Oh God, he is going to make me tell him.
She knew he wouldn’t have to do much to get her to confess. Riana wasn’t a good liar, and she wore her emotions on her sleeve making her easy to read. And Allan read her like an open book.
He turned away from her, grabbed his phone, and she began to breathe again.
“What?”
Riana jumped at how forceful the word was spoken into the phone.
Allan rubbed his hand over his face and into his hair. “We’ll be there in a day…what?…oh, my girlfriend will be with me.”
Riana sat up. Girlfriend?
Was that how he acknowledged her when he introduced her in Italian? Riana giggled. It was a significant step up from bed mate, even though it wasn’t wife.
Allan turned to her, his brows creased together. Then he shook his head and chuckled. “Just make the same arrangements for her and beef up security. She’s going to be alone more in Venice with this takeover. Yeah…” He groaned and began speaking in Italian harshly, leaning back on the headboard.
Riana knew what that meant. They’d hit another road block. But what was this about security being beefed up? Had they always had bodyguards with them? Because if so they were very good. She never noticed they had company.
She could already hear Allan scoff, ‘I pay them to be that good’ when she would ask him about it.
But why would they even need security? Riana slapped her forehead. It would probably have to do with someone being a billionaire, duh! Her boyfriend was high risk. He was on every kidnapper’s wish list.
Oh God, did they watch them make love on the beach? Riana was horrified by that thought, but that feeling didn’t last long.
She nibbled on her lower lip as she smiled. Boyfriend. Allan was her boyfriend!
She squealed bouncing on the bed. Allan called me his girlfriend!
She was so happy she could dance. Why shouldn’t she?
She stood on the bed and began dancing around singing, ‘I’m Allan’s girlfriend, I’m Allan’s girlfriend!’
She felt his hand wrap around her ankle and she stopped, turning to face him. She swallowed hard. A stirring tingle rushed up her body from his grip on her ankle. The man looked at her like he wanted to eat her whole.
He said something in Italian in a raspy voice before he hang up and placed the phone on the nightstand. “Do you know how ill-advised it is to dance around naked in front of a man with an insatiable appetite?”
His voice was low and husky, sending a shudder through her. She tried to speak but there was something lodged in her throat. She swallowed hard then attempted to speak again. Nothing came out. What exactly was she to say to that?
She shrieked when her feet were pulled from under her. Before she could recover, Allan was already on top and inside her. She cried out, grabbing hold of his tight biceps. He’d never felt so large inside her before, the intrusion left a slight pain.
“We need to leave for Venice immediately, so we only have a little time for this. I promise we’ll come back to San Marino. Oh and by the way, you will tell me the little secret you are keeping from me.”
All Riana could do to respond was nod.
Chapter Nine
“You look beautiful,” Allan whispered in her ear as they walked into the café.
Riana nodded, but even Allan’s reassurance didn’t help. She was nervous walking into the rich and famous version of a café, even after the makeover she’d just gone through. She knew Allan didn’t care what she looked like, but after her stylist told her where they were going, adding that to how important this meeting with Torino was, she needed to look perfect.
That meant a new summer dress, which she as a normal human being would only wear to special occasions, and three inch wedged sandals that would attempt to give her the model long legs she naturally lacked. She wanted to straighten her hair but the hard line that quickly formed on Allan’s lips advised against it.
In his own words, ‘We are going to meet Torino not the President of the United States’—the only person, apparently, he considered worth dressing up for.
Allan wore a white Polo shirt, navy blue trousers, and loafers. While he still looked hot, he’d dressed better for their dinner dates.
But as ignorant as Allan would like to act, Riana knew how this game was played. Loraine was once a part of that life before she rebelled and she’d told Riana all about it.
He was Allan Sinclair, businessman extraordinaire, with the billions to back it up. He needed arm candy worthy enough to walk in his shadow. If she had thought to ask where they were going before she joined him, she would have said no. Just looking around at the small exclusive crowd made her feel intimidated.
Allan pinched her waist. “Hey. They might have money but they don’t have what you do, which is the most important thing in the world.”
She smiled weakly. It was just like him to read her mind, or the insecurities written on her face. And he was always ready to discredit them, the one thing she loved most about him. But her nerves had gotten the better of her this time.
“What, a billionaire who can’t stop buying me stuff?”
“I was going to say an excellent lover, but that’s okay, too.”
Riana laughed looking up at him and meeting the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen. For a moment—just one moment—she forgot what she was nervous about in that smile.
“But seriously, the one thing they all lack is your heart.”
She scoffed. “Could be because it’s in my body.”
Allan pulled her to a stop. “Yes, but your heart is filled with so much love and care, even for people you don’t know. Despite their money and fame, you are better than all of them.” He chuckled. “It makes me proud to call you my girlfriend.”
Riana grinned sheepishly and bounced on her heels. She loved it when he called her his girlfriend and loved it more when he smiled doing it. He wasn’t placating her just to make her feel significant. She knew in his heart he actually meant it.
He sobered, grabbing her bushy ponytail. “But it frightens me knowing that one day, someone might take advantage of that big beautiful heart and destroy it. I wish I could protect you from that.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “Allan, that already happened when I was still a kid. I may seem naïve but I’ve learned to never let anything break me. I’m stronger than I look. Thank you for worrying, but there is nothing to be afraid of.”
He kissed her forehead and whispered against it, “God, I hope you are right.” He then pulled away and took her hand. “Now, make me look less like a vulture.”
He chuckled when she playfully punched his upper arm. “You are not a vulture!”
“Maybe not, but he is a stallion.”
Riana turned to the leering voice only to meet the same gaze as it traveled up and down Allan’s body. Riana knew what she meant by stallion. She wasn’t blind to the fact that Allan had had numerous lovers, and all of them of his own class. Unlike her. But she and their baby claimed him now, and they didn’t feel like sharing.
She felt a rage quickly simmer inside her. Who the hell was this chick?
Allan chuckled next to her, then pulled her close to place a kiss on her bare shoulder and then her jaw. “Kitten, your claws are showing. I like it,” he whispered in her ear.
Riana felt the heat rush to her face. Gosh, was it so obvious she was jealous?
He cleared his throated and turned to the intruder. “Diana, it’s nice to see you again.”
Diana. She really wanted to hate on the name but it rhymed with hers. Riana watched as Diana stepped forward and pressed her obviously fake boobs into Allan’s arm. Riana had to fight the urge to pull him away and deflate the trespassing balloons.
“It would have been better if we were alone,” she said seductively.
Riana felt her stomach turn. The woman was nauseating! Did she not see Riana standing next to him as she perused Allan’s body as if she was as
sessing a sex toy?
To his credit, Allan stepped back, breaking contact with the double Ds.
“Diana, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Riana Albury.”
Riana pulled the fakest smile she knew and said politely, “It’s nice to meet you.”
The woman gave her a once over and scoffed, “Diana, Riana. Wow, Allan, you don’t go too far do you? I bet you have a Tatyana on your list of conquests as well.”
Allan’s lips pressed in a hard line, the look in his eyes was harsh enough to make her take a step back.
“I’ll…ah, just go back to my table,” Diana stated, clearly flustered.
The edge of Allan’s lips turned up. “Your smartest idea yet.”
Then, without waiting for her to leave, Allan pulled Riana forward and led her away, leaving Diana gapping after them.
Riana was ecstatic but she was also worried. Allan couldn’t go to Torino in the foul mood Double D’s had caused. Torino might say the wrong thing and Allan may just forget to watch his temper and cut the poor man down with his words, which was bad enough to stall the deal even more.
Riana stopped, took Allan’s face in her hands and pulled him down for a kiss. He didn’t respond at first but she kept kissing him until he did. He cupped the back of her head with one hand, the other arm circling her waist to hold her against him as he took over the kiss. It was hard, demanding, and by the time he broke it, Riana was dazed.
He chuckled, patting her right at the top of her ass “Thank you. I needed that.”
Riana nodded. “Happy to be of service.”
He laughed, keeping his arm around her waist as he led her away. It was a good thing too because she hadn’t completely regained the use of her wobbly legs.
They stopped in front of a table where three people were already standing. A short, old man with just a little bit of white hair left on his balding head, another man dressed in a white suit, his black hair shiny and slicked back. He looked like the old man—probably his son. Riana didn’t like him on the spot, especially since his gaze perused Allan with contempt.
Riana turned to Allan to see if he’d noticed their presence. He had, and he returned the stare with one of his tight smiles but his eyes had a glint in them. Riana knew that look all to well, it spoke of mischief. Allan was up to something. What?
Riana trapped her lower lip between her teeth to hide the budding smile and turned to the third person. The lady was beautiful but Riana could already see she was going to have trouble keeping her away from Allan. She leered at him like a bitch in heat! And Allan was doing a damn fine job pretending he didn’t notice.
She was wearing a knee high pencil skirt with a slit that stopped close to her crotch. Why wear the damn thing then? Her blouse was no better. It was see through and she wore a red bra to match her high red heels. I mean, why dress at all if she was going to walk around naked anyway?
Allan stepped away from Riana but took her hand and kept it in his while he extended the other to the old man.
“Mr. Torino.”
Mr. Torino shifted his gaze from it to Allan’s face. Riana could see he had no intention of shaking his hand and that wouldn’t be a good idea if he planned on convincing Allan to agree to anything. When Mr. Torino spared her a glance, she smiled at him with a slight nod. He looked at her longer, his head slightly cantered to the side. Riana felt like a newly discovered species under his observation, but she kept her smile in place. Then without looking at Allan, he took his hand and shook it.
“Quite a display of affection there,” he said finally turning to Allan.
“Well, you’ve stared at her long enough. I’m sure you can see why,” Allan answered tightly and Riana felt her cheeks burn.
Mr. Torino chuckled. He let go of Allan’s hand and reached for hers. She willingly gave it and Mr. Torino raised her knuckles to his lips. “Ciao bella. You look radiant.”
“Practically glowing,” the lady added sarcastically.
Riana kept a smile on her lips even if her heart was beating erratically. Glowing and radiant were not words she wanted tossed around with her in the mix in front of Allan.
She waited for his head and his lips to rise from his knuckles. Once he did, she spoke a perfectly practiced, “Boun pomeriggio, Signore Torino.”
Riana was pleased to see a genuine smile on his face, like for just a moment she had aided him in forgetting they were there to take his hotel away.
“Parli Italiano?”
Riana shook her head and responded laughingly, “Allan taught me a few words to get me by. You live in a beautiful country, Signore Torino.”
His eyes shone. “It is isn’t it?”
“But it does not rival yours.”
Riana turned to the other man, his son Riana was almost certain now, and could barely keep from flinching when she met his leering gaze. He took her hand from Mr. Torino’s hold and kissed a lingering, wet kiss on her inner wrist. Riana visibly flinched, unconsciously moving closer to Allan. She didn’t want to insult him by yanking her hand away because of the business deal, but God the man was slimy.
But insulting him was going to be the least of his worries judging by how rigid Allan had gone beside her. She looked up at his face. His jaw was clenched so hard she was sure a tooth would break and those eyes…jeez, if looks could kill! Allan was about to blow his top, and Torino junior was the unlucky target.
“Anthony!” Mr. Torino chastised. His son spared his father a casual gaze before he let go of Riana’s wrist.
Riana held her hand behind her and tried to discretely wipe Anthony off her wrist.
“Scusi, Signorina Albury. My son knows no boundaries,” Mr. Torino apologized.
“It’s all right—”
“No! It’s not!” Allan barked, his grip around her hand growing painful.
Riana stepped in front of him and rubbed his side with her hand. “Allan, please don’t,” she whispered.
He looked at her, his hard gaze giving no clue of whether he’d let it go or not. Riana moved closer to him until their bodies touched. “Please, Allan.”
He nodded, letting out a heavy breath and his entire body relaxed including his grip.
Riana held back a sigh of relief and turned to the woman. The faster they got this done, the better. “Boun pomeriggio, Signorina.”
The woman didn’t even acknowledge her. She stared at Allan like she would like nothing better than to jump his bones. “Signore Sinclair, you have quite a temper,” she said in a sultry tone.
Allan scoffed. “Another one of your children who lacks etiquette.” He pulled Riana’s chair out for her and waited for her to sit before he sat next to her. “Let’s get this done.”
Riana slumped back in her chair. Well, they were wasting their time. Allan was not going to agree on anything in this foul mood. To make matters worse, Anthony took the seat next to her. He moved it closer to her and obviously had every intention to move even closer until he looked past her at Allan and froze.
This was going to turn ugly fast.
Riana placed her hand over Allan’s clenched fist and turned to Mr. Torino with a smile. “Did you already order?”
“Come?” Mr. Torino’s daughter blurted out with a sneer.
“Antonia!” Mr. Torino spoke harshly before he turned to Riana. “If this is to go well, it will depend on you and me, right, bella?”
Oh, how Riana wished that was true. But Allan was stubborn on a normal, relaxed day and speaking to him now when he was angry…they had better odds convincing a brick wall it was a hedge.
“Wrong, Signore. Right now we are better off trying to have a civil brunch together. I would suggest we meet at another time, probably at dinner after a lot of wine. I’m sure we would have all calmed down by then.”
Mr. Torino looked at her for a long while before he chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m sure you don’t believe that.”
Riana sighed and shook her head. Not that getting Allan drunk would help relax him, but because A
llan wouldn’t show up. He’d probably tear his half of the hotel in Venice down and leave the other standing just to prove a point.
“I think it will be better if you two met alone in a relaxed environment.”
Anthony cleared his throat before he spoke. “I run Casa Italiano, so the meeting will have to be with me.”
Damn! Well, I tried. The only thing left for me to do is enjoy Venice before we get deported because Allan hired a wrecking company to tear down the hotel.
She turned to Allan when she heard him chuckle next to her. Did I miss something?
Oh damn! “I said that out loud, didn’t I?” she asked in such a low tone she wasn’t sure- in fact she hoped—they didn’t hear her.
Allan laughed harder then leaned toward her and kissed her on the lips. “My unicorn, the things that go through your mind,” he whispered then kissed her again before he pulled away.
Riana nibbled nervously on her lower lip as she turned to Mr. Torino. He had a grin on his face. Riana risked a smile then turned to Anthony. He on the other hand didn’t find it amusing.
“Sorry. I just know Allan can be impossible to negotiate with if he doesn’t like you.”
Anthony’s jaw only clenched harder and his gaze grew even more lethal.
Riana sighed. I should probably shut up now.
She leaned against Allan’s arm and kept silent and waited for the inevitable.
“Your girlfriend is very different. She’s a peace keeper, no?” Mr. Torino commented, making Riana blush.
Allan kissed her forehead, chuckling. “Yes, she is. She’s the reason why I’m here.” She heard him exhale loudly. “And the reason why I’ll meet you for dinner to discuss this. It would have been wonderful to meet only you, Mr. Torino, but Junior does run Casa Italiano and your daughter—exactly what do you do, Antonia?”
“I keep the guests happy. On behalf of my family I would like to invite you to stay in Casa Italiano, as our guests. I promise to take very good care of you,” she purred leaning over to expose her cleavage. “Extra special care.”
Her Venice Affair (The Albury Affairs) Page 13
