The Sicilian's Marriage Arrangement

If it were important for him to see her, as he’d implied, wouldn’t he have used one of them?

David had gotten over his snit by the time they arrived in Rome and apologized sweetly for his accusations. They’d agreed to resume their friendship and had toured the Vatican together. Their relationship wasn’t as free and easy as it had been. She was careful to avoid his casual touches, afraid Luciano had been right. In allowing it, perhaps she had encouraged David to think she wanted something from their friendship that she didn’t.

She yawned behind her hand as she entered the hotel dining room. If she didn’t start getting some sleep soon, she was in trouble, but her dreams were filled with a tall Sicilian man and her waking thoughts were tormented by his comment about marriage.

“You are tired, tesoro. This tour is perhaps not such a good thing for you.”

Her head whipped around and there he stood.

“Luciano, what are you doing here?” As greetings went, it was not original. She excused herself with her fatigue and shock at seeing him right when she was thinking of him.

“Surely you are not surprised to see me.”

“But I am. It’s been almost a week.”

His brow rose in mockery. “And you expected me to show up before this?”

“No. Well…” She didn’t want to lie, but she wasn’t handing it to him in his lap either.

“I was called to New York on a business emergency.”

“You could have called. Grandfather has my cell phone number.” He was the one, after all, who had said she was different.

“I did not think of this.” He looked chagrined by the admission.

She felt a smile spreading over her face. “That’s all right then, but why have you come today?”

“I desire to escort you around Pompeii.”

“I’d like that.” Nearly five days had been enough time for her to realize that if Luciano wanted to pursue a relationship with her, she would be the world’s biggest fool to deny him.

A love that had not abated in five years was not going to go away. If she wanted a chance at a husband and a family, she accepted it would be with him, or not at all. If nothing else, her renewed friendship with David had taught her that. She had no desire to pursue anything personal with him and had not been the least bit jealous when another woman on the tour had begun flirting with him.

They were together now, at a table for two.

Luciano proved his gaze had followed hers when he said, “So, he accepted he could not have you and has transferred his interests.”

“You shouldn’t have gone to his room that night,” she chided.

“You did not yet recognize you were mine, but I made certain he did. It was necessary to avoid complications.”

She sighed. It was no use arguing with him about it. What was done was done and she couldn’t say she was sorry.

“No comeback?” Dark brown eyes pinned her own gaze with probing concentration.

She shook her head.

“You are mine?”

“Are you asking me?” That was new.

“I am asking if you accept it.”

If she denied it, she would be lying to both of them.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her with his rejection on New Year’s Eve and she had to trust him not to hurt her now. She had no choice. She wanted him beyond pride or reason, so she took the plunge. “Yes.”

CHAPTER SIX

LUCIANO dismissed the emotion he experienced at her acknowledgment as natural relief that his plan was back on course. The sooner Hope became his, the closer he would be to regaining control of Valerio Shipping.

“At last, we progress.”

She grimaced at his choice of words, but did not demur.

Smiling, he took her arm and led her to a table. Her acquiescence now was in marked contrast to her vehement protest a week ago when he had been forced to practically kidnap her in order to secure her company for the evening. He helped her into her seat brushing a light kiss against her temple as he did so. Startled pansy eyes took him in as he crossed to sit on the other side of the intimate table for two.

Even after the intimacies they had shared, she still acted surprised when he touched her.

He liked the shyness.

He had already ordered breakfast for them, but he waved the waiter over to fill her coffee cup. “You do look tired, piccola mia.” Her eyes were bruised and her complexion pale from an obvious lack of sleep. “Perhaps we should put the tour of Pompeii off for another day.”

She hid a yawn behind one small hand. “I can’t. Today’s our last day in Naples. Tomorrow we fly to Barcelona.” “I do not wish for you to leave Italy.”

Her violet eyes widened, but she did not fly at him in anger as she had done before when he told her he wanted her to leave the tour. “I have two weeks left of my European visit.”