by Annie West
Ask me to stay.
Ask me to stay. Smile at me. Better yet, touch me. Just your hand on mine would be enough. So I know—
‘No. I’d prefer it if you headed back and got some rest.’ His brow wrinkled in a frown. ‘I’ll arrange another car. A local driver so you don’t have to wait for a car from Milan. And I’ll organise transport for the bike.’
Then he smiled. Not the smouldering, devil-in-his-eyes smile that had stolen her heart but the perfunctory expression of a busy man ticking off an item on a packed agenda. ‘I’ll see you back in the city.’ He paused, his hand lifting, and she thought he was going to pull her close. But a couple of decorators crossed the room towards them, their arms full of curtains, and the moment was lost.
The project manager approached, his gaze curious as he took in her leather gear, but he turned to Luca with some query Allegra didn’t hear.
The bustle went on around her and, with one last look, Luca turned away. Allegra was left wondering how delight and excitement could morph so quickly to dust and cold.
She turned on her heel and strode to the bedroom. She wouldn’t wait for someone to drive her. If she couldn’t be with Luca, and clearly he didn’t want her around, then she’d rather be alone.
CHAPTER NINE
* * *
‘Morning, Allegra.’ Luca strode into the office, a deliberately casual tone to his voice. ‘How are you feeling today? Any after effects from the accident?’
It had been incredibly difficult, returning to Milan last night without going straight to her apartment to check on her. But guilt, like a claw gripping his vitals, had stopped him.
He’d done wrong and he owed her some distance. Besides, Allegra was sensible enough to seek medical assistance if she needed it. Not that that had convinced him through a long, sleepless night.
She turned from the table where she’d been positioning a bowl of fresh flowers.
Luca’s heart slammed his ribs then limped on, picking up speed till it raced full-tilt.
He’d told himself he’d imagined this desperate, all-consuming desire. Surely it hadn’t been as overwhelming as he remembered. But here, now, looking into Allegra’s wary, breathtakingly beautiful face, he realised imagination hadn’t embroidered a thing.
The impulse to go to her, to wrap her tight in his arms and check for himself that she was okay was almost unstoppable.
‘Apart from a bruise I’m perfectly fine.’ Her lips turned up in the brief, noncommittal smile he remembered from her first weeks in the office. It was nothing like the dazzling smiles she’d given him in the Alps.
Disappointment drilled his belly.
What had he expected? That she’d greet him with open arms after he sent her away? He only had himself to blame. But the fact was, even knowing he’d done wrong, he hadn’t trusted himself to touch her again, kiss her as he’d wanted, and then withdraw to give her space.
Luca took in the tightly pulled-back hair and familiar bulky suit, his gaze lingering on those glorious eyes, no longer camouflaged by heavy glasses, and that ripe, lust-inducing mouth.
He wanted her. Here. Now. Stretched across the table, or up against the wall, or sitting astride him on the swivel chair that was all that stood between them.
‘You’re not sore?’
A flicker of something crossed Allegra’s features and she darted a look to the door he’d closed behind him, as if worried others would hear. Faint colour scored her cheeks and Luca plunged his hands deep in his pockets rather than trace the heat under her satiny skin.
‘My leg’s a bit stiff but that’s all.’ The blush intensified and Luca realised she was thinking of other places she’d probably been sore after their loving.
Instant recall of her voluptuous body welcoming him, of her sighs and kisses, and her tight heat, had his blood drumming too fast.
Another reason for guilt.
She’d been a virgin! Unbelievable but true. He’d taken her innocence, only realising too late that he should have been gentler. And when he did realise, did he hold back? No, he’d been voracious for her delectable body. He’d persuaded her to accept his caresses again and again, purely because he couldn’t get enough of her.
But that was only one item on his conscience’s list of failings.
She’d been harassed sexually by her boss and clearly mistrusted men. He should never have made a move while he was in a position of authority over her.
Even if she didn’t have that troubled history, sex between co-workers was a recipe for disaster. He never crossed that line.
Perhaps worst of all, she’d been in an accident just hours before. He told himself she’d known what she was doing, inviting his kisses. But was it true?
The fact was he’d taken advantage of a woman who might, for all he knew, have been concussed, not thinking straight. Maybe she’d simply needed comfort and he’d abused her innocence. Why else would she give away her virginity so readily, when she’d guarded it into her mid-twenties?
He wanted to think it was because she’d felt that irresistible link between them too, but dismissed that as vanity.
He’d told himself that she’d wanted him. He’d brushed aside everything else, even the memory of her bike sliding sideways towards the cliff. Until the morning when he’d seen the bruising and reality had collapsed on top of him. In all his thirty-four years he’d never felt such guilt.
His insides twisted as shame, like a rusty blade, ploughed his belly.
Instead of a duty of care, all he’d worried about was his own carnal appetites.
‘Was there anything else?’ Her hands gripped the back of the chair before her, and despite her calm face, Luca read her tension.
Hell! Was she nervous, being with him? The idea was unbearable.
‘Yes, there is, actually.’ He breathed deep and pushed back his shoulders. ‘Give me a minute then come into my office. We need to talk.’ He had to do the decent thing.
Even if it was too little, too late.
*
We need to talk. It sounded almost like a threat. Not the words of a lover.
But he wasn’t her lover now, was he? He hadn’t embraced her or kissed her or even smiled. Instead Luca was all business.
Was that all it had been? Her glorious night of love? A few hours respite from the business that ruled Luca’s life?
Allegra thought she couldn’t feel any worse than she already did, watching the man who’d taken her to such rapturous heights treat her like a polite stranger. But she’d been wrong. Pain wrung her insides, making her gasp.
Could she have been so wrong about Luca? Had she given her affection, and herself, to a man who wasn’t capable of caring? She thought she’d seen past the businessman to the passionate, tender, exciting man beneath the suit.
Maybe she’d been totally wrong. Maybe he didn’t care.
Oh, there’d been the call soon after she arrived in the city, when her heart had leapt with hope. But he’d simply been concerned to check if she’d got there safely since she’d spurned the car he ordered. There’d been no soft, whispered words. No promise to meet her as soon as he returned to Milan. Nothing personal.
And it didn’t seem like there’d be anything personal now.
Grabbing her notebook, she straightened her jacket and headed for his office. It took every scrap of self-respect she could conjure to keep her face bland. She refused to abase herself by begging for his attention. Even if she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into Luca’s arms and beg him to love her, physically and emotionally.
The man who’d just walked into the office was not the man she’d given herself to in the Dolomites.
Allegra swallowed hard. Whatever hopes she’d held onto that their night had been special for him too had withered in the last five minutes.
Luca wasn’t behind the desk but silhouetted against the window so she couldn’t read his expression. Allegra slipped into a chair before the desk, not trusting her shaky knees.
; ‘You wanted to talk?’ She kept the snap out of her voice, just, but the sudden hitch of his shoulders told her he heard…something.
Good. Then he’d realise she was no pushover. Even if she’d been outrageously needy for him the other night.
‘Yes.’ He folded his arms but didn’t approach the desk. He cleared his throat and for an instant she wondered if he was nervous. But that couldn’t be. Luca juggled multi-billion dollar deals, negotiating with some of the world’s most powerful investors. She wouldn’t make him nervous.
Finally he strode across to the desk and sat down, facing her. She’d never seen him look so grim, long lines curving around his mouth and a frown marring his brow.
‘The other night,’ he began then paused when she stiffened.
‘The other night was wonderful. You’re a generous, passionate, special woman, Allegra.’
His words stalled and she found herself wondering how words of praise could sound like goodbye. But that’s what they did. There was a ruthless finality about the tone of his voice, his guarded stare and taut body, that was unmistakeable.
‘And?’ She lifted her chin, meeting his eyes.
Luca was the first to look away. ‘And despite that, it should never have happened that way.’ Pain jabbed her chest and her breath stopped. ‘I have to apologise, Allegra. I took advantage of you. For that I’m very sorry.’ Swiftly his gaze lifted, skewering her where she sat.
He was apologising for giving her the most wonderful, exciting, emotionally rewarding experience of her life?
Emotional for her. Clearly not for him. Hadn’t she known her feelings weren’t reciprocated?
She pursed her lips, wondering how she could still feel weak with love for Luca when he was giving her the brush off. The trouble was, now she’d let that genie out of the bottle, there was no pushing it back in.
She didn’t just desire Luca. She’d fallen in love with him. And suddenly their night together took on the dimensions of one giant mistake. Because she feared she’d never be able to hide her emotions as she once had. He’d got too close to her, in so many ways.
*
Luca’s heart sank. Allegra looked stricken.
‘I’m sorry. I—’
‘For goodness sake, stop apologising.’
There was a definite snap in her voice as suddenly she came alive. More like the daredevil bike rider he’d met in the mountains than the mousy PA who’d shared his office so long. Her eyes shone bright and her pallor receded as her cheeks bloomed rose pink. His heart skipped a beat as relief flooded him. He hated seeing her look so lost.
‘It was just a night, after all.’
‘Pardon?’ Luca wasn’t used to being on the back foot but he had a sudden compelling certainty he’d missed something vital.
She waved one hand, a couple of pretty enamelled bangles tinkling at her wrist. Since when had Allegra worn jewellery? He’d never seen so much as a chain around her neck.
‘You look so guilty,’ she murmured. ‘It wasn’t the end of the world, surely? You took precautions. I’m not going to corner you with an unwanted pregnancy and try to blackmail you into marriage.’
Luca shook his head, trying to get his head around her attitude. She didn’t sound like the injured woman. Or the sheltered virgin he’d mentally beaten himself up for seducing.
‘I never thought for a moment you’d do anything like that.’
Though part of his brain was still stuck on the idea of Allegra pregnant with his child. His attention dropped to her breasts and lower. He remembered the velvety softness of her belly and his fingers twitched as he imagined stroking her there when she was rounded and taut with his baby.
A visceral possessiveness flooded him. He wasn’t in a hurry for children, or for a wife. Yet the idea of shackling Allegra to him with a brood of kids held an appallingly potent appeal.
Luca blinked, trying to clear his head.
‘Good, then we’re agreed there’s no harm done.’ She sounded like a chairman, wrapping up a divisive boardroom discussion. Strange, he was the one who habitually took that role.
‘Harm?’ He was too flummoxed by unfamiliar feelings to know if there’d been any harm. But he couldn’t insult her by saying that. ‘I just want you to know I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—’
Again she cut him off with a wave of her hand. ‘Don’t say any more. There’s no need.’
Luca should be thanking his lucky stars she was taking this so well, but it wasn’t at all how he’d imagined her responding. Apologies were rare in his world. He prided himself on doing the decent thing whenever possible. His pride rankled that she made so little of it.
‘Well, if that’s all, I need to go. I’ve got to finalise the report for your nine o’clock video conference.’
No, that wasn’t all. He felt like he’d barely begun.
‘Are you sure you’re up to being at work?’ That had haunted him all last night. Worry about those injuries still hounded him. Guilt that he should have cared for her, not caved in to temptation.
‘I already told you. I’m fine.’
She didn’t look it, but he knew enough of women to keep his tongue still. Oh, she was beautiful, but the shadows in her eyes and the way she held her mouth betrayed stress.
The trouble was, he was used to dating women who were happy to enjoy sex without strings.
None of the De Laurentis brothers ever had trouble attracting women. And when there were so many willing women, where was the incentive to do anything other than play the field? Of them all, only Matteo had committed himself to a woman and look where that had ended. Luca’s second brother was separated, unhappily so.
Though now Luca thought about it, Gennaro, besotted with his fashion designer, Chiara, had looked supremely pleased with himself last time they’d caught up.
Now, for the first time, Luca found himself wanting more from a woman. He wanted sex with Allegra, but he wanted her to be happy. He wanted to care for her, and make her laugh too, as they’d laughed together in the mountains. But he had no clue how to go about that when she was putting on her brisk, office persona. He saw it now, like a cloak covering the vibrant woman he’d finally discovered.
He could seduce her here in the office, ignoring propriety and caution. He didn’t like it that she acted as if nothing important had happened. It was a defence mechanism, he knew, but it irked. Especially as their night together had marked him to his very core.
‘Right. I’ll get that report to you, with coffee, within fifteen minutes.’
Silently Luca watched her leave, a whirlwind of efficiency, and pondered how on earth he was going to connect with the real Allegra again. He’d been certain she’d expect far more than a one night stand. Was that bruised ego dictating his thoughts? Or something more profound?
Restless, he stalked to the window to stare at the building city traffic.
He’d give her time, he decided. He wouldn’t push, yet. He’d respect her space for a few days so she knew he didn’t intend to try forcing her into anything. Then he’d suggest they continue their affair, discreetly, so she didn’t feel self-conscious before the other staff. He’d send flowers to her home. Invite her to dinner. Or better yet, a romantic weekend away.
Luca smiled, feeling better already. He hated not being in control. Now he had a plan to fine tune. A plan to persuade Allegra back into his bed.
All he needed was patience.
CHAPTER TEN
* * *
‘The meeting is taking longer than I expected.’ Luca’s tone was businesslike but even over the phone his deep voice did calamitous things to Allegra’s insides. She pressed a hand to her stomach and took a deep breath, silently berating herself for reacting. ‘I won’t make it back from Rome today. You’d better email that contract to me so I can look at it tonight.’
Allegra’s mouth tightened. She should have been in Rome with Luca for the negotiations. She was always at his side when he finalised major deals. But not this week. Not since t
hey’d made love in the mountains and she’d touched heaven, only to return to earth with a jarring thud to discover her world had changed for the worse.
Not her world, but Luca.
He kept her at a distance, clearly regretting the intimacy they’d shared. Not just physically but professionally too, as if he wasn’t comfortable working with her now.
Almost as bad, he treated her like some breakable, porcelain doll, insisting she stay in Milan instead of travel with him. Chasing her out of the office early while he worked on, as if he thought she couldn’t hack the pace of work anymore.
Or, more probably, he just doesn’t want to be alone with you again.
He’s uncomfortable. Normally he doesn’t have to face ex-lovers in the cold hard light of day when he’s finished with them. But he’s stuck with you.
If anything the stilted atmosphere between them grew worse as the days progressed. Gone was their camaraderie, the give and take, the closeness. A different closeness to sex but one she valued just as much.
Pain scored her heart at what she’d lost.
‘I’ll send it right away. Is there anything else, Luca?’ Deliberately, she let her voice lower and soften over his name, turning it into a caress.
Who was she trying to torment? Him? As if to remind him what he was missing? Or herself, for not being able to put that night behind her?
She stiffened, hurrying on before he could answer. ‘The costed plan and VIP guest list for the grand opening party at the Thai resort have arrived. I’ll send them to you as well.’
‘Excellent.’ But he didn’t sound pleased. He sounded distracted. Or maybe annoyed. She’d spent days hiding her pain and disappointment behind what she’d hoped was perfect professionalism. But perhaps that professionalism bordered too close to snarky impatience.
‘Allegra?’
