The Flaw in Raffaele's Revenge (Harlequin Presents)

by Annie West

  To his horror that beautiful mouth wobbled again. ‘How am I supposed to resist you when you’re so...?’

  ‘In love?’ For the first time since he’d arrived he felt his heart lift. ‘Desperate? Ready to do anything?’

  ‘Honest.’ She shook her head. ‘If you really do feel...’

  ‘I do. I love you, Lily. I’ve been falling for you since the night you seduced me long-distance with that sexy voice.’

  Her eyes widened but a smile fluttered at the corners of her mouth. That smile was like warmth on a freezing winter night.

  ‘I’ve been falling for you since we sat on your rooftop and you listened to me talk about my hopes and dreams. You were so understanding.’

  Raffa stilled, all his senses focused on Lily and the words she’d just used.

  ‘Falling for me?’ Was it possible after what he’d done?

  She nodded and a flush crept up her throat. ‘I’ve been in love with you for ages.’ Her whisper all but stopped his heart. Unfamiliar heat prickled the back of his eyes.

  ‘Raffaele?’ She put her hand to his cheek. ‘Are you all right?’

  He cleared his throat. ‘I honestly don’t know. I’ve never felt like this.’ At least he knew what this feeling of fullness was, of fear and hope. ‘I’ve never loved anyone like this.’

  Her mouth widened into the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. ‘Neither have I.’

  For the first time in his life he was lost for words. But not for long. Old shame and new regret hadn’t quite died. ‘I don’t deserve you.’

  ‘Nonsense. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’ Amber fire sparked in her gaze as if challenging him to disagree. ‘By far the best thing.’ She paused. ‘But I have a question. What is it you call me—picc...?’

  Raffa grinned. He couldn’t help it. He’d never believed such happiness existed. Even the prospect of facing his beloved’s wrath when she learned he’d been calling her his little porcupine couldn’t dim his smile.

  ‘Why don’t we go somewhere more private so I can explain?’

  ‘Why don’t we?’ Lily placed her hand in his and he knew he was the luckiest man in the world.

  EPILOGUE

  LILY SMOOTHED HER palms down the scarlet silk skirt of her halter neck dress. Her sexy matching sandals slowed her walk to a sinuous, hip-tilting gait.

  The outfit had seemed perfect in the resort boutique but she couldn’t help having second thoughts. Maybe something a little less obvious would have been better.

  ‘Lily!’ She turned to see Pete from the New York office waving a glass from beyond the pool. ‘Great party.’

  Beside him Consuela, resplendent in a caftan of blue and purple, chatted with the resort’s head butler who, with the rest of the staff, had been given this weekend off.

  The island was in carnival, all work done by staff brought in for the duration as everyone involved in redeveloping the resort enjoyed a well-deserved party before the opening next week.

  Calypso music filled the air and laughing children wove between the adults before jumping into the pool with the maximum possible splashes. Lily laughed too. Raffaele had done something special here. She was proud of him.

  After Robert Bradshaw heard what Raffaele intended for the island it had been easy to persuade him to take cash for the rest of his claim to it. According to Raffaele, that meant after he paid off his debts he’d have enough to support himself on the equivalent of a modest wage for a couple of years. More than enough time for him to find an honest job. Though Lily couldn’t imagine him working.

  Now the island was a shared enterprise. The resort workers whose families had lived here for generations were the principal owners and Raffaele a minority shareholder. It had been a staggeringly generous gesture but it made everyone happy, not least Raffaele, who seemed to think he had to atone for his past.

  Lily didn’t care about his past, so long as she could help him make his future all it should be.

  She wove through the party towards the new restaurant. There was Raffaele in conversation with the head chef. Lily slipped her hand under Raffaele’s arm.

  Every doubt she’d had about her dress dissolved as he turned and took her in from head to toe. The gleam in his eyes told her everything she needed to know but he said it anyway. ‘You look gorgeous.’

  His lips were gentle on hers but she felt the way he held himself in check, because she felt the same. When he lifted his head his smile was just for her.

  ‘You’ll have to excuse me, Henry,’ Raffaele said to the chef. ‘There’s somewhere else I need to be.’

  ‘Sure.’ Henry grinned. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  Raffaele made to pull her closer, but Lily stepped back, threading their fingers together. ‘Not here.’

  Eyebrows raised, he followed her, patiently waiting as they left the celebration behind and finally emerged on the path behind their private beach. Through the trees stood the shell of what would be their sometime home. Raffaele had offered to relocate to Australia but Lily had refused, for now happy to move wherever business took them.

  ‘What is it, my love?’ His voice, that rich-as-caramel caress, wove its magic and she melted into him.

  ‘There’s something I need to know.’

  ‘Hmm?’ He dipped his head to nibble her neck and Lily’s head lolled back, warmth filling her. But still nerves prickled her nape.

  She’d planned her words carefully, but they were fading from her brain. Raffaele had the power to undo her.

  ‘I want to know if you’ll marry me.’ The words shot out before his sensual assault stopped thought.

  He stilled. Eyes brighter than the heavens met hers. They were questioning, stunned. ‘You want to make an honest man of me?’ The hint of humour couldn’t hide his doubts.

  ‘You’re already an honest man.’ He didn’t speak of it but she knew he still felt guilty over his past. Lily threaded her hands through his thick golden hair and pulled his head down. ‘You’re the only man for me, Raffaele. I want to be with you always.’ She watched him swallow hard. ‘Unless marriage makes you uncomfortable.’

  ‘No!’ He wrapped his arm around her waist, his other hand warm at the back of her neck. ‘If you really believe it would work—’

  ‘I know it will work.’

  ‘Well, then.’ He pressed a tender kiss to her lips. ‘We both know I rely on your advice on all important projects.’

  ‘Is that a yes?’ Lily’s heart skipped.

  ‘You think I’d let you go now?’ He shook his head. ‘I may have a lot to learn about relationships and feelings but I’m not crazy. Of course it’s yes. I want to spend my life with you, piccola istrice.’

  ‘I am not your little porcupine.’ She pushed his shoulders in mock outrage, enjoying how he pulled her close so she felt his muscled body through the thin silk.

  ‘No? But I so enjoy soothing you—’ his big hand traced fire down her breast ‘—till you let down your guard.’

  Lily sighed. ‘Sounds like a lifetime’s project.’

  His lazy smile stole her heart all over again. It was brighter than the sunrise and warmed her to the core of her being. ‘That’s the plan. And I’ve never looked forward to anything more.’

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Annie West:

  A VOW TO SECURE HIS LEGACY

  SEDUCING HIS ENEMY’S DAUGHTER

  THE SHEIKH’S PRINCESS BRIDE

  THE SULTAN’S HAREM BRIDE

  Available now!

  Uncover the wealthy Di Sione family’s sensational secrets in brand-new eight-book series THE BILLIONAIRE’S LEGACY beginning with DI SIONE’S INNOCENT CONQUEST by Carol Marinelli, also available this month.

  Keep reading for an exclusive extract of SLEEPLESS IN MANHATTAN, the first book in USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan’s enthralling new trilogy, FROM MANHATTAN WITH LOVE!

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  Sleepless in Manhattan

  by Sarah Morgan

  PAIGE STOOD FOR a moment, thinking how unpredictable life was.

  Who would have thought that herself, Eva and Frankie losing their jobs would have turned out so well?

  Urban Genie existed only because life had laid a twist in her path.

  Change had been forced on her, but it had proved to be a good thing.

  Instead of fighting it, she should embrace it.

  What had Jake said?

  Sometimes you have to let life happen.

  Maybe she should try to do that a bit more.

  And maybe one day she’d look back and realize that not being with Jake was the best thing that could have happened—because if she’d been with Jake she wouldn’t have met—

  Who?

  Would she ever meet someone who made her feel the way Jake did?

  She stood leaning on the railing, gazing at the city she loved.

  The lights of Manhattan sparkled like a thousand stars against a midnight sky and now, finally, as the last of the guests made their way to the elevators, she allowed herself a moment to enjoy it.

  “Time to relax and celebrate, I think.”

  Jake’s voice came from behind her and she turned to find him holding two glasses of champagne. He handed her one. “To Urban Genie.”

  “I don’t drink while I’m working.” And while Jake was present this was definitely still work.

  She knew better than to lower her guard a second time.

  “The guests have gone. You’re no longer working. Your job is done.”

  “I’m not off duty until the clear-up has finished.” And then tomorrow would be the follow-up, the postmortem. Discussions on what they might have done differently. They’d unpick every part of the event and put it back together again. By the time they’d finished they’d have found every weak spot and strengthened it.

  “I don’t think one glass of champagne is going to impair your ability to supervise that. Congratulations.” He tapped his glass against hers. “Spectacular. Any new business leads?”

  “Plenty. First up is a baby shower next week. Not much time to prepare, but it’s a good event.”

  He winced. “A baby shower is good?”

  “Yes. Partly because the woman throwing it for her pregnant colleague is CEO of a fashion importer. But all business is good.”

  “Chase Adams is impressed. By tomorrow word will have got around that Urban Genie is the best event concierge company in Manhattan. Prepare to be busy.”

  “I’m prepared.”

  His praise warmed her. Her heart lifted.

  He stood next to her and the brush of his sleeve against her bare arm made her shiver.

  His gaze collided briefly with hers and she thought she saw a blaze of heat, but then he looked away and she did, too, her face burning.

  She was doing it again. Imagining things.

  And it had to stop.

  It had to stop right now.

  No more embarrassing herself. No more embarrassing him.

  She turned her head to look at him but he was staring straight ahead, his handsome face blank of expression.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “For what?”

  “For asking us to do this. For giving us free rein and no budget. For trusting us. For inviting influential people and decision-makers. For making Urban Genie happen.” She realized how much she owed him. “I hate accepting help—”

  “I know, but that isn’t what happened here. You did it yourself, Paige.”

  “But I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. I’m grateful. If you hadn’t suggested it, pushed me that night on the terrace, I wouldn’t have done it.” She breathed in. Now was as good a time as any to say everything that needed to be said. And if she said it aloud maybe it would help both of them. “There’s something else—” She saw him tense and felt a flash of guilt that he felt the need to be defensive around her. Definitely time to clear the air. “I owe you an apology.”

  “For what?”

  “For misreading the situation the other night. For making things awkward between us. I was...” She hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I guess you could say I was doing an Eva. I was looking for things that weren’t there. I was close to panic and you were trying to distract me. I understand that now. I don’t want you feeling that you have to avoid me, or be careful around me. I’d never want that. I—”

  “Don’t. Don’t apologize.”

  He gripped the railing and she noticed his knuckles were white.

  “I wanted to clear it up, that’s all. It was a kiss. Didn’t mean anything. Two people trapped in an elevator, one of whom was feeling vulnerable.” Shut up right now, Paige. “I know I’m not your type. I know you don’t have those feelings. I’m like your little sister. I get that. So—”

  “Oh, for— Seriously?” He interrupted her with a low growl and finally turned to face her. “After what happened the other night you really think I see you as a little sister? You think I could kiss you that way if I felt like that about you?”

  She stared at him, her heart drumming a rhythm against her chest. “I thought— You said— I thought you saw me that way.”

  “Yeah, well, I tried.” He gave a humorless laugh and drained his champagne in one mouthful. “God knows, I tried. I’ve done everything short of asking Matt for a baby photo of you and sticking that to my wall. Nothing works. And do you know why? Because I do have feelings, you’re not little and you’re not my damn sister.”

  Shock struck her like a bolt of lightning.

  They were the only two people left on the terrace. Just them and the Manhattan night. The buildings rose around them—dark shapes enveloping them in intimate shadows and the shimmer of light.

  The storm clouds were gathering, creating ominous shadows in the dark sky.

  The sudden lick of wind held the promise of rain.

  Paige was oblivious. The sky might have come crashing down and she wouldn’t have noticed.

  Her mouth was so dry she could hardly form the words. “But if you feel that way, if you do have feelings, why do you keep saying—” She stumbled over the words, confused. “Why haven’t you ever done anything about it?”

  “Why do you think?”

  There was a cynical, bitter edge to Jake’s tone that didn’t fit the nature of their conversation. None of the pieces fitted. She couldn’t think. Every
thing about her had ceased to function.

  “Because of Matt?”

  “Partly. He’d kick my butt. And I wouldn’t blame him.” He stared down at his hands, as if they were something that didn’t belong to him. As if he was worried about what they might do.

  “Because you’re not interested in relationships—or ‘complications’ as you call them?”

  “Exactly.”

  “But sex doesn’t have to be a relationship. It can just be sex. You said so yourself.”

  “Not with you.”

  His tone was harsh and she took a step back, shocked. They’d often argued, baited each other, but she’d never heard that edge of steel in his voice before.

  “Why? What’s different about me?”

  “I’m not going to screw you and walk away, Paige. That’s not going to happen.”

  “Because of our friendship? Because you’re worried it would be awkward?”

  “Yeah, that, too.”

  “Too? What else?” She stared at him, bemused.

  He was silent.

  “Jake? What else?”

  He swore under his breath. “Because I care about you. I don’t want to hurt you. There’s already been enough damage to your heart. You don’t need more.”

  The first raindrops started to fall.

  Paige was still oblivious.

  Her head spun with questions. Where? What? Why? How much? “So you— Wait—” She struggled to make sense of it. “You’re saying that you’ve been protecting me? No. That can’t be true. You’re the only one who doesn’t protect me. When everyone else is wrapping me in cotton wool, you handle me as though you’re throwing the first pitch at a game.”

  He didn’t protect her. He didn’t. Not Jake.

  She waited for him to agree with her, to confirm that he didn’t protect her.

  He was silent.

  There was a throbbing in her head. She lifted her fingers to her forehead and rubbed. The storm was closing in—she could feel it. And not just in the sky above her.

  “I know you don’t protect me.” She tried to focus, tried to examine the information and shook her head. “Just the other night, when we found out we’d lost our jobs, Matt was sympathetic but you were brutal. I was ready to cry, but you made me so angry and—” She stared at him, understanding. She felt the color drain from her face. “You did it on purpose. You made me angry on purpose.”