The Italian's Price

Nevertheless she quaked in Jilly's bronze kitten heels when he delivered cuttingly, ‘I'm glad to see you've toned down your act. Contrition? Somehow I don't think so. More likely to be sheer pig-headed annoyance at having been traced and hauled back to make reparation for your sins.'

She didn't know what he meant by that stoning down' bit and watched with sickening fascination as broad shoulders lifted in a slight shrug which denoted that he couldn't care less either way.

And then his strongly sculpted features hardened as he added, 'You will stick to the fiction that you were called away because of a family crisis apologize for not calling my grandmother during your absence and continue to please her with your company for as long as you are needed. The money you stole can be taken as future wages', you will receive no further payments from me. Is that understood'?'

Dry mouthed, Milly nodded speechlessly, her flagging spirits taking a further nose-dive. She would work for him but would receive no pay! She couldn't use her debit card because after forking out for that advance rent payment her account was as good as bare. And relying on her seldom used credit card was out of the question.

She couldn't afford to get into debt. Penniless apart from a couple of five pound notes and the loose change in her purse, her plan for travelling around on her days off-provided she was allowed such a luxury-to try and trace her twin bit the dust.

Trying not to let her agitation show to sound as wryly confident as Jilly would have done in similar circumstances, she asked, ‘WiII I still have time off? Or will I be locked in my room when your grandmother doesn't need me Saracino'?' One strongly arched dark brow lifted in marked contempt as he countered 6So formal. I recall a much more intimate mode of address when you came to my bed.'

He swung away as their flight was called leaving Milly to stagger in his wake too shell shocked to notice that he hadn't answered her question.

Cocooned in the luxury of first class Milly's mind was racing. A sideways glance showed her his impressive profile bent over a file he'd taken from his briefcase the pen held in long finely made tanned fingers stabbing notes into the margins of the closely typed pages.

She looked quickly away, her heart fluttering as a strange sensation gathered in the pit of her stomach. Jilly and the Italian had been lovers.

So why had that announcement really shocked her? Her sister had had affairs before.

'Things' she'd called them. ‘I'm having this thing with-whoever.' None of them had lasted longer than a month or two. Jilly had always been restless easily bored.

Had it been different this time? Had Jilly fallen in love with the savagely handsome Italian? Milly, her cheeks growing greatly overheated could easily understand that. He was drop-dead-gorgeous, magnetic. Even she on the receiving end of his icy menace, could recognise that. In the role of sexy seducer he would be dynamite! Totally irresistible!

Had her sister believed Saracino loved her in return? Had she expected marriage? Been sublimely confident of it? That would explain the wild promise that if she played her cards right she would be able to pay Ma back with interest. Everything about him spoke of wealth and standing and it would explain why the lively, flamboyant Jilly had uncharacteristically taken the post of humble companion to an old lady. Just to be near the man she loved and hoped to marry, to be available.

And had she left secretly, nursing a broken heart when she'd discovered that marrying her was the last thing on his mind? She wouldn't know for sure until she found her twin. But the scenario seemed likely given the information on that final postcard from Florence and what she knew of the callous yet handsome man at her side.

Hating to think of her sister in trouble-hounded by this cold-headed devil because of some mistake-and hurting because he'd broken her heart she gritted her teeth and vowed to find Jilly and clear her name. Her twin had always looked out for her had taken her part when they'd been growing up .

She was more determined than ever to repay that debt.

Milly woke when he prodded her. ‘Fasten your seat belt', we're about to land.'

Hating his tone, contempt tinged with searing impatience, she groggily complied. She hadn't thought she'd ever sleep again, at least not in his spiky company, but last night's deprivation had caught up with her. Smothering yawns, she felt at a total disadvantage while she followed where he led and it wasn't until they were well away from Pisa airport and driving along the labyrinthine white Tuscan lanes that he spoke to her although she had much to her discomfit been on the receiving end of quite a few penetrating sideways glances she'd felt rather than actually met.

‘For some reason Nonna thinks the sun shines out of you,' he imparted drily. swinge your disappearance she has been fretting. You will do and say nothing to upset her. Is that clear'?' ‘Perfectly.'

Again that swift censorious sideways glance. 6 Don't slouch! You look as though you're being driven to the gallows! You should be thanking the patron saint of sinners that you've got off so lightly.'

His voice tightened. ‘If it weren't for Nonna's fondness for you then, believe me, you'd be in handcuffs right cowl' Milly dragged in a deep, shuddering breath. How she stopped herself from reaching over an strangling the hateful man she would never know! A scarlet flush of rage flooded her delicate features.

If Jilly were in her place, the object of his withering contempt, she would fall out of love with him faster than she could draw breath.

She couldn't trust herself to answer his scathing comments without giving the game away but mindful of his scornful criti

cism, she sat up straighter.

In any other circumstances she would be enjoying riding in this open-topped racy sports car through the sun-soaked Tuscan scenery, through the patchwork landscape of vineyards and stately avenues of cypresses, orchards of lemon trees and distant craggy outcrops of rock.

As it was she was getting more wound up and edgy with every mile that passed and when a bend in the narrow road revealed a paved driveway flanked by elegant wrought iron gated and the imposing stone villa beyond she felt as if she were about to splinter with tension.

Would she make it through the acid test, her meeting with Saracino's grandmother, without giving herself away?

Back in England she had told herself that her identical physical appearance, the wearing of her twin's clothes, was all she needed to stop the Italian searching for the real Jilly and having her charged with fraud and goodness only knew what else. But here the possible pitfalls loomed very large indeed.

Telling herself to watch her step at all times, she exited the car as the grim faced Italian pulled to a halt in front of the massive iron-studded open double doors and watched as he handed the car keys to a wiry little man who had appeared out of nowhere then turned to her.

sstefano will take your cases to your room. Wait in the hall while I go to prepare Nonna for your return.'