Give a Little (17 page)

He perked up. “Really? What’s she saying?”

“That you’re okay to look at, but sometimes you have questionable judgment.” Chloe smirked as she clanked a weight onto the rack.

“She did not say that.”

“No, but she’d think it if she knew you’d spent all your money on a deposit for machines you can’t afford.”

“I told you, kid.” He slugged her arm. “It’s all going to work out.”

She didn’t look convinced.

He hugged her with one arm. How cute was it that she was so concerned about him? “Come on, Clo, let’s take an ice cream break.”

“You look chipper,” Jasmine said as she opened the door for him.

“Who wouldn’t be, getting to see you?” He held her chin. “I’m going to kiss you right here on your stoop, for all the world to see. Right on your lips, too.”

She smiled softly. “That’s less scandalous than some of the places you might kiss me.”

Lowering his mouth to hers, he reminded himself to keep it PG—a difficult thing since she conjured up all sorts of naughty thoughts.

“Hmm,” she hummed, her hands roaming up his chest.

He caught a hand and kissed her palm. “We can do more of that any time.”

She lifted her brow. “I’d wondered.”

“I’m being a gentleman,” he said as he entered her home. “I’m getting to know you before I jump your bones.”

“A novel approach,” she said with a sarcastic twist of her lips. She closed the door. “Not many men take that road.”

“I’m a rare being, doll.” He tugged her hair. “Are you feeding me tonight, or did you just invite me over to take advantage of me?”

“Both.” She gave him a smoldering look as she sauntered down the hall.

“
Rwrr
.” He followed her. Really, his gaze followed her, but he couldn’t help himself. “You know your hips could hypnotize a blind man.”

She glanced over her shoulder as she led him into her reading room. “You’re not blind.”

“I know I’m not.” He gave her a lecherous smirk as he tossed his jacket onto a chair and sat down. He patted the cushions next to him. “Come into my web, little fly.”

She laughed, low and husky, and he felt something grip deep in his chest. Why didn’t she laugh more? From now on, that was his life’s mission: to make sure she had laughter in her life.

How would she feel about that? He studied her, tempted to ask, but he knew she wasn’t ready.

“What?” she asked, handing him a beer she’d procured magically.

He shook his head. “Do you ever think of the future? Like what you want?”

“In life?” She shrugged as she sat down next to him, her legs angled so her knees touched his. “I have everything I want.”

“Aren’t you lonely?” At her frown, he quickly added, “It seems like you don’t see your friends often.”

“My only real friend is Finn.” She played with a tassel on one of the throw pillows. “I never got along with the daughters of my parents’ friends, and at the literacy organization I usually just work.”

“You love the kids.”

“They’re the best thing in my life,” she replied seriously. “But they aren’t friends. They’re more like wards, who I take care of for a time and then send into the world. I hope I make a mark on them, but who knows.”

“You love the work. Why don’t you do it officially?”

“The organization needs the money for other things. They can’t afford to pay me, and I don’t need the money. They’re happy, and I’m happy, so it’s a win all around.”

Rowdy trailed a finger along her jaw. “You are …”

“What?” Jasmine asked.

“Giving. Sweet. A good person.” Someone he’d want on his team. Taking her hand, he looked at the way her fingers looked against his. Elegant and tapered, like she should play the piano. His looked like he should be brawling in bars. “My Pop always said his best friend was Tillie, his wife, and that he didn’t need anyone more than that. I always wanted someone like that, someone who had my back no matter what, even when I was being annoying.”

“Can you be annoying?” Jasmine asked with a fake flutter of her eyelashes.

“Don’t challenge me.” He squeezed her hand. “Maybe you’ll let me be around long enough to find out.”

“Maybe.” She tipped her head, and he could see her mask falling into place as she withdrew from real emotion. “You may decide I’m not worth it after the engagement party.”

“I don’t think so.” He kissed her palm again. Knowing she needed space, he lightened his tone. “Besides, we have the last bucket-list task to do at the party.”

“Oh no.” She widened her eyes, but her lips curved with humor. “Are you going to tell me what it is?”

“Nope. It’s important, too, because the inheritance rests on this last task.”

“So you get the money after you finish this item?” she asked slowly.

“Yeah.” He took a swig on the beer. “Just in time, too, because the equipment is ready to be delivered. I just need to pay for it.”

“So the stakes are high.” She pursed her lips, watching him thoughtfully. “You should tell me what the last task is.”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “You’ll see at your friend’s engagement party.”

“You don’t have to propose to someone, do you?”

“No.” Pausing, he narrowed his eyes. “Do you want me to propose to you?”

“Not yet.”

“But you’re amenable to such a question sometime in the future?” he probed.

She smiled at him, a siren surrounded by books. “You won’t know till you try, will you?”

“Miss, there’s a message for you.”

Bea looked up from the newspaper she couldn’t focus on. She smiled at the front desk clerk despite her irritation, because he wasn’t the man she was annoyed with. “Thank you, Leo.”

He set it on the corner of her table and quietly bowed before leaving.

She glared at the crisp stationary. Luca certainly took his sweet time contacting her. She’d expected him to track her down yesterday, after she left. In retrospect, she supposed he was giving her time to cool down after throwing her mobile away.

He threw her mobile away.

Her entire body clenched as she relived it. She’s been so shocked, she’d gone for a walk, and when she’d seen a taxi, she’d had it take her back to Luca’s to gather her things and then to a hotel. From the hotel she’d contacted Inga, who said she’d have a new mobile loaded and waiting for her tomorrow when she arrived back in London.

She folded the newspaper, annoyed all over again when she had to wipe the newsprint from her fingers, and picked up the note. He had better grovel.

But the note wasn’t from Luca.

Ms. Summerhill,

Please be informed that a car will be sent to take you to our factory headquarters at precisely eleven this morning.

Thank you, and we look forward to meeting you.

Regards,

Jeff Toland

CEO, Stallon-E

She folded the note and tucked it in her purse. Picking up her cup, she sipped her cappuccino, outwardly calm. Inwardly, she wanted to throw dishes at Luca’s head.

Vi would point out that he’d delivered what he’d promised. Yesterday had been the last day of their week agreement, and today was when he was supposed to take her to Stallon-E.

After she left the day before, she wasn’t sure he was still going to arrange the meeting. Part of her had been looking forward to yelling at him when he didn’t.

Now she didn’t know how to feel.

Frowning, she pushed back from her seat and walked up the stairs to her room, hoping the exertion would settle her.

It didn’t.

At precisely eleven o’clock the front desk called her to inform her that her car was there. She gathered her things and went down.

The driver got out of the Mercedes. “Good morning, Ms. Summerhill,” he said in heavily accented English.

She smiled at him as he opened her door. “Thank you.”

Nodding, he waited until she was situated and then closed the door. He went to his side, got in, and pulled away from the hotel.

The factory was a short distance outside Bologna. She watched the passing scenery since she didn’t have her mobile to work on. By the time they arrived, she felt oddly lulled.

A well-dressed man met her outside the factory. “Ms. Summerhill?”

“Yes.”

He held his hand out. “I’m Jeff Toland. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Welcome.”

“Beatrice, please, and thank you.” She looked him in the eye as she shook his hand. His grip was firm without being overbearing, and her initial instinct was that she liked him, which wasn’t something she could say about everyone she did business with. “I’m looking forward to my tour.”

“We’re thrilled to have you here. I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you. Your reputation precedes itself.” He guided her inside the factory. “This way.”

The lobby was a giant, open-spaced room. There were leather jackets with the Stallon-E logo and other articles of clothing, presumably for sale. The walls were lined with framed posters of Italian cars throughout history, ending on a Stallon-E like the one Luca had.

She wasn’t going to think about Luca this morning. “You were with Ford, isn’t that right, Jeff? How did you come here? It’s a long way from home.”

“It’s not Japan, but it is a different world, isn’t it?” He guided her to a hallway to the left. “Yes, I was looking for a new challenge when Luca contacted me to tell me about Stallon-E.”

“Luca? Fiorelli?” she asked, as if there could be another Luca.

“Of course.” Jeff glanced at her like she was mad to even think it could be anyone else. “When Luca told me about Stallon-E, I knew I wanted to be part of its history. I’ve helped revitalize Ford from a failing brand to one of the top automotive companies in the world again. To make Stallon-E successful is going to be much easier because not only is it a beautiful car but it’s environmentally sound.”

She heard everything he was saying, but she was stuck on Luca’s involvement with the company. She was starting to have suspicions. “Stallon-E is privately funded, isn’t it?”

“Yes, with a handful of initial investors, but we’re at a stage where we need a larger infusion of money to properly manufacture the orders that are starting to come in.”

“And how does Luca fit into that picture?”

Jeff glanced at her, a surprised expression on his face. “I was under the impression you and Luca knew each other.”

Well enough that he’d thrown away her mobile. She gritted her teeth into a smile. “We have a passing acquaintance.”

“Hmm.” He motioned to a room. “I thought we’d have a short meeting before taking you on the tour of the factory.”

She walked into the conference room ahead of him. There were already two other people in the room: a man standing, gesturing wildly and speaking in breakneck Italian to someone who sat in a large executive’s chair with its back turned to the door. The standing man wore a buttoned shirt with his collar open and his sleeves rolled up. He had hair as wild as his hands and intelligent, impassioned eyes.

Jeff must have noticed her studying the man because he said, “That’s Gianni Olivetti. He’s our head engineer and the man who designed the engine for the Stallon-E.”

Gianni looked up, his expression going from intent to slowly seductive. He smiled like he knew he was handsome as he walked toward her. “You must be Beatrice, and I am enchanted.”

She arched her brow but smiled as he clasped her hand in both of his. He reminded her of Luca, which she found charming if irritating. Likely she was just being silly. Not every Italian was like Luca. “A pleasure to meet you,” she said as she shook his hand.

Nodding, Gianni said something loud in Italian.

“Sorry?” she said. “I don’t speak Italian.”

“He said I should bring investors as beautiful as you around more often,” said a very familiar voice from behind the chair. It whirled around, revealing Luca.

“And you know Luca,” Jeff said, his keen eyes darting back and forth between the two of them. “He’s the other half of the design team. He’s responsible for the sleek elegance and demanding performance of our vehicle. Without Luca’s vision, Stallon-E would be another Prius.”

How hadn’t she guessed? All the clues were there, and she hadn’t seen them. She stared at him, gaping even though she should have made the connection.

Feeling like a fool, she faced Luca. “Is that so?”

“I’m not just another pretty face.” He smiled, but it was hollow, without his usual humor or charm. “Ms. Summerhill, it’s a pleasure to see you.”

She nodded at him, her face in the carefully studied mask she used when she didn’t want an opponent to know her true feelings. “Mr. Fiorelli, this is a surprise,” she said mildly, sitting in the seat Gianni pulled out for her.

Jeff cleared his throat. “Perhaps you two need a moment.”

“Yes,” Luca said as Bea said, “No.”

Jeff and Gianni exchanged a glance and then edged toward the door. “We’ll be outside. Is there anything I can bring you?”

She wondered what the word for hammer was in Italian. “No, thank you.”

Waiting until the door closed, she crossed her arms and faced Luca. “Were you laughing at me the whole time behind my back?”

“Of course not.”

“I don’t believe you.” It was the sort of thing her father would have done, to prove his superiority. “You could have told me how you were involved, but instead you chose to play this game.”

“I had to play the game,” he said, glaring at her. “How else was I supposed to show you that you wanted me for
me
, not for what I’ve done or what kind of investment potential I present.”

She stood up and pointed at him. “I don’t want you.”

“Yes, you do,” he said, also standing. “But you’re too stubborn to admit it. We’re perfect together.”

“Perfect?” she exclaimed. “You used my interest in Stallon-E to manipulate me.”

“I give and I give, because making you happy makes me happy. When I ask for you to give me one thing to make me happy, you call that manipulation?” He walked up to her, taking her arm. “Do you think your interest in Stallon-E is a coincidence? I didn’t bring the company to your attention. You came to me. You asked me for an introduction. Why do you think it presented itself to you like this?”