If Cesar wanted her so much, he’d have to go after her. As for Luc, she’d be out of his life forever. By tomorrow afternoon, he’d be liberated. In a week he’d be able to drive a car again, and life would get back to normal as he knew it before the advent of the Duchess sisters.
It didn’t matter that his skiing days were over. The alpine sport he’d enjoyed from childhood was now a thing of the past. But because of modern medical science, he’d be able to walk again without the assistance of a cane. When the week was up, he’d celebrate by burning it.
“Luc? Are you still there?”
“Forgive me, Fabio. I was distracted for a moment. To answer your question, Signorina Duchess won’t have a choice if she wants to get in a Mediterranean trip before she flies back to New York. If you’ll give me Giovanni’s phone number, I’ll call him and see if he’s willing to let me use it starting tomorrow. I know this is short notice.”
“No problem. I’ll take care of everything, Luc. You can consider it a fait accompli. The Gabbiano will be waiting for you at the Vernazza dock.”
“Excellent. Grazie, Fabio. Ciao.” Mademoiselle Olivier was in for the surprise of her life!
The second he hung up, his gaze locked with a pair of flame-blue eyes.
“Well?” she prodded. “What did Signore Moretti have to say?”
“He told me to tell you that for the Duchess of Kingston, he would move heaven and earth to accommodate you.”
“I knew Fabio would pull through! But the next time you talk to him, tell him I like heaven and earth right where they are. All I’m asking is to go on the vacation Daddy paid for.”
Ah yes. The famous Husband Fund. Who could forget? It proved that truth was stranger than fiction.
According to Max, the Duchess sisters had come to Europe the first time around on the money their father had willed to them, money he called the “Husband Fund.” They could only use it to try to snag a husband.
Absurd and ridiculous as the plan had sounded, it had worked. Greer Duchess was now Signora di Varano, with Max her blissful groom.
Both Luc and Nic had been stunned by the way their cousin had run to his own wedding with such eagerness. In fact he’d gotten engaged to Greer four days after meeting her, which had to be some kind of record.
Luc studied her for a moment. “It seems you’re going to get your wish. The boat will be ready for us tomorrow.”
“But you said you have to go to the hospital in the morning. Won’t you need a day of rest first?”
What was she playing at now, feigning concern. “I thought the main point of this exercise was to remove you from Cesar’s grasp as soon as possible.”
“Well of course it is, but not at the expense of your leg.”
“I had no idea you cared.”
From their first meeting, Olivia had seemed to take particular delight in mocking him over anything to do with his injury. Her last taunt about his not being able to get in Cesar’s race car, let alone drive it, still rankled. Being prohibited from driving for the last seven months had served as its own prison.
“Of course I care,” she blurted. “You are a human being, even if you don’t display the normal set of emotions. Cesar told me you were into robotics engineering. How very apropos.”
“I’m glad we understand each other.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Why?”
“You’re going to have to fetch and carry for me.”
“The Piccione is a luxury boat. The crew will help you. I’ll be too busy swimming.”
“You mean fishing for men.”
“That’s right. I understand from Cesar that the Prince of Monaco is scuba diving off the coast of Ischia at the moment. His mother was an American. We would have a lot in common. I’m going to tell the captain to set sail for Ischia as soon as we leave port.”
“You do that.”
“I will!” She tossed her head before wandering over to the window to look out at the view. The gesture brought attention to her cap of gleaming gold curls which was a new hairstyle for her. Over six weeks ago when they’d first met, she’d been wearing it longer.
Short like this, it brought out the classic mold of her facial features. Her eyes looked larger than ever.
Luc found himself looking forward to tomorrow when she discovered that she and the steward were one in the same person.
It was hard to believe that only an hour ago Luc had assumed his younger brother had already whisked her off to the Amalfi Coast where the family had a small villa above Positano. It sat high on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, one of Cesar’s favorite haunts to take his flavor of the month.
When Luc thought of Olivia standing near the altar in some filmy white bridesmaid concoction where she’d caught the golden light from the stained glass windows pouring into the chapel, the image of luscious, succulent golden peaches in rich crème came to mind.
Definitely an enticing taste treat. Cesar could be forgiven for not being able to take his eyes off her during the ceremony.
Since Luc had been the one to introduce her to his brother, he shouldn’t have been surprised she would take one look at Cesar and go after him with a vengeance. The ultimate playboy with a title. Just what she’d come to Europe for.
Watching a laughing Olivia drive away from the Varano estate in the Ferrari with Cesar after the wedding was a case in point.
Now she was pretending to run away from his brother, but it was a ploy to sink her hooks deeper until he was caught. Unfortunately she’d come to the wrong man for help. No way was Luc going to allow a treacherous opportunist like Olivia Duchess to succeed at her game, even if she and Cesar deserved each other…
Suddenly she wheeled around. “I don’t suppose there’ll be a real French chef on board this time.”
Luc pretended to look in his desk drawer for something. “Fabio employs various locals. I didn’t think to ask him which one. You should have taken advantage of my cooking when you had the chance.”
“Give me a break. I found out it was your parents’ chef who prepared the food before it was brought aboard the Piccione.”
He darted her a quick glance. “I concede to that happening on one occasion because I was otherwise occupied.”
“You mean you and your cousins were too busy playing undercover cop. How come you haven’t found your thief yet?”
“Give us a little more time and we will.”
Earlier in the day Nic had called Luc, asking him to fly to England. The police had stumbled across a new lead in the case of the family’s missing jewelry collection from the Colorno palace in Italy. One of the pieces had turned up at an auction in London. Nic wanted to discuss the new development with him.
Luc had been forced to turn him down because of his hospital visit in the morning, but after his week of recuperation was up, he promised to join Nic in Marbella, Spain, where he lived and they’d discuss new ideas to track down the culprits.
The disappointment in his cousin’s voice was understandable. Luc suspected his cousin was looking for an excuse to get together because, like Luc, he was feeling deserted now that the wedding was over. Their cousin Max, who’d been a best friend and brother to them, was now a married man.
“Luc? In case you hadn’t noticed, your phone’s ringing. From the sound of it, they’re not going to hang up. I would imagine it’s Cesar looking for me.
“The maid at your parents’ house had to give me your address and probably told him I was here. Maybe I should answer it. That way he’ll believe you’re the man I was referring to in my note. What do you think?”
Luc didn’t have to think. She obviously had Cesar eating out of her hand. “Be my guest.”
CHAPTER THREE
FULL of confidence, Olivia took the receiver Luc handed to her and said hello. When there was no answer she said hello again, a little louder this time. If it was Cesar on the other end, no doubt he was debating whether to hang up or not.
Suddenly a familiar female voice c
ame over the wires. “Olivia Duchess!”
Oh, no. It was Greer!
“I didn’t want to believe what Piper told me,” her sister started in without preamble. “What in heaven’s name are you doing at Luc’s house, let alone answering his phone? I can’t believe you actually followed through with this outrageous plan of yours!”
Olivia spun around so her back faced Luc. She couldn’t fathom that her sister was calling all the way from Greece when she was supposed to be in Max’s arms right now. Greer could ruin everything!
Think fast, Olivia. “Are you still in Monza?”
“Monza— Oh, I get it. Luc’s standing right there next to you. Piper told me about this crazy scheme of yours and begged me to stop you, but I can see it’s already too late.”
“I’m afraid it is.”
“Listen to me—there’s something you need to know about Luc. I was hoping I would never have to tell you, but after Piper’s emergency phone call, I’ve decided it’s necessary.”
“There’s nothing else to be said. Please under-45 stand. Besides this isn’t the time with Luc going into the hospital first thing in the morning for surgery on his leg. It’s time for bed right now and he needs a good night’s sleep.”
“What surgery? Luc never told Max about that!”
“Luc assures me it’s nothing serious, but he won’t want visitors for a while. In the meantime, I’m going to nurse him while he recuperates. When he’s feeling better the two of you can talk.”
“Olivia Duchess—don’t you dare hang up on me! I haven’t finished with yo—”
“Congratulations again on your win. You were fabulous. No doubt the German team has left Italy to re-strategize for the next Grand Prix on the schedule. But between you and me they don’t stand a chance against you. I’m proud to know you.”
“Oliviaaaaaaaaaaaa?”
“I’ll tell him. Good night.”
She turned around and put the receiver back on the hook too fast for Luc to hear her sister’s alarmed cry. When she looked up, their eyes collided.
His merciless gaze unnerved her. “Tell me what?” he demanded.
“Cesar’s worried about your leg and hopes the operation goes well.”
“It’s not as much an operation as a procedure done under a local anesthetic.”
She gave a feminine shrug of her shoulders. “The important thing is, I think I put him off. He’s concerned about you, and he isn’t going to come charging after me.”
“You expect me to believe that?” he asked in an urbane voice, but she felt his underlying contempt. “You kissed him back, remember?”
“At least a dozen women did the same thing to him today after his big win. I don’t know how he keeps his girlfriends straight in his mind. The point is, if he does show up, it probably won’t be before tomorrow. We’ll be long gone from the hospital by then.
“However should he come looking me, I’ll tell him that the pity I felt for you on the Piccione turned to love, but that I didn’t realize it until I went to Monza with him and he started kissing me.”
“He’ll never buy it.” His words dropped like rocks.
“You mean because he knows you’re not in love with me?” she fired. “Well if everyone didn’t know it before the wedding, you made certain they figured it out by the time it was over!
“But it doesn’t matter how you feel about me. All that’s important is that Cesar realizes I’m here and that I’ve made my choice, so ther—”
The phone rang again. She grabbed for it, fearing Greer was calling her back, but Luc’s hand was faster on the receiver. His smile was wicked as he picked up the receiver.
“Allo?” she heard him say. She held her breath, fearing the worst. “Bonsoir, Cesar.”
Oh, no. Cesar! This was turning into a nightmare.
“Congratulations on another brilliant win.” He’d switched to English. Olivia stood stock still, waiting for the bomb to drop. “She’s right here.”
With a penetrating glance that kept her rooted to the spot, Luc handed her the phone. “You’ll have to do a better job of getting rid of him this time around,” he whispered. “He’s not the grand champion of Formula I racing for nothing.”
Feeling as if she was walking on the edge of a cliff that was about to give way at any moment, she put the receiver to her ear. “What is it, Cesar?”
“Eh bien, what a greeting! You really do know how to wound. It wasn’t until a few minutes ago that I learned you’d been to our parents’ house asking to see Luc.
“I expected you to come to the podium after the race today. With so much going on, it was several hours before I could get away to meet you at the hotel. When I did, all I found was your note.”
“I really am sorry.”
“Now I discover you at my brother’s house— Tell me, ma belle. What does he have that I don’t?”
For once she couldn’t figure out if it was his male pride talking, or if he truly had feelings for her.
“Can’t we leave it alone and just be friends?”
“So it was love at first sight for you when you met him in June?”
“Yes.” She could answer that question honestly.
There was a long silence on his end. “He’s a lucky man. By the time I see you again, I hope to God he has realized it.” There was a distinct tremor in his voice. “A bientôt, cherie.”
Another solemn warning about Luc, this time from a different Cesar than the one he presented to the world. She’d heard real pain underlying his words. What on earth?
Piper hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she knew a terrible secret and Olivia sensed that it was to do with Luc, not her. Greer had tried to tell Olivia, but she’d refused to listen.
Luc took the phone from her hand. “You’d better sit down. You’ve gone a little pale. It appears my brother is having trouble accepting your rejection.”
“I’m all right, however I have to admit he did sound a little shaken.” But it was because of you, Luc. Not me…
“How soon will he be arriving?”
She bit her lip. “What does a bientôt mean?”
Lines darkened his features. “See you soon. Coming from Cesar, it probably means tomorrow.”
She swallowed hard, not wanting anything to interfere with her plan. “What time do you have to show up at outpatient in the morning?”
“Six-thirty a.m. The doctor explained it should take about twenty minutes. If all goes well, I should be released by eight-thirty at the latest. I’ll arrange for the helicopter to fly us from the hospital to Vernazza.”
“That’ll be perfect.” Perfect. Cesar didn’t know anything about the operation. If by any chance he did decide to pay a visit to Luc’s home, the two of them would be long gone.
“You’re sure you want to disappear on him?” came the sinuous voice.
“Of course!” She turned aside so Luc couldn’t tell how excited she was about going away with him. “A clean break is better. I’ve already said everything I wanted to say in the note I left for him.”
Needing to maintain the lie that Cesar was the person who’d phoned twice she added, “I just wish I hadn’t told him about your operation. Do you think he’ll come to the hospital?”
“Isn’t that exactly what you were hoping for?” Luc’s expression was grim.
Her chin lifted defiantly. “Think what you want.”
“It’s not what I think.” His wintry smile cut to the quick. “It’s my brother who thinks he’s in love with you.”
“He couldn’t be! As Greer would say, he’s just in the first throes of lust.”
Caustic laughter erupted from Luc, but she ignored him. Her thoughts were on her conversation with Cesar who’d emitted strong emotion while they’d been discussing Luc.
Piper knew a secret about Luc, and had been concerned enough to call Greer. For Piper to bother their sister while she was on her honeymoon meant the situation was more serious than Olivia had thought. She needed to have a long tal
k with Piper without Luc being anywhere around.
She faced him once more. “If you’ll phone for a taxi, I’ll stay in town tonight and meet you at the hospital in the morning.”
“So you can join him at prearranged location?” His eyes glittered dangerously. “I’m afraid not. With five bedrooms upstairs, there’s no need for you to go anywhere. In fact I insist you stay so you can help me pack for our trip. My staff isn’t here on weekends.”
The thought of remaining at the mas with him made her almost sick with excitement. She could always call Piper from an upstairs phone after she’d gone to bed.
Olivia eyed him speculatively. “It shouldn’t take long. You’re not going to need many clothes if you’re just going to be lying around in the sun. A few shirts, a couple of pairs of cutoffs like you’re wearing, plus a swimsuit for your water therapy ought to be plenty. Come to think of it, I packed very little for the wedding myself.”
She’d only brought one pair of shorts and her bathing suit for swimming in Max’s pool. It would do for starters. When the Piccione put into port at various towns, she could go ashore and pick up some more casual clothes so she would look beautiful for Luc.
“A woman who travels light is worth her weight in gold.”
“Why do men always say that?”
“Do I really need to explain why a man would rather see a woman in less than more?”
Wasn’t it Max who’d told Greer he lived for the moment when she appeared to him au naturel, like Venus Rising From the Sea?
Olivia would give anything to know if Luc ever had fantasies like that about her, even if he did despise her.
“Funny about that. A woman would rather see a man in uniform.”
“You mean like Fred, your military man? Apparently he didn’t look that good in his after all,” he inserted silkily.
“He looked terrific, but on a scale of one to ten, ten being irresistible, he rated a three.”
“What scale is this?”
To Win His Heart Page 4
