Giorganni's Proposal

by Jacqueline Baird

  Beth groaned and buried her head in the pillow. In her mind's eye she saw Dex's handsome face contorted by rage, and poor Paul laid out on the ground. In a way it was partly her fault. If she had refused the wedding invitation it would never have happened. But then again Dex was a very Latin male. He saw himself as the protector of the females in his family. Hadn't he just told her quite emphatically he felt entitled to slug Paul to uphold the honour of his sister? Whether he thought Beth was a threat to his sister or not. The truth was probably somewhere in between, and on that disturbing thought she finally fell into a restless sleep.

  The small church decked out in flowers and ribbons was the perfect setting for a perfect wedding. Beth sighed, her green eyes misty, and brushed a tear from her cheek. Anna, looking stunningly beautiful in a cream silk suit overlaid with lace, and wearing a matching wide- brimmed hat with a short veil over her eyes, made her responses clear and true, as did Paul.

  Suddenly a large hand holding a white hanky appeared in front of Beth. She glanced sideways at Dex, and took the hanky. 'Thank you,' she murmured. He looked incredibly sleek and handsome in a silver-grey three-piece suit that exactly matched his eyes, and she hastily looked away and dabbed at her moist eyes.

  'Emotional little thing, aren't you?' Dex murmured, while staring straight ahead.

  'Better than being a heartless swine,' Beth murmured under her breath. Her head bent as she folded the hanky into a perfect square and thrust it back at him without comment.

  Dex pressed his large hand over hers. 'Time to leave, I think.'

  Sure enough, the bride and groom were halfway down the aisle on their way out, followed by the best man, to whom Paul had introduced Beth earlier as the manager of his Italian estate. Beth frowned, remembering the rest of the conversation. Paul had also informed her that Dex was to take care of Beth for the wedding ceremony and the rest of the weekend. Which was why she had ended up stuck next to Dex in the front pew of the church.

  Dex stood up, still holding Beth's hand, urged her to her feet and escorted her down the aisle. But as soon as they got outside Beth dodged behind the main wedding party and tried to lose herself in the crowd. If this was a small Italian wedding, she thought ruefully, sidling along the side of the church, hoping to escape attention, then heaven knew what a large wedding was like. It seemed to her everyone on the island had turned out. Not to mention the shock she had received earlier.

  She had awoken to a house full of caterers, managing to grab a bite to eat in the kitchen and a cup of coffee before making herself scarce by exploring the terraced gardens. To her surprise, the terraces led right down to the sea and a private mooring. There, a sleek yacht had been tying up, with a couple of dozen very elegant people on board. Not wanting to be seen, she had hidden behind a large bush and watched as Dex appeared, already dressed formally for the wedding, and greeted the guests. Beth had dashed back to the house and was frantically getting ready when Paul had walked into the room. She'd mentioned the boat to him. Apparently the guests had been accommodated in a luxury hotel in Sorrento for the night, prior to attending the wedding.

  'Hello, lady in red.'

  Lost in thought, Beth jumped and turned her head. A ginger-haired man of about forty, with an open freckled face, smiled down at her. She recognised his voice immediately; it was indelibly printed on her brain.

  'I'm Bob, and red is my colour—as you can see. Put me out of my misery and tell me your name,' he demanded, his blue eyes lit with amusement and a very masculine interest.

  Beth grinned. She couldn't help it; there was something boyishly appealing about him. 'Bethany.' She offered her small hand.

  'No rings,' Bob murmured, turning her hand over and lifting it to his lips. 'Better and better. I missed the wedding, but I have a feeling I am really going to enjoy the reception.' Beth chuckled. He was the most outrageous flirt.

  'Bob. Where the hell were you?' Dex's hard voice interrupted the harmless banter.

  Beth's hand was dropped like a hot potato and Bob's blue eyes flicked assessingly from Dex to Beth and back to Dex again. 'The flight from New York was delayed— everything backed up. Sorry I missed the wedding.'

  'I'll see you later,' Dex said curtly, and, turning his back on Bob, let his steely gaze fall on Beth. 'Paul wants you in the family photograph,' he said, and, slipping a long arm over her shoulders, turned her back towards the wedding group.

  'All right. You don't have to drag me,' Beth snapped, resenting his arm around her, and resenting even more the way it made her feel.

  His fingers tightened on her shoulder and his dark head inclined towards hers. 'A word of warning.' His breath brushed against her cheek, and she tensed. 'Don't waste your feminine wiles on Bob. He is far too smart to get caught.'

  Beth gritted her teeth, ignoring his deliberate insult. 'Truce, remember?' she said, looking up into his unsmiling face.

  'I remember. And I remember the first time I saw you in that suit.' His grey eyes raked down over her body, bringing a blush to her cheeks. 'You wore it today deliberately to get at me. I am not a fool Beth, so don't take me for one,' he drawled hardily.

  'Dexter, caro.'' The bridesmaid, a tall, elegant dark- haired girl, a friend of Anna, called to him, and Beth was spared from replying as Dex let her go and walked over to the girl.

  Beth drew a ragged breath and smoothed the short skirt of her red suit down over her hips. She had vowed not to wear it again after the first time, when Dex had stripped it off her. But she was a realist. She had spent a fortune on the suit a month ago, and she had nothing else remotely suitable for an autumn wedding, and no money to buy anything new. But having Dex remind her was more than she could bear, and she felt the prick of tears behind her eyes—tears of self-pity, she knew.

  But then Paul reached out to her and pulled her to his side. 'Come on, Beth, I need you to detract from my black eye.'

  Forcing a smile to her flushed face, Beth wished the happy couple good luck. Then quickly the official photographer arranged the group. The photographs were taken amidst what Beth surmised were a lot of ribald comments on how the groom had got his black eye.

  She tried to slip back into the crowd when the photographer had finished, but again she was foiled.

  'You're coming in the car with me,' Dex said, taking her elbow and urging her to the waiting line of cars.

  It got no better when they reached the villa. Paul and Anna greeted all the guests in the grand hail, and an elegant major-domo led everyone to the tables set out in the magnificent dining room. Beth was at the head table.

  The caterers had been busy since the crack of dawn, and it was a typical Italian meal that went on for hours and hours. The food was excellent, but Beth tasted very little of it. She felt as if she was on display, and with Dex once again seated next to her she was intensely aware of every move he made. The champagne flowed like water, the talk was loud and happy—not that Beth understood it—and Dex played his part to perfection. He included her in the conversation by offering instant translations, he smiled and was unfailingly polite. But only she could see the ice in his eyes when he spoke to her.

  Finally the best man stood up to speak and Beth breathed an audible sigh of relief. It can't be much longer now, she thought.

  Dex bent his dark head towards her. 'Your boredom is showing, Beth.' His grey eyes glinted mockingly into hers. 'Weddings not your scene?'

  With a flash of insight she realised Dex was right. 'No, not really. After attending three of my mother's, they tend to lose their appeal,' she responded coolly.

  'I'm sorry.' He smiled softly, and she saw a glint of something very like pity in his eyes.

  'Don't be.' She didn't need his sympathy; she didn't need anything from Dex. 'I'm not. But I suppose it's different for you. This must remind you of your own wedding, no doubt. Bring back pleasant memories, does it?' she goaded. As a conversation-stopper it was perfect.

  The slight smile vanished from his face to be replaced with a hard mask of indifference
. 'No.' Dex picked up his wine glass from the table, drained it, and ignored Beth for the rest of the reception.

  By ten in the evening Beth had had more than enough. There were people everywhere. A trio was playing dance music and the huge hall had become the dance floor. She had danced with a dozen different men, drunk a few classes of champagne and was feeling absolutely shattered. Paul and Anna had left hours ago, for a destination unknown.

  Beth sighed. She was in a room full of people and had never felt so alone. Paul, the one constant in her life, was married, and very soon would have his own family—which was only right. But Beth couldn't help the tears that welled up in her throat. Things would never be the same again.

  Beth was considering her chances of slipping off to bed when a voice in her ear whispered, 'Our tune—care to dance?'

  'Bob.' She grinned as she realised the band was playing 'Lady in Red'. 'Very funny,' she said—at least he spoke her language. 'But, no, thanks. I'm too hot.' She didn't dare take her jacket off, knowing the brevity of the camisole underneath.

  'Okay. I'm not much of a dancer anyway. So, how about a stroll outside?'

  Why not? she thought, and, linking her arm through his, she followed him outside and down onto the lower terrace, where the floodlit swimming pool gleamed in the darkness.

  'Fresh air at last,' she murmured, taking a few deep breaths of the cool night air.

  'Here, sit down, Beth, and relax.' Bob indicated a small patio table surrounded by chairs and pulled one out for her. Beth gratefully sat down.

  'This is much better,' she said as Bob sat down in the chair opposite.

  'Some party.' Bob smiled. 'But Dex doesn't look too happy in there.'

  'Maybe the food didn't agree with him,' she said lightly, and grinned back at Bob. He was a nice, uncomplicated man, and she needed someone to take her mind off how very alone in the world she felt.

  'The food of love, maybe,' Bob said seriously. 'I know who you are, Beth, and I know you and Dex were engaged.'

  Beth felt the colour rise in her cheeks. 'It was a mistake.'

  'I don't think so. I've seen the way he looks at you; he has hardly taken his eyes off you all evening. That's not like Dex. I've known him for years and I have never seen him show the least interest in a woman.'

  'Please, I don't want to talk about him.'

  'Don't be too hard on him, Beth. His ex-wife did a real number on him. He was just starting out when they married, and he worked like a slave while she spent like a queen! Eventually she took off with a very rich, very much older man.'

  'Really, I'm not interested.' But in her heart of hearts she knew she was.

  'Look, all I'm saying is Dex is my friend as well as my boss. In fact, I'm probably the only friend he has. He's a very hard man to get to know. But if you care anything for him you should make the effort, Beth. I don't know what went wrong between you weeks ago, but I do know he's been like a bear with a sore head ever since. He was always a workaholic, but lately he's driving himself to the edge.'

  'That has nothing to do with me,' Beth muttered, getting to her feet. 'I'm going back.'

  'If you say so.' Bob stood up and took her elbow. 'I don't usually interfere in other people's affairs, and if I've offended you, I'm sorry.'

  Arm in arm, they walked back into the villa. The crowd was thinning out and Dex saw them immediately. He strolled over, his grey eyes narrowed on Beth. 'Where the devil have you been?' he snapped.

  Beth shrank from the rage in his eyes, but before she could answer he added furiously, 'Not content to flirt with every man you danced with, you have to go outside with one!'

  'I wasn't flirting,' she choked, feeling incredibly angry. He hadn't spoken to her all night, hadn't danced with her, and now he had the gall to insult her. 'And I went outside because I was hot.'

  'Hot.' His lips twisted in a sneer. 'I can believe that.'

  'Dex, come on. The girl was with me, and she was perfectly safe,' Bob intervened.

  Dex turned to look at Bob. 'I hope so, for your sake.' Then, as if realising where he was, seeing the curious glances of the other guests, Dex straightened his shoulders, his dark face expressionless. 'The boat is leaving in five minutes, Bob. Be on it.' Looking back at Beth, he added bluntly, 'As Paul's representative, you stay by me until we've said goodnight to all the guests.'

  Smarting at his angry comments, she raised defiant eyes to his. 'I am not a child to be ordered around.' Dex had virtually ignored her all day except to tell her what to do: 'Get in the car' 'Get in the photograph.' He hadn't even asked her to dance, she thought, burning with resentment.

  'Then stop acting like one and do as you're told,' Dex drawled hardily.

  'No, thank you. I'd rather leave now. I can get the boat—it won't take me a minute to pack.'

  One hand snaked out and closed like a manacle around her wrist. 'You are not going anywhere. Paul left you in my charge and you will leave as arranged tomorrow. I will personally escort you off the island. Understand?'

  Beth understood all too well. He couldn't wait to get rid of her. Her brave notion of accepting the wedding invitation and stunning Dex with her sophisticated attitude was just that—a notion.

  'All right,' she snapped. 'You can let go of my hand.' And, sticking a smile on her face, she did as he had commanded.

  She stood stiffly beside him and accepted the flowing tributes, the smiles and handshakes, with the best grace she could muster. All the time intensely conscious of the dark, brooding man standing beside her.

  'Thank heavens for that,' she murmured under her breath as the last guest departed. Glancing around the huge reception hall, it crossed her mind that perhaps she should help to clean up, but the caterers were buzzing around clearing everything with remarkable efficiency. She wasn't needed, and her bed beckoned.

  'My sentiments exactly,' Dex drawled, and took her arm as she stepped forward. 'How about a nightcap?'

  She glanced at him quickly over her shoulder. He had loosened his bow tie and unfastened the first few buttons of his shirt. He was so devilishly attractive; her heart lurched at the sight of him.

  'I don't think so. I've had enough.' And she was not just talking about drink. It had suddenly hit her that once the caterers departed she would be virtually alone in the house with Dex, and it did nothing for her peace of mind.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Dex's black head inclined towards her. 'As you wish. I will show you to your room.'

  'No way,' she said bluntly, placing her hand on his chest to ward him off. She raised her eyes to his. 'I do not need a repeat of last night. Go have your drink.' The heavy pounding of his heart beneath her hand found an echo in her own body, and she trembled from head to toe.

  'It is not a drink I need,' Dex said thickly, his eyes glittering down into hers. 'I need to once more strip that seductive suit from you.' With one long finger he traced a line from her collarbone down the vee of her jacket to slide along the soft curve of her breast. 'And lose myself in your body. Unlike you, I can never have enough,' he drawled, his deep, husky voice playing on her oversensitive nerves.

  Beth was struck dumb. She stared up at him, her fingers shaking on his chest, her nipples hardening against the fine fabric of her top in shameful arousal. She was mesmerised by the smouldering desire in his silver eyes. For a long moment she simply stared, torn between the desire to know once more the pleasure of his possession and the certain knowledge that she meant little or nothing to him.

  Would it be so wrong? she asked herself. To have one more night in his arms? She loved him even though he didn't deserve her love, didn't want it.

  A loud crash brought her back to her senses with a jolt. One of the caterers had dropped a tray of glasses. Beth quickly snatched her hand back from his chest and, spinning on her heel, dashed upstairs. She only paused for breath when she was safely in her bedroom with the door locked behind her.

  Thank God for a clumsy waiter! Another second and she would have slid her arms around Dex and been hi
s for the taking, Beth bleakly admitted to herself. Stripping off her clothes, she showered and slipped on her white cotton nightie. She was exhausted, but too agitated too sleep, her body aching with frustration. Disgusted with herself, she methodically set about packing her weekend case. She was leaving in the morning and it would save time. She left out her blue jeans, a cashmere sweater and her navy jacket.

  Finally, with nothing left to do, she got into bed. But sleep was elusive. She relived the events of the past two days in her head.

  Her harmless walk with Paul and Dex's violent reaction had been terrifying. But had it only been on behalf of his sister, or could he possibly have been a little bit jealous of Beth herself? The thought brought solace to her bruised heart. And then later, in this room, Dex had reminded her she hadn't called him when he'd tried to blackmail her. She suddenly realised Dex had still not known Paul was her godfather, so at any time in the past two weeks he could have got Mike fired from his job, and yet he had not done it. Which proved Dex was not all bad. . .

  Today he had hardly spoken to her, and yet he had warned her off Bob quite emphatically. Dex no longer had any need to pretend he liked her, so why warn her about Bob? Unless he was jealous. She was clutching at straws, she knew. But then again, Bob was convinced Dex did like her. He had told her in the garden Dex was a hard man to know, and that if she cared anything at all for him it was up to her to make the effort.

  Bob's revelation about Dex's ex-wife went a long way to explain Dex's paranoid reaction when he'd thought Beth was going out with Paul, his constant assumption that Beth wanted an older man. Even on their picnic in the New Forest he had hinted as much.

  And tonight, when he had asked her to have a drink with him and then quite deliberately tried to. . . She felt the heat rise in her face and she turned to lie flat on her back. She heard again in her mind his deep velvet voice declare he could not get enough and swallowed hard. If only he knew. . . She was quite desperate for him. But the difference between them was that Dex wanted her, but she loved him.