the world. The original plan was good, but Sienna’s was so much better. Her idea would definitely be worth the additional cost.
‘No,’ he said. ‘We go with Sienna’s plan.’
The foreman swore. ‘That will put the project back months. The cost increase can’t be justified.’
‘I think I’m the one who makes that decision,’ Antonio said, a hard edge to his voice.
The foreman’s weathered face grew ugly with fury but he simply nodded and walked from the room.
‘I didn’t mean —’ Sienna’s face was a picture of shock.
Antonio took her hand. ‘So few people challenge my decisions it’s hard to know if the advice I’m given is right or just what people think I want to hear,’ he said. ‘Your changes improve the building and you weren’t afraid to tell me.’
The smile that lit her face struck him with such force he sucked in a sharp breath. He realised he hadn’t seen her smile like that since he’d met her. For the second time in hours, guilt seared his consciousness.
‘I love design, but . . .’ she said.
‘But?’ Suddenly he wanted to know more. He wanted to know what she liked, what she didn’t like and why.
‘My parents let me indulge my passion for design by studying architecture. But the Plaza is a family business and being an only child, my destiny was always to take over when my parents retired.’
‘Your parents kept you from doing what you loved?’ Antonio couldn’t imagine being constrained by anything. If he wanted something, he just went out and got it.
‘It sounds terrible when you put it like that,’ she said. ‘But family brings responsibilities.’
Exactly
, he thought, as he took her hand to show her the rest of the building.
That’s why I never want one.
‘Ready?’ Sienna asked, picking up her handbag.
‘I can’t believe you talked me into this,’ Antonio said, tucking in his shirt in as he walked into the penthouse living room.
Sienna couldn’t believe Antonio had agreed to come. ‘You haven’t had a day off since I arrived. You’re gone before I wake up and you work every night after dinner. All work and no play makes Antonio a boring boy.’
‘Boring,’ he said, one eyebrow arching. ‘No one’s ever called me that before.’
‘You live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and you don’t take the time to notice it.’
‘I don’t have time to admire the view.’
‘Exactly, so today we make time.’
Antonio picked up his phone.
‘Can’t you leave that thing behind?’ Sienna asked. Antonio had the blasted thing almost permanently attached to his ear.
Antonio looked confused. ‘What thing?’
‘Your phone.’
‘No,’ he said, as if what she requested was completely insane. ‘Let’s go. I have to get back to Giudecca to meet the new foreman at three, remember.’
‘Sorry about that.’ Sienna couldn’t believe the previous foreman at the site had quit over the relocation of the pool.
‘You’ve upset a couple of people in my life since you arrived.’
‘Perhaps they weren’t people who deserved to be in your life,’ she said.
Antonio looked at her so intently, she felt colour rising in her cheeks.
‘Right, St Mark’s first,’ she said, picking up the itinerary she’d drawn up so carefully. They only had a few hours together and she planned to make the most of it.
‘Now, I have been to St Mark’s,’ he said.
She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. ‘When was the last time you stepped inside that building?’
Antonio cocked his head. ‘When I was twelve on a school excursion.’
‘Thought as much,’ she said. ‘Come on.’ She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. She enjoyed being the one in control for once.
‘Are you going to be this pushy all day?’ he asked as they walked hand in hand to the lift. It opened immediately and she dragged him in.
‘I’m boss today,’ she said.
‘Hmm, I might enjoy this.’
‘That is the general
‘No,’ he said. ‘We go with Sienna’s plan.’
The foreman swore. ‘That will put the project back months. The cost increase can’t be justified.’
‘I think I’m the one who makes that decision,’ Antonio said, a hard edge to his voice.
The foreman’s weathered face grew ugly with fury but he simply nodded and walked from the room.
‘I didn’t mean —’ Sienna’s face was a picture of shock.
Antonio took her hand. ‘So few people challenge my decisions it’s hard to know if the advice I’m given is right or just what people think I want to hear,’ he said. ‘Your changes improve the building and you weren’t afraid to tell me.’
The smile that lit her face struck him with such force he sucked in a sharp breath. He realised he hadn’t seen her smile like that since he’d met her. For the second time in hours, guilt seared his consciousness.
‘I love design, but . . .’ she said.
‘But?’ Suddenly he wanted to know more. He wanted to know what she liked, what she didn’t like and why.
‘My parents let me indulge my passion for design by studying architecture. But the Plaza is a family business and being an only child, my destiny was always to take over when my parents retired.’
‘Your parents kept you from doing what you loved?’ Antonio couldn’t imagine being constrained by anything. If he wanted something, he just went out and got it.
‘It sounds terrible when you put it like that,’ she said. ‘But family brings responsibilities.’
Exactly
, he thought, as he took her hand to show her the rest of the building.
That’s why I never want one.
‘Ready?’ Sienna asked, picking up her handbag.
‘I can’t believe you talked me into this,’ Antonio said, tucking in his shirt in as he walked into the penthouse living room.
Sienna couldn’t believe Antonio had agreed to come. ‘You haven’t had a day off since I arrived. You’re gone before I wake up and you work every night after dinner. All work and no play makes Antonio a boring boy.’
‘Boring,’ he said, one eyebrow arching. ‘No one’s ever called me that before.’
‘You live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and you don’t take the time to notice it.’
‘I don’t have time to admire the view.’
‘Exactly, so today we make time.’
Antonio picked up his phone.
‘Can’t you leave that thing behind?’ Sienna asked. Antonio had the blasted thing almost permanently attached to his ear.
Antonio looked confused. ‘What thing?’
‘Your phone.’
‘No,’ he said, as if what she requested was completely insane. ‘Let’s go. I have to get back to Giudecca to meet the new foreman at three, remember.’
‘Sorry about that.’ Sienna couldn’t believe the previous foreman at the site had quit over the relocation of the pool.
‘You’ve upset a couple of people in my life since you arrived.’
‘Perhaps they weren’t people who deserved to be in your life,’ she said.
Antonio looked at her so intently, she felt colour rising in her cheeks.
‘Right, St Mark’s first,’ she said, picking up the itinerary she’d drawn up so carefully. They only had a few hours together and she planned to make the most of it.
‘Now, I have been to St Mark’s,’ he said.
She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. ‘When was the last time you stepped inside that building?’
Antonio cocked his head. ‘When I was twelve on a school excursion.’
‘Thought as much,’ she said. ‘Come on.’ She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. She enjoyed being the one in control for once.
‘Are you going to be this pushy all day?’ he asked as they walked hand in hand to the lift. It opened immediately and she dragged him in.
‘I’m boss today,’ she said.
‘Hmm, I might enjoy this.’
‘That is the general
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