Free The Exiled Jeweler: a contemporary romance novel (The Rosa Legacy Book 2) by Susie Warren

wanted no part of the company’s demise. He would tell everyone it was her fault if it didn’t turnaround.
    “It’s complicated, but at least I have less resistance to my ideas.”
    Balancing on her high heels, she held the flowers as she searched in her bag for her identification. Looking at the flawless roses, she acknowledged that they were perfect, but she didn’t want to soften her rules about this man. He taught her a painful lesson about privacy and the media. Even if he wasn’t aware of the security person taking the nude photographs of her, he created the situation by undressing her in the garden.
    “I need to go.” She walked toward the exit and swiped her card.
    Alex followed her out to the parking lot.
    “You should be out celebrating tonight. It would bring recognition to Berceto.” He was looking at her as if he wanted to ravage her here in the parking lot. She couldn’t think of a place with more security or cameras than Berceto’s production shop. Her body tensed as she stepped further away from him.
    Emilia tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “Unfortunately, it won’t help with the short-term issues facing the company.”
    His eyes pierced hers. “Luckily you have a solution on offer.”
    “I’m late for dinner with a colleague.”
    “Liv Brown. Your trusty assistant and confidant.” His words irritated her. How did he know so much about her?
    “Goodnight, Alex.”
    “The sooner you accept my offer to invest in the company, the sooner you can begin to stage a restructuring.”
    “Fifty percent is too steep.”
    ”You need to tell your family the truth about the photographs.”
    She intended to tell them this week but had no intention of revealing that to him yet.
    Her tension increased tenfold. She didn’t trust herself around him. The attraction between them was as sharp and intense as ever. She wanted to throw herself at him but held herself in check.
    Shrugging her shoulders, Emilia said, “The incident needs to be relegated to ancient history.”
    He moved closer and a slow heat spread throughout her body. “The truth will come out. You can choose the time and place or I will.”
    She allowed herself to react to him. “Why is this so important to you?”
    He crossed his arms. “The secret has been held long enough.”
    “If I tell them, don’t expect them to embrace you with open arms. They would like the past buried and forgotten as much as I do.”
    “I’ve done nothing wrong, cara . You chose to hide the truth from them.”
    Emilia held her head high and pretended she didn’t care what he thought of her actions. “Nothing will be gained from sharing the details of that night.”
    Opening the door, she placed the roses in the back seat of the SUV before climbing in herself. The entire time she was conscious of his presence but steadily ignored him as she buckled in and started the car.
    He held the door so she couldn’t close it. “Telling the truth will allow us to move forward.”
    Meeting his gaze, she softened her attitude. He was a man of integrity and she was wildly attracted to him, but she couldn’t allow herself to let her guard down. It had taken a long time to purge him from her dreams and she needed to concentrate on the business. Inviting him in would end in disaster. The family business was in her blood and she was just figuring out what to do.
    “Goodnight, Alex.”
    “ Ciao, cara .” He closed her car door.
    Driving away, she didn’t allow herself to look in the rear view mirror. Why was he so maddening? He acted as if she was in the wrong. He caused the incident and she had to live with the consequences. If that wasn’t enough, he was insisting that she tell her family the entire story.
    Liv was seated at a table in the restaurant at the Hyatt Regency, sipping a glass of ice water and tapping away at her tablet.
    Apologizing, Emilia slipped into the seat opposite her friend.
    “Did you have a last minute problem?”
    “Alexander