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So he finally bit out, ‘Fine.’
* * *
Serena took in the frankly mind-boggling three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of Rio de Janeiro outside the glass walls of the penthouse apartment. It was at the top of the building she’d come to that first day.
She turned to face Luca. ‘This is your apartment?’
He was watching her intently and inclined his head. ‘Yes, but I only use it if I’m working late, or for entertaining clients after meetings.’
Or for entertaining mistresses?
Suddenly she didn’t feel half as sure as she had on the plane, when Luca had pulled her into his lap to kiss her. Now her doubts and insecurities were back. Luca affected her...too much.
She crossed her arms. ‘I can’t stay here. It’s inappropriate.’
Luca stifled an inelegant snort. ‘This from the woman who was photographed at her debs in an exclusive Paris hotel in a bathtub full of champagne while dressed in a priceless gown?’
Serena flushed, recalling her father’s malevolent smile and even more malevolent tone of voice: ‘Good girl. We wouldn’t want people to think you’re becoming boring, now, would we?’
Serena chose to ignore Luca’s comment. ‘What about the apartment I was meant to stay in? The one for staff?’
‘It’s no longer available; someone else took your place there.’
‘Well, that’s hardly my fault, is it?’ she retorted hotly.
Luca’s jaw firmed. ‘It’s either here, Serena, or if you insist, the charity will be put to the expense of finding you somewhere else.’
‘No!’ she shot out, aghast. ‘But it’s just—’
He cut in coolly. ‘You’re staying here. I’m sure you can put up with it for two weeks.’
This was what she was afraid of. He made her emotions and blood pressure see-saw out of control.
Luca looked at Serena and narrowed his gaze. She was skittish, nervy. A million miles from the woman who had melted in his arms just a short time before.
‘Serena, what is it?’
She was angry, her cheeks growing pink. ‘I’ve agreed to sleep with you to get a job—how do you think that makes me feel?’
Luca’s conscience pricked but he pointed out, ‘You’re not sleeping with me yet.’
She went redder.
Luca felt something give inside him and ran a hand through his hair impatiently. ‘Look, I behaved like a boor earlier. The very least you deserve is a trial period. I would have given it to you anyway.’
She looked at him, surprised, and it affected him more than he’d like to admit.
‘You would? And what about a job?’
Luca schooled his features. ‘That depends on your trial period—as it would for anyone else.’
He moved closer then, and put his hands on her upper arms. ‘And you are not sleeping with me to get a job. You’re sleeping with me because it’s what you want. What we both want.’
She just looked at him, and something desperate rose inside Luca. He ground out, ‘The door is behind me, Serena. You can walk out right now if that’s what you want and you’ll still get your trial.’
For an infinitesimal moment she said nothing, and he was reminded of telling her where the door was before, willing her to use it. Now he’d launch an army if she tried to leave. He had to consciously stop his hands from gripping her arms tight, as if he could restrain her from walking out. He could see her throat work as she swallowed. Her eyes were wide, pupils as black as night.
She opened her mouth and he kept his eyes off the seductive temptation of those soft lips. He needed to hear this too badly. Needed her to stay.
