To Win His Heart

“What do you know that I don’t?” she fired.

“More than you want to hear.”

She blinked. “How come?”

“Because it might hurt you.”

Hurt? “You mean you’re not going to tell me?”

“No. I promised someone I wouldn’t,” Piper’s voice trailed.

“I see.” She slid off the side of the bed and stood up. “Well in that case I plan to proceed as if you hadn’t warned me. With a little hard work I’ll make him change his mind.”

“You’ll be playing with fire.”

“Then that’s my problem isn’t it.”

“Don’t snap at me, Olivia. I know you’re feeling as lost without Greer as I am. You simply don’t want to admit it.”

She tossed her head back. “I admit it feels strange to be two-thirds of a whole. In time I trust we’ll both get over it.”

“Until we do, please come home with me.”

“Not yet, Piper.”

“Listen to me. You don’t mess with a man like Luc. In more ways than one he’s a different breed from anyone you’ve ever known. Besides, and this is probably the most important point, he has the distinction of being the only male who never fell under your spell. You can’t win them all, Olivia. Trust me on this.”

“Are you through, Greer?”

“That wasn’t very nice,” Piper came back in a quiet voice.

Olivia clutched the phone tighter. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m tired of people telling me what to do.”

“Translated you mean, Greer and me.”

Since the answer was obvious, Olivia didn’t say anything.

“Whatever happened to all for one, and one for all?”

“There’s no more all.” She prided herself on keeping a steady voice.

“You and I have each other. I don’t want to see you in any more pain. It’s been hard enough on us to lose Daddy.”

At the mention of their father who’d died in April, Olivia’s eyes smarted. “I don’t intend to stay in pain. My plan is foolproof.”

There was a long, resigned silence. “What is it exactly you’re intending to do?”

“Get him to propose, at which time I will say yes.”

“Not that again! Luc already knows about the Husband Fund scheme, so it won’t work on him.”

“Yes, it will. He thinks I’m interested in Cesar, so he’ll jump at the chance to save his brother from a fate worse than death by taking me on Fabio’s boat. While we’re basking in the sun, I’ll find ways to thaw out his heart until he’s unable to resist me. By the time we dock at Vernazza, he’ll have proposed.”

“You’ll never break him down, Olivia.”

She clutched the phone tighter. “Want to bet?”

After a pause, “I don’t bet when I already know the outcome. I repeat. You’ll live to regret this.” Piper’s voice sounded like Greer’s at her most prophetic. “Come home with me and we’ll find you a nice American guy to date.”

“After Fred, no thank you.”

“Not like Fred. Europe doesn’t have the monopoly on exciting men.”

“Sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself!”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’ve already met the man I want for my husband, Piper. There’s no talking me out of it.”

“You think he’s hurt you now…you just wait!”

Olivia refused to let the secret Piper was withholding about Luc get to her. “We’ll see.”

“It’s your funeral, but whatever happens, call me tomorrow. I have to know where you are and where I can reach you or I won’t have any peace. I should be in Kingston by noon at the latest.”

“I promise to phone,” Olivia vowed. “Have a safe flight. I’m glad Tom will be there to meet you. Be sure he takes a look around the apartment for you first.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Now Olivia was doing what she’d accused Piper of doing—telling her what to do. Running her life. “Okay, I won’t. Talk to you later. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

After Olivia hung up, she sat down to write a letter to Cesar. She needed to couch her words carefully.

“Dear cousin-in-law,” she began. Once she’d explained that her heart belonged to another, she thanked him profusely for the wonderful time he’d shown her, thanked him for his kindness and generosity and praised him for his latest win.

“May all your wins in the coming years be as successful. I remain your friend and greatest fan from the U.S. Olivia Duchess.”

Pleased with her message, she sealed it in the envelope and took it downstairs to leave with the concierge.

“I don’t know when Monsieur Villon will come back to the hotel to check out, but as soon as he does, will you make certain he gets this?”

“Si, signorina.”

“Grazie.”

After paying her bill, she carried her suitcase outside to the limo. The hotel provided transportation to the airport. Hopefully she was leaving soon enough to avoid the mass of tourists who probably wouldn’t jam the terminal until tomorrow after a night of nonstop partying.