dead.’ The words were like bullets. Bang. Bang. Gabriel drank from his glass and placed it back on the table with another thud of subject closed finality.
‘I’m sorry. What happened?’
He drew in a savage-sounding breath, his gaze hard and black as onyx. ‘One thing you need to learn about me, Francesca. I don’t like discussing my family. Do I make myself clear?’
‘Perfectly clear.’ Frankie sat back in her chair and surveyed him for a long moment. His eyes had that impenetrable screen back in place. His jaw was set like concrete, the strong tendons in the backs of his hands taut and ropy with tension. Now that she had experienced the shame of her father’s fall from grace, she could only imagine how awful it must be for Gabriel to live with the ongoing shame of his criminal family. Several members of his extended family were currently in jail and his father was awaiting trial for a string of new drug offences.
It was strange but in spite of Gabriel’s background, she had never felt he was a bad man. She had been put off by his arrogance when he’d asked her out four years ago. Put off by his assumption that she wouldn’t be able to resist his charm. And it had been a close call if she were to be strictly honest with herself. She had been tempted.
She was still tempted.
After a stretched silence, Gabriel released a long sigh. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just I’ve spent most of my adult life not thinking about my family.’
Frankie reached for his hand and placed hers on top of it. ‘I’m sorry for pushing you to talk about something that’s so obviously painful. I’ll try not to do it again.’
He turned her hand over and encased her fingers in the warm tensile strength of his. A half-smile softened his features and something jerked in her chest as if a miniature pony had kicked against her heart. She looked down at their joined hands and heat spilled and simmered between her legs. His touch did strange things to her body. It made her think of being possessed by him, moving with him in the throes of scorching hot passion.
A passion she had never experienced.
Their food arrived at that point and during dinner the conversation drifted onto neutral ground. Frankie was surprised she was actually enjoying herself. The food was amazing and Gabriel seemed to be trying to entertain her with amusing anecdotes about his work as a property developer. But after a while, she couldn’t help noticing the interested glances of the other diners. One woman took her phone out and aimed it their way to take a picture. Frankie lowered her head and turned to face the window rather than be captured. ‘Don’t look now but someone is taking our photo,’ she said in an undertone.
‘Better get used to it, cara.’ His tone was brimful of world-weary resignation. ‘I can’t go anywhere at the moment without the press following. But it will hopefully die down once we’re married.’
Married. The word made her feel things she shouldn’t be feeling. It was supposed to be a paper marriage. That was what she’d told him. That was what she’d insisted on.
But when he helped her out of her chair a short time later, his touch triggered sensations in her body she couldn’t control. The strong band of his arm encircled her waist as he led her out of the restaurant and a wave of longing coursed through her. Even if she had been wearing skyscraper heels, he towered over her, making her feel feminine in a way she had never felt before.
They came to his car and his hand moved from her waist to rest on her hip as he opened the passenger door for her. She slipped into the car and took the seatbelt he’d pulled down for her. His fingers setting off spot fires when they touched hers.
How could getting into a car be so damn sexy? It was ridiculous.
She was ridiculous.
Frankie glanced at him once he was behind the wheel. Would she ever get tired of looking at him? He was like a fallen angel. Handsome as sin with a raw masculinity than made her blood fizz and simmer in her veins. Her gaze drifted to his powerful thighs as he worked the gears, the throaty roar of the engine under his command like a panther on the prowl.
Gabriel met her gaze and winked at her. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.’
What if she didn’t want to be safe?
GABRIEL CONCENTRATED ON driving back to the villa but he was conscious of the throb of sensual energy in the car. He had caught the tail end of a couple of Frankie’s covert glances and wondered if she was thinking what he was thinking. If she was feeling what he was feeling. The hot rush of desire that refused to die down. The blistering burn of need. He would not make a move on her. He wanted her to own her desire for him. He saw it in her eyes. He felt it in her touch.
He could damn near taste it in the air.
He gripped the steering wheel tighter to stop himself reaching across to touch her slim and shapely thigh. ‘Will you be able to take a year off work?’ He was surprised at how even his tone was, so casual, so bland when his body was boiling with hot-blooded lust.
She shifted in her seat and he felt rather than saw her gaze. ‘You’re expecting me to give up work? Isn’t that a little outdated of you?’
Gabriel shrugged one shoulder. ‘I have no problem with you working but not if you’re working in another country from me. I’m not into long-distance relationships.’
‘But our relationship is on paper so why would it matter?’
‘I’m not having everyone commenting on the fact my wife is unable to bear living under the same roof as me, that’s why.’
‘Why don’t you move to London instead?’ Frankie asked. ‘You have plenty of business there, don’t you?’
‘I have an apartment there, yes, but my home is in Milan. It’s where I spent most of my time, other than when I travel for work.’ He sent her a quick glance. ‘I’m the one putting myself out for you, remember. The least you could do is move to Italy for the year. It’s not as if you won’t be adequately compensated for the inconvenience.’
The silence was palpable.
Was he asking too much of her? He didn’t want distance between them, paper marriage or not. He needed a year of her time. It would take that long for the board of directors to build their trust in him.
Gabriel let out a rough sigh. ‘I’m not trying to be difficult.’
‘Seems like it to me.’ She folded her arms across her middle. ‘You expect me to uproot my life and fall into your plans like some obedient little wife from the nineteenth century who has nothing better to do than embroider doilies all day. I’ve already taken two months of leave when I looked after my father.’
‘I’m afraid this is not negotiable. I want you by my side otherwise no one will believe this is a genuine relationship.’
‘And if I say no?’
‘The deal is off.’
He saw
