The Taste of her Words
Prologue - Nina's POV
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The first time I laid eyes on Roman Busilingo, he was laughing - deep, rich, like he owned the whole damn ballroom. Which, given the way every woman's head turned when he walked in, maybe he did.
He was the best man. I was the maid of honor. Fate had a cruel sense of humor.
Because he wasn't just handsome. No - he was devastating. Dark hair with a careless wave, broad shoulders wrapped in a suit that looked too expensive for anyone here, and a sharp mouth that already looked like trouble.
And he knew it. God, he knew it.
"Smile, dolcezza. You look like you're going to faint."
That was the first thing he said to me. Not hello, not nice to meet you. Just dolcezza. Sweetness. In that thick Italian accent that made my knees threaten betrayal.
I scowled. "And you look like you're going to choke on your ego."
His grin widened like I'd just passed some kind of test. "Ah. Finally. Someone with claws."
I tried to ignore him. I really did. But it was impossible, especially when my sister - the bride - paired us together for the entire rehearsal. We had to walk arm in arm, practice smiling, pose for photos. Every time his arm brushed mine, my skin tingled with unwanted awareness.
And of course, in true Nina fashion, I tripped over my heel halfway down the aisle.
Before I could hit the ground, his arm shot out, strong and sure, locking around my waist. I landed against his chest, my face burning.
His voice dropped low, for my ears only. "Careful, tesoro. You fall once, I'll catch you. Fall twice... I'll keep you."
My stomach flipped. And I hated it.
Because he wasn't supposed to affect me. Not with his smug smirk and arrogant confidence. Not when I'd promised myself I was done with men like him.
So I shoved his hand off me and straightened my dress. "Don't get used to it."
But the way his eyes tracked me after that - sharp, possessive, like he'd just made a silent claim - told me this was only the beginning.