Bound by the Italian's Contract. Janette Kenny

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СКАЧАТЬ she intended to use. “I suppose you plan to sit in on the design meeting for Tregore Lodge as well?”

      “Of course I am. I’m financing it,” he snapped, brows drawn in a dark frown. “Why are you being so contrary?”

      “I don’t mean to be difficult. It’s just that this is all very important to me.”

      “Do you think it isn’t for me as well?”

      “I really don’t know what you’re thinking.”

      He muttered something she didn’t catch, rose and strode toward her, his long legs moving with fluid grace, the broad width of his shoulders a shifting wall of lean muscle. Each step exuded power and masculine grace and purpose, like a cougar stalking the canyon rim in search of prey.

      She stepped back, startled by the power that was all Luciano. He was a force to be reckoned with and she would do well to keep that in mind at all times.

      He stopped, his larger hand grasping hers in a warm, but clipped shake. “I am thinking I made a very savvy deal with a very smart woman who I admire.”

      “Thank you,” she said, pulling her hand back and hoping it didn’t appear as if his touch disturbed her. “To our mutual success.”

      “It will be.”

      “You’re that sure of yourself?”

      His smile was brief but oh so cocky, just like the man. “I play to win, Caprice. In everything.”

      She nodded, not needing to be reminded of that. “This isn’t a game to me either. It’s business. It’s what I’ve wanted to do for years and have put all my efforts into.”

      “Your business is your life,” he said, his features hardening into a benign mask.

      “I’ve put a lot of time into the lodge while my father was ill,” she said, hoping he understood. “The past year it demanded most of my attention because my program is a fledgling operation and I couldn’t afford a mistake.”

      “If you hope to succeed, you need to learn how to delegate,” he said, advice she’d received before and ignored.

      “Nobody knows my business like I do,” she shot back in defense.

      He frowned. “Still the same need for control, Caprice?”

      If only this wasn’t the first time she’d been accused of that, she thought, face burning. “I have to be picky when my reputation as a therapist is on the line.”

      One dark brow lifted. “You need to learn how to play the game.”

      That word again.

      She had no doubts that he referred to business and pleasure, her heart kicking up its pace at the thought of the latter, which was totally unacceptable. Under no circumstances would she fall victim to his charm again.

      So what if her business was her life? It was her choice, though she didn’t expect him to understand what she had gone through to get where she was at now.

      “I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again. This isn’t a game to me, Luciano. This is my future. My dream. I couldn’t have gotten this far with the few resources I have available if I hadn’t focused on getting my program started,” she said, gaze fixed on his.

      He huffed a breath, shaking his head. “I do understand.”

      He couldn’t. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t looking for friendship with Luciano Duchelini. Wasn’t looking for pity. All she needed, wanted, from him was a fat check for setting up her program in Italy and renovating Tregore Lodge before she returned to Colorado.

      She needed his business acumen and financial support. Her best chance to get both was to remain immune to his charismatic charm as she solidified this deal. She couldn’t let her judgment be clouded by emotions she had no intentions of pursuing.

      “Where do you suggest I start delegating?” she asked, determined to move forward.

      “Now. Let me be in charge of the renovations from start to finish,” he said.

      She stiffened at the idea of handing over control to him. “You don’t want my input in my own lodge?”

      “Your ideas are welcome,” he said, though the impatience creeping back into his voice belied it. “But there is no need for you to remain in Colorado to oversee the project.”

      He was right. She couldn’t devote full attention to her ski program if she had to deal with the building issues at the lodge. “You must understand that there are certain structural specifics I need in place to make my program work—”

      “I get that,” he interrupted, tossing his hands upward. “As I said before, you will sit down with my design team and list what is needed. When the plans are drawn up, you will see them again to ensure all your needs are met.”

      “I get final approval?”

      “Of course.”

      She bit her lip, searching for a shadow to pick apart and finding none. “That sounds good.” Perfect, actually.

      “It is. I will bring this renovation of your lodge to fruition.” He leaned forward, riveting gaze locked with hers, mesmerizing yet commanding. “Trust me.”

      “That’s hard for me to do again.”

      He spread his arms wide. “Why? I was nothing but honest with you.”

      And he had been. It was she who’d raised her expectations.

      My God, had she been that starved for love that she had grasped for scraps? Was she still that emotionally deficient?

      “I ended up hurt the last time I put my faith and trust in someone,” she said simply. By my mother first. By you, lastly.

      To her surprise, a ruddy flush streaked across his olive-hued cheekbones. “Believe me when I tell you I never intended to hurt you. I was—” he made a face, accented with a sharp upward jerk of one hand “—behaving abominably before the end. I regret hurting you, Caprice.”

      Dare she believe him? She wanted to continue thinking he didn’t care about anything but himself.

      Except that really wasn’t true. He had come here to enlist her aid to turn his brother’s life around. He was offering her a golden opportunity, albeit with him pulling all the strings.

      “It doesn’t matter,” she said. Not now and it didn’t. It couldn’t.

      “You have my word it won’t happen again,” he said.

      She swallowed hard. Those were just the words she’d vowed to herself, with the added caveat to avoid Luciano’s company. Now here she was, straddling the fence about taking his offer when she’d already decided this was her best bet. He was a genius at what he did. In that, she had to trust him.

      “Then I will take you at your word,” she said.

      “Good.” СКАЧАТЬ