or how much he’d admired the D’Angelis’ wealth of it, he knew that love was ephemeral in his world. He’d grown up in a family who loved themselves more than each other, and he expected that was how his life would continue. He was thirty years old and he’d never felt even a glimmering of love for another person.
Until the moment Valentina D’Angeli had walked back into his life and told him she was expecting his child. He didn’t kid himself that he’d fallen into instant and overwhelming love with this baby, this collection of cells growing in her body, but something had happened.
He’d felt as if she’d punched him in the gut, and the feeling hadn’t abated over the past few hours. He didn’t know what it was, but he wasn’t letting her walk away. He hadn’t intended to marry her, but in the end he’d realized it was the only way.
Aside from ensuring him access to his child, marrying Tina would give her brother pause. If Renzo did get wind of Nico’s financial troubles, he would think twice about ruining the man his sister had married.
Mercenary, yes. But Nico damn well didn’t care. He’d been mercenary for so long now that he couldn’t bother growing a conscience for one woman. No matter how she tugged at long forgotten memories of acceptance and hope.
IT was midmorning when Tina awoke, and for a moment she couldn’t remember where she was. But then it all came back with brutal clarity and she sat up with a gasp. She was marooned in the middle of a lake, held captive by a dark and dangerous man who insisted that she marry him.
She reached for her phone on the bedside table, searching hopefully for a signal, but there was none. Tina tossed the phone down on the plush comforter and made a noise of displeasure.
But what would she do if there were a signal? She’d text Lucia, of course, but she most definitely would not call her mother or Renzo. A shiver slid along her spine at the thought. That would be a disaster.
She flipped the covers back and went to open the heavy silk drapes. The sun filtered in through the laurels, dappling her face with warmth. The lake was alive with windsurfers in the distance, and here and there motorboats zipped by, some towing skiers and others simply out for a leisurely ride.
It was without doubt a gorgeous view and she stared at the green mountains in the distance before turning her attention to getting dressed. Tina showered—and then, just to prove a point, she blow-dried her hair with a round brush until it was stick straight.
When her hair hung smooth and long halfway down her back, she went into the walk-in closet where a staff member had put away all her clothing. Everything was crisp and ready to be worn, so she chose a pair of shantung silk trousers in bright red and a long silk vest in black that belted at the waist. She added a pair of strappy stilettos, just to add a bit of wow factor, and then put on the bangle bracelet her mother had given her for her graduation. She added the rest of her jewelry for the day—diamond earrings, a gold necklace, three rings—before she was satisfied.
No one seemed to be stirring in the house until she reached the kitchen and found the chef and a trio of helpers at work on something that smelled delicious.
“If you will join the signore on the terrazzo, signorina, breakfast will soon be served.”
Tina thanked the woman and went out to the same table she’d shared with Nico last night. He was on the phone, a laptop in front of him, and she stopped to watch the way the sunlight slanted over his perfect features. He seemed oblivious to her presence.
“It stops now,” he grated. “You have an allowance. If you burn through it, you will get nothing more until the next quarter.”
A second later he smacked his palm on the table, swearing violently. Tina jumped at the sudden movement and spun to go back inside. Before she could reach the door, he called out to her. She turned slowly. He still had the phone to his ear, but he beckoned her over.
Warily, she approached and took a seat while he continued to argue with whoever was on the other end. Then he ended the call abruptly and slid the ringer to Silent.
“How is it you get a signal out here and I get nothing?” she asked.
“It’s the carrier,” he told her. “I use a different service when I am here than I do elsewhere. Though sometimes, when the weather is right and you are in the right part of the castle, other signals will come through.”
Well, that explained that. “I don’t suppose you’d let me use your phone today.”
He shrugged. “Why not? You are an intelligent woman, Tina. You won’t call your brother and beg him to rescue you.”
Her heart thumped. “How can you be so sure?”
He studied her for a moment, his eyes straying over her hair. Warmth blossomed inside her belly then, spreading through her limbs like hot honey. “So it does straighten out,” he said thoughtfully.
“I told you so.”
“Women have such tricks at their disposal. I would have never guessed.”
She almost laughed. “I wouldn’t expect you to be au courant about the things that occur in beauty salons. And I did ask you a question, by the way.”
He picked up his espresso, his long fingers dwarfing the small cup. “I am aware of it.”
“And what is your answer?”
“I already gave you my answer, Tina. You are intelligent and thoughtful. You also love your brother very much. You do not wish to worry him or cause him to cut his vacation short when he is so happy with his new wife and child.”
Her pulse throbbed with every word. It was as if he could see inside her soul. She shook herself. That was silly. Of course he couldn’t. But he was a very good guesser.
“Besides,” he continued, “you are not in danger. You are in a situation of your own making and you refuse to cry wolf before you’ve thought it all out.”
“Not entirely of my own making,” she murmured. “It does seem to take two to make a baby.”
“Yes, but I’ve already thought about it and I know what must be done.”
“And what if I disagree? I might think myself justified to call Renzo then. He could at least get his best attorneys onto the situation.”
His expression remained unconcerned. “By all means, if you think this is the correct course of action. We can fight about who is more suited to get full custody of the child in the courts.”
A chill dripped like acid into her veins. She didn’t really think he could take her child away from her—but what if he could?
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” she said breezily, turning to smile at the woman who brought her a cup of coffee.
“You will,” he said with that arrogant assurance that made her want to grind her teeth in frustration.
His phone buzzed on the table and he pressed the button to send it to
