But he was getting ahead of himself. What she said was plausible but there was more. ‘You lied about your name.’
‘Actually, I didn’t. My parents weren’t married. I was the result of a holiday affair and I inherited my mother’s name.’ She looked at her hands clasped in her lap. ‘My father knew I existed, my mum told him when she was pregnant, but they had no interest in living together. He never…claimed me or saw me, but when she died the authorities contacted him and he gave me a home.’ Her mouth twitched. ‘When I moved to Italy everyone called me by his name, but he never suggested I legally change mine.’
There was a wealth of pain in her careful words that he knew was real. How could he have overlooked this? The investigators had reported her parents weren’t married, but Gio had assumed when Barbieri took her in he’d also legally changed her name since she used his professionally.
Unless Barbieri didn’t see her as true family.
Gio knew about growing up with a parent who didn’t show love. Had that happened to Stella?
Anger tightened every sinew and muscle. He knew, more than most, the tainted soul Alfredo Barbieri hid behind his greasy charm. Did Barbieri think of her as less in some way? Or was it just that the man was incapable of loving anyone?
Before he could say anything Stella continued. ‘If anyone took the trouble to look for me they’d make enquiries about Stella Barbieri and I needed time alone.’ She paused, sombre eyes meeting his. ‘Given the situation at home, I didn’t want to talk about my family. I was honest when I said it felt good to be just Stella for a change.’
To Gio’s horror her mouth trembled. But a second later she had herself under control, looking past him towards the lake as if fascinated.
He understood her determination to suppress her emotions. It was what he did himself. Yet he hated seeing her hurt. For he knew that was real. He felt an answering pang deep in his chest.
The things he’d thought suspicious had such reasonable explanations. Guilt bit hard.
‘I understand. I liked being simply Gio.’
Too often people wanted his attention or friendship because of his success and wealth. Though at the time he’d believed Stella knew exactly who he was, he’d found a freedom in being just Gio, not Giancarlo Valenti. As if he’d shed unnecessary layers.
She regarded him steadily as if trying to gauge his motives, then shrugged. ‘As for talking to your staff about the hotel, I was just interested. It wasn’t some dastardly scheme.’ Her lips twitched. ‘The place has a different energy from my father’s hotels. A positive vibe I couldn’t put my finger on and, as your investigators told you—’ her tone cooled ‘—I’m in the industry. I didn’t ask for confidential secrets, just tried to work out why it felt so different.’
Slowly Gio nodded. ‘When I considered it later I thought the same.’
‘You did?’ Her tense expression eased a little.
He nodded, wishing he’d confronted her at the start instead of playing along. But he’d been intrigued to find out what Barbieri was up to. Later it was Stella who’d intrigued him and he hadn’t wanted to disrupt their passionate idyll. More fool him.
‘And the midnight ramblings?’ He suspected he knew the truth but hearing her say it would clear the air.
‘I don’t sleep well when I’m worried about something. I go—’
‘Running.’ At her startled look he admitted, ‘I remember.’ He recalled everything. ‘I was glad you hadn’t decided to jog through Rome in the middle of the night.’
Even when he’d believed her a spy he’d abhorred the idea of her putting herself in danger.
‘I explored every part of your hotel that was open to the public. Even came across a few that were barred.’
Gio scrubbed his bristled jaw with his hand. A weight pressed on his chest. ‘I owe you an apology, Stella.’
‘You believe me?’
She looked stunned and suspicious. He couldn’t blame her.
He inclined his head. It wasn’t just her explanation, but that she hadn’t tried to pump him for confidential information. At the Amalfi villa he’d ditched his suspicions, eventually relaxing fully with her. He’d put off his admission that he’d suspected her because he’d been too selfish to break their passionate interlude.
By the time the investigator’s report arrived he’d convinced himself there was some other explanation for her presence.
‘I do. I was having doubts about you as a spy when we were at my villa. Finally I decided it was time to bring everything into the open. But then you ran and it seemed like proof you’d lied. That youhadplanned to use our relationship and were scared to stay and be honest with me.’
That was the main reason for his animosity. Because he’d never had a relationship like it. It had been unique, making him feel triumphant and happy, but vulnerable too. He revelled in it even as it scared him.
It had felt like being on a roller coaster, exhilarating but beyond his control. And Gio never relinquished emotional control.
‘I left becauseyoulied tome. You dug into my private life when all you needed to do was ask. You made me feel…grubby.’ Her eyes narrowed and her breasts rose and fell with her quickened breathing. ‘You let me think you were attracted to me when all the time you were manipulating me, like a cat with a mouse.’
