folded piece of paper, confirmation she moved one step closer to her dreams.
Dearest Savannah,
I am pleased you have decided to accept my offer and I look forward to our meeting in Rome... Once you arrive, you may take a taxi to Piazza Navona—I will reimburse you this expense. After sunset, I will present myself to you outside cafe Tre Scallini.
Cordially,
Luke
Present myself? Who wrote present or signed their emails with cordially? Technically this was a business deal so the polite tone made sense but this guy came off as an old timer, at least on paper. What would she do with an old guy? Hmm, what did a companion do exactly? She bit her lip. Details, people usually gathered before accepting a job.
Twisting her napkin around her fingers, she shifted in her chair. Evening grew nippy after sunset. With any luck, he wouldn’t run late.
“Savannah Michaels?”
She spun toward the man who’d spoken in that deep voice and stilled. Coffee brown eyes, intense brow, sensual lips and definitely off limits in her life right now.
“Yes?” She’d come here to work not admire scenery—no matter how tempting. Wait a minute. She took a breath. This particularly handsome bit of scenery knew her name. He couldn’t be him. This man had a strange accent. Not Italian, though familiar. British? Savannah hadn’t asked where he was from. “You’re not, um, hold on a sec.” Her mind blanked and she exhaled loudly, fumbling with the papers in her hand. Several sheets dropped to the ground. “Um, I’m sorry, one moment.” Served her right for having expectations of a shriveled old man. He was a man and that’s where any similarity to what she’d envisioned ended.
“If your bumbling around is an attempt to ask me whether I am Luke Evans, owner of the companion ad, yes I am.” He lifted a thick brow, his face creasing with disapproval.
So much for first impressions. Seemed she was stuck with Mr. Tall, Gorgeous and Grumpy for four weeks. Suck it up, Michaels, you need this.
She smiled. “Great, I’m Savannah Michaels.” She lifted a hand, silently berating herself for giving him her name when he clearly knew it.
He assessed her half eaten tartufo then let his gaze quickly sweep over her. “Follow me.” Without a handshake, he turned and headed toward a side street.
What a snot. She dropped her arm and hurried after him, leather backpack swinging off her shoulder as she tugged along a small suitcase. Its wheels clicked along the ground, passing over grooves between cobblestones. Good thing she hadn’t packed heavy. He moved incredibly fast. “Wait, I haven’t yet paid for my meal.”
“I took care of it.”
“How did you know what I ordered?” Had he been nearby the entire time?
“I inquired with the waiter. It seems you have quite an appetite.” He spoke with his back to her as he paused near a black Audi S6.
She frowned. How embarrassing. Had the waiter mentioned she’d eaten a lot? “I’m a chef in training. I must try things.” Didn’t mean she had to admit eating nearly every bit on her plate.
He turned and eyed her suitcase. “My email instructed you not to bring anything. I am covering your expenses. Nevertheless, since you did not follow my orders, let me take your bag.”
Orders? The man behaved like an ogre. As she stood with her mouth open, he placed her suitcase inside the trunk and opened the passenger door, signaled for her to get in with a graceful sweep of his arm. She’d never understand why he’d bothered. The action was completely at odds with his foul demeanor.
“I only traveled with a few outfits. You never asked my size.” She seated herself and inhaled deeply as he shut the door. It wasn’t too late, she could still bolt.
As the driver’s door swung open, Luke slipped in beside her and met her gaze, his eyes sexy enough to make her squirm. “Having second thoughts?”
Yes. No, wait, the ad said this job would pay handsomely. “No, of course not. Are you?” She couldn’t have blown this already.
“No.” He started the car and pulled into the late remnants of Roman rush hour. He glared ahead with an expression of disgust.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked.
“No.”
Yeah, right. Unsure of how to respond, she twisted her hands together in her lap and bit her bottom lip. What had happened? He couldn’t be upset about clothes. Maybe the cafe bill? Guys didn’t usually respond negatively to her, at least not those who hadn’t seen her scars. She wanted to flip down the car visor and check the mirror for basil between her teeth, but didn’t dare chance being caught. As it stood, she might as well have been a goblin, for the attention paid her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
He released a huff of breath. “Why are you here, Savannah?”
“Why am I here—what do you mean? I answered an ad of yours and now you’re—”
“I am not referring to your presence here. I mean, why did you answer my ad? Consider this an on the job interview. I want to know you better.”
“Oh.” He could have asked a bit more politely. She paused and glanced down at her lap. Why was she here? Money, of course. But to say so sounded crude, not exactly interview material. Ugh, she was definitely not prepared for questions. Why hadn’t she considered he might want to know more? “I’ve always dreamt of seeing Italy. Who wouldn’t want to travel for four weeks, expenses paid?”
“Why with me? You hardly know me. I could have been a complete psychopath.”
Could have been? The idea still held definite possibility and at this point, she didn’t need much convincing. “This conversation isn’t exactly making me feel comfortable.”
“My intention is not to make you uncomfortable.” His voice gentled. “Nonetheless, it is important we have open and honest communication. Why with me?”
Better to stick with the truth. Lying could only lead to more trouble. “You said you would pay handsomely.”
“I hoped for more.” He pressed his lips closed. “I should know better.”
“I’m sorry?” Unbelievable. He judged her? After she’d decided on honesty? Fiery heat burned on the tip of her tongue. “What exactly are you saying?”
“Take it as you like.”
“I don’t want to take it any way.” She gritted her teeth. Why else would someone answer a stranger’s ad? After spending ten minutes with Luke, she certainly wouldn’t have agreed to meet him due to his charm. “I don’t understand.”
“All the same,” Luke mumbled. “Damn greed.”
“Hold on a sec,” she said. “I’m not sure what you were hoping for, but you haven’t even given me a chance. Your ad didn’t advertise prerequisites.
