Page 19 of ‘I Do’ for Revenge

It had been so long since he’d dealt with anyone who didn’t look at him as if calculating how much they could get out of him—business colleagues and women—that it was more than a novelty. It was disconcerting. He had nothing to bargain with. And that made him feel a little...redundant.

If he had nothing he could offer Flora then would she even stay? And why did that suddenly matter?

Because she intrigues you and you want her. You want the woman who you stood up at the altar. You haven’t forgotten her in six months.

This situation was unprecedented. Vito had never had to think much about pursuing a woman he wanted, never intending on a liaison lasting long. Because his main focus had always been on building up his business and taking Umberto Gavia down.

But now, he wanted a woman who came with strings attached. More than strings. A dog. And yet it wasn’t making him reconsider. He was too hungry for her.

He’d taken that model out—on the evening of the day he’d been due to marry Flora Gavia. It had been intended as a very clear message to Umberto Gavia and the world that Vito was triumphant.

But that evening and date had been a disaster. He’d been distracted. The model—he couldn’t even remember her name—had been uninteresting and not remotely appealing to Vito.

And now, in light of what Flora had been facing when she’d left his office, the memory left a distinctly sour taste in his mouth.

Since that day, Vito had found that the life that he’d been living—high-octane working and socialising—had suddenly felt...a little empty. He’d put it down to the anticlimax of taking over Gavia’s business. And so he’d put his head down and used the time to consolidate his position, to make sure that he was invulnerable to any kind of attacks in the future.

But as soon as he’d laid eyes on Flora Gavia again something had pulsed back into life inside him. A desire to engage again. Desire for a woman. Hunger.

The fact that it washerof all people was not entirely welcome, but he assured himself that even if she was up to something, he would be prepared. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t expecting it.

A little voice reminded him that he’d felt something for her on the wedding day, when she’d appeared in that dress. He’d noticed her then. She’d made a mark, a mark that hadn’t been made before. Because he hadn’t noticed her previously. Or had deliberately chosen not to. Not wanting the distraction.

But now he was distracted. And he was going to do whatever it took to persuade her that he at least owed her sanctuary. As for anything more than that...he’d seen the way she blushed whenever he looked at her. He knew when a woman wanted him. They were both adults. If she was prepared to admit that she felt the same chemistry as him, then perhaps this offer of sanctuary could become something much more mutually satisfying.

He went back into his home office and made some calls. When he heard a light knock on the door, he looked up to see Flora framed in the doorway, the dog in her arms looking pretty content.

Vito could empathise. He stood up. ‘Please, come in. Can I get you anything?’

Flora came in and stood on the other side of the desk. She shook her head. Some of her hair had come loose from her bun and was framing her face in curly tendrils.

Once again Vito wondered how on earth he hadn’t appreciated her allure until the wedding day, and now.

She put the dog down and he ambled around the room, sniffing. She said, ‘I’ve had a think about your...proposition.’

Vito waited, feeling unexpectedly tense. He really wasn’t sure which way this woman would go and usually he read people with ease.

She looked at him. ‘I’ve decided that I’ll stay. I’ll agree to this plan...to appear as if we are together. It can only help me regain some sort of dignity and respect and give me an opportunity to give something back.’

‘Give something back...what do you mean?’

‘I’d like you to give a generous donation to the women’s aid centre. They need every euro they can get and they need new facilities. I know that’s a lot to ask but—’

‘Consider it done.’

Flora’s eyes widened. ‘You mean...you mean that you’ll donate,andhelp them get new facilities?’

Vito shrugged. ‘I invest in charities all the time, and they’re a great cause. They should have been on my radar before now.’

‘But it could mean...millions.’

‘They need it. You said so yourself.’

‘Yes, but I wasn’t thinking you’d just agree and offer so much in one fell swoop.’

‘Maybe I’m trying to impress you.’

Flora blushed. Vito’s body tightened all over.