The Count's Prize by Christina Hollis Read Free Book Online

in Dario. Now, he couldn’t stop thinking about the best use for secluded glades—and that was seduction. When he had ridden out here to surprise her with an impromptu picnic, he hadn’t expected to end up holding her so tightly against his body, even in the role of lifeguard. Dario was a typical red-blooded Italian male and found it difficult to ignore temptation. Especially when it came in the form of a voluptuous woman in thin, wet clothing.
    As Dario raised his arm to unstrap the picnic basket from his horse’s saddle, his white sleeve flickered brightly against the mysterious depths of the wood. It was as good as a signal to Josie. She tensed as he walked back to join her.
    ‘Hmm … as I thought—the staff have only packed hand towels, although if I put this picnic rug around your shoulders—’
    The rug was folded up so tightly he needed both hands to shake it free. Unfurling it, he moved forward to swirl it around Josie’s shoulders, but when he touched her she drew in her breath and backed away.
    ‘I can manage, thank you.’ Reaching out, she snatched the picnic rug from his fingers.
    ‘You’re shivering. Let’s go and sit in that patch of sunshine over there.’
    Picking up the picnic basket, he went over to the far side of the clearing. When he looked back she was following, but slowly and at a distance. Dario smiled to himself; he had enough experience to know when awoman was nearly his. He started to unpack the things he had brought, then sat back on his heels as she came towards him cautiously.
    ‘The archaeology isn’t suddenly going to disappear before you can get to it, and I’m hardly going to eat you when my kitchen has provided us with all
this
.’ He spread a hand towards the tempting display he was setting out. ‘Why not take the time actually to enjoy yourself for once, Josie? Are you too sensible to relax? Give it a try over lunch—there’s no one here to see!’
    Unable to resist his challenge, as he’d known she would be, she sat down, but several feet away from him. When Dario went back to his work without comment, she eventually leaned forward to help. Without moving his head, he saw her hands moving in and out of his peripheral vision, arranging pristine white crockery like clouds against the sky-blue picnic cloth.
    ‘There. What could be better than that?’ He turned to her.
    For a split second they looked into each other’s eyes, then her glance slipped away to the half a dozen tempting types of antipasto the
castello
’s kitchen had packed for them. As the pool of sunlight gilded her wet brown hair, Dario opened a bottle of limoncello and poured a shot of it into each of two crystal glasses. Topping them up with chilled mineral water, he handed one to Josie. Then, touching his glass lightly against hers, he said softly,
‘Salute!’
    She gazed at him, then at the food on display, and then at the drink in her hand.
    ‘You did all this for me?’ Her tone was one of sheer disbelief.
    ‘Where I come from, picnics are a couple of rounds of sandwiches grabbed from a supermarket. I don’t know what to say … or where to start …’ she began, but Dario didn’t need to be told—the look in her eyes said it all. He moved around, away from the sudden rush of emotion he felt at her obvious pleasure, until he was on the far side of their feast. From there, safely back in seduction mode, he started to offer her little dishes of
caponata
and pasta salad, smiling as she gave in to temptation.
    Josie chose some roasted tomatoes and peppers, gleaming with the estate’s own olive oil, mozzarella and a slice of fragrant focaccia spiked with rosemary and crystals of sea salt. While Dario loaded his plate with a little of everything on display, she watched him covertly. His movements had the smooth assurance of a man born to lead. With another shiver, she noticed the strength in his smooth brown forearms. The sleeves of his shirt were turned back, showing off his taut muscles. That