He dropped her hand, but she couldn’t contain the vicious shudder of response.
‘Then stand still,’ he demanded, but the note of censure was not matched by the light still dancing in his eyes.
She forced herself not to move and tried not to tremble under that seeking gaze.
‘I need a wife, and I am asking you to take the position for a year, at a very generous salary,’ he said, his voice so low now it seemed to reverberate in her belly.
‘Why do you need a wife for a year?’
And why would you employ me when you’ve dated tons of much more suitable women who’d do the job for free?
She bit into her lip to stop herself from voicingthatquestion, because it felt far too personal.
His brows lowered, his gaze became shuttered and the muscle in his jaw twitched again, signalling his disapproval.
‘The purpose of this arrangement is not your concern,’ he said. ‘Do you understand?’ There was that note of command again, and condescension, which was playing havoc with the weightless sensation in her belly.
Was this really happening? Because this whole situation had begun to feel like a weird anxiety dream, which she was hoping she would wake up from soon.
‘I… I guess so,’ she said, even though she didn’t understand at all.
‘So, what is your answer, Tallulah? Two million euros for a year of your time.’
‘I—I don’t want the money,’ she said, making his brows snap together. ‘For myself…’ she added quickly, because she could see he wasn’t happy with that response either. ‘But if you would consider investing in the Hall as soon as possible, so I could give the staff a pay rise and start putting my plans for the business into action, I’d be happy to consider it… But I’d need a few guarantees first.’
If the Hall could become profitable, instead of just barely sustaining itself, Lorenti would surely want to invest more, and all the people who relied on her for employment—people she cared about—would have their futures secured, too. But she needed to clarify what the position he was offering her entailed before agreeing to more.
What would a man like Dario Lorenti even require in a wife? What exactly was he expecting her to do, and for a whole year? It sounded like a public position. But the way he was looking at her, with that dark intensity in his eyes, was making parts of her ache that had never ached before—and that could not be good…
‘What guarantees?’ he snapped. The business-like tone, though, helped to stop the hot rock in her chest from vibrating… Unfortunately, it did nothing to shrink the one which had become lodged between her thighs.
‘Well, like, what do you want me to do?Exactly?’ she asked, feeling breathless again.
The cynical smile twisted, but he seemed unfazed by the question when he replied—his tone practical and pragmatic. ‘You would marry me, after you sign a pre-nuptial agreement, as soon as possible. Then you would need to do everything I request to make this marriage appear genuine—in public.’
The breath she had been holding released in a rush. So this was a stunt marriage.
He let out a low chuckle. ‘There is no need to look so relieved, Tallulah, that I am not proposing a genuine marriage.’
The blush blazed across her chest and blasted into her cheeks. Was he amused or offended? ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…’ Her heart raced into her throat. ‘I mean, I’m sure you’re very appealing to women.’ The blush burned as one dark eyebrow arched.
For heaven’s sake, Tali, shut up!
‘Butyoudo not find me appealing?’ he prompted.
‘It’s not that, I just, I…’ She swallowed, the hot rock between her thighs calling her a liar, but the constriction in her lungs winning. ‘I’ve only just met you… And I work for you. I don’t think it would be appropriate for us to…to…’
She trailed off.
Sheesh, why don’t you just dig a hole in the carpet and jump into it.
‘For us towhat, Tallulah? Exactly?’
She heard the hint of sarcasm then and saw the renewed spark of amusement in the golden brown.
He was mocking her. The…bastard!
She breathed through the flash of temper.
