His Merciless Marriage Bargain

Furthermore, she shouldn’t be thinking of how to please a man if that man was Michael’s uncle, billionaire Giovanni Marcello.

“We’ll both regret this tomorrow,” she said, keeping a hand on his arm because she didn’t trust her legs, or her balance. “It’ll make the discussions more difficult.”

“You were the one that said it would be better if we liked each other.”

“I didn’t mean physically.”

“You can love a child, and still be a beautiful woman.”

“I don’t have affairs and flings, Gio. I’m not looking for a relationship, either.”

“But you don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Heavens, no,” she choked, face hot. “I’d never kiss you if I did, and I haven’t had a relationship in years.” It was more than that. She hadn’t ever had a serious boyfriend or a first lover, but she wouldn’t confess the entire truth. It’d be too mortifying if he knew.

“Why not?”

“For the same reason you prefer to live here, instead of Rome. I’m a solitary creature. I like my space.”

“Even though I barely know you, I have to say I don’t believe you.” He ran a fingertip over her cheekbone and then around her ear. “You strike me as someone who very much needs people. Provided they are the right people.”

She was lost, looking into his eyes. He was right. She did need people, good people. It was hard being responsible for everyone and everything. Hard having to be the grown-up, from a very young age. But she’d rather be the grown-up and do the right thing, than be impulsive and hurt Michael and the need for stability in his future. “I agree with you,” she said, drawing away. “But I also know that you aren’t one of those people for me.”

He gave her a look she couldn’t decipher. “I’m not in the habit of arguing with women.”

“Good.”

“But I’m going to prove you wrong.”

Her heart did a funny little flutter that made her breathless and hurt all at the same time. “Please don’t. I’m only here for a few days. Let’s focus on Michael. He’s what’s important.” She climbed one step and then another until she reached the landing, and then paused to look down at Giovanni. Her heart did another painful beat. “Tomorrow let’s sort this out for his sake, please. I need to return to Seattle.”

“Is that the best thing for Michael? Or the best thing for you?”

She frowned. “It’s the best thing for both of us.”

“I’m not sure anymore that it is.”

Her heart fell. She was right. He was changing his mind. He wanted Michael to stay here. He wanted Michael in Venice. Her eyes stung and her throat ached.

Before she broke down in tears, or said something she’d regret, Rachel fled.

* * *

Gio stood on the marble stair and watched Rachel disappear down the hallway, her footsteps practically flying in her need to escape.

He exhaled shortly. Tonight had not gone as planned, and what had taken place in the library, that was wrong. He knew he was at fault, too. The entire scene weighed on him. His stomach felt like he’d been chewing on rocks and glass.

He didn’t understand how he’d lost control of the situation so fast, and so completely. One minute they were discussing the newspaper headlines, and the next they were battling about ambitious Juliet whom Giovanni loathed, and then somehow Rachel was part of the fight and at the receiving end of his frustration and fury.

He didn’t actually believe Rachel was Juliet’s matchmaker, and he certainly didn’t think she’d benefited in any way from Juliet’s schemes, but Juliet was as amoral as they came. To pursue a dying man? To deliberately get pregnant, not caring that you were creating a life where the child would never know his or her own father?

Gio was far from perfect. As Rachel had said, he was driven and ambitious, but there had to be a line one didn’t cross. Juliet had no such scruples, and she’d needlessly complicated Antonio’s final year, creating pain not just for Antonio, but the whole family.

But tonight his frustration wasn’t with Juliet. It was with himself.

Why was he so intent on provoking Rachel? Why did he want to test her, tease her, draw a response from her?

What did he want from her?

But that was actually easy. What didn’t he want from her?

She’d woken him, and the desire consumed him. It had been far too long since he’d felt emotion, or hunger, and he felt both now.

He wanted her. And he would have her.

CHAPTER EIGHT

HE’D GONE TO bed tense, and then woke in the middle of the night to the sound of a baby crying.