Free Sweet Seduction by Jennifer St George Page A

hadn’t given a thought to how this affected her. He raked a hand roughly through his hair.
    Wait a minute. The deal was incredibly generous. She’d save a huge amount of money for a couple of months’ work.
    He stood and walked after her. This deal was win-win whichever way you looked at it.
    But he couldn’t quite eliminate her words from his mind.
    Sienna emerged from the dark tunnel onto a well-lit street. She glanced about . . . Not a camera to be seen.
    ‘Where are we?’ she asked.
    ‘About two streets from the restaurant.’
    Sienna looked back down into the dark hole behind her. ‘You gotta love those medieval smugglers and their tunnels,’ she said.
    ‘That’s why Belucci’s is one of my favourite restaurants,’ he said, taking her hand.
    Venice shone in the moonlight as they walked towards the opera house. Sienna marvelled at the magic of the city. The canals reflected the glittering golden glow of the city’s lights as gondolas slid almost silently over the dark water. She considered pinching herself just to make sure she really was walking the famed cobblestone streets on the arm of Europe’s most eligible bachelor.
    A shout sounded behind her. She jerked her head around, but it was nothing sinister. Just some young men in high spirits.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ Antonio said. ‘We’ve lost them.’
    ‘I’d love to live here for a while.’ She sighed.
    ‘Why don’t you?’ Antonio asked.
    Because I’m trapped.
‘Not everyone is as free as you,’ she said, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.
    ‘You create your own freedom.’
    ‘I have responsibilities.’
    ‘Of course, but it’s up to you to create the life you want.’
    ‘You can’t control everything, you know.’
    She felt his arm stiffen against hers. ‘True. But whatever must be controlled should be, ruthlessly.’
    ‘You can’t control love.’ She winced. What on earth had made her say that?
    ‘Of course you can.’
    She stopped and looked up at him. ‘You’re saying you can control who you fall in love with?’
    ‘Love’s overrated.’
    She stared at him aghast. ‘What’s life without love, passion —’
    ‘Painless,’ he said simply, pulling her gently along.
    She couldn’t argue with that.
    ‘Teatro La Fenice,’ he announced, pointing up the street.
    A glamorous crowd milled under the columns of the grand white building. They all looked sophisticated, rich and as if they belonged. An elegant woman spied Antonio and waved.
    Sienna held back.
    ‘Something wrong?’ Antonio asked.
    ‘I just need a moment,’ she said, taking in a deep breath.
    He looked at her closely. ‘Are you still tired? We can skip the second half.’
    ‘Not tired.’
Terrified.
‘Ah . . .’
    ‘What?’ he pressed.
    ‘Nervous.’
    Antonio’s eyebrow arched. ‘Why?’
    ‘Every person in that room will be judging me.’
    ‘Probably,’ he said.
    ‘Great. Thanks for making me feel so much better.’
    He smiled. ‘I didn’t think you were afraid of anything.’
    Wow, I must be a good actress.
    ‘You’re not afraid of me,’ he said, leaning down close to her face. ‘You certainly don’t stick to my carefully laid plans.’
    His proximity caused her heart to beat a little faster. ‘Something about you makes me want to rebel.’
    He put his arms about her and pulled her close. She exhaled sharply as his hands moulded to her bare back.
    ‘Sounds exciting.’
    ‘People are watching,’ she said, looking past his broad shoulders.
    ‘Let them,’ he said.
    ‘Antonio!’ A woman’s shrill voice sounded across the cobblestones. A beleaguered look flashed across Antonio’s face. ‘Darling,’ she called.
    ‘Time to take you into the lion’s den.’ He took Sienna’s hand and led the way. He waved greetings to a number of people as they approached the sophisticated throng.
    Sienna had never seen so many jewels and couture in one place. She straightened her dress and smoothed her hair. As the fiancée of one of the