He shrugged. “I handled it. You’ve still got your position. We’ve got permission to have the kids stay, which will make the excursions—”
“Photo ops,” she interjected.
“If that’s how you prefer to see it.”
“Of course that’s how I prefer to see it. I always prefer to call a spade a spade.”
“No,” he said, coming back over to her. “You prefer to see the world as you want to see it and stubbornly refuse to see it any other way.”
“Me? Stubborn? Looked in a mirror lately?”
The smile he gave her sent warm tingles rushing through her, and she looked away just to try and minimize his effect.
“As I’ve said, the children will be kept out of the photographers’ way as much as possible. I can’t guarantee no one will get a picture. But I can promise it won’t be my doing and my team will do what we can to prevent it.”
He sounded sincere enough. She hoped she could trust him. At least in this. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “Let’s get out of here,” he said. “I’ve only had one cup of coffee and it wasn’t nearly enough for being awake this early.”
They’d reached his car. Joseph folded the paper he’d been reading and jumped out to open the back door for them.
Constance pulled out her keys. “I drove myself, remember?”
“Joseph will drive your scooter. You’ll come with me.”
She blew out an exasperated breath, trying not to lose her temper with the pompous ass. And failing. “That doesn’t make any sense. I’m capable of driving myself. Besides, if he drives my scooter to my house, how will he get back home?”
Luca’s eyes narrowed and a twinge of unease rattled Constance’s stomach. He was obviously not used to being told no. Well, tough. She wasn’t going to let him order her around.
He crowded into her personal space, stepping so close she had to crane her neck to meet his deep brown gaze. She tried to draw in a deep breath without giving away the fact she was suddenly finding it more difficult to breath. It was like the man was some inferno who absorbed all the oxygen around him and ignited anything female within a ten-mile radius. Constance had been around commanding, domineering men before. They all had the same swagger, the same presence. The whole I’m king of the world and you will fear and obey me mentality.
With Luca it was different. Oh, he had the ego and the charisma that most men of his station had, and he had more than his fair share of sex appeal, but he wasn’t the first handsome, wealthy, powerful man she’d been around, or even been intimate with. Not that she’d been intimate with Luca, or ever would be. There was no reason this man should affect her this much. What the hell was it about him?
He stroked a hand down her arm, eliciting a tremble that left him giving her a smug smile and her glaring at him. Before she realized what he was doing, he’d plucked the keys from her hand and tossed them to Joseph. Constance started to give him a good chewing-out but he pressed a finger to her mouth.
“It isn’t necessary to argue with everything I say.” His finger brushed along her lips, igniting an instant fire that she wanted with all her being to give herself over to, but everything was happening too fast. He was too much, too overwhelming, and too overbearing by far.
She jerked back, but he just smiled. “Joseph needs to drive your moped because we have a little errand to run. He can bring it to my place and you can retrieve it there.”
She frowned. “What errand? We’ve spoken with my director. I wasn’t aware we had anything else planned for the day.”
He sighed. “Ah, yes. It’s all about you, isn’t it?”
She planted her hands on her hips but he continued on before she could get a word in. “We’ve seen your director, kept up my side of the bargain. You remain House Mother of the Year. Now it’s your turn to help me with a little damage control. That was the agreement, correct?”
Her anger deflated a little and she dropped her arms. “Oh. Well, yes.”
“Okay then. Joseph will take your scooter, and you’ll come with me.”
“Come with you where?” she asked, not trusting him one iota.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you always this difficult?”
“Are you always this bossy?”
“Generally, yes,” he said with a smile that had probably charmed the panties off a thousand women. She tried to ignore the tingle it was inducing in her.
“I’ll take good care of your…vehicle, ma’am,” Joseph said.
“Thanks, Joseph.”
He gave her a little bow and left them alone.