The Italian's Bedroom Deal (7 page)

“I was meeting with your father on business and wanted to say hello.”

She blinked again and he had a perverse wish to kiss her, lay her back down against the cushions and wake her in a better, more thorough manner.

“Oh. Well, hello,” Clarissa replied sleepily, smiling shyly up at him. “I thought you were out of the country.”

He resisted the urge to laugh at her revealing statement. So she was trying to play clever games with him, eh? She didn’t realize that he was a master strategist. He’d definitely win this game they were playing. “I was. Is that why you left me a message?”

Clarissa considered lying to him, pretending that she was more confident and act like it was just a breezy sort of call. But as she looked into his hard, intelligent eyes, she knew that she couldn’t lie to him. Besides the fact that he’d probably realize her lie, she just didn’t want to be dishonest with him. It felt wrong. “Yes. It was safer that way.”

“Safer how?” he asked, smothering the smile at her tart reply. He liked her honesty though. He’d been watching her features and was able to see the moment she’d decided to tell him the truth.

She smiled and sat up so she didn’t have to squint at him. “Safer so we wouldn’t get into an argument.” And also so she wouldn’t lose the argument, she added to herself. Max definitely had a persuasive ability and she knew she couldn’t go head to head with him. And he was probably more stubborn than she was. She liked peace and tranquility whereas Max seemed like he thrived on a challenge and overcoming any obstacle.

“And are we?” His eyes were glinting with amusement, and something else she wasn’t sure she understood.

His voice was deep and smooth and rolled over her skin like a caress but Clarissa forced herself to push those kinds of feelings aside. This man was completely off limits so she had to keep their conversations in perspective. “We did the last time we conversed and you didn’t like what I had to say. It was more expedient to just leave a message this time.”

“Perhaps were we going to argue over why you didn’t obey my direction to have my driver take you home after lunch last week?” he asked, suddenly remembering why he’d been so livid with her.

Her smile grew wider and she slid her sunglasses over her eyes. “Yes. That would have been a very high probability.”

His anger was overridden by his amusement over her answer and her refreshing honesty. He liked that about her. She constantly surprised him and he enjoyed that she wasn’t predictable. “Why didn’t you follow my instructions?”

She shrugged her shoulders and leaned her head back against the cushions, her face absorbing the warmth of the sunshine. She hoped she looked like she was relaxed, but she wasn’t sure she pulled that state of mind off too well. Who would when his large, muscular and intimidating body was sitting near? But she wouldn’t cater to him either. “I don’t sit and heel either.”

He was a little slow to figure out that she was saying she wasn’t a dog. But as soon as her message got through, he threw back his head and laughed. He realized he hadn’t laughed so much in a long time and both times recently had been because of this little wench who was driving him mad with her perfect, pert breasts pushing against the bathing suit material. It got worse when he noticed her nipples harden so he could see the peaks through the fabric.

“You’re off to Italy?” he asked, quickly changing the subject and moving his eyes to a more appropriate area of her body.

“Yes,” she replied, warning bells going off in her mind. She glanced at her laptop to make sure it was closed, concerned about what he might do if he knew some of the details of her trip. “I leave tomorrow morning.”

“I would be honored to show you around,” he offered, wondering about the surprised and wary look on her face. “You were planning on seeing the sights, correct?”

“Um…well…yes,” she thought, frantically trying to come up with a polite way to turn down his offer. She was going over to see the sights, as long as he considered several of those sights to be the handsome men she was anticipating choosing her first lover from. She was going over to find a lover but she didn’t think he would appreciate that. And she didn’t want him to alert her security detail that shadowed her. That would definitely put a damper on her efforts. “But I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

“No inconvenience at all. Cancel your cab and I’ll have my driver pick you up instead. I’ll call my pilot and make sure the jet is prepared.” He reached into his pocket and was about to phone ahead.

Clarissa thought quickly. Laying a hand on top of his to stop him, she looked imploringly into his eyes. “No, thank you very much for your offer, but I’d rather do this on my own.”

He closed the phone and looked down at her, something lighting in his eyes. He was instantly alert. Something was wrong here and she wasn’t telling him everything. “Why? Wouldn’t you prefer to have someone show you the sights so you can really get to know the country? An expert would show you the areas most of the tourists miss.”

She quickly pulled her hand away, not liking the way her skin tingled at the slightest touch. She resented that he could do this so easily to her, make her feel things she didn’t want to feel with him. Or, more specifically, make her feel things that he wouldn’t follow through on. “Perhaps next trip. This time, I’d just like to stroll through the sights,” she lied. She planned on sitting in coffee shops and trying to attract a handsome Italian male. She didn’t dare tell him that. She was relatively sure that he wouldn’t approve, being the dominant, sexist Italian male he was who thought she should wait for marriage. Just thinking about that idea made her shiver with revulsion.

He looked at her for a long moment, trying to determine what she was hiding. And she was definitely hiding something, he thought. “Very well,” he pretended to acquiesce. “What time does your flight leave?” He’d find out one way or another what was going on. His stomach muscles tightened at the idea of Clarissa doing something dangerous. Not to mention he thought she was too delicate and trusting to be traveling in Europe alone.

She bit her lower lip, wondering how furious he would be if she denied him the information. “Max, are you saying you’d rather reconsider my offer?” she asked quickly. The best defense was a good offense, she thought to herself.

His shoulders stiffened and his gaze turned cold, daring her to continue this line of questioning. “Absolutely not. My position remains.”

She’d known the answer even before she’d asked the question, but it didn’t help to hear his rejection a second time. She still wanted him as a lover and he was telling her that the possibility was out of the question. Her cheeks burned with an embarrassed flush but instead of giving in to the anger, she laid her head back against the chaise cushion and closed her eyes. “Well, then I’m not going to tell you. But I thank you again for the offer.”

Max eyed her carefully, knowing she was lying to him about something but unsure what it was. “Explain yourself, Clarissa.”

She stiffened at his demand and shook her head. Taking off her sunglasses so she could see his face more clearly, she snapped, “Max, you don’t own me, nor are you my employer. I don’t care what business you’re doing with my father so you have absolutely no right to demand anything of me, least of all an explanation of my future plans.”

He growled and stood up. “Clarissa, I don’t know what you’re planning but I can tell that it isn’t going to be good.”

She smiled wickedly at him, unknowingly challenging him. “On the contrary, Max. I’m planning to be extremely good. Or at least try, which is all anyone could ask, isn’t that right?” She didn’t mention that her plans included being very good about obtaining her goal of finding a lover. That would definitely infuriate him.

She almost laughed when he stormed away with frustration written all over his handsome face. Obviously, people didn’t disobey him very often. Well, she thought, he could just get used to that around her. She wasn’t anyone’s lapdog so if he asked a question she didn’t want to answer, then he’d have to accept his frustration when he received a non-answer.

She watched in fascination as he strode across the wide patio, his long, strong legs carrying him quickly into the house.

Clarissa sat back on the lounge chair, slipping her sunglasses back on her nose while her mind pictured Max without any clothes. His bottom alone could cause women to drool as he walked. Herself included, she smiled, then leaned back against the lounge chair again when he was finally out of sight.

Chapter 5

Clarissa pushed her sunglasses higher on her nose and picked up her cup of espresso. This was definitely the life, she thought to herself. After arriving yesterday, she loved Rome already. The noise, the barely controlled chaos, the warmth of the people…and definitely the men. They were gorgeous! She loved their dark, swarthy skin and black hair. There was definitely a higher percentage of potential teachers here in Rome than she’d ever find back home. And what’s better? They had no idea who she was, where she lived or who her father was. It was as if she were completely anonymous.

What a feeling of freedom, she thought as she smiled shyly to a sweet male of about twenty-five. He glanced back at her and smiled, obviously interested, but continued down the street.

Clarissa laughed delightedly. Being anonymous like this gave her the freedom to flirt in ways she’d never be able to do back home where everyone knew who she was as well as her history. It was liberating!

She sipped her coffee and watched the passers by as they walked down the street. As they walked, some hurrying, some strolling, couples hand in hand and others obviously window shopping, she wondered what they were thinking about. She’d never had the ability to just sit and relax in a coffee shop before. Observing people was a very enjoyable pastime, she thought, taking another sip of espresso. And if her mind wandered to a strong, male with a dominating, overwhelming personality, she simply pushed that thought aside and focused on someone else, someone passing on the street. This was the here and now, she had to keep reminding herself. Max had to be put in her past so she could move forward.

“Scusi,” a male voice said from the side of her table. “Are you using this chair?” he asked in beautiful, lyrical Italian.

Clarissa blinked, took her sunglasses off and reached for her translation book. The man had spoken too quickly for her and she lifted her eyes back to his in a silent plea to repeat his question.

He simply smiled and sat down. “You do not speak Italian?” he asked in English, pointing out the obvious.

Relieved that this handsome stranger spoke English, Clarissa dropped her book in her lap. “No. I’m sorry, I don’t. It’s a beautiful language but I haven’t had enough time to learn it.”

He returned her smile easily, already leaning forward with his elbows on the table. “You are very beautiful. Where is your husband? He should be punished for leaving you alone in this way. No one as pretty as you should be left alone. It is almost a crime in Italy.”

Clarissa smiled brightly. This was going exactly how she wanted it to go. If this man wasn’t as tall or muscular as Max, well, what could she expect? And if he wasn’t as dynamic, or made her pulse leap, she’d have to settle for just an attractive man instead of one that is wildly exciting. “I’m here alone,” she said, hoping her body language conveyed her interest.

“No, she’s not,” a deep voice said from behind her.

Clarissa had only a moment to react before a large male hand was pulling the smaller man out of his chair by the back of his shirt. The smaller man took one look at Max and didn’t argue but disappeared immediately.

“Max!” Clarissa yelped out. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, too stunned to be angry about the way he’d man-handled the other man.

“Saving you from yourself,” he grumbled and took the previously vacated seat. “You’re not here to see the sights, are you?” he demanded angrily, leaning forward to lean on the table, just as the other man had done moments earlier. But with Max, the stance was aggressive whereas the other man’s position had only demonstrated his interest.

Clarissa glared at him, then pushed her sunglasses back on her face, hiding her eyes. “Of course I am. It just depends on what you call sight-seeing,” she shot back at him, turning her head away and looking for other eligible men.

“Clarissa!” he shot at her. “You are not here to see the historical sights. You lied to me, cara. That’s not good.”

She whipped off her glasses, infuriated by his accusation as well as his belligerent position at the table. He looked like a pit-bull ready to defend his territory. “I didn’t lie to you, Max. I just didn’t correct the assumptions you made. If you’re going to think I’m all sweet and innocent, then you’re going to have to deal with the consequences.”

“You’re not here to see the historical sights,” he repeated, this time with more emphasis.

Clarissa considered his furious expression for all of five seconds before she shrugged her shoulders and looked away. Picking up her cup of espresso, she took a delicate sip before setting it carefully back down in the saucer. “So what if I’m not? What’s it to you? And why are you here?” she asked angrily.

“I’ve already told you. I’m here to protect you from all those silly ideas running through your pretty head. You’re a danger to yourself, Clarissa!” He sat back in his chair and lifted his hands, ordering an espresso quickly in rapid Italian before turning back to glare at her. “You’re here to find a lover, aren’t you?”