Читать книгу Modern Romance Collection: April 2018 Books 5 - 8 - Andie Brock, Heidi Rice - Страница 12

CHAPTER TWO

‘YOUR FIANCÉE?’

The word sounded just as ridiculous when choked from Harper’s closing throat as it had done uttered from Vieri’s now purposefully drawn lips.

‘Si, that is correct.’

‘You want me to marry you?’

‘No.’ He gave a harsh laugh. ‘I can assure you it won’t come to that.’

‘What, then? I don’t understand.’

‘Your sister and I made a deal. In return for a generous payment she agreed to play the part of my fiancée for a limited period of time. It’s really not that complicated.’

Not to him maybe, or her loony sister. But Harper was certainly struggling with the concept. ‘But why? And what does limited mean?’

‘In answer to your first question, in order to please my godfather. And as for the second, it will just be for a matter of weeks, months at the most.’ He paused and took a breath. ‘My godfather is dying.’

‘Oh.’ Harper could see the pain in Vieri’s eyes. ‘I’m so sorry.’

Vieri shrugged. ‘His last wish is for me to settle down, take a wife, start a family. I would like to be able to fulfil that wish, in part at least.’

‘But how? I mean, if it’s just a lie...surely that wouldn’t be right?’

‘I prefer to think of it as a small deception.’

Harper frowned. It still sounded like a lie to her. ‘And Leah agreed to this?’ She didn’t know why she was bothering to ask. It was just the sort of madcap idea that her sister would leap at.

‘Actually, it was her idea.’

That figured.

‘So what exactly is the deal? What did Leah sign up for?’ She swallowed hard, bracing herself for the answer, a kick of dread in her stomach. Thirty thousand dollars was a huge sum of money. And had she heard him say that was the first instalment? But she knew Leah—she could have agreed to just about anything for such riches. An anything that Harper herself might now have to honour. It was a terrifying thought.

‘Flying to Sicily, meeting my godfather, acting like the doting fiancée.’

Harper nervously chewed her fingernail, waiting for more information.

‘It may entail several visits, maybe some lengthier stays. I would like to spend as much time with him as possible.’

‘I see.’ A tight silence fell between them as Harper tried to get to grips with this. ‘Go on.’

‘That’s it. The arrangement between Leah and myself was left deliberately fluid.’

Deliberately fluid? What the hell did that mean? Faced with this formidably handsome man, Harper found her thoughts flying in some very surprising directions. Reining herself in, she stared at him primly. ‘Obviously before I agree to anything I need to know what else would be expected of me.’

Vieri made a low noise in his throat. ‘If you mean will you have to share my bed, then the answer is no.’ His dark, mocking gaze slashed across her hot cheeks. ‘I am not in the habit of paying women to sleep with me.’

‘No, of course not.’ Harper hurriedly tried to erase the erotic image of being in Vieri’s bed. ‘Anyway, I know my sister would never have agreed to such a thing.’ That had to be true. Didn’t it? ‘And neither would I, to be clear.’

Argh. Why didn’t she stop digging and shut up?

‘I’m very pleased to hear it.’ His deep blue gaze slid over her. ‘So, do we have a deal? Are you prepared to take on your sister’s debt?’

‘I don’t know.’ Still Harper hesitated. ‘If I did, what would happen about Leah?’

‘I would have no further interest in her.’

If Harper had thought his bald statement would be a comfort, she was wrong. Suddenly the idea that Vieri Romano had lost all interest in her sister worried her almost as much as the thought of him hounding her. She didn’t know how to start tracking Leah down, whereas Vieri knew people; he would have contacts, resources at his disposal.

‘But what about this Rodriguez guy? You must want to speak to him?’ A sudden spark of hope mixed with fear lit inside her. ‘He might be the one responsible for stealing your money. He might have kidnapped Leah.’

‘Unlikely. From the little I saw of your sister she didn’t look like kidnap material.’

‘And what exactly does kidnap material look like?’ Harper indignantly challenged the idea that no one would want to kidnap Leah, and, by association, her too.

‘Heiresses, high-profile celebrities, children of the filthy rich.’

Clearly the McDonald sisters were none of those things.

‘Well, there’s the thirty thousand dollars. Rodriguez might have somehow lured Leah away to try and get his hands on that.’

‘Possible, though unlikely. Rodriguez has been working as a bar manager here for some time, having access to large sums of money every night of the week. There’s never been any suggestion that he’s stolen from us before. My guess is that, if anything, your sister has lured him away. Though I’ve no idea why.’

Neither did Harper. But right now she didn’t have the capacity to try and work it out.

‘But you are right.’ Ruthlessly, Vieri continued. ‘If a member of my staff walks out with no warning, regardless of the circumstances, I make it my business to investigate. I will find Rodriguez. And if your sister is still with him, then I will see that she is returned to her family.’

‘Without involving the police?’

‘I see no reason to contact the police.’

‘Or violence. I would hate to think anyone would get hurt.’

Rising to his feet, Vieri walked around the desk until he was standing in front of her, towering over her, all formidable dark presence.

‘I think perhaps I need to make a few things clear, Ms McDonald.’ He locked eyes with hers, the dark intensity of his words matched by the stark angles of his handsome face. ‘I will deal with this incident as I see fit. I make the decisions. I make the rules. You should consider yourself extremely fortunate that you have this opportunity to prevent Leah from a possible prison sentence.’

Fortunate? That was not a word Harper would use to describe herself right now. Her head was spinning with the shock and sheer enormity of what was being asked of her. But what choice did she have?

‘So what do you say?’ Vieri fixed her with a punishing stare. ‘Are you prepared to go along with my plan to save your sister’s skin?’

Harper looked away, balling her hands into fists. Right now she would like to flay Leah herself, string her up and set about her, make her see what a completely stupid, totally irresponsible person she was. But Leah was her sister, her twin, almost a part of her. Of course she would save her—she would do anything to keep her safe, to protect her. It was what she had been doing the whole of their lives. Because Harper was the older twin, the sensible one, the healthy one. The one that shouldered the responsibility, took charge, tried to make everything right. Which in this case meant temporarily shackling herself to this shockingly attractive but coldly calculating man.

‘Yes.’ Her voice came out as little more than a whisper but as she raised her eyes to meet Vieri’s she saw the look of satisfaction reflected in his midnight stare. Her fate had been sealed.

* * *

Harper peered through the window as the island of Sicily came into view, its iconic position off the toe of Italy’s boot clearly visible from the air. As Vieri’s private jet started to descend she craned her neck for a better look, taking in the rivers and the mountains, the clumps of towns and cities and, the most amazing of all, Mount Etna, shrouded in snow but puffing out a stream of smoke in welcome.

She had only ever been abroad once before, a bargain break holiday to the Costa del Sol in Spain when she was nineteen. Which might have been fun if she hadn’t ended up trailing around after Leah trying to keep her out of trouble.

And nothing had changed. Here she was again, still trying to sort one of her sister’s messes. But this time it was serious, really serious. Leah had stolen a large sum of money and Harper didn’t doubt that if Vieri decided to press charges she could well go to prison.

Which was why she’d had no choice but to put her own life on hold and climb into Vieri’s private jet to be flown back across the world to take part in this hateful little charade. She could kill Leah. She really could.

And it had all happened ridiculously fast—less than twenty-four hours had passed since she had first set foot in Spectrum nightclub. Once she had agreed to go along with the plan Vieri had leapt into action, insisting on sending a car to pick up Harper’s suitcase from the hostel she had checked into earlier, refusing to even let her go with it. No doubt he was worried that if he let her out of his sight she would abscond—just like her sister. So now here she was, thousands of miles away, about to embark on a crazy deception.

It had been a long flight, starting in the small hours of the morning, and even though Harper had been shown to a sumptuous bedroom she had found sleep impossible, eventually venturing into the lounge area, where Vieri had been immersed in work, the light from the screen of his laptop suffusing his handsome face with an eerie glow. He had shown no interest in conversing with her so instead she had scrolled through the movies on the wide-screen television, in the hope of finding something to take her mind off things. Which was impossible. How was she supposed to divert herself from the mad reality of what she was doing? Pitching up with a man who was almost a total stranger and pretending to be his fiancée.

But it was happening. As the plane landed she looked across at her ‘fiancé’, watching as he closed his laptop, unbuckled his seat belt and drew himself up to his full height. He shrugged on a dark cashmere coat, then ushered her down the steps of the plane and across the tarmac to the waiting car.

‘Castello di Trevente,’ Vieri instructed the driver once they were both seated inside, before settling back against the soft leather.

‘Where are we going?’ Harper addressed his strong profile.

‘Castello di Trevente,’ Vieri repeated. ‘It’s where my godfather lives.’

‘He lives in a castle?’ Harper’s Sicilian was non-existent but even she could understand that.

‘Yes, it’s been in the Calleroni family for generations.’ Vieri turned to look at her. ‘Far too big and cold and draughty for him, of course, but Alfonso would never agree to move to anywhere more sensible.’

‘I see.’ Harper tucked her unruly hair behind her ears. ‘But aren’t we going to the hotel first, to freshen up, I mean?’

‘I don’t want to leave it too late. My godfather gets very tired and it’s already six p.m. here.’ Removing his heavy gold watch, he deftly adjusted the time before refastening it and raising his eyes to coldly assess her. In the dim light of the car his eyes flicked mercilessly over her body and Harper flinched beneath his scrutiny, tugging at the collar of her waxed jacket. Without saying a word he had managed to convey her obvious shortcomings, the world of difference between them. He oozed dark sophistication, whereas she felt as craggy and unkempt as the wild moorlands she came from.

But she refused to be intimidated by him. He might have all the wealth and power, and thanks to Leah’s stupid deal it seemed he as good as owned Harper for the foreseeable future. But she still had her self-respect. And she would hang onto that for dear life.

Sitting up a little straighter, she sneaked a look at her companion. He was facing ahead again now, the collar of his coat turned up, but she could still see the dark shadow of stubble along his jaw, the loose curls of his dark hair that softened his austere profile. His hands rested in his lap, beautiful hands with long, strong fingers that invited their touch, making Harper wonder what they would feel like against her skin.

Which was ridiculous and totally uncalled for. With a jolt she put the brakes on her imagination. She and Vieri Romano had entered into a business deal, nothing more. And wondering what it would feel like to be caressed by his hands was most definitely not part of that deal. She needed to focus on the practicalities. That was what she was good at.

‘So, what’s the plan, then?’ She broke the silence and Vieri turned to look at her, his dark brows raised. ‘How am I supposed to act in front of your godfather?’

‘Like my fiancée,’ he replied coolly. ‘I thought we had established that.’

‘But shouldn’t we have some sort of story mapped out?’ Ever the pragmatist, she pressed on. ‘How we met, how long we have known each other, that sort of thing?’

‘You can leave the talking to me.’

Harper bristled. The idea that she was just going to be paraded in front of this man like some sort of inanimate object didn’t sit well with her feminist principles. But then who was she kidding? None of this sat well with any of her principles. Even so, a thought occurred to her.

‘Perhaps your godfather doesn’t speak English?’ That would explain Vieri’s high-handed manner.

‘Aflonso speaks perfect English.’

So that was that theory crushed. And it would make her job harder, even though Vieri didn’t seem to recognise it.

‘Then obviously I need to be able to converse with him.’ She tried to assert some authority. ‘And to do that I need to know more about him. And we need to know more about each other.’ She tailed off, her authority already slipping away. Talking about herself was not a subject she was comfortable with.

‘Very well.’ Vieri immediately pounced on her reluctance, his full attention suddenly on her. ‘Tell me your life story, Ms Harper McDonald.’

Harper swallowed hard. Her life story was not something she was fond of recounting. Everyone in her home town of Glenruie knew it anyway—those poor wee girls, left motherless by a tragic accident that took their mother then drove their father to drink. Left struggling to make ends meet, to keep a roof over their heads. But where strangers were concerned, Harper was careful to keep her tale of woe to herself. Except now this particular stranger was silently, unnervingly waiting for answers. She decided she would stick firmly to the facts.

‘Umm, well, I am twenty-five years old and I’ve lived all my life in a small town called Glenruie on the west coast of Scotland with my father and my sister.’ She paused. ‘My father is a gamekeeper for the Craigmore estate. He manages the birds and the fishing for Craigmore Lodge, which is still owned by the Laird but now run as a hotel. Leah and I work there sometimes, housekeeping, waitressing, that sort of thing.’

‘And your mother?’

‘She died.’ Harper pursed her lips, then forced herself to continue. ‘A long time ago now. An accident with a shotgun.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Vieri lowered his voice.

‘That’s okay.’ But of course it wasn’t. In truth the accident had all but decimated their lives.

‘And I gather there are problems with your father.’

Harper silently cursed her sister again. ‘Umm, he hasn’t been well lately so things have been a bit tough.’

‘Leah said he’s a drinker.’ She really would kill Leah. ‘Is it true that if he loses his job you lose your home?’

‘Well, in theory that could happen. But I’m sure it won’t come to that. Anyway...’ she folded her arms over her chest ‘...that’s enough about me.’ She attempted a small laugh that died in the purring quiet of the car. ‘What should I know about you?’

Vieri laid his arm on the armrest between them, his fingers curling over the end. He turned to the front. ‘Thirty-two. Sicilian by birth but I’ve been living in New York for fourteen years. CEO of Romano Holdings. I started in the hotel and leisure industry, but now control over a hundred companies, and that number is growing all the time.’

Harper frowned. This wasn’t the sort of information she wanted. She wasn’t looking to invest or compiling a list of the world’s most successful businesses, though she had no doubt that if she did Romano Holdings would be up there at the top. She was supposed to be engaged to him, for heaven’s sake; she was supposed to know him personally.

‘What about your family?’ She focussed on his proud profile. ‘Parents, brothers and sisters?’

‘No, none.’ His voice was bleak, his hand tightening on the armrest.

‘What, no living relatives at all?’ His obvious reticence only made her want to push further.

‘No.’ A muscle now twitched in his cheek. ‘I was raised in a children’s home.’

‘Oh.’ The word seemed ridiculously inadequate. ‘Did your parents die, then?’

‘I’ve no idea. But if not they might as well have done. I was left on the steps of a church when I was a few hours old.’

‘Oh, how sad.’ The image of the tiny abandoned bundle lodged in her mind and refused to be shifted.

‘Not really. I’ve done pretty well for myself.’

‘Well, yes, of course, but—’

‘And from what I’ve seen of other people’s families, maybe I was better off without one.’

Was that a swipe at her? Harper scowled to herself.

‘But actually I was very lucky. Alfonso Calleroni was a trustee of the children’s home. He looked out for me, became my godfather. Without him I may well have strayed down the wrong path.’

‘You owe him a lot?’

‘Everything.’ Harper could hear the emotion in his voice. ‘Which is why I want to do this one last thing for him. His happiness means a great deal to me.’

Harper hesitated. A thought had occurred to her that wouldn’t be pushed away. ‘Do you not think...’ she started cautiously, all too aware that Vieri was not the sort of man who liked to be challenged ‘...that your godfather is thinking about your happiness when he says he wants to see you married? Not his own.’

Swinging round to face her again, Vieri positively shimmered with hostility. ‘In the unlikely event that I should ever want your opinion, Harper McDonald, I will ask for it.’ His voice was a low hiss. ‘Until then I will thank you to keep your thoughts to yourself and do the job your sister has been paid to do. Is that understood?’

‘Perfectly.’ Harper straightened her back and turned to look out of the window. From now on she would keep her mouth shut. Even if she was the only one who could see this whole charade was stupid.

The rest of the short journey was travelled in silence until the car slowed before turning off the main road and up a long driveway. Only when it drew to a halt did Vieri turn to look at her again.

‘Before we go in, you will be needing this.’ Slipping his hand into his trouser pocket, he brought out a ring box and passed it to her. The velvet box was still warm from where it had nestled against his thigh. ‘If it doesn’t fit we can get it resized.’

Harper cautiously opened the box, realising she was holding her breath as she did so. Which was stupid. What did it matter what the ring looked like, or indeed if it was as fake as their engagement? Nevertheless as she removed it from the box, felt the weight of the green stone, saw its mocking sparkle in the dim light of the car, she had no doubt that this was the real thing. When she slid it onto her finger it fitted perfectly. Which only made her feel more uncomfortable. As did Vieri’s dark gaze, which drifted from her hand to her face, making her stomach do an inexplicable swoop.

‘You are ready?’

Harper nodded, stuffing the offending hand into her coat pocket to keep it from view as the driver came around to open her car door for her. ‘Yes.’ Somehow the right word came out, even though every part of her body was screaming no.

‘Bene. Then let’s do this.’