Never Gamble with a Caffarelli(42)

Remy knew his grandfather was scathing about his brothers for falling in love. He mocked them any chance he could, picking Poppy and Lily to pieces as if they were not real people with feelings but department-store items Rafe and Raoul had picked up that, in Vittorio’s opinion, were somehow faulty.

Remy didn’t like admitting it but deep down he was starting to feel a little envious of how happy his brothers were. How settled; secure; anchored. His life of flying in and flying out of cities and relationships had always seemed so exciting and satisfying up until now.

He shook off the thought like the snow he’d just brushed off his shoulders. ‘Be that as it may, you have to admit she’s great to look at. What more could a man ask for than a stunningly beautiful wife who loves him?’

‘She’s stunning but she’s Henri Marchand’s daughter. Do you really want to mix your blood with the likes of him?’

What was his grandfather’s obsession about babies? It was making Remy distinctly uneasy. ‘We’re leaving the breeding to Rafe and Raoul. Angelique wants to keep her figure.’

Vittorio grunted. ‘She won’t stay with you. You mark my words. Next thing you know, she’ll slap divorce papers on you and take half your assets. You’re a fool to enter a marriage without a pre-nuptial agreement. I thought you had more sense than your brothers. Seems I was wrong.’

It did worry Remy about the lack of a pre-nup but he wasn’t going to dwell on it while he had other more pressing matters to deal with. Besides, Angelique had her own reasons for wanting the marriage to continue. The bridal-wear gig was huge. He’d already seen hundreds of tweets about it. It was amusingly ironic to think of her modelling the one type of outfit she loathed more than any other.

‘How’s that new housemaid working out?’ Remy asked.

‘She’s got a face like a monkey.’

Remy rolled his eyes. Some things never changed. ‘I might pop over in a couple of weeks to see you once I’ve sorted out a few business issues. I’ll bring Angelique with me.’

Vittorio gave another cynical grunt. ‘That’s if she’s still with you by then.’





CHAPTER ELEVEN


ANGELIQUE CAME DOWN to the large sitting room where Remy was stoking a roaring fire. Warmth was spreading throughout the house now the heating was on but the sound of the flames crackling and spitting in the fireplace reminded her of cosy times with her grandparents when she was young.

The removals company had obviously come and taken away her father’s personal belongings, leaving just the original furniture. Without Henri’s things here it was like stepping back in time to a happier period in her life.

But it still annoyed her that Remy had possession of her family home and was so determined to keep it. It was all very well sleeping with him and fancying herself in love with him, but at the end of the day she had to get her home back.

Her goal was to get the deeds to Tarrantloch back where they belonged. Nothing else was supposed to distract her from that.

Not Remy with his smouldering looks, spine-loosening smile, his magical touch and mind-blowing love-making. She could indulge in an affair with him for the period of their marriage but it had to end with her achieving her mission.

Tarrantloch was meant to be hers and she would not be satisfied until she had it back in her possession.

Remy stood up and glanced at her over his shoulder. ‘Warming up?’

‘You certainly move fast.’ Angelique walked further into the room. ‘You’ve had every trace of my father’s occupation of the place removed.’

He kicked a piece of charcoal back into the fire with the side of his shoe before he looked at her again. ‘That’s normally what a new owner does, is it not?’

Angelique set her jaw. Did he have to rub it in every chance he got? ‘What do you plan to do with it?’

‘I want to base myself here.’ He dusted off his hands from having placed another log on the fire. ‘It’s private and far enough away from a major city to put off the paparazzi.’

She frowned at him. ‘But you’re a big city man. You spend most of your time in casinos and clubs. You’d be bored out of your mind up here in the highlands with nothing but the wind and the rain and the snow for company.’

‘I don’t know about that...’ He nudged absently at the fire with the poker. ‘Rafe’s been raving about the mansion he bought in Oxfordshire—the one that Poppy’s grandmother used to work in when she was growing up.’ He put the poker back in its holder and faced her again. ‘He originally planned to turn it into a luxury hotel for the rich and famous but now he’s living there with Poppy. It’s home to them now, it’s where they plan to bring up a family.’