Chapter Seven
JADE FOUGHT AGAINST nervously clutching the sleeve of Luca’s jacket as they entered the ballroom. He was outrageously handsome, wearing his black tuxedo like a second skin.
When he had told her they would be shopping when they landed in Milan, she had thought it was only to purchase something for this charity gala.
Instead, Luca had left her in the hands of a young man named Hiro, a Japanese designer with an Australian accent who was emerging in maternity fashion at an Italian fashion house.
Giselle would have drooled over him before declaring she would expand into yet another new line of specialty wear.
Hiro had orders to fill Jade’s closet and the cost was “not your concern, cara.”
The whole time she’d been measured and fitted, Jade had been thinking that she couldn’t allow herself to fall so far into Luca’s debt. She was convinced this tentative alliance of theirs would crumble at the first breath of bad gossip.
He didn’t fully understand yet how far her father’s reach extended.
One wrong move on her part here and rumors would swirl back to London.
Then Cyril would be calling her with questions about whether her mother really needed a full-time nurse.
His Lordship is concerned you’re taking advantage of his goodwill.
She hadn’t had a chance to express her concerns to Luca, though.
After Hiro had promised to deliver her altered gown within a few hours, Luca had taken her to a lawyer’s office where she had tried to read the legalese in a contract while the men exchanged rapid-fire Italian around her.
Nothing had struck her as a red flag except the fact that she had to commit to a life with him.
Luca was being very generous in his supports, but it all hinged on their sharing custody and eventually marrying.
She had desperately needed a lie-down when they arrived at his penthouse apartment and she only woke when Luca cupped her neck and stroked a caress beneath her ear, sending frissons of pleasure into her chest and lower.
“The stylist is here. Should I let you sleep?” He frowned with concern and pressed the backs of his fingers to her cheek. “You’re flushed.”
“I’m okay.” She sat up, thoughts scattered, but she was programmed to fall in line. To keep the pace and keep the peace.
He didn’t let her leave the bed, staying beside her as he gave her a considering look.
“It won’t always be like this.” He ran his finger beneath her bra strap, smoothing out a twist. “The hosts of this gala are important to me. Paolo gave me my start in investment banking and was integral to my recent appointment. Lauren is very influential, socially. Anyone who is anyone will be there so it’s a good event to introduce you.
I’d like to do it tonight so no one thinks I’m hiding you or the baby. ”
His somber gaze met hers, ringing the bell of inadequacy deep inside her.
Hide me, she wanted to urge. She’d never been enough. Not for anyone. Even for her mother, she wasn’t merely the cherished daughter she had truly wanted. She was a liability, one that brought the wrath of His Lordship when she least needed it.
Jade felt people staring at her. She wore a cranberry-colored gown Hiro had coaxed her to try on. It showcased the swells of her ample breasts with a plunging neckline, making her extremely self-conscious.
You endure the discomforts of pregnancy so you are entitled to make the most of its gifts. And you are very gifted, darling, Hiro had teased.
The gown was far more daring than anything she’d ever worn and the way Luca had gone so still when she appeared in it had filled her with apprehension.
“Is it too much? There’s a yellow one—”
“Do not change. You’re stunning.”
She had wanted to believe him, but under all this scrutiny, her stomach tied itself in knots.
She’d been in this position before, though. She knew how to keep her chin up and wear an unbothered expression. How to look through people so she wouldn’t see their smirk if they wore one. She knew how to pretend contempt didn’t affect her.
But the effort to rise above that denigration took a toll, scraping relentlessly at her inner worth.
“Luca!” A beautiful woman emerged from the crowd, possibly forty, wearing a gown reminiscent of vintage Hollywood. She was very elegant and self-possessed, showcasing the streak of white in her brunette hair with an intricate updo. “It’s been too long.”
She was accompanied by a man closer to fifty, but he was so fit and handsome, he could have been thirty.
“Jade, these are our hosts,” Luca said. “Lauren and Paolo Donatelli.”
“Your bride-to-be.” Lauren sounded American. Canadian, maybe. “We’re so pleased to meet you. Thank you for coming. What a gorgeous couple you make.”
Feeling put on the spot, Jade deflected by blurting, “Have you looked in a mirror?”
Lauren’s head went back in a peal of laughter that was very engaging.
“My wife improves my appearance tenfold, simply by standing beside me,” Paolo looked to Lauren with a smile that sizzled with heat and adoration, as though he was falling in love with her all over again, right before their eyes.
Jade’s heart panged with envy. What must it feel like to be that precious to someone? She had almost let herself dream of it once, but… I can’t be with you. You know why.
Her father. Always her father.
“I think I’ve found my new best friend.” Lauren slid her arm through Jade’s. “I’ll introduce her around.”
Jade’s heart lurched. She looked back at Luca, but he was already being drawn into a discussion with Paolo. We’re in this together, he had claimed, but no, she was on her own. As usual.
“I’m rescuing you from a very technical discussion about financial policy,” Lauren said. “I’d rather talk about babies. Paolo said it was in the press release so I don’t feel I’m overstepping. How are you feeling?”
“Good. Excited.” She didn’t mention the generalized terror that underpinned her anticipation.
She steeled herself for Lauren to make a comment like Giselle’s, suggesting she had deliberately trapped Luca for his money or something equally unpleasant.
“I’ll send you the name of my midwife. The family joke is that Paolo is my midwife. He attributes all his gray hair to my quick labors. He’s caught three of our five children.”
“You have five children?” Jade resisted the urge to eyeball Lauren’s lithe figure.
“Where do you think my gray hair comes from?” Lauren joked.
Jade started to relax, thinking maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all, but then Lauren drew her into a group of women who were all dripping with silk and diamonds and undeniable confidence.
Everyone was perfectly pleasant toward her, but Jade felt each of their curious questions like a peck, each tiny reference to someone she didn’t know as a nudge out of the inner circle.
She was in such a state of tension, working so hard to hold a smile on her face while waiting for the moment they would fully turn on her, that the hand arriving at her hip nearly caused her to leap out of her skin.
It was Luca, now steadying her with a warm grip on her waist while everyone tittered at how quickly she blushed and grew flustered under his half-lidded appraisal.
“It must have been an engrossing conversation,” he said easily. “But I wondered if you’d like to dance?”
She had been convinced he had dismissed her from his mind. Now she grew prickly with tension as he led her to the floor.
“This was the real reason I wanted to bring you here tonight,” Luca said as he slid his arm around her waist. His hand enveloped hers.
“To dance with me?” she asked with disbelief.
“I thought we agreed we like dancing?” He wore an impassive expression, but the memory of what had happened the last time they danced nearly buckled her knees.
Dancing with him was dangerous. She was instantly under his spell. He guided her with infinitesimal touches that seemed to reach inside her, awakening all her erogenous zones.
He knew it, too. The corners of his mouth dug in with satisfaction and his fingertips skimmed lightly up her spine, making her shoulder blades flex.
“We haven’t talked about whether we’ll share the bed or use it for other things,” he said, voice pitched so it barely extended from where his lips brushed her temple down to her ear.
Her ankle wobbled.
He drew her closer while she regained her balance.
His penthouse here in Milan was as luxurious as his villa, with views off the terrace of stately architecture and pockets of manicured gardens. But the guest bedroom there was an in-home gym. He had already told her it should be redecorated for the baby.
His bed was big enough they could sleep in it without knowing the other was there. Last night had proved they could do exactly that, but she had been wondering herself if they were going to sleep together or sleep together.
“You want to discuss that here?” she asked into his bow tie.
“I think you just felt that it’s top of my mind,” he said drily.
She had. Her brief press against him had imprinted the shape of his erection against her belly despite the fall of his coat between them. Her nipples were stinging in reaction, her loins flooding with heated awareness.
“The doctor in London said it was typically safe to have sex during pregnancy,” he continued quietly. “But it’s up to you and how you feel, obviously.”
Of course he’d asked. She didn’t know how she felt, though.
“This is all happening so fast, Luca.” She suspected she would lose herself completely if she started having sex with him.
Or, rather, continued.
“That’s why I thought we’d talk about it here.” His thumb tucked itself inside her palm, pressing in a slow, erotic back-and-forth massage. “So it doesn’t happen so fast again. I can do better than brevity.”
Had her caustic remark back in London stung? She bit her lip, then clutched at his shoulder as he tucked her close and pivoted her to avoid another couple.