style="font-size:15px;"> Because Luca Moretti was a dangerous proposition.
The burden of pretending felt heavier that night than it had over the weekend in Santa Nicola. How was she supposed to pretend to love a man she was afraid she already had those feelings for? She didn’t know what part of herself to hide, and what part to reveal. And she didn’t like the thought of deceiving Andrew Tyson again, no matter what kind of history existed between him and Luca. The man was kind, with a genuine desire to see a family man take over his resorts. No matter that Luca had a good plan for the resort, lying was still lying.
Despite these concerns, Hannah’s insides lit up with excitement when Luca’s limo pulled up in front of her house. Jamie was still awake, his face pressed to the glass as he inspected the limo.
‘That is a cool car.’
‘Yes, well.’ Hannah kissed her son’s cheek. ‘Be good for Nana.’
‘I will.’ His gaze was glued on the limo, and Luca’s powerful form as he exited the vehicle and started towards their front door. Hannah’s heart flipped over at the sight of him in a grey business suit with a crimson tie. Why did she react this way to him, when she’d seen him in such a suit dozens, hundreds of times? Her body didn’t care. Everything had changed.
Luca knocked on the door and Jamie raced to open it.
‘Jamie—’ Hannah began half-heartedly, because she hated to dampen her son’s excitement.
‘Did you bring me any cakes?’ Jamie demanded of Luca, and Hannah put a restraining hand on her son’s shoulder.
‘Jamie, don’t be rude.’
‘But of course I did,’ Luca answered with an easy smile, and took a perfectly wrapped mini chocolate cake from behind his back. Jamie crowed in delight. ‘Share with your grandmother,’ Luca advised while Hannah simply stared, dumbfounded.
‘What?’ he asked as he caught her stunned look. ‘Why are you so surprised?’
‘I’m just...’ Hannah shrugged helplessly. ‘I didn’t expect you to be so thoughtful.’ Towards her son. He was turning all her preconceived notions on their head, and that was dangerous. Her head was counselling her heart to hold back, stop hoping. Meanwhile her heart was doing cartwheels.
‘That’s quite a backhanded compliment,’ Luca remarked. ‘But I’ll take it.’ His heated gaze scorched her for one breathtaking second. ‘You look amazing.’
‘Thank you.’ Hannah’s breath dried in her throat. He looked amazing too, his eyes burning almost gold in his bronzed face, his lithe, muscular body encased in a superbly cut suit, every atom of him radiating both beauty and power.
‘Enjoy yourself,’ Diane said, a knowing twinkle in her eye, and Hannah decided it was time to get themselves out of there, before her mother said—or she did—something revealing.
‘Thank you,’ she said belatedly, once they were settled in the car. ‘For giving Jamie the cake. You’re practically spoiling him.’
‘I don’t mind.’ He sat back against the sumptuous leather seat, and Hannah eased away from him a little bit, because the temptation was to snuggle closer.
‘So why does Andrew Tyson want to meet us again?’ she asked, determined to keep focused on why they were there together.
‘I don’t know. He simply said he wanted to have dinner with us, to discuss the plans and get to know us better.’
‘Get to know us better?’ Hannah repeated as alarm bells started clanging. ‘But what if he suspects something? We could get tripped up easily enough.’
‘Could we?’ Luca asked softly. His eyes glittered in the darkness of the car. ‘I think we know each other rather well by now.’
Hannah was glad the darkness hid her blush. ‘That may be so, but there are still questions he could ask us, about how you proposed—’
‘On top of the Eiffel Tower.’
‘Luca.’ Hannah’s breath came out in a rush. ‘You know what I mean.’
‘Yes, I know you’re tired of the pretence, just as I am. But tonight will be the last, Hannah. I’m hoping Tyson will announce his intentions for the resorts tonight.’ He glanced out of the window. ‘I need him to,’ he said in a low voice.
Hannah gazed at his tense profile for a few seconds before asking quietly, ‘What is the source of the bad blood between you and Tyson, Luca? What happened, that he doesn’t even know about it?’
‘It was a long time ago.’
‘That’s not an answer.’
‘It’s all the answer I’m going to give.’ Luca hesitated. ‘I’m sorry, Hannah. That part of my life is not up for discussion.’
* * *
Luca saw Hannah’s expression close up and knew she was hurt that he’d put her off. But how could he admit the truth? He’d already revealed enough about his childhood. He didn’t want to invite more pity—or condemnation, for his plans for Tyson. That part of his life wasn’t up for discussion, and neither was it negotiable.
And while his plans for revenge remained crystalline clear, his feelings for Hannah were more confused than ever. He’d surprised himself by going to Jamie’s school yesterday, and then buying the boy a cake tonight. Even more unsettling was the excitement he’d felt at seeing Hannah; she looked amazing in the emerald-green dress that clung to her like a second skin and brought out the golden glints in her hair and eyes. His palms itched to smooth over her curves, to tug down the zip and watch the bright, satiny material fall away.
Nothing had dampened his desire for her, not the discovery that she had a son, not the flat refusal of his offer. In fact, both things made him want her more, which was contrary and frustrating. He’d enjoyed seeing her cuddle her son, and witnessing her obvious love for her child made a powerful ache reside inside him, for what he’d missed as a child himself, but also for what he hadn’t attempted to have as a man. The fact that she’d refused his sex-only offer made him respect her—more than he respected himself. She wanted more from a relationship. She wasn’t afraid to try for it.
But he was.
It was fear, pure and simple, that was keeping him from asking Hannah to have a real relationship. The knowledge was shaming. When had fear ever held him back? He’d brokered huge deals, taking massive business risks. He’d started virtually empty-handed, a twenty-two-year-old fresh out of university with nothing to recommend him but a degree. How could he be afraid now? And not just now, but all along?
He’d thought staying solitary was being strong, but since coming to know Hannah, since witnessing her own particular brand of courage, he wondered if it was actually weakness.
And that thought was the most terrifying of all. Because if he did try just as Hannah had asked him to, if he risked himself, heart and soul, what then? What happened if—when—Hannah walked away from him?
The limo pulled up in front of the upscale restaurant Tyson had suggested for their meeting. Luca glanced at Hannah, the lights from the streets washing over her pale,
