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She opened the door and drew in a sharp breath. Liev stood calmly waiting, dressed in a tuxedo which hugged his body, more than hinting at his latent strength and sending her wayward thoughts awry once more. His brow was furrowed into a frown, yet still he very definitely was the most striking man she’d ever met.
‘Good evening, Bianca.’
She shivered as his gaze slid down her black silk dress, which skimmed the floor, neither concealing nor revealing. Shyness suddenly swept over her and she looked away from him as heat infused her body as hotly as her cheeks.
She had to ask him now. There was no way she was going to be able to spend the entire evening at his side and look relaxed and happy if she was worrying telling him about her grandfather’s unexpected request.
‘Before we go, I have two suggestions that will further this charade of yours hopefully to its goal.’ She heard her voice, steady and matter-of-fact, and marvelled at her ability to be one thing when inside she was something else completely different.
‘I’m intrigued.’ He stepped closer to her and she trembled like a new leaf in the spring breeze as she looked up into his eyes, shocked to see his darken until they resembled slate, reminding her of that kiss last night. ‘What could possibly achieve that? Another kiss? Perhaps I should kiss you at the party—really kiss you, like you wanted me to last night?’
‘I—I wanted no such thing.’ She stammered over her words, the thought of being kissed by him making her pulse race wildly. If that last kiss was anything to go by, to be really kissed would be amazing. She’d never been kissed until the world spun and her heart felt light. Quickly she pulled her attention back to the reason for doing all this. The bracelet. ‘That was not what I had in mind though.’
He moved closer, so close she thought he was going to kiss her right there and then. She breathed in and inhaled his newly applied aftershave, exotically spiced and incredibly heady. She looked up, holding his gaze, trying for bold and confident, but all she could manage was a startled gasp as he brushed his fingers over her cheek.
The heat of that light touch seared her skin, but she couldn’t move away even when she knew she should. Every loving look, every caressing touch, was all an act. She was well aware of that, but it made her think of the love letter she’d found as a child tucked away between the pages of a book in the family library. One she’d read again and again over the years, each time wishing she, too, could find such a powerful love.
What was between her and Liev was not love. There was attraction, at least for her, but for him it was only a deal. A means to an end. Nothing more.
‘That is a shame. You were made to be kissed.’ His voice had deepened and his accent became so strong she could barely understand what he said.
How could she be made to be kissed when she’d hardly experienced more than a light touch on the cheek? Last night’s kiss had been a new experience, one that could distract her if she allowed it.
The night of her prom rushed back at her. She’d wanted to be kissed then, too, wanted to be loved. She’d thought she’d found her true love, but fate had dealt her a cruel hand. That disastrous night had set the precedence for the following ten years—never, ever, allow a man close enough to hurt her again.
She’d thought she’d got it covered, that she was immune to the charms that seemed to penetrate even the toughest women. Her mask was deep and strong, but now a man who had proved from the outset he was using her was chipping away at that mask—unveiling the real Bianca layer by layer. She couldn’t let it happen. If he saw beneath the veneer she lived behind, she would be lost, unable to guard her heart from the pain of being used—yet again.
‘I was most certainly not.’ Her indignant tone made him step back, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes, irritating her further. ‘And most definitely not by you.’
‘That’s not how it seemed last night.’
‘Last night was a mistake. The only way I would ever kiss you again is if it was necessary for this facade of an engagement. Nothing you can say or do will change my mind.’
‘Is that a challenge?’
‘You are insufferable.’ She flung the words back at him, outraged that he’d used her response last night against her. ‘It would be far more productive if we visit my family home. It’s sure to be noticed and make it into the celebrity columns.’
‘Very clever.’ The way he was looking at her sent butterflies charging wildly around her stomach, despite the building humiliation at his overconfident flirtation.
‘I’ve also lined up an interview with a top New York magazine, so you can tell of your past rather than the press dig it up.’
‘You really are excelling yourself. When is the interview?’
‘Tomorrow afternoon. Then I thought we could visit my family home next weekend, use that as a bit more engagement publicity.’
‘I will be at the interview tomorrow, but we will not visit your grandfather next weekend. I have a long weekend away planned for us. I have invited one of the magazines for a photoshoot, giving them an engagement exclusive.’
Bianca’s head was spinning. That wasn’t what she’d meant at all. All she’d wanted was to set her grandfather’s mind at rest. How did he manage to turn everything to his advantage?
‘I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,’ she said anxiously, wondering what her family would think when they saw such a piece, let alone the fact that she’d always strived to be out of the limelight.
‘It is not negotiable, Bianca. It is all arranged. We will visit your grandfather as we return to New York. If I meet him in person before the article goes out, I’m sure that will settle your worries.’
Worries? Was that what he thought of them as? It was all right for him; he didn’t care about deceiving anyone. He didn’t have any family to worry about. The fact that she was lying to her brothers and sisters was one thing, but lying to an old man, one whose life was ebbing away far too fast, was not something she was happy with.
It hurt to think that she’d take Liev to meet him, pretend to be head over heels in love just to reassure her grandfather, then upset him, giving him more to worry about when she broke it off.
‘A weekend away and an engagement photoshoot aren’t necessary.’
