‘I see. And were you aware ofmyidentity?’ he questioned, with equal cool. ‘Before I arrived?’
‘Well, yes. Of course I was. Sylvie told me you were expected and the estate agent had already rung me up that morning’. She stared at him, unsure of where the conversation was heading until the inference behind his drawled question become insultingly clear. ‘Hang on a minute. You don’t think... You don’t think Iplannedthis? That I targeted you and had sex with you and gave you my virginity because you happen to be one of the richest men in the world?’ She blinked. ‘Maybe that I was even trying to get myself pregnant, so I’d have a meal ticket for the rest of my life?’
‘I don’t know. Were you? You might have been looking for the richest possible baby-father.’ He shrugged. ‘These things happen. Read the newspapers if you don’t believe me.’
He didn’t even have the grace to look apologetic, Lizzie thought furiously. And even though what he said might be true, it hurt like crazy that he considered her capable of such a thing. Though maybe she only had herself to blame. If she’d gone out to dinner with him first, would he have thought more of her?Stop it, she urged herself. You don’t have to wear the mantle of blame just because you let passion run away with you for the first time in your life.
But at least he had done her a favour, by revealing his true colours. During weak, scary moments—often in the middle of the night when she had felt so lonely and vulnerable—she had sometimes found her thoughts straying to him. To the jet-black gleam of his eyes and the way he had made her feel when he’d held her in his arms and kissed her. That night he had made her feel safe as well as desired—particularly when they had shared a bath together and he had lathered her breasts with soap and washed her clean. That had seemed almost as intimate as having sex with him, and those kinds of memories inevitably prompted the occasional fantasy—which usually involved Niccolò turning up unannounced and telling her that letting her go had been the biggest mistake of his life.
Well, the first part of her fantasy had come true—but the ending couldn’t have been more different. Or more cruel. It seemed he was here to do nothing but mock her and hold her to account.So get rid of him before your defences crumble and you dissolve into a mess of snotty tears in front of him.Thatwouldn’tbe a good lasting memory.
‘I’m afraid you credit me with far more deviousness than I’m capable of,’ she remarked. ‘And since your wealth obviously makes you so mistrustful of other people’s motives, then I feel sorry for you.’
‘You?’ he echoed incredulously. ‘Feel sorry forme?’
‘Oh, dear.’ She tilted her head to one side. ‘You don’t think a humble housekeeper has the right to feel sympathy for such a powerful man as yourself?’
His jaw clenched. ‘I’m not getting into a debate about status. This is just wasting time.’
‘I agree,’ she said airily. ‘And since I’ve got a stack of shirts waiting which aren’t going to iron themselves, why don’t you let me get on?’
‘Lizzie!’ he flared, exasperatedly.
And that was her undoing. Hearing her name on his lips again brought back all kinds of erotic memories. Hadn’t he whispered it just before he’d entered her—even if the word had frozen in his throat once he had broken through her tightness? Hadn’t he murmured it again when they’d been in the bath together—and then later, when she’d served him up her trademark soufflé omelette, which had been the best he’d ever eaten, he had confided on a note of surprise. She felt her heart tighten and her voice was husky. ‘My boss will be back any minute and it’s better she doesn’t find you here.’
His voice grew hard and steely. ‘Does she know the identity of your child’s father?’
‘I haven’t been using your name as a badge of honour, if that’s what you think.’ Her gaze slid to the shiny face of the bronze kitchen wall clock and she felt the quick thump of fear, because the last thing she wanted was to be discovered alone with the powerful billionaire. Imagine all the questions she’d have to answer.
Howdid you say you met him?
You were wearing your boss’sdress?
‘I think you’ve said everything you need to say,’ she added quickly. ‘So you’d better go.’
‘But that’s where you’re wrong, Lizzie. I haven’t even begun.’ His tone was deceptively soft, because his black eyes were capturing her like a dangerous snare. ‘And since you’ve made it clear we can’t talk here, I suggest you meet me for lunch.’
But it wasn’t a suggestion, it was more of a command. The words of a man used to getting his own way. And although prolonging this torture of seeing him again was the last thing Lizzie wanted, what could she do but agree? Hewastechnically the baby’s father—she could hardly pretend he didn’t matter. But what exactly did he want from her, and why was her heart still racing? Was it because his power was so much greater than hers and she was nervous how he might choose to use it, or because she remained achingly aware of his physical presence, no matter how much she might wish otherwise? He was a difficult man to ignore. Raw energy radiated from his muscular body. His raven hair gleamed in the pale, wintry light which filtered in through the basement window. His eyes looked like glittering jet, set in the luminescence of his olive skin.
‘Oh, very well,’ she said, trying to convey a reluctance she didn’t feel. ‘If you insist. There’s a café at the end of the road, just inside the park entrance. I’ll see you in there, as close to two o’clock as I can manage.’
He nodded but his next words surprised her.
‘Just make sure you put a sweater on first, will you?’ he said gruffly. ‘It’s cold outside.’
He turned away and Lizzie was glad because her eyes had started pricking with the hint of tears, and she bit down on her lip. She didn’t want him to bekindto her. She wasn’t sure she could cope with that. Much better he be judgemental and disapproving. At least that would help keep her feelings in check.
Shutting the door behind him, she leaned against it and closed her eyes.
She’d already had her head turned by a black-eyed man with a killer kiss and dangerous smile and look what had happened.
Her fingers strayed to the curve of her belly and lingered there.
From now on, she needed to be on her guard.
CHAPTER FOUR
THEGLASSHOUSECAFÉsat within a grove of leafless winter trees and Niccolò positioned himself directly in front of the park gates, so that he would see Lizzie when she finally appeared.
