by Tina Duncan
Something else he’d never done before was postpone an important business trip for a woman. And yet that was exactly what he’d done with his US visit—rescheduled it for the second time this week so that he could be with Morgan.
He frowned at the door. Morgan should have answered by now.
He’d tried calling her several times during the afternoon, but her phone had diverted to voicemail. He’d left her several messages but she hadn’t called back.
He rang the bell again, and this time was rewarded with the sound of the lock turning. The door opened. Morgan was framed in the doorway. She was wearing his favourite black I’m-in-charge leather boots, with a cream suit and a black blouse.
‘You didn’t check to see who it was before you opened the door,’ he reprimanded, stepping forward to gather her in his arms so that he could kiss her hello.
She backed out of his reach before he could touch her. ‘I forgot,’ she said unsmilingly. Turning on her heel, she walked back into the apartment, leaving him to follow.
Luca took his time, frowning at her rigid back. ‘I’m serious, Morgan. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Check next time.’
She nodded, but didn’t answer him.
His frown deepened. Morgan was the antithesis of the woman who’d kissed him goodnight on their return from Paris.
That woman had been glowing with happiness. Pleasure had shone from her eyes like rays of sunshine and her smile had been powerful enough to light up the night sky.
Luca had felt his chest swell with pride to know he’d put that smile on her face.
Morgan wasn’t smiling now.
Her face wasn’t glowing, either. Instead she was pale, her expression pinched, her eyes dull and flat.
His heart turned over in his chest, a sinking feeling attacking his stomach. ‘What’s wrong?’
She folded her arms. ‘Nothing.’
Luca knew that tone. He’d heard it before. It was cold enough to freeze the Sahara. ‘Don’t tell me nothing is wrong when it’s as plain as the nose on your face that you’re upset about something!’
Her face twisted. ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
What could have happened between yesterday and today to make her this upset? Luca asked himself, his insides contracting into a tight ball of knots.
His brain clicked into gear as he pieced together what he knew. ‘I tried calling you today but there was no answer in the apartment,’ he said, thinking out loud. ’You didn’t answer your mobile, either.’ His gaze sharpened on her face. ‘Where were you?’
‘Out.’
Her monosyllabic answer deepened his anxiety until it felt as though invisible hands were squeezing around his throat. ‘Out where?’
Morgan tossed her head, sending her hair swirling around her shoulders. ‘Are you checking up on me?’
Luca’s frown deepened. She was as prickly as a porcupine. To say she was in a strange mood would be an understatement. ‘No. I’m merely curious to know where you were this afternoon. Is there anything wrong with that?’
‘I suppose not.’ She stared at him for a long moment. Luca could practically hear the cogs of her mind turning over. Finally she angled her chin into the air, her eyes glittering like black diamonds. ‘If you must know, I had a job interview this afternoon.’
Luca tensed at the mention of what he knew was a sensitive subject. ‘I didn’t know you were still looking for a new job. You haven’t mentioned it.’
She gave him a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. ’Why would I when you’re the person responsible for having me fired me in the first place? Unjustifiably, I might add.’
It was the first reference either of them had made to the past in days. The atmosphere in the room thickened, the silence taking on a quality that prickled at the back of his neck.
Luca stared at her, and his discomfiture increased. The way she was looking at him, black eyes full of challenge, forced him to confront once again the possibility that he was wrong about her.
If he was then he had indeed treated her unfairly.
Tension lifted his shoulders towards his ears. His heart was so heavy it felt as if he’d swallowed a rock.
‘And how did the interview go?’ he asked, carefully avoiding any mention of his role in her current situation.
‘I thought it went well, but they’ve had a lot of applicants. I’m up against some pretty tough competition.’
‘I see.’ Luca walked over to the kitchen and poured himself a whisky and a red wine for Morgan. ‘It isn’t necessary for you to find another job, you know. I can give you an allowance.’
She shook her head stubbornly. ‘No, thank you. I like paying my own way. And, besides, I’d be bored to tears with nothing to do all day.’
This was not the first time Morgan had turned down money from him. She’d thrown his cheque back in his face that first day in the office. Since then she’d also refused several gifts of jewellery, claiming she didn’t feel comfortable accepting something so expensive. He’d virtually had to twist her arm to get her to accept the dress he’d bought her in Paris.
And now this.
It was a new experience for him. His past mistresses had been more than happy to take whatever they could get from him—sometimes throwing out not-so-subtle hints if they didn’t think he was being generous enough.
Luca sat down on the couch and motioned for Morgan to join him. ‘I thought you women liked to shop.’
‘Maybe. But I couldn’t shop all day. I couldn’t afford to, for one thing. I also happen to like working.’
Luca remembered back to one of the first conversations they’d ever had. ‘How are you coping with your mortgage?’
She laughed. It was a harsh sound that grated on his eardrums like fingernails on a blackboard. ‘I’ve had to ask my bank for a temporary halt to my repayments until I find a new job.’
‘I see.’ His heart contracted until it felt the size of a pea. Guilt ate into him like acid into stone. ‘Would you like me to take over the repayments for you? Or pay the mortgage off outright? Then you won’t need to worry.’
Even before he’d finished speaking she was shaking her head. ‘No. I won’t take money from you.’
Her answer made a shiver run up and down his spine.
The crack that had appeared in his belief that she’d had an affair with Joseph had just got one hell of a lot wider. It was impossible to imagine that her values where money was concerned weren’t carried over into the other areas of her life.
Not wanting to think about what that implied, Luca asked, ‘Would you like me to ask around? See if I can find a position for you?’
She shook her head. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she said, ‘You could always get me my old job back.’
Luca tensed. ‘Please don’t ask me to do that.’
‘Why? Because your answer will be no?’
Luca didn’t answer her.
She laughed bitterly. ‘We agreed to put the past behind us, but all I have to do is scratch below the surface to find you think no better of me now than you did before. It doesn’t matter what I say or do, you’re never going to change your opinion of me, are you?’
‘That’s not true,’ Luca protested, but it was a weak protest and they both knew it.
He hadn’t wanted his neutral position to be tested. By asking him to get her her old job back Morgan had just done exactly that.
The hell of it was, it was a test he’d failed…!
Although Morgan didn’t want to go out after that, Luca insisted.
She acquiesced, but the remote look in her eyes suggested she was a long way from forgiving him.
Luca set out to be his most charming. And it worked. By the time coffee was served she’d thawed sufficiently to actually smile once or twice.
They were on their way back to her apartment when Gino suddenly slammed on the brakes. Their car skewed sideways as he pulled hard on the steering wheel to avoid hitting the navy blue sedan in
front of them.
Luca acted on instinct, thrusting an arm across Morgan as they were flung forward against their seat belts.
Memories of that long ago accident rushed to the surface. It had been dark that night, too. The sound of metal screeching against metal had rent the air, just as it did now.
His heart was racing, slamming against his ribcage, his skin breaking out in a cold sweat. Images flashed into his head at kaleidoscopic speed. His mother and father slumped in their seats. Blood everywhere. Stefania screaming.
He began to shake.
He couldn’t move.
He couldn’t think.
He might physically be in the car…but the rest of him was firmly fixed in the past.
Then he heard movement beside him.
Morgan!
In a flash, he was transported back to the present.
He had to get a grip. He was of no use to anyone—Morgan, Gino, the people in the car up ahead—if he didn’t get himself back under control.
Dragging in a breath, he turned towards Morgan, terrified of what he might find.
She looked pale and shaken, but otherwise appeared OK.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked, squeezing the words out through numb lips.
She nodded.
‘Gino?’ Luca prompted as he rapidly removed his seat belt and moved closer to Morgan.
‘I’m fine, boss.’
Looking at the carnage through the front windscreen, it took Luca a few moments to figure out what had happened. A car travelling on the cross street had run straight through a red light into the car ahead.
‘Call the police and an ambulance,’ Luca instructed as he unsnapped Morgan’s seat belt and began running his hands over her. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for. He just knew that he had to make sure she was OK.
If something happened to her…
His heart beat even more frantically against his breastbone, his mind shutting down on the rest of that thought.
‘What are you doing?’ Morgan asked.
‘Checking for injuries.’
She swatted his hands away. ‘I told you. I’m all right. But I don’t think the people in the car up ahead have been so lucky. We have to help them.’
Before Luca could stop her Morgan had pushed open her door and was running towards the sedan. He sat frozen for one moment, then went after her, aware from the sounds behind him that Gino had finished calling the authorities and was following them.
What followed was a nightmare. A nightmare that seemed to unfold in slow motion so that the horror of it impacted more deeply.
Luca had another bad moment when he realised that the sedan was not only carrying two adults but two children, one of whom was a young girl not much older than Stefania had been when she’d been injured all those years ago. He felt his composure beginning to crack, and it took every ounce of his will-power to rein it back in and do what he had to do.
Morgan gravitated towards the children. Luca did what he could for the parents, both of whom were in pretty bad shape, while they waited for the paramedics.
Gino was nowhere to be seen. Luca assumed he was attending to the occupants of the car that had run the red light.
After what seemed like hours, but was probably only several minutes, the police and an ambulance arrived with sirens blaring. Suddenly there were people everywhere.
Because a fatality was involved—the driver of the vehicle running the red light hadn’t made it—there were questions.
Lots and lots of questions.
Luca kept Morgan tucked in close to his side as they gave their statement. Every now and then a tremor made her body shake. Finally he’d had enough. His mouth tightened. ‘That will be all for now, gentlemen. Ms Marshall has been through quite an ordeal this evening. It’s time I took her home.’
Her head swung in his direction. ‘I’m all right, Luca.’
Luca searched her face. She was pale. There were purple smudges beneath her eyes and a white ring of tension around her mouth. He shook his head. ‘You are not all right. You are exhausted.’
The officer in charge smiled ingratiatingly. ‘Just a couple more questions, Mr da Silva, and then you’ll be free to leave.’
Luca turned on him, a warning look in his eyes. ’No. No more questions. Not tonight.’ He fished a business card out of his pocket. ‘If you present yourself at this address tomorrow morning we’ll be more than happy to tell you whatever you want. But tonight we’ve had enough.’
The policeman looked from Luca’s determined face to the slender female figure tucked protectively at his side and nodded. ‘I’ll call you.’
Luca led Morgan to the car. ‘Are you OK to drive?’ he asked Gino, who nodded and got in behind the wheel. ‘Kensington,’ he said, and Gino inclined his head to acknowledge their change of destination.
Luca handed Morgan into the back seat and strode around to join her, sitting in the centre and putting an arm around her shoulders.
‘Are you OK?’ he asked.
Her skin was cold. She was shaking. ‘Y…yes. I’m fine.’
His top teeth met his bottom ones with a snap. Fine? She was far from being fine. Now that it was over, reaction was setting in.
‘I just…’ She shook her head. ‘Those poor children.’
He hugged her to his side. ‘I know. But they’re in good hands. I’m sure they’ll be OK.’
She nodded.
Luca pulled her more closely against him. She turned so that her cheek rested on his shoulder for the remainder of the journey.
‘We’re here,’ Luca said quietly as they pulled up in his private driveway.
She started. Looked around. Nodded.
But she didn’t ask where they were—proof in his mind that she was in shock.
Luca helped her out of the car and up the stairs. Gino was already holding the door open for them.
‘Grazie, Gino. That will be all.’
Luca half-urged, half-carried Morgan along the corridor to his bedroom. Not once did he consider putting her in one of the guestrooms. He wanted to keep an eye on her.
It wasn’t until he’d closed the door behind them that Morgan finally woke from the haze that had been holding her captive since the accident.
‘Where are we?’ she asked, looking around.
Luca tossed his jacket over the back of a chair. ’We’re in my apartment.’
Her head swung in his direction so hard and fast Luca was surprised she hadn’t strained a muscle. ‘Your apartment? What are we doing here?’
He took her handbag and deposited it on the same chair as his jacket, then smoothed a strand of black hair away from her strained face. ‘You shouldn’t be alone tonight. You’ve had a shock.’
‘I’ll be all right,’ she protested, but it was a weak protest and they both knew it.
‘I’m sure you will be,’ Luca said calmly, stroking a finger down the side of her cheek. ‘But I’d rather keep an eye on you.’
The truth of that statement reverberated deep inside him. Even if she’d had a close relative he could have taken her to he knew he wouldn’t have done so. He didn’t trust anyone else to take care of her.
She nodded. ‘OK.’
Of their own volition his hands massaged the curves of her shoulders. ‘The bathroom is through there,’ he said, nodding his head towards the left. ‘I’m sure you’d like a shower.’
‘Yes, please.’ She frowned. ‘What about you?’
‘I’ll shower in one of the guest bathrooms. Then I’ll get us something to drink. How does tea sound? Or would you prefer something stronger?’
She shook her head. ‘Tea will be fine.’ She started to turn away, only to swing back towards him, hands clasped together in front of her. ‘Do you think we can call the hospital and see how the family are doing?’
Something squeezed tight in his chest. Instinct made him pull her towards him. She fitted just under his chin as if they’d been designed that way. He inhaled the citrus tang of h
er shampoo. ‘Of course. I’ll do that as soon as I’ve showered.’
It was a thoughtful Luca who left the room.
He was, he decided, a fool.
A blind fool.
The truth had been staring him in the face all along.
From the minute Morgan had tossed his cheque back at him he should have known. Known she was not the kind of woman to have an affair with a married man.
He felt the truth of that statement resound deep inside of him.
She’d been telling him the truth, only he’d been too blinkered to see it. Now her innocence was crystalclear.
Despite the tragedy of the evening, Luca felt as if a weight had been lifted off him.
He could hardly wait to tell Morgan.
But not tonight.
Tonight she needed to rest and recover.
Tomorrow he would tell her.
He would take her somewhere special for dinner. He would shower her with flowers and chocolates. Afterwards he would take her in his arms and tell her that he believed her.
He frowned. That was not all he had to do, he realised. He also had to undo the damage he had done.
He would get her her old job back, if that was what she wanted. If not, he’d find her a new one.
But first and foremost he had to release her from their agreement.
Tell her that she was free to leave whenever she wanted to go.
And then he would ask her to be his mistress.
Not because she had to.
But because she wanted to.
Chapter Eight
MORGAN STEPPED THROUGH the bedroom door wrapped in a huge towel, with another twisted turban-style around her head.
Luca was just setting down a tray on the bedside table. He was wearing a black robe shot with gold and a pair of black slippers. Between the lapels she could see a triangle of golden skin dusted with fine dark hair.
Her mouth ran dry when she realised he was naked under the robe. Clutching her hand to her breast, as much to stop the frenetic race of her heart as to stop the towel from slipping, she said in a voice that hardly sounded like her own, ‘I don’t have anything to wear.’
Luca pointed to the bed. ‘You have a choice. One of my T-shirts or one of my business shirts. Take your pick.’