The Italian's Virgin Acquisition

by Michelle Conder

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ‘YOU ARE HEADING back to London, I see?’

  Sebastiano didn’t look up as his grandfather entered the library, just continued to stare at the photo in his hand before he set it aside. ‘Yes. It was a good idea to spend the week in the Rome office. I feel as if I’ve got a handle on everything that needs to be done now.’ He set his laptop in his carry-on bag. He’d do more work on the plane, though God knew he was so tired he might just crash instead. And wouldn’t that be a godsend? The blissful oblivion of sleep.

  ‘And will you be seeing Poppy in London?’

  ‘No.’ He knew his grandfather had sensed something wrong between them when she had bid them a teary goodbye last Monday night, but they’d respected his unwillingness to talk about it, as they had done in the past.

  ‘Why not?’

  The frown on his grandfather’s face told a thousand stories. The most blatant being that Sebastiano had disappointed him. Again.

  ‘Because Poppy was never a long-term proposition,’ he grated, knowing it was the truth. He was a loner. It was how he had conditioned himself since his parents’ deaths. Poppy leaving when she did had been a good thing. Hurting her hadn’t but—he didn’t want to think about how that made him feel.

  ‘Proposition?’ His grandfather frowned. ‘What kind of a word is this to use about a woman like Poppy?’

  Sebastiano swore under his breath. ‘Look I have an admission to make.’ He held his grandfather’s gaze. ‘It doesn’t make me feel particularly proud of myself, but it’s done and I can’t change it.’ He grimaced. ‘I lied to you about my relationship with Poppy to force you to retire and hand me CE. So, if you want to reverse your decision and pass the job onto someone else—the CFO?—I won’t argue.’

  ‘Stefan is not the right man for the job. And he is not family.’

  ‘You’re going to have to move with the times at some point, Nonno.’ He ran a hand through his hair, his chest tight. ‘I’ll support whatever decision you want to make.’

  ‘You are the only man for the job. You always were.’

  Sebastiano grimaced. ‘You mean my father was.’

  ‘Si. But he is not here. And it is time you stopped living in the past which you cannot change.’

  ‘I do not live in the past.’

  ‘You do. But what is this lie you speak of? I did not see a lie between you and Poppy.’

  ‘You thought we were a couple.’ And they had been for a short while. ‘We weren’t.’

  His grandfather frowned. ‘When did I say you were a couple?’

  ‘In my office. You said...’ His eyes narrowed. What exactly had his grandfather said? ‘You told me to bring her here for the party. To meet Nonna.’

  ‘Si. Why would I not? She is a beautiful young woman. I saw something between you and I thought she was the one to bring you alive again. And I was right. She did. Now your stubborn pride is going to ruin everything.’

  Sebastiano stared at the man who had taken over the job of raising him after his parents had died. Then he shook his head.

  ‘Dio, you’re right.’

  ‘I usually am.’ His grandfather laid his hand on his shoulder. ‘How long are you going to keep punishing yourself for what happened fifteen years ago, nipote mio?’ he asked quietly.

  For ever.

  The words jumped into his head, startling him. Was he really going to blame himself for ever?

  And how could he have treated Poppy the way that he had? How could he have thought she was after him for his money? His status? She, the woman who had baulked at him buying her a small figurine, and who had refused to let him have the Guggenheim opened because she hadn’t wanted to wake the curator. Cristo. Any other woman he had dated would have simpered about how important he was.

  He stared down at the photo he’d unconsciously picked up again. He swallowed heavily. ‘Here,’ he said gruffly, handing to his grandfather the photo he’d found facedown in a drawer. ‘This belongs on Nonna’s photo wall, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Si,’ his grandfather said thickly, his gaze riveted to the photo of Sebastiano and his parents taken the day before their fatal accident.

  They looked at each other a long time, understanding flowing between them. The abominable weight Sebastiano had carried around for too long slowly easing.

  ‘What about Poppy?’ his grandfather prompted.

  Sebastiano took a deep breath. With the clarity of how much he had held himself back came the realisation that it had been easier to let Poppy walk away than to face his own feelings. ‘I stuffed up.’

  Because without a doubt in his mind he loved her. Completely and totally.

  ‘I told your grandmother that this time I was not going to respect your privacy and let you try and work this out for yourself. You are too thick headed.’

  Sebastiano shook his head. ‘I should be angry with you.’

  ‘Si.’ His grandfather waved him off, his eyes suspiciously moist. ‘You can thank me later.’

  * * *

  ‘It sounds like a Cinderella story!’ Maryann sighed.

  Yes, it did, Poppy thought. Even up to her leaving the silvery gown and shoes behind as if they’d never existed. ‘It’s not a Cinderella story. Cinderella wasn’t studying law, and she had magic mice to help her along.’ And the Prince had searched the land for Cinderella afterwards, but already a week had gone by and she’d not heard a word from Sebastiano. She didn’t even know what country he was in. ‘And there are more important things to worry about. Like you. How are you? What did the doctor say today?’

  ‘I’m fine. My tingling wasn’t so bad yesterday and my hands aren’t numb at all today. And I start the new drug trials next week, which should reverse that even more.’

  ‘That’s great.’

  Every day since she had walked out on Sebastiano Poppy had expected someone to come knocking on her door and take back the trainers and the keys to Maryann’s apartment. So far they hadn’t. But deep down she knew they wouldn’t. It was what she had asked for after all and Sebastiano was definitely a man of his word.

  Poppy glanced around at the large bay windows that looked out over a small front garden and the wonderful green parkland opposite. Maryann’s apartment was beyond the scope of Poppy’s expectations and she didn’t know how Sebastiano had managed to organise such a perfect place so quickly, but then maybe she did. When he wanted something, there wasn’t much that stood in his way.

  But she wasn’t supposed to be thinking about him any more.

  She glanced over at where Simon was absorbed in a video game. ‘Are you sure you’re okay having Simon stay over tonight?’ She’d taken a double shift to make up for Monday night and she didn’t like Simon being alone for so long.

  ‘Of course. He’s an enormous help to me, Poppy.’

  Poppy smiled at her beautiful brother. ‘He’s the best,’ she agreed.

  She heaved a heavy sigh. ‘How do you do it?’ she asked Maryann. ‘How do you forge on when it all seems so hopeless?’

  ‘I try and remember that there’s always something to be grateful for, no matter how small.’

  ‘God, you’re wise,’ Poppy choked out. ‘I’m so lucky to have found you.’

  She wrapped her arms around the woman who had literally saved her life.

  ‘I think I’m the lucky one, Poppy. You brightened my life the day you came into it.’

  Poppy scrubbed at her eyes. ‘I was a mess.’

  ‘You were.’

  They laughed and held each other.

  Later, on the Tube, Poppy looked around at the various commuters, most with their heads bent over their mobile phones. As heavy as she felt right now, she did have a lot to be grateful for. Simon. Maryann. The lovely cleaning crew she would be working with tonight. The fact that she would always have the memory of Italy and how she had once spilled coffee over one of the most powerful businessmen on the globe. How she had once slept in his arms for one glorious weekend. How she had loved him. H
ow she would always love him...

  Her breath caught and she stumbled to her feet as her train pulled into her stop. She kept her head down as she followed the mass of commuters to the nearest exit and didn’t even feel the rain as it fell over her bent head.

  Dodging the late-night traffic, she headed into the first building they would be cleaning tonight, a large one off Charing Cross.

  She had found comfort in working this week, getting herself into a rhythm that exhausted her to the point she couldn’t think too much.

  Two hours in, she dropped her rag into a bucket and stretched her back.

  ‘Hey, popsicle. Want a coffee? Bernie’s heading out to the shop across the street.’

  Convenience store coffee? Brilliant! ‘Love one,’ she said. ‘Thanks, Tom.’ She had been spoiled by authentic Italian coffee but she was going to have to get over that. The quicker, the better.

  Finishing up another office, Poppy was just doing an inventory to make sure she hadn’t missed anything when she heard Bernie return. ‘Just put it on the desk, Bernie. Thanks.’

  ‘It’s not Bernie.’

  Startled by the sound of Sebastiano’s deep voice, Poppy swung around, the long feather duster tucked under her arm sweeping out and catching him on the elbow. He made to dodge it, the to-go cup of coffee he was holding flying upwards, a spray of milky liquid fountaining out and landing all over his clean shirt.

  A string of Italian curse words left his mouth. ‘Are you kidding me?’

  Poppy stared at him open-mouthed. ‘Oh God, I’m so sorry.’ Then her brain came online. ‘Sebastiano! What are you doing here?’

  ‘Looking for you.’ He shook his head and pulled at his shirt. ‘And getting covered in coffee. Again.’

  Galvanised by his words Poppy grabbed a wad of tissues and thrust them at him. He took them and stared at her.

  Please don’t look at me like that, she thought, wrapping her arms around her waist. ‘Why are you looking for me?’

  He sat the half-empty cup on the desk and took a deep breath. ‘I was looking for you because about five hours ago I realised I’ve been a monumental idiot and I wanted to tell you that I love you and ask you to marry me. I thought it would be better to do it face-to-face than over the phone.’

  Poppy’s jaw hit the floor. ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘So am I, bella. I’m sorry I panicked and made you feel less than you are the other night. I’m sorry it’s taken me a week to figure everything out and I’m sorry I associated love with pain for so long I actually believed I was better off without it.’ He swallowed heavily. ‘But I’m not. Better off, that is. You’ve shown me that.’

  ‘I have?’

  ‘Absolutely. You face everything that happens to you head-on and you only look for the best in others. I on the other hand look for the worst. Looked.’ He smiled faintly. ‘Past tense. But I love you, Poppy, with all my heart, and I know I promised to give you three wishes but that last one... If you want me to honour it of course I will, but you have to know it’s not what I want.’

  Poppy’s heart climbed into her throat. She wanted so much to believe him but she knew she was difficult to love. Difficult to have around. ‘Sebastiano—’

  Sebastiano stepped closer, clasping her shaking hands in his. ‘I know you’re scared, amore mia. I am too, but I’m taking a leaf out of your book and going with what feels right.’

  Poppy felt light-headed. ‘You are?’

  ‘I am.’ He smiled softly. ‘I’ve been walking around half-alive before you came into my life and I don’t want to live like that anymore.’

  He drew her forward slowly and Poppy went, still wondering if she wouldn’t wake up and find this was all a lovely dream. ‘I think I might need you to pinch me.’

  ‘To prove this isn’t real?’

  ‘To prove that it is.’ She gave him a tremulous smile. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’

  ‘That’s because you’ve been let down by too many of the people closest to you,’ he said gently. ‘Including me.’ He put his arms around her waist. ‘I knew something was up when my grandfather handed me the CEO position and it didn’t make me happy. That was one of the reasons I was drinking. Apart from it being the night my parents died, I couldn’t face what it said about me. Not until you pushed me to feel again. I love you, Poppy, and if you’ll let me I’ll gladly spend the rest of my life proving it to you.’

  Tears shone in Poppy’s eyes.

  Sebastiano went down on bended knee, pulling a ring box out of his pocket. ‘Traditionally giving you things hasn’t gone well for me. I’m hoping this time will be the exception.’

  He opened the box and an enormous diamond winked back, dazzling her. ‘Oh, my God. I will get mugged wearing that!’

  ‘No, you won’t, because I’ll be there to protect you.’ He took her hand in his. ‘Poppy Connolly, will you marry me and let me love you and take care of you and Simon and Maryann for the rest of my life?’

  ‘Blimey, Poppy, if you don’t say yes, I will.’

  Bernie’s impromptu interruption from the doorway made Poppy laugh. She swiped at the tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes.

  ‘Sorry, love, I didn’t mean to interrupt,’ Bernie said sheepishly. ‘I was just checking on you. I’ll tell Tom you’re otherwise disposed.’

  Poppy stared at Sebastiano, so happy she thought she might burst. ‘I didn’t exactly fight for what I felt the other night either. I think deep down I expected you to ditch me, and so when it seemed like you were I went into survival mode.’

  ‘I don’t blame you. Can you forgive me?’

  ‘Of course I can forgive you,’ she said softly. ‘I love you.’

  Sebastiano groaned and rose to his feet, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. ‘Is that a yes to my proposal, then?’

  She smiled up at him. ‘Are you going to offer me another three wishes if I say no?’

  A grin spread slowly across his face. ‘No, you’re going to give me three wishes this time.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Yes. Wish number one is that you don’t ever bring me coffee again.’ He grimaced as he glanced at his chest and Poppy realised they were both now covered in coffee! ‘You were actually bringing me coffee this time,’ she pointed out, almost giddy with the happiness fit to burst from inside her chest.

  ‘Two: you walk around naked in our house for the rest of your life.’

  ‘That is so not going to happen.’ She laughed. ‘And three?’

  ‘Three: you promise to love me for ever, even though I’m likely to stuff up from time to time.’

  ‘Deal,’ she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. ‘Oh God, Bastian. I love you so much.’

  ‘Grazie a Dio,’ he said softly. ‘Now, you need to text Simon and Maryann. They said if they hadn’t heard from you within the hour they were sending out a search party. Maryann also said to say thank you for her new apartment.’

  ‘You told her?’

  ‘I didn’t have to. You have a terrible poker face, amore mia.’ He scooped her into his arms.

  ‘I know. I really need to change that.’

  ‘Don’t change it. I don’t want you to change a hair on your beautiful head. You’re perfect, Poppy. My perfect Poppy.’

  She clung to him, her arms tight around his neck. ‘I feel like I’m in a scene from a movie.’

  ‘You’re not. This is one-hundred-percent real. And every year we’re going to celebrate in Venice. Would you like that?’

  ‘I don’t care where I am as long as you’re by my side.’

  ‘For ever, intern. For ever.’

  * * * * *

  EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

  Charlotte Adair has spent her life locked away – but once freed, she finds the one man she’s ever loved, billionaire Rafe Costa, is now blind, believes she betrayed him, and is bent on a vengeful seduction! Weeks after their scorching encounter he learns she’s pregnant—with twins! Rafe steals Charlotte away, but she is a far from biddabl
e prisoner. She is irresistible, defiant—and Rafe must seduce her into compliance!

  Read on for a sneak preview of Maisey Yates’s book

  THE ITALIAN’S PREGNANT PRISONER

  The final part of her Once Upon a Seduction... trilogy

  Charlotte hadn’t touched a man since Rafe. She’d had no interest.

  She needed to find some interest. Because she was going to have a normal life. Whatever she did, it would be her choice. And that was the point.

  She didn’t know what answers she had expected to find here. Right now, the only clear answer seemed to be that her body, her heart, was still affected by him.

  He excused himself from the group, and suddenly, he was walking her way. And she froze. Like a deer caught in the headlights. Or rather, like a woman staring at Rafe Costa.

  She certainly wasn’t the only woman staring. He moved with fluid grace, and if she didn’t know better, she would never have known his sight was impaired at all.

  He was coming closer, and as he did her heart tripped over itself, her hands beginning to shake. She wished she could touch him.

  Oh, she wanted it more than anything. In that moment, she wanted it more than her next breath. To put her hands on Rafe Costa’s face one more time. To kiss those lips again. To place her hand over his chest and see if she could still make his heart race.

  It was easy to forget that her stepmother had told her how Rafe had left, taking an incentive offered by her father to end his tenure there earlier. It was easy to forget that and remember instead the way it had felt when he had kissed her. Touched her. The way she had pleaded with him to take her virginity, to make her his in every way.

  Really, he had never wanted her. He had simply been toying with her.

  She should remember that. Her treacherous, traitorous body should remember that well. But it didn’t. Instead, it was fluttering. As if a host butterflies had been set loose inside her.

  Suddenly, he was there. So close that if she wanted to she could reach out and touch the edge of his sleeve with her fingertips.

  Could bump into him accidentally, just to make contact. He wouldn’t know it was her. He couldn’t.

  Suddenly, he turned. He was looking past her, his dark eyes unseeing, unfocused. But then, he reached out and unerringly grabbed hold of her wrist, dragging her toward his muscular body.