Buying His Bride of Convenience

by Michelle Smart

  Remembering that insistence made her wonder again if it was possible his feelings for her had developed as hers had for him. Now that all the stress that had been hanging over him had gone, could they look at creating a proper future together, as a real husband and wife? Was there a chance for her, for them, to be happy?

  Eva raised herself onto her toes and kissed him lightly on the mouth. ‘I’m sure. Go be with your family. I’ll only be a few hours behind you.’

  His eyes bored intently into hers. ‘Promise me you’ll be careful.’

  ‘I promise.’

  Then he kissed her, his first real kiss in so long that she felt she could cry from the joy of it.

  Tonight, she promised herself as she got into the waiting car that would take her to the camp. Tonight she would talk properly with him. She would tell him her feelings and see if they had a true future together.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ‘WHAT ARE YOU so worried about?’

  Daniele turned his head to find his sister standing by his side.

  ‘Eva’s still not here.’

  He was sitting at a table near the entrance in one of the Eden Hotel’s bars, a huge glittering room with an open wall that led out to the moonlit beach.

  Francesca took the seat beside him. He could sense her rolling her eyes. ‘She messaged you an hour ago to say she would be late. A delay at the airport, wasn’t it?’

  He nodded. When they’d made their plans to leave Caballeros for Aguadilla, they hadn’t factored in that scores of press would also be fleeing the country en masse. No one with any sense would stay in Caballeros any longer than necessary, not unless they were compassionate people like his wife, who would still be working in the refugee camp there if he hadn’t paid her to marry him. The airport was backlogged with aeroplanes trying to take off.

  ‘She’ll be here soon enough.’

  ‘Her phone’s battery was going flat.’ If Eva needed him she wouldn’t be able to get in touch. Anything could happen to her and wouldn’t know until it was too late.

  He should have insisted on going to the camp with her but at the time it hadn’t sounded at all unreasonable for her to go without him so long as she had adequate protection.

  ‘So? Seb and a couple of his men are with her. Nothing’s going to happen to her so stop worrying.’ Seb was Felipe’s right-hand man and ex-British Special Forces.

  Francesca pointed at their mother, who was having a tearful but animated conversation with a noticeably pregnant Natasha. Their aunt Rachele was chatting with Matteo, who was staring at her with barely concealed bemusement. From her wildly gesticulating arms and the frizzing of her hair, Aunt Rachele was already two sheets to the wind. ‘I’m so glad we’ve all made amends. I still feel guilty about cutting them off.’

  ‘Don’t. You didn’t know.’

  She sighed. ‘No. I didn’t. I should have known, though.’

  ‘What? That Pieta was gay?’

  ‘No, silly. I meant that Matteo wouldn’t have touched Natasha if he hadn’t had such strong feelings for her, and Natasha would never have started an affair with Matteo if she were grieving for Pieta like a real wife.’

  ‘What’s a real wife supposed to mean?’

  ‘One who loves her husband and is loved in return. The way Felipe and I feel for each other and the way you and Eva feel for each other.’

  ‘Eva and I don’t feel anything for each other, not in the way you mean.’

  ‘Don’t pretend, Daniele. I’ve seen the way you look at her. You can’t tell me you’re not developing feelings for her.’

  His heart made a sudden thump against his ribs. ‘We get along well,’ he said stiffly. ‘But that’s the extent of it. We were very firm about what we wanted our marriage to be and it’s not one like you’re suggesting and nor will it ever be.’

  ‘What’s that smell?’

  ‘What smell?’ he asked, perplexed.

  ‘Oh. I know what it is. It’s bull.’

  ‘Francesca...’

  She ignored the warning tone in his voice. ‘You’re falling in love with her.’

  ‘How much have you drunk? Love and romance are for fools. I know that and Eva knows that. We agreed on the rules when we agreed to marry.’

  ‘Rules are made to be broken.’

  ‘Not in this instance. I’m not in love with her and I never will be.’

  ‘If you say so.’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Shall I tell Felipe you think he’s a fool? He’s romantic. And he loves me.’

  ‘Either we talk about something else or you can find someone else to annoy.’

  ‘Am I getting under your skin?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She laughed. ‘How’s Eva getting on with the Maserati you got her for Christmas?’

  ‘Francesca...’

  ‘Drop the threatening tone, you big bully. I’ve changed the subject.’

  He had to laugh. His sister was incorrigible. He had no idea how Felipe put up with her. Eva adored her too.

  He sucked in a breath.

  He didn’t know how he would have got through that speech without Eva standing there with her silent but heartfelt support. Just that one small nod of her head and the glistening in her eyes had been enough for the words to pour out.

  But for his sister to suggest he was falling in love with her was ridiculous.

  There was a light tap on his shoulder.

  Daniele whipped his head round and found Eva standing behind him. She must have come in through the side door.

  She gave a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. ‘Sorry I’m late. The airport was in chaos.’

  He got to his feet and looked closely at her. She was as white as a sheet, the starkness of her pallor contrasting strongly with the red of her hair and the black trouser suit she wore. ‘Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Did Seb and his men look after you?’

  ‘They were great, thank you, but I’ve got a really bad headache. Have you got our room key? I hope you don’t mind but I’m going to go to bed.’

  ‘I’ll come with you.’

  ‘No.’ Her sharpness took him aback. She gave another smile and said in a softer tone, ‘Sorry. Please, stay with your family. I just need some sleep. I’ll be fine.’

  With great reluctance he gave her the spare key. ‘We’re in the same suite as last time.’

  ‘The suite you bribed me into marrying you in?’ There was no malice in her tone but still he looked closely again at her. She really did look ill.

  ‘I’ll be up soon.’

  ‘Okay.’ Then she leaned over to Francesca and kissed her cheek. ‘I’m sure I’ll see you at breakfast.’

  She walked away without giving Daniele a kiss.

  He met Francesca’s worried stare.

  ‘She’s had a long day,’ he said, unsure if his explanation was for his sister’s benefit or his own.

  For once Francesca kept her mouth shut. ‘I’ll get us some more drinks.’

  When Daniele made it to the suite only his bedside light was on. Eva was curled up under the covers on her side of the bed, her eyes closed, her breathing deep and even.

  He made as little noise as he could so as not to disturb her but even as he climbed under the sheets with great care, he couldn’t help but feel certain that she was wide awake.

  * * *

  Eva opened her eyes and stared at the dark wall before her. From the sound of his breathing, Daniele had fallen asleep. One of his hands rested on her hip and it was taking everything she had not to shove it away. It had taken everything she had not to flinch when he’d first put it there.

  He didn’t love her and he never would.

  She’d heard it from his own mouth.

  I’m not in love with her and I never will be.

  You didn’t get clearer than that.

  How could she have been so careless? Daniele had chosen her because he’d believed she would never fall in love with him. He’d been so abundantly clear ab
out his feelings he might as well have etched it in wood.

  Staying with him was out of the question. Now that she knew the truth about her feelings, how could she sleep with him every night and listen to his intimate caresses that would always fall short of the words she burned to hear? Without love, there was nothing to glue them together. There would be nothing to stop his eye from wandering and nothing to stop her heart smashing into pieces to witness it.

  She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t take the pain.

  As soon as they got back to the castello she would pack her things and leave.

  * * *

  The flight back to Pisa airport felt like the longest flight Daniele had ever taken. His mother and aunt travelled with them in his jet but not even their presence could push out the feeling of impending doom that had lodged in his gut.

  Eva had woken with the same headache that had seen her take herself to bed so early the night before. An hour into the flight she’d excused herself to get some more sleep in their bedroom.

  She insisted it was only a headache but he was certain she was lying. He would have to wait until they got home and had some privacy before shaking whatever was troubling her out of her. Whatever it was, it spelt trouble. He could feel it in his marrow.

  So while she slept, he passed the time playing cards with his mother and aunt. He only learned the two sprightly women were keen poker fiends after they’d cleared him out of all his cash.

  He was coming to realise there was lots about his mother he didn’t know and, despite his worry about Eva, he found himself enjoying this time with her.

  He didn’t know if Eva was right that his mother had always needed him but he knew that right then they were enjoying each other’s company even while the guilt at all the neglect he’d shown her throughout his adult life pecked at him like an angry woodpecker.

  So many thoughts were crowding in his head he was in danger of getting a headache of his own. About to make his excuses and crawl into bed with Eva, his mother dug into the giant handbag she carried everywhere and pulled out a travel-sized game of backgammon.

  ‘Do you want to see if you can beat me at this?’ she asked, her eyes gleaming with challenge.

  His aunt Rachele cackled wickedly.

  Never one to resist a challenge, even if it came from the sixty-six-year-old woman who’d given birth to him and her younger sister, Daniele cleared the table of the cards. And soon found himself thrashed at the game by both of them.

  * * *

  It was mid-afternoon when they landed back in Pisa. His driver was there to collect them. They dropped his mother and aunt home first and then, finally, he was alone with Eva.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked her.

  ‘I’m getting there.’

  Before he could question her further, she suddenly asked, ‘Has the castello been transferred into your name yet?’

  ‘All done. I received official confirmation yesterday when you were at the camp.’ His lawyer had emailed him. ‘I’ve got a number of calls to make when we get in and then I’m going to take you out.’

  She shrugged her shoulders.

  ‘And while we’re out you’re going to tell me exactly what’s wrong with you. And no more lies about a headache.’

  ‘I haven’t lied about a headache,’ she answered listlessly.

  ‘But there is something troubling you.’

  She didn’t answer but as they’d arrived home, he told himself it could wait for half an hour while he got his affairs in order. He could then give her his undivided attention without fear of interruption. He would take her out somewhere private and neutral, switch his phone off, insist she turn hers off too, and get her to open up.

  It would also give him time to prepare himself...

  Suddenly it occurred to him that she could be pregnant. They hadn’t discussed having children since that meeting in his suite in Aguadilla when he’d bribed her into marrying him. She’d scorned at the idea of having his children then but everything had changed since then and they’d never used contraception...

  He was no pregnancy expert but was sure, having heard from friends with offspring, that tiredness was a big thing in the early stages. It wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility for loss of skin colour and headaches to also be factors, was it?

  If she was pregnant, he’d have to learn fast.

  Holed up in his office while Eva disappeared to their bedroom to shower and change, Daniele called his lawyer and then checked in with Talos Kalliakis to firm up the dates for the renovation of the concert hall Talos owned in Paris.

  Him, a father. With Eva’s brains and looks their child could be anything in the world. An astronaut. A brain surgeon. A Michelin-starred chef. Anything.

  ‘Daniele, did you hear what I said?’ came Talos’s gruff tones down the line.

  ‘Sorry. I was miles away. What did you say?’

  ‘Amalie’s next to me and is insisting I arrange a date for us to get together. She wants to meet Eva.’

  ‘That sounds great. Let me get my diary.’ He refused to trust modern technology when it came to his diary and put all his appointments and meetings in a thick leather-bound tome.

  Now, where had he put it?

  Spotting it on the sideboard by his record player, he got up from his seat. Just as he stretched his fingers out to grab it, something caught his eye from outside.

  Abandoning the diary, he walked to the window, which overlooked the courtyard, and looked out.

  Eva was putting a suitcase in the boot of the car he’d brought her.

  All thoughts of his conversation forgotten, he dropped his phone and banged on the window.

  ‘Eva!’

  She looked around, clearly trying to see where the noise had come from.

  He banged on it again. If he used any more force the glass would shatter.

  Now she saw him.

  Even with the distance between them he saw the panic in her eyes.

  Never in his life had his fingers been as useless as they were right then as he tried to open the latch of the window. She’d closed the boot shut and was rushing to the driver’s side when he finally threw the window open and hollered out, ‘Don’t you dare go anywhere. Do you hear me? Stay right where you are.’

  Then he ran, through the corridors, down the stairs, through more corridors, every step he took the certainty growing that by the time he reached the courtyard she’d be gone.

  She wasn’t gone. And neither had she moved.

  ‘Where are you going?’ he demanded, racing over to her and snatching the car keys from her hand.

  But he already knew the answer.

  The answer had been with him since she’d arrived at the hotel last night as white as a sheet and throughout the long night when she had slept like a statue beside him. He’d just refused to see it.

  ‘Away.’

  ‘Away where? For how long?’

  He knew the answer to the latter question too.

  She closed her eyes and rubbed a knuckle on her forehead. ‘Daniele, I can’t do this any more. The castello’s in your name. It can’t be taken away from you. It’s safe with your family. You don’t need me any more. I’m free to leave.’

  ‘Without saying goodbye? Without even a word of explanation? You were just going to leave?’

  ‘I’ve left a note for you in our bedroom.’

  His hand clenched around the keys, fury shooting through him and overriding the dread that had clutched at his throat when he’d looked out of his window and known exactly what she was doing. ‘Well, that makes everything fine. You left me a note’

  ‘Please, Daniele, don’t make this any harder for me than it already is. Give me the keys and go back inside.’

  ‘You want the keys? Come and get them. But you’re not going anywhere until you tell me why you’re prepared to up and leave without a word to me, and don’t you dare mention that bloody note. I’ve never thought you a coward before. Tell me to my face why you would trea
t me with such contempt.’

  ‘Me treat you with contempt?’ She rubbed her forehead again then raised her eyes to the sky. When she lowered them and fixed them on his, the panic and fear he’d seen in them had gone. Now they blazed. ‘Me? How you have the nerve to say that after the way you spoke about me to your sister...’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘I heard you,’ she snarled. ‘I heard everything you said. Love and romance are for fools. I’m not in love with her and I never will be. You said it. You said that about me.’

  ‘So what? That’s what we agreed on when we—’

  ‘To hell with what we agreed!’ she screamed, charging forward to thump his chest. ‘This is why I wanted to escape without seeing you. I knew you’d be blasé about it, just as I knew I wouldn’t be able to bear to hear you dismiss what we have to some stupid agreement we made.’ She thumped at his chest again. ‘You thought you’d married some emotionless bitch who would never be so stupid as to fall in love with you. Love and romance are for fools. I know that and Eva knows that. We agreed on the rules when we agreed to marry.’

  Her mimicry over, she stepped back, visibly shaking, her face twisted with a strange combination of grief and fury that it hurt him to see. ‘I’ve broken the rules. I’ve screwed up. I’ve fallen in love with you and I do not want to pretend happy marriages any more. I want a real happy marriage. I want you to love me. Can you love me? Can you?’

  She threw her words at him as a challenge.

  ‘Eva...’

  ‘Of course you can’t. I heard you say it. You’re emotionally spineless.’