“All over,” he says. “Depends on what’s going on for work.”
“What do you do for work?”
“A little of this and a little of that.”
“Something that affords you a pretty lavish lifestyle. You could probably make a body disappear, too, couldn’t you?”
“I’ll make your body disappear into a cloud of orgasms and pleasure.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I push my lips to the side. “If I agree to go there, to fly to you, I need you to do something for me. A small something in comparison to this, I think.”
Luca’s smile fades. “I’m not in the business of negotiations.”
“I guess I would be a dime a dozen, wouldn’t I? A million more women like me willing to take that flight?”
“What’s your request?” His voice is low, and I think it’s an Italian accent, rolls off the last word.
It sounds petulant and childish when I realize what I’m about to ask of this creature built for sex. I can’t even imagine my family’s reaction when they see Luca. I’m not even sure it would be positive. His look is that devilishly intimidating. “I was hoping to meet someone I could take home for Christmas.”
Luca’s frown turns to a smile, then a rich laugh. “You want to take me home?” He palms his chest. “To meet your family?”
I surge on, trying to present a solid case. “Still no strings. You just have to make them think you… love me. Or like me… even.” I shake my head, embarrassed. I close my eyes so I don’t have to see his reaction.
“You’ve offered me something I’ve never been asked before. Not quite like this anyway. I’ll pretend to be your lover.” Opening my eyes to look at him, I realize his face is serious, almost scary. “You have a deal if you get on the plane tomorrow and fuck me non-stop for a week.” He licks his lips and I lose my breath. “I won’t even have to pretend to be your lover at Christmas. I’ll have familiarized myself with every square inch of your body by then.”
I smile but it looks like a cringe. “It’s a deal.”
“Your last name now.”
“Maeson,” I hiss. Making sure to spell it since no one ever gets it right the first time.
“Pack your bags, Elizabeth Maeson. You won’t need clothing.”
Chapter Three
The meeting
SHAY CANNOT BEmy real friend. Or she’s been contacted by Luca in some sleuth communication to help me make this crazy decision. She let me go to Bora Bora. In fact, she encouraged it after I showed her the photo and told her about the conversation I had with him in her back yard. She said she had my information and that she’d come after me if need be.Yeah, like if he had nefarious plans to traffic me, she’d really be a help. Not.This will be the dumbest, most adventurous thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. The headline will read,Dumb American Woman Latest Victim in Bora Bora Trafficking Ring.Lured by Hot Sex and a Christmas Date!
For what it’s worth, I did research as much as I could. I have a can of mace in my suitcase, enough money to buy a ticket home, and my own hotel if things go sideways. When I was thirteen, I took karate classes for a month. I could also kick the neighborhood boy’s ass when they made fun of my friend Margaret’s Coke-bottle glasses. Timmy had a black eye for weeks after he took my right hook.Luca isn’t a ten-year-old boy, Lizzy.
No, actually it looks like he’s a fucking middle-aged man that looks like a barrel riding on two corks. He’s holding a sign with my name on it. Keeping my sunglasses on, I pull my suitcase behind me and sigh when I stand in front of him. My heart is pounding. In warning, in shock. This feeling is wild. Like I’m floating and sinking at the same time. “Ms. Maeson,” he says, Italian accent thick. “I’m your driver.”
I exhale a pent-up breath. “Yes. That’s me. And you are?” I take out my phone and snap an obvious photo of him. “First and last name, please.”
He grins and rolls his eyes. “Santino Regio. I’m Mr. Luca Bianchi’s driver. It’s a short drive to his house. I assure you, you’re safe.”
I fire off a text to Shay with the photo of the old man and his name. Then another of the license plate of the sleek black sedan before I climb into the back seat. Santino put my suitcase, that I did fill with clothes even though Luca told me not to, in the trunk. The drive to The Bianchi Estate as Santino called it was quick and as I suspected it’s a mansion sitting on the beach.
A security guard at the gate lets us pass and Santino leaves his window down, stretching his arm out the window, letting the salty, warm air glide over his skin. “I love when he stays at the beach house.”
I widen my eyes as I take in the monstrosity in front of me. “How many houses does he have?”
Santino laughs. “I’ve lost count. This one is my favorite.” He pauses. “A little harder to procure the things he wants because it’s so remote, but the view makes up for the hassle.”
Am I the hassle? Am I what is being procured?Of course you are, bitch.I hiss at myself. As we pull around to the multi-car garage he hops out, his fat cheeks jiggling as he hurries to open my door and get my suitcase from the trunk. “Follow me. I’ll show you to your room and let Luca know you’re here.”
This is where my heart pounds. Where all my bad decisions compound and make me feel like an absolute idiot. Shay was right. I should have taken home one of the losers at the bar. At least it would be believable. No one is going to believe that I’m with a man who owns a house like this… hell, it sounds like he owns half of the free world. It’s so outrageous my family is going to sniff out the bullshit immediately. So where does that leave me now?
