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Vieri's Convenient Vows
Andie Brock
A deal sends them to the altar…But desire leads them to the bedroom!Harper has no choice but to honour her runaway sister’s agreement—even though becoming fake fiancée to formidable tycoon Vieri Romano sets her heart racing! Stolen away to his Sicilian castle, Harper is at the mercy of their mutual longing. But when consummating their vows has consequences, she must decide: does she dare trust Vieri with more than her body?
A deal sends them to the altar...
But desire leads them to the bedroom!
Harper has no choice but to honor her runaway sister’s agreement—even though becoming the fake fiancée to formidable tycoon Vieri Romano sets her heart racing! After she’s stolen away to his Sicilian castle, Harper is at the mercy of their mutual longing. But when consummating their vows has consequences, she must decide: Dare she trust Vieri with more than her body?
ANDIE BROCK started inventing imaginary friends around the age of four, and is still doing it today—only now the sparkly fairies have made way for spirited heroines and sexy heroes. Thankfully she now has some real friends, as well as a husband and three children—plus a grumpy but lovable cat. Andie lives in Bristol, and when not actually writing might well be plotting her next passionate romance story.
Also by Andie Brock
The Last Heir of Monterrato
The Sheikh’s Wedding Contract
The Shock Cassano Baby
Bound by His Desert Diamond
The Greek’s Pleasurable Revenge
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
Vieri’s Convenient Vows
Andie Brock
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-07195-6
VIERI’S CONVENIENT VOWS
В© 2018 Andrea Brock
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For my sisters, Linda, Jo and Diana.
Love you loads. xxx
Contents
Cover (#u09ce14c4-d23c-54a2-8e85-33274a868052)
Back Cover Text (#u7d3bf65f-661a-5dc1-a13b-29b924bc3409)
About the Author (#ub396d788-25ba-59a2-b957-8086a497cbba)
Booklist (#u4f02b437-712b-504a-87d6-92825af0c17a)
Title Page (#u6773de6e-cd14-502b-9ea4-62fff2eb6468)
Copyright (#uf489dbc3-bed0-5d0a-b65f-cdc2c60ea4b9)
Dedication (#u58d1714d-7c94-59c3-809b-bfe903c69050)
CHAPTER ONE (#ub09f1305-1ce5-5f7c-83db-e13e17bf24b6)
CHAPTER TWO (#uf1681af6-9ab1-5e2c-8d57-4e4c44b72fec)
CHAPTER THREE (#uabc1ee09-87b9-568b-a71c-d8262231a963)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ud12b1c9c-5ef9-5e18-80cb-7c16bd306afa)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_6961b32b-afdc-5b85-a2ba-49e3fe83c5e3)
HARPER MCDONALD GAZED at the mass of bodies writhing on the dance floor. With green and blue laser lights playing over their jerky movements they somehow produced a mesmerising whole, like a choppy sea. A DJ was performing on the elevated stage, the pulsing music so invasive that Harper could feel it reverberating through her body, defying her to stand still. She had never witnessed anything so hedonistic, so tribal. Even the air felt different, heavy with the scent of luxury and indulgence and wealth.
As another impossibly glamorous couple swept past her, Harper pulled in a breath, trying to ignore the way her stomach was knotting inside her. She felt so out of place she might as well have had a pair of antlers on her head. But she wasn’t here to blend in or to dance or to schmooze with the beautiful people. She was here for one reason only. To find her sister.
Descending the stairs, she tentatively started to skirt the edge of the dance floor, looking for someone who might be able to help her. Somebody here had to have some information, had to know what had happened to Leah. But she had only gone a few steps when she was physically halted. With a shriek of terror she found herself airborne, both arms grabbed in a vice-like grip, the hold so powerful that her feet were lifted clean off the ground.
�Get off me! Put me down!’ Frantically turning her head, she saw a pair of giant, suited men, their wide, impassive faces eerily shadowed by the coloured lights, giving nothing away. With a surge of adrenaline she tried to twist inside their grasp but this only made their brutish hands tighten further. Panic washed over her.
�I insist that you put me down.’ She tried again, raising her voice over the incessant throb of noise, kicking her legs beneath her. �You’re hurting me.’
�Then stop squirmin’.’
Offering no more than this one piece of advice, the pair of man beasts continued to move forward, Harper trapped between them like the filling of a sandwich. The crowd of revellers parted to let them through with surprisingly little interest in her plight. No one seemed remotely interested in helping her.
�Stop this!’ She battled to halt the hysteria that was rising in her throat. She didn’t have a clue who these thugs were, only that she was being forcibly escorted against her will. And not even towards the entrance where the idea of being evicted into the chill of the night suddenly seemed all too inviting. No, she was being propelled in the opposite direction, further into the mysterious depths of this dark and dangerous place. A series of terrifying images flashed through her mind—abduction, murder, rape. And then the worst dread of all—was this what had happened to Leah?
Well, there was no way she would let herself be taken. She would fight with everything she had to save herself and her sister. �I’m warning you.’ She kicked her legs wildly beneath her once more. �If you don’t put me down right now I will scream so loud I will burst your eardrums.’
�I wouldn’t advise that,’ a low voice growled in her ear. �If I were you I’d keep nice an’ quiet. When you’ve done what you’ve done you’ve gotta expect consequences. Makin’ a fuss ain’t gonna help nothing.’
Done? What had she done? Surely they weren’t talking about her fooling the security at the door?
Gaining entrance to this exclusive, members’ only nightclub had proved to be surprisingly easy. Sidling up to the bouncer, she had been prepared for trouble, deciding she would have to throw herself on his mercy and explain why she was here. But no explanation had been necessary. The guy had moved aside and waved her straight in, uttering, �Nice of you to join us again,’ in a deep, mocking voice. Because of course he had thought she was her sister. He had thought she was Leah.
The last Harper had heard from her twin had been over a month ago, a drunken phone call in the wee small hours, Leah never having had any respect for the time difference between Scotland and New York. Harper’s sleep-fuddled brain had struggled to understand what Leah was telling her—something about having met a man who was going to make her rich, how the family would never have to worry about money again.
And then nothing. As time had gone on the creeping concern that something was wrong had quickly escalated into a full-blown panic that a dreadful fate must have befallen her sister. Enough to see Harper maxing out her credit card to fly to New York and make her way to this alien venue, deep in the heart of Manhattan. Spectrum nightclub, where Leah had been working as a hostess since she’d left their home in Scotland six months ago. The last place she had been seen before she had disappeared and the only place Harper could think of to start looking for her.
Now, as she was physically propelled forward by these fearsome man beasts towards God knew what end, Harper couldn’t help but panic that in coming to try and save her sister, she was about to suffer the same unknown fate.
At the back of the club, she found herself being bundled through a concealed door behind the stage and into a dark passageway. It was so narrow that the trio had to go in single file, her minders finally letting go of her arms but positioning themselves in front of and behind her, so close that she could feel the heat coming off them, smell the sweat. They ascended a dimly lit flight of stairs until they reached a door at the top and they moved beside her again. One of them rapped his knuckles against the matte black paint.
�Enter.’
Harper was shoved into a small, square office, lit by a single florescent strip light. A dark-haired man sat at a desk facing the door, his head bent, his fingers rapidly tapping at the keys of a computer. Behind him, a long rectangle of glass, a two-way mirror, gave an uninterrupted view of the undulating mass below.
�Thanks, guys.’ Still he didn’t look up. Harper noticed the way the light shone blue-black on the thick waves of his hair. �You may go.’
With subservient grunts the pair shuffled out, closing the door behind them.
Harper desperately tried to steady her heart rate, to think clearly. Her eyes flitted around the room to see if there was any means of escape. It was almost totally silent in here, she realised. The pulsating beat that had been with her ever since she had entered the nightclub had gone, replaced by the roaring of blood in her ears and the gentle tap of the laptop keyboard.
She stared at the man before her. Even though he was seated and steadfastly ignoring her, she could sense the power of him. But there was something else, something worse, an enmity that was radiating from him like a palpable force. Suddenly being left alone with this silent, formidable figure was worse than being manhandled by those gorillas. She was almost tempted to run after them, ask them to take her with them.
�So.’ Still he refused to look at her. �The wanderer returns.’
�No!’ With a rush of breath, Harper hurried to put him right. �You don’t understand...’
�Spare me the excuses.’ Finally closing his laptop, the dark figure rose gracefully to his feet and Harper realised with a gulp how tall he was, how handsome, how effortlessly cool. �I’m really not interested.’ Still refusing to look her in the eye, he strolled casually to the door behind her. She heard him turn a key in the lock before slipping the key into his trouser pocket as he returned to his desk.
�W...what are you doing?’
�What does it look like I’m doing?’ He stood by his seat. �I’m making sure you don’t escape. Again.’
�No.’ Harper tried again. �You’re making a mistake. I’m not—’
�Sit down.’ He barked the order, gesturing to the chair opposite his. �There is no point in making this any harder than it already is.’
Harper edged forward and did as she was told. She felt as if she had fallen into some sort of rabbit hole. That none of this was real.
Seating himself, her captor folded his arms across his chest, his eyes finally meeting hers for the first time. And only then did his icy composure slip.
* * *
Che diavolo? What the hell? Vieri Romano ground down on his jaw. It was the wrong damned woman! A surge of frustration went through him as he clenched his fists. The person before him looked like Leah McDonald and she sounded like Leah McDonald, with that soft, lilting Scottish accent. But now that he was glaring at her beneath the harsh overhead light he knew with irritating certainty that she was not Leah McDonald.
Hell. He raked a hand through his hair as he continued to stare at this imposter. They were certainly very alike, obviously twins, but the subtle differences were now clear to see. This young woman’s eyes were wider apart, the lips fuller, the nose a tad longer. Her hair was different too, falling in careless auburn waves compared to Leah’s more styled tresses. But even without these differences, Vieri would have known this wasn’t Leah, simply by her manner.
The woman before him was all serious determination. There was no sign of Leah’s flirty confidence—something that Vieri suspected Leah would be trying to use right now to get herself out of trouble, had he managed to get the correct sister in front of him. Leah was well aware of her assets and knew how to use them, whereas her sister appeared uncomfortable beneath his scrutiny, wrapping her arms around herself to cover up her slender but shapely figure. And if Leah’s eyes would have been batting seductively by now, her sister’s glared at him, full of fire. She reminded Vieri of a cornered animal, one that was most definitely not going to give up without a fight.
But then neither did he. Vieri ran a hand over his jaw, rapidly assessing this new situation. Maybe they were in it together, this pair of Celtic beauties. He wouldn’t put it past them. Perhaps this one had been sent as backup. They might just be dumb enough to think they could get away with it. Although dumb was not a word he would use to describe the woman sitting across from him now. There was something about her that suggested a sharp intelligence. If nothing else, it was possible she might be able to lead him to her double-crossing sister. One thing was for sure, she wouldn’t be leaving here until she had been thoroughly interrogated.
�Name?’ He barked the question at her.
�Harper.’ She shifted in her seat. �Harper McDonald.’
When he didn’t immediately reply she tipped her chin in a show of defiance. �And you are?’
Vieri’s brows snapped together. He wasn’t accustomed to being asked who he was. Least of all in one of his own establishments.
�Vieri Romano.’ He kept his tone steady. �Owner of Spectrum nightclub.’
�Oh.’ He watched her full pink lips purse closed as realisation dawned. �Then I should like to formally complain about the way I have been treated here. You have absolutely no right to—’
�Where is your sister, Ms McDonald?’ Raising his voice, Vieri cut short her futile protests. He had no time to listen to her pathetic accusations.
She bit down on her lip, nipping the soft flesh with her front teeth, the action engaging Vieri more than it should. �I don’t know.’ He could hear the panic in her voice. �That’s why I’m here, to try and find her. I haven’t heard from her in over a month.’
Pulling his eyes away from her seductive mouth, Vieri let out a derisive grunt. �Well, that makes two of us.’
�So she’s not here?’ The panic escalated. �She quit her job?’
�She has walked out, if that’s what you mean. Along with my bar manager, Max Rodriguez.’
�Walked out?’
�Si. Disappeared without a trace.’
�Oh, God.’ Harper reached forward to grip the edge of the desk with hands that visibly shook. �Where has she gone?’
Vieri shrugged his lack of knowledge, watching her reaction closely.
�You have no idea what might have happened to her?’
�Not yet.’ He picked up some papers on his desk, tidying them into a pile. �But I intend to find out. And when I do, her troubles will be just beginning.’
�Wh...what do you mean by that?’ Harper’s remarkable green-brown eyes widened.
�I mean that I don’t take kindly to my employees disappearing off the face of the earth. Especially with thirty thousand dollars of my money.’
�Thirty thousand dollars?’ Her hands flew to her mouth. �You mean Leah and this Max guy have stolen money from you?’
�Your sister and I had a business arrangement, or so I thought. I made the mistake of paying her the first instalment up front. She has absconded with the money.’
�No! Oh, I’m so sorry!’
She looked suitably shocked, enough to convince Vieri that she knew nothing about it, but he noted with interest that she didn’t challenge the facts.
�She will be too, believe me.’
He leant back in his chair. Much as he blamed Leah for her devious deceit, most of his fury was directed at himself. How could he have been so stupid as to fall for her sob story and give her the payment in advance? All that garbage about needing the money straight away to send back home to her family, for her father who was struggling to keep his job. It smarted like a smack in the face. Not the thirty thousand dollars—he didn’t give a damn about that. If she had had the guts to ask him outright for the money he might well have given it to her. But the fact was that he, Vieri Romano, billionaire businessman, international tycoon, a man both revered and feared in the corporate world, had been taken for a fool. By a woman. Something he had sworn would never happen again.
But Leah McDonald had caught him at a low point, when his defences had been down. And what had seemed like a good idea at the time, the ideal solution in fact, had now spectacularly backfired.
He had been drinking in the club one evening, uncharacteristically feeling the need to drown his sorrows after the news he had received earlier that day. Leah had been his waitress. She had been attentive but discreet, just the way he liked his staff to be. On another night he might have made a mental note to congratulate the management on their staff training. But tonight, to his surprise, he found he just wanted to talk. And so he had, sharing a quiet booth and a bottle of Scotch, appropriately enough, with this bright-eyed Scottish woman. With her soothing encouragement he had told her about his godfather, the man who meant more to Vieri than anyone else in the world. The only person who meant anything to him. How he had received an email from the man that morning, confirming Vieri’s worst fears. His godfather was dying. It was just a matter of time.
Had he left it there no harm would have been done. He would have gone home to continue his drinking and Leah would have pocketed a handsome tip, just another night and another guy offloading his troubles. Even if this time the guy was the boss. But something about her gentle voice had drawn him in, made him go further, and he had found himself telling her about the last time he had seen his godfather, the heart-to-heart they had had. How Alfonso had revealed to him what he had suspected at the time and now knew for sure, his dying wish. To see Vieri settled. With a wife. A family. The one thing Vieri had never had. Nor ever would have.
And Leah’s response had been remarkably practical. If that was his godfather’s last wish then it had to be accomplished. It was Vieri’s duty. She had been quite adamant about it. If there were no genuine contenders for the role of fiancée, then he would have to find somebody, pay someone if necessary. Anything to make his godfather happy.
And to Vieri’s surprise he found himself wondering if maybe this young woman was right. Maybe that was the solution. He had always made his godfather proud, he didn’t doubt that, but this was different. This was about happiness. Something that for all his wealth and success Vieri had never fully understood. But he did know that if there was any way of fulfilling his godfather’s dying wish, he would give it a go. Even if it meant a bit of subterfuge.
And so, by the time he had savoured the last of the peaty whisky at the bottom of his glass, the deal had been struck. Leah needed money and he needed a fake fiancée. In return for a down payment of thirty thousand dollars, Leah would pretend to be engaged to him for a couple of months, or for as long as it took. At the time, his alcohol-soaked brain had thought it the ideal solution. A way of making his godfather happy that didn’t involve messy emotions. The potentially insoluble problem had suddenly shaped into something that he could control, something he understood better than anything else—a business deal.
But that was then. No sooner had Vieri paid the money into Leah’s account than she had absconded. But, crucially, not before he had announced to his delighted godfather that he had taken his advice. That his wish had been granted and Vieri would be introducing him to his fiancée in the very near future.
Now he was left with a problem. When security had alerted him that Leah was back he had made the short journey from his offices in Midtown Manhattan, determined to have it out with her, to make her honour the deal. But the defiant young woman perched on the seat before him wasn’t Leah McDonald and he was no closer to solving the infuriating situation.
Or was he? Harper McDonald said she had no idea where Leah was and he believed her. But maybe she could help him in another way.
Vieri coldly assessed the twin sister in front of him, his eyes narrowing as he waited for common sense to veto the crazy idea that had popped into his mind. Because it was crazy, wasn’t it?
�So what do you intend to do?’ Harper’s anxious voice cut through his thoughts. �About Leah, I mean. Have you involved the police?’
�Not yet. I prefer to deal with these things in my own way. For the time being at least.’ He drummed his fingers meaningfully on the desk.
It had the desired effect. He saw her swallow hard, her imagination no doubt running away with her. Well, he wasn’t going to try and stop it. For the time being it would suit his purposes to let her fear him. The fact that he abhorred physical violence and had striven to eradicate any organised crime from his establishments was of no consequence.
�Look, I can help you find her.’ Like a fish on a hook, Harper squirmed about, trying to come up with something that would appease him. �And I’ll pay the money back myself if I have to. All of it.’
�And how exactly will you do that?’ Vieri regarded her coolly. �From what Leah tells me, your family are destitute.’
He saw the flush creep up her neck. �She had no right to say such a thing!’
�So it’s not true? Paying back thirty thousand dollars won’t be a problem?’
�Well, of course it will a problem, the same as it would be for any normal family. But that doesn’t mean I won’t do it.’
�Really?’
�Yes, really.’ She pushed her hair away from her heated face. �I could work here, for example, for free, I mean.’
�I think one McDonald sister working in this establishment was more than enough, thank you.’ Sarcasm scored his words.
�Well, some other job, then. I’m practical and capable and a fast learner. I’ll do anything. I just need a bit of time and the chance to try and find Leah myself.’
�Anything, you say?’
�Yes.’ Sheer determination was written all over her pretty face.
�In that case maybe there is something you could help me with.’ He deliberately held her gaze. �You could honour the commitment made by your sister.’
�Yes, of course.’ She blinked, thick lashes sweeping low over those wide hazel eyes. �What is it?’
A beat of silence hung in the air.
�To become my fiancée.’
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_6961b32b-afdc-5b85-a2ba-49e3fe83c5e3)
�YOUR FIANCÉE?’
The word sounded just as ridiculous when choked from Harper’s closing throat as it had done uttered from Vieri’s now purposefully drawn lips.
�Si, that is correct.’
�You want me to marry you?’
�No.’ He gave a harsh laugh. �I can assure you it won’t come to that.’
�What, then? I don’t understand.’
�Your sister and I made a deal. In return for a generous payment she agreed to play the part of my fiancée for a limited period of time. It’s really not that complicated.’
Not to him maybe, or her loony sister. But Harper was certainly struggling with the concept. �But why? And what does limited mean?’
�In answer to your first question, in order to please my godfather. And as for the second, it will just be for a matter of weeks, months at the most.’ He paused and took a breath. �My godfather is dying.’
�Oh.’ Harper could see the pain in Vieri’s eyes. �I’m so sorry.’
Vieri shrugged. �His last wish is for me to settle down, take a wife, start a family. I would like to be able to fulfil that wish, in part at least.’
�But how? I mean, if it’s just a lie...surely that wouldn’t be right?’
�I prefer to think of it as a small deception.’
Harper frowned. It still sounded like a lie to her. �And Leah agreed to this?’ She didn’t know why she was bothering to ask. It was just the sort of madcap idea that her sister would leap at.
�Actually, it was her idea.’
That figured.
�So what exactly is the deal? What did Leah sign up for?’ She swallowed hard, bracing herself for the answer, a kick of dread in her stomach. Thirty thousand dollars was a huge sum of money. And had she heard him say that was the first instalment? But she knew Leah—she could have agreed to just about anything for such riches. An anything that Harper herself might now have to honour. It was a terrifying thought.
�Flying to Sicily, meeting my godfather, acting like the doting fiancée.’
Harper nervously chewed her fingernail, waiting for more information.
�It may entail several visits, maybe some lengthier stays. I would like to spend as much time with him as possible.’
�I see.’ A tight silence fell between them as Harper tried to get to grips with this. �Go on.’
�That’s it. The arrangement between Leah and myself was left deliberately fluid.’
Deliberately fluid? What the hell did that mean? Faced with this formidably handsome man, Harper found her thoughts flying in some very surprising directions. Reining herself in, she stared at him primly. �Obviously before I agree to anything I need to know what else would be expected of me.’
Vieri made a low noise in his throat. �If you mean will you have to share my bed, then the answer is no.’ His dark, mocking gaze slashed across her hot cheeks. �I am not in the habit of paying women to sleep with me.’
�No, of course not.’ Harper hurriedly tried to erase the erotic image of being in Vieri’s bed. �Anyway, I know my sister would never have agreed to such a thing.’ That had to be true. Didn’t it? �And neither would I, to be clear.’
Argh. Why didn’t she stop digging and shut up?
�I’m very pleased to hear it.’ His deep blue gaze slid over her. �So, do we have a deal? Are you prepared to take on your sister’s debt?’
�I don’t know.’ Still Harper hesitated. �If I did, what would happen about Leah?’
�I would have no further interest in her.’
If Harper had thought his bald statement would be a comfort, she was wrong. Suddenly the idea that Vieri Romano had lost all interest in her sister worried her almost as much as the thought of him hounding her. She didn’t know how to start tracking Leah down, whereas Vieri knew people; he would have contacts, resources at his disposal.
�But what about this Rodriguez guy? You must want to speak to him?’ A sudden spark of hope mixed with fear lit inside her. �He might be the one responsible for stealing your money. He might have kidnapped Leah.’
�Unlikely. From the little I saw of your sister she didn’t look like kidnap material.’
�And what exactly does kidnap material look like?’ Harper indignantly challenged the idea that no one would want to kidnap Leah, and, by association, her too.
�Heiresses, high-profile celebrities, children of the filthy rich.’
Clearly the McDonald sisters were none of those things.
�Well, there’s the thirty thousand dollars. Rodriguez might have somehow lured Leah away to try and get his hands on that.’
�Possible, though unlikely. Rodriguez has been working as a bar manager here for some time, having access to large sums of money every night of the week. There’s never been any suggestion that he’s stolen from us before. My guess is that, if anything, your sister has lured him away. Though I’ve no idea why.’
Neither did Harper. But right now she didn’t have the capacity to try and work it out.
�But you are right.’ Ruthlessly, Vieri continued. �If a member of my staff walks out with no warning, regardless of the circumstances, I make it my business to investigate. I will find Rodriguez. And if your sister is still with him, then I will see that she is returned to her family.’
�Without involving the police?’
�I see no reason to contact the police.’
�Or violence. I would hate to think anyone would get hurt.’
Rising to his feet, Vieri walked around the desk until he was standing in front of her, towering over her, all formidable dark presence.
�I think perhaps I need to make a few things clear, Ms McDonald.’ He locked eyes with hers, the dark intensity of his words matched by the stark angles of his handsome face. �I will deal with this incident as I see fit. I make the decisions. I make the rules. You should consider yourself extremely fortunate that you have this opportunity to prevent Leah from a possible prison sentence.’
Fortunate? That was not a word Harper would use to describe herself right now. Her head was spinning with the shock and sheer enormity of what was being asked of her. But what choice did she have?
�So what do you say?’ Vieri fixed her with a punishing stare. �Are you prepared to go along with my plan to save your sister’s skin?’
Harper looked away, balling her hands into fists. Right now she would like to flay Leah herself, string her up and set about her, make her see what a completely stupid, totally irresponsible person she was. But Leah was her sister, her twin, almost a part of her. Of course she would save her—she would do anything to keep her safe, to protect her. It was what she had been doing the whole of their lives. Because Harper was the older twin, the sensible one, the healthy one. The one that shouldered the responsibility, took charge, tried to make everything right. Which in this case meant temporarily shackling herself to this shockingly attractive but coldly calculating man.
�Yes.’ Her voice came out as little more than a whisper but as she raised her eyes to meet Vieri’s she saw the look of satisfaction reflected in his midnight stare. Her fate had been sealed.
* * *
Harper peered through the window as the island of Sicily came into view, its iconic position off the toe of Italy’s boot clearly visible from the air. As Vieri’s private jet started to descend she craned her neck for a better look, taking in the rivers and the mountains, the clumps of towns and cities and, the most amazing of all, Mount Etna, shrouded in snow but puffing out a stream of smoke in welcome.
She had only ever been abroad once before, a bargain break holiday to the Costa del Sol in Spain when she was nineteen. Which might have been fun if she hadn’t ended up trailing around after Leah trying to keep her out of trouble.
And nothing had changed. Here she was again, still trying to sort one of her sister’s messes. But this time it was serious, really serious. Leah had stolen a large sum of money and Harper didn’t doubt that if Vieri decided to press charges she could well go to prison.
Which was why she’d had no choice but to put her own life on hold and climb into Vieri’s private jet to be flown back across the world to take part in this hateful little charade. She could kill Leah. She really could.
And it had all happened ridiculously fast—less than twenty-four hours had passed since she had first set foot in Spectrum nightclub. Once she had agreed to go along with the plan Vieri had leapt into action, insisting on sending a car to pick up Harper’s suitcase from the hostel she had checked into earlier, refusing to even let her go with it. No doubt he was worried that if he let her out of his sight she would abscond—just like her sister. So now here she was, thousands of miles away, about to embark on a crazy deception.
It had been a long flight, starting in the small hours of the morning, and even though Harper had been shown to a sumptuous bedroom she had found sleep impossible, eventually venturing into the lounge area, where Vieri had been immersed in work, the light from the screen of his laptop suffusing his handsome face with an eerie glow. He had shown no interest in conversing with her so instead she had scrolled through the movies on the wide-screen television, in the hope of finding something to take her mind off things. Which was impossible. How was she supposed to divert herself from the mad reality of what she was doing? Pitching up with a man who was almost a total stranger and pretending to be his fiancГ©e.
But it was happening. As the plane landed she looked across at her �fiancé’, watching as he closed his laptop, unbuckled his seat belt and drew himself up to his full height. He shrugged on a dark cashmere coat, then ushered her down the steps of the plane and across the tarmac to the waiting car.
�Castello di Trevente,’ Vieri instructed the driver once they were both seated inside, before settling back against the soft leather.
�Where are we going?’ Harper addressed his strong profile.
�Castello di Trevente,’ Vieri repeated. �It’s where my godfather lives.’
�He lives in a castle?’ Harper’s Sicilian was non-existent but even she could understand that.
�Yes, it’s been in the Calleroni family for generations.’ Vieri turned to look at her. �Far too big and cold and draughty for him, of course, but Alfonso would never agree to move to anywhere more sensible.’
�I see.’ Harper tucked her unruly hair behind her ears. �But aren’t we going to the hotel first, to freshen up, I mean?’
�I don’t want to leave it too late. My godfather gets very tired and it’s already six p.m. here.’ Removing his heavy gold watch, he deftly adjusted the time before refastening it and raising his eyes to coldly assess her. In the dim light of the car his eyes flicked mercilessly over her body and Harper flinched beneath his scrutiny, tugging at the collar of her waxed jacket. Without saying a word he had managed to convey her obvious shortcomings, the world of difference between them. He oozed dark sophistication, whereas she felt as craggy and unkempt as the wild moorlands she came from.
But she refused to be intimidated by him. He might have all the wealth and power, and thanks to Leah’s stupid deal it seemed he as good as owned Harper for the foreseeable future. But she still had her self-respect. And she would hang onto that for dear life.
Sitting up a little straighter, she sneaked a look at her companion. He was facing ahead again now, the collar of his coat turned up, but she could still see the dark shadow of stubble along his jaw, the loose curls of his dark hair that softened his austere profile. His hands rested in his lap, beautiful hands with long, strong fingers that invited their touch, making Harper wonder what they would feel like against her skin.
Which was ridiculous and totally uncalled for. With a jolt she put the brakes on her imagination. She and Vieri Romano had entered into a business deal, nothing more. And wondering what it would feel like to be caressed by his hands was most definitely not part of that deal. She needed to focus on the practicalities. That was what she was good at.
�So, what’s the plan, then?’ She broke the silence and Vieri turned to look at her, his dark brows raised. �How am I supposed to act in front of your godfather?’
�Like my fiancée,’ he replied coolly. �I thought we had established that.’
�But shouldn’t we have some sort of story mapped out?’ Ever the pragmatist, she pressed on. �How we met, how long we have known each other, that sort of thing?’
�You can leave the talking to me.’
Harper bristled. The idea that she was just going to be paraded in front of this man like some sort of inanimate object didn’t sit well with her feminist principles. But then who was she kidding? None of this sat well with any of her principles. Even so, a thought occurred to her.
�Perhaps your godfather doesn’t speak English?’ That would explain Vieri’s high-handed manner.
�Aflonso speaks perfect English.’
So that was that theory crushed. And it would make her job harder, even though Vieri didn’t seem to recognise it.
�Then obviously I need to be able to converse with him.’ She tried to assert some authority. �And to do that I need to know more about him. And we need to know more about each other.’ She tailed off, her authority already slipping away. Talking about herself was not a subject she was comfortable with.
�Very well.’ Vieri immediately pounced on her reluctance, his full attention suddenly on her. �Tell me your life story, Ms Harper McDonald.’
Harper swallowed hard. Her life story was not something she was fond of recounting. Everyone in her home town of Glenruie knew it anyway—those poor wee girls, left motherless by a tragic accident that took their mother then drove their father to drink. Left struggling to make ends meet, to keep a roof over their heads. But where strangers were concerned, Harper was careful to keep her tale of woe to herself. Except now this particular stranger was silently, unnervingly waiting for answers. She decided she would stick firmly to the facts.
�Umm, well, I am twenty-five years old and I’ve lived all my life in a small town called Glenruie on the west coast of Scotland with my father and my sister.’ She paused. �My father is a gamekeeper for the Craigmore estate. He manages the birds and the fishing for Craigmore Lodge, which is still owned by the Laird but now run as a hotel. Leah and I work there sometimes, housekeeping, waitressing, that sort of thing.’
�And your mother?’
�She died.’ Harper pursed her lips, then forced herself to continue. �A long time ago now. An accident with a shotgun.’
�I’m sorry.’ Vieri lowered his voice.
�That’s okay.’ But of course it wasn’t. In truth the accident had all but decimated their lives.
�And I gather there are problems with your father.’
Harper silently cursed her sister again. �Umm, he hasn’t been well lately so things have been a bit tough.’
�Leah said he’s a drinker.’ She really would kill Leah. �Is it true that if he loses his job you lose your home?’
�Well, in theory that could happen. But I’m sure it won’t come to that. Anyway...’ she folded her arms over her chest �...that’s enough about me.’ She attempted a small laugh that died in the purring quiet of the car. �What should I know about you?’
Vieri laid his arm on the armrest between them, his fingers curling over the end. He turned to the front. �Thirty-two. Sicilian by birth but I’ve been living in New York for fourteen years. CEO of Romano Holdings. I started in the hotel and leisure industry, but now control over a hundred companies, and that number is growing all the time.’
Harper frowned. This wasn’t the sort of information she wanted. She wasn’t looking to invest or compiling a list of the world’s most successful businesses, though she had no doubt that if she did Romano Holdings would be up there at the top. She was supposed to be engaged to him, for heaven’s sake; she was supposed to know him personally.
�What about your family?’ She focussed on his proud profile. �Parents, brothers and sisters?’
�No, none.’ His voice was bleak, his hand tightening on the armrest.
�What, no living relatives at all?’ His obvious reticence only made her want to push further.
�No.’ A muscle now twitched in his cheek. �I was raised in a children’s home.’
�Oh.’ The word seemed ridiculously inadequate. �Did your parents die, then?’
�I’ve no idea. But if not they might as well have done. I was left on the steps of a church when I was a few hours old.’
�Oh, how sad.’ The image of the tiny abandoned bundle lodged in her mind and refused to be shifted.
�Not really. I’ve done pretty well for myself.’
�Well, yes, of course, but—’
�And from what I’ve seen of other people’s families, maybe I was better off without one.’
Was that a swipe at her? Harper scowled to herself.
�But actually I was very lucky. Alfonso Calleroni was a trustee of the children’s home. He looked out for me, became my godfather. Without him I may well have strayed down the wrong path.’
�You owe him a lot?’
�Everything.’ Harper could hear the emotion in his voice. �Which is why I want to do this one last thing for him. His happiness means a great deal to me.’
Harper hesitated. A thought had occurred to her that wouldn’t be pushed away. �Do you not think...’ she started cautiously, all too aware that Vieri was not the sort of man who liked to be challenged �...that your godfather is thinking about your happiness when he says he wants to see you married? Not his own.’
Swinging round to face her again, Vieri positively shimmered with hostility. �In the unlikely event that I should ever want your opinion, Harper McDonald, I will ask for it.’ His voice was a low hiss. �Until then I will thank you to keep your thoughts to yourself and do the job your sister has been paid to do. Is that understood?’
�Perfectly.’ Harper straightened her back and turned to look out of the window. From now on she would keep her mouth shut. Even if she was the only one who could see this whole charade was stupid.
The rest of the short journey was travelled in silence until the car slowed before turning off the main road and up a long driveway. Only when it drew to a halt did Vieri turn to look at her again.
�Before we go in, you will be needing this.’ Slipping his hand into his trouser pocket, he brought out a ring box and passed it to her. The velvet box was still warm from where it had nestled against his thigh. �If it doesn’t fit we can get it resized.’
Harper cautiously opened the box, realising she was holding her breath as she did so. Which was stupid. What did it matter what the ring looked like, or indeed if it was as fake as their engagement? Nevertheless as she removed it from the box, felt the weight of the green stone, saw its mocking sparkle in the dim light of the car, she had no doubt that this was the real thing. When she slid it onto her finger it fitted perfectly. Which only made her feel more uncomfortable. As did Vieri’s dark gaze, which drifted from her hand to her face, making her stomach do an inexplicable swoop.
�You are ready?’
Harper nodded, stuffing the offending hand into her coat pocket to keep it from view as the driver came around to open her car door for her. �Yes.’ Somehow the right word came out, even though every part of her body was screaming no.
�Bene. Then let’s do this.’
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_6961b32b-afdc-5b85-a2ba-49e3fe83c5e3)
�COME A LITTLE closer so that I can see you better, mia cara.’
Harper did as she was told, edging towards the reclining chair where Alfonso Calleroni was propped up by a pile of cushions, a blanket draped over his bony knees.
�Ah, that’s better. Sit here beside me. Vieri, don’t just stand there. Pull up a chair for your young lady.’
Vieri dutifully produced a chair and placed it beside his godfather. Harper awkwardly settled herself down. If this whole situation weren’t bad enough, Vieri was making it worse by standing right behind her, his hands on the back of the chair, his unnerving presence all around her.
�So, Harper, you say. Have I got that right?’
�Yes.’ Harper suspected from her very brief acquaintance with Alfonso Calleroni that he probably got most things right. Despite his age and frailty and the poor state of his health she could tell he was still a very astute man. Which meant he wasn’t going to be easy to fool. Only now did she realise that she had been hoping Vieri’s godfather’s faculties would be somewhat impaired. Which was an awful thing to hope for. Ashamed of herself, she tried to make up for her nastiness by giving him a bright smile. �That’s right.’
�And is that a Scottish name? Am I correctly attributing that wonderful accent of yours?’
�Yes.’ He was as sharp as a pin. �But the name came from my mother’s favourite book, To Kill a Mockingbird. She called me and my twin sister Harper and Leah. As a loose sort of tribute.’
�So there are two of you? How wonderful.’
�Yes.’ Although it felt slightly less wonderful from where she was sitting.
�And you met in New York, Vieri was telling me? A long way from home.’
�Harper’s sister, Leah, was working in one of my clubs. Harper came to visit her,’ Vieri smoothly interjected.
�And the two of you fell in love.’ One gnarled, arthritic hand reached out to take hold of Harper’s, holding it in his shaky grasp so that he could inspect the traitorous ring. �How wonderful.’ He raised his rheumy eyes to Harper’s face. �And your parents? I trust Vieri has done the right thing and spoken to your father to ask for your hand in marriage.’
Harper swallowed.
�Not yet, Alfonso.’ Vieri cut in again. �This has all happened rather fast. We wanted you to be the first to know.’
�Of course you did.’ Alfonso’s eyes travelled to Vieri’s face, lingering there for several seconds. �After all, I won’t be around much longer. It would have been such a shame for me to die without knowing you had chosen a wife for yourself, wouldn’t it now?’
�Let’s not talk about dying, padrino.’
�Ah, but I am afraid we must, mio figlio. There are things that need to be discussed now that my time on this earth is short.’ Raising Harper’s hand, he brought it to his lips and gave the back of it a dry kiss. �But I am tired now so I think they must wait for another day. Thank you so much for coming to see me, my dear.’ He shifted in his seat, his face suddenly contorting with pain so that his nurse, who had been hovering in the background, rushed forward to help him. �You have chosen well, Vieri. She is a lovely girl.’
As he pressed a button on his chair it slowly started to lever him upright until he was able to lean forward and grasp the walking frame that had been positioned in front of him by his nurse. �Now, if you will excuse me.’
�Of course.’ Vieri bent to give his godfather a kiss on the cheek. �We will see you tomorrow.’
�Tomorrow, yes.’ Alfonso gave him a weak smile. �Let us see what tomorrow will bring.’
* * *
The next day’s visit involved a longer stay, as did the day after that. Alfonso obviously delighted in his godson’s company, the affection between them clear to see. But the affection between Vieri and Harper was another matter. Far from treating her like the love of his life, Vieri merely paraded her like some sort of trophy, to be perched on a chair and then ignored. With Alfonso’s sharp intelligence missing nothing, Harper was becoming more and more convinced that they weren’t putting on a good enough act.
On the third day, after returning to Vieri’s stunning penthouse apartment in the luxury hotel he owned in Palermo, she decided she couldn’t keep quiet any longer. Shrugging off her coat, she confronted Vieri.
�I’m worried that Alfonso knows we are not a real couple.’
�Why do you say that?’ Vieri had made straight for the bar. �I thought he seemed very cheerful today. He had more colour in his cheeks, less of that grey pallor.’ Uncorking a bottle of wine, he poured Harper a glass and handed it to her.
�Yes, that’s true.’
She watched as Vieri dropped ice cubes into his glass, pouring in a generous measure of whisky. With his shirtsleeves rolled up, his hair casually messed, he was the epitome of the billionaire playboy at ease. He was strikingly tall, his physique a perfect combination of long limbs and honed muscle beneath taut olive skin, his movements both graceful and dangerous, like a tiger on the prowl. Yes, he was far more handsome than was good for him. Or her for that matter. Despite her best intentions to remain aloof, he seemed to have the bizarre capacity to heat her skin from within whenever he looked at her, to set her body tingling with anticipation at the mere sound of his faint, but deeply sexy Sicilian accent.
Taking a healthy sip of her wine, she turned away. She knew she had to be on her guard. She knew she really, really shouldn’t be starting to look forward to this brief, early evening time they spent together. It wasn’t as if Vieri had ever given her the slightest encouragement, shown any interest in her at all.
In the few days since arriving in Sicily they had fallen into a routine of sorts. Vieri would work all morning while Harper was left to amuse herself. She had taken to wandering into Palermo, exploring the narrow, cobbled side streets and the exotic markets or ordering a cup of bitter dark coffee and sitting outside to watch the bustling crowds go by. The city was full of such colour and vibrancy, she was already starting to love it. Their afternoons would be spent visiting Alfonso and then in the evening Vieri would disappear into his office and she wouldn’t see him again. Despite being able to choose from the hotel’s extensive menu, prepared by one of Sicily’s top chefs, Harper had little appetite. Eating alone on the sofa, she would spend her time making calls to her father or searching social media sites on the Internet in the hope of finding some information about Leah. But there was nothing. Which only made her worry deepen still further.
Now she moved to sit on one of the cream leather sofas. �I did think Alfonso was looking better today, but that doesn’t alter the fact that he knows our engagement is a sham. You underestimate how sharp he is.’
�I can assure you I never underestimate anything about my godfather.’ Vieri seated himself on the sofa opposite her, the ice clinking in the glass. He sounded vaguely irritated, as if she was a slightly annoying appendage that had to be tolerated in order to solve a problem. Which she supposed she was. But the more he treated her like that, the more Harper found she couldn’t hold her tongue. She was forthright by nature, and if something needed to be said, she couldn’t help but say it. Even if every broodingly dark muscle of Vieri’s finely honed body was silently telling her to shut up.
�Then you must have noticed the way he looks at us, the way he takes everything in. He is not fooled by our pretence for a minute, Vieri. If you think he believes us, the only one being fooled is you.’
A muscle twitched ominously in Vieri’s cheek, silently conveying just how close she had come to overstepping the mark.
�Well.’ With an exhalation of breath he leant back into the sofa, crossing one long leg over the other, his relaxed posture not fooling Harper for a minute. �As you seem to be so much more perceptive than me perhaps you would like to suggest what we do about it.’
�Fine, I will.’ Refusing to be cowed, Harper placed her glass down on the table beside her. It was already half finished. She was drinking far too quickly. �First off we need to look as if we like each other—that would be a good start. Make eye contact, for example.’
�I wasn’t aware we didn’t do that.’
�Really? You spend more time looking at Alfonso’s nurse than you do me.’
Vieri gave a wry laugh. �Not jealous are we, Harper?’
�Hardly.’ Her reply was too fast, too vehement. �Why would I be?’
�Why indeed?’ Dark brows quirked upwards. �So, lack of eye contact, duly noted. What else am I doing wrong? I’m sure you are bursting to tell me.’
Harper frowned as she scanned his supremely confident pose. Yes, there were several things that she would be only too happy to point out to him, but many more she would keep to herself. Like the frantic beat of her blood when she was faced with that midnight-blue stare of his. And the fact that, far from lessening on a longer acquaintance, the impact of his powerful persona and stunning good looks seemed to be having an even more potent effect on her nervous system.
He altered his position, uncrossing his legs and running a hand over his jaw. For all his arrogant ease, Harper could see that he was waiting to hear what she had to say, even if he did intend to totally disregard it. Because beneath that languid exterior, Vieri Romano was as stubborn and unyielding as an iron girder. Well, fine, she was stubborn too. Something her father liked to hurl at her, along with a lot more colourful adjectives, when he couldn’t get her to procure another bottle of whisky for him from the bar at the Lodge, or give him the money so that he could stumble down to the pub for himself.
�Well, your body language is all wrong,’ she began purposefully. Vieri had asked for his shortcomings so she would give them to him. It was too good an opportunity to miss. �And you are far too evasive when Alfonso asks you questions about us. And you jump in all the time, when he is trying to talk to me.’
�Is that so? Clearly I am no good at this.’ Vieri took another sip of whisky and set the glass down beside him. �So, shifty-eyed, stilted posture, evasive and interfering. Is there anything else you would like to add?’
�No.’ Harper pursed her lips to suppress a rogue smile. �I think that’s enough to be going on with.’
�Bene, then we had better do something about it.’
Harper’s smile knotted inside her. Something about the glint in his eye told her she wasn’t going to like what was coming next. Ditto, his use of the word we.
�What do you mean?’
�I suggest we try some role play.’ Somehow he managed to make the idea burn with seductive intent.
Harper’s anxiety spiked. �Role play?’
�Yes.’ His eyes travelled lazily over her increasingly tense frame. �A little role play will help us be more comfortable in one another’s presence.’
Being in Vieri’s presence made Harper feel many things but comfortable wasn’t one of them. And she strongly suspected that the sort of role play he was talking about would do nothing to help with that.
�I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.’ She turned her head away, flustered, desperately trying to escape from the trap that was of her own making.
�No?’ Rising to his feet, Vieri moved to stand in front of her. �Well, it has to be worth a try. Come on, up you get.’
Holding out his hands towards her, he gave them an impatient shake.
Harper swallowed, her mind struggling to come up with something to veto this crazy idea, the excitement tingling through her disobedient body already making this impossible.
Slowly she reached out towards him, preparing herself for the inevitable jolt of awareness that shot through her whenever their hands touched. And yep, there it was again, like a fizz of electricity running through her.
Pulled to her feet, she found herself standing mere inches from Vieri’s towering form, trapped by his height and power and sheer magnetic pull. And when Vieri lightly took hold of her shoulders, drawing her towards him, her heart, which was already beating double time, threatened to leap out of her chest altogether, to make a bid for freedom to prevent any further assaults on its ability to function.
But worse was to come. With a shudder of pleasure, Harper felt his hands skim over her shoulders and down her back, where they settled possessively on either side of her waist, spanning the waistband of her jeans. She tried to move beneath his possessive grip but that only brought her into closer contact with him and as their bodies joined she became acutely aware of his honed shape; the muscles that rippled beneath his broad shoulders, the granite-hard chest pressed against her breasts, the long limbs, one leg slowly edging between her own, sending a thrill of awareness through her as she sensed his growing arousal. Harper let out a gasp.
�Hmm.’ Vieri moved his hands to her back and, lowering his head, whispered in her ear. �Interesting.’ Sweeping aside her hair, he very gently pressed his lips below her earlobe, before lightly travelling down the sweep of her neck. Oh, dear Lord. Eyes tightly closed, Harper involuntarily angled her head to allow him more access.
�It seems we have found a connection.’ He raised his head and Harper opened her eyes to meet his. �Perhaps this won’t be as hard as we thought.’
Or a whole lot harder. Fighting to catch her breath, she moved inside his hold, intent on finding some control. But Vieri hadn’t finished with her yet.
�Maybe we should try a kiss.’ He looked at her as if she were some sort of experiment. �In the interest of authenticity, I mean.’
�I really don’t think that will be necess—’
But before she could even gasp out the words his mouth was on hers, with the lightest of touches, just resting there as if to see what might happen next. Harper’s breath stalled. No way could this be construed as a passionate kiss, not yet, but that didn’t stop it from feeling intimate, sexual, heavy with promise. With a thrilling certainty she knew just where this kiss could go, what it could lead to. And as Vieri increased the pressure she found herself responding, feeling the thrum of excitement explode inside her head as her lips parted and his tongue found hers, sliding against it, around it, softly persuasive, hot, wet and druggingly sensual, tasting and teasing in a way that made her whole body shake with longing. Pulling away, she just caught the briefest hint of surprise in his eyes before he lowered his head again to continue his relentless assault. She had no sense of how long it was before, light-headed from lack of air and the sheer, potent sexuality of the kiss, she finally managed to push herself away from him and drag in a gulp of air.
She tried to hide the tremble of her body. Never had she imagined a kiss could be anything like that, so intensely hot and wild and powerful, leaving her knees shaking and her ears ringing. It wasn’t as if she had never been kissed before. She had dated a couple of the local lads back home in Glenruie and it had been pleasant enough. Though not sufficiently pleasant for her to want to take the relationships much further. But she most certainly had never been kissed like that before. Thoroughly, utterly and completely possessed by a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
But it was just role play. Harper smoothed down her blouse, touching her lips with shaking fingers to check they were still there, that they hadn’t somehow melted or fused with the heat. What they had just done wasn’t real—whatever else, she had to remember that. Except now, of course, he had totally ruined her for any other man’s touch. Thanks for that, Mr Romano.
Bracing herself, she raised her eyes to meet his. And there it was, that assurance, the deeply held complacency of a man who knew exactly the effect he had had on her. It was almost as if he had branded her as his own. Well, they would see about that.
�That’s quite enough of that.’ She deliberately moved away from him.
�Really?’ A wicked smile played around his lips. �I was just starting to enjoy myself. I believe you were too.’
�Whether or not either of us enjoyed it is entirely of no consequence.’ Harper pulled at the neck of her blouse. Why was it so damned hot in here?
�Oh, I don’t know. I found it of considerable consequence.’ Mocking dark brows raised fractionally. �You may have noticed.’
Harper flushed violently. Why was it that Vieri was crowing over his physical attraction to her, whereas she felt she had to frantically try and cover it up? Because Vieri had been in control, that was why. Because he was used to seducing women, no doubt bedding a different woman every night, revelling in the power he had over them, using them to satisfy his casual sexual urges and then discarding them without a second thought. It was written all over his smugly arrogant face.
Well, there was no way she was going to fall for his smooth, well-practised seduction routine, no matter how good it might have felt.
�We were supposed to be learning how to be easy around one another in front of Alfonso to try and make our engagement believable. Not getting involved with...’ she hesitated, hating the breathless catch in her voice, the way her cheeks still burned �...that sort of thing.’
�That sort of thing?’ He was deliberately mocking her, loving every moment of her discomfort.
�Yes.’ Her voice went up a notch. �You know perfectly well what I’m talking about.’
He certainly did. Vieri let his eyes travel slowly over her flushed face, lingering on the swollen pout of her mouth. His very physical reaction to her had taken him by surprise, as clearly it had her, the passionate nature of the kiss catching him unawares. He had thought himself firmly in control, never doubted it for a second but somehow, lost in the heat of Harper’s mouth, that control had slipped dangerously. In fact, if Harper hadn’t called time on their little role-playing exercise he wasn’t sure he would have had the willpower to do so himself. And then where would they be? In bed, that was where, at least if he’d had any say in the matter.
The image of Harper splayed across his bed had lodged in his mind and refused to be shifted. Her copper-coloured hair spread across the pillows, that shapely figure of hers waiting to be divested of its clothes, the no doubt sensible underwear he’d find and the pleasure he would take in slowly removing it. There was something incredibly sexy about Harper McDonald, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, though his traitorous body would have him putting his finger pretty much everywhere. And that would be just the start.
He gazed at her now, at the way those remarkable tawny eyes glittered with a mixture of arousal and defiance. She really had no idea how attractive she was and that made a welcome change from the sort of women he usually found himself surrounded with who, frankly, suffered from the opposite problem. But it was more than that. There was an earthiness to her, a sensuality that was entirely unwitting, just a part of who she was. Perhaps it was her Scottish heritage. Somehow she conjured up purple heather and damp bracken and soft green moss and how it would feel to lay her down on such a bed and make love to her.
Enough! Moving a couple of steps away, he adjusted the fit of his trousers. Taking Harper to bed was not part of the plan. He just needed to remember that.
�Well—’ he adopted a businesslike approach �—if you are sure we are done here, I will go and get on with some work.’
Turning to leave, he had reached the doorway when he remembered something. �Oh, by the way.’ He looked back to where Harper was still rooted to the spot. �I meant to say, there is a charity gala here in Palermo on Saturday. Alfonso is a patron. He would like us to go.’
�Oh, right.’ She didn’t even try to hide the despondency in her voice and for some reason that riled him. He wasn’t used to his dates being anything less than wildly enthusiastic when they were chosen to accompany him to glittering social events.
�You will need an appropriate outfit.’ He raked his eyes dismissively over her casual jeans-and-top ensemble. �In fact, you should choose several outfits. There may be a number of social engagements we need to attend while we are here.’
�I see.’
�My driver will be at your disposal. And obviously you will charge everything to my account.’ Still she refused to look remotely grateful. Weren’t women supposed to like shopping? �I trust that won’t be a problem?’
�No problem at all.’ She tipped her chin haughtily. �It’s your money.’
�Indeed it is. And you are, to all intents and purposes, my fiancée.’ Mounting irritation scored his voice. �So please make sure you choose appropriately.’
�Yes, sir.’ She tossed her hair dramatically over her shoulder. �Heaven forbid that I should embarrass you in any way.’
Vieri ground down on his jaw. Embarrassment was not one of the emotions this infuriating young woman stirred up in him. But right now he had no intention of examining the ones that she did.
�Bene, that’s settled, then.’ He turned and strode from the room. Suddenly the need to put some space between them seemed vitally important.
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_6961b32b-afdc-5b85-a2ba-49e3fe83c5e3)
HARPER HAD TO admit that there was a certain heady excitement about going into these exclusive designer boutiques and knowing she could buy anything she wanted. At the mention of Vieri Romano’s name, the snooty shop assistants were falling over themselves to help her, parading a dazzling array of garments before her. In the end she bought a cocktail dress, a pair of tailored trousers and a fitted jacket, all of which, she decided sourly, would be considered sufficiently appropriate.
But still no ball gown. As she breathed in the expensively scented air of yet another boutique, Harper determined that she would not leave this one without the requisite purchase. She was quite sure that there were any number of beautiful dresses here that would be more than suitable. The fact that she didn’t feel right in any of them was because of the circumstances, not the gowns.
Finally she made her choice, a dark green lightweight velvet creation with a demure neckline and a full-length skirt. It was considerably less daring than some of the outfits, which was why she picked it. She didn’t want to feel sexy around Vieri. Not when just the memory of that clinch, that kiss, was enough to set her knees wobbling again.
She was arranging to have it delivered to the hotel when she was interrupted by a tall, striking-looking middle-aged woman who she had noticed idly flicking through a rail of clothes and who had now silently come to stand beside her.
�Excuse me.’
Harper turned and gave her a friendly smile. It wasn’t returned.
�Did I hear you say that you are a guest of Vieri Romano?’ The woman spoke perfect English.
�Yes.’ Harper wasn’t sure what business it was of hers but she politely replied.
�How very interesting.’ Perfectly made-up eyes swept over her from top to toe, taking in every little detail until Harper felt she was staring at her very bones. �And that outfit you are buying.’ She pointed a manicured finger at the dress being held by the sales assistant. �It is for the Winter Ball?’
�Yes, that’s right.’
�Then how fortunate for you that we bumped into each other. A dress like that will never do. Vieri will hate it.’
Harper frowned. She didn’t like being spoken to like this by a woman she didn’t know from Adam. In fact, instinctively she didn’t like this woman at all, but, positioned firmly beside her as she was, she was impossible to ignore. Sensing Harper’s reluctance, the woman gave her a forced smile.
�How rude you must think me, my dear.’ She extended a hand weighed down with jewelled rings. �Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Donatella Sorrentino. I am an old friend of Vieri’s.’
�Harper McDonald.’ Harper took her hand but found herself pulled into an awkward embrace, the soft fur of the woman’s mink coat crushed against her chest as several heavily perfumed air kisses were wafted on either side of her. Pulling away, Donatella studied her with highly critical eyes.
�So tell me, Harper McDonald, how do you come to be accompanying Vieri to the ball?’
Harper moved a step away. �Alfonso, Vieri’s godfather, is a patron of the charity that hosts the ball.’
�You hardly need to tell me that, my dear.’ Donatella’s eyes glittered coldly. �I suspect I know rather more about Sicilian society than you do. And quite apart from that, Alfonso Calleroni is my uncle.’
�Oh.’ Harper was suitably chastened. �I’m sorry, I didn’t know.’
�Why would you? How is the old man, by the way?’ She only just managed to stifle a bored yawn. �I have been meaning to pay him a visit.’
�He is very frail.’ Harper chose her words carefully. She wasn’t going to be the one to tell this woman her uncle was dying, even if she suspected she wouldn’t give a damn. �But I think having Vieri here is cheering him up.’
�I’m sure. And you? Where do you fit into this cosy little scenario?’
Harper hesitated. Apart from Alfonso, no one else knew about their engagement and she only ever wore the tell-tale ring when they were visiting him. To tell a woman like this, who looked as if malicious gossip could be her middle names, might be a dangerous thing. But on the other hand, what did it matter? People were bound to find out sooner or later and frankly the temptation to try and shock that supercilious face out of its Botoxed grimace was too great to resist. She took in a breath.
�I am Vieri’s fiancée.’
The look of total astonishment on Donatella’s face was so great that Harper wasn’t sure she had actually taken the information in. She decided to clarify, just for good measure. �We are engaged to be married.’
�Mio Dio!’ The words rasped from her throat before Donatella had time to stop them. But she quickly recovered herself. �How simply wonderful. Come, let me embrace you.’ She tugged Harper against her again, speaking over her shoulder. �Why, that means we are almost family.’
Harper suppressed a shudder. If she had thought her own family was bad enough, this woman was on another level altogether.
Pulling away, Donatella held her at arm’s length, gripping her shoulders that bit too hard with bony hands that felt more like claws. �To think that Vieri is finally to marry. You must tell me simply everything, my dear, where you met, how you came to fall in love, although Vieri of course has always been totally irresistible and you...you are such a pretty young thing. When is the wedding to be? This is all so romantic!’ She was babbling now, the words coming out in a rabid torrent. �We must have lunch.’ Fishing in her bag, she produced a diary, hurriedly flicking through the pages. �Now, let me see—’
�That’s very kind of you,’ Harper interrupted, �but I can’t give you a date right now. I’m not really sure what my plans are.’
This brought Donatella’s head back up. �Your plans?’ Immediately she pounced on Harper’s mistake. �I’m sure Vieri will have everything mapped out for you both. He has always been so frightfully organised. When did you say the wedding was?’
�I didn’t,’ Harper replied firmly. �We haven’t fixed a date yet.’
�So this is all quite sudden?’ Cold blue eyes drilled into her. �You haven’t known Vieri very long?’
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