Mistress By Blackmail(26)

“Your brother isn’t going to care about us being together.” Frustration at his stubbornness chipped a bit of her fear away. “Other than knowing both of us and being rather curious as to how we got together.”

He jerked his head up and pinned her with his glare. “The love of your life not care?” he mocked. “You have such little hold on him?”

“He is not the love of my life,” she gritted.

“But you confessed a towering love for him when we first met.” He continued to glare at her, silver swords flashing. Did the memory bother him? Is this why she glimpsed fierce anger in his gaze? “You begged me to release him into your arms.”

“I did not beg.”

“Close enough.” He returned his attention to his emails.

“You misunderstood what I was saying.”

“I misunderstood nothing.” His fingers moved over his phone. “Don’t try and convince me I can let you go and you will behave with Matteo. It is an exercise in futility.”

Silence descended. Darcy curled her hand on the fake fur, taking slight comfort in the rich feel of the coat. The comfort, however, wasn’t enough to banish the old fear chugging through her veins. The realization hit her; the longer she hung with the Great La Rocca, the more and more exposure she was going to get in the press. More press exposure = more chance she’d be found.

Bloody hell. For a smart girl, she’d behaved rather stupidly, hadn’t she?

It was imperative to get away. Now. What could she say to penetrate this man’s thick, arrogant hide? Which words could she use to convince him this was a stupid waste of his time and hers?

“Stop trying to figure a way around me,” he grumbled from across the seat. “I can see your scheming and conniving from ten meters away.”

Some woman had really, really done a job on this man. And she was unjustly reaping the rewards.

“You might be able to dazzle those men back at the ball into falling at your feet,” he continued. “However, I am a different kind of man.”

A sharp thrill spiked in her. He’d noticed the attention her charm had elicited. The realization gave a small stroke to her ego.

Then his last words penetrated her brain.

The thrill tightened her fear into outright panic. Not only did she have to get away from him because of the press, but he had just slapped another realization right in front of her.

He was a different kind of man for her. This close proximity to him—to his big body, his bold stare, his potent masculinity—was casting a lure around her. His allure drained her of her spunk, garbled her thinking. If she was always with him for this coming month, she was very afraid she might do the unthinkable: let go of her pride and fall into his arms.

He would win the war between them. Then, when he walked away, she would be left alone to fight her demon once more.

Safe?

A hysterical laugh burbled in her throat.

Being with this man wasn’t safe. Being with him was the most unsafe she’d ever been since she’d been seventeen.

A deep sigh came from him. “It is such a waste of time, carita.”

She peered at him. His attention was back on her. A quirk of a smile graced his mouth. The silver now glowed in his eyes. His big body leaned back in casual elegance on the fine leather.

“It is a waste of time,” she agreed, hoping he’d finally listen. “You’re holding me against my will for no reason whatsoever.”

“Against your will? For no reason?” A disparaging sound slid across the seat. “You made a choice to be here. And you and I both know there’s a very good reason.”

Turning from his cynical stare, she stared at the back of the driver’s head. What was the use of arguing with him anymore? The stubborn arrogance he exuded shielded him from any doubts or second thoughts.

A deep dread settled down on her.

“Let us agree it would be best if you stopped your endless womanly machinations and instead took the only reasonable avenue before you.”

“Womanly machinations?” His accusation stung and frustration and fear turned to outright fury. What was the difference between his bullying and her attempt to stand her ground? She was merely protecting herself by using the skills she’d acquired the hard way. Her temper spiked through the last of the lingering nightmare. “Reasonable avenue?”

“It would be reasonable for you to enjoy the situation you are in to the fullest rather than arguing with me at every turn.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.” His voice turned harsh. “It would be extremely smart of you to stop trying to manipulate me.”

“I use my charm and personality to get my way. So?” She shot a fuming glare across the seat. “You use your power and money to get yours. What’s the difference?”