Chapter Eight
‘DID YOU SLEEP WELL?’ Massimo watched her approach.
She still looked sleepy with slight smudges beneath her dazed eyes; her skin was flushed and a streak of stubble rash marked her neck.
She looked like she’d spent half the night being thoroughly pleasured.
Which she had. All Massimo wanted now was to take her back to bed and carry on.
But she tightly fastened the hotel robe around her slim body, hiding her dreamy curves.
Manhandling her the second she was conscious wasn’t the calm-and-in-control aura he ought to exude.
‘You know I did.’ She ran a hand through her hair, the long waves tempting him more. ‘Eventually.’
Yeah, it had been a wrench to leave her there.
He’d woken only an hour ago, his brain whirring.
He’d investigated—read the local news articles about her brothers’ accident and the few other mentions of her family.
Her fear that they would negatively impact him was unfounded.
He had a solution. Money talked and he had plenty of it.
People did turn a blind eye when you could pay for almost anything and he was happy to pay for their compliance, but he was furious they’d abandoned a teenager who should have been valued and protected, not used and threatened.
She took in the fact that he was fully dressed and clutched her robe closer about her. ‘I should get moving.’
‘Yes,’ he agreed peaceably. ‘Your bag has already been collected from the other hotel. The team has completed the pack-out and they’re in the air already.’ He leaned in to his controlling self. ‘We’re going to Sentosa for a few days. Beach holiday.’
Her face was a picture. ‘You can’t just—’
‘Did you have other plans for the break? A trip booked?’ he interrupted blandly. ‘Or were you just going back to the caravan?’
She shot him a reproachful look.
‘I know. Too high-handed.’ He grinned. But a long flight now—even by private jet—was too much for her. ‘We need to work things through. You need privacy and rest. You look wiped out.’
‘Thanks,’ she said sarcastically.
He wasn’t about to apologise; it was true.
And no wonder when she’d been so isolated for so long.
Her prickliness, her determined independence, now made sense.
Abandoned by her family, she’d lost trust and developed a ferocious need for independence as defence.
Aside from simply needing to survive, when her own family didn’t value her, how did she find value within herself? Through work.
He knew the drill. He’d tried that himself. But where she’d succeeded, he’d failed. Because she was fundamentally worthy, whereas he was not.
He wished she would just be shallow and say yes to everything—not just this trip, but to marrying him.
Why couldn’t she simply accept the lifestyle he could offer?
She and the baby could be secure within the Hearnshawe gates.
He would set her up with everything she needed, just as he’d done for Emiliano.
Only she didn’t seem to want that so now he felt forced to try to convince her—to prove why it could work.
He feared she wanted more than what his money could buy.
That she wanted the things he didn’t and would never have.
It was too bad, because the die was cast and the sooner they settled into it, the better.
‘Honestly, I need a break, too,’ he added huskily. He actually bloody did. He was damned tired.
She studied him searchingly, no doubt seeing the shadows beneath his eyes; plus, he’d not yet bothered to shave. Seeing that abrasion on her neck, he would in a moment. For now he waited, enduring her scrutiny until at last she nodded.
He smiled ruefully. Of course she was more comfortable with the idea if she thought he got some benefit as well. Then it wasn’t all about her. Was she so used to not being considered that she almost felt threatened when she was?
‘What will you have for breakfast?’ he asked.
‘Umm…’ She glanced sideways at the tray at the end of the table, her nose wrinkled. ‘Actually, do you think it’s possible for me to see a doctor? Not because there’s anything wrong—but just have a check-up, make sure my nutrition is everything it should be. That sort of thing.’
‘Of course.’ It was already on his list, but that she’d raised it first was good.
She’d not replied to his texts through the weekend, but she needed to learn that when she did ask, he would deliver.
Starting now. ‘I’ll arrange for one to come to the hotel in Sentosa. We’ll leave as soon as you’ve dressed.’
‘Amazing, thank you.’
He grabbed his phone to message instructions while she went hunting for her dress. Within a half hour the car arrived.
‘Don’t you want to drive?’ she murmured.
‘Not when I can be in the back seat with you.’ He winked.
‘But you raced for a while. You won several of the karting grades year on year in England. Why did you stop?’
He quelled his discomfort. He couldn’t tell her what had happened the last day he’d gone racing. ‘I needed to concentrate on my education. After my father died, I knew I would take over Hearnshawe sooner and I needed the skills to succeed.’
‘Surely, driving is one of those skills.’
‘I knew all I needed to. There were other areas I had to focus on.’ He was relieved when they arrived at the hotel.
He watched an element of panic enter her wide eyes as she walked into their private villa.
‘This place is amazing,’ she murmured.
The villa was lovely but Massimo’s home on the edge of an Italian lake had more space.
He would take her there later. He didn’t want to overwhelm her too soon—she was skittish enough of how spoilt he was.
Her expectations were shockingly low. She liked the cosiness of a damned cramped caravan.
A gradual introduction to his world would definitely be best. Plus, in this neutral space, she couldn’t hide from him.
‘It must cost—’
‘Don’t.’ He leaned against the wall. ‘You know you can withdraw my all-access pass again at any time. Or not. This isn’t a transaction. People sometimes do things for each other without expecting or demanding something in return.’
‘I can’t give to you in the same way.’
‘I don’t want you to. You don’t have to give me anything.’ She didn’t understand that just her smile gave him satisfaction.
‘Just my hand in marriage,’ she pointed out.
Oh yeah, there was that.
‘I won’t marry you, but I’m still going to say thank you,’ she said proudly. ‘I don’t take this for granted. I know your time is precious.’
‘No more precious than yours. Time is a complete leveller. Finite for everyone, and none of us knows how much we’ll really have.’ He scooped up her bag but she stepped in front of him.
‘I can do that,’ she said stiffly, trying to take it from him.
‘I know,’ he said, tightening his grip. ‘But you don’t have to.’
Her chin lifted. ‘I can and do accept help. When I want to.’
‘Sure,’ he drawled. ‘As little as possible.’
He flexed and finally she let go, let him put the damned bag in her room.
Having things done for her definitely made her uncomfortable.
He was offering only basic courtesy but she wasn’t used to being treated well.
She would become accustomed to staff supporting her.
He’d watched her work her butt off over these past weeks.
She was nimble, quick, on hand with the right tool with surgical precision.
She always worked extra hours, always went the extra mile.
She was focused, diligent, ruthlessly competent.
She’d clawed her way into P1 because failure wasn’t an option.
This wasn’t just desire; this was survival for her.
But while she wanted to be part of the team, she kept slightly distanced.
Head down, walls up. A defensive strategy he also used.
And when she’d thought she was alone and away from the team, she’d indulged in a cherry—a rare tiny treat.
No wonder she was hungry for touch. She should have so much more.
He would ensure she did—in that arena at least, he could deliver.
‘The doctor will be here after lunch,’ he said when he got back to the lounge and found her sprawled on the sofa, enjoying the air-conditioned room.
‘What are we going to do until then?’ she murmured.
‘Whatever we want.’ Awareness rippled through him as he saw that gleam in her eyes.
A small smile curved her mouth. ‘Shall we watch the race replay?’
‘Sure.’ He was not disappointed. He had patience.
He programmed the smart screen then sprawled beside her, muted his phone and flipped it face down to ignore the never-ending succession of calls and messages. Work could wait. He was spending just a little precious time with her. But the moment the music began, Lily was lost to him.
‘Oh no.’ She winced as she watched Emiliano lose the lead in the first lap. ‘Oh that’s such a shame.’
She was glued to the action and there was plenty of it, but Massimo barely paid attention to the screen; watching her was too entertaining. She was a bundle of nervous energy. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea; it was completely winding her up.
‘Oh he’s pitting.’ She slid off the sofa to kneel on the rug, even closer to the screen.
‘Why are you so keyed up when you already know the result?’ He chuckled.
She held up a hand to silence him. ‘Fast. That was good. They practice over and over.’
Yeah, he was aware, but she watched all the other team’s pit stops with the same intensity.
Calling out the strategy. Wincing when Conrad’s car kissed the wall after an impressive overtake.
Her energy was infectious—he sank into her sparkling excitement.
He never wanted to watch another race without her beside him. Ever.
She watched as Conrad recovered places to get into third position, while Emiliano surged back to second. ‘There’s the moment!’ she squealed.
He laughed. She glanced and caught him staring and suddenly turned red.