Professional Restraint

6 Tuscana

Ella

The weight of Liam's hand on my lower back is relaxing as he guides us across the expanse and upstairs. All I can focus on is the heat radiating from his skin to mine, like there is no material between us.

Our final destination is through glass double doors to a private dining room. The room set up screams intimacy. Subtle lighting, a cozy table, and secluded privacy away from prying eyes and excess noise. On the far side are more glass doors that open onto a balcony.

Sophia and Declan are already at the table as I stand frozen just inside the doorway, awestruck by my surroundings. Gentle pressure on my lower back gives me a much needed nudge as Liam guides me over to the table.

I can't stop the blush burning my cheeks as he pulls the chair out for me before turning his smouldering gaze to mine. Heat floods me as I swear I blush all over.

Once he slides my chair in, Liam moves to the seat on my left. Time slows down as his deft fingers effortlessly undo his jacket and he sits. I swallow hard, licking my dry lips as I feel flush once more.

"Business or pleasure?" Declan asks, mischief and excitement glowing in his blue eyes as he turns his attention to Sophia.

Sophia doesn't miss a beat and dons a sultry smirk as she leans in towards him, placing a pensive finger on her bright red lips. Her eyes rake over him as her smirk grows before locking eyes with him.

"Why not both?" she replies boldly, earning a giant grin from Declan. Clearly he has adapted to her quick wit and isn't so easily caught off guard as the time he choked in the boardroom.

"Well then, let's get the business out of the way so we can focus on pleasure?" he suggests with a raised brow. This time it's my turn to choke on my drink.

Liam's hand is instantly on my back, rubbing soothing circles as I clutch my chest and struggle to catch my breath. The sense of anticipation and excitement I felt as we pulled up to Tuscanna was quickly drowned out while we waited for Liam and Declan. The place is massive and looks like they plucked a villa right off of the Italian countryside, but as men began to crowd around us, offering drinks and being a little too touchy, I grew more and more uncomfortable.

Sophia is used to the kind of attention we were being lavished with at the bar, but it's completely foreign to me. Being the focus of all those men mostly just made me want to hide. But with Liam...

It makes no sense how one attractive stranger can offer to buy me a drink and innocently drape his hand on the back of my chair and leave me uncomfortable. Yet when Liam touches me, it has the opposite effect, hell I practically used him as a shield.

"Breathe, Ella," he says in a husky voice, never taking his eyes off of mine. The dim background noise of the restaurant fades away as the hammering of my heart is all I can hear.

His simple words, his captivating gaze, and his tone have the opposite effect, making me forget trivial matters like breathing. They swim with concern but also something darker that I can't quite place, making me swallow hard as I take in a shaky breath. His hand stops moving on my back, but his rough thumb traces my bare skin just above the zipper of my dress.

"You good, El?" Sophia asks, breaking my trance. I turn and face her, afraid to fall back under his spell. A small smirk takes over her look as she takes in my flustered condition.

"Yep, peachy," I blurt out, tucking my hair behind my ear. A throaty chuckle so close I can feel his breath on my skin causes my heart to flutter in my throat.

Soph passes me a document after scanning it. I briefly look it over and recognize it's the contract for the bid we put in for. The legal jargon and corporate speak look like a foreign language to me, so I end up passing it back to Soph, who is busy with another file.