The Secret Kept from the Italian by Kate Hewitt

Author:Kate Hewitt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2018-02-11T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Antonio watched Maisie eye him uncertainly and wondered what he was playing at. No doubt she was wondering, too. Somehow, thousands of miles up in the air, it felt easy to discard his rules and resolutions and simply be, enjoying time spent with both Maisie and Ella. Flirt a little even.

Holding his daughter had been an extraordinary experience. He’d been wary of it, because when it came to family relationships he feared he was the opposite of Midas, with everything he touched turning to ruin. But then Maisie had handed Ella to him, and he’d had no choice but to take her. It had been the most wonderful thing in the world; her smile had reached right inside him and grabbed his heart. Squeezed hard, and never let go. Now more than ever he knew he’d made the right decision in bringing Maisie and Ella to Italy with him. No matter what.

As for Maisie... Antonio couldn’t come up with an acceptable explanation for ordering champagne with their dinner, or clinking glasses, or giving her a slow, considering smile as they sipped fizz and worked their way through five courses while Ella slept and the lights in the first-class cabin darkened, making everything feel more intimate. No reason at all...and yet he did it. Because he wanted to.

As they ate and drank he asked about her childhood, what life was like when her parents were alive, how she had got into music and what she liked most about performing. The questions came naturally, seeming to surprise them both. Maisie’s answers started out stumbling and uncertain, but gradually became more confident and interested.

‘I love playing the violin, but it’s a private thing,’ she said as he poured more champagne and they started on their main course. ‘Performing has never interested me as much. The music itself is what feeds my soul, not whether people are listening.’

‘Feeds your soul,’ Antonio repeated musingly. ‘An interesting turn of phrase.’

‘What feeds your soul, Antonio?’ Maisie asked lightly. ‘Taking apart companies?’ He glanced at her appraisingly, acknowledging the very slightly scornful note in her voice. ‘Sorry.’ She grimaced. ‘I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t mean to spoil the mood...’

‘But you don’t agree with what I do.’ He stated it mildly, or tried to.

‘No, I don’t.’ She lifted her chin in a gesture Antonio already recognised as the way she gathered her courage. ‘Ruining people’s lives, all for the sake of profit...’

‘They were going to be ruined anyway.’ He tried to keep his voice even, tried not to feel the hurt. What did he care if Maisie thought he was some ruthless, renegade businessman? The newspapers and gossip rags liked to paint that picture, and he kept the altruistic side of his business ventures quiet. Very quiet. In any case, having Maisie think he was some cruel businessman was better than her knowing the truth.

‘Were they really going to be ruined?’ she asked, angling her chin a fraction higher. ‘Or would some jobs be saved,

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