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‘It was more than the morning,’ Luca admitted gruffly. ‘I was angry at myself, and my body’s reaction, rather than at you.’
‘It must be terribly irritating to be attracted to someone like me,’ Hannah agreed. Luca realised that underneath her embarrassment, she was blisteringly angry. ‘Someone with feelings and a normal bra size.’
‘Hannah,’ he warned through gritted teeth. The last thing he needed this morning was a big, messy row with the woman who was supposed to be his compliant, biddable faux fiancée.
‘Luca,’ Hannah returned mockingly. She whirled around, her colour high, her golden-brown eyes blazing. ‘How about you listen to me for a change? I didn’t ask to come to this island. I didn’t ask to pretend to be your fiancée. I didn’t ask to share your bed! In fact, at every step, I’ve asked for the opposite. I’ve wanted more space, not less. And then you have the audacity, the wretched nerve, to call me a wanton!’
‘I told you why—’
‘And you think that makes it better? You said it like you couldn’t even understand why you were attracted to someone like me. To my surprise. Well, thanks for that, Luca. Thanks very much.’ She turned away again, her hands shaking as she reached for her pearl earrings.
All right, he could see how what he’d said might have sounded insulting, but... ‘I didn’t mean it that way.’
‘Actually, I think you did. But never mind. I don’t really care.’ She put her earrings in, shaking her hair over her shoulders. ‘Let’s just get this day over with, shall we?’
Luca hesitated, wanting to defuse her anger, but sensing that she wasn’t in the mood to be placated. Wordlessly he headed into the bathroom to shower.
* * *
As soon as the door closed Hannah released a shaky breath and slumped onto the divan. She couldn’t take much more of this ping-ponging from one emotion to the next, from overwhelming desire to incredible rage. What was happening to her?
She knew the answer to that one. Luca Moretti was. She took a steadying breath, and then, taking advantage of Luca being in the shower, reached for her phone.
Diane answered on the first ring. ‘Hey, Mum,’ Hannah said, her voice sounding weary and just a little bit wobbly. ‘It’s me.’
‘Hannah. Are you all right?’
‘Why— Do I sound that bad?’ She tried for a laugh, pressing a hand to her forehead. It didn’t help her seesawing emotions that she’d got very little sleep last night.
‘You sound tired,’ Diane admitted cautiously. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Fine. Just an intense work weekend.’ Work being the word she could drop from that sentence. ‘Is Jamie awake yet?’
‘Yes, he’s just having his breakfast. I’ll put him on for you.’
Hannah closed her eyes, listening to the familiar sound of her mother’s murmur, her son’s excited answer. The squeak of a chair, and then the sound of him scrabbling for the phone.
‘Mummy?’
A tidal wave of homesickness crashed over her, threatening to pull her under. ‘Hello, sweetheart. I miss you.’
‘I miss you, too. Nana says you’re on an island.’
‘Yes, it’s very pretty. I’ll try to bring you back a present. Maybe some shells or rocks for your collection?’
‘Ooh, yes,’ Jamie crowed. ‘Can you bring back a big one? A conch?’
‘I don’t know about that,’ Hannah said with a little laugh. ‘I think they might be protected. But I’ll bring you back something, Jamie, I promise. Be good for Nana now.’
‘I will.’
‘He always is,’ Diane assured her when Hannah had said goodbye to her son. ‘Don’t work too hard.’
‘I always work hard,’ Hannah answered, and heard how grim she sounded. Maybe she did work too hard. Maybe the sacrifices weren’t worth it, no matter what she believed about being financially independent and free. ‘I love you, Mum,’ she said.
‘Hannah, are you sure you’re all right...?’
‘I’m fine,’ Hannah said, and then, hearing the bathroom door open, she quickly said goodbye and disconnected the call.
She was just putting the phone away when Luca emerged from the bathroom, freshly shaven, his hair damp, a towel slung low on his hips. ‘Were you on the phone?’
Hannah turned away from the alluring sight of his nearly naked body. ‘Is that a crime?’
Luca sighed. ‘No, of course not. I just wondered.’
‘Then the answer is yes, I was.’
‘Hannah, look, I said I was sorry.’
‘In about the worst way possible.’
‘Can we please call a truce?’
Hannah took a deep breath, knowing she was being childish and emotional. She was a professional, for heaven’s sake, and Luca was her boss. She could handle this. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said evenly. ‘Let’s forget it. Clean slate today, all right?’ She turned to him with a bright, determined smile just as Luca dropped his towel.
CHAPTER SEVEN (#u4f4978b9-1712-5358-b80f-d37e100db43a)
HANNAH WHIRLED AWAY from the sight of Luca’s naked body, one hand clapped to her eyes.
She let out a trembling laugh. ‘You are so not making this easier.’
‘I’m sorry. I don’t like dressing in the bathroom.’
‘That message has been received, trust me.’
‘I’m dressed now,’ Luca told her dryly, and Hannah lowered her hand.
‘Wearing a pair of boxer briefs does not, in my opinion, constitute dressed.’
‘The important bits are covered,’ he answered and reached for a shirt.
‘I don’t understand you,’ Hannah said slowly. ‘You flirt and drop your clothes and act like it’s ridiculous for me to be outraged, and then you get angry with me and basically accuse me of being a slut for responding when you’re practically naked next to me.’ She tried for a wry smile but felt too confused and weary to manage it. ‘I thought it was women who usually sent mixed messages.’
Luca stilled, his hands on the buttons of his shirt, his gaze lowered. ‘This is a new situation for me,’ he admitted gruffly. ‘And a tense one. I know I’m acting out of character.’
‘Considering you’re acting as my fiancé, you certainly are.’ She sighed and reached for the strappy sandals that went with her sundress. ‘So what is the schedule for today, anyway?’
‘You spend the day with the other wives, touring the island, and I give my presentation.’
‘Wow, that’s not sexist or anything.’
Luca arched an eyebrow and resumed buttoning his shirt. ‘You’re not here as my PA.’
‘Well I know. So you spend your day in the boardroom while I fend off Daniela’s digs?’
‘She’s harmless. I barely know her.’
‘She might disagree.’ Hannah hesitated, noticing the lines of strain from Luca’s nose to mouth, the fatigue she could see in his eyes and the weary set of his shoulders. She felt a surprising dart of sympathy and even compassion for him. For whatever reason, this weekend was difficult for him. ‘So what is your presentation about?’
He stilled for a second and then reached for a pair of charcoal-grey trousers. ‘How I’m going to rehabilitate the Tyson brand.’
‘The resorts did look a bit shabby on the website.’
‘They’re tired,’ Luca affirmed with a terse nod. ‘They haven’t been updated in over twenty years.’
‘Why is Tyson selling them, anyway? Don’t his children want to take over his business?’
A grim smile curved Luca’s mouth. ‘No, they’re not interested.’
‘That’s sad, considering what a family man he is.’
‘Heartbreaking,’ Luca agreed dryly. He selected a cobalt-blue tie and began to knot it. There was, Hannah reflected, something quite sexy about a man putting on a tie, long, lean fingers manipulating the bright silk. Especially a man who looked like Luca.
‘So what are your plans for the resorts?’ she asked as she forced her gaze away from the mesmerising sight of Luca getting dressed. ‘How are you going to rehabilitate them? I never printed any documents out about it.’
‘No, I did it myself.’ He slid her a quick smile. ‘I am capable of working a printer, despite how often I ask you to do it.’
‘May I see them?’ Hannah asked, and surprise flashed across Luca’s face. ‘I’m curious.’
His fingers slowed as he finished knotting his tie, his forehead furrowed. ‘All right,’ he said at last, and he went to his briefcase and took out a manila folder of documents.
Hannah joined him on the divan, their thighs nudging, while Luca opened the folder and took out the presentation he’d put together. The colourful image on the front page was an architect’s visualisation of what the resort could look like, with villas in different pastel colours, cascading pools with water slides and whirlpools, and lots of colourful flowers and shrubbery. It looked inviting and fresh and friendly.
Hannah reached over to turn a page, scanning the paragraphs that described Luca’s plans in detail. She knew Luca’s real-estate projects always focused on sustainable energy and recyclable materials, and this was no different. But this proposal went a step further, and sought to incorporate the local culture and economy of each of the islands where there was a Tyson resort, instead of making it an exclusive enclave behind high stone walls, separate from the local residents.
She saw how family-friendly it was too, with hotel rooms and changing areas to accommodate both children and adults. Jamie would love the cascading pools and water slides outlined in one of the resorts’ plans. She glanced up at Luca, who was frowning down at the images.
‘For someone who doesn’t have children, this is very astute.’
He shrugged one powerful shoulder. ‘I did the research.’
‘I like it,’ she said and handed the folder back to him. ‘I really like it.’ Luca might have done the research, but there had been a passion and commitment to his ideas that spoke of more than just having a finger on the marketing pulse. It surprised and touched her, and it felt as if his plans for the resort had revealed something about him, something he didn’t even seem to realise. He cared.
The last of her reservation about performing in this fake engagement fell away. She was here, and she’d agreed to help Luca. She was going to do the job properly, and maybe she’d even have fun while she was at it.
‘Okay,’ she said as she stood up with a bright smile. ‘It’s time to face the fearsome Daniela.’
A smile tugged at Luca’s mouth. ‘She’s not that bad.’
‘Why didn’t it work out between you two, anyway?’ Hannah asked lightly, ignoring the sting of jealousy her question caused.
‘She was too clingy.’
‘What, she wanted to stay the night?’ Hannah quipped.
‘I told you. It never got that far. Anyway, last night you agreed with me that relationships weren’t worth it,’ Luca reminded her.
Hannah stilled. How had they got onto this? ‘I said “maybe”,’ she corrected him. ‘The verdict is still out.’
‘But you’re not in a relationship?’ Luca pressed, his gaze narrowed.
Hannah cocked her head. ‘Is that really any of your business?’
Luca’s gaze flicked to the bed, reminding him all too well of what had just happened there. ‘Considering the nature of this weekend,’ he answered, ‘yes.’
‘Fine. No, I’m not.’ And hadn’t been in anything close to one for over five years. ‘Work keeps me busy,’ she added before turning away.
They left the bedroom to join the other guests for coffee and pastries in the spacious front hall. A marble table held a huge centrepiece of lilies, and Hannah saw Luca’s mouth compress as he turned away from the ostentatious display. She knew he disliked lilies, but now she wondered at the nature of that particular quirk. She was curious about Luca in a lot of new and unsettling ways, thanks to the nature of this weekend.
After about half an hour of chit-chat, Andrew Tyson called the men away to his private office for a day of presentations. Meanwhile one of his staff ushered the three women towards a waiting car, where they would be given a tour of Santa Nicola.
Hannah was looking forward to seeing some of the island, but she didn’t relish Daniela’s hostile company. Fortunately the third woman of their trio, Rose, plopped herself next to Hannah and chatted to her about her three young children for the drive into the island’s one town, Petra. Daniela sat in the back, sulking and staring out of the window.
Hannah spent a surprisingly enjoyable morning, strolling through Petra’s cobbled streets, admiring the whitewashed buildings with their colourfully painted shutters and terracotta roof tiles.
At an open-air market she bought a wooden toy boat with a sail made of shells for Jamie, smiling to think of him receiving the present. It was even better than a conch shell.
‘And who is that for?’ Daniela asked, coming up next to her at the stall of toys in the market square. Hannah accepted the paper-wrapped boat from the vendor with a smile of thanks. She’d managed to avoid Daniela for most of the day, but she supposed a confrontation was inevitable. Daniela dripped with the venom of a woman scorned.
‘It’s a boat,’ she said pleasantly. ‘For my nephew.’ She didn’t like lying about her son, but Daniela was the last person she’d trust with any confidence, and her having a child Luca didn’t know about would shatter any illusions that their engagement was real.
Daniela raised perfectly plucked eyebrows. ‘Have you met Luca’s parents yet?’ she asked, and Hannah tensed.
The question might seem innocent enough, but she knew Daniela well enough to know it was loaded. She tucked the present for Jamie in the straw bag she’d brought, stalling for time. Luca had told her to stick as close to the truth as she could, so she supposed that was what she’d have to do.
‘No, I haven’t,’ she said as she looked into Daniela’s pinched face, trying for a pleasant tone and smile. ‘Not yet.’
‘Not yet?’ Daniela repeated, a sneer entering her voice and twisting her pretty features. ‘Then you don’t know he’s an orphan? His parents died when he was young.’ She smirked in triumph and Hannah tried to school her features into an acceptably bland expression although inwardly she cursed herself. She knew Daniela had been setting her up somehow. She’d seemed to suspect her from the start. Because you’re not the kind of woman Luca Moretti is normally seen with. Certainly not the kind of woman he’d fall in love with.
‘We had a whirlwind courtship,’ she dismissed as best she could. ‘We’re still learning all sorts of things about each other.’
‘We went on one date and he told me,’ Daniela returned.
‘One date?’ Hannah couldn’t keep from matching the woman’s cattiness. ‘Then perhaps it’s time you got over him.’
The conversation dogged her for the rest of the day, and she breathed a sigh of relief when they headed back to the resort. Luca wasn’t in the bedroom when she arrived, and she put her purchases away before running a deep bubble bath. Before dropping them off, the member of staff had informed the three women of the evening’s itinerary: cocktails on the terrace with Tyson and his family, followed by a formal dinner and dancing.
Hours and hours of pretending, a prospect that made Hannah feel both tense and exhausted, even as she tingled with anticipation at spending an evening with Luca. Would he dance with her? The thought of swaying silently with him, breathing in his heat and scent, his arms strong about her, was enough to make her stomach flip-flop.
