Free A Dangerous Infatuation by Chantelle Shaw Page B
Authors: Chantelle Shaw
past months.
‘When did I say you would have to leave Holly?’ he demanded. ‘Naturally you would bring her with you. You say you have a life here that you don’t wish to leave, but you’re going to have to move out of this cottage. You’ve already told me there’s no man around and you’re not involved in a relationship—so what exactly is holding you back from taking a three month sabbatical from your job to help an old lady you insist you care about?’
‘Dozens of things,’ Emma muttered, infuriated by his casual attitude. ‘For a start, I need to look for somewhere to live.’
‘That’s not a problem. I’ll have one of my staff research suitable properties for you, and once you’ve chosen a place I’ll arrange the move.’
He made it sound so simple, she thought irritably. But his wealth inured him to the mundane problems of day-to-day living that most people experienced. She was sure he had never had to worry about how much rent he could afford, or deal with unscrupulous landlords who demanded a huge deposit but failed to carry out vital repairs. She had been lucky that the owner of Primrose Cottage was a decent, kindly man; there was no guarantee that her next tenancy would be as trouble free.
But, as Rocco had pointed out, her life
was
going to change whether she liked it or not, she thought heavily. However, that did not mean that she should uproot her daughter and take her to live temporarily in another country.
‘It’s important for Holly to feel settled and secure.’
‘I’m sure it is, and I am certain she will love my home in Portofino. The Villa Lucia has ten guest bedrooms andthere is plenty of space for a child to play inside, or outside in the four acres of gardens. Already there is plenty of spring sunshine, and in a month the weather will be warm enough for trips to the beach. You were only saying earlier today how you wished you could take Holly for a holiday to help her recuperate from the flu virus that has left her so pale and robbed her of her appetite,’ he reminded her.
Emma could not deny she had said exactly that, when Holly had refused to eat more than half a sandwich at the hotel. ‘But it won’t
be
a holiday,’ she pointed out. ‘Who will look after Holly while I’m working?’
‘It won’t be work as such. Cordelia doesn’t need nursing. I simply want you to act as a companion to her. And you know as well as I do that she loves having Holly around. I can’t see why you have a problem with the idea,’ he said, frustration edging into his voice. ‘It seems the perfect solution—I’ll know that my grandmother is safe and happy, and Holly will get to spend three months where the climate is a good deal warmer than in Northumberland.’
When he put it like that it was difficult see a problem with his plan, she admitted. But there
was
a problem—and he was it. Or rather, she had a problem with the idea of living in his home for three months. She could hide her attraction to him while he was staying at Nunstead Hall and she was only likely to meet him occasionally. But to stay with him at his villa and see him every day—that was something else.
She wished he didn’t unsettle her. He was offering her a golden opportunity to give Holly a wonderful holiday and she was angry with herself for allowing him to affect her. But he stirred feelings inside her she had been sure she would never feel again—desires that she’d believed had died when she had learned how Jack had betrayed her. Even now her mind was only half concentrated on whathe was saying, while the other half was swamped by her intense awareness of his smouldering virility.
‘I’m sorry, but my answer is no,’ she said stiffly.
‘Why not?’ Rocco struggled to contain his frustration. It hadn’t occurred to him that Emma might refuse. In his position as CEO of Eleganza he was used to people doing his bidding without question, and in his personal life he had never yet failed to charm a
‘When did I say you would have to leave Holly?’ he demanded. ‘Naturally you would bring her with you. You say you have a life here that you don’t wish to leave, but you’re going to have to move out of this cottage. You’ve already told me there’s no man around and you’re not involved in a relationship—so what exactly is holding you back from taking a three month sabbatical from your job to help an old lady you insist you care about?’
‘Dozens of things,’ Emma muttered, infuriated by his casual attitude. ‘For a start, I need to look for somewhere to live.’
‘That’s not a problem. I’ll have one of my staff research suitable properties for you, and once you’ve chosen a place I’ll arrange the move.’
He made it sound so simple, she thought irritably. But his wealth inured him to the mundane problems of day-to-day living that most people experienced. She was sure he had never had to worry about how much rent he could afford, or deal with unscrupulous landlords who demanded a huge deposit but failed to carry out vital repairs. She had been lucky that the owner of Primrose Cottage was a decent, kindly man; there was no guarantee that her next tenancy would be as trouble free.
But, as Rocco had pointed out, her life
was
going to change whether she liked it or not, she thought heavily. However, that did not mean that she should uproot her daughter and take her to live temporarily in another country.
‘It’s important for Holly to feel settled and secure.’
‘I’m sure it is, and I am certain she will love my home in Portofino. The Villa Lucia has ten guest bedrooms andthere is plenty of space for a child to play inside, or outside in the four acres of gardens. Already there is plenty of spring sunshine, and in a month the weather will be warm enough for trips to the beach. You were only saying earlier today how you wished you could take Holly for a holiday to help her recuperate from the flu virus that has left her so pale and robbed her of her appetite,’ he reminded her.
Emma could not deny she had said exactly that, when Holly had refused to eat more than half a sandwich at the hotel. ‘But it won’t
be
a holiday,’ she pointed out. ‘Who will look after Holly while I’m working?’
‘It won’t be work as such. Cordelia doesn’t need nursing. I simply want you to act as a companion to her. And you know as well as I do that she loves having Holly around. I can’t see why you have a problem with the idea,’ he said, frustration edging into his voice. ‘It seems the perfect solution—I’ll know that my grandmother is safe and happy, and Holly will get to spend three months where the climate is a good deal warmer than in Northumberland.’
When he put it like that it was difficult see a problem with his plan, she admitted. But there
was
a problem—and he was it. Or rather, she had a problem with the idea of living in his home for three months. She could hide her attraction to him while he was staying at Nunstead Hall and she was only likely to meet him occasionally. But to stay with him at his villa and see him every day—that was something else.
She wished he didn’t unsettle her. He was offering her a golden opportunity to give Holly a wonderful holiday and she was angry with herself for allowing him to affect her. But he stirred feelings inside her she had been sure she would never feel again—desires that she’d believed had died when she had learned how Jack had betrayed her. Even now her mind was only half concentrated on whathe was saying, while the other half was swamped by her intense awareness of his smouldering virility.
‘I’m sorry, but my answer is no,’ she said stiffly.
‘Why not?’ Rocco struggled to contain his frustration. It hadn’t occurred to him that Emma might refuse. In his position as CEO of Eleganza he was used to people doing his bidding without question, and in his personal life he had never yet failed to charm a