Seduced by the Enemy

by Alyssa J. Montgomery

  Her refusal to speak about her broken engagement suggested she was still too cut up to talk about it—even after all these years. Somehow, he had to get her over her former fiancé.

  Luca got to his feet and tossed enough money on the table to cover their account and leave a generous tip.

  Catching up with Olivia as she exited the café, he threw all caution to the wind and demanded an answer to the question burning a hole in his mind. ‘Are you still in love with the man you were to marry?’

  Olivia turned around so sharply he almost cannoned straight into her.

  ‘Nobody likes to be jilted,’ she told him in hostile but quiet undertones.

  Which could mean she was still hankering after her ex-fiancé.

  ‘All this talk about me.’ Extending a pointed finger, she poked at the air in front of his chest. ‘What about you, Luca? Why haven’t you ever married?’

  ‘How do you know I haven’t?’ he parried.

  ‘Well, I don’t see any evidence of a wife, and your internet profile didn’t mention it,’ she replied with false sweetness.

  ‘If you don’t have a private investigator then you use the internet?’

  ‘You’re not difficult to research. You may not make the tabloids in Australia, but you’re front-page news in Europe, aren’t you?’

  His hand slid down her arm and he took her hand in his. A current flowed straight from her fingertips into his, making him feel more alive than ever. It was a connection he didn’t want to break.

  ‘Just a quick walk before we return,’ he invited.

  Her protest was feeble. ‘I really am tired.’

  ‘Indulge me,’ he insisted, giving her hand a little squeeze. ‘It’s rare I get to take time away from my desk and I promised Christiana I’d show you the major tourist destinations today.’

  She pulled her hand out of his, breaking the connection, but gave a reluctant nod of agreement. ‘Okay.’

  They walked slowly, side by side, in silence. Luca noted the intensity of her focus on the buildings they passed by. It seemed she was trying too hard to ignore him and, perversely, it pleased him. She’d felt the electric connection between them. She must have. She just didn’t know what to do about it.

  He knew exactly what to do.

  He’d resisted for long enough.

  Over the last couple of weeks, it’d been damned near impossible at times to stop himself from kissing her when he’d caught her looking at his mouth. He’d swear she was wondering what it’d be like if they kissed.

  As he came to know her better and saw the genuine warmth she exuded, it was torture of the most exquisite kind to be so close to her and keep his hands off her.

  It was true she could still sprout defensive thorns whenever he ventured onto a topic she considered was too personal, but for the most part, they conversed easily about Christiana or broader, neutral topics. He’d always looked forward to coming home to Christiana, but now he looked forward to coming home even more each evening because there was also Olivia to come home to. With Marjorie there as well, it was the closest thing he’d ever felt to having a family after his mother had died.

  Originally he’d told himself a physical relationship with Olivia would complicate what was already an incredibly complex, and deeply emotional situation. He’d reasoned Christiana’s needs and his own promise of friendship and support to Olivia, put Christiana’s aunt off limits.

  Yesterday everything had changed.

  The boundaries had been redefined and he’d concluded what Christiana needed most now was for him to give in to his desire and get much closer to Olivia.

  Much, much closer.

  Half an hour after they left the café he told her, ‘Now, we’re at the Spanish Steps. The church at the top is the Trinità dei Monti.’

  ‘It’s beautiful!’ she exclaimed as he led her over to the bottom of the steps. ‘But, why are they called the Spanish Steps when they’re in Rome?’

  ‘It’s merely because the Spanish Embassy is here in The Piazza di Spagna, so the name extended to the steps. They were designed by an Italian architect, funded by a French diplomat and their restoration has recently been sponsored by the fashion house Bulgari. Shall we walk to the top?’

  ‘Not today.’ She shook her head and sent him an apologetic look as she leant back against a pillar. ‘I’m really feeling the need to get back home.’

  Warmth ran through him that she thought of his home now as her own.

  ‘It’s only another eight to ten minutes from here to the Trevi Fountain,’ he said, trying to tempt her on.

  ‘That I definitely have to see, but can we come back another day?’ A hint of colour appeared along her high cheekbones. ‘That is, maybe Mum and I can visit the fountain another day. I know you’re a busy man, Luca, with an empire to run. I don’t expect you to play tour guide for me, but it has been great to get out today.’

  ‘I’m happy to play tour guide and spend time with you, but of course we can leave it until another day.’

  Briefly, he scanned around to ensure no members of the paparazzi were around, then he placed a hand on the top of the first pillar of the stairs and his arms were on either side of Olivia. He closed the gap between them until she was forced to look up at him.

  ‘As we’re getting to know each other, I have something to share.’ His words were met by a flare of interest in her expression. ‘My parents’ marriage was a merger based on business and my mother was desperately unhappy.’ A muscle ticked at his jaw line as he clenched his teeth. He would never be able to think of his parents’ marriage without feeling sorrow for the infidelity his mother endured as his father flaunted mistress after mistress around Rome. ‘I promised my mother on her death-bed that I’d only marry for the right reasons.’

  Her intake of breath was audible.

  ‘I was married,’ he confessed, ‘and for me, it was for the right reason. I thought I was in love with my wife.’

  ‘But—’ there was a thread of distress in her voice, ‘—you’re not still married, are you?’

  ‘No.’

  He wasn’t imagining it. Relief definitely crossed her features.

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘I discovered marriage can only work if both people marry for the right reason. My wife was very attracted to me, but she didn’t love me. She was more attracted to the wealth I accumulated faster than either of us could count.’ His lips twisted in derision. ‘The problem was that in order to keep building my wealth, I spent too much time at the office. She was left with plenty of time to shop, and to play.’

  ‘She had an affair?’

  ‘She had multiple affairs with very wealthy men and became pregnant. She terminated the pregnancy because I hadn’t been ready to contemplate fatherhood at that stage and had always used contraception. Had she been sure who the father was, she might’ve kept the child and tried to use it to have one of her lovers marry her.’

  ‘Oh, my God! I’m so sorry that happened to you, Luca.’ She shook her head in bewilderment. ‘I can’t imagine being married to you and wanting to slee—’ Olivia stopped abruptly and colour blazed all the way up to her cheeks from her chest.

  I can’t imagine being married to you and wanting to slee— Luca replayed the sentence and had no difficulty in filling in the blanks—sleep with anyone else.

  ‘She didn’t deserve you,’ she amended quickly.

  He processed her reaction—the words she’d left unsaid—and hope flooded through him. He wasn’t misreading her. She was definitely attracted to him and the feeling was mutual. Awareness arced between them as surely as if a live electrical cable showered them in shimmering electrical sparks.

  Realisation of time and place ceased to exist. There was only Olivia who consumed all his focus.

  ‘Did you divorce her?’ she asked.

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘How did you find out what she’d done?’

  ‘She had a complication during the abortion. I only found out
all the sordid details from her best friend when she called me to tell me my wife was in a critical condition. I hadn’t even known she was pregnant, so the entire event came as a hell of a shock.’

  ‘But, she pulled through?’

  ‘Yes. Just like Jane, she’d haemorrhaged, but the doctors had managed to save her.’

  Olivia shook her head in disbelief. ‘That’s terrible, Luca.’

  ‘It wasn’t only the infidelity that made me loathe her—it was her total disregard for the value of human life. I could never forgive her for it, just as I couldn’t understand it when I thought Jane had signed her baby away for money.’

  ‘I can see why you’ve never married again.’

  ‘I don’t intend to let my one bad experience of marriage colour the rest of my life, Olivia.’ He hoped to impart the message that she shouldn’t do so either. ‘I intend to keep my promise to my mother.’

  ‘You want to marry again for love?’ she choked out.

  ‘Love?’ he repeated, as he looked into her eyes. ‘I trusted in the much-touted emotion once. I know my friend, Nick, loved his wife before she died and I know my other friend, Max, has never stopped loving his childhood sweetheart. But, I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced it.’

  ‘But, you said—’

  ‘I thought I loved my wife, but realise now it was most likely youthful infatuation. I wanted to have my future mapped out. I think I wanted some stability in my life and someone at my side to share in my success. I also craved the close family situation I’d never had.’

  ‘Then you don’t intend to marry again.’ Her confusion was clear in the furrow between her brows.

  ‘On the contrary, I do intend to marry. Soon. I didn’t promise my mother I’d marry for love, only that I’d marry for the right reason.’

  ‘Surely the only right reason to marry would be if you were in love?’ Olivia challenged. ‘You’re a romantic, Olivia?’

  She opened her mouth to reply then closed it and seemed to turn his question over in her mind. At last she said, ‘I don’t believe in marriage based on anything but love.’

  His lips twisted with scepticism. ‘So you were deeply in love with the man you were to marry.’

  She shook her head in frustration. ‘We were originally talking about your beliefs, not mine.’ He challenged her with his eyes and she conceded, ‘But, I guess I was like you. I certainly believed I was in love when I accepted his proposal and, like you, I was let down.’

  ‘I will marry soon,’ he told her. ‘In fact, marriage has become more important now Christiana is my responsibility. She needs more than her nannies. Either one of them could pick up and leave any time their lives take them in a different direction. She needs a mother—a woman who’ll be my wife and be committed to the task of mothering her.’

  ***

  A hollow feeling occupied the pit of Olivia’s stomach even though she’d eaten.

  ‘Have you already chosen Christiana’s future mother?’ The question squeaked through tense vocal cords, and immediately she regretted asking it.

  ‘I have someone in mind.’

  Her mind screamed out in denial at his decisive response. She didn’t want to know a woman existed who’d assume the role of his wife and become mother to Christiana.

  But, you should want stability for your niece.

  A myriad of thoughts tumbled through her mind.

  When Olivia had come to Italy, she’d thought she might find a way to fight Luca for custody and take Christiana home to Australia. The notion had been dispelled when she’d seen how much uncle and niece adored each other.

  What Luca said about the need for stability—that either nanny could leave at any time—was true. But … ‘Will this woman truly love Christiana?’ She was desperate to make him re-think his decision. God, it was hard because she knew she had no right to interfere in a decision that was his, alone, to make.

  ‘Very much.’

  The affirmation stabbed into her heart and rent it wide open. On her trip to Rome, she’d hoped to be able to be the mother to Christiana that Jane would’ve been. Even in playing some of the same games with Christiana that she’d played with Jane, Olivia had felt she was, in some small way, introducing Christiana to her real mother. But if there was another woman on the scene, how much time would Olivia have with her niece?

  Gutted, she looked away from Luca.

  Not even when Carl had dumped her had she felt so distraught.

  The comparison hit hard.

  In that split-second, Olivia knew she wasn’t simply feeling sick because Christiana would have a mother to replace Jane. It wasn’t only that she was considering the ramifications of having to move out of Luca’s home and away from her niece when he married, either.

  Although she didn’t want to admit it, Olivia’s insides were twisting with jealousy. Luca’s wife would be mother to Christiana and share his life, his bed, and his passion. The image of some stunning beauty clinging to Luca’s side knocked her world off its axis because Olivia had started to develop feelings for Christiana’s uncle that were way more than superficial attraction. After all they’d been through—their shared trauma from Damiano’s revelations, and their love and concern for Christiana—they’d formed a deep bond.

  He had her respect now. He’d earned her admiration in so many ways—right down to the way he constantly wore a blue beaded bracelet with his business suits because Christiana had made it for him.

  ‘You’d marry simply to provide stability for Christiana?’

  He shrugged. ‘Not solely for Christiana’s sake. I want children of my own and had always planned to marry again.’

  ‘I don’t understand. Are you going to base your marriage on a business contract?’

  ‘My marriage will be based on common goals, mutual respect, and deep attraction. I very much like the woman who’ll be my wife.’

  Shit.

  Clearing her throat, she railed against his statement. ‘I’m not sure that type of marriage would be in Christiana’s best interests at all.’ She was making agitated little movements with her hands as she tried to grapple with his plans. ‘A relationship that isn’t based on love won’t last. How long before you both tire of each other and start having affairs?’

  ‘There’ll be no affairs,’ he told her decisively. ‘I’ll demand complete fidelity and give complete fidelity in return.’

  It didn’t seem likely. Luca struck her as a very virile man and if he didn’t have the deep emotional bond of love to tie him to his wife, might he end up being bored in the bedroom?

  ‘You believe you can be faithful to a woman you don’t love? A woman you’ve primarily chosen on the basis of Christiana’s needs rather than your own?’

  He shook his head. ‘Not just Christiana’s needs. She’ll be a fabulous mother to Christiana, but believe me it won’t be difficult for me to remain faithful to her.’

  Huh.

  He’s not to know he’s delivered a giant kick to your gut, her logic told her. You should be pleased for him and for Christiana. It’s not as if he’s ever given you any indication he’s attracted to you. It’s all been completely one-sided from you!

  She tilted her chin up a little and sent him a small smile, despite feeling as though she’d somehow been cast adrift, well out to sea, in a leaky boat. ‘Well, congratulations, Luca. It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. I hope everything goes exactly as you plan.’

  ‘Your turn to be honest, Olivia. Are you still carrying a torch for your former fiancé?’

  Looking back at Luca, it was difficult to even summon up Carl’s face in her mind’s eye, but she could hardly be honest about that! ‘It’s very difficult to get over loving someone, even when they don’t return your love,’ she prevaricated as she trained her eyes on the crowd of Japanese tourists who’d arrived at the Spanish Steps.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luca stiffen.

  Wordlessly, she looked up as his hand reached to her face and he lifted
her sunglasses up so they rested on the top of her head.

  For a few moments he said nothing, just looked deeply into her eyes.

  Olivia swallowed nervously.

  ‘You’re a beautiful woman, Olivia, with much to offer a man.’ The back of his hand stroked along her cheek and under her chin. His thumb explored the soft texture of her lips, running back and forward a few times.

  She shook her head in denial.

  With surprisingly intense conviction he said, ‘Extremely desirable.’

  Her head tilted to one side as she looked at him incredulously. Was this the sign she’d been hoping for—the indication he was attracted to her?

  ‘You doubt it?’ he challenged.

  It was impossible to speak, but she nodded as she bit down hard on her lip.

  Carl had been the only one who’d ever expressed an interest in Olivia. Now, she saw things with crystal-clear clarity. If Carl had truly loved her he would’ve moved heaven and earth to be by her side in Rome when she’d had to identify Jane’s body.

  She felt sure Luca would never have let the woman he was to marry go through such a harrowing ordeal alone.

  Looking up at Luca with a start she realised she’d been comparing him again to her former fiancé. It had to stop. Luca was prepared to be her friend. Nothing more. All he was doing now was being a friend and trying to build up her confidence. That was why he told her she was desirable.

  ‘You don’t need to say those things to me, Luca.’

  ‘Dio!’ he exclaimed with rough disbelief. ‘Are you truly so unaware of your own beauty? The idiot you were to marry has really blown your self-esteem.’

  ‘I’m sure you mean well, but my ego doesn’t need any false flattery.’ Her voice emerged small and strained. She refused to be drawn into whatever favour he thought he was doing her by giving her these compliments. ‘I’m well aware you’ve dated some very beautiful women.’