The Truth Behind his Touch

by Cathy Williams

  ‘You’re fishing.’

  ‘Okay, you’re right. I am. But can you blame me? I’ve spent weeks trying not to tell you how crazy I am about you.’

  Giancarlo grinned and at last reached out and linked his fingers through hers. Warmth spread through him like treacle, heating every part of his body. He rubbed his thumb over hers.

  ‘You’re crazy about me,’ he murmured with lazy satisfaction and Caroline blushed madly. Liberated from having to hold back what she would otherwise have confessed because she was so open by nature, she felt as though she was walking on cloud nine.

  ‘Madly,’ she admitted on a sigh, and when he pulled her towards him she relaxed against his hard body with a sensation of bliss and utter completion. ‘I thought you were the most arrogant person on the face of the earth, to start with, but then I don’t know what happened. You made me laugh and I began to see a side to you that was so wonderfully complex and fascinating.’

  ‘Complex and fascinating. I like it. Carry on.’

  She twisted to look up at him and smiled when he kissed her, his lips tracing hers gently at first, then with hungry urgency. Her breathing quickened and she moaned as he pushed up her top, quickly followed by her bra. He bent his legs slightly, supporting her so that she could lean back in a graceful arch as he began suckling on her nipples, pulling one then the other into his mouth, greedy to taste her.

  She understood sufficient Italian now to know that his hoarse utterances were mind-blowingly erotic, although nothing was as erotic as when, temporarily sated, he looked down seriously at her flushed face to say with such fierce tenderness that her heart flipped over, ‘I love you. I don’t know when it started. I just knew when I was in Milan that I couldn’t stand not being close to you. I missed everything about you.

  ‘Meetings and conferences and lawyers and stockpiling wealth faded into insignificance. I was broken up by the way things had ended between us, and I had to get here as quickly as I could because I was so damned scared that I was on the verge of losing you. Damn it, I wondered whether I’d ever had you in the first place!’

  It was unbearably touching to know that this big, strong man, so self-assured and controlled, had been uncertain.

  ‘I love you so much,’ she whispered.

  ‘Enough to marry me? Nothing short of that will ever be enough.’

  EPILOGUE

  CAROLINE looked at the assembled guests with a smile. It wasn’t a big wedding. Neither of them had wanted that, although they had had to restrain Alberto from his vigorous efforts to have a full-blown wedding of the century.

  ‘Let’s wake up these old bores in their big houses,’ he had argued with devilish amusement. ‘Give them something to talk about for the next ten years!’

  They had chosen to be married in the small church close to where Alberto lived and where Giancarlo had grown up. It felt like home to Caroline, especially over the past two months, when the giddy swirl of having her parents over and planning the wedding had swept her off her feet.

  She had never been happier. Giancarlo had proven himself to be a convert to the art of working from home and, along with all the marvellous renovations to the villa, had installed an office in one of the rooms from which he could work at his own chosen pace. Which included a great deal of down time with his bride to be.

  Her gaze shifted to the man who was now her husband. Amongst the hundred or so guests—friends, family and neighbours who had delightedly enjoyed reconnecting with Alberto, who had become something of a recluse over the years—he stood head and shoulders above them all.

  Right now, he was smiling, chatting to her parents, doubtless charming them even more than they had already been charmed, she thought.

  Unconsciously, she placed a hand on her stomach, and just at that instant their eyes connected. And this time his smile was all for her, locking her into that secret, loving world she shared with him and him alone.

  As everyone began moving towards the formal dining-room, onto which a magnificent marquee had been cleverly attached so that the guests could all be seated comfortably for the five-course meal, he strode across to her, pulling her into the small sitting-room, now empty of guests.

  ‘Have I told you how much I love you?’ He curved his hand behind the nape of her neck and tilted her face to his.

  ‘You have. But you need to remind me how much of this is down to Alberto.’

  ‘The wily old fox.’ Giancarlo grinned. ‘To think that he knew exactly what he was doing when he decided that we were going to be married. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking, listening to his little speech in the drawing-room, that he had masterminded the whole thing.’

  Caroline laughed and thought back affectionately to Alberto’s smug declaration that anyone in need of matchmaking should seek him out.

  ‘I know. Still, how can you do anything but smile when you see how thrilled he is that everything worked out according to his plans, if he’s to be believed? I heard him telling Tessa the day before yesterday that there was no way he was going to allow us to go our separate ways because we were pig-headed. He would sooner have summoned the ambulance and threatened to jump in unless we came to our senses.’

  ‘He now has a son and a daughter-in-law and you can bet that I’ll be raising my glass to him during my after-dinner speech. He deserves it. You look spectacular tonight. Have I already mentioned that?’

  ‘Yes, but I’ve always loved it when you repeat yourself.’ Her eyes danced with amusement for he never tired of reminding her of his love.

  ‘Have I also told you that I’m hard for you right now?’ As if any proof were needed, he guided her hand to where his erection was pressing painfully against his zip. ‘It’s awkward having to constantly think of trivia to distract myself from the fact that I’ve spent the past four hours wanting to rip that dress off you.’

  Caroline giggled and glanced down at her ivory dress, which was simple but elegant and had cost a small fortune. She was horrified at the thought of Giancarlo ripping it off her, and amazingly turned on by the image at the same time.

  ‘But I guess I’ll have to wait for a few more hours until I have you all to myself.’ He curved his hand over her breast, gently massaged it just enough for her to feel that tell-tale moisture dampening between her legs, just enough for her eyelids to flutter drowsily and her pulses to begin their steady race.

  He kissed the side of her mouth and then dipped his tongue inside to explore further until she was gasping, so tempted to pull him towards her, even though she knew that there was no way they could abandon their own reception even for the shortest of time.

  But she wanted him to herself just for a few moments longer. Just long enough to tell him her news.

  ‘I can’t wait for us to be alone,’ he murmured fervently, before she could speak. He relinquished his hold with evident regret and then primly smoothed the ruffled neckline of her dress. ‘Talking and laughing, and making love and making babies, because in case you didn’t know that cunning father of mine has already started making noises about wanting grandchildren while he still has the energy to play with them. And he’s not above pulling any stunt he wants if it means he can get his way.’

  ‘That seems to be a family trait but, now that you mention it …’ Caroline couldn’t contain her happiness a second longer. She smiled radiantly up at him and reached to stroke his cheek, allowing her hand to be captured by his. ‘You might find that there’s not much need to try on the making babies front.’

  ‘What are you telling me?’

  ‘I’m telling you that I’m a week late with my period, and I just couldn’t hold off any longer so I did a pregnancy test this morning—and we’re going to have a baby. Are you happy?’

  Silly question. She knew that he would be. From the man who had made a habit of walking away from involvement, he had become a devoted partner; he would be a devoted husband and she couldn’t think of anyone who would be a more devoted father.

  The answer in his
eyes confirmed everything she already knew.

  ‘My darling,’ he said brokenly. ‘I am the happiest man on the face of the earth.’ He took both her hands in his and kissed them tenderly. ‘And my mission is to make sure that you never forget that.’

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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  First published in Great Britain 2012

  by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,

  Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  © Cathy Williams 2012

  ISBN: 978-1-408-97411-7