Her legs were long and toned. Soft belly. And beautiful breasts. Full and high. Even with the robe on and firmly belted around her small waist, he’d seen the deep and tantalising valley of her cleavage.
It had been a long time since Cassian had seen a woman with such a full figure. It wasn’t fashionable in the circles he ran in, even with the body positivity movement. He’d almost forgotten how a woman should look and now that he’d seen his housekeeper like this he couldn’tunsee it.
That’s why he was intrigued to hear what she had to say after admitting that she’d overheard his conversation with his solicitor. That didn’t bother him unduly. He was so used to being under a glaring spotlight since the worst day of his life when his family were killed, he’d long given up any attempt to control his privacy. He’d leant into the insatiable interest of the world’s curiosity, bringing them along with him as he’d lived fast and partied even faster.
It wasn’t that he had a death wish so much as no reason not to live life to the max and at full throttle. But he had to concede that he found the energy required to keep people entertained with his fast driving and fast living was becoming…harder to manufacture. These last few weeks, recuperating from a small bone fracture in his hand had been surprisingly pleasant. A respite. Stepping off the relentless merry-go-round. And yet as pleasant as that had been, it had also highlighted the void in his life, usually covered up by maintaining that relentless busy schedule.
He was bored. So bored in fact that when he’d faced the prospect of a debauched few days in a desert at an infamous annual party which was the stuff of legends, he’d opted to finally give in to his solicitor’s increasingly panicked demands for a meeting, here in Como, because despite his great reluctance to engage he’d known time was running out. He had a year from now to fulfil the terms of the inheritance or be the first Corti to fail to keep the villa in the family.
He heard a soft sound and looked up from his glass to see Lili hovering a few feet away. She was dressed in another loose dress, covered by an even looser sweatshirt. Long dark hair over one shoulder. Sneakers.
And yet now that he’d seen her, he couldn’t stop his pulse tripping. It was completely unexpected and unwelcome, obviously. She was his employee. He exerted as much control as he could over his rogue hormones. He put it down to the fact that his recent sexual encounters had left him feeling dissatisfied.
He stood up. ‘Please, sit down.’ He gestured to the chair on the other side of the table.
Lili came forward and sat down, looking as if she might bolt at any second. Cassian held up the bottle of wine. ‘Care to join me?’
She looked at the extra glass he’d placed on the table. Her skin went a pleasing shade of pink. ‘I don’t think that would be very appropriate.’
He arched a brow. ‘And yet, why do I suspect that what you’re about to say will push the boundaries of that propriety?’ He was no fool. He knew that not many woman could have heard that conversation today and not been tempted to think that they could put themselves forward for the position of his wife. He was just curious to know what her reasons would be. Apart from the obvious, of course. A lifetime of wealth and prestige.
She looked at him, eyes going very wide. They really were stunning. Bright blue, with long lashes, finely etched brows.
She bit at her lower lip and Cassian felt a wave of heat move over his skin and into his blood. Again. Her mouth was wide and generous. Lower lip as plump as—
She held out her glass. ‘Okay, just a small amount, please. I’m not much of a drinker.’
* * *
Lili watched as he poured the rich red liquid into her glass. As soon as he’d hinted that he might know what she wanted to talk about, she’d realised she’d need all the bravado she could muster.
She took a sip of the wine and winced a little at the strong robust flavour, but then it smoothed out as it went down her throat.
‘Not a wine aficionado?’
Lili’s face felt hot. Another reason why this was crazy. She might have come from a wealthy background but the difference in sophistication between them was as wide as the Grand Canyon. She felt gauche. She’d never felt as if she fitted into the world her parents had aspired to. Compounded by the fact that she knew she was adopted. She’d been too buxom and hippy as a teenager to be trendy and then the kidnap and the terror of what those men might do to her had shut down her burgeoning sexuality completely.
She was still a virgin. And that hadn’t bothered her. Until she’d seen this man naked, or as good as, and he’d just seen her as near to naked as she’d ever been in front of a man. Her breasts still felt heavy, under all the layers she was hiding under.
He sat back. ‘So? Would you like to elaborate on why you brought up the conversation you overheard?’
He sounded cynical, as if this wassounsurprising to him. It made her feel defensive, as did her awareness of him. ‘I think you already know that I might be interested in asking if you’d consider marrying me so that you can retain the villa. But it’s not for the reasons you might think.’
He took a sip of his own wine. His eyes were dark now. Hard to read. ‘Go on.’
‘It’s not for your wealth or anything like that. I love it here and would feel honoured to be given the opportunity to help you keep it in your name.’
Now an expression crossed his face, something between scorn and sheer disbelief. ‘Are you truly the one woman on the planet who doesn’t want me for my unlimited funds and the social status I bring with me?’
Lili lifted her chin. ‘I’d be willing to sign an agreement to prove that I want nothing more than a chance to live here in peace. You could get on with your life and never return if you so wished. You’d have the satisfaction of knowing the villa remains in your family for the next generation.’
‘Ah, the next generation. You’d also be willing to be the mother of my child?’
Lili forced out a sudden flash of this man’s naked body in the shower with water sluicing down over powerful muscles. She nodded. ‘Yes, I heard that bit too.’
‘And?’
‘I’ve always wanted a child of my own, so yes, I’d be willing to…’ She faltered, wondering how best to word it.
