‘But you’ll lose this connection to your family.’
His eyes flashed dark silver for a moment, as if she’d pressed on a nerve. He said, ‘I lost that connection the day they all died.’
Lili cursed herself. ‘Of course you did, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest—’
He held up a hand. ‘I know you didn’t.’ He dropped his hand. ‘The truth is that it’s my own fault that there’s only a year left to secure the villa in my name.’
‘Maybe you hoped you’d find someone who would change your views on marriage?’ Lili suggested.
He barked an unamused sounding laugh. ‘A cute but naive idea. No. Not in a million years. I knew what would be involved in keeping the villa and I hadn’t relished the prospect of finding the elusive woman who would agree to a marriage in name only.And, agree to have a child.’
He continued, ‘But then I returned here yesterday and met you and now I have the very real prospect of keeping the villa in the Corti name. An unexpected, but welcome, development. You couldn’t be more perfect for what I need right now.’
And potentially, forever. Lili swallowed. ‘If this does work out, what would your day-to-day involvement be?’
‘Minimal. I have a busy life and work schedule. I’d check in with you, naturally, and the child, but I’d be happy for you to be his main carer.’
‘It could be a girl,’ Lili pointed out, feeling a need to press against that nerve again. He sounded so…sanguine. As if they were not discussing an actual potential human being.
‘Whatever the sex of the child, it will want for nothing.’
Except a father, Lili felt like pointing out. ‘You really meant it when you said you didn’t want to have children, a family.’
‘Yes. I had a family and I lost them. A child is integral to keeping the villa but I will not be involved. I will be more like a benevolent guardian protecting his, or her, inheritance until they come of age.’
Lili really couldn’t argue with that. She was willing to agree to an arrangement where she was going to be a sole parent. And he had explained his reasons which were pretty compelling. To suffer a trauma like he did, it would put anyone off risking that kind of loss again.
They were both guilty of fulfilling their own needs. But Lili knew she could love a child enough for two parents. Itwouldwant for nothing. She’d make sure of it.
‘Okay,’ she said.
‘Okay?’ Corti lifted a brow.
Lili nodded. ‘I’ll read over the agreement but I’m sure it’ll be fine, Signore Corti.’
‘I think that you can call me Cassian. After all, you know all my secrets now.’
Lili gulped. That felt very intimate, which was ridiculous after what they’d just been discussing. She responded, ‘I…okay.’
Then she reiterated, ‘I really don’t want anything more than a place to live and a child of my own.’
‘What was it you said last night? Peace and security?’
Lili nodded, feeling slightly defensive. No doubt he must think her very unambitious or parochial. ‘You have your wishes and desires and I have mine.’
* * *
As Lili’s words sank in, Cassian had to admit to a sensation of hollowness inside him.Didhe have wishes and desires? Professionally, he was still passionate about racing but he couldn’t deny that the relentless pace and schedule was becoming wearying. He was realising that he wanted to spend more time improving the sustainability of the motor racing industry.
And, the board of the Corti Group had been making increasingly frequent noises about needing his more consistent involvement.
But outside of that not much had caused him to desire much or wish for anything. He had everything. He could literally affordanythinghe wanted.
Nothing was unobtainable. Not even a convenient wife who was prepared to have his child so he could hold onto his inheritance. Without even making love. Which wouldn’t be a problem if the potential wife in question hadn’t sparked this current of awareness ever since he’d seen her stepping out of the pool.
It confounded him that he found her attractive when she was wearing another shapeless ensemble today. Dress, or skirt, he wasn’t sure which it was, falling almost to the ground. Sneakers. A loose cardigan. Long hair. Unstyled.
But now he knew what was underneath. A voluptuous and full-bodied woman. Why was she hiding herself like this? Under clothes and in the confines of a vast villa?
