The Innocent and the Playboy by Sophie Weston

Author:Sophie Weston [Sophie Weston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Series
Publisher: Harlequin Treasury-Harlequin Romance 90s
Published: 2011-07-15T07:00:00+00:00

Rachel escaped to her office while the rest of the board was still gathering round Riccardo di Stefano, telling him what a wise investment he had just made. If only they knew exactly how wise, Rachel thought cynically. But the bank was the last thing on her mind after that shocking moment of eye contact. Her mouth was dry and her head was pounding like a smith’s hammer.

‘Hi,’ said Mandy, looking up. ‘Did they buy your reconstruction?’

‘At a price,’ said Rachel grimly.

She picked up a bottle of mineral water from Mandy’s desk, hauled off the top and drank a long draught straight from the bottle.

Mandy stared. She had never seen Rachel do anything like that before. Also, there were droplets of water on the second-best jacket lapel. That could only mean one thing: Rachel’s hands were shaking.

‘High price?’

Rachel lowered the bottle and wiped a hand across her mouth. ‘The highest.’

‘For you or the bank?’ said Mandy prosaically. She did not believe in identifying with her employers.

Rachel gave a little laugh which broke in the middle. ‘I wish I knew.’

She shot into her room and closed her door, only to open it a moment later.

‘If anyone calls, I’ve gone. If anyone turns up here, I’ve gone.’

Quite bemused, Mandy nodded.

She was not bemused for long. A tall and gorgeous predator strolled into her office and paused at her desk. ‘Mrs Gray’s office? Don’t tell me. She’s just gone into conference.’

‘Er—no,’ said Mandy, thinking that corporate raiders should not be allowed to have warm, green-flecked eyes that made your spine turn to treacle. Manfully, she recalled her instructions. ‘I think she’s gone for the day.’

Riccardo di Stefano gave a crack of laughter. ‘She’ll regret that,’ he said with confidence, and made his leisurely way through Rachel’s door before Mandy could stop him.

Rachel was divesting herself of the checked jacket when the door opened. She did not immediately look round. Not, that was, until a voice said in accents of unholy glee, ‘Gone for the day? Not worthy of you, Rachel. Really not worthy. You must have known I’d check.’

Rachel spun round from the cupboard, her expression unguarded. Riccardo was leaning back against the door as if he were some waterfront bum propping up the nearest wall for lack of anything better to do. A waterfront bum with a nasty streak, she corrected herself mentally. One who was not going to move out of the way except in his own good time.

‘Check?’ she said mechanically. ‘Why should you?’

‘Secret of my success. Never take anything on trust. Particularly where women are concerned.’

Rachel stood stock-still. She was fighting to stay in control. No matter what she thought she had seen in his eyes back there, there was no proof yet that he remembered anything. Work on the assumption that he is still fishing, she told herself. ‘I’m sure it’s an excellent strategy.’

‘It works for me,’ he said lightly. But his eyes were not light.

In her shock at his entrance she had half pulled the front of her blouse out of her skirt.

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