Captivated by Her Innocence

Her passion caused the permanent indentation between Cesare’s ebony brows to form into a V of doubt, which quickly smoothed. He resented the fact that this woman had made him even briefly doubt a man who had literally saved his life. He realised that she’d probably told this version of events so often that she believed it. A lot easier to believe a lie than admit you’d targeted a married man and relentlessly pursued him.

While Cesare didn’t consider himself intolerant of weakness—he had enough of his own—when it came to the subject of fidelity within marriage there were no grey areas. It was simple: you stayed faithful or you didn’t exchange vows you were not able to keep. This was the reason that he did not plan to take the marriage route. Loving the same woman for a lifetime or even a year? Impossible. Lying was a strong word even when the lie in question was directed to yourself. Did people, intelligent people, really believe it?

He gave a mental shrug. Maybe he was just wired differently? But for his money the existence of the Easter Bunny was easier to buy into than this soul-mate stuff. Sure, you grew comfortable over the years but who wanted to be comfortable when you could have passion and fire?

However, if you went down the marriage route, straying was not an option. It was true that Paul had not behaved well, but at least he’d come to his senses in time to save his marriage. Basically, Paul was one of life’s good guys, capable of selfless acts. If he hadn’t been Cesare knew he wouldn’t be standing here now—Paul’s selfless act had saved his skin.

‘Get in the car, Angel,’ he snapped at his companion before turning on his heel and presenting Anna with his broad-shouldered back.

Infuriated by the dismissal, Anna surged forward. The hasty action took her close to the edge of the pavement just as a bus drove by, depositing the contents of a deep puddle down the front of her suit.

‘He didn’t even slow down,’ she wailed, looking from her dripping muddied front to the bus that was picking up speed as it continued down the road.

Just before he slid into the high-powered car beside his beautiful companion, Cesare Urquart turned his head. He didn’t say a word, just looked her up and down and then smiled. Hateful, hateful man!

CHAPTER THREE

ANGEL SMOOTHED THE pages she had retrieved from the back seat. ‘So that was Miss Henderson?’ She tapped the typed name on the page before flashing a look at her brother. ‘I take it she didn’t get the job? Pity—anyone that gives as good as she gets with you might be just what we need.’

‘That is private, Angel,’ her brother snarled.

Angel read one of the attached references. ‘It says here she has a natural empathy with children and she’s—’

Cesare, making an effort to slow his breathing, interrupted irritably. ‘Yeah, I know, she’s perfect.’

A thoughtful expression crossed his sister’s face. ‘You know, I think she might be...’

‘Put that down, Angel.’ He clenched his teeth as his sister predictably tuned him out and turned another page.

‘I’m curious,’ she admitted, still skimming the page. ‘Who was better than her?’

‘Paper qualifications are all well and good.’

‘You mean she’s another one of Paul’s victims.’

‘What the hell do you mean by “another”?’

‘I mean if you’ve got a blind spot it comes to that man. Don’t look like that. I love Paul, he’s a total charmer but, let’s face it he’s—’

Without warning Cesare pulled the car to the side of the road, drawing a startled gasp from his sister.

‘Are you trying to tell me he made a pass at you?’

Reassured by his sister’s peal of laughter enough to start breathing again, he released a deep sigh and turned the engine back on.

They had travelled a silent mile before Angel voiced the question she already knew the answer to. ‘And if he had?’

‘I’d kill him,’ Cesare informed her, with a total lack of emotion.

His response told Angel nothing she didn’t already know. ‘So saving your life makes it all right for him to mess with the—’ she wafted the printed CV his way ‘—Miss Hendersons of the world, but not your sister?’

‘Shut up, Angel.’

Smiling, she licked her finger and chalked up an invisible point in the air, drawing an almost smile from her grim-faced brother before she began to read the CV, which described the sort of person who even the most paranoid parent would feel happy about leaving in charge of their child.