Bound By Her Ring (6 page)

The look he sent her smouldered through to her soul. Fire began deep inside and a sensual fog threatened to consume her. She was never going to survive two weeks with him.

“I remember everything about you.”

He flicked his gaze to the large round clock hanging down from the ceiling, breaking the spell and dissipating the fog. “Now can we please continue on our way? We’ll miss our scheduled take off slot and I, for one, don’t plan on hanging around all day to wait for another to become available.”

His words resounded in her mind as she followed blindly behind him,
I remember everything about you
.

Would he be willing to share that information with her? Somehow she doubted it. It was clear to her Luciano went by his rules and no one else’s, and don’t even dare question him or his motives. He was an immovable force. Play by his game or don’t play at all. If she wanted answers then she would have to get her emotions under control.

Walking out the door she found herself back out in the sunlight, squinting at the brightness after the subdued lighting of the terminal. Why on earth had she put her sunglasses away? Easy answer—she never expected to find herself outside again. She expected to check-in, make her way to some seats, sit down and have a drink. She expected to board a commercial flight of some sort. She should’ve realised travelling with Luciano would be a completely different experience to the norm.

Why had she expected normality?

Fishing around her handbag she extracted her glasses and put them back on. Once her eyes adjusted to the muted sunlight her glasses provided, she gasped in surprise at the sight that greeted her. Not one hundred metres away sat a sleek silver jet, engines purring like a jungle cat, waiting to take flight. An intricate logo of the letters ’M’ and ’C’, entwined around each other adorned the tail of the plane leaving her in no doubt as to whom the plane belonged to.

“I take it this is yours?” she asked when she finally caught up with him.

“Obviously,” he drawled as he stepped to the side, indicating she should precede him up the staircase.

Brushing past him she made her way up. Upon entering the plane she finally understood just how wealthy the man claiming to be her husband was.

The jet was the epitome of luxury. No expense had been spared in fitting out the plane. It even smelt expensive. The interior of the main cabin was completely different to what you would find on the average airliner. Black, soft looking leather armchairs, bunched into two little groups of two to create a cosy atmosphere replaced the normal uncomfortable vinyl upright seats she was expecting to sit in. The spacious cabin looked more like a luxurious lounge room than the inside of a jet.

Just how safe were those chairs?

Taking a closer look, she breathed easier when the comforting sight of a seatbelt peeped out from the cushiony depths.

There was an open door at the end of the cabin. Curiosity got the better of her and she wandered down the red, carpeted aisle. When she reached the opening she looked through and saw a bedroom. Immediately her gaze arrowed in on the bed, she could just imagine how Luciano passed the time on long flights. She could picture his arms and legs entwined with someone other than her amongst the sheets. Irrational jealousy speared through her soul at the thought of Luciano being intimate with another woman.

She didn’t even like him, why on earth was she jealous? No it wasn’t jealousy filling her; it was nerves at the prospect of flying somewhere unknown and spending time with an unknown man.

The sound of a throat clearing at her back had her straightening her spine. She turned to face him, as warmth filled her cheeks at being caught out like a schoolgirl gawking at the hunky quarterback.

“You can sit anywhere, even in the bedroom.” Humour laced his voice.

The warmth manifested into a flush which stole over her face, heating it to what she was sure was a bright red.

“Excuse me.” She brushed past him, wishing she was able to come up with something smart and intelligent to say but her thought processes had shut down.

Moving with quick steps she made her way to one of the chairs, sank down deep into the cushion and fastened her seatbelt, pulling it tight, while wishing the heat in her face and body would die away.

She sensed rather than saw Luciano take the seat next to her. Couldn’t he have chosen one on the other side of the aisle? Did he always have to crowd her personal space?

As if the past five minutes hadn’t happened, she grabbed a magazine out of her handbag. She began to flick through the pages feigning a deep interest in the contents, hoping against hope Luciano might take the hint that she didn’t want to talk to him.

“Are you still interested in knowing where we’re going?”

No such luck, he was intent on chatting.

“Now that you mention it, I’m beyond caring where we end up,” she replied airily. “I’m sure wherever we go will be nice, expensive and comfortable.”

“I’d change your attitude if I were you, Jasmine, otherwise the next two weeks are going to be extremely long.”

She flipped the magazine shut. “What? You think, after the way you virtually forced me into taking this trip, I’d be all sweetness and light? Think again, I’m here for my father and that’s all.”

“Everything always comes back to your father doesn’t it?” he said acid dripping from every word. “So tell me, how does he feel about you travelling with me? Is he happy?”

This was the last question she wanted Luciano to ask her. After more years than she could remember, her father had decided to take a vacation. Which annoyed and disappointed her, with Luciano’s appearance in her life, she needed her father now more than ever.

Something didn’t feel right though. Whenever he’d gone away before he’d always given her details in case of an emergency and she needed to get in touch with him. Now, the one time she might need him, he was unreachable. It was like she’d entered a different reality the moment Luciano turned up in her life again. There was something at the back of her mind, she could feel it but the thought couldn’t break through the blackness that still engulfed a part of her mind. Why couldn’t she remember? Why had her father disappeared the moment Luciano turned up?

“I didn’t realise it was such a difficult question to answer.”

Should she say she didn’t know where her father was, or should she lie? It went against her grain to lie but she had no other choice. She instinctively knew if she told Luciano she had no idea where her father was, it would only complicate the trip. In this case, lying was the lesser of two evils.

“He wasn’t happy, of course,” she conceded. “But I’m a grown woman and stopped answering to my father years ago.”

There was no chance for Luciano to make any further comment as a very attractive stewardess came down the aisle and informed them they would be taking off shortly. Jasmine watched as the stewardess chatted with Luciano. He threw her a smile she’d never seen before, both of them all but ignoring her.

Her fingers curled into her palm, her nails digging into the soft flesh, leaving multiple crescent shapes on her white skin. Her mouth curved sardonically and her eyes darted from the stewardess to the bedroom, wondering if her job description included providing Luciano with some form of distraction on long flights.

“I wouldn’t go there if I were you.” His tone so quiet it took a moment for her to make out exactly what he’d said.

“Go where?”

“You know where, Jasmine. Your face is giving your thoughts away.”

It took all her power not to cringe from the look he fired her way. The dark sphere of his eyes glittered dangerously. She’d pushed him just about as far as he would let anyone push.

Remorse flooded through Jasmine. Her petty jealousy wasn’t the stewardess’s fault but her own. “Sorry.”

He inclined his head, acknowledging her apology.

She turned away from his penetrating glare and gazed out the window, rubbing at the scar on her forehead. She wished she could understand what was happening to her. She never acted like a jealous shrew, but when it came to Luciano, a possessiveness she never knew existed within her, came to the surface and overtook her sensibilities.

Was this the reason Luciano hadn’t searched for her after the accident? Was it possible they may have been splitting up because of her irrational jealousy?

Could she ask him those questions?

The feeling of the earth moving evaporated any thoughts to ask questions.

She hated flying.

She closed her eyes against the vision of the landscape whizzing by. The force of the plane ascending into the air pushed her back in her chair. Her nails dug into the soft leather. Her breath whooshed out and her fingers relaxed their death grip upon hearing the reassuring bump of the landing gear locking safely back into the holding area. She counted backwards from ten, imagining her feet safely on the ground and not floating in the air.

The pilot’s smooth voice jolted her out of her counting.

“Welcome aboard Mr and Mrs Morelli. We’re expecting a smooth flight to our destination of the beautiful town of Broome. Expected flight time is two hours and thirty minutes. Please sit back and enjoy what should be a relatively easy flight.”

Easy?

How could travelling so many thousands of feet in the air in a tin can be easy?

“I never realised you were afraid of flying. You should have mentioned it
cara
. I could have distracted you.”

She shot Luciano a contemptuous look. She didn’t need the type of distraction he was suggesting.

“Thanks but no thanks.”

She let his chuckle wash over her as she contemplated their destination.

Broome.

She’d always wanted to go there. Knowing Luciano, there would be only one place they’d stay and that would be the world class Cable Beach Club Resort. In her capacity as Director of Marketing she’d travelled to several resorts over the world with the express purpose of getting ideas to promote and enhance Anderson Hotels. But for some reason, she’d never found the time to travel to Cable Beach. Its reputation as a high class resort meant everyone from the upper echelon of the social sect to the everyday mom and dad dreamed of staying there. She was looking forward to taking notes on the decor and being able to bring fresh ideas back with her.

Reluctant excitement and anticipation fizzed through her blood at the possibilities the trip could now represent. Perhaps it wouldn’t be a waste of time after all. Opening her magazine again, she settled back in the chair to read it, unaware of the brooding look on Luciano’s face.

“So we finally get our trip to Broome,” he commented lightly.

“What?” she looked up puzzled by his comment. “This is the first time I’ve been to Broome. Though I have to admit, I’m really looking forward to going.”

“We planned to honeymoon in Broome if you recall?”

If anybody else had asked the question she might have answered, but the sarcasm lacing his voice fired up her cooling anger.

“You know full well I don’t recall you or our marriage. When are you going to remember that?” she threw back at him.

Why didn’t he believe her?

Why would she lie about her memory loss?

Why would she do that? What would be the point?

“Do you know what?” she said, swivelling in her chair to face him. “Think what you like because no matter what conclusions you reach, I’ll know the truth.”

“You think you know the truth.”

“You’re insufferable, do you know that?”

“I’ve been called worse.”

She gave a short, harsh laugh. “I’m sure you have. Now if you don’t mind I think I might rest a little. I had an early start.”

Jasmine closed the magazine and thrust it back in her bag, imaging it was his throat she was squishing.

“You can use the bedroom if you like.”

Pursing her lips she shot him a look through narrowed eyes. “I don’t think so.”

She arranged herself in her chair so she was facing the window once again. Below her the sunlight shimmered off the ocean. It looked so peaceful and tranquil. If only her life was peaceful. Sighing she closed her eyes, if it meant a peaceful flight she would feign sleep if she had to.

Luciano let out a frustrated breath, why had he thought Jasmine would be amenable? She was as prickly as a cactus, except when the plane had taken off. Seeing her so scared and vulnerable almost had him reconsidering his plans of revenge.

Almost.

Then he’d wondered if it was all part of her act. As they’d never flown together he didn’t know if her fear was genuine or not. He knew he wouldn’t get a straight answer out of her, she couldn’t be trusted.

Luciano reached down and pulled out his briefcase. Business he could deal with. Business involved no emotions. Business would be his focus right at this moment, Jasmine and her so called amnesia, he would deal with later.

He wanted to review the financials regarding the resort purchase one last time. It was good business sense to know everything before closing a deal.

This particular deal was all but finalised, in fact he could’ve easily taken care of the final details in just a day. His plans for Jasmine had now become the major factor of the trip, not business. He believed if he could get her out of her comfort zone she might trip up on her act. Let her guard down and then he’d know she was faking her amnesia. And if she was faking it then she was a remarkable actress, she’d fooled many of her friends with her memory loss.

Maybe a tour to check out some pearl farms and their operations could be arranged. Just to give her the impression that business was a priority. He wanted to incorporate a range of exclusively designed jewellery for the jewellery stores in all of the Regent Hotels. Broome Pearls were well known throughout Australia and Asia, and he knew personally the perfect jeweller for the job.

He immersed himself in the columns of numbers, the rest of the flight passed without further conversation. Before he knew it they were landing faultlessly in Broome. The jet taxied to a smooth halt and within minutes they were disembarking.

He would normally have had a car and driver waiting for him, but not this trip. He wanted to conduct his seduction without the prying eyes of a driver. Collecting the cases he headed towards the car rental desk.