She tread water. ‘I’m sorry, I probably should have checked this was okay, I’ve got used to having the pool at my disposal.’
He gestured with a hand. ‘Of course, it’s fine. You’re free to use the amenities.’
Lili’s heart was beating fast and it had nothing to do with the exertion. She swam to the shallow end but, suddenly aware of her undress, she didn’t stand up fully. Hoping her boss would take the hint she said, ‘I’ll leave you to your peace.’ She could see her robe on the ground and hoped he would just walk away but he walked over to her robe and picked it up, holding it out for her.
Lili froze all over at the thought of appearing in front of him in just a swimsuit. But then she remembered pictures she’d seen of Corti on yachts with far more scantily clad women and told herself she was behaving like a shy nun.
She took a breath and stood up and walked up the steps with as much dignity as she could muster, practically snatching the robe out of his hand, careful not to come into contact. She avoided his eye and moved back and pulled the robe on haphazardly, belting it tightly. Wishing it was longer. It felt positively indecent. And why did her breasts suddenly feel so large and heavy? Her skin hot all over when it should be feeling cool.
‘Do you normally swim late at night?’ he asked.
Lili shrugged. ‘Sometimes. I’m a night owl.’
‘Me too.’
Lili stepped to the side. ‘I’m sorry for disturbing you.’ She went to walk away, back to the sanctuary of the villa but then remembered her responsibilities. She stopped and looked at him. She could see his face now in the moonlight and almost lost her breath at the sheer masculine beauty. His eyes gleamed like pewter.
‘I should have checked with you earlier but you were on the phone after dinner…will you be leaving as planned tomorrow?’
‘I’m not sure. I have some things to think about, I might be here for a couple more days.’
Some things to think about. Like finding the woman who didn’t exist who would be willing to marry him and have his baby and live here in blissful peace and solitude.
Something about the time of the evening and the fact that darkness enveloped them like a cloak, made Lili feel a sudden sense of daring. It was now or never. She’d never have the nerve to do this in full daylight.
As if being prompted by a rogue devil inside of herself, she blurted out, ‘I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with your solicitor earlier. I didn’t mean to but I had to tie my lace outside the study and you were…talking quite loudly.’
Corti’s mouth tipped up on one side and that tiny sign of humour added about another ten hundred percent to his appeal. For a second Lili felt dizzy.
He said, ‘I would have expected that to be a privilege in the privacy of my own home. What was it you heard exactly?’ He folded his arms now but that only drew attention to the corded muscles of his forearms.
Lili swallowed. ‘About how you have to marry and have an heir if you want to keep this villa.’
‘And this is interesting enough for you to bring it up…why?’
The night breeze skated over Lili’s bare skin making it prickle into goose bumps. She was very aware that she was wearing just a swimsuit and a tiny towelling robe, her wet hair streaming down her back. The sense of daring fizzled away, she was being ridiculous.
She shook her head. ‘It was nothing, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.’
‘But you did.’
There was a charge between them now. Something that felt almost tangible. ‘Yes, I did,’ Lili had to admit. But she felt too vulnerable half-dressed. ‘Would you mind if I changed into my clothes?’
Corti uncrossed his arms. ‘Only if you come back and explain why my conversation earlier was of interest to you.’
Hoist by her own petard. Lili said a little desperately, ‘But I’m keeping you up? If you’d prefer to go to bed—’
‘I can wait.’
Lili cursed her big mouth. But it was too late to go back now. ‘Okay, it’ll only take me a few minutes.’
She went back inside and speed-washed and changed into a dress and long loose sweater. She loosely plaited her damp hair and left it hanging over one shoulder. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror before she left her room.
She looked about as shapeless and colourless as a blob. She scowled at her reflection. There was no way that a man like Cassian Corti would ever agree to think about her as a prospective bride. But she’d opened her mouth and now she would have to see this humiliation through to the end.
* * *
Cassian was sitting down again with a refilled glass of wine. He was still absorbing the fact that underneath her voluminous clothes, his housekeeper was hiding an extremely alluring shape. He’d watched her walk up the steps out of the pool and his brain had gone blank for a long second, all of his blood migrating to his groin in a very base and uncontrollable response of a healthy virile male to a female who embodied lush sensuality.
