Never Gamble With a Caffarelli

by MELANIE MILBURNE

  Well, maybe that wasn’t quite true. He certainly didn’t hate her any more. She had seen him looking at her with lust, longing, amusement, and even annoyance when she got in the last word, but not hatred.

  Their relationship had changed over the last three weeks. They still bickered occasionally but it was a sort of foreplay. They were both strong-willed and determined and didn’t like losing an argument or debate.

  It was foolish of her to have fallen in love with him but it had happened so long ago it was pointless flagellating herself about it now. She had fallen in love with him at the age of fifteen.

  She still remembered the day it had happened. She had gone with her father to Vittorio’s villa for a function. Remy had been home for a visit and he’d been assigned the task of keeping her entertained while her father and Vittorio had a business meeting before dinner. She had been waiting in the home entertainment room, idly leafing through one of her fashion magazines, when Remy had come in. She hadn’t seen him in a year or two. Her heart had quite literally stopped when he had come in. He had been so tall and so staggeringly handsome, with that lazy smile that had travelled all the way to his eyes.

  But as soon as she had stood up his smile had disappeared. He’d seemed a little taken aback seeing her dressed in a short denim skirt and a clinging top that revealed a generous amount of cleavage due to the brand-new push-up bra she’d bought.

  He had cleared his throat, walked briskly over to the television, selected a movie and set it running. ‘There, that should keep you happy for a while.’

  ‘I’m not twelve,’ she’d said with a pout.

  He’d pushed a hand through his thick overly long hair. ‘It’s a good movie. It won two Oscar nomination and three Golden Globes.’

  She had put on her beseeching face. ‘Will you watch it with me?’

  He had muttered something that sounded very much like an English swear word before he had sat down on the sofa furthest away from her. But he had stayed and watched it with her. He’d even laughed at the funny bits, and at one point paused the movie to go and get some popcorn he’d charmed one of the housemaids to make.

  Yes, falling in love with him had been the easy bit.

  Falling out of love was going to be the kicker.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ‘ARE YOU SURE you’re all right?’ Remy asked Angelique when they landed in Paris. ‘You’ve been so quiet and you still look a little pale.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ She gave him a tight smile. ‘I’m just nervous. The thought of all those wedding dresses is enough to make my insides churn.’

  He put an arm around her waist as they walked out to the waiting car. ‘You’ll blow everyone away as soon as you walk up that aisle.’

  Angelique hadn’t been sick for the last couple of days but she still felt queasy in the stomach. She had managed to keep it from Remy but then saw a pharmacy ahead and wondered how she could sneak in and get a testing kit without him noticing. But just then his phone rang and she seized the opportunity. She pointed to the ladies’ room and mouthed the words to him about needing to take a pit stop. He nodded and turned away, plugging one ear so he could hear the conversation without all the noise of the busy airport terminal.

  Angelique walked briskly into the shop and bought tampons—that was her positive thinking working overtime—and a pregnancy kit. She put both items in her tote bag and came out with her heart thumping so loudly she could feel it in her throat.

  Remy was still talking on the phone and only turned around when she appeared by his side. He ended the call and slipped his arm back around her waist. ‘That was Robert Mappleton. He said to say hi.’

  ‘He’s a very nice man,’ Angelique said, falling in step beside him as they made their way out to the waiting car. ‘He really misses his wife. She died eight years ago after a long struggle with breast cancer. They’d been married for forty-nine years. She used to do a lot of the background work in the business. I think that’s why it went downhill so badly. He’s been grieving all this time.’

  Remy glanced down at her. ‘He told you all that?’

  She nodded. ‘We talked about the grieving process—the denial, the anger, the bargaining, transition and then acceptance. I told him how lost I’d felt when my mother died. He was very understanding. He and his wife couldn’t have children.’ She gave a little sigh. ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we could choose our parents? I would’ve loved a father like Robert Mappleton instead of my own.’

  Remy’s arm tightened protectively. ‘I wish I could have mine back, just for a day, to tell him how much he meant to me. And my mother.’

  Angelique leaned against his shoulder. ‘They’d be very proud of you and your brothers.’

  His expression clouded and he looked away. ‘Of Rafe and Raoul maybe, but me? I’m not so sure.’

  ‘But why? You’ve just nailed the biggest deal of your career. It’s bigger than anything your brothers have done.’

  He looked at her again. It was a hard look: cynical; jaded. ‘It’s just another deal.’ He dropped his arm from her waist and took her hand instead. ‘Come on. We’d better get you to the church on time.’

  * * *

  Remy stood at the back of the photo shoot in one of Paris’s gothic cathedrals as Angelique was photographed in a variety of bridal outfits. She looked stunning in every one of them. It made him think of their wedding back in Dharbiri. She had looked fabulous then too, but nothing about that day had been real.

  He couldn’t help imagining her as a real bride, walking down the aisle not to a crowd of photographers but to him.

  He blinked and shook his head. It was definitely too hot and stuffy in here or something.

  He looked back at the action playing out in front of him. The photographers, all six of them, issued commands and directions, which Angelique followed tirelessly like the consummate professional she was. Her manager had come over and introduced herself earlier, telling him how Angelique’s star was set to shine brighter than any model she had represented before.

  Remy felt proud of Angelique in a way he had never quite expected to feel. He had always thought her spoilt and wilful, yet seeing how she treated the more junior staff on the shoot with respect and kindness made him realise he had seriously misjudged her.

  You’re falling for her.

  No, I’m not.

  Yes, you are. Big time.

  Remy’s phone vibrated in his pocket but instead of ignoring it he welcomed the distraction. He didn’t even check the screen to see who was calling as he stepped outside the cathedral to answer it. ‘Remy Caffarelli.’

  ‘I want you and your brothers here tomorrow for a family meeting,’ Vittorio said.

  Typical. His grandfather always expected everyone to dance around him at a moment’s notice. Remy would go when he was good and ready and not before. ‘I can’t drop everything just because you fancy a family get-together.’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘In Paris with Angelique. She’s working.’

  ‘She wouldn’t know how to work unless it was flat on her back.’

  Anger tightened every muscle in Remy’s spine. ‘That’s my wife you’re insulting. I won’t have you or anyone speak about her like that.’

  ‘If you don’t come here tomorrow I’ll tell the press your marriage to that little black-haired slut is nothing but a sham.’

  Remy felt a cold hand of dread grab at his guts. It wasn’t the deal with Robert Mappleton he was most worried about. What would happen to Angelique’s new-found career if that sort of leak got out before her first shoot was even over?

  How on earth had Vittorio found out? His brothers would never have betrayed him. He had sworn them to secrecy.

  There could only be one person who would want to do the dirty on him even if it hurt his only daughter in the process.

  Henri Marchand.

  * * *

  Angelique came over to where Remy was standing at the back of the church once her shoot was over fo
r the day. ‘I didn’t expect you to stay the whole time. You must be bored out of your brain. There’s nothing more tediously boring than watching mascara dry— Hey, is something wrong? Why are you frowning like that? Are you cross with me?’

  Remy forcibly relaxed his frown. ‘Sorry, ma petite. It’s not you. It’s my grandfather. He’s insisting on a family meeting tomorrow. He won’t take no for an answer. Can you ask for a day off? I know it’s short notice.’

  She frowned at him. ‘He wants me there? But why?’

  ‘I’ll explain it later. I don’t want anyone listening in. Do you think you can get tomorrow off?’

  ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine. There’s been a delay on the next collection. Mackenzie just told me about it. We’re shooting at a private château in Vichy the day after tomorrow so I’m all yours till then.’

  Remy put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. ‘Best news I’ve had all day.’

  * * *

  Angelique didn’t have time to do anything about the pregnancy test because Remy had organised a flight straight to Rome. She tried to put her worries to the back of her mind. She was probably imagining her symptoms anyway. Stress always made her stomach churn. And being late with a period was certainly not unusual; it came with the territory of dieting and travelling across time zones.

  And, to be fair, Remy had been keeping her up late at night, not that she was complaining. The nights in his arms were the highlight of her day. Not that he had restricted their passionate interludes to the evenings: mornings, mid-morning, lunchtimes, afternoons and evenings had been spent in a variety of activities that had made every cell in her body shudder with delight.

  It worried her that it might soon be over. His deal was done and dusted. The only thing keeping them together was her modelling contract—a contract she didn’t even want.

  Rafe and Poppy arrived just as they were getting out of the car at Vittorio’s villa, so there was no chance of slipping away and finding out one way or the other about the result.

  Rafe was distinctly cool with Angelique but Poppy was anything but. She wrapped her arms around Angelique and gave her a warm hug. ‘It’s so lovely to meet you.’ She pulled back to look at her. ‘Oh. My. God. You’re so beautiful! I’m having such a fan moment. I feel I should be asking for your autograph or something.’

  Angelique loved her already. ‘Congratulations on your marriage.’ It was the first thing she thought of to say.

  Poppy’s toffee-brown eyes twinkled. ‘Congratulations on yours.’ She leaned in close so the boys couldn’t hear. ‘And all that rubbish about it being a sham just to save your necks doesn’t fool me for a second.’

  Angelique quickly schooled her features. She wasn’t ready to play confidante just yet, even if Poppy was the sort of girl she longed to have as a best friend. ‘Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m not in love with him. We’re just making the most of being stuck together. I’ve always fancied him, but then what girl with a pulse wouldn’t?’

  ‘Oh, well...sorry. I just thought... Never mind.’ Poppy’s flustered look was replaced with a smile. ‘Just wait until you meet Lily, Raoul’s fiancée. She’s a darling. She’s quite shy but once you get to know her I’m sure you’ll adore her.’

  ‘I’m not worried about Lily or Raoul,’ Angelique said. ‘It’s Vittorio I’m concerned with. I’ve always been a little terrified of him.’

  Poppy rolled her eyes. ‘Tell me about it. I avoid him as much as possible. So do Rafe and Raoul. I think Remy is the only one who can crack a smile out of him. But you know him, don’t you? Rafe told me you used to come here a lot when your father and Vittorio were business partners.’

  ‘Yes, but it was a long time ago, and there’s been a lot of dirty water under the bridge since then.’

  Poppy gave her a friendly smile. ‘Maybe, but you weren’t the one to put it there. Now, let’s go and meet Lily and Raoul. That’s their car arriving. See?’

  Angelique watched as a slim ash-brown-haired young woman stepped out of the car to go around to the driver’s side with a pair of crutches. ‘I thought Raoul couldn’t walk any more?’

  ‘He can take a few steps now,’ Poppy said. ‘Lily’s been amazing for him. They’re just the most adorable couple. Check out the way he looks at her. It just makes me melt.’

  Angelique felt an ache around her heart when she saw Raoul take the crutches from Lily. He smiled a smile that was so much more than a smile. It was the smile of a man hopelessly in love. But when she looked at Lily she saw the same thing: Lily was besotted with Raoul and was not one bit ashamed about showing it.

  They came over to where the rest of them were standing. Raoul leaned heavily on his crutches to offer a hand to Angelique. ‘Welcome to the family, Angelique. It’s good to have you here again. It’s been a long time. Too long.’

  Angelique felt a sudden rush of emotion. Raoul had always been the nicest to her. ‘Merci. I’m sorry about your accident. I sent a card. Did you get it?’

  He gave her a warm smile. ‘It meant a lot to me. It made me smile, which I wasn’t doing a lot of back then.’ He rebalanced on his crutches so he could get Lily to step forward. ‘Ma chérie, this is Angelique, an old family friend and now Remy’s wife. Angelique, this is my fiancée, Lily Archer.’

  Angelique took Lily’s hand. ‘I’m very pleased to meet you.’

  ‘And you,’ Lily said with a shy smile. ‘Wow, you really are as stunning as you are on those billboards and in those magazines.’

  ‘You should see me before breakfast,’ Angelique said. ‘I spend a fortune on cover-up and I’m on a constant diet. How I look is totally fake.’ I’m a fake.

  Lily’s smile said she didn’t believe it for a second. ‘Maybe you could give me some make-up tips for my wedding. I’m not very good at that stuff.’

  ‘I would be happy to. You have amazing blue eyes. They’re so incredibly dark. Has anyone ever told you that?’

  Lily smiled and glanced at Raoul who was looking at her with such a tender look it made Angelique’s heart suddenly contract. ‘Yes; yes, they have. Many times.’

  There was a rumble from inside the villa like a dragon emerging from his cave. Vittorio suddenly appeared at the front door with a savage frown between his brows as his gaze fell on Angelique. ‘I always knew you’d be trouble. You’re just like your two-faced father.’

  Angelique stepped forward with her shoulders back and her chin at a combative height. ‘I don’t think it’s fair that I should be judged for the wrongs my father did to you and your family. I had nothing to do with it. I’m an innocent party.’

  Vittorio glared at her. ‘There’s not too much about you that’s innocent.’

  Angelique stared him down. ‘Yes, well, perhaps there’s some truth in that, given what your grandson has been doing with me over the last three or four weeks.’

  ‘You shameless hussy!’ Vittorio spat at her. ‘I bet your double-dealing father put you up to this. No wonder he couldn’t wait to crow about it when he called me the other day. You tricked Remy into marrying you so you could carve up his assets when you bail out of it.’

  Remy stepped up and put an arm around Angelique’s waist. ‘I’ve already warned you about speaking about or to Angelique in a disrespectful manner. She is my wife, and you will treat her with the respect accorded to that position.’

  Vittorio curled his top lip. ‘How long are you going to keep her? She’s not going to stay with you. She’ll do the dirty on you first chance she gets. You’ve left yourself wide open. She’s a witch. A Jezebel. You’re crazy to think she’s going to stick by you. She’ll take half of what you own because you’ve been thinking with your—’

  ‘I’m not taking anything that isn’t rightly mine,’ Angelique said.

  Vittorio laughed. ‘Do you think my grandson will hand that castle over just because you opened your legs for him? He’s not that much of a fool. His winning that property off your father was the one time I felt proud to call him my grandso
n. He won’t relinquish a prize like that. He’s too much like me to give in just because a beautiful woman bats her eyelashes at him.’

  ‘That’s enough!’ Remy barked. ‘Stop it right there.’

  Poppy came to the rescue. ‘I think it’s time for us girls to get to know one another over some devil’s food cake, which strangely enough seems rather appropriate just now. You boys can have your family meeting. We want no part of it.’

  Lily touched Angelique’s hand. ‘Maybe this would be a good time to swap make-up tips.’

  ‘You could be right,’ Angelique said.

  * * *

  Rafe took Remy aside after Vittorio had stormed off in a temper. ‘You OK?’

  Remy clenched and unclenched his fists. ‘I swear to God I could have punched him for that.’

  ‘Yes, well, maybe you’re feeling hot under the collar because there’s a bit of truth in what he said.’

  Remy glared at his brother. ‘Don’t you start. I’m nothing like him.’

  Rafe gave him his ‘older and wiser’ look. ‘We’re all a bit like him, Remy. There’s no point trying to hide from it. It’s best to face it and deal with it. We’ve all used people to get what we want. We’ve learned it off him. But it doesn’t mean we have to go on being like that. I know I’ve always taught you and Raoul to set goals and to focus, but I’ve come to realise that winning at any cost is not always the right or the wisest thing to do.’

  ‘I know what I’m doing.’ Remy tightened his jaw. ‘I don’t need your advice or guidance any more.’

  Rafe gave his shoulder a squeeze. ‘Sorry. I have this lifetime habit of feeling responsible for you. You’re old enough to make your own decisions.’

  And take full responsibility for them, Remy thought.

  ‘Is Angelique all right?’ Raoul asked as he came over once Rafe had left to join Poppy and the girls. ‘She looked really pale and fragile. You haven’t been giving her a hard time, have you?’

  Remy slid his brother a look. ‘Trust you to be the softie. She’s fine. She’s had a stomach bug and the shoot she was on yesterday was long and tiring.’