‘Feel free to explore,’ Sergio murmured softly.
Kathy made no attempt to hide her bewilderment. ‘What’s going on? Why have you brought me to this house?’
‘I have bought this house for you. I want you to raise my child here.’
Kathy was stunned by the concept and the wording. My child, not our child. She noted the distinction but tried to regard it as an encouraging sign of his wish to be involved in his baby’s future. Slowly she shook her head, her glorious hair sparkling like polished metal in the intense light, her green eyes alive with incredulity. ‘You want me to move to another country and live as your dependant? Am I supposed to clap my hands with joy, or something?’
‘Let me explain how I see this,’ Sergio urged.
Kathy swallowed back another outburst on the score of his single-minded arrogance and audacity. She understood that she was supposed to be impressed to death by the sheer grandeur and expense of a surprise that must have cost him millions. Maybe he thought he was being clever, generous and creative in a difficult situation. Maybe he believed that she was a problem that could best be cured with a liberal shower of money. Regardless, she felt humiliated and offended as once again he contrived to underscore the differences of wealth, class and status between them while insisting on making all her choices for her.
‘Some wine?’ Sergio suggested, indicating the bottle with the elegant label on the table. ‘It’s a classic Brunello from the Azzarini vineyards, which have belonged to the Torrentes for centuries.’
Her generous mouth compressed. ‘I’m pregnant…alcohol is not supposed to be a good idea,’ she extended when he continued to view her without comprehension. ‘Don’t you know anything about pregnant women?’
Sergio frowned. ‘Why would I?’
Kathy folded her arms. ‘Tell me why you think it would be a good idea for me to move to France.’
‘If you remain in London, you will always be handicapped by your past.’
‘My prison record, you mean.’ Her tummy gave a nauseous lurch as if reacting to her sudden increased tension and discomfiture.
Lean, strong face grim, Sergio surveyed her with level dark golden eyes. ‘With my help you can rewrite that history and bury your past. You can change your name and move here to embark on a new life. It would be a second chance for you and it would also provide a less contentious background for my child.’
His candour really hurt. Sucking in a steadying gulp of air, Kathy walked over to the window. Her nails were biting purple crescents into her palms as she fought to retain her composure. ‘And you think that that’s what I should do?’
‘If you remain in London our association will inevitably be exposed by the press. Once that particular genie gets out of its bottle, it can’t be put back.’
In an abrupt movement, Kathy spun back. ‘I’ve listened to you, and now you have to listen to me. I went to prison for a crime I didn’t commit. I did not steal that jug, or any of the other stuff that vanished from Mrs Taplow’s collection.’
Dark as midnight eyes cool and uncompromising, Sergio released his breath on a long slow hiss. ‘You made a mistake. You were very young and you had no family support system. Let’s move on from there and deal with the current challenge.’
Losing colour, Kathy stared back at him. She was cut to the quick by his flat refusal to even consider that she might be innocent. ‘Can’t you even give me a fair hearing?’
‘You had that hearing in a court of law before a judge and jury four years ago.’
Pale as death at that hard-hitting response, Kathy looked away from him, feeling as though he had slapped her in the face. She tried to open a door but he slammed it shut and then locked it for good measure. He refused to listen to her claim of innocence. He wasn’t interested in hearing her story because he was convinced of her guilt.
‘My concern relates to the future,’ Sergio
continued. ‘Let’s stay on track.’
Her vivid green eyes clashed head on with his, her anger unhidden. ‘You’re not concerned about me, except in so far as you want to control my every move without making a commitment in return.’
‘This house is quite a commitment for me. Think of the life you could have here.’ Sergio closed the distance between them to reach for her knotted hands and enclose them in his. ‘A fresh start, no financial worries, the best of everything for you and your child. Why are you arguing about this? These practicalities have to be dealt with before we can consider any more personal angle.’
‘I told you that I would never go for the “lucrative lifestyle choice” option.’ Her voice was jerky because she was trying without success to work up the will-power to step back from him. On every level her senses craved physical contact, even if it was only the masculine warmth of his hands on hers. She was in total turmoil, wanting to do the right thing while being terrified of making the wrong decision.
‘I should never have made that comment, delizia mia. I was on edge that evening and aggressive without cause. You are now carrying my child. Who else should take care of you?’
Sergio was so close she could see the ring of bronze that accentuated his dark pupils, the spiky ebony lashes that lent his gaze such mesmerising depth and impact. Antagonism and hurt slivered through her like warring wounding blades. She could hardly breathe for wanting him. There was a quivering knot of intense longing locked inside her. She could feel the euphoric effect of his proximity threatening to shut down her brain cells, as she had no desire to think or to deny herself or to drive a further wedge between them. It was an abysmal moment to appreciate that her feelings for Sergio Torrente ran much deeper than she had been prepared to admit.
‘Kathy,’ Sergio husked in an intonation that was pure predatory enticement.
‘Look, I haven’t even decided if I’m going to keep this baby yet.’ Kathy had to force out that statement, because it took that much effort to think straight and suppress an acknowledgement that threatened to tear her apart with self-loathing.
As Sergio froze in surprise his lean brown fingers tightened round her narrow wrists. ‘What are you trying to suggest?’