by Sarah Morgan
Never having encountered a girl who was easy to please, Stefano gave a sardonic smile. ‘Your mother is easy to please.’
The assistant cleared her throat and returned his credit card. ‘Could you give me a delivery address, sir?’
‘We haven’t finished shopping yet.’ Making an instantaneous decision, Stefano took Max’s hand. ‘Come on. We need to replace some of the things you lost.’
Max hung back. ‘Where’s the money coming from? Did Mum sell her tickets to the ball or something?’
Tucking his credit card back into his wallet, Stefano looked at the child. ‘She had tickets to a ball? The hospital ball?’
‘Yes, she won them. But she doesn’t want them so she’s going to sell them to someone who can go. She can’t go because she’s not Cinderella.’
Stefano exhaled slowly and squatted down next to the little boy. ‘Did she tell you that?’
‘Yes. She said it the morning the tickets arrived in the post.’ Max shrugged. ‘She sort of looked at them in a funny way, said that she’d never won anything in her life before, and then put them back in the envelope. Then she said something like “I’m not Cinderella and I’m not going to a ball.” But she hasn’t given them away. They’re in her handbag. I saw them when she gave me my pocket money.’
Stefano digested that information and then straightened, ‘I don’t know about you, Max,’ he said idly, ‘but it seems a terrible waste not to use those tickets.’
‘She doesn’t want to go because she thinks her bottom is too big and she doesn’t have anything to wear. Girls really care about things like that,’ Max said sagely and Stefano smiled.
‘Then we’d better fix that, hadn’t we? Are you any good at keeping secrets?’
* * *
Hearing laughter and Max’s excited chatter, Liv emerged from the bathroom self-consciously, wrapped in a large soft robe that Stefano had given her.
‘Mum, Mum come and see this tree!’ Max was almost exploding with excitement and he darted across Stefano’s apartment as if it had been his home all his life. ‘We’re going to decorate it together.’
‘You bought decorations?’ Eyeing the size of the tree and then the number of parcels and bags that now littered the floor of the room, Liv felt a flutter of panic.
Max immediately hurled himself across the room and hugged her. ‘You’re not to worry. Stefano needed a tree anyway and he needed decorations.’ He lowered his voice. ‘He didn’t have any. Can you believe that?’
Liv glanced towards Stefano and he gave a wicked little smile.
‘Nice bath?’
Suddenly conscious that she was naked under the robe, she blushed. ‘Lovely. Thank you.’
‘I bought you some clothes. Just some basic stuff to tide you over until you can go shopping yourself.’ He handed her several bags, as if it were nothing. ‘I hope they fit.’
Liv’s stomach lurched as she stared at the label on the bags. ‘You didn’t—’
‘You can’t spend the next few weeks dressed in a bathrobe.’ Stefano’s eyes gleamed dangerously and then he turned back to Max and took the box of lights from him. ‘Where do you want these?’
How could she argue when she needed something to wear? Resolving to find some way of paying him back, Liv picked up the bags. ‘Thank you.’
She retreated to the beautiful bedroom and delved into the bags. Jeans? Her heart sank and she dropped them onto the bed. Why did it have to be jeans? This was going to be so unbelievably embarrassing. She could never find jeans to fit so there was no way he was going to have succeeded. The thought of confessing that she was actually three sizes larger than his estimate, made her shrink with embarrassment.
Postponing the moment when she had to try and pull them over her thighs, she delved into the bag again and hot colour flooded into her cheeks as she pulled out the pretty silk and lace bra. This was getting worse by the minute. How could she wear that? She needed something far more robust. Stefano had never seen her in anything that wasn’t baggy, so obviously he wasn’t going to have a clue what size—
Her thoughts tangled as she looked at the label. The bra was exactly the right size and she dropped it as if it were scalding hot.
How had he known what size to buy?
Horribly self-conscious, she turned and stared at the closed door, half expecting him to be watching her with that sexy smile on his face.
She couldn’t even tell herself that it was because he was very, very experienced with women, because she didn’t think for a moment that he would have had any experience with women of her size.
Pulling on the silk panties, she was momentarily sidetracked by the fact they felt so decadently luxurious against her skin. Then she tried the bra and was amazed to find that it not only felt secure, it looked fabulous.
He had excellent taste in underwear, she thought weakly, reaching for the jeans.
Braced for humiliation she pulled them up, but instead of becoming stuck on her thighs as she’d expected, they slid over her legs, moulded to her bottom and fastened easily.
Unable to believe he’d bought her a perfect pair of jeans when she’d never succeeded in doing that, Liv glanced at the label and then wished she hadn’t because she knew instantly that they’d cost him a fortune.
She knew she ought to tell him to take them back. But then she glanced at herself in the mirror and they looked so impossibly good that she almost giggled with delight.
Her legs looked long and slender, her bottom curvy and—
Eyeing her cleavage, she sighed.
She needed a top.
Opening another bag, she found a luxuriously soft cashmere jumper in a shade of green that she loved, together with a scarf, a hat and an adorable pair of gloves.
Feeling like someone completely different, she strolled out into the living room.
‘What is this? Make-over time?’
‘No, those are the basics.’ Stefano was reaching up to place a bauble at the top of the tree. ‘A make-over is something entirely different. Do they fit? It was a bit of a rushed selection. Max and I didn’t have much time.’ He turned to look at her and his eyes swept over her in blatant masculine appraisal.
‘These jeans are amazing.’ Disconcerted by the look in his eyes, she looked down at herself. ‘It’s like having plastic surgery.’
‘You don’t need plastic surgery.’ His tone exasperated, he strolled towards her and took her face in his hands. ‘You’re gorgeous, Liv.’
Her eyes slid towards Max and Stefano exhaled slowly and let his hands drop to his sides. ‘I’m glad everything fits.’
‘I don’t even want to know how you knew my size,’ she muttered and he gave a knowing smile.
‘Guesswork.’ The way he was looking at her made her feel dizzy and breathless and the clothes made her feel—well, they made her feel incredible.
‘Thank you.’
‘It’s a pleasure.’ His gaze lingered on hers for a moment and then he turned his attention back to the tree.
But there was a tension in his broad shoulders that hadn’t been there before and Liv felt a sudden rush of exhilaration because she knew that there was chemistry between them. She didn’t understand it, but it was definitely there.
The question was, would she dare to do anything about it?
* * *
By the middle of December the whole hospital was buzzing with excitement at the prospect of the Snowflake Ball. Those without tickets were hoping desperately for a sudden flurry of returns and those with tickets spent the day of the ball discussing how to look glamorous and stay warm at the same time.
‘Everyone has gone mad,’ Liv grumbled as she handed Anna a pile of notes. ‘It’s just a dance. With all the same people they work with every day.’
‘In case you hadn’t noticed, a dinner jacket is so much more attractive than a scrub suit.’
‘But once you’ve seen them in a scrub suit, there’s no going back.’ Liv said dryly. ‘I’m glad I gave my tickets
to you. What are you wearing?’
‘Oh!’ Anna avoided her gaze. ‘I haven’t decided yet.’
Liv looked at her in amazement. ‘But it’s tonight.’
‘I know. But we finish at four. That gives me four hours to decide what to wear. That should just about be enough.’
‘You should have let me have Sam for the night.’
‘You don’t think that two little boys in Stefano’s flashy apartment would have been pushing things?’ Anna smiled. ‘Anyway, there’s no need. Dave’s mother has turned up for her annual Christmas take-over, so she might as well make herself useful. How’s Max doing? Is he sleeping in his own bed yet?’
‘Yes. He only slept with me for the first couple of nights. He seems to be fine, actually. And that’s because of Stefano. Max is so cocooned in this wonderful masculine world of football and Ferraris that I think he’s forgotten that his own home no longer exists.’
‘Sam told me all about Stefano turning up at school in the Ferrari to collect Max.’
‘Yes. That was probably the highlight of Max’s life so far.’
Anna looked at her closely. ‘And you’re not happy about that?’
Liv bit her lip. ‘I’m happy that he’s happy, of course I am. But I’m also worried about what is going to happen in the new year. At the moment Max is living in style. He’s made friends with the whole of the security team in Stefano’s apartment block and they play spy games with him all the time. He goes for rides in Stefano’s Ferrari. How is he going to adapt to returning to his own life?’
‘He’s just having fun. You’re the reality of his life, Liv. You’re the anchor. But that doesn’t mean he can’t have fun while it’s on offer.’ Anna touched her shoulder. ‘And you should do the same. Just enjoy it while it’s there. Life is a cold, hard thing as you well know. If there’s any warmth available, then take it and make the most of it.’
‘That’s what I’m doing.’ Liv thought of her new clothes and Stefano’s incredible apartment. ‘He has this balcony that wraps itself around the whole apartment. It’s fabulous. And it’s so, so peaceful.’ She took a deep breath. ‘And it feels safe. In the flat I always slept with one eye open in case someone tried to break in and there were often fights on the streets outside. Living in Knightsbridge is like moving to a different country.’
‘All right, I’ve heard enough.’ Laughing, Anna covered her ears with her hands. ‘Any moment now I’m going to thump you. Just don’t tell me that you’ve seen Stefano naked. That will really ruin my day.’
‘One of the advantages of an extremely large apartment is that it’s perfectly possible for two people not to see that much of each other.’
And that was a good thing, she told herself firmly. He’d been so generous that she was starting to imagine things she shouldn’t imagine.
Yes, he’d said that he wanted to have sex with her, but he was a man, wasn’t he? And she had no doubt at all that if Stefano ever caught a glimpse of her without the clothes he’d bought, he’d change his mind about finding her attractive.
Anna peered at her closely. ‘Is something going on I should know about?’
Liv felt her heart bump. ‘Nothing.’ She wasn’t going to mention that one incredible kiss in his office because since then he hadn’t laid a finger on her so obviously he’d changed his mind about finding her attractive.
‘Well you’ve been living with him for over a week so if there’s nothing going on then you’re a disgrace to the female race. You’re living with the sexiest man alive. If you haven’t used the opportunity to seduce him, you should be ashamed of yourself.’
Liv picked up another set of notes and went to call the patient. ‘Seduction usually involves undressing. And I don’t do undressing unless I’m by myself or I’m in the dark.’
* * *
Anna slid into Stefano’s office. ‘This is never going to work. You’re never going to get her into a balldress and you’re never going to persuade her to relax enough to dance with you.’
‘That is my problem.’ Stefano put his pen down. ‘Is everything else arranged?’
‘Yes, yes.’ Anna paced nervously across the room. ‘But she has no confidence, you know that, don’t you?’
Yes, he knew that.
Accustomed to women who were tediously preoccupied with their own appearance, he was finding Liv a revelation. ‘Stop worrying.’
Anna shot him a look. ‘The suspense is killing me.’ She folded her arms. ‘I don’t think I’ve actually ever kept a secret before. And how on earth has Max managed not to let it all spill out? Sam is the same age and he can’t keep a secret if you pay him.’
‘It helps to own a Ferrari,’ Stefano said dryly and Anna laughed.
‘You’re bribing him with your car? You Italians have no sense of decency.’
‘Max wants her to go to the ball. You’re sure you haven’t changed your mind?’
‘About giving you the tickets? Of course not. But I’m not convinced this whole thing is going to work. Thanks to her delightful ex-husband, Liv doesn’t think she’s beautiful and no amount of Cinderella treatment is going to change that. Why are you smiling?’
‘Because by the time I have finished,’ Stefano murmured, ‘Liv will know she’s beautiful.’ It was going to give him enormous pleasure to take care of that. Personally.
‘Oh for heaven’s sake.’ Anna fanned herself and sank into the nearest chair. ‘Just don’t break her heart, Stefano, or I’ll chop you into pieces. Do you need any advice? Her favourite colour? Best shoes to make a woman gasp? What to say to turn a woman to mush? No.’ She chuckled and shook her head. ‘You don’t need any advice on women at all, do you, you sexy beast.’
‘I think I can struggle through.’ Amused, Stefano checked his watch. ‘You won’t forget to pick Max up from school?’
‘Of course not.’ Anna stood up again and paced the floor. ‘Will you phone me with an interim report?’
‘No. I intend to be fully occupied.’
Anna’s own smile faded. ‘Why are you doing this? Is it just about sex?’
‘Would it matter if it was?’ Stefano watched her closely. She was Liv’s best friend. She knew her better than anyone. ‘Incredibly good sex can make a woman feel beautiful, too.’
‘Just as long as she isn’t dumped immediately afterwards,’ Anna muttered. ‘I suppose I just feel responsible. I agreed to go along with all this because it sounds pretty romantic to me, but if it’s all going to end in—’
‘Anna,’ Stefano interrupted her gently. ‘It’s half past three.’
‘Yes, yes. I’m going to pick the kids up now. Just make sure you live up to your reputation, Mr Lucarelli.’
‘You believe what you read in newspapers?’
‘In this case, I want to.’ Anna glared at him. ‘I want you to be as good as that disgustingly skinny ex-girlfriend of yours says you are, or Father Christmas just might do something unspeakable to your Ferrari.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
LIV changed slowly, lifted her bag from the locker and smiled at a couple of her colleagues who were buzzing with excitement and on their way to the hairdresser’s in preparation for the ball.
She was going to have a lovely evening with Max.
They’d make pizza. Maybe they could curl up and watch a film in Stefano’s den. It had deep squashy sofas and a huge cinema screen and it was definitely Max’s favourite room.
She wasn’t going to think about the fact that Stefano hadn’t made a single move towards her since she’d moved into his apartment. Of course he hadn’t. That kiss had just been a—Well she didn’t exactly know what it was, but it certainly hadn’t meant anything.
She left the hospital and walked across the car park. And then stopped as she saw Stefano. He was leaning against the Ferrari, his arms folded, obviously waiting for her.
He looked so spectacularly handsome that for a moment her mind just emptied and then she remembered that he wasn’t supposed to be here.
; Anxiety rushed over her. ‘I thought you were picking Max up.’
‘Slight change in the arrangements.’ He opened the car door. ‘Get in.’
‘But—’
‘Max is safe.’ He slid into the driver’s seat next to her. ‘He’s gone to Anna’s for the night. And for the next twelve hours at least I don’t want you to argue with me or question me. I just want you to say “Sì, Stefano.”’
Bemused, Liv just looked at him, a hundred questions bubbling round in her head. ‘That isn’t fair. I need to know—’
‘Do you trust me?’ His voice was deep and velvety smooth and she felt her mouth dry.
‘Yes. No.’ Her eyes met his. ‘I trust you with my son. I think.’
He smiled. ‘That’s good enough.’ The Ferrari gave a throaty growl and several heads turned towards them as he drove out of the car park.
‘Am I allowed to ask where we’re going?’
‘No.’
‘Am I allowed to talk to Max?’
He glanced towards her. ‘Would it make you feel better if you did?’
‘I just need to know he’s happy.’
‘Then call.’
‘He’s at Anna’s?’
‘They might have gone for a treat. Call Anna’s mobile.’
‘But she’ll be getting ready for the ball.’ Wishing she knew what was going on, Liv dialled and spoke to Anna who immediately passed the phone to Max.
Liv hung up feeling better, but none the wiser. ‘Why did he say “have a nice evening”?’
‘Probably because he wants you to have a nice evening.’ Stefano pulled up outside a top London hotel.
A uniformed man immediately stepped forward and opened the door. ‘Miss Winchester? We’ve been expecting you.’
They had? Liv glanced at Stefano but he simply smiled.
‘I’ll pick you up in three hours. Enjoy.’