his jaw. He’d seen too much of Stacey’s early life not to care. She’d used him for satisfaction, but he’d hardly been a passive bystander and had never known pleasure like it. Stacey had well and truly turned the tables, and when they met again…if they met again…
When they met again, he determined fiercely. For her sake, he’d be cool and distant so as not to mislead her. But was that the best he could do to save her from another cold, unfeeling man? Her father had done enough damage, and he could not bear to do more.
Did she feel anything for him?
Damage from the past cut deep in both of them. Doubt and mistrust were never far away. Lifting his head, he smiled in acknowledgement of this.
But they could change. He could change.
Could he?
The real question was, did he want to?
She was looking forward to the big event in the mountains, and it had to stay that way. How Luc would feel when he saw her again, remained to be seen. Her feelings were unchanged. From day one she had felt something for him—a lot, she admitted—so if he ignored her or, worse, if he was unemotional, and confined their dealings solely to business, it would mean putting on the act of her life.
And she would, she determined as she said goodbye to the team. ‘See you in the mountains!’ she exclaimed brightly as she wondered why life had to be so complicated.
Because life was tough for everyone, she concluded when she was alone in the room, gathering up her things. Nothing was straightforward for anyone, and, short of locking herself away and never doing anything, there would be hurt and disappointment, and pain, but there would be moments of happiness too, so she’d cling to those and get through it. Dreaming of a life with Luc was not only unrealistic, it would be like walking into pain with her eyes wide open. Any thoughts of a long-term relationship between them was a fantasy too far. Luc was a high-flyer while she had barely tested her wings. As far as business was concerned, she was confident he couldn’t have any complaints, but when it came to personal feelings… Maybe she’d never know what he felt. Luc had always kept personal matters close to his chest. Niahl’s theory was that Luc would never open up, because that would mean confronting the grief of losing his parents. The stresses of business and people who depended on him for their livelihoods, together with concern for his siblings, had robbed him of the chance to grieve.
Niahl was probably right, and Luc had spent so many years regarding her as nothing more than Niahl’s annoying little sister that he probably couldn’t conceive of her being anything more.
Except for last night.
Which was already behind her.
What happened to your confidence?
She’d left it in his penthouse suite. Luc had restored her confidence in being someone worth spending time with, but one night of passion did not a romance make. Better one fabulous night, she concluded, gritting her jaw. It was more than some people had. Instead of dwelling on what she couldn’t make happen, she should concentrate on what she could, which, with the aid of her team, was to create the most fabulous party of the year.
After a tense breakfast meeting during which he could hardly concentrate long enough to sign a multimillion-dollar contract to upgrade the tech for the government of a small country, his thoughts turned back with relief to Stacey. Anything that had happened between them was his fault. He could have resisted and had chosen not to.
Calling the elevator, he stepped into the cab and, leaning back against the wall, closed his eyes. This was the same Stacey who used to wear her hair in braids and give him a hard time at the farm. He smiled as he pictured her at the banquet last night, so determined to make everyone’s night a success, including his. A little tired and frazzled around the edges, but definitely all grown up, as she’d proved later in his bed. As far as business went, early reports from his team said the banquet was the best yet.
As he stepped out into the lobby of the glass and steel monument to his success, she consumed his thoughts. His hunger to chart every change in Stacey from gauche ingénue to the professional woman she was today was eating him alive. And he’d never know, because he wouldn’t risk getting closer to her. He’d seen enough of her home life to know the journey she’d taken to this point. With no intention of adding to her woes, he’d put distance between them.
His Lamborghini was waiting at the kerb. Tipping the valet, he folded his athletic frame into the car and eased into the morning traffic. His thoughts turned to the day Niahl had left home. Stacey had been too young to follow her brother, and had made such a lonely figure standing at the farm gate waving them off. She’d looked broken. He’d watched in the wing mirror until they’d turned a corner and he hadn’t been able to see her any more. It had been a desperate end to an unhappy visit, during which he’d seen her run ragged as she’d tried to care for everyone. It had seemed to him that no one cared for Stacey but her brother, Niahl.
As soon as she’d been old enough, she’d changed her life. A scholarship to a college specialising in the hospitality industry in London had resulted in her graduating as the top student in her year. How could he risk destroying the confidence that had given her by embarking on some ultimately doomed affair? Stacey deserved more than a man who walked away if emotion ever threatened to cloud his rational mind.
Almost four hectic weeks had passed since the memorable encounter with Luc in Barcelona. Planning any party could be a logistical nightmare, but when the venue was in a challenging location Stacey and her team had to work flat out to make sure that everything was delivered well in advance. She’d barely had a moment to breathe, let alone consider what memories Luc had been left with after their passionate night.
After the clamour of the city the serene peace of the mountains was nothing short of a dream come true. The air was cool and clean. Crisp white snow crunched underfoot, and the sky was a flawless, cerulean blue. The small village with its backdrop of towering mountains was like the best picture postcard in the world. The slopes were teeming with skiers, all of whom moved to their own sure, rhythmical pattern, while beginners on the nursery slopes made shakier and more uncertain figures. One thing, however, was common to all. Everyone was smiling.
‘What a fabulous atmosphere! What a place to hold a party!’ she exclaimed to her companions in the team. ‘We’re going to have the best time ever here. It’s going to be the party of the year.’
Only the final tweaks remained and Stacey was as certain as she could be that Lucas would love what they had planned. Lucas. She was desperate to see him, and dreading it too. What if he—?
No. Don’t think that way. Only positive thoughts from now on.
They had to meet, and she’d take it from there. It wouldn’t be easy with the brand of his lips on her mouth and the memory of his hands on her body, but what was easy? Nothing worth having, that was for sure.
‘We’ll make this event something the Da Silva guests never forget, and for all the right reasons,’ she told the team. ‘How beautiful is this?’ she exclaimed, turning full circle. ‘Let’s get settled in, and then
