uh, that doesn’t look safe. How old is this place?”
“I recently repaired the elevator and am quite confident it works. If you doubt my abilities,” he said, pointing at a door along a far wall, “feel free to take the stairs up eight flights.”
Her emerald eyes widened and she stepped inside the elevator. With a jerk, the car started up. In the small space, she huddled like a hunted animal. She had cause to be scared but could not possibly realize why. Yet her fear made the air between them oppressive.
“Almost there.” An inexplicable need to soothe her overwhelmed him.
When they reached the eighth floor, he pulled open the sliding door. Savannah straightened and released a long sigh.
“Shocking, you survived.” What could have caused the fright he sensed in her? Who exactly had Broderick sent him?
“Despite my being in Italy, I’m not usually a risk taker.” She bit her bottom lip and stepped out, leaning along the wall as she walked down the hallway. “This place appears a bit unstable.”
“I assure you, the foundation is sound. I have not yet gotten around to beautifying the exterior. My door is the last on the left.”
She turned. “Foundation, exterior? Do you mean to tell me you own this building?”
“I do. Actually, I run a real estate company and own quite a few buildings. Pardon me.” He slipped past her, brushing along her thin cotton shirt as he took out his key ring. Electricity sparked inside him with the contact and he pulled away quickly. Her hardened nipples drew his gaze for a moment, and he nearly rumbled aloud in appreciation. Amongst her medley of emotions, he grasped arousal. “Follow me, I’ll show you your room.” Walking through his foyer, he tossed the keys in a bowl on an entryway table and headed toward the kitchen and living room area. “The kitchen is stocked with food. Please make yourself feel at home.”
Luke turned but Savannah no longer stood behind him. What now? He returned to the foyer. “Is something wrong?”
She spun slowly, mouth wide like a child’s in a candy shop. “It’s beautiful.”
“Are you not accustomed to fine things?”
She laughed. “Are you always this formal? No, I’m not accustomed to marble floors and cherry wood.” She smoothed a finger along the dark finish of an entryway table. “I would be satisfied with being able to pay my bills, let alone buying gorgeous furniture. I’d be lucky to find anything half as nice at Good Will.”
He knew nothing of this good will she spoke of. “Are you are willing to be my companion to buy yourself these luxurious items?”
Her eyes met his, and he tensed at the sadness evident there. She felt so strongly it pained him to be near her.
She shook her head. “There is a lot more to life than being wealthy and owning fine things. You’re rich. Do you think money buys happiness? I’ve never found it to be true.”
What game did she play? A perceptive question and answer. “Neither have I.” The truth left him exposed. He turned away. “If you are ready, I can show you your room.” He lifted his wrist, noting the dial of his watch read fifteen minutes past eight o’clock. “You have forty-five minutes to get dressed. Tonight, we shall go out.”
3
Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light?
—Maurice Freehill
Savannah pursed her lips and followed Luke down a softly lit hallway. Despite Luke’s formal manner, he’d decorated his home with vibrant colors and combinations. That, or hired help had made it inviting. Peach-colored plaster complimented hardwood floors and Persian rugs. Bold, colorful paintings lined the walls.
“These will be your quarters during your stay here.” Luke rolled Savannah’s suitcase into a spacious, high-ceilinged room and set her leather bag on a luggage rack. “Towels and sheets are in the armoire along with several gowns. The dresser houses the clothing you will need, and toiletries are in the washroom closet. If you have no questions, I will take my leave now.”
Words failed her. A canopy bed. Pale blue wallpaper with an intricate, carved design. Ugh, she’d nearly ruined this. She rubbed her face. If she didn’t have everything riding on this one stint as a companion, she would have thrown Luke’s ad back at him after he’d insulted her. The man was mugged. She was fortunate he still wanted a companion after such a traumatizing experience.
“Shall I take your silence as a sign you have no questions?”
She didn’t know what to make of him. He was poised, proper and talked like born royalty, yet there was a rugged side to him. A good night’s sleep would do them both good.
“Um, wait. I do have a couple questions. Where are we going? Is there a dress code?”
“An auction. Formal dress.” He shuffled in place, performing an odd dance of indecision. “If you require nothing else, I shall leave.” Forehead creased, he pivoted and left the room.
She sat on the bed with a huff. A mystery of a man, but she couldn’t deny his great taste. Creamy silk curtains framed the tall windows and paintings in this room were of landscapes with soft, muted colors. She smoothed a hand along the dark cherry wood of the bed centered in the room. Who would have guessed a rundown wreck of a building on the outside looked this beautiful within? She yawned. She’d traveled for ten or more hours and hadn’t slept in near thirty. The enormous amount of food she’d fed herself hadn’t helped either. No relaxing tonight, though.
Italy. She still couldn’t believe it. Four weeks seeing centuries old ruins and eating incredible food. Creamy risotto, salty prosciutto, aged parmigiano reggiano. Her stomach whined in protest. “Okay, I get it, you’re full.”
Better to concentrate on something else. Leaning over, she brushed a pale gold dress lying beside her with the palm of her hand. How had she not noticed it? The gown was stunning, like Luke and his home.
It wouldn’t take long for him to see she wasn’t accustomed to money, not anymore at least. She fingered the black slacks and blue collared shirt she wore. Hardly a splurge. Otherwise she would have met her potential employer wearing ripped jeans and a tank. Given his formal demeanor, she couldn’t imagine that going over smoothly.
Holding the dress, she approached a long, oval-shaped mirror. Simple, yet elegant, the gown had a matching gold belt that dressed it up further. She frowned at her reflection. Becoming a companion for medical bills didn’t make her a gold-digger, did it? She didn’t want to hurt anybody. Still, his words resonated. She’d let a complete stranger get under her skin.
“I hope you are not practicing your expressions for tonight. I daresay you will not make friends with much ease.” The sides of Luke’s mouth curved upward as he leaned against the doorframe.
More relaxed than she’d expected, his smile took her off guard. She shook her head and pretended to pick lint off her slacks as she gained composure. “You didn’t knock.” She stood, smoothed back several locks of hair.
“You left the door open,” he said.
“Oh.
