Once A Playboy.... Kate Hardy
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STOPPING TO GRAB her coat and bag from the cloakroom, Dara willed herself to calm down. She could feel the tension inside her stretching to breaking point.
After devoting the entire day working herself to the bone to impress him...
After spending one hair-raisingly stressful hour on the phone to every major designer, looking for uniforms...
After letting him make her feel self-conscious...
She honestly thought that if he was to follow her she might wind up hitting someone for the first time in her life.
She stepped out into the chilly Milan night, the cool air making her shiver in earnest through the haze of cold anger.
He emerged through the doors behind her just as explosively as he had the night before. ‘Dara, stop walking away and allow me to explain.’
‘How long were you planning on stringing me along for?’ She spun around to face him.
‘Let’s not do this on the street.’ He looked to where the security guards stood like silent sentries inside the door.
‘Oh, excuse me—I forgot all about your precious reputation. Please, do yourself a favour and go back to your adoring public.’
A long dark limo pulled up in front of them, the windows impenetrably black.
‘You’re not going to get anywhere by standing on the street. My car is right here. I don’t want anything else on my conscience tonight.’
‘Oh, I think we both know your conscience doesn’t exist,’ she scoffed.
Still, she frowned. She had forgotten about the trouble getting a taxi in Milan. If he was offering her his limo she would take it without a second thought. Anything to get her away from him as soon as possible.
‘Well, it seems you are just as charitable as I thought you’d be, Mr Valente. My humble thanks for this consolation prize.’ She opened the door and slid inside to the warm dark interior, her body still shaking with anger.
The door on the opposite side opened suddenly, and her eyes widened as Leo’s tall frame slid easily onto the seat next to her.
‘What are you doing?’ she squeaked.
‘I said I’d let you use the limo. I didn’t say you would be going alone.’ He shrugged one shoulder, banging his knuckles on the driver’s window and setting the vehicle into swift motion.
He turned to face her, his voice deeply accented in the limo’s quiet, dark interior. ‘We are not finished yet, Dara.’
She felt his voice reach across the space between them, warm and seductive. Ignoring the pull, she remained silent and feigned indifference.
‘You can ignore me if you like, but I have yet to fulfil my side of our bargain.’ He waited for her to speak for a moment before continuing. ‘Your work tonight was impressive. You’ve earned your chance to convince me.’
Indignation won out and she turned to face him. ‘Excuse me if I’m suddenly disinclined to pitch to a brick wall.’
‘You don’t understand the situation with Gianni Marcello.’
He shook his head. That small movement incensed her more than anything else.
‘I think I understand perfectly well. The bored playboy decided he’d have some fun while he was in town. An added bonus was the free event consultation. Too bad your friend ruined things before you tried your hand at the final prize, eh?’ She crossed her arms defensively around herself.
‘What you achieved tonight is unheard of. I wasn’t lying when I said you have great talent. You achieved more in seven hours than my team could pull off in three months.’
‘That means nothing to me. The only reason I did any of it was to get my contract.’
‘My relationship with Gianni is complex. He does not understand some of the choices that I have made. I said what I had to in order to avoid a scene. The truth is I have been considering your proposal.’
Dara watched him silently. This change in tactics was making her head spin.
He sat back in his seat, stretching long muscular legs in front of him with casual ease. ‘I’m offering you a chance to convince me. It won’t be offered again.’
Dara deliberated for a moment. He had made a fool of her, but he still held the upper hand here. If there was a chance to salvage this wedding contract she had to take it. Much as it irked her to be played with in his little game...much as it wounded her pride.
‘The wedding is for a high-profile actress—moderate numbers. Media would be limited to one magazine team. It would be maybe three days from set-up to clean-up, with accommodation required for guests.’
She outlined the finer details of her pitch as clearly and effectively as she could, considering her lack of sleep and the intimate environment. Not to mention the large relaxed male sitting beside her, watching her every movement with interest.
‘Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.’ He ran a hand across the stubble on his jaw. ‘And it sounds like a mutually beneficial arrangement.’
Dara felt unease prickle at the back of her mind. He had been deathly against any conversation about the castle last night—why the sudden easy consideration of her plans? She had done a fantastic job today—that much she could admit. But she wasn’t naive enough to overlook the fact that something had to have sparked this sudden change of heart.
‘What exactly has changed to make you think twice about rejecting my event?’ she asked, watching as he raised his brows a fraction of an inch, narrowing his gaze.
‘Maybe I’m hoping to leave you with a better impression of me than the one you have got so far.’
‘Somehow I don’t think that you care very much about anyone’s impression of you.’
He shrugged. ‘Depends on the person in question. But nonetheless you are correct that I have an ulterior motive. I was merely giving you a chance to lay out your proposal beforehand.’
Leo sat forward in his seat, green eyes intently holding her gaze.
‘You need my help, Dara. And you have proved just how far you are willing to go in order to get it. I am asking you to go just a little further.’
He laid a hand on the dark leather between them, still holding her gaze. It was a gesture of domination, designed to make her feel trapped, surely? She fought the urge to move back further in her seat.
‘How much further are we talking, here?’ Dara shook off the mildly indecent thoughts her mind conjured.
Leo seemed to deliberate for a moment, looking out at the passing streets before speaking.
‘Do you know much about the newest Lucchesi development?’
Dara thought for a moment, the change in pace addling her already tired mind. ‘The island he owns near Lampedone? He’s turning it into some sort of self-contained luxury resort, I’ve heard.’
Leo nodded. ‘Despite what you’ve heard or read, thus far I have made no attempt to expand my empire to Sicily. There is virtually no market for an exclusive brand like mine in any of the larger cities. That was until this Isola project came to light.’ He sat forward, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. ‘The island will be a hub of exclusive hotels, boutique restaurants. Every inch of real estate will be dedicated to five-star luxury. It’s one of a kind.’
‘I don’t see what your interest in a new real estate development has to do with my wedding contract.’ Dara spoke quietly, trying to make sense of his words.
‘Umberto Lucchesi is head of the board of directors. He