If he wanted to impress her then he had to get on her good side. It was his nature to be rebellious and provocative, but maybe a more subtle approach was needed. Either way, he always got what he wanted. And he was determined to show Dara exactly what she could have if she gave in to temptation.
* * *
The car turned sharply onto another narrow backstreet and Dara felt her stomach lurch. She sat bolt upright in the Porsche’s deep suede seat, one hand clutching her phone like a talisman, the other holding onto the door for dear life. Leo drove as if he was on the Nürburgring, not the tiny cobbled streets of Palermo.
Rounding the last corner, he pulled the powerful vehicle to a smooth stop. She was out of the car in an instant, straightening her skirt and trying to regain her composure.
‘You didn’t enjoy the drive?’
Leo handed his keys to the valet and fell into step beside her as she powered up the pathway to the façade of the ancient building they had arrived at.
‘I generally prefer to travel at a less ferocious pace.’
She stared up at the historical palazzo, amazed that she should be staying in such a place. They walked up marble steps and entered into a bright, ornate lobby. Dara felt her breath catch at the veritable feast of opulent décor.
‘I always knew that some of these old palaces had been converted into luxury suites, but I never thought I would see inside one.’
She craned her neck to look up at the ornate ceiling artwork. Most of the original features had been preserved, and it was like stepping through a doorway into the eighteenth century.
The interior of the apartment was just as flamboyant as the lobby. Decorated in traditional Baroque fashion, it had high ceilings and large ornate chandeliers, with a sizeable balcony overlooking the terracotta rooftops of the city.
Leo guided her through the living area to a set of floor-to-ceiling double doors. ‘Your room is through here. Your bag should have been brought up by now.’
‘Already?’ She raised her brows with surprise as he opened the double doors and, sure enough, her small black case was at the foot of the bed.
‘I expect efficiency wherever I go.’ He shrugged.
Dara took in the gigantic four-poster bed, draped with deep red velvet hangings and a gold-embroidered coverlet. It was the kind of bed that demanded lovemaking and romance. Too bad it would be getting neither tonight.
It suddenly dawned on her that in a few hours she would be posing as Leo Valente’s date. And sleeping under the same roof as him. The insane urge to run screaming from the building was tempting, but she stood her ground. Remember the goal. here, Devlin. One white lie and the castello was hers.
‘We leave for the opera house at seven. Will you find something to wear in time?’
‘I once sourced seven bridesmaids’ dresses the day before a wedding I was planning. In mint-green, might I add,’ she professed proudly.
He didn’t respond with his usual snark, instead taking a quick look at the screen of his phone. ‘I have some business to attend to, but feel free to indulge yourself. Shoes, jewellery. Whatever you desire.’
He took a sleek silver card from his wallet and held it out to her.
‘I can pay for my own clothes, but I appreciate the gesture.’ She pushed the card back towards him.
Leo scowled at her. ‘Fine. I will have the car collect us at seven.’
He left, closing the doors of the bedroom behind him.
Dara wondered at the change in his playful demeanour. Perhaps he was edgy about the significance of tonight.
She would need to get a start on shopping, but first things first... She kicked off her shoes and threw herself back onto the bed with a contented sigh of appreciation. It was like sinking into a cloud. She briefly imagined what it might be like not to be alone in this bed. To have a warm body next to her, touching her in all the right places.
What on earth was happening to her? She was going to have to keep her guard up around him. Her usually controlled libido seemed to be coming out of its enforced hibernation.
He wasn’t even her usual type.
She thought of her ex-fiancé and his neat brown hair, his perfectly ironed shirts and slacks. Dan would never have looked at her the way Leo did. As though she was the most attractive woman in the room. Even before he’d found out she was as barren as the desert.
The ugly phrase jarred her momentarily. It was the phrase she had heard Daniel use to her father in a conversation she had never been meant to hear.
Thoughts of her past pressed through her control, filling her chest with emotion. The news that she would never have children had shaken her to her core. She had always prided herself on not being needy in her relationships, unlike most of her girlfriends. Dan was the only man she had ever slept with. Their sex life had been nothing spectacular, but she’d told herself that their mental connection was worth much more than the lack of wow factor in the bedroom. Apparently he hadn’t felt the same.
Dara shook off the irritation that always followed thoughts about their break-up. Moving to stand in front of the floor-length mirror by the bed, she frowned at her reflection. She wasn’t sexy—she knew that. But once upon a time she had felt moderately attractive...she had accepted male attention graciously.
She was by no means vain. She knew that she had a slim figure and long legs, but her features were plain and her chest far too small. Why a man like Leo would ever be attracted to her, she didn’t know. Perhaps it was the simple fact that she had made it clear that nothing would happen between them.
But the problem was the longer they were together, the more she wanted something to happen.
She walked away from the mirror, trying her best not to groan. What was it about this man that made her second guess herself? Leo Valente was trouble with a capital T, and she needed to keep her own attraction under control if she had any hope of keeping his at bay.
* * *
Leo grabbed two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter and returned to his seat in the private box.
He’d seen that Dara had taken out her phone and was busily tapping away.
‘The tech junkie look isn’t exactly what I want in a date,’ he scolded.
‘Just give me a minute and I’ll be done.’ She tapped a few more times on the screen.
‘You’re on my time tonight, Dara.’ He took the phone swiftly from her grasp, putting it in his inner pocket. ‘You can have it back after the opera if you behave.’
She stared at him, ‘That is a very high-handed approach to regaining my attention.’
‘You don’t find it charming?’ He placed a flute of champagne in her hand.
‘Not even a little bit.’ She straightened, sipping her champagne and looking pointedly away from him down towards the crowds swarming below them in the theatre.
Leo felt more than a little irked at her dismissal. He had spent all afternoon on conference calls so he could free up some time. Only to be coolly ignored by her from the moment he’d collected her from the palazzo.
She looked spectacular, with her blonde hair swept back from her face in a neat chignon, revealing delicate diamond drop earrings. Her gown was elegant and refined—a swathe of pale silver that formed a seductive heart shape at the front, showing just enough skin to leave a little mystery.
He moved closer to her, speaking quietly. ‘I would imagine you prefer a very docile man. One you can organise and control, perhaps?’
‘I don’t really have a preference.’ She shrugged one delicate shoulder. ‘I have a very busy career that fulfils me. Dating is not high on my agenda.’
‘Again with the agenda, Dara? You seem to have it all figured out into neat little boxes. It sounds so perfectly perfect.’
‘You’re mocking me, but there is a lot to be said for having a plan.’
‘When building a nightclub empire, definitely. But everything else is free fall to me. I enjoy surprises. If it weren’t for surprises we wouldn’t be here tonight.’
‘Back to the point: when will I be expected to sidetrack the Lucchesi’s?’
‘Not until the first interlude. Follow my lead and don’t go off-script.’
Dara fought the urge to make a snappy retort, instead relaxing as the music started up. The ancient opera house was beautiful, with its iconic gold architecture and deep red velvet curtains. She had promised herself years ago that she would see a show at the Teatro Massimo—it was on her list of tourist-type things to do while she was living here. A list that she never seemed to get to with her workload...
As the curtain came down for the first interlude she felt butterflies in her stomach. Leo gestured for her to follow him out into the crowd mingling outside the doorway. This was it. The moment of truth. He laid one hand at the small of her back as they walked down the corridors towards the royal box, where the Lucchesi family were seated. The heat from his palm seared into her skin, making those butterflies flap even faster.
A group of people were gathered around the entrance, talking loudly about the performance. One woman stood out, her opulent diamond jewellery outshone only by what had to be the most eye-blurringly white fur stole that Dara had ever seen.
Leo caught Dara’s eye, gesturing for her to step forward and intercept the woman’s attention.
Dara pasted on her most brilliant smile as Gloria Lucchesi came out of the crowd, embracing her warmly. She tried not to look at Leo, noting the smug expression on his face.
‘Dara, darling—what are you doing out in public without your headset?’ The older woman joked.
Dara laughed obligingly at the jibe, feeling unease as Leo stepped right up to her side, sliding his hand around her waist possessively.
‘Im here with my...my date, Leo Valente.’
Her voice stumbled over the words, her heart hammering in her chest. Whether it was the effect of lying so brazenly, or the result of being touched so intimately, Dara felt as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
Her skittishness evaporated once she noticed that Gloria Lucchesi had quite literally frozen in place, her hand clutching at her necklace in a gesture that was much more than simple surprise. Dara felt a sense of foreboding as Umberto Lucchesi came to stand beside his wife, his features ruddy with barely leashed anger.
Gloria placed a hand on her husband’s arm before speaking to Dara directly. ‘Miss Devlin, can you please explain what you are doing here with my husband’s nephew?’
* * *
Umberto Lucchesi looked like a man ready to pounce.
Leo continued to stare, unblinking. ‘How nice to see you, Uncle.’
‘How dare you ambush me at a charity function?’ the older man practically hissed under his breath, looking around the hall to see they were not being overheard.
‘I bought a ticket—just like everyone else here.’
True to form, Aunt Gloria stepped forward to calm the situation. ‘Umberto, please stop being so dramatic,’ she chastised. Her tone was one of calm confidence. ‘My husband forgets that he is in the middle of the Teatro Massimo, not shouting in a boardroom.’
Gloria placed a friendly hand on Dara’s arm. Leo noted Dara’s polite smile, her gentle tone as she defused the situation with questions about Gloria’s daughters.
Umberto remained silent and continued to stare at him across the narrow hallway.
‘We will not do this here, Valente,’ he hissed.
‘Most certainly not,’ Gloria interjected. ‘It’s high time you ridiculous men quit this feud and showed each other a little forgiveness. Leonardo, I want to welcome you home to Sicily, darling. I have missed you.’
‘Thank you, Zia, I’m afraid your husband doesn’t quite feel the same.’
‘That’s an understatement.’ Umberto scoffed.
Gloria spoke directly to him, ‘Come to our villa tomorrow evening for dinner. You can talk business then. For now, let us all enjoy the rest of the evening.’ She guided her husband into the throng of people, looking back to wink at Dara.
Leo smiled at Dara. That had gone just the way he’d planned it. A private meeting attained, on Lucchesi’s home turf. But Dara frowned, turning back towards the box. Leo followed, confused at her sudden change in mood.
* * *
Dara waited until they were back in the box before turning to him. She pressed one accusatory finger into his shoulder. The gesture made his eyes widen.
‘You could have warned me that I was walking into an episode of a soap opera, for goodness’ sake.’
‘I didn’t think it would benefit the situation if you were aware of my history with Umberto.’
‘No, you didn’t think it would benefit you.’ She turned away, fuming. ‘How did I not know that you were related? How is it not common knowledge?’
‘He is my mother’s younger brother. He made a point of removing himself from any connection to the Valente name when my mother passed away.’ He spoke matter-of-factly, anger evident in the hard set of his jaw.
Dara felt her anger deflate, taken by surprise by his candid statement. ‘That must have been very difficult.’
‘My mother died quite suddenly—she was only thirty-eight. The funeral was an ugly affair, and her family blamed my father. And me.’
‘Goodness, she was very young. Life can be cruel sometimes.’
Leo waved off her gentle comments. ‘I am merely divulging the facts to you—not looking for sympathy. I’ve had twelve years to get over it.’
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his designer tuxedo, a sardonic tilt to his brow. This was a man who kept his true feelings buried. She couldn’t imagine revealing her own painful memories in such a matter-of-fact fashion.
Dara thought of the way the two men had just stood toe to toe, eyes spitting fire at one another, in the glamorous gilded hallway of the teatro.
‘Leo, I’ve helped you to get your meeting. I’ve fulfilled my part of our bargain. We agreed that I would act as your date for tonight only.’
‘I can’t go alone to dinner. You will accompany me to keep up the pretence that we are an item. Gloria likes you, and she is the key to keeping the peace.’
Dara shifted uneasily on her feet, smoothing a hand over the smooth pearl satin of her gown. She had felt like a princess earlier, walking down the steps of the palazzo to find Leo leaning against the door of the limo, dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. He looked sinfully handsome and powerful, and it was doing all kinds of strange things to her breathing every time he held her arm or looked at her with that smouldering dark gaze.
She needed to cut her losses before she did something stupid. One more night with Leo was a risk she couldn’t take.
He was watching her intently. ‘What is it that worries you, carina? That they won’t believe we are a couple? Because that won’t be a problem.’
‘It’s too risky. We know nothing about each other. What if they ask questions?’ she argued.
‘They won’t need to.’ He stepped closer. ‘Dara, we practically crackle every time we are alone together. The chemistry between us is quite obvious.’
‘It is?’ Dara felt a little dazed under his scrutiny.
‘Oh, yes.’ He lowered his voice. ‘We naturally react to each other. That’s not something that can be feigned easily and we can use it to our advantage.’
‘I don’t see how arguing with each other will make it seem that we are a couple.’
She turned away, fighting against herself. She was enjoying this little charade they had embarked upon. It was beginning to feel like an alternative reality to her hectic and rather solitary life in Syracuse.
‘Tension
can be interpreted in many ways.’
Leo stepped behind her, close enough that she could feel his breath below her ear.
‘Physical signs are the first things that people notice. Unconscious displays of intimacy.’ He reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.
Dara’s breath caught in her chest at the effect of the innocent yet explosive contact on her already heightened senses.
‘So we hold hands and everything will be okay?’
‘There is no need to go over the top when subtlety will work much better. I might rest a hand on the small of your back while we talk. Display possession.’
Dara tried to focus on his words, but all she could think about was how hard and warm his hand felt surrounding hers. It had been so long since she’d had her hand held.
She shook off that warm fuzzy thought. She tried to seem blasé, barely noticing his movement until she felt his hand slide sensually low on her spine.
‘What are you doing?’ she squeaked.
‘Dara, no one will believe this if your voice rises an entire octave every time I touch you,’ he whispered in her ear as they were re-joined by the other guests in their box.
She took the opportunity to retake her seat and study the programme while she calmed her erratic breathing. The music started and Leo sat beside her. Very close beside her.
‘Let’s try this again,’ he whispered softly.
His hand came to rest upon hers in her lap, his fingers massaging the back of her palm idly, just as a lover’s might. He looked straight ahead, focusing on the beautiful performance, completely unaffected by their contact.
She was suddenly very aware of her breathing as she tried to concentrate on the stage below.
His fingers laced through hers as his head tilted and he whispered in her ear. ‘Much better, Dara, a perfect balance between quiet disdain and shivering anticipation.’
Resisting the Sicilian Playboy (Winner of 2014 So You Think You Can Write) Page 7