Ultimate Temptation

‘A minor detail,’ he said softly. ‘At such a time.’ He paused. ‘And when we are already on terms of such intimacy.’

‘Because I ran to you for help?’ Lucy asked scornfully. ‘In that situation I’d have run to Frankenstein’s monster.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘Because you have been occupying my room. Sleeping, mia bella, in my bed, which presumably you chose out of all the others. Doesn’t that establish some kind of bond between us?’ He watched the shocked colour storm into her face and laughed. ‘Don’t tell me you hadn’t guessed.’

‘Think what you like.’ Lucy gritted her teeth. ‘But I’ll never spend another night in it, or anywhere else under your roof.’

‘I don’t think that is your choice,’ he said. ‘Make me the restitution I require, and I promise that afterwards you will be driven to Pisa, your air fare paid, and a suite at the best hotel put at your disposal while you await your flight.’

‘No deal.’ Lucy made her tone brief and cutting. ‘I am not for sale, signore.’

‘And I am not buying, signorina. But I am prepared to—hire you for a while.’

‘You disgust me.’ In spite of herself, her voice trembled. ‘Call the police, why don’t you? Even jail would be better than another minute in your company. And I shall have my own story to tell them too,’ she added bravely.

‘In my bedroom—in that dress?’ He sighed. ‘I think appearances would be against you, Lucia.’

‘Your wife might take a different view,’ Lucy flashed. ‘Or does she take your lousy, deceitful behaviour completely for granted?’

‘It would be worth keeping you here if only to teach you to speak civilly,’ Giulio Falcone said grimly. ‘Anyway, you are under a misapprehension. I have no wife.’ He paused. ‘You are also ludicrously wrong about my motives for detaining you.’

He saw the sudden bewildered question in her eyes and smiled sardonically. ‘The little comedy is over between us, signorina. My interest in you, alas, is more practical than romantic. I hope you are not too disappointed.’

She said between her teeth, ‘Not in the slightest—if I had the least idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Actually, it’s quite simple. I have a problem to which you could provide the solution.’ He gave a slight grimace. ‘Early yesterday, my sister was in a car accident. Neither she or the two children were badly hurt—cuts, bruises and shock, that’s all. But the governante—the nanny—was not so fortunate. She broke her leg, and has to spend some time in the clinic.

‘Fiammetta wishes to come here to rest and recuperate, but there is no one now to look after the children, and Marco and Emilia can be more than a handful.’

He spread his hands. ‘I thought, of course, that Maddalena would be here to take charge until Alison recovers. The children are accustomed to her.’ He paused. ‘But, of course, there is no Maddalena. Only you, Lucia.’

‘Me?’ Lucy swallowed, aware that relief was being overtaken by a curious sense of deflation. ‘But I’m not a nanny.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘But you are here at this moment. You have admitted you owe me a debt you cannot pay. In turn I have ruined your holiday.’ The amber eyes looked into hers, and she felt her heart thud suddenly and painfully. ‘Tell me truly, Lucia, do you really wish to leave Tuscany so soon, when you could stay here, and be paid for doing so?’

‘I couldn’t possibly,’ Lucy denied, trying to control her flurried breathing.

‘Why not? With my sister and the children, you would be well chaperoned, if that is your concern.’

Lucy saw the amusement in his eyes, the sensuous curve of his mouth, and decided it would be safer not to explore that particular avenue.

‘But I’d be totally unsuitable,’ she protested instead. ‘You don’t know anything about me, after all.’

‘You are unused to children, perhaps?’

‘Well, no,’ she said reluctantly. ‘I have nephews.’

‘Of what age?’

‘Six and four,’ she admitted, an involuntary smile curving her mouth. She saw him assimilate that betraying tenderness, and added hastily, ‘But it’s still out of the question.’

‘I don’t see why. Marco and Emilia are slightly older, it is true, but they have had a bad experience and they need someone who will care, as well as give them companionship.’ He added softly, ‘In spite of your temper, Lucia, you do not strike me as heartless.’

She said shakily, ‘That’s emotional blackmail.’

He shrugged. ‘You say you cannot be hired, and will not be bought. What else is left to me?’

She tried again. ‘But your sister may have other ideas.’

‘Fiammetta, as usual, will take the line of least resistance. And this is an emergency. They will be released from the clinic tomorrow morning, and will be coming straight here. I cannot allow them to find a scene of such devastation.’

‘And this is where I come in?’ Lucy’s tone was hollow.

‘Until tomorrow, when I can mobilise help from the estate, certainly.’ He gave her a measuring look. ‘If this had been a genuine rental, you would have been expected to keep the house clean and tidy, after all.’

She bit her lip. ‘I suppose so. But if all you want is a glorified housemaid-cum-nanny, why did you pretend—let me think...?’ She halted, vexed with herself for asking.

‘Because you were so ready to believe that I was just some—latter-day Casanova.’ The firm lips twisted slightly. ‘The temptation to confirm your worst fears became quite irresistible, believe me. But while you are in my employment and under my roof you are quite safe.’ He flicked a glance towards the tumbled bed. ‘Unless, of course, you insist.’

She was angrily aware that her face had warmed again. ‘I don’t,’ she said tersely.

‘Then I suggest you find yourself another room.’ Both his tone and smile were pleasant, and untinged by even a modicum of regret, which, oddly enough, seemed to increase her annoyance.

She met his gaze stonily. ‘So, if I agree to help out, you promise that will cancel all obligations between us?’

‘More than that,’ he said. ‘I will ensure you suffer no financial loss as a result of Moressi’s trickery.’

He paused. ‘You will also take with you, I hope, some unforgettable memories of Tuscany, as well as the undying gratitude of the Falconese,’ he added sardonically.

‘Naturally, that would be one of my main considerations.’ Her tone was sarcastic.

Giulio Falcone inclined his head gracefully. ‘I knew you would see things my way.’

‘Did you?’ Lucy gave him an assessing look. ‘Tell me, signore, are you related to the Medici by any chance?’

His mouth twitched. ‘Only on my mother’s side, signorina,’ he returned silkily. ‘Why do you ask?’

She shrugged. ‘I gather they were hard men to refuse in their day. And so are you, Count Falcone.’

‘Then don’t refuse me.’ He smiled at her, reminding her unnecessarily of the power of his attraction. ‘And I don’t use my title, unless I have to. Call me Giulio.’

Oh, no, she thought, the breath catching in her throat. That was an intimacy she didn’t need.

Aloud, she said, ‘I don’t know what to say—what to do...’

‘Then obey your instinct, columbina.’

Instinct was telling her to get out while she could. To put herself at the furthest, safest distance possible from this man. From his smile. From the charm that seemed to reach out to her like a caressing hand. From the sheer sexual charisma that turned the blood in her veins to warm honey. And which, she reminded herself, he seemed able to exercise at will.