A Shadow of Guilt

She looked up, surprised, into the arrogant features of the French playboy who had been trying to chat her up the other night. She could see in an instant that he was inebriated. His already harsh grip tightened and immediately Valentina recoiled back, and tried to free herself but he hung on.

‘Please let me go, Monsieur Lagarde.’ She tried to keep her voice calm and reasonable over the sound of the crowd and the auctioneer.

‘Oh, please …’ he slurred. ‘Surely we can be on first name terms, non? Call me Pierre….’

Valentina struggled again to free her arm, feeling a sliver of trepidation snake down her spine when she realised that he’d somehow manoeuvred them so that they were hidden from view behind a tall plant.

‘You are so beautiful….’

He had both her arms in his hands now and Valentina felt panic claw upwards. He was huge, looming over her with his huge bulk. An

d then just as suddenly as the panic had risen, he was being lifted away from her as if by some magical force, his hands gone from her arms, making her stumble forward slightly.

He was replaced by a grim-looking Gio and all Valentina could see of Pierre was two of the discreet security men escorting him outside.

Gio cursed and came closer. ‘He’s bruised your arms.’

Valentina looked down stupidly and saw the red marks of his fingers. It was only then that she realised how scared she’d been for a few seconds. She looked up at Gio, aghast at the helpless emotion rising up within her, and knew shamefully that it had more to do with the man in front of her than what had just happened. She blinked rapidly to keep it back, but failed miserably.

Gio cursed again and she was being enveloped in his arms. Valentina felt faint with relief and how good it felt to have him hold her. Guilt compounded her as she soaked in his strength when she thought of what she’d said earlier.

She pulled back within his arms and looked up, words trembling on her lips. But once again Gio just put a finger to her mouth, silencing her. He shook his head. ‘Don’t say it.’

Valentina swallowed and spoke against his finger. ‘But you don’t know what I’m going to say.’

‘I don’t need to hear it, all I need is you.’

Valentina knew that if she was to pull free of Gio now, step back and say she didn’t want him, he would let her go. He might not want to, but he would. It was etched into every tightly held muscle in his body.

Valentina knew there were a million and one reasons why she should take this opportunity to walk away. There was too much between them, too much that was tangled and dark and unspoken. But all she could feel was him. That dark seductive energy winding around her, binding her to him in some silent pact.

His assurance that she could do this and hate him for it made her feel riven with guilt … but she couldn’t walk away. Just as she couldn’t stop breathing.

But if she did this she also had to stop lashing out and blaming him. She had to take responsibility for her actions and hope that, soon, this temporary madness would cease and she could get on with her life. Even though right at that moment the thought of a life without Gio in it was inconceivable.

Valentina knew that if she tried to articulate any of this to Gio he’d just stop her. So she said, ‘Can we just leave? Now?’

Valentina felt the faint tremor that ran through Gio’s body and knew that he’d been as aware as her of how significant this moment was.

‘Of course.’

His arms dropped and he stepped back, taking her hand. Valentina bit her lip and stopped him, suddenly aware of their surroundings. ‘But … don’t you have to stay? For the end of the auction?’

Gio just looked at her and flashed a sudden smile, making her breath stop momentarily. When he smiled like that he reminded her so much of before.

‘I can delegate. Anyway, I don’t think too many people here will be in any fit state to recall if I’m here or not at the end … and your work is done?’

Valentina nodded. Her staff were only concerned now with topping up glasses and the clear-up. It was over. She’d weathered her first bona fide exclusive event. As if reading her mind and sensing her relief Gio came close again and cupped her jaw before settling a sweet kiss on her mouth. He drew back. ‘I meant to say thank you, you did a formidable job. I thought you’d appreciate knowing that my aunt Carmela nearly choked on her starter when she saw you directing proceedings earlier.’

Valentina melted inside at his words and couldn’t help smiling too. She’d studiously ignored the frosty glares from the older woman but had been human enough to relish the second chance Gio had given her. Not only that, she’d been inundated with enquiries as to her availability for future events.

Gio was pulling her out from their secluded spot and Valentina tugged his hand again. ‘Gio …’

He looked at her and she saw the fleeting trepidation on his face.

‘I just wanted to say thank you … for the opportunity.’

‘My pleasure …’ He touched her jaw with a finger, leaving a trail of tingling fire in its wake, and said throatily, ‘And it will be …’