The Italian's Blushing Gardener by Christina Hollis

airily.
    Kira’s only advisers were her cynical nature and a glass of pinot grigio, so she was rather looking forward to that consultation.
    ‘Good. That leaves us free to discuss much more interesting things over lunch.’ He smiled, pulling on his jacket as he led her to the door. ‘Although I’m rather surprised a forthright woman like you doesn’t go through her own paperwork!’
    She smiled as he strode across his office and opened the door to let her out.
    Kira’s journey to the ground floor couldn’t have been more different from her trip up to the executive suite. Then, she had spent every second checking her appearance. Now she kept her eyes riveted on the thick cream carpet. It wasn’t that she didn’t know where to look. She desperately wanted to gaze at Stefano, but somehow she couldn’t do it. She had to be content with hints of his aftershave or the jingle of change in his pockets as he stood so close to her, yet so distant.
    A limousine was waiting for them outside the revolving doors of the office block. Its driver opened the door for Kira. She slid in, glad of the excuse not to have to look at Stefano as he exchanged a few words with his driver.
    He was every bit as good as her fantasies. His first words to her when she walked into his office had been absolutely right. The past few days had tortured, tormented and distracted her with thoughts of what he had been doing, and with whom. Stefano was the only man who had ever moved her like this. It made her certain he must have a new girl every night. Who could possibly resist that clear-eyed gaze? Kira was terribly afraid she couldn’t. Her pulse increased to dizzying levels each time he looked at her. As he took his seat beside her in the car it felt as though her heart was trying to jump into her throat. Her mouth went dry, and she felt heat pool in the pit of her stomach.
    It had been hard enough not to reach out to him when he had been standing alone and aloof in his office stronghold. How much more difficult would it be to resist him when they were at lunch together?
    ‘When it comes to that contract, you’ll have no worries,’ Stefano said as their car pulled out into thestream of traffic outside the headquarters of Albani International. ‘I’m ruthless in business, but I’m always fair. That agreement is simple, straightforward and totally unthreatening. Working for me will be the smartest move you ever make. I’ve seen the design work and planting you did on the Bella Terra estate, and I’ve heard brilliant reports from your other clients. Your touch is exactly what I need. You’ll bring your talents to my properties around the world. In return, I’ll reward you well and give you free advertising among all my contacts. That will save you all the tiresome brown-nosing for business you hate so much. Think of it—all the work you could ever want, but none of the socialising.’
    He slid a smile towards her. Kira thought of the man she had seen silhouetted against the cityscape. His expression tangled her heartstrings before her brain had time to intercept it.
    ‘You don’t know what that would mean to me,’ she said, the relief of getting work without having to pitch for it filtering through her words. Whenever she was in Stefano’s presence, her body refused to behave. It ignored all the warning signs. Her brain screamed danger but her soft, warm feminine core heard only temptation and remembered only their kiss.
    ‘We’re here,’ he said, sounding slightly husky, and Kira wondered if he was struggling with similar memories, but he leapt out of the car before she could see his face. By the time he had arrived to open her door, he was back to business.
    ‘This is one of my favourite restaurants,’ he explained as he escorted her into a beautiful old building in the heart of the city. Its glamorous receptionist was all teeth and talons. She greeted Stefano by name, and ledthem to a spacious table for two. It was like no business