Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire(9)

“No,” he said almost gently. “We don’t have horses here.” He tossed the résumé on the table. “Any experience with office work?”

Lia shook her head morosely as she glanced around at the high-tech equipment in the office. She wasn’t even sure how to turn some of it on. Perhaps it was a good thing she wasn’t after a proper job, because she was certain she wouldn’t last long in a place like this. It wasn’t that she was stupid, but technology didn’t interest her and most had passed her by. But then, she’d known what she wanted to be since she was six years old when her mother had taken her to her first horse show. And she’d set out after her goals with a single-minded intensity that had left no room for anything else.



“I’m a quick learner though,” she said and instantly the tips of her ears started to burn again. She wished she’d kept quiet as she intercepted yet another amused glance.

“That’s useful to know.”

He pushed himself away from the desk and shrugged out of his suit jacket, tossing it negligently on the back of the black leather sofa. Next, he loosened his tie and opened the top button of his shirt, before crossing the room. Her gaze fixed on him as he moved, graceful, almost like a dancer himself. Or a predator, balanced on the balls of his feet, ready to pounce. She was getting fanciful. Luc hadn’t brought her here to pounce; he’d brought her here to discuss a job…she hoped.

“Drink?” he asked.

It probably wasn’t a good idea. In fact, it was probably a terrible one, but then what was one more bad idea? She nodded.

“What would you like?”

“Anything. Whatever you’re having.”

He poured two glasses of golden liquid and handed her one. Taking it, she brought it up to her nose, and sniffed.

“What is it?”

“Scotch,” he said. “Quite safe.” He watched, amused, as she swallowed the contents of the glass in one go. “Well, in small quantities.” He took her glass and poured her another. Instead of handing it to her, he placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa, then sank onto the black leather and patted the seat next to him.

Lia hesitated for a moment; she was starting to feel quite warm, and decided it was probably safe to remove her jacket. She took it off and placed it carefully on top of Luc’s then came around and sat down next to him. He studied her for a few minutes, then he smiled, and suddenly she didn’t feel quite so safe anymore.



“Why do you think I brought you here tonight, Lia?” His voice was dark and smoky, full of sensual promise, and Lia quivered under the onslaught of it against her battered senses. She felt totally off-balance—safe one minute, hovering on the edge of something terrifying the next. The truth was, she didn’t know why he’d brought her here. Or why he’d helped her out at the club. So she clung to what she did know.

“To talk about my job?” she suggested hopefully.

“There’s a job for you here, whatever else happens, though I can’t promise you glamour and excitement.” He slanted her a heavy-lidded look from those stunning eyes. “Well, not in the job anyway.”

She licked dry lips, and knew his eyes followed the movement. “Whatever else happens?”

“I want you to know that the job is separate and not dependent on you sleeping with me.”

Lia had been in the process of taking a restorative sip of her Scotch, and she almost choked. “Sleeping?”

“Well, probably not sleeping.” He gave her a long considering look. “You know I find you very attractive?”

Lia shook her head. No, to be perfectly honest, it hadn’t even occurred to her. Things like this didn’t happen to her. Kelly told her it was because she positively exuded keep-off vibes in the presence of men. She risked another quick glance and found him still watching her, his eyes deceptively sleepy.



“And I think the feeling is mutual. You want me, don’t you, Lia?” His voice was all dark seduction, oozing softly against her ears, sending quivers down her rigid spine.

Her mind went blank, and then started working double speed. Yes, of course, she had wondered about this man—what woman wouldn’t? He was the most gorgeous male specimen she’d ever encountered. He was probably going to feature in every single one of her sexual fantasies from this day forward, but all the same, she hadn’t considered anything happening between the two of them.

But why not?

While she’d never had a one-night anything before, she’d had boyfriends. Well, boyfriend, singular. They’d split up after Joe had complained that she spent more time with the horses than she did with him. He’d given her an ultimatum, and told her it was him or the horses. There’d been no competition. The sex had been okay, but not enough to change her priorities. That was two years ago, and she hadn’t been tempted since.