by Alexia Adams
Her brain froze at the mention of children. She, too, wanted a family, but she hadn’t stopped to consider their actual creation. The heat of Luca’s gaze set off an avalanche of sensations along her skin, a tingling so physical she ran her hands up and down her arms. But having sex with someone would mean they’d discover her scars, which would lead to questions. Questions she never wanted to answer but knew she’d have to … one day.
“Couldn’t I just come and work for you first? Then once we know each other better, we could get married.” Even her own ears could hear the crumbling resistance in her words.
Luca leaned forward and took her hand in his, sending her pulse rate into the triple digits. “That would not be appropriate. My peers may question my integrity if I were seen dating one of my employees. And my villa is in a very small village; old-fashioned ideas still prevail. For you to live with me without being married would be frowned on. My reputation, personally and in business, is very important to me. To continue our relationship here is also not possible. I do not have the time to fly back to London every weekend.”
She stared at him, mesmerized by the cadence of his voice. It all sounded so … reasonable. Luca’s thumb was brushing rhythmic patterns across the back of her hand, and she had to concentrate to understand his next words.
“As my wife you will have a generous monthly allowance, in addition to credit cards and access to store accounts for any clothes, shoes, or other items you may wish to purchase. You could continue your education, get a degree in something that interests you. I am not sure there are any ninja schools in Milan, but you can check.”
She laughed, surprised he’d remembered her outrageous statement at the party. “I think I’ll leave ninja-ing for my next life. What do you get out of this deal?”
“All I ask is that you proofread a few letters, attend some business functions with me from time to time, and care for our future family.”
She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear and swallowed. His gentle caress on her hand was wreaking havoc with her normally rational thought patterns. He sounded so business-like, outlining a proposed merger of their lives, and all she could think about was the merger of their bodies. She looked down at their entwined hands and made one last attempt to match his dispassionate tone.
“I would still like to help my brother financially until he starts work full-time. May I use some of the allowance for that?”
“Of course, you can spend it on whatever you wish. If you need more, let me know. There does not seem to be anything else holding you here, so what do you say?” The words were spoken casually, but once again his accent had become more pronounced. She searched his eyes. They met her gaze with a warmth that belied the relaxed manner of his tone.
“Yes, I’ll marry you and come to Italy,” she said. This was her best chance to make something of herself. Complete her education, learn a new language, have a family without worrying about where the next meal was coming from. Maybe even start her own business. She’d finally be living and not merely existing. A shiver of excitement, not trepidation, raced through her.
“Excellent, I will make the arrangements. Do you really not have a passport?” A full smile lit up his face, and Sophia wondered at the transformation. Could he have really been anxious that she would refuse him?
“No, I’ve never had the opportunity to travel out of the country.”
“You will need to get one as soon as possible. On Monday I will have been in London for seven days, so I will meet the residency requirement and we can give notice at the register office. Then we can be wed a couple of weeks after that,” he said. He had done his homework. “I know you said you don’t see your family often. Perhaps I could meet your parents tomorrow?” His tone was calm, but she sensed his curiosity.
“No,” she blurted out. She pulled her hand away from his and sat back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “Um, I don’t think I’ll inform my parents of our arrangement just yet. I’ll tell my younger brother, James, that I have taken a job in Italy. Besides, tomorrow I’m working again. So I don’t have time to see them anyway.”
Luca seemed taken aback but after a moment replied, “As you wish. Do you have any other questions?”
“Not that I can think of at the moment. I am sure something will come to mind later.” Like what on earth am I thinking, marrying a complete stranger? And is this total or only partial insanity?
Fifteen minutes later they stepped out of the restaurant into the cool West London night. The Styrofoam containers made an odd squeaking sound in the plastic bag Luca held. There had been a few leftovers from their dinner, but she hadn’t wanted to appear low-class by requesting to take them home. She was pretty sure Luca’s normal dates didn’t ask for doggy bags. And then out of the blue, Luca ordered take-away as they finished their meal.
It turned out the extra food was for the homeless guy who lived on the street near his hotel. Luca hadn’t wanted to give him money, in case he used it for drugs or alcohol, but a good meal was usually appreciated. She’d searched his face. Did he know she’d been homeless once? Was he trying to impress her with his generosity? Was it all a show?
For a minute she’d considered telling him about her past. But what if he changed his mind and she lost her chance? Her throat ached and she remained silent.
Two men stumbled out of the pub next to the restaurant and almost crashed into her. Luca quickly stepped in front, his hand reaching for hers and pulling her against his back. He took up a protective stance in front of her until the men staggered down the road, shouting obscenities to no one in particular.
“I will walk you home,” he said.
“It’s not necessary, Luca. It’s only a couple of blocks from here.” He didn’t argue. Simply raised his eyebrow and waited for her to lead the way. “Really, I’ve lived here for a long time. It’s pretty safe.”
Unfortunately, a police car chose that moment to go racing by, blues and twos blaring.
“If I do not see you to your door, I will be awake all night, wondering if you made it home safe. Please, for me.”
How could she resist a plea like that? And what other things would she concede in this marriage?
Chapter 3
“Are you mad? I go to Spain for two weeks and come back to find you’ve agreed to marry a total stranger?” Olivia shouted to be heard above the noise of the treadmills they were both on. “This from the woman who hasn’t had a serious boyfriend ever! Never in a gazillion years would I have thought you, of all people, would do something so … so … outrageous.” Olivia slowed her machine to a walk and stared at Sophia.
Sophia slowed down as well, wiping her face and neck with her towel. Having said it out loud, it did sound outrageous. How could she explain how sensible and reasonable it felt, at least when she was with Luca?
“It’s not complete madness,” she began. “Luca is … well, he’s different from any other man I’ve met. More importantly, this is an amazing opportunity. I can leave my past and all the horrific memories behind and start a new life in a new country. I’m tired of working my butt off for nothing. This way I can get a degree and make something of myself. Make sure my children have a decent life. He’s a good guy, so stop looking so worried.”
Olivia stopped her treadmill and put her hand on Sophia’s. “What about love?”
Sophia hit the stop button and stepped off the machine. “I don’t want love. Love is a huge disappointment.” She took a sip of water to clear her throat. “All I need is someone I can respect, especially if it means I don’t have to worry about paying the rent or putting food on the table. Do you think that makes me a gold digger, or worse?” She moved over to the mat area to do some stretches. Olivia followed.
“You’re asking me? I think trophy wife is a legitimate career choice. Marrying for money isn’t always bad—unless you intend to divorce him after a few years and take everything you can get. People get married for a variety of reasons; who’s to say w
hat the right ones are? My worry is that you’re a loving person, Sophia. What if eventually you want more from this marriage than just financial security?” Olivia started with a sun salutation stretch, ignoring the man on the rowing machine who stopped to watch her.
As a model, Olivia was used to people gawking at her. Although, even if she wasn’t in front of a camera all day, at five foot nine, dark-skinned with luxurious deep brown spiral curls and a body that would have made Marilyn Monroe jealous, she still would have gotten a lot of attention. Sophia didn’t envy her beauty, knowing at times it was more of a curse. What wasn’t fair was that when Olivia worked out she glowed, unlike Sophia, who resembled a boiled lobster.
Sophia shrugged. “We plan on having children. I can give all my love to them.”
Olivia switched to the downward dog position. “Love of children and love of a good man are two entirely different things. Still, it’s a big risk. What if he turns out to be an axe murderer, or even worse, lousy in bed?”
Sophia’s tree pose collapsed as she burst into laughter. “Olivia, you have the most bizarre priorities.” She could always trust her friend to look at things from a different angle, especially when she was upside down.
“That doesn’t answer whether he’s good in bed.” Olivia winked before resuming her concerned expression.
“Well, I don’t have anyone to compare him to, do I? So it’s a moot point.”
A mischievous grin split her friend’s face. “I think you should sample his wares, especially if he’s as delicious as you describe.”
“What makes you think I didn’t?”
This time Olivia crumpled onto her mat in laughter. “I know you, my friend. If you’d shagged him, you wouldn’t be so casually discussing his financial assets.”
“He didn’t make any moves on me,” Sophia confessed. “After he walked me home, he just kissed me on the cheek and said goodnight.” For the first time in her life she’d felt protected. Someone cared enough to see her safely home. It was an intoxicating sensation.
“He’s not gay, is he? Is this marriage an elaborate ruse to hide his homosexuality from his family?” The look of horror on Olivia’s face had Sophia laughing again.
“He’s not gay. He was being a gentleman.” She ignored Olivia’s snort. “He told me up front he wants children, so there will be sex at some point in the marriage.” She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation, in public.
“And what do you, my virginal friend, think of that?”
“I, uh, I try not to,” she lied. Truth was she’d thought of little else, especially after each phone call from Luca over the past two weeks. Must be something about his voice, so intimate in her ear, that stirred the woman in her. “I plan to lie back and think of England.”
“Sweetie, if you can think at all, then it’s no good,” Olivia replied. “Seriously, you know nothing about Luca’s life in Italy. What if he says he’s this important property developer, but he really lives in a bedsit and expects you to earn your keep?”
“I looked him up on the Internet. Plus, my boss has known him a long time. Mr. Bodman said Luca is honorable, trustworthy, and considered a pillar of the Italian property development business.” In fact, Mr. Bodman had waxed lyrical on Luca’s virtues for some time.
Olivia put her hand on Sophia’s again. “So you’re really getting married on Thursday?”
“Yes, the sixteen-day waiting period will be up then. Luca is coming over in the morning, and we’re flying to Milan in the afternoon. It’s just going to be a small registry office wedding followed by lunch. I’m hoping you’ll act as my witness?”
“Of course I will. You know I’ll always be there for you. Is your family coming?”
“You’re all the family I need.”
“Sophia, you’re getting married. Don’t you think your parents have a right to know?”
“No. They gave up their right to know what was happening in my life long ago.” She shifted on her mat.
Olivia tilted her head to one side. “What about James? You still see your brother occasionally.”
Sophia shook her head. “If I tell James, he’ll feel obligated to tell my parents or my sister. I’ve let him know I’m taking a job in Italy and will be sending him money to finish his college course. I’ll introduce the family to Luca when I think the time is right.” She crossed her arms over her chest and considered getting on the elliptical to work off the surge of adrenaline racing through her.
Olivia opened her mouth but appeared to change her mind about what she was going to say. “Well, if you need another witness, Stuart is available. He lost his job again.”
Sophia raised her eyebrows but didn’t make any further comment. Olivia’s boyfriends invariably turned out to be losers, but she’d have to wait for her friend to come to that realization herself.
“As long as he can spell his name, that’s all I need.”
Olivia glanced at the clock on the gym wall. “I better go. I’ve got to be up early tomorrow and if I show up with bags under my eyes I’ll never hear the end of it. What time on Thursday? Unless you come to your senses in the meantime.”
“I am being sensible, and nine o’clock at my flat.”
Sophia hugged her friend tightly. They’d saved each other’s lives—no marriage would come between that bond. But she had to look to the future … and bury her past.
• • •
Thursday was bright and clear, and for once Sophia got out of bed even before her alarm went off, rather than hitting the snooze button two or three times. She was barely out of the shower when the buzzer to her flat sounded. It couldn’t be Olivia, as she had a key and would let herself in. A shiver raced up her spine at the thought it might be Luca, but he would be more than an hour early. She pulled on a short satin dressing gown—another second-hand store find like the dresses she wore to work—and hurried to answer the door.
A courier stood on the step with two large boxes, a clipboard, and a smile spreading across his face, no doubt at the sight of her scantily clad body. After signing the delivery slip, she raced back upstairs to her flat and hastily opened the biggest box first.
Inside was the most beautiful wedding gown she’d ever seen. It was Grecian in style, sleeveless with inch wide straps and a V at the front and back. There was a band of crystals just under the bust, then it fell in soft waves of ivory silk to the floor. At the bottom of the box was a pair of silver, strappy sandals with three-inch heels. The second box contained a fabulous bouquet of red roses, which filled the room with a lovely scent.
As she was holding the dress up to herself, remarking on the perfect fit, Olivia opened the door and stepped through.
“Wow, that dress is exquisite! Where on earth did you get the money for that?”
“Luca sent it, along with a wedding bouquet. Isn’t it fabulous?”
“With a dress like that, if you don’t marry him, I will.” Olivia teasingly pulled the dress out of her hands and held it up to herself.
“If you wear it, you’ll need a police escort,” Sophia replied, pointing out her friend’s more ample assets.
“Come on. Let’s doll you up. Luca will hardly recognize you when he arrives.”
“As we’ve only seen each other three times, he may not recognize me anyway,” she said wryly. She sat down on a cardboard box so Olivia could brush out her hair and put it up.
“Does that mean I could knock you out and take your place, and he wouldn’t notice?”
She looked at Olivia in the mirror. As her closest friend and better than family, Sophia would deny her nothing. Except the man who was soon to be her husband. Luca was her best chance at a better life and she had to seize it.
A large roller suitcase and a small carry-on bag stood by the door. A few cardboard boxes were stacked in a corner. Sophia’s shelves were bare of the little knick-knacks that had made the small flat home. “The rent is paid up to the end of the month, and I told the landlord that you would take the boxes
away,” she said.
“So this is really it. You’re going and not coming back.” Olivia’s voice caught on the last word.
“Please, Olivia. No tears today. Today is for celebration. It’s a new start.”
“Let’s get you gorgeous for your new start, then.” Olivia wiped her hand across her cheek, then set to work.
She swept Sophia’s hair up in a loose twist, with curls at her temples and along her nape, and one long curl nestled in the back V of her dress, making it look like it had come loose in a passionate embrace. Sophia generally wore very little makeup—a dusting of eye shadow and a bit of mascara—but Olivia made her eyes seem huge and greener than usual. She painted Sophia’s mouth a deep rose, making her lips look like they had just been kissed.
“My God, Olivia, who the hell is that?” She was so used to looking in the mirror, fixing what was obviously out of place, and walking away, that she never even dreamed she could look like this. “Having a best friend who’s a model really comes in handy,” she said, still staring. “Why haven’t you haven’t made me look like this before?”
“You’ve never wanted to get all dolled up before, said you were the plain-Jane type. But this is your wedding day and you only get married once, provided you do it right the first time. Besides, I didn’t want to have to deal with that kind of competition,” Olivia replied, indicating the reflection.
The sound of the buzzer drowned out their laughter. “That must be Stuart. He wasn’t ready when I left this morning. He went on a bit of a bender last night.”
Unable to sit still, Sophia went over to the window as Olivia ran down the three flights of stairs to let in Stuart. A limo drew up and Luca stepped out, surveying the building in front of him. Her heart went into overdrive. The black suit, white shirt, and azure tie made him look suave yet powerful. The reality of what she was doing finally hit her, and she leaned into the wall for support.