Her Venice Affair (The Albury Affairs) (14 page)

She squealed bouncing on the bed.
Allan called me his girlfriend!

She was so happy she could dance. Why shouldn’t she?

She stood on the bed and began dancing around singing,
‘I’m Allan’s girlfriend, I’m Allan’s girlfriend!’

She felt his hand wrap around her ankle and she
stopped, turning to face him. She swallowed hard. A stirring tingle rushed up
her body from his grip on her ankle. The man looked at her like he wanted to
eat her whole.

He said something in Italian in a raspy voice before
he hang up and placed the phone on the nightstand. “Do you know how ill-advised
it is to dance around naked in front of a man with an insatiable appetite?”

His voice was low and husky, sending a shudder through
her. She tried to speak but there was something lodged in her throat. She
swallowed hard then attempted to speak again. Nothing came out. What exactly
was she to say to that?

She shrieked when her feet were pulled from under her.
Before she could recover, Allan was already on top and inside her. She cried
out, grabbing hold of his tight biceps. He’d never felt so large inside her
before, the intrusion left a slight pain.

 
“We need to
leave for Venice immediately, so we only have a little time for this. I promise
we’ll come back to San Marino. Oh and by the way, you will tell me the little
secret you are keeping from me.”

All Riana could do to respond was nod.

Chapter Nine

“You look beautiful,” Allan whispered in her ear as
they walked into the café.

Riana nodded, but even Allan’s reassurance didn’t
help. She was nervous walking into the rich and famous version of a café, even
after the makeover she’d just gone through. She knew Allan didn’t care what she
looked like, but after her stylist told her where they were going, adding that
to how important this meeting with Torino was, she
needed
to look perfect.

That meant a new summer dress, which she as a normal
human being would only wear to special occasions, and three inch wedged sandals
that would attempt to give her the model long legs she naturally lacked. She
wanted to straighten her hair but the hard line that quickly formed on Allan’s
lips advised against it.

In his own words, ‘We are going to meet Torino not the
President of the United States’—the only person, apparently, he considered
worth dressing up for.

Allan wore a white Polo shirt, navy blue trousers, and
loafers. While he still looked hot, he’d dressed better for their dinner dates.

But as ignorant as Allan would like to act, Riana knew
how this game was played. Loraine was once a part of that life before she
rebelled and she’d told Riana all about it.

He was Allan Sinclair, businessman extraordinaire,
with the billions to back it up. He needed arm candy worthy enough to walk in
his shadow. If she had thought to ask where they were going before she joined
him, she would have said no. Just looking around at the small exclusive crowd
made her feel intimidated.

Allan pinched her waist. “Hey. They might have money
but they don’t have what you do, which is the most important thing in the
world.”

She smiled weakly. It was just like him to read her
mind, or the insecurities written on her face. And he was always ready to
discredit them, the one thing she loved most about him. But her nerves had
gotten the better of her this time.

“What, a billionaire who can’t stop buying me stuff?”

“I was going to say an excellent lover, but that’s
okay, too.”

Riana laughed looking up at him and meeting the most
beautiful smile she’d ever seen. For a moment—just one moment—she forgot what
she was nervous about in that smile.

“But seriously, the one thing they all lack is your
heart.”

She scoffed. “Could be because it’s in my body.”

Allan pulled her to a stop. “Yes, but your heart is
filled with so much love and care, even for people you don’t know. Despite
their money and fame, you are better than all of them.” He chuckled. “It makes
me proud to call you
my
girlfriend.
”

Riana grinned sheepishly and bounced on her heels. She
loved it when he called her his girlfriend and loved it more when he smiled
doing it. He wasn’t placating her just to make her feel significant. She knew
in his heart he actually meant it.

He sobered, grabbing her bushy ponytail. “But it
frightens me knowing that one day, someone might take advantage of that big
beautiful heart and destroy it. I wish I could protect you from that.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him.
“Allan, that already happened when I was still a kid. I may seem naïve but I’ve
learned to never let anything break me. I’m stronger than I look. Thank you for
worrying, but there is nothing to be afraid of.”

He kissed her forehead and whispered against it, “God,
I hope you are right.” He then pulled away and took her hand. “Now, make me
look less like a vulture.”

He chuckled when she playfully punched his upper arm.
“You are not a vulture!”

“Maybe not, but he is a stallion.”

Riana turned to the leering voice only to meet the
same gaze as it traveled up and down Allan’s body. Riana knew what she meant by
stallion. She wasn’t blind to the fact that Allan had had numerous lovers, and
all of them of his own class. Unlike her. But she and their baby claimed him
now, and they didn’t feel like sharing.

She felt a rage quickly simmer inside her.
Who the hell was this chick?

Allan chuckled next to her, then pulled her close to
place a kiss on her bare shoulder and then her jaw. “Kitten, your claws are
showing. I like it,” he whispered in her ear.

Riana felt the heat rush to her face. Gosh, was it so
obvious she was jealous?

He cleared his throated and turned to the intruder.
“Diana, it’s nice to see you again.”

Diana
. She really wanted to hate on the name but it rhymed
with hers. Riana watched as Diana stepped forward and pressed her obviously
fake boobs into Allan’s arm. Riana had to fight the urge to pull him away and
deflate the trespassing balloons.

 
“It would have
been better if we were alone,” she said seductively.

Riana felt her stomach turn. The woman was nauseating!
Did she not see Riana standing next to him as she perused Allan’s body as if
she was assessing a sex toy?

To his credit, Allan stepped back, breaking contact
with the double Ds.

“Diana, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Riana
Albury
.”

Riana pulled the fakest smile she knew and said
politely, “It’s nice to meet you.”

The woman gave her a once over and scoffed, “Diana,
Riana. Wow, Allan, you don’t go too far do you? I bet you have a Tatyana on
your list of conquests as well.”

Allan’s lips pressed in a hard line, the look in his
eyes was harsh enough to make her take a step back.

“I’ll…
ah
,
just go back to my table,” Diana stated, clearly flustered.

The edge of Allan’s lips turned up. “Your smartest
idea yet.”

 
Then, without
waiting for her to leave, Allan pulled Riana forward and led her away, leaving
Diana gapping after them.

Riana was ecstatic but she was also worried. Allan
couldn’t go to Torino in the foul mood Double D’s had caused. Torino might say
the wrong thing and Allan may just forget to watch his temper and cut the poor
man down with his words, which was bad enough to stall the deal even more.

Riana stopped, took Allan’s face in her hands and
pulled him down for a kiss. He didn’t respond at first but she kept kissing him
until he did. He cupped the back of her head with one hand, the other arm
circling her waist to hold her against him as he took over the kiss. It was
hard, demanding, and by the time he broke it, Riana was dazed.

He chuckled, patting her right at the top of her ass
“Thank you. I needed that.”

Riana nodded. “Happy to be of service.”

He laughed, keeping his arm around her waist as he led
her away. It was a good thing too because she hadn’t completely regained the
use of her wobbly legs.

They stopped in front of a table where three people
were already standing. A short, old man with just a little bit of white hair
left on his balding head, another man dressed in a white suit, his black hair
shiny and slicked back. He looked like the old man—probably his son. Riana
didn’t like him on the spot, especially since his gaze perused Allan with
contempt.

Riana turned to Allan to see if he’d noticed their
presence. He had, and he returned the stare with one of his tight smiles but
his eyes had a glint in them. Riana knew that look all
to
well, it spoke of mischief. Allan was up to something. What?

Riana trapped her lower lip between her teeth to hide
the budding smile and turned to the third person. The lady was beautiful but
Riana could already see she was going to have trouble keeping her away from
Allan. She leered at him like a bitch in heat! And Allan was doing a damn fine
job pretending he didn’t notice.

She was wearing a knee high pencil skirt with a slit
that stopped close to her crotch.
Why
wear the damn thing then?
Her blouse was no better. It was see through and
she wore a red bra to match her high red heels.
I mean, why dress at all if she was going to walk around naked anyway?

Allan stepped away from Riana but took her hand and
kept it in his while he extended the other to the old man.

“Mr. Torino.”

Mr. Torino shifted his gaze from it to Allan’s face.
Riana could see he had no intention of shaking his hand and that wouldn’t be a
good idea if he planned on convincing Allan to agree to anything. When Mr.
Torino spared her a glance, she smiled at him with a slight nod. He looked at
her longer, his head slightly cantered to the side. Riana felt like a newly
discovered species under his observation, but she kept her smile in place. Then
without looking at Allan, he took his hand and shook it.

“Quite a display of affection there,” he said finally
turning to Allan.

“Well, you’ve stared at her long enough. I’m sure you
can see why,” Allan answered tightly and Riana felt her cheeks burn.

Mr. Torino chuckled. He let go of Allan’s hand and
reached for hers. She willingly gave it and Mr. Torino raised her knuckles to
his lips. “
Ciao
bella
. You look radiant.”

“Practically glowing,” the lady added sarcastically.

Riana kept a smile on her lips even if her heart was
beating erratically. Glowing and radiant were not words she wanted tossed
around with her in the mix in front of Allan.

She waited for his head and his lips to rise from his
knuckles. Once he did, she spoke a perfectly practiced, “
Boun
pomeriggio
,
Signore
Torino
.”

Riana was pleased to see a genuine smile on his face,
like for just a moment she had aided him in forgetting they were there to take
his hotel away.

“
Parli
Italiano
?”

Riana shook her head and responded laughingly, “Allan
taught me a few words to get me by. You live in a beautiful country,
Signore
Torino.”

His eyes shone. “It is isn’t it?”

“But it does not rival yours.”

Riana turned to the other man, his son Riana was
almost certain now, and could barely keep from flinching when she met his
leering gaze. He took her hand from Mr. Torino’s hold and kissed a lingering,
wet kiss on her inner wrist. Riana visibly flinched, unconsciously moving
closer to Allan. She didn’t want to insult him by yanking her hand away because
of the business deal, but God the man was slimy.

But insulting him was going to be the least of his
worries judging by how rigid Allan had gone beside her. She looked up at his
face. His jaw was clenched so hard she was sure a tooth would break and those
eyes…jeez, if looks could kill! Allan was about to blow his top, and Torino
junior was the unlucky target.

“Anthony!” Mr. Torino chastised. His son spared his
father a casual gaze before he let go of Riana’s wrist.

Riana held her hand behind her and tried to discretely
wipe Anthony off her wrist.

“
Scusi
,
Signorina
Albury
. My son knows no
boundaries,” Mr. Torino apologized.

“It’s all right—”

“No! It’s not!” Allan barked, his grip around her hand
growing painful.

Riana stepped in front of him and rubbed his side with
her hand. “Allan, please don’t,” she whispered.

He looked at her, his hard gaze giving no clue of
whether he’d let it go or not. Riana moved closer to him until their bodies
touched. “Please, Allan.”

He nodded, letting out a heavy breath and his entire
body relaxed including his grip.

Riana held back a sigh of relief and turned to the
woman. The faster they got this done, the better. “
Boun
pomeriggio
,
Signorina
.
”

The woman didn’t even acknowledge her. She stared at
Allan like she would like nothing better than to jump his bones. “
Signore
Sinclair, you have quite a
temper,” she said in a sultry tone.

Allan scoffed. “Another one of your children who lacks
etiquette.” He pulled Riana’s chair out for her and waited for her to sit
before he sat next to her. “Let’s get this done.”

Riana slumped back in her chair. Well, they were
wasting their time. Allan was not going to agree on anything in this foul mood.
To make matters worse, Anthony took the seat next to her. He moved it closer to
her and obviously had every intention to move even closer until he looked past
her at Allan and froze.

This was going to turn ugly fast.

Riana placed her hand over Allan’s clenched fist and
turned to Mr. Torino with a smile. “Did you already order?”

“
Come
?” Mr.
Torino’s daughter blurted out with a sneer.