Bound by the Italian's Contract(71)

                The bite of sweet brioche she’d just eaten soured in her stomach. “I was afraid he would defy any threat.”

                “He is an arrogant fool,” he said. “I will not allow him to spew lies.”

                “There must be some other way to silence Mario. A payoff, maybe?” she asked, desperate to avoid scandal.

                “He has money to burn. But he does rely heavily on the endorsement he’s always gotten from being the architect of my projects, several that were still in the planning stage,” he said, challenge darkening his eyes to a stormy blue. “Once legal measures are finalized and his current contracts with la Duchi are nullified, many businessmen will notice and follow suit, not wishing to do business with his sort.”

                “Do you really think you can ruin him?” she asked, not entirely convinced he wielded that much power.

                He pulled her close and kissed her hard, possessively. “Yes. Trust me, bella.”

                “I do.” At least she was trying to put all her faith in him.

                “Continue with the plans here. I’ll return before the opening. Promise,” he said, and when she nodded he released her and found his clothes.

                She allowed herself the pleasure of watching him thrust long legs into snug black jeans, the denim hugging his firm thighs and riding low on his lean hips. He pulled on a gray jersey and tugged it over the muscled slabs of his chest, tucking it in with an economy of movement.

                Her heart swelled, even though sadness lurked in the back of her mind. He was hers to physically love for a week more at most. For the umpteenth time she asked herself if this heaven she reveled in now was worth the hell she’d sink into when they separated.

                The answer was obvious. She was a career girl. She was determined to be independent of a man.

                She could survive alone. But did she really want to?

                No. But her relationship with Luciano was drawing to an end. The most she could hope for was a few more nights with him as his lover. Having her own business and being self-sufficient was what she had dreamed of for years. So why did she entertain doubts about every facet of her life?

                “Are you all right?” he asked, startling her.

                “I’m anxious about the grand opening for the therapy unit at your lodge.”

                “It will be fine. Perfect,” he said. “You will be as well.”

                “I hope you’re right.”

                She crossed to him with a smile and wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her face to his, for the first time offering herself to him for whatever he wished to do. His sudden stiffening froze her to the spot.

                “What’s wrong?” she asked.

                “My thoughts are on dealing with Mario,” he said, grasping her wrists and gently setting her aside. “We’ll talk at length when I return.”

                He strode out the door without a goodbye or kiss, his curt rejection cutting like a knife, bringing back unpleasant memories of how he’d been too involved in competition to have much courtesy for anything or anyone, especially her. How easily he’d dismissed her back then.

                But then she’d been nothing but the volunteer helper. The starry-eyed young woman who’d had a too-big crush for the champion.