A/N: I do not own the Harry potter Franchise, nor do I own the Brenda Jackson Westmoreland series for which this story and characters are based on… I wished I did but I don't… this is purely for my and your entertainment and I gain no monetary value from this story. Once again I would like to thank everyone for reviewing, favouring and following this story it was much appreciated… Happy Reading!

"Hello Hermione," Draco greeted a startled Hermione who was sitting in a secluded table for two at a little café near the Ministry. "Are you alright? You looked a little lost in thought."

"Ooh hi Draco… sorry about that my mind was just wondering back to the conversation I had with Harry about Tuscany," Hermione responded.

"Ok. The waitress is heading our way to serve us would you like something to eat or drink?" he inquired.

She turned and met his beautiful inquiring eyes. She could swear that a strange expression shown in their dark depths. "No, I ate a good breakfast with Harry and Daphne this morning."

He lifted a brow, "You got up at five this morning to do that? If I remember correctly, Harry is an early bird to the office when he's working"

She smiled. "Yes he still rises early and we wanted to spend a little time together… all I had to do was set the alarm. I figured if I got up early to eat by the time we use the portkey, my stomach will have been settled."

He chuckled, "Does travelling by international portkey bother you?"

"Let's just say it's not one of my favourite things to do," she answered. "There are other things I prefer doing more; like getting a root canal or flying or something else equally as enjoyable."

Draco threw his head back and laughed, and she liked the sound of it. She'd become reacquainted with him for almost three years and this was the first time she recalled hearing him laugh. He'd always been so serious, just like Harry after the war. At least that was how Harry used to be. She would be one of the first to say that marriage changed her brother for the better.

The waitress came around to ask if they needed anything, but Hermione declined everything. Draco ordered a blueberry muffin and a black coffee. While reclining slightly in her chair, Hermione noticed that the waitress gave Draco one or two more smiles than necessary. Which made her frown before turning mildly amusing while she wondered how the woman could be so bold to flirt with him while he's at the table with her… but then again could she blame the waitress? Draco was to borrow Luna's term 'one fine slice of scrumptious cake'.

Draco couldn't help but study her features and thought her moments of peaceful thinking had transformed her already beautiful face into one that was even more striking. He would be the first to admit that she no longer looked like that young girl he had seen all those years ago. In the following years her features had changed from that of a young girl to woman. Her mouth was nothing short of sensuous. How could lips be that full and inviting? He wondered as his gaze moved from one corner of her moth to another.

His gaze drifted upwards from her mouth to her partially close eyes and the long lashes covering them. His gaze then moved to her cheekbones and he was tempted to take the back of his hand to caress them. Or better yet, trace the beautiful curves with the tip of his tongue, branding her as his. And she was his, whether she knew it or not, whether she accepted it or not. She belonged to him as much as he belonged to her.

He then noticed how even her breathing was, and how every breath drew his attention to the swell of her breast that were alluringly hidden inside a pale pink blouse. He had always found her sexy, too sexy, and it had been hard not to want her, so he hadn't even bothered fighting the temptation. He had lusted after her from afar, which was something he couldn't help, since he hadn't touched another witch in almost three years. Once her place in his life had become crystal clear, his body had gone into a discipline mode, knowing that she would be the one and only woman that he would make love to for the rest of his life. Now the thought of that made his body go hard. He breathed in her scent and for a brief second closed his eyes and allowed his fantasies of her to do what they always did, take over his mind and do in his imagination what he couldn't yet do in reality.

Lost in thought, Hermione glanced over at Draco. He was sitting so close that she could inhale his masculine scent. She'd been around Harry, Neville and the Weasleys to know that just as no two women carried the same scent, the same held true for men. Each person's fragrance was unique and the one floating through her nostrils now was making funny feelings flutter around in her stomach.

Hermione found it odd that nothing like this has ever happened to her before, but then she couldn't recall Draco ever being this close to her. Usually they were surrounded by other friends. Granted they weren't alone now, but, still, there was a sense of intimacy with him sitting beside her. She could just make out the sounds of his even breathing.

She'd been ready to go when he arrived at her place. When she opened the door and he walked in, her breath had gotten caught in her throat. She'd seen him in slacks more times than not, but there was something about the pair he was wearing now that caused her to do a double take and dropped her trusty extendable had bag. When he'd leaned down to pick it up, his masculine thighs flexed beneath the trousers. Then there were the muscled arms beneath the open collar shirt. Her gaze lingered longer than it should have on his body. She had then followed him out the door while getting an eyeful of his make-you-want-to-drool bum.

She studied him now, fascinated by just what a good looking man he was and how he managed to keep women at bay for so long. A part of her knew that it hadn't just been the story Blaise had fabricated about a witch waiting for him back in Italy. That tale might have kept some witches like Astoria away, but it would not have done anything to hold back the bolder ones. It was primarily in the ways he'd carried himself. Just like Harry, in his pre-Daphne days, most women would have thought twice before approaching her brother. He radiated that kind of 'I'm not in the mood' aura whenever it suited him.

But for some reason, she never considered Draco as unapproachable as Harry had been. Whenever they had exchanged words, he had been friendly enough with her. A part of her was curious about why if he wasn't already taken; he'd held himself back from engaging in a serious relationship with a woman. Her breath suddenly caught in her throat when she realized Draco was watching her expectantly. It was then she realised that he was talking to her.

"Sorry, my mind was wondering… can you repeat your question?" she asked.

"I asked if you were OK…" he repeated.

"Oh… sorry yes I'm good." She replied while deciding it was probably best to engage in conservation. That would be safer than just sitting here and letting all kinds of crazy thoughts race through her mind about how handsome he was. She felt heat infuse her face, and her heart rate suddenly shot up. Then her anxiety level moved up a notch when she thought his gaze lingered on her lips longer than necessary. Had that really been the case?

"Tell me about Italy." She added quickly.

Evidently thinking about his other homeland was something he enjoyed doing if the smile tilting his lips was anything to go by. And they were a gorgeous pair. She'd notice them before, but this was the first time she'd given those lips more than a passing thought.

Why all of a sudden there was something so compelling about Draco? Why the thought of his lips, eyes and other facial features, as well as his hands and fingers, suddenly make her feel hot? What the hell was wrong with her!

"You're going to love Italy," he said speaking in that deep velvet tone she loved hearing. "It is defined by its gorgeous beaches, art treasure, trendy fashion, amazing landscapes, traditional food… Also it offers a lot of beautiful places for exploring (2)."

"It started out as just a place to lay low in after the war… I mean Blaise was from there so I went to live with him for a while to hide from the paparazzi, the hate mail, and life in general I suppose. I just needed someplace to rest and recuperate; to reflect on just how fucked up my parents and my life was, to… decide what happens next."

"After a while I realise that I was focusing so much on what I had lost as a result of the war that I forgot what I gained… life away from my father's stifling influence, freedom to go anywhere in the world and do anything, to actually be myself instead of hiding behind a wall of what a pureblood should be and do… so I walked back to the mansion while planning about what I was going to do. I realise I had been in Italy for many months and the only place I had been to, was the mansion. So, I was going to explore it while I decide what to do next. And that is what I did; I went out to discover Italy."

"I stumbled along until I arrived in Tuscany, where I learnt that it was the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces (1). So I went in search of the fine art, explore the extraordinary countryside, enjoyed the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine, enjoyed the mountain paths, the rolling hills, sea coast and islands, and met with many persons from different backgrounds (1). It was such an extraordinary experience that never left. I just felt that click inside me that I had found someplace just for me. This is why I decided to build a house there; that I can make into a home and grow old in, with your valued input of course." Then he finished by saying, "In all my travels for work and relaxation, there is still no place in the world quite like it. It's a magical place."

She was listening intently to Draco and reflecting about his past. She lifted her brow when he said there was no place like Tuscany, and folded her arms across her chest. Though she didn't want to get into a debate she though England was rather nice, she inquired, "Nicer than England?"

He chuckled as understanding lit his eyes as he leaned in closer to her. "Yes. England has its strong points… don't get me wrong, I'm not just saying that because it's where I was born; but here is something about Tuscany that's just unique."

"Well it certainly sounds beautiful, I can't wait to experience it first hand," she replied as she herself leaned in closer to him. He had inclined his head closer to hers, so that his eyes were aligned to hers, and so were his lips. The thoughts that suddenly went racing through her mind were crazy, but all she had to do was stick her tongue out to taste his lips. That was a temptation she was having a hard time fighting.

Her breathing increased and she could tell by the rise and fall of his masculine chest, that so had his. Was there something significantly dangerous about sitting in a secluded table in the back of a little café with limited lighting to give the feeling of intimacy that altered your senses, zapped them real good and sent them reeling off course? Filled your mind with thoughts you wouldn't normally entertain? If the answer to all those questions was a resounding yes, then that explained why her mind was filled with those thoughts of engaging in a romantic liaison with the man who was not only a client but also a good friend of Harry.

"Hermione…" It seemed that he had inched his mouth a little closer; so close that she could feel his moist breath caress her lips as he said her name in that deep velvet voice of his.

Instead of responding, she inched her mouth closer too, as desire, the intensity of which she had never felt before, made her entire body shiver with a need she didn't know she was capable of having. The sliver-blue eyes locked on hers were successfully quashing anything thoughts of pulling her mouth back before it was too late.

"Would either of you like anything else?"

Draco jumped and then quickly turned his face away from Hermione to glance up at the smiling waitress. He drew in a deep breath before responding, "No thanks, I don't want anything else."

He knew that was a lie the moment he said it. He did want something but he wanted something only the woman sitting next to him could give. The waitress then glanced at Hermione, where she too responded in a shaky voice, "No. I'm fine, we'll just have the bill plseae."

It was only after the waitress had moved on that Draco glanced at Hermione. Her back was too him as she searched inside her bag. He suspected that she was going to pretend nothing had happened a few moments ago. There was no doubt in his mind that they would have kissed if the waitress hadn't interrupted them.

"Hermione?"

It took her longer than he felt necessary and when she did, she immediately began talking about something that he couldn't have cared less about.

"I was able to pack my colour samples, Draco, so that you'll get an idea of what will best suit your home. I'll give you my suggestions, but of course the final decision will be yours. How do you like earth tone colours? I'm thinking they will work best."

He fought the urge to say what would work best would be to pick up where they left off, but instead he nodded and decided to follow her lead for now. In a way he felt good knowing that at least good something had been accomplished today. She had finally become aware of him as a man. And he was giving her the time to deal with that. He wouldn't push her, nor would he rush things for now. He would let nature take his course and with the degree of passion they exhibited a short while ago, he had no reason to think that it wouldn't.

"I happen to like earth-tone-colours, so they will probably work for me," he said, although he truly didn't give a royal damn. The bottom line was whatever she liked would work for him because he had every intention of her sharing that house with him.

"That's good, but I intend to provide you with a selection of vibrant colours as well. Green, reds, yellows, oranges and blues are the fashionable hues now. And we can always mix them up to create several bold splashes. Many people are doing that now."

She continued talking and he would nod on occasions to pretend he was listening. If she needed to feel like she was back in control of things, then so be it. He relaxed in his seat, tilted his head and ardently watched as her mouth moved while thinking what he would love doing to that mouth if given the chance. He decided to think positively and concentrated on what he would do to that mouth when he got the chance.

A few moments later, Draco glanced to his watched to note the time. Hermione stopped talking, satisfied that she'd discussed some of everything with him regarding the decorating of his home to ensure they stayed on topic. The last thing she wanted was for him to bring up what almost happened between them. Just the thought of them almost sharing a kiss, right there in the café, had her pulse racing something awful.

She had never behaved inappropriately with a client before and wasn't exactly sure what brought it on today. She would chalk it up as a weak moment when she'd almost yield to temptation. When she had noticed just how close their mouths were, it had seemed a perfectly natural thing to want to taste his lips. Evidently, he'd felt that same way about hers, because his mouth had been inching towards her with as much enthusiasm as hers had moved toward his. She was very grateful for the waitress's timely interruption.

Had the woman suspected what they had been about to do? The thought had made Hermione's head spin with embarrassment. Her heart was racing and her palms of her hands felt damp just thinking about it. She rested back in her seat, knowing she would have to regain control of her senses. Draco was just a man; he was a client and a family friend. He was not someone she should start thinking about in a sexual way.

She'd gone 25 years without giving a man any second thought, and going another 25 the same way suited her just fine.

"Let's get going, by the time we walk to the Ministry, it will be time for the portkey activation," he said while standing and settling the bill and leaving a tip for the waitress.

I have never been to Italy, so here are the websites I got the info about it: my compliment to theses websites as I really want to visit it now.

(1) Discover Tuscany:

(2) Your Amazing Places: 11 Reasons why you should visit Italy: 11-reasons-why-you-should-visit-italy/

So has anyone visited Italy? What were your thoughts about it?