In the centre of the room stood four comfy arm chairs that had seen better days and a low, rounded table piled high with magazines and newspapers.
“This is great,” said Anna taking it all in. “You do a great deal for these kids, don’t you?” The mixture of pride and compassion in his face made Anna’s heart constrict. This man cared deeply for his cause. She was filled with admiration.
“We try our best,” came a voice from behind them. Anna turned to find a trim, exotic-looking woman of about forty, with pitch-black hair swept off her face in an austere style.
“Ciao, Rafael,” she purred. “Lovely to see you again. Do you have good news for us?”
Rafael met the woman’s worried gaze. “Not yet, I’m afraid,” he said. “But I’m working on it.”
Then he turned to Anna. “Anna, meet Tina. She runs the training and advice centre here at Streetwise.”
“Buongiorno,” said Anna holding out her hand. The woman gave her a curt nod before dismissing her brusquely. She clearly had more important things on her mind than making new acquaintances. Turning her slanty eyes to Rafael, Tina remarked, “David got his exam results yesterday. You’ll be glad to know he passed everything, including maths.”
“That’s great,” grinned Rafael, giving her a hug.
Well, he was obviously oblivious to the woman’s frosty attitude. Anna found herself wondering what the relationship between them was.
“I knew he could do it. You’re a marvel, Tina. You’ve really worked wonders with that boy.”
Tina smiled for the first time and her whole face lit up. Anna turned away to browse around the room. Perhaps they were lovers? Then she chastised herself. What did she care? It was none of her business. So why did she have a knot in her stomach just thinking about Rafael with this woman?
“Yes, he did well,” Tina confirmed softly.
The rest of the grand tour took another half hour. Rafael showed Anna the dorms, which were surprisingly neat and tidy, the kitchen and a small library with a quiet reading space. As she followed him around she observed his kindness with the staff and the kids and her heart warmed to him even more. He was a good man.
“You’ve done such a great job with that place,” Anna told him softly as they left the shelter. Her opinion of him had altered profoundly in the last few hours. Yes, he had an annoyingly stubborn side, not to mention arrogant, but he was also kind and compassionate and he cared with an intensity that was admirable. “I can see why you don’t want it demolished. It would be a tragedy.”
Rafael’s gaze darkened. “Yes, indeed. Mancini only told me a week ago about his plans. He deliberately left it until the last minute so there would be nothing I could do.”
“What a brute,” said Anna fervently. “I don’t particularly want to dine with him and his wife tonight now. You’ve put me off him. He sounds like a ruthless bastard.”
“Ah, yes. He is that and more...” murmured Rafael sinisterly. Then he stopped and took Anna by the shoulders, slowly turning her to face him. Anna was struck by the intensity in his gaze. “That is why I need you,” he said softly.
Anna’s mouth was suddenly dry. The way he was looking at her, so earnestly, so intently, made her forget everything other than his physical presence. His warm hands on her shoulders... His heat radiating down her arms... That spicy, masculine scent...
The surroundings faded away. Rafael was her only focus.
Then her nipples started to tingle and pucker, straining against her thin tank-top as if begging for his touch. She tensed, hoping Rafael wouldn’t notice her body’s response.
His eyes dropped to her chest.
Too late.
Rafael sensed rather than saw Anna’s reaction. It was as if her whole body switched on for him. Her cheeks flushed, her nipples jutted outwards and an unspoken sexual tension sparkled around them.
Rafael blinked, surprised by how quickly she’d become aroused. He’d simply grabbed her shoulders. He hesitated, momentarily distracted, eyes searching her face.
Her gaze was warm and encouraging. It spoke volumes. Rafael felt his pulse rate accelerate as adrenalin shot through his veins. He wanted to kiss her, right here on the street corner. The urge was almost overwhelming. Unfortunately, that was not what he needed from her now. Willing his mind to remain focused on the shelter, he deliberately let go of her shoulders, breaking the spell. He took a deep breath, cooling his blood. Anna could wait. Streetwise could not.
“It’s up to you to talk to Mancini for me,” he said matter-of-factly. “Turn on the charm. Flirt with him. I guarantee he won’t be able to say no.”
Anna frowned and rubbed her shoulders where his hands had been. “What makes you think I can flirt? You said yourself I’m no expert. I let the man do the work, remember?”
“Well, just be friendly,” urged Rafael. “Mancini won’t be able to refuse you anything. He’s a sucker for a beautiful woman.”
Anna’s eyes widened at his backhanded compliment. “Make him delay his plans for the development,” he urged her. “Two months is all I need.”
“But he’s married,” she said worriedly. “How can I flirt with him when his wife will be there?”
Rafael snorted. “That hasn’t stopped him in the past. He cheats on all his wives.”
“Charming fellow,” remarked Anna dryly. “Look I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but let’s be realistic here. From the sounds of things this guy is a nasty piece of work. Why would he do anything I ask?”
“Because you saved his daughter’s life,” said Rafael simply.
Anna sighed.
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t really need your help.” Rafael hated to beg, but Anna was his last resort. Somehow luck had put this opportunity in his path and he was damned if he was going to waste it. Anna held the key to manipulating Mancini. If only she would do it for him.
“Okay, I’ll make a deal with you,” she said finally.
Rafael perked up. “Yes?” Bargaining he could do.
“I’ll agree to help you coerce Mancini into giving you a reprieve if you...” She looked away as if gathering her thoughts.
“If I...?” he urged.
“If you agree to help me prove I am Giovanni’s daughter,” she finished.
“I thought I was already doing that,” he uttered, confused. Wasn’t it his idea to do the paternity test?
“I mean really help me. We both know you’ve been stalling. I came to you for help and you turned me away. You purposely withheld information from me about my father’s death. You suspected, probably still suspect, me of subversive activity and now you expect me to forget all that and help you with your little problem?”
“My little problem?” gasped Rafael. “This concerns the lives of about forty homeless children. That shelter is their salvation. I’d say it’s a pretty big problem.”
Anna had the grace to blush. “Okay, I know how important this is to you. But my point is that you expect me to happily help you when you’ve let me struggle every inch of the way.”
Rafael pursed his lips. She did have a point. He hadn’t made life easy for her since she’d arrived. He blamed his suspicious nature although it was becoming increasingly obvious that Anna really did believe she was Giovanni’s daughter. He’d check to see if Rico had discovered anything suspicious about her story in the morning.
“I want this DNA test done as soon as possible,” Anna was saying, a determined sparkle in her eyes. “I don’t care if you have to dig up Giovanni and all his relatives to do it. I am who I say I am and I want it proven.”
“Anything else,” said Rafael casually. He already knew he was going to agree to everything she wanted. His cause was that important.
“Yes, as a matter of fact. I want your total co-operation during the process. No more secrets. We work together to prove my story—as a team.”
“As a team?” He raised an eyebrow. That sounded like fun.
“Yes. You and me working together to prove my claim. I can’t aff
ord to stay here indefinitely, you know. Capri is incredibly expensive. I have no idea how long these things take, but I need to get the process going, like yesterday. Besides, I have a job to get back to.”
“Done.”
Anna looked up at him in surprise. “Really? You mean it? Just like that?”
“Sure. From now on, we work together as a team—on your project as well as mine. Deal?” He stretched out his hand.
Anna narrowed her eyes. What had she just let herself in for? Suddenly her bright idea didn’t seem so cunning anymore. There was a devilish glint in Rafael’s eye that made her want to rethink her decision. But it was too late.
“Deal,” she said, shaking his hand.
CHAPTER SIX
“Do you think much about your childhood?”
They sat at a small pavement cafe sipping cappuccinos. Anna studied Rafael over the brim of her coffee cup. For a man with so much compassion and drive, he had a remarkably still face. Unless you really knew him, or saw him in action, you’d have no idea of his commitment to the street kids in Naples, or anything else for that matter. He just looked like another stalwart attorney—albeit an incredibly handsome one.
“No, not really,” he replied. “There isn’t much point in dwelling on the past. Besides it was a long time ago. I’ve moved on from there.”
Yet, he still didn’t trust easily. Some habits obviously died hard.
“True,” agreed Anna. “Although since I found out about Giovanni, I find myself wondering about all sorts of things.”
“Like?”
“For starters, like why my mother fell so hard for a man that obviously didn’t return her affection. It’s clear that Giovanni was the love of my mother’s life, yet she wasn’t the love of his.”
Rafael shrugged. “That’s life. Who said it was fair?”
“It sucks. Have you ever loved someone who didn’t love you back?”
He glanced at her curiously. “No,” he said honestly. “I’m not sure I believe in love. Lust, definitely, but that fades with time. Loyalty, yes, for someone you respect. But love...” He shook his head.
“So you’ve never loved anyone in your life?”
“Not the kind of love you’re talking about. Have you?”
“Not yet, but I’d like to. I just haven’t met the right guy. I definitely believe in love, though. You know, proper love.”
“Proper love?” He laughed. “You sound like a kid.”
Anna slapped his arm playfully. “You know what I mean. Proper love is when you meet someone who you can be yourself with, who understands you and likes you for who you are. Someone you can laugh with and share experiences with. Someone you can build a family with and grow old with. That is the kind of love I’m talking about.”
“What about sex? You left out the most important bit.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “Yes, obviously you have to be sexually compatible, but like you said, lust fades, so there has to be something else there otherwise the marriage falls apart.”
“Exactly,” remarked Rafael dryly. “I say it’s safer to remain single. No marriage. No messy divorce.”
“Just lots of sex,” Anna finished for him. “What a typically male point of view. Unfortunately, when you have a relationship with someone, it comes with a certain level of responsibility.”
“It doesn’t have to,” commented Rafael. “If two people agree to a purely casual relationship there doesn’t have to be any responsibility on either side. They can meet up, have fun together and go their separate ways in the morning. No strings.”
Anna frowned at him. “Are those the kind of relationships you have? No strings attached.”
“If I can help it, yes. It makes life so much simpler.”
“But so much less fulfilling,” added Anna. “Don’t you want kids one day?”
Rafael shrugged. “I haven’t really thought about it. I know I don’t want an unhappy marriage . I couldn’t go through life arguing constantly with someone and I have no desire to get divorced. If it’s one way to mess up your kids, it’s through divorce.”
He sounded like he was talking from experience. Anna fell silent. Everyone was entitled to their opinion. Then why did his viewpoint disappoint her so much? It wasn’t as if she was seriously considering taking their kiss from the other night any further. The last thing she needed right now was to get involved with someone like Rafael Vialli. He was the complete opposite to what she was looking for in a man.
Womaniser versus monogamy. No strings versus long term commitment. Sex versus happily ever after.
So wrong. Then why was she staring at his lips wondering when he was going to kiss her again.
“Did you know Giovanni was married?” Rafael asked, breaking into her thoughts.
“No. When was that?”
“They were very young, I believe. If I remember correctly, the marriage certificate said 1985.”
“That’s the year I was born,” gasped Anna. “That can’t be right?”
“I’ll double check, but I think that’s what it said. That’s what makes Giovanni’s affair all the more incredible. If you are truly his daughter, you were conceived the year before he got married. It doesn’t make sense.”
Anna was silent for a moment, thoughts swishing round in her brain like a washing machine. “Why would Giovanni have an affair with my mother when he was engaged to someone else?”
“I have no idea,” replied Rafael. “However, if your mother looked anything like you, I can see why he might be tempted.”
Anna scowled at him. “That is not appropriate.”
“I know,” smiled Rafael, looking like a mischievous kid. Anna’s stomach flip-flopped. Then a thought struck her. “Does this mean you believe me now?”
“Huh?” Rafael looked confused.
“You said if my mother looked anything like me. Does this mean you believe I am who I say I am?”
Rafael hesitated, clearly unsure how to continue. Anna laughed. “It seems we may have a breakthrough.”
“Calm down,” Rafael said gruffly. “I admit that you do seem to be sincere. I can see you really believe you are Giovanni’s daughter, so I have to respect that.”
“Wow. Definitely a breakthrough. I’m sure that hurt to say.”
“Don’t push it,” said Rafael lightly.
“Tell me more about Giovanni,” pleaded Anna, pushing her hands together in front of her as if she were praying.
Rafael gazed out over the quiet street where mindless residents went about their daily business. “Giovanni was a complicated man. When he told me about his heir I was astonished. I didn’t believe him at first, I thought it was the fever talking, but he insisted. That’s when he told me he’d changed his will to provide for his illegitimate daughter.”
“That’s the other thing,” mused Anna fretfully. “If he knew about me the whole time, why didn’t he say something sooner? I had no idea he existed. I grew up believing my father was in the army and died in the Middle East conflict.”
Rafael shrugged. “I wish I had more answers, Anna. It’s bizarre. He never mentioned a thing to me either, until then. I can only assume he wanted to keep his affair hidden from his wife. Unfortunately, they couldn’t have children, so it probably made his betrayal even more bitter.”
“Where is his wife now?” asked Anna.
“She died a year before him. Cancer.”
“So I’m his only true heir,” said Anna whimsically. “Yet I never met him.” She shook her head. “I missed him by six months. Six months! It doesn’t seem fair. Now I’ll never know the answers to all my questions.”
“Shall we walk?” asked Rafael, getting up and stretching. “We have a couple of hours until you meet Mancini.”
Anna nodded. “Sure.”
“Are you going like that?” He nodded at her attire.
“What’s wrong with this?” she asked defensively. Anna thought her red tank-top under an open blouse paired with white Capri pants and sandals was qui
te suited for a trip to town with a light supper thrown in.
“Nothing, except you’re going to one of the most exclusive restaurants in Naples tonight. Italian women are very glamorous. I wouldn’t want you to feel underdressed. Besides, if you’re going to get anywhere with Mancini I suggest we go buy you something more appropriate to wear.”
“Oh, right. I didn’t realise the restaurant was that special.” Now she was getting nervous. Not only did she have to persuade Mancini to delay his demolition plans for two months, but she had to look glamorous too! “But if you think it will help seduce Mancini into changing his plans...”
“Who said anything about seduction?” Rafael’s lips were drawn together in a tight line.
Anna glanced up in surprise. Was that a little display of possessiveness? Her suspicions were confirmed when he added, “I meant persuade him with your charms, not your body. I don’t want him laying one grubby paw on you, okay? The man’s a notorious womaniser.”
Anna chuckled. “Relax. It was just a figure of speech. I’m not going to sleep with him. I want to help save the shelter, but that’s taking it a bit too far.”
“Glad to hear it,” he muttered.
They strolled through one of Naples’ bustling neighbourhoods. Anna marvelled at the make-shift washing lines strung from window to window, across the narrow streets, strung with colourful clothing. Men gathered around local coffee bars sipping espressos and shouting at each other in Italian. Every time they crossed a road Rafael would take her arm, which Anna thought rather sweet until she realised it was to protect her from the hundreds of Vespa’s that appeared out of nowhere like mosquitoes and swarmed passed without a second thought to anyone’s safety.
“Perhaps we should take refuge somewhere quiet,” suggested Anna, after she’d nearly been sent flying a second time.
“Nearly there.” Rafael pulled her into the shimmering safety of a mall, where the noise suddenly dissipated as if the sound had been switched off at the plug.
“I know a great shop that will have something for tonight,” he said, leading the way with big, purposeful strides. Anna had to power-walk to keep up.
They entered a classy boutique full of magnificent creations on silk hangers with well-heeled sales assistants flitting around, all of whom looked like models with glossy brown hair and petite frames. Anna crinkled her nose in disgust. At almost six foot with Icelandic blonde hair she felt positively Amazonian. Trust him to bring her here.
The Italian Inheritance Page 9
