The Secret to Marrying Marchesi

Rigo raised a brow, watching with trepidation as she moved a few items around in the walk-in closet area. ‘So my tidiness will be the cause of our divorce?’ he asked.

‘That’s if I don’t drive you insane with my mess first.’

‘You seem very fixated on the eventuality of our marriage ending,’ Rigo said, watching as the smile died on her lips.

‘Why would you have had a prenup arranged if you didn’t expect a certain outcome?’ she countered, stepping out of the closet and closing the door behind her. ‘I’ve been to enough of my mother’s weddings to know not to be naive. Marriages end, Rigo. It’s just the way things go sometimes.’

Rigo moved towards her. ‘And when this inevitably ends, what will you do then?’ he asked, surprised that he genuinely wanted to know the answer.

‘Will I move on to another rich husband like my mother did, do you mean?’ She pondered for a moment. ‘Or perhaps you are the beginning and end of my illustrious career?’

He stepped closer, angry at her for once again twisting his words. But he soon realised his mistake. He stood still, feeling the pull of her scent, seeing the telltale dilation of her pupils as she looked up at him. He could just take her to bed and let them both give in to this angry heat between them. She wanted it just as badly. He could tell by the way she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue.

His hand trailed along her jaw. Their bodies were separated by a mere inch of space. Her hands came to rest on his shoulders, small and pale against his olive-toned skin. He encircled the indentation of her waist, feeling the smooth curve under his fingertips. He wanted nothing more than to tear every piece of clothing off her and see if his memories of her naked body were simply an exaggeration of the brain.

Three long breaths passed with them both standing still before she finally stepped away. He almost groaned with the mixture of relief he felt mingled with crushing disappointment.

She pushed a tendril of dark hair away from her face. ‘This is just a result of us being forced into close quarters.’ She sat on the bed, tucking her fluffy sock–covered feet underneath her. ‘I’m going to sleep.’

Rigo blinked, trying to convince his body to follow the same path as his mind. There was no way in hell he would get to sleep anytime soon. His breathing was still heavy—as was hers. He could see the flush on her cheeks as she lay down and pulled the covers hurriedly over herself.

‘I’ve got some work to do,’ he said gruffly, needing to put some distance between himself and her beguiling presence. ‘I’ll likely be gone tomorrow before you wake, but Alberto will be on hand if you need anything.’ He left the room, trying not to dwell on the way her skin looked, so pale and inviting against the black sheets.

Why her ease in laying down boundaries should bother him, he didn’t know. He had done the same thing, hadn’t he? He should be grateful that she wasn’t blatantly pursuing him to try to gain more leverage in their situation...

* * *

An impromptu trip to New York had taken longer than anticipated, making it almost a week before Rigo stepped back on French soil. Having already changed into his evening suit on the jet, Rigo entered the apartment with barely ten minutes to spare before they were scheduled to leave for their engagement party.

The middle-aged nanny stood in the living room, holding Anna in her arms. The baby was smiling, clearly content in the older woman’s arms.

‘Monsieur Marchesi.’ With a smile she walked over to him, gesturing for him to take the child from her arms.

Rigo shook his head. ‘I’ve actually got a call to make.’ He made to move away, but the woman just smiled and placed the child gently in his arms before he could protest further.

‘I’ll be back in a moment.’ She looked down at the little girl. ‘Just look how happy she is to be in Papa’s arms.’

Rigo was frozen as the nanny disappeared into the kitchen. His arms felt awkward. The child barely weighed anything and yet he felt as though he held a solid boulder against his chest. What was he doing here? This was exactly why he’d been avoiding the apartment. He should have just collected Nicole at the door, as he’d planned.

Anna looked up at him with blue eyes just like his own, full of curiosity. She reached out to grab the shining satin of his tie, pulling it out of place and frowning. She was a serious child. Rigo felt an urge to laugh at her tenacity, but breathed out with relief as the nanny finally returned, holding a bottle of milk. He returned the curious blue-eyed bundle to the woman, murmuring something about his call, before stepping out to the peace and seclusion of the terrace.