He laughed at the expression on her face. Like a deer in headlights. “It’s not that bad. You get used to it.”
“I just can’t imagine what this will be like. I…I’m torn.”
“Why?”
“I need the money,” she admitted, twisting her fingers in front of her. “But I’m not…”
“You’re not?”
“I can’t really be suitable for this,” she said, shaking her head and spreading her hands wide at her sides. “You’re fabulously wealthy and frankly, very good looking.”
“Thank you,” he nodded, lips quirking in amusement at her frank assessment.
“But you’re the kind of guy who’s meant to marry, I don’t know, some Hollywood star or famous singer, or supermodel or whatever.”
“I’m not interested in marrying anyone, let alone a celebrity.”
She looked down at herself, then back at him, her expression unmistakably helpless. “I’m not in your league.”
Something shifted inside of him. Anger. Disbelief. A long-held sense of injustice for how his biological mother had been treated, just because she was seen to be less than the Di Santis family warranted.
“What I need is a woman who is free to play the part of my wife. You tick that box. I have no other concerns.”
“But I’m?—,”
“Come on, Allegra,” he said, finding it impossible to believe she could really think so lowly of herself. “You’re stunningly beautiful, are you actually pretending to have insecurities around your looks?”
Her lips parted in surprise. “It’s not my looks, per se,” she whispered. “But all of me. I’ve never had a manicure in my life, I don’t think I’ve had my hair done in two years, at least. Maybe longer.”
His eyes drifted up to take in the stunning blonde mane—evidently, natural. It glimmered in the morning sun like golden strands.
“I presume the women you usually date are about a thousand times more polished.” Her eyes flew wider still. “I don’t know how to say anything in Italian besidesGrazieandCiao.”
He suppressed another smile. “I’ll hire you a tutor.”
Her full lips pulled to the side. He was an expert at negotiations and he knew he was losing her.
“You need the money,” he reminded, pushing on that one point. “And I am willing to pay more than what you asked.”
She bit into her lower lip. “Why?”
“Because this role will require it. As you pointed out, eighty-five thousand dollars is easy for me. Let’s say one hundred and fifty.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re serious?”
“Fifty after the wedding party my grandfather is organising, fifty after our six-month anniversary, and fifty at the end of the year.”
Rather than looking delighted, though, she shook her head a little. “I see.” She fidgeted with her hands.
He moved closer, eyes narrowing. “But you need money now. More money than that. You need the full eighty-five up front?”
She nodded slowly, eyes not quite meeting his.
And even though he knew he should keep his distance, he was yearning to touch her in some way, to see if there was anything familiar about that. They’d kissed at their wedding ceremony, but had there been more?
He reached out and pressed his finger to her chin, tilting her face to his. Her skin was as soft as a rose petal at first light. Heat travelled the length of his arm like a sunburst. “Are you in trouble,cara?”
Anguish flashed in her eyes. He held his breath, wondering what his line was. Bringing her home as his wife if she was involved in some kind of criminal enterprise would be a disaster waiting to happen. Better to know the truth now and deal with the fallout of an annulment if necessary.
