‘I figured.’
‘And you are?’
Now she was inside, it immediately struck her that the best way of minimising his insane effect on her was to scope out the amazing interior of the villa instead. But he didn’t stop in the eye-poppingly ornate lounge, rather he marched straight through it down a long corridor to a vast kitchen. He unceremoniously set her on the large table. Fascinated, Gracie gaped at the gleaming appliances.
‘Wow,’ she murmured as she stared at the elegance of the set-up. ‘State of the art.’ And that was an understatement.
He gave the kitchen a dismissive glance and turned back to her with businesslike seriousness. ‘Is it sore?’
‘What?’ Oh. Her knee. ‘My embarrassment has numbed my knee.’
She snatched a breath and tried to look anywhere but at him again. Except he was so close and so good looking, her attention was the iron filing to his magnetism.
‘How helpful,’ he commented dryly. ‘Ice will bring out the bruising.’ He strode over to the gleaming fridge and pushed some buttons.
‘Because I want a purple knee,’ she muttered.
He didn’t respond as he walked back, holding ice in a glass and a clean cloth.
‘That’s an impressive fridge. The whole place is impressive,’ she babbled. ‘This kitchen is bigger than our one at the bakery and that’s a commercial operation. You could cook enough in here to feed an army. Though you’d need an army to use all the appliances at once.’
He still didn’t respond, just neatly wrapped some ice in the cloth. She shivered before he got the cold pack anywhere near her, but at the same time was still sweltering with embarrassment. And awareness. And yet more embarrassment.
She stared hard at her lap as he bent before her.
‘You’re not supposed to be here.’ She winced, desperately trying to ignore the brush of his fingers on her skin as he pushed up her skirt to reveal her grass-stained, bruised knee. ‘The villa was supposed to be empty until tomorrow. That’s what I heard.’
‘You talk all the time when you’re nervous too?’ He held the ice to her knee.
‘This isn’t usual,’ she muttered. Usually she went silent. She’d learned long ago that talking too much meant secrets might slip out and that habit was surprisingly hard to break. She preferred not to tell people about her upbringing now out of choice, rather than necessity. The difference of it made people awkward. ‘You know, it’s not that bad. You can stop with the ice now,’ she gasped. ‘I’m fine.’
He ignored her and increased the pressure even more. ‘Here. Hold it firmly.’
Mortified at the realisation that the last thing the man wanted was to press an ice pack against her leg, she slapped her hand down to hold it in place, inadvertently hitting his hand in the process.
‘Sorry,’ she muttered, dying all over again. If she were a cat, she’d be down to her last life by now.
She pushed back a wet ribbon of hair and tried to ignore the fact that Rafael Vitale was unfastening his wet shirt. Ten timeless seconds later he wasn’t wearing said shirt. Her mouth dried as her brain shorted out. His chest was bronzed and, as she’d suspected, his muscles were ultra-defined. Furthermore, he had the finest trail of hair leading to the waistband of his perfectly tailored black trousers. He was officially a living freaking angel. When he turned away, she quickly pressed the wrapped ice against her burning cheeks instead of her knee and racked her brains for what Francesca had told her about him.
Rafael Vitale had made billions from the kinds of financial transactions Gracie had no desire to ever understand and now he was amassing a property empire. Another thing she’d never understand. She wanted only the one place to call home—that would make her happier than anything.
And if Francesca’s favourite websites were to be believed, the guy dated models and aristocrats—as in the aristocrats who were models. He had an endless supply of stunning well-connected women to warm his bed. Seeing him in the flesh—indeed seeing most of his flesh—Gracie could totally understand why.
She pressed her legs together, primly rejecting the insidious warmth and restless kick deep within. The sooner she got away from here, the better. She’d embarrassed herself enough. She didn’t need to drool over a man who was so far out of her league and who’d never send her a second look in ordinary circumstances. But his kitchen was totally droolworthy—she could make amazing things in this kitchen.
‘Why did you take a photo?’
Startled, she glanced at him, registering the distance in his demeanour as he waited for her answer. She’d taken that snap before she’d started watering the roses, so for how long had he been watching her? ‘I wanted to show him they were fine.’
‘Show who what were fine?’ He stepped closer.
She chose to focus on the smooth marble pastry bench on the opposite side from her and think about cold, cold things so she could speak without stuttering. ‘Alex. The roses.’
‘Who’s Alex?’
‘You don’t know?’ She glanced at Rafael again before remembering the searing impact on her senses.
‘I assume he’s a caretaker? This is my first visit to the villa,’ he said briefly, his intense gaze not leaving her face.
Caretaker? The man had worked on this estate for the last forty years!
‘You’ve not been here before?’ She wrinkled her nose in confusion. ‘Did you buy it without even seeing it and having that restoration work done?’
His lack of response confirmed it.
‘Wow,’ she muttered.
‘This really is about the roses?’
‘Of course it’s about the roses. Why else would I be here?’
He didn’t answer. She stared at him suspiciously. ‘Did you think I was here to, what...hope to meet you?’ The guy was unbearably arrogant.
She dragged her gaze back up from his chest to his eyes and didn’t really blame him. But still.
‘You wouldn’t be the first woman to break into one of my properties.’ A faintly amused look crossed his face as he regarded her damp blouse and skirt.
‘I didn’t break in,’ she said spiritedly.
‘Semantics.’ He leaned back against the opposite bench, that hint of amusement making him even more fascinating. ‘Mostly they try to find my bedroom.’
‘I’m not a stalker.’ At the thought of his bedroom her skin crisped.
‘I’m relieved to hear it.’ He angled his head and studied her.
Awareness rippled down Gracie’s spine. She wasn’t sure she trusted that new look in his eyes and she certainly didn’t trust her own suddenly frantic pulse.
‘You’d better go and get changed,’ she said brightly, hoping he’d take the hint and cover up quickly. ‘You obviously had somewhere to be and I need to get back to the village.’ She wriggled forward to the edge of the table, preparing to put weight on her wretched knee.
‘What’s your name?’
His question was a perfectly innocuous, normal one, yet her heart thundered. She’d given so many variations as an answer to this in her childhood. For over a decade she’d not been able to tell anyone her real name. Lying, lying, lying.
It’s for your safety, sweetheart. So we can stay together.
Hiding had meant constantly moving. She breathed in and shook off the whisper of the past. Now she’d chosen her own name—a family name too—so answering this question now shouldn’t be stressful. Yet for a reason she couldn’t quite identify, she didn’t want to tell him.
For the first time, he actually smiled. It transformed him from moody fallen angel to silver screen hero in a heartbeat. There was no way she could answer him now. She couldn’t actually speak.
‘What does it matter?’ he queried her reluctance with even more of a smile. ‘You’re never going to see me again.’
‘Right. Right, of course... The thin
g is...’ She bit her lip and decided to brave up. ‘You’re going to have to see me. I’m doing Alex’s job for a few days.’
That smile vanished. ‘Watering the roses?’ he asked, for cold confirmation.
‘Yes.’
‘Use an automatic hydration system,’ he snapped.
‘They’re like his babies,’ she retorted scornfully. ‘Would you use an automated feeding system for your babies?’
‘Not an issue I ever plan to face.’ He straightened to full height and put his hands on his hips, drawing her attention back to his sculpted, bare physique. ‘Why are you doing his job?’
Gracie studied the floor tiles. ‘He’s unwell. He has the flu.’
‘It’s the height of summer—’
‘He’s older—’
‘Should he still be working?’
‘Of course he should.’ She lifted her chin and glared at Rafael. The guy had no idea how lucky he was to have Alex working on his property.
‘His judgement is impaired,’ Rafael said coolly. ‘He should never have given you the security code to get inside the gate.’
‘He didn’t want your precious flowers to frizzle in this heat. He was doing what he thought best.’
‘All employees of this estate were under instruction to maintain security of the premises no matter what. Not to give the codes to just anyone.’
Gracie ignored the hit at being dismissed as ‘just anyone’. ‘He loves the roses. He’s spent his life looking after those roses.’
‘I don’t care about the roses—’
‘Clearly.’ The man was an unfeeling jerk.
‘I care about my privacy. And my security.’
‘You don’t want the common folk encroaching on your space? Or any rabid female stalkers lying in your bed?’ She immediately wished she hadn’t mentioned that as it put a disconcerting picture in her head.
‘That’s right.’ He smiled. ‘I don’t wish to be bothered.’
‘Well,’ she said formally, ‘if you’ll just let me leave, then you won’t be bothered any more. I’ll be sure to check the roses when you’re not here.’
‘Too late,’ he said softly, stepping forward so he was back in front of her. ‘I’m already bothered.’
His tone put her on edge.
‘Where are you from?’ he asked. ‘Why are you here?’
‘I’ve already told you.’
‘You’ve talked a lot but told me almost nothing.’
Ignoring the way he was standing too close, Gracie slid down from the kitchen table and gingerly tested her knee. To her relief, it wasn’t too bad. ‘Look, I’m fine. I’ll get going now.’
‘No.’ He didn’t walk any closer, but somehow seemed to block her escape route.
‘Why not?’ To avoid ogling his bare chest, she had no choice but to look up into his damnably handsome face.
A speculative light had entered his eyes. It was fascinating the way it warmed their colour.
‘I’m late for the party,’ he said. ‘I’m going to need a good reason for why I’m so late.’
‘Tell them the truth.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s the easiest way.’
‘You advise honesty?’ His gaze narrowed on her.
‘Always.’ She made herself maintain eye contact despite the way just looking at him made her pulse skip like a schoolgirl’s.
‘You’re always honest?’
Could he sound any more sardonic?
She folded her arms across her chest. ‘Absolutely.’
He actually laughed. ‘No one is ever absolutely honest.’
‘Well, I am.’ She’d vowed never to lie again. She’d had to do so far too much in the past.
‘People lie all the time. For good reasons and for bad.’ The corners of his mouth quirked up into that unbearably gorgeous smile. ‘But seeing you’re so good at being honest, you can come with me and tell them the truth.’
CHAPTER TWO
GRACIE BLINKED AT HIM, not sure she’d heard him correctly. ‘I’m not coming with you.’
‘It’s at the Palazzo Chiara,’ he added, as if she’d not spoken. ‘Have you seen the palazzo? It makes this place look minuscule.’
She’d seen Palazzo Chiara from a tourist launch on the lake when she’d first arrived. The humongous estate had been converted into an exclusive luxury hotel. The playpen of real silver screen heroes and beyond wealthy sheiks and oligarchs who paid literally thousands of dollars to stay for just one night. Villa Rosetta was the palazzo’s ‘little sister’, though frankly Gracie thought the villa held more charm. Apparently she wasn’t the only one—it was even harder to book a week here than a suite at the palazzo.
‘I believe it has an amazing view of the fireworks and the lanterns,’ he added softly.
She narrowed her eyes. He had listened in to her conversation with Alex. He’d been watching her for a while.
‘I can see the fireworks from the village,’ she said stiffly.
He might be the most handsome man she’d ever seen, but he had the inevitable flaw that came with such good looks and money—he was used to getting everything his own way. But this one time he wasn’t getting it. Even if there was that secret part of her that wanted him to.
‘You’re a tourist. Don’t you want to see what an elite party at a place like that is like?’
‘Full of “elite” people such as your arrogant self?’ she challenged bluntly. ‘It doesn’t sound all that.’
‘None are as arrogant as I am.’ His mouth curved and he put his hands on his hips.
Gracie narrowed her gaze. He was shameless at using his smile to his advantage. And his bare chest.
‘Think of it as another experience for your travels,’ he added.
She didn’t bother correcting his assumption that she wasn’t local. ‘So I should feel grateful for the opportunity?’
‘Most people would,’ he said, apparently without a hint of irony.
‘Unfortunately for you, I’m not most people,’ she said haughtily. ‘And I don’t want any other “experience” with you either. My mother warned me about getting into cars with strangers.’
Literally every day of her childhood her mother had warned her. She’d been so afraid they’d be caught. That Gracie would be kidnapped and taken from her.
‘But I’m no longer a stranger. You know who I am. I’ve even taken care of your bruised knee for you.’
‘What I know gives me all the more reason to say no.’
His eyebrows shot up. ‘Does my reputation precede me? What’s the worst I could do?’ His smile was so wicked. ‘I don’t think it would be that dreadful.’
The shift in him was like night from day. Suddenly he was charming and, darn it all, even more riveting. ‘Why on earth do you want me going along with you?’
‘Because it’s going to be boring. Having you there might make it less so.’
So she was to be light relief for him? ‘You want me to be your court jester? Or your pet Chihuahua?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘That’s not going to be a thing.’
‘Did you just refer to yourself as a dog?’
Her jaw dropped—then she snapped it shut. ‘I have a job to finish here.’
‘I think we both know your job here is done.’
‘For today,’ she said pointedly, lifting her chin. ‘I promised Alex. He’s old and he doesn’t deserve to worry.’
‘If he’s that old, doesn’t he deserve the freedom of his retirement?’
‘He loves these roses. Don’t you have something you love more than anything?’
There was a moment when a shadow crossed his face. ‘I’m not welded to one place, one thing and certainly not one person.’
She only just refrained from rolling her eyes again. ‘Well, lots of people are and what’s more they actually like to be. Alex has ha
nded over the rest of the grounds to your new garden maintenance company who come from stupidly far away, but the rose garden was his design, his planting, all his work. It’s his treasure. He planted them for his late wife.’
‘On someone else’s property,’ Rafael growled.
How could he be so uncaring?
He watched her through narrowed eyes. Then spoke again. ‘If you don’t come with me, you can go and tell your Alex that he’s no longer needed to work here.’
Gracie gasped. ‘Are you holding his job over me to make me go to your stupid party?’
He smiled, tightly.
‘Wow. You must really be afraid of going by yourself if you’re resorting to threats.’
Now he actually laughed. ‘I’m not afraid to fight for what I want.’
‘And you’re not afraid to fight dirty.’ She gritted her teeth in the face of his partial nudity. ‘So you think the end justifies the means?’
‘Not always. But often.’
‘And you “often” bully your way into getting what you want?’
‘Usually I buy what I want,’ he replied carelessly. ‘But I didn’t want to offend you by offering you money.’
She flashed a filthy look at him. Of all the pompous things to say. ‘Why not just ask nicely?’
He sighed deeply. ‘Would you please go to the party with me? I’m new in town and I don’t want to walk in alone.’
She didn’t believe he was insecure for a second.
‘You want me to go with you, dressed in my wet skirt and bruised knee?’ She shook her head. ‘I’m going into Bellezzo to watch the festival on the waterfront.’
‘I can take care of your outfit,’ he said softly.
‘Excuse me?’
His grin was positively wicked and he leaned forward and scooped her into his arms again.
‘This is assault,’ she choked as she was pressed against all his hot naked skin. And muscles.
‘What? This is gentlemanly behaviour. I’ve rescued a damsel in distress,’ he countered as he marched through to a large living room. ‘The least you can do in return is gift me a few hours of your precious time. Now...’ He deposited her in a plush armchair and pointed to the corner. ‘What do you think of these?’
Awakening His Innocent Cinderella Page 2
