I have to play this out if I’ve any chance of beating him.

Lifting my wine glass, the other hand tugging a strand of my hair, to wash down the cream cannelloni, I shiver with the smallest breeze behind me as someone passes and glance up expecting to see the maid. The elderly gentlemen walks by and leaves the room with a puce colored face and bored expression. Heat envelopes me as an arm comes around my shoulder unexpectedly and a firm hot mouth kisses me on the exposed skin.

“Hey, bambino … You okay?” that inner triumph sparks as Jake surrounds me with his heat and smell. Sitting in...