Raking her fingers through her curls and scrambling into last night’s clothes, she returned to the bedroom to find that a tray of coffee had magically appeared. Was his housekeeper back on the premises? she wondered awkwardly as she recalled the unmistakable look of disapproval she’d seen clouding the woman’s watchful eyes when she’d arrived.
‘Sit down. Have some of this before you go,’ Salvatore said as he handed her a delicate cup of the inky brew.
She didn’t want to sit down, but she took the coffee and it was delicious. Lina drank down the strong and reviving liquid before picking up her rucksack, and as she straightened up she knew she had to put on the performance of a lifetime.
‘Right.’ Her smile was bright. ‘I think that’s everything. It’s time I was on my way.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Lina—’
‘No.’ She would never know where she got the nerve to cut off what sounded like words of regret, but Lina realised it was imperative she didn’t slink away, acting as if she’d committed some sort of shameful crime. Because she hadn’t done anything wrong. She’d had sex—amazing sex—with a man who had turned out to be a skilled and considerate lover. Surely that was something to rejoice about? He hadn’t promised her the stars and she hadn’t asked for them. ‘You don’t have to say anything, because it isn’t necessary,’ she continued. ‘I enjoyed it. More than I ever imagined I would. I’ve never done anything like this before and I doubt I ever will again. So I’ll just say goodbye and let you get on with your day.’
She wouldn’t have been human if she hadn’t enjoyed the very real sense of discomfiture which briefly darkened his features—as if her words were confusing him. As if he was the one who always called the shots and resented anyone else for daring to take on that role. But what could he say? He certainly couldn’t object to her dignified departure, could he? She was liberating him from all responsibility and, as a result, Lina felt an unfamiliar sense of liberation herself.
‘I’ll see you out.’
‘Honestly, there’s no need. I can find my own way out.’
Some of his steeliness returned as he gritted out his next words. ‘I said, I’ll see you out.’
It felt weird to retrace her steps of the previous night and even weirder to see her little scooter sitting outside the grand villa, with the helmet hung neatly over the handle, looking so sparkly that she guessed the chauffeur must have polished it. But she guessed that was what happened when you were as rich as Salvatore...you just turned your back for a moment or two, and some underling was busy making your world look all perfect and shiny.
‘Lina.’
She looked up into his rugged features and saw the sudden darkening of his eyes and for a moment she thought he was about to kiss her goodbye—as if he were offering her some kind of small consolation prize. And something told her that if she allowed him to do that, then all her newfound bravado might just crumble and disappear. Because wasn’t her dignity vital at a time like this? Quickly, she took a step back and saw his brow knit together in a frown.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Your housekeeper is standing behind the shutters watching and she can see everything.’
‘I don’t care what she can see.’
She thought about the things he’d said. About her having squandered her virginity. Why would she want to kiss a man who had delivered such a damning assessment of their night together? Lina crammed her crash helmet down over her curls. ‘Well, maybe I do.’
With a feeling close to disbelief, Salvatore watched her walk towards her bike. He’d expected her to hang around until they’d exchanged phone numbers, at least. But instead Lina Vitale was buckling up her helmet as if she couldn’t wait to put as much distance between them as possible and, as a consequence, that made him reluctant to see her go, because he was a man who always liked to do the leaving.
He watched as she swung one shapely leg over her little moped and although the denim shorts could in no way be described as revealing, he knew all too well the soft and velvety flesh which lay beneath. Flesh which had been soft and full, like an overripe damson before it dropped to the ground, weighted down by all that sweet, dark juice. He told himself he should be grateful that she had accepted the limitations of their night together with such grace.
But as she twisted the hand-grip of her little scooter and the engine spluttered into life, he could feel the renewed heat of his blood. And a frustrated beat of longing washed over him as she drove away down the drive, the streaming banner of her hair shining blue-black in the bright Sicilian morning.
* * *
‘You little slut!’
Lina bit her lip. ‘Mama, please—’
‘What else should I call you when you’ve just spent the night with Salvatore di Luca?’ A truculent jaw was thrust forward. ‘Are you going to deny that, Nicolina?’
‘I—’
‘And you lied to me about being with Rosa, didn’t you? Or are you going to deny that, too?’
Lina stood completely still as she stared at her furious mother, her heart racing as she tried to piece together her thoughts. She’d known something was wrong from the moment she’d entered the neat little house, her body still warm and tingling with pleasure. She’d been feeling almost proud of herself for having walked away from Salvatore’s luxury villa so coolly and calmly. For having accepted the status quo. Of course, she wouldn’t have been human if there hadn’t been a tiny ache in her heart as she’d driven away, because who wouldn’t have wanted more? But all those hopeless longings had been forgotten the instant she’d walked in and seen her mother’s angry face.
‘How did you find out?’ she questioned, her cheeks flushing.
‘How do you think I found out? I rang Rosa. The friend you were supposedly spending the night with!’
‘You rang her?’ Lina repeated dully.
‘Oh, she tried to lie.’ Her mother was in her element now. ‘To make up some sort of flimsy excuse about why you couldn’t come to the phone. But I didn’t believe a word of it, and then Sofia Bertarelli confirmed that you’d been with him—that you’d turned up there yesterday afternoon, as bold as brass!’
‘Sofia Bertarelli?’ Lina was puzzled now.
‘A customer of mine, who happens to be a cousin of the billionaire’s housekeeper!’ Her mother spat the words out. ‘Who couldn’t wait to tell me!’ She clenched her hands, her bony knuckles growing white. ‘I can’t believe you would behave like that, Lina—like a common little slut! That you would spend the night with a man you barely know and ruin, not just your own reputation, but mine too—as if it hasn’t suffered enough already! But it has confirmed one thing. Oh, yes.’ A grim look of finality locked her mother’s bitter features. ‘You won’t be leaving this village again until you have had a few lessons in morality.’
Afterwards Lina would wonder what gave her the sudden urge to stand up for herself in a way she’d never been able to do before. Had her first experience of sex liberated her in more ways than she’d thought? Was that why she was able to stare at her mother, not with fear or dread or regret, but with a growing awareness that this was all wrong? That it had been wrong for a long time and she could no longer tolerate it. ‘You were checking up on me,’ she said dully.
‘Of course I was checking up on you—and with good reason, it seems!’
‘You have no right to check up on me,’ said Lina very quietly. ‘I’m twenty-eight years old and I should be free to behave as I wish, just so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. And I haven’t.’ She lifted her chin very high. ‘I haven’t hurt anyone.’
But it was as though she hadn’t spoken, for her mother raged on. ‘You will not leave this village again until I say so! You will work hard and accept your position in life. It’s time you were grateful enough to marry a decent man who truly wants you—that’s if it’s not already too late! But never again must you i
nvolve yourself with someone who just takes advantage of your stupidity and lack of judgement by bedding you and then discarding you!’
It was possibly the most brutal thing her mother had ever said, but in a way it spurred Lina on to do something she should have done years ago. But that didn’t make it easy. It was never easy to break a pattern which had become so entrenched that you couldn’t image a different way of living. ‘You can’t keep me here by force,’ she said quietly.
‘Just you try to stop me!’
‘No, Mama. I don’t think you realise what I’m saying.’ Somehow Lina managed to speak quite calmly, even though her stomach was churning. ‘I want a change. I need a change and I should have done it a long time ago. I’ve had it with slaving my fingers to the bone and getting no thanks for it. Just like I’ve had it with you bossing me around as if I’m a child of five, rather than a fully grown woman.’ She sucked in a deep breath. ‘I’m leaving, Mama. And I’m leaving right now.’
‘Oh, really?’ Her mother’s voice ascended into a shrill shriek as she followed Lina upstairs. ‘How am I expected to run the business without you to make clothes for me?’
Lina pulled out an old suitcase and started packing the clothes she’d made to take to her cousin’s wedding in Florida, but which had never been used. ‘You’re perfectly capable of sewing them yourself. Or why not take on an apprentice? There are young girls in the village who will be glad of the opportunity.’
And just see if you can get away with treating someone else the way you’ve treated me. But she didn’t say that.
‘And where do you think you’re going to go?’ demanded her mother. ‘Who on this island do you think will want you?’
Lina snapped the suitcase closed, found her pristine passport and her small stack of savings, then she removed her denim shorts and blouse and wriggled into a clean dress, wishing her mother would give her a little privacy. ‘I’m going away. To San Francisco.’
‘To be with him?’ Her mother gave a discordant laugh. ‘You think he’ll want you now he’s got what he wanted?’
Lina shook her head. No. She wasn’t that stupid. She didn’t think there was going to be some kind of fairy-tale ending for her and Salvatore di Luca. In the intervening hours since she’d left his bed, he was unlikely to have decided she was the woman of his dreams and he couldn’t live without her. But although her billionaire lover had painstakingly explained that he didn’t want a relationship with her, he didn’t strike her as a dishonourable man and surely he would help her. He owned a plane and was presumably in a position to help her find a job in America. For someone with his wealth and influence, that wouldn’t be too big a deal, would it?
After all, it wasn’t as if she wanted anything else from him.
Was it?
CHAPTER FIVE
LINA SHIVERED AS the icy look in Salvatore’s eyes told her more than words ever could.
She’d known straight away that this was the last thing he wanted—last night’s lover turning up on his doorstep and asking him for help. Literally, as he was about to leave. But it was too late to back out now and, besides, what else could she do?
She had been tense with nerves as she had returned to the sprawling villa, terrified he might already have left Sicily and flown back to his home in America. She had arrived in time to see his chauffeur loading smart leather suitcases into the boot of the luxury car, her relief that he was still here soon replaced by the fear that he might not want to see her again. A fear which had been confirmed when Salvatore had appeared at the door of the house and watched her get off her motorbike with suspicion darkening his bright blue eyes. Her heart had sunk as she had looked at his coldly beautiful face because there was no welcoming smile on his lips, nor any kind of greeting to acknowledge the passion they’d shared during the night. Only a cool and steady regard, tinged with a faint but unmistakable impatience. Lina felt like someone who had stepped out of line. As if this wasn’t what was supposed to happen and she should have been clever enough to have realised that for herself.
‘Lina,’ he said carefully, his dark brows raised in arrogant query. ‘Did you forget something?’
And Lina knew that if she babbled out an explanation about how a tiny earring belonging to her grandmother, or something equally sentimental, must have slipped down the side of the bed, then a smile of relief would break out on his sensual lips and someone would be instantly dispatched to find it for her. But there was no earring. Nothing had been forgotten or misplaced. She was here to throw herself on his mercy and she tried to think of a diplomatic way to lessen the impact of her request, but there was nothing to fall back on but the unvarnished truth.
‘I need... I need your help,’ she said.
His blue eyes became hooded. ‘I’m not sure I understand.’
Lina tried not to wince at that dismissive response because the subtext to his words was: This has nothing to do with me, so please don’t bother me with your problems.
She swallowed, twisting a tiny silver ring around her middle finger. ‘I need to leave Sicily,’ she whispered.
‘Your holiday plans are not really my concern.’
‘I’m not talking about a holiday.’
‘What, then?’ he questioned impatiently.
‘I was hoping I might be able to ask your advice.’
‘About what?’
‘About finding a job.’
His powerful body stiffened, like a natural predator which had just heard the crackle of danger, but he flitted her a brief smile, as if the temporary illumination of his handsome face would take the sting out of his next words. ‘I’m afraid you’re talking to the wrong person,’ he said. ‘It’s true I have a large workforce but I don’t micromanage employment issues and, even if I did, I certainly don’t take on casual labour on a whim. My human resources team handle that side of my life, so you would need to deal with them. Look, Lina, I don’t want to be hurtful, but—’
‘No! Maybe I’m not making myself clear.’ Her words came tumbling out and she saw his look of surprise, as if he wasn’t used to being interrupted. Come to think of it, she was pretty surprised herself—but what was it they said? Desperate times called for desperate measures and she was feeling pretty desperate right now. Didn’t matter that Salvatore di Luca was a billionaire and she was a village dressmaker without any formal qualifications, because right now he represented the only hope she had. ‘I can’t go back home,’ she explained. ‘My mother has discovered that I spent the night with you and it’s the talk of the village. If I stay, she’ll make my life a misery.’
His voice was dismissive. ‘I’m afraid that’s not my problem.’
‘I know that. But surely—’
‘Surely since I’ve spent the night with you, it now follows you’re my responsibility?’ he snapped. ‘Is that what you mean, Lina? Even though I specifically asked you whether you were sure you wanted to have sex with me. And you said yes. In fact, you instigated it, as I recall—even though you must have anticipated that you could get found out.’
Lina clenched her fists. She wanted to spill out her hurt at the way he was making her sound so predatory. To tell him he was the most arrogant man she’d ever met and she wondered how she could have fallen into bed with him. But what did she know of the ways of men? Maybe they all acted like this if a woman gave themselves so easily. Wasn’t that what she’d been told all through her growing-up years—that a man would lose all respect for you if you had sex with him too quickly? She swallowed, knowing what had happened between them had felt so right—but that wasn’t what mattered now. The only thing which mattered was that she had nowhere to go and she needed Salvatore di Luca on her side.
‘Of course I’m not your responsibility,’ she answered quietly. ‘But my life will be intolerable if I remain here. Surely you can understand that. I’ll be seen as a woman of loose morals. I’ll be judged every time I
walk down the street to buy bread. Have you forgotten what these small villages are like?’
His lip curled. ‘I made my escape just as soon as I could. Why didn’t you do the same?’
‘Because it’s different for men, and because I made a promise...’ Her voice trembled. ‘I made a promise to my father that I would stay and look after my mother, only I’ve realised it isn’t doing her any favours. It’s just making her more dependent on me, and it’s time she stood on her own two feet. I need to get away, Salvatore—surely you could help me.’
‘How?’ he demanded, then narrowed his eyes as he appeared to sift through a series of possibilities. ‘Do you want to carry on staying in this villa, once I’ve left? The rental is paid for another week.’
‘No. I can’t stay in Sicily.’
He gave a slightly impatient flick of his fingers. ‘I have a house in Rome you could use.’
Did he really think she could take a flight to the mainland and go to the capital city of Italy, a place where she knew no one? ‘That wouldn’t work either.’ She drew in a deep breath and prayed for courage. ‘What I’m hoping is that you could take me to America with you.’
He gave a short laugh and stared at her, as if waiting for the punchline. ‘Seriously?’
‘All I’m asking is for somewhere temporary to stay until I can get myself settled.’
‘Is that all you’re asking?’ he echoed sarcastically.
Cinderella In The Sicilian's World (HQR Presents) Page 5