Italian Tycoon, Secret Son

by Lucy Gordon

  ‘Is the Sleeping Beauty awake now?’ she asked.

  ‘Grr!’

  She came inside and sat beside him, affording him a full view of her attire.

  ‘What-’ he demanded, aghast.

  ‘It’s Teresa’s. I didn’t have anything of my own.’

  He began to undo his shirt buttons, then stopped, looked at her again and covered his eyes.

  ‘Oh, stop it,’ she said, laughing. ‘Here, let me help you.’

  The last time she’d undressed him it had been in the dark, with love and passion, and he’d undressed her in the same way. Would this touch awaken any memory in the darkened places of his mind?

  But the mood was wrong. Nobody could be passionate wearing dancing mushrooms.

  And all thoughts of seduction were driven away by the sight of him when they had eased his shirt off together and she saw his scars. For a moment she had to look away to hide the tears.

  ‘It’s not too bad,’ he said. ‘The doctors did a good job and they’ve healed well. I just look a bit different. It’s no big deal.’

  He began working on his trousers, and she pulled them off for him. When he was down to his underpants she helped him into bed, pulling the duvet up over him. He was still very sleepy.

  ‘Overdosing on medicine,’ she chided him. ‘You were supposed to be taking it easy, recovering.’

  ‘I’ve worked on that these last few days, trying to be in good shape for last night.’

  ‘Because you’d plotted with Eugenio that he would invite me? That’s where he got all that Dottoressa stuff from.’

  ‘Think what you will of me, the worst is probably all true. Ferrini is an old friend. When I asked him to help me, he agreed at once.’

  ‘But you didn’t have to arrange a “chance” meeting. Just call me. Why do it this way?’

  Renzo hesitated before saying with difficulty, ‘When you first appeared the other day, I was confused. I asked you back the next day because I thought I could handle it, but I couldn’t. So I told you to go. I wanted to see you again, but from a distance, so that I could watch without being seen. Yes, that’s reprehensible and if you want to call me names, I won’t argue.’

  ‘No names, I promise. But wouldn’t it have been better for me to come here so that we could talk?’

  ‘I didn’t want to talk, just look at you and try to work out if you’re the same person who goes through my head in the night.’

  ‘And am I?’

  ‘I think so. Tonight I was almost on the edge of finding out, but I made a mess of everything.’

  ‘It’s not your fault you need painkillers. There’ll be other times. Do I go through your head often?’

  ‘You come and go, and I’m never sure-’ He floundered for a moment, then gave a helpless shrug. ‘I’m never sure of anything, these days; just that I can often see someone out of the corner of my eye, but when I turn she vanishes around the corner-if she really existed at all.’

  ‘She does,’ Mandy assured him. ‘She’s real-I’m real.’

  ‘But which you? You change all the time.’

  ‘Perhaps I’m waiting for you to say which one of me you prefer.’

  ‘Perhaps I’m waiting for you to be the same person twice, so that I can tell.’

  ‘Do I change so much in your mind?’ she asked.

  ‘All the time. But then you always did. When we were in the mountains, one moment you’d be sticking your claws into me, the next you’d say something that made me feel as if our minds were one. I’ve never had that feeling with anyone else. That ought to make it easier, but it doesn’t.’ He gave a grunt of mirthless laughter. ‘I’m a real headcase.’

  ‘It’s probably something to do with all those operations you had,’ she mused. ‘Too many anaesthetics, close together, scramble your brains.’

  ‘And they stay scrambled,’ he said wryly. ‘The odd thing is that the further back I go, the clearer my memory becomes. The night we met, that robe you were wearing-you were so beautiful I actually forgot about the woman I was supposed to be making love to.’

  ‘You mean, the one with the outraged husband? One of many, I’ll bet.’

  He gave a faint smile. ‘Yes, I was a bit that way, in those days.’

  He said ‘in those days’ as though describing another universe, and again she had to suppress her emotion. How often in the past had he maddened her? And what wouldn’t she give to have him like that again now?

  ‘We were three floors up, but you came leaping over those railings as though it was nothing,’ she reminded him.

  ‘Like Douglas Fairbanks, you said. When I got back to my hotel that night, I went online and checked him out. You were right, I was always a show-off. I never impressed you, though, did I?’

  ‘Don’t put yourself down. If you were just a show-off, you wouldn’t have got under my skin so much. But there were times when it was good. Do you remember that night we talked about freedom?’

  ‘Yes, I do. I’d have liked to talk to you for hours because-’

  He stopped as though the next words were difficult, and Mandy held her breath.

  ‘Because I felt I could trust you,’ Renzo finished.

  She was disappointed, but only for a moment. Trust was a step forward.

  ‘I’m surprised you liked talking to me,’ she said lightly, ‘since you say I kept digging my claws in.’

  ‘You were always interesting. I never knew where the next attack was going to come from. Mind you, the first night you said something unforgivable. Ham actor, indeed!’

  ‘Yes, I really hit home with that one, didn’t I?’

  He managed a laugh, then immediately winced and wished he hadn’t.

  ‘You’re feeling bad,’ Mandy said. ‘Can I get you something?’

  ‘Thanks. My pills are over there.’

  ‘After all you’ve had-’

  ‘They’ve worn off, believe me.’

  She fetched the pills and poured water from a carafe beside the bed. Renzo took them thankfully, sitting up to do so and moving his shoulders cautiously.

  ‘My spine seems to have a life of its own,’ he said. ‘The doctors put it right and then it thinks of something else.’

  ‘Perhaps you need Dr Renzo’s All Purpose Linctus? I can really recommend it.’

  ‘I must admit there wasn’t much in that stuff. I had other motives-disgraceful ones.’

  He gave her a cautious glance to see how she was affected by this confession, but she only smiled, saying, ‘So it was just the massage that made me feel so much better?’

  ‘I guess it was.’

  After a moment she said hesitantly, ‘Then perhaps you should let me return the favour-unless you think I might do some damage.’

  ‘You won’t do me any damage,’ he said quietly. ‘I told you I trusted you, and I do-with my life.’

  ‘Lie down.’

  When he was face down on the bed, she could see the marks more clearly. As he’d said, they were healed now, and the rest of him looked as strong and well developed as before. But the savage scars told their story of pain and suffering that would always be with him.

  Mandy closed her eyes for a moment, struggling to keep her anguished feelings to herself. She had lain with him in the secret darkness, shared with him the knowledge of approaching death, and given him her heart in exchange for his. Now he’d come to this.

  ‘I hope I’m not hurting you,’ she said, beginning to rub her hands gently over his back.

  ‘No, don’t stop.’

  She drew a sharp breath. She’d thought she had command of herself, but these words, an echo of the night they had made love, transfixed her. She had touched him then, so tenderly and passionately that he had cried out for more.

  Last night they’d come close to finding each other again, and only bad luck had got in the way. But they had taken a step forward and there would be other times. For the moment all he asked of her was friendship and comfort.

  For now she would give the
m to him, but some day soon the moment would come again. On that she was determined.

  Patience, she told herself. But it was hard to be patient when she thought of Danny, the little boy waiting for her at home, who might do so much for his father, and the father who might do so much for him.

  She fell into a rhythm, massaging back and forth, while Renzo lay silent, relaxing under her hands until at last his eyes closed.

  ‘How does that feel?’ she asked.

  When there was no reply she looked at him more closely and saw that he was asleep again, frowning slightly. Slowly, she reached out a tentative hand and laid it against his cheek. He didn’t move, but it seemed to her that the frown faded. Holding her breath, she let her fingers drift to his hair, brushing it back from his brow.

  She should leave now, but she couldn’t make herself do it. Holding her breath, she leaned down and laid her lips against his cheek. He didn’t move but she was sure she sensed him relax, grow content. Or perhaps she’d only imagined it from the depths of her longing.

  If only he would turn over, open his eyes, smile and welcome her into his arms. But he didn’t move. If anything, he seemed more deeply asleep.

  Gently, she drew the duvet up over his shoulders, turned out the bedside lamp and backed out of the room.

  In some far corner of his consciousness Renzo heard the soft closing of the door, but it didn’t disturb the sensuous dream in which he was drifting. Hands caressed him softly and a voice from long ago whispered, ‘I love you.’

  ‘Who are you?’ he begged. ‘Let me see your face.’

  ‘You don’t need to see my face,’ she whispered. ‘You know me.’

  But he didn’t know her. He reached out, seeking vainly for something that would clear the clouds that had shrouded his mind for the last two years.

  But she was gone again, as she always was.

  Mandy slept later than she’d meant to, and when she went downstairs Ferrini was already there with Renzo. He rose to greet her, beaming.

  ‘Your hotel told me you hadn’t returned last night, so I came here. I know that your arrival will be the best thing for my friend Renzo, as it will be for me.’

  ‘Signor Ferrini, I must tell you that I know why you invited me last night. Renzo asked you to.’

  ‘I don’t deny it, but I still need your professional help. All we have to do is discuss money. Renzo says that you can leave the hotel and live here-’

  ‘So it’s all settled,’ Renzo said, regarding her with a knowing look.

  ‘It most certainly is not,’ Mandy said indignantly.

  ‘I’m afraid I took the liberty of informing the hotel that you would be checking out today,’ he said in a regretful tone that didn’t fool her for a second. ‘They were very grateful as they have a waiting list. They ask that you clear out your things before midday.’

  ‘Deception last night and bullying this morning,’ she seethed. ‘So this is how you get your own way.’

  ‘It’s the quickest method,’ he said, the picture of innocence.

  And just for one moment there was a gleam of the old mischief, a hint of teasing challenge in his look. It vanished quickly, as though he’d suppressed it, but she forgave him everything in return for that glimpse of hope.

  Since there was nothing else to do, she gave in and returned to the hotel, where she found he’d gone one further and paid her bill. His car ferried her back to his house, a ludicrous waste considering the short distance, but by now she had the picture. He was keeping her where he could see her, just as he’d done the night before.

  Now, she told herself, she was nearing the moment when she could tell him about Danny. Perhaps even today.

  But she returned to find him deep in a business call. She concentrated on settling into the delightful room Teresa had prepared for her. It had an enormously wide bed that looked at least two hundred years old, and its own bathroom. The windows were traditional, with wooden shutters on the outside that could be drawn to shut out the most determined sunlight.

  Ferrini’s car collected her again and she spent the rest of the day in his library, returning with a stack of books and papers.

  Teresa explained that Renzo would be detained all evening by a business meeting. Mandy was becoming used to his changes of mind, warding her off defensively one moment, drawing her close the next, then warding her off again. It was possible to cope, now that she understood.

  She called home night and morning, looking forward to her gurgled conversations with Danny, picturing his face, so like that of his great-grandfather that she almost told Sue to bring him out here at once.

  But not just yet. There lingered in her mind the memory of Renzo saying that his knowledge of family life had scarred him too much to make him a good father. His recent experiences were unlikely to have changed his view. Yet the time was coming when she must take the chance.

  One morning, while she was working in Ferrini’s house, feeling in dire need of coffee, she went across the hall to the kitchen and just noticed a figure in the shadows, who retreated at once.

  ‘Luigi?’ she called. ‘Why are you hiding? Don’t say you’re afraid of me.’

  ‘Not you,’ he muttered, emerging. ‘Him.’

  ‘Him? Who?’

  ‘Renzo. I don’t want to be a dead man.’

  ‘Don’t be absurd.’

  ‘You don’t know what he said he’d do to me if I troubled you.’ Luigi looked around as though fearful that Renzo would be watching them.

  ‘I seem to remember it was me threatening you, not him,’ Mandy said.

  ‘No, after that. He called me and said I must stay away from you.’

  ‘He did what? Look, he was just being a bit overprotective.’

  ‘I know the difference between a man who’s protective and a man who’s jealous to the point of murder.’ Luigi eyed her cautiously. ‘I guess he’s not such a dead man.’ He retreated back into the shadows. ‘Don’t tell him we talked. I’m not ready to die.’

  She smiled at his comical tone, but she was thoughtful for the rest of the day. That evening she refused the car and walked for a while, not looking where she was going, sunk in thought until she found a bench. There she sat down, took out the photograph of Danny that never left her and gazed at it longingly, missing him so much that she ached.

  At last she put it safely away, then took her cellphone and called home to England.

  ‘I don’t suppose Danny’s awake?’ she asked hopefully.

  ‘I’ve only just got him to sleep,’ Sue told her. ‘Do you want me to wake him? It would be better not to. He’s been a bit upset today. He keeps saying “Mummy” and I tell him he’ll see Mummy soon.’

  ‘He will,’ Mandy said firmly. ‘I’ve waited long enough. Now it’s time for action. Don’t wake him now, but call me tomorrow morning.’

  It was late when she went home. Teresa was in the hall.

  ‘He’s waiting for you,’ she said quietly.

  As she went into the living room Renzo was standing there.

  ‘Where have you been?’ he demanded. ‘I’ve been worried. You might have got lost.’

  ‘No, I wasn’t lost. I had things to think about, and decide.’

  ‘And what have you decided?’ he asked, sounding tense.

  ‘This,’ she said simply, and reached up to kiss him.

  She felt the shock go through his body and the next instant his arms were around her, drawing her fiercely against him, telling her with every movement that she was doing the right thing.

  ‘Mandy,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Tell me-’

  ‘No,’ she murmured. ‘No more talk. We’ve talked too much. Kiss me.’

  He responded with a vigour that told her he’d wanted this as much as she had. No caution now, no holding back, only a desperate seeking of the dream before it vanished.

  But it wasn’t going to vanish, she promised him with every caress. It was here for him for ever. Her lips, her hands, her heart told him. As for herself, she�
�d waited two years for this moment, and nothing was going to take it from her now.

  ‘You’re doing something dangerous,’ he murmured huskily.

  ‘There’s pleasure in going to the edge, remember?’ she reminded him. ‘We’ve been to the edge before, but we went over apart and we paid for it. This time we’re going over together, and we’re going to be rulers of the world, just as you said.’

  He looked at her intently. ‘Do you mean that?’ he asked, half hopeful, half not wanting to hope.

  ‘If we don’t, there’s nothing else.’

  Now she saw something in his eyes that thrilled her. Time had rolled back and he was once more a man alight with an inner fire. His grasp on her hands was tight, drawing her out of the room. At the foot of the stairs he kissed her again, then watched her, waiting for something.

  Now it was she who took control. ‘Come with me,’ she said.

  ‘To the top of the mountain?’

  ‘Where else?’

  ‘And then-’

  She gave a laugh of pure triumph. ‘Then,’ she said, ‘we’re going to hold hands and jump.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  T HE lights were out in his room, but the shutters stood open, letting in a soft blue glow.

  ‘Don’t look at me,’ Renzo said.

  Mandy was about to protest that his damaged appearance didn’t repel her, but she decided that actions would be better than words. And there was another reason, one that attracted her even more.

  ‘Remember the darkness?’ she asked him as she drew the shutters closed, blocking out the light. ‘There was snow on every side of the hut except the side that was missing. It blocked out all the light, so that we had to use a torch sometimes, and at other times we managed without light.’

  ‘I remember. And the cold.’

  ‘We huddled under blankets and kept warm together.’

  ‘It wasn’t cold when you were there. You drove it away.’

  She took his hand and laid the fingers on her buttons, letting him know what she wanted. He began to undress her slowly and she felt his fingertips just brushing her skin. The very lightness of that touch drove her wild. She wanted more, and then more. She wanted everything from him, but she forced herself to be patient, though it was hard when she could sense the time coming.