Bound by the Italian's Contract(31)
“Not at all,” Fuseli said, and the pair hurried out, closing the door in their wake.
“Do they seriously expect me to copy a known design of yours?” she asked, keeping her voice low.
“This is my design and is known only to a select few that have seen my rifugio,” he said dismissively.
She frowned, her muzzy mind struggling to grasp the meaning of the word, but the way it rolled off his tongue made the place sound sensual and relaxed. Intimate. Exactly the place she never wished to go with him.
“How far is it from here?”
“A day’s journey and back at the most,” he said, irritation sharpening his words. “Why do you ask?”
“I want to see it.”
“Out of the question.”
She bracketed her hands on her hips. “Why? What is this place?”
“It was an old refuge for shepherds and skiers caught out in inclement weather, built just below the snowline like all the rifugios that dot the Dolomites. I’ve turned it into my private retreat.”
A hideaway. “On the order of Rocky Mountain line cabins,” she said more to herself, becoming less convinced anything remotely similar to that would suit her needs. “What makes you so sure I will like the design?”
“I paid attention to your body language when we met in Denver, while we were at your lodge and when we arrived here as well. I listened as you talked with the designers about what you wanted. You’ve yet to feel totally comfortable,” he said.
She wanted to dispute him but couldn’t. “You’re right. I want a plan that is clean and open, but I don’t want stark modernism, nor do I want classic elegance, or Western themed.”
“As I thought. You wish to keep the integrity of your historic old lodge, yet you don’t want the interior to be rustic, ultra-modern or lavish.”
He was trying to sell her on a design sight unseen, but she wasn’t about to cave in. Time was too crucial.
“Am I right?” he pressed.
“Yes.”
He smiled. “Good. May I bring the designers back in so we can finish this?”
“Please do.”
Stay strong! The only way she knew how to do that was to take control now before this totally spiraled out of hand.
“You are all convinced I will love this design done at the rifugio. Correct?” Caprice asked when the designers stepped back into the office.
The designers nodded, but Luciano raised a questioning brow. “Caprice,” he said in a warning tone.
But she ignored him and pressed on. “Then I insist we save time and energy. Take me to the rifugio.”
“Splendid idea,” Ms. Germaine said, gaining a nod of approval from her partner. “We shall still start the second design idea, but will await your approval on the first. You are both in agreement?”
“Well?” Caprice asked, arms crossed over her bosom, joining the designers to stare at Luciano.