The Ultimate Playboy(99)

                She needed to tell him about the meeting last night. Needed to let him know that Giacomo’s thirst for revenge burned brighter than ever.

                Her fear for her parents had blinded her to the fact that she was stronger than Giacomo’s blackmail threats. There was no way Ruby would do as Giacomo asked.

                She loved Narciso, and, if there was any way he reciprocated those feelings, she didn’t intend to walk away.

                But she had to warn him that Giacomo might come at him by a different means once he found out Ruby had no intention of walking away.

                Turning her head, she watched Narciso’s peaceful profile as he slept. Her heart squeezed and she sucked in a breath as tears threatened.

                She’d never have believed she could fall in love so quickly and so deeply. But in less than a week she’d fallen for the world’s number-one playboy.

                But there was far more to Narciso than that. And if there was a chance for them...

                Vowing to speak to him after the party, she slid out of bed, dressed without waking him and left the bedroom.

                Armed with the black card he’d given her yesterday, she went outside and hailed a taxi. The market in Greenwich was bustling by the time she arrived just before six. For the next hour, she lost herself in picking the freshest vegetables, fruit and staples she needed for the dinner party.

                Next, she stopped at the upmarket wine stockist.

                Narciso had enough wine and vintage champagne so she only selected the spirits and liqueurs she needed for her cocktails.

                She was leaving the shop when her phone buzzed. Heart jumping into her throat because she knew who it would be, she answered.

                ‘You left without waking me,’ came the quiet accusation.

                ‘I needed to get to the market before sunrise.’

                He sighed. ‘I’m sorely tempted to cancel this event but I have several guests flying in specially.’

                ‘Why would you want to cancel it?’

                ‘Because it’s coming between me and what I want right now.’

                Her heart thundered. ‘Wh-what do you want?’

                ‘You. Alone. A proper conversation with no disturbances. To get to the bottom of whatever last night was about.’

                ‘I’m sorry, I should’ve told you...’ She stopped as a phone rang in the background.

                ‘Scusi,’ he excused himself, only to return a minute later. ‘I need to head to the office but I’ll be back by five tonight, sì?’

                ‘Okay, I’ll see you then.’

                He paused, as if he wanted to say something. Then he ended the call.

                * * *

                Ruby was glad for the distraction of getting everything ready for the dinner party. By the time Michel showed up midafternoon, she’d almost finished her preparations.

                They talked through the recipes she’d planned and settled on the timing.

                ‘Monsieur tells me you’ll be manning the bar tonight?’