They made it to the steps of the hotel. Cristiano took Keira’s hand and led her up the last two steps, then bowed and planted a kiss on it. It took all of Keira’s willpower not to throw herself at him.

“Good night,” he said suavely. “Tomorrow will be a wonderful day.”

Keira didn’t doubt it. She swirled into the hotel, feeling like she was walking on air. She practically danced through the corridors and up to her room. When she shut the door behind her, she had to rest against it to catch her breath. She felt smitten, lust-drunk on Cristiano, and wondered if he shared anywhere near the same intensity of feelings toward her, or whether his attitude was just part of his culture. She’d heard tales of Italian Lotharios.

Giddy with excitement for tomorrow, Keira dressed for bed. It was only as she tucked herself under the covers and began writing out a variety of different openings to the article that the magic feeling started to be overtaken with guilt. How quickly she had allowed herself to stop thinking about Shane, the true love of her life. How easily she had erased his face from her mind and replaced it with Cristiano’s. Was the rebound romance her friends and sister urged her to experience really the right thing for her?

Or was she just setting herself up for another fall?

CHAPTER TWELVE

The next morning Keira hurried to get herself washed and dressed. She couldn’t wait to see Cristiano again.

As she rushed downstairs into the foyer of the hotel, she saw that Cristiano was already waiting for her. In the bright sunlight he looked even more stunning. He was dressed impeccably, more like a businessman than a tour guide. In fact, there was no way you’d ever guess what his job was, unlike Shane who couldn’t look smart even if he tried.

Keira felt her heart fluttering as she walked over toward him. She’d dressed in a summer maxi dress with gladiator sandals, and tied her hair up in a bun. The weather was so glorious there was no way she’d need her denim jacket, but the sunglasses perched on her head would definitely come in handy.

Cristiano turned at the sound of her footsteps. Keira watched, her heart leaping, as his gaze roved from her feet all the way up her body. She didn’t want to make any assumptions but she got the distinct impression that he liked what he saw.

“Your dress,” Cristiano said, his eyes twinkling. “It is beautiful.”

Keira blushed. “I like your shiny shoes.”

She felt embarrassed immediately by her odd comment. But Cristiano just laughed in his carefree way.

“Thank you,” he said. “Are you ready for the tour?”

Keira nodded. She couldn’t help the way she felt giddy in Cristiano’s company, or how she became tongue-tied. He had a look in his eye that seemed to be undressing her and as much as she enjoyed it, it also alarmed her.