeze, Florida

Late April

Yes? What is it?  Lorenzo Monferrato looked up irritably from the file he was reading.

Amber Wright, his personal assistant, was breathing fast, sounding apologetic. I’ve just run up from the general office floor, Lorenzo—quicker than the elevator, for one floor. The mail room advised me a letter had come for you by courier, so I went down for it. It’s from Tampa Realty’s lawyer, marked Private & Confidential... I thought it might be the deed to that tract of Tarpon Springs land.

Well, let’s see if you’re right.  Lorenzo quickly opened the envelope, unfolding the pages and flicking through them. Yes, it is. Good.  He stuffed the pages back in the envelope, handing it to Amber. Courier it to Marcella Mellis, so she can do her legal stuff for me. And get Nick Thalassinos on the line, will you.

I’ll take it to Ms. Mellis’s office in my lunch break.  When she saw Lorenzo shrug, she went on. Is Nick interested in developing the land to add to his Akropolis Hotel’s amenities?

Lorenzo frowned. Amber was good at her work, but sometimes she tried to get more involved than he wanted her to be—guessing at his intentions. None of her business that he and Nick liked being partners when there was an unusual property to be developed. Just get Nick for me.   

Amber nodded, quickly leaving Lorenzo’s office, head down. Damn, she’s so oversensitive. Now I’ll have to apologize for being curt with her. He wished she would develop a slightly thicker skin. Or that he had a male P.A...

His desk phone buzzed. Mr. Thalassinos for you.  Amber’s voice was very formal. He frowned, deciding to ignore her.

Nick, it’s Lorenzo. Tampa Realty’s lawyer sent the deed over to me. We’ve got that land.

~That’s great. Wanna take a look at it tomorrow?~

Lorenzo smiled. He enjoyed deals where Nick was his partner. Okay. I’ve got the tentative plans drawn up. We can look at the property and mentally place the buildings...

~Sounds good, Lorenzo. Can’t wait to see what you came up with...~  Evidently, Nick wasn’t busy and ready to chat. ~Listen, how do you feel about making it a family trip? You know Nadine’s had bronchitis, and she’s slow to get  her energy back. I was thinking, she likes it so much at our condo in the Akropolis. I could take her—leave Matt and Irène with their nanny. I’ll reserve a suite for you in the hotel itself. D’you want just Lissa, or will she want to bring F-Felice?~

Lorenzo smiled ruefully. "Believe me, I want just Lissa, but...  And you’re right, her name is Felice—we call her Fliss. You realize I had to name her for my mother. I was relieved when Lissa didn’t mind—I’d expected that she’d insist on her mother’s name—Zizi—being first, but..." 

~Lissa’s mother is not exactly the motherly type, from what Nadine says. No doubt you’ve discovered that for yourself...~

Lorenzo grinned. I rejoice to say that, to date, I’ve never met her. Hearing about her was quite enough. When we invited her to our wedding, she was surfing on Oahu with a much younger boyfriend, and refused to curtail their time there.

Nick whistled gently between his teeth. ~Lucky you, according to Nadine. Moreover, Zizi is an abbreviation, not a name.~

Lorenzo nodded. That was going to be my point too—but I never had to make it. When I suggested Felice, Lissa nodded happily. ‘Fine,’ she said. When I suggested Zizi for Felice’s second name, she said she’d prefer it if we picked a name we both liked the sound of. So our daughter is Felice Ariadne.

~Italian and Greek, nice. Well? Shall we make it a family trip or would you prefer a quick business visit?~

Great idea, making it a family trip. I think Lissa will want to bring Fliss. She’s just two years old, and we’ve never left her overnight with her nanny. Would that put the crimp in your plan to bring Nadine and not the kids?

There was a brief pause. Finally, Nick said, ~You do what you have to do, of course, Lorenzo. I’ll try to get Nadine to leave the kids at home. That way the trip will be relaxing for her.~

Lorenzo said ruefully, I know what you mean—believe me, I’d like to get Lissa to go away with me for even a few days, just by ourselves. But she would worry about Fliss, so I might as well accept that she’ll want to bring her. I was thinking, since this will be a family trip, shall we leave the planning to our wives?

~That’s probably a wise suggestion. I’ll ask Nadine to set it up with Lissa. Maybe when she hears that Nadine is coming without the kids, she’ll want to leave your daughter at home too?~

Lorenzo grinned. I live in hope.

They disconnected, and Lorenzo got up from his chair, putting the file he’d been reading into his briefcase. He called, Amber?

She appeared instantly in the doorway. Yes, Lorenzo?

Nick and I are going to take a look at that land in Tarpon Springs—probably tomorrow or the day after.

Amber nodded. For how many days should I pack?

Lorenzo frowned, shaking his head. I’m taking my wife and Fliss—it’ll be a family trip for Nick and me.

Amber gazed at him, her expression stricken. But you need me to take notes, check things...do things for you...

Lorenzo shook his head again. Not this time, Amber. You just hold the fort here. If I should need anything, I can call you, have you dig up the info and phone me back.

Amber nodded—reluctantly, it seemed to him. I guess that would work...  She gave Lorenzo an odd little smile. I bet you’ll miss me—you’ve never gone on a field trip without me. 

Lorenzo frowned. Yes, I have. I handled that huge West Palm Beach development with my wife taking the notes, and so on.

Dismayed on hearing that Lorenzo could do without her—she gazed at him, taking in his rangy height, his athlete’s shape—wide shoulders, narrow hips, long legs. And his handsome face—eyes dark as midnight, half-hidden by long, curling lashes—winged, silky brows—a straight nose with unexpectedly sensitive nostrils—a mouth to die for...  And that slight cleft in his chin.... She hastily stopped daydreaming when she heard Lorenzo’s voice, several degrees cooler than usual.

You forget that my wife was P.A. to that Greek realty tycoon, Gianaris, in Manhattan. If I need anything on this trip, Lissa will again call on her old skills to help me out.

You’re saying she is more competent than I?  Deeply upset, Amber tossed her russet curls—her grey eyes suddenly bleak as slate.

Lorenzo frowned. At times, Amber could be a right royal pest. Don’t put words into my mouth, Amber. I’ve told you my decision—don’t always try to change my mind or second-guess me. I can’t tell you how irritating that is.

Amber seemed to shrink within herself where she stood. I’m sorry. I was only thinking of you—how use you are to having me with you, doing things for you...

Yes, well, this time I’ll have to muddle through with my wife’s help.  He saw Amber take a deep breath, evidently ready to argue with him. A moment later, he saw her change her mind, exhaling slowly.

Yes, of course, she said.

Chapter 1.

On arriving at their suite in the Akropolis Hotel, Lissa busied herself putting their clothes away. Lorenzo sat down on a sofa, his long, brown feet on the coffee table—waiting for Nick to come by. They would take a long and careful look at the land, and then have a relaxing weekend with their wives.

He smiled, still amazed at his luck. His mother had called him, shortly after he’d finished talking to Nick. Burying him under a flood of Italian, she finally paused to take a breath, ending up, ~It’s ages since I’ve seen my little namesake. Why don’t you bring Lissa and Felice to see me tomorrow, for lunch? I’ll make your favorite...~

He’d smiled, genuinely pleased with the invitation which, unfortunately, he couldn’t accept.

Mama, I’d love to do that, but tomorrow Nick Thalassinos and I are going to look at a tract of land that interests us. Nick wants to bring Nadine, who is getting slowly better from an illness. I’d love to bring Lissa alone, but you know how she is about Fliss...Felice, I mean...  At the last moment, he remembered his mother frowned on their abbreviation of Felice’s name, which she invariably gave its proper Italian pronunciation, Feh-lee-cheh.

~But dear Lorenzo, nothing is easier—bring Felice to my house. Or I could come to yours to look after her—in her own, familiar surroundings, she’ll probably be happier. I’ll give the nanny a much needed rest from caring for my granddaughter. And you can take Lissa with you without a single concern about little Felice.~

Mama, that’s a wonderful idea! I’ll phone Lissa and...

His mother interrupted him. ~Not over the phone, with that nosy secretary of yours butting into the call, because in her opinion you’ve

talked long enough with your wife. I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again, you’d be better off replacing that girl and her moonstruck-calf-look with a male P.A. No, you go home a little early and talk to Lissa about it, figlio mio – my son. Just tell her that I won’t take no for an answer.~

Lorenzo smiled at the memory. How unexpectedly pleased Lissa had been with the prospect of a long weekend alone with him... 

The next morning, bright and early, his mother had appeared, ready to take care of Fliss—who had been delighted to see her Nonna.

And he and Lissa were alone in this very comfortable suite—or at least they would be, once he and Nick had viewed that land.

A cheerful rat-tat-tat at the door announced Nick’s arrival. Lorenzo got to his feet, slipping his loafers on. Detouring quickly to the bedroom, he kissed Lissa. "Shan’t be long, carissima," he said. Lissa gave him an enchanted smile. She liked Italian endearments. He nodded to himself. He’d be glad to oblige.

A moment later, the front door of their suite closed behind Lorenzo.

****

When he returned, Lissa was waiting for him in the sitting room, a bottle of Pinot Grigio in an ice bucket and two glasses on the coffee table.

I thought you might be thirsty after tramping all over that land. Her smile was radiant. I’m so glad you’re back...  Lorenzo quickly went over to the sofa. Leaning on one knee beside her, he bent to kiss her soft, pink mouth, one hand sliding into her silky blonde hair—his midnight dark blue eyes drowning in the green of hers, her long lashes teasing his cheekbone.

"Not as thirsty as I am for you, innamorata," he whispered, pleased to see her eyes darkening to emerald in instant response to him. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, he mused, letting her slide down on the sofa. Before covering her body with his, he gazed at her—her sensational figure—her elegant arms and hands—her long, shapely legs. Once she was beneath him, he deepened their kiss, elated to feel her meeting him like a flame—matching his blazing need of her with her own passion for him—the moment she felt his erection, so huge, so hard, nudging her pelvis. He yielded to what she made him feel, the kiss becoming more explicit—his body moving in the rhythm of hers.

He nipped gently at her full lower lip, instantly soothing it with the tip of his tongue. Letting her feel his hunger for her, his tongue explored the depths of her mouth—doing a little dance with her tongue and returning again to licking and laving, seeking her taste, her essence—which never failed to send stabs of hot desire deep into his pelvis—sudden impassioned heat overwhelming them both.

Lissa... he whispered. Let’s not waste time here on the sofa. There’s a huge bed through that door...  Come with me?

In response, Lissa hugged herself more tightly to him, her hands roaming beneath his shirt—how had she managed to get that out of his chinos without his noticing?—and quickly surrendering to him. I always come with you, Lorenzo, she whispered, his name sounding like a caress.

He took his time sliding off her body, reluctant to remove his hands from her perfect breasts, which fit his palms so enticingly. At last, Lissa sat up, hugging herself to him again. Carry me? she whispered.

I was going to, he assured her, sliding one arm around her slim, elegant back. His other arm he placed beneath her knees, lifting her to his chest, waiting impatiently for her to turn her face toward him, so he could cover her mouth with his and