Da Silva's Mistress (4 page)

Every time he kissed her he weakened her defences. She had to remain strong. Even though there was a part of her that wanted to know what it would be like to make love to this man she knew she would be crazy to do so. Getting involved with Luca would be inviting disaster.

He was Joseph’s brother-in-law; sleeping with him was out of the question.

‘But I insist.’

‘No…!’

‘No?’ He sounded surprised, as if he’d never been turned down before. ‘Are you sure about that?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’ To show him just how sure she
was, she pulled out of his arms, stalked to the door and wrenched it open. ‘Your five minutes are up. Please leave.’

He strolled towards her, hands in his pockets, looking handsome and sophisticated and completely unconcerned. ‘Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear.’ His eyes drilled into hers. ‘What I meant was that you either agree…or face the consequences.’

Morgan gasped and paled. ‘There’s nothing you can say or do to make me agree to be your mistress.’

He smiled. ‘Do you really believe that?’

She nodded.

His smile widened. ‘When I want something, I always get it.’

‘Well, you’re not getting me.’

‘Oh, yes, I am.’ The gleam in his eyes made the gold flecks stand out prominently. ‘I just have to find your weakness. Your Achilles’ heel.’

She tossed her head. ‘I don’t have one…unless you’re talking about the heels on my feet.’

‘No.’ He met her gaze with a piercing look. ‘I’m talking about…Joseph.’

He said Joseph’s name as if it was a sword he was thrusting through her. She was so stunned she wasn’t able to hide her reaction.

She flinched.

Luca watched her with almost clinical detachment. ’I thought that might get your attention.’

‘What do you plan on…on doing to him?’ she asked, barely able to force the words out past numb lips.

‘I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.’ He gave her a narrow-eyed stare. ‘For some strange reason my sister loves him. So I won’t be able to do anything too dramatic. But I’ll think of something.’

Morgan swallowed around a lump the size of a football in her throat. Panic seized her. She didn’t know what to say—or do—as anxiety rushed at frantic speed around her body.

‘Perhaps if you can’t be relied on to stay away from him it’s time I started putting pressure on Joseph. A threat here, a warning there. It could work wonders.’

Her tension wound tighter, drawing her shoulders up towards her ears. She tried to imagine the kinds of threats Luca could employ against Joseph, but she couldn’t seem to string two thoughts together.

‘He has a fondness for his job at Da Silva Chocolate. Perhaps it’s time I replaced him.’ His eyes remained fixed on her face. Steady. Determined. Unrelenting. ’Olivia is doing a good job. Maybe it’s time I promoted her.’

Morgan gritted her teeth together, her eyes never leaving his face. Inside, she was trembling.

Was this how she was going to repay her father for unhesitatingly welcoming her into his life? By getting him fired?

Luca smiled, looking cool and relaxed. ‘That may not be enough, though. I should imagine he’s quite besotted with you. But I know what
would
work.’ He reached out and stroked a finger down her cheek. ’Aren’t you going to ask me what it is?

He was enjoying toying with her. Well, she was not going to play the mouse to his cat.

Angling her chin into the air, Morgan spat, ‘I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction!’

He laughed. ‘I can’t wait to find out if you have this much fire in bed.’

Morgan blushed to the roots of her hair. His comment was so unexpected. So was the sudden rush of
heat that pulsed between her legs and tightened her nipples into tight beads of arousal.

‘I’m feeling generous, so I’ll tell you anyway. You see, what you may or may not realise is that Joseph loves Stefania. He might be temporarily captivated by you, but it won’t last. All I’d have to do is threaten to tell Stefanie about you and he’d kick you out of his life so fast your head would spin.’

‘I know he loves her. I’m not stupid. If it ever comes to a choice between Stefania and me Joseph will obviously choose his wife.’

And, for the umpteenth time in her life, she would be relegated to second place, Morgan realised with a sinking heart. She should be used to it by now. Her mother had always put her lovers ahead of her.

Even though he loved her, her father would no doubt do the same. Even though he wanted her in his life as much as she wanted to be in his, his marriage would be his first priority

‘Only he’ll never have to make that choice,’ Morgan continued, angling her chin into the air. ‘Because we’re
not
having an affair! So you can stop threatening me.’ She gave him a look down the length of her nose. ’Besides, we both know you won’t say anything to Stefania. You wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.’

He gave her a grim-faced smile. ‘Want to bet?’

Her stomach began to churn, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. ‘You wouldn’t!’

‘No? In the long run it could be for the best. She can do without a cheating husband. Our mother had one affair after another. Stefania saw what that did to our father. She’d hate to get caught up in the same kind of relationship.’

God!
He was telling her the truth.

She couldn’t let Luca speak to Joseph—or Stefania.

Because Luca was right.

Joseph would drop her like a hot potato if she became a serious threat to his marriage. Worse, he would blame her for the break up and end up hating her. Worse still, the mere pressure of the confrontation and the choice he had to make could make those chest pains develop into something far more catastrophic.

She couldn’t let that happen.

Wouldn’t
let that happen.

Joseph meant everything to her. He wasn’t just her father. He was also her friend and mentor, always ready to listen and generous with his advice and support.

She would do anything to keep him safe. Would do anything to keep him in her life and retain that sense of belonging she’d always longed for.

But did
anything
include becoming Luca’s mistress?

‘Have you decided?’

Luca sounded so sure of himself.

So sure of
her.

‘No!’ She curled her fingers into her palm. ‘I can’t decide right now. I need time to think.’

He shrugged. ‘OK, think about it. You have until tomorrow morning to make your decision. And while you’re at it think about this.’

Before she knew what he intended, he kissed her again.

Only their mouths touched.

But that was enough.

More than enough.

He kissed her as if he wanted to devour her.

He kissed her as if he wanted to absorb her soul.

Morgan was powerless against the onslaught. Much
as she knew she shouldn’t, she leaned into him, her mouth softening as she kissed him back.

When they were both breathing heavily, Luca lifted his head and stared deep into her eyes. They stood like that for endless minutes. Then he placed a business card on the sideboard, turned and walked away, leaving Morgan standing on trembling legs staring after him.

As she watched him disappear down the corridor, anxiety filled her until she felt overflowing with it.

She was faced with a choice between two unsatisfactory options.

A dilemma of unprecedented proportions.

What the hell was she going to do?

T
HE FOLLOWING MORNING
Luca was in the middle of a meeting with his London executive team when his mobile phone rang.

‘Excuse me,’ he said to the faces directed towards him around the long boardroom table. He fished the phone out of his pocket and pressed the button to connect. ‘Yes?’

‘It’s me.’

He recognised Morgan’s husky voice instantly—how could he not when it played like a violin down his spine?—and realised she was calling him with her answer.

He’d been stunned yesterday to hear himself suggest he become Morgan’s lover. He certainly hadn’t planned on making the suggestion—he didn’t need to advertise for bedroom partners. But as soon as the words had left his mouth he’d realised it was the perfect solution.

It would allow him to keep an eye on her and at the same time get her out of his system.

Leaning back in his chair, he ignored the surreptitious looks he was receiving from the executive team and kept his voice low.
’Buongiorno,
Morgan. How are you today?’

‘You know how I am,’ she snapped.

‘Have you thought about what we talked about last night?’ His gaze connected with Olivia’s. She was staring at him with studied concentration, as if she were trying to read his lips or something. It wouldn’t surprise him. She was an ambitious woman who was always on the look-out for opportunities to promote herself.

As soon as she saw him looking at her, she turned her attention to the man next to her and started a conversation.

‘Yes, I’ve thought about it.’ Her voice was so thin Luca could hardly hear her.

Anticipation held him still. ‘And what have you decided?’

He heard her exhale. Then she said quietly but firmly, ‘No. My answer is no. I won’t be your mistress.’

‘What…?’ Luca roared, unable to contain himself as he jack-knifed straight.

His voice was so loud, and the action so violent, everyone in the room turned to look at him.

Luca ignored them.

‘You heard me,’ Morgan said. ‘I won’t be your mistress.’

Luca dragged in a breath, then threw his head back and laughed. His initial reaction had been one of shock; he wasn’t used to anyone refusing him something he wanted. But now that he was over his initial surprise he felt a wave of excitement ride his spine.

He loved a challenge, and Morgan was proving to be a challenge in more ways than one. She was a beacon of defiance, resisting him at every turn.

It was a long time since a woman had done that. Usually all he had to do was crook his little finger to have whatever woman he wanted come running.

The thrill of the chase set his insides buzzing until it was all he could do to sit still.

He would win in the end, of course.

He always did.

But this time he had the feeling the journey would be half the fun.

‘You’re just dragging this out, you know,’ he murmured. ‘As I told you last night, I always get what I want.’

Morgan shivered.

Determination underlined each and every one of Luca’s words. He was a force to be reckoned with in more ways than one. And the word ‘no’ obviously wasn’t part of his vocabulary.

Turning Luca down had been difficult. She’d been torn in two entirely different directions until it had felt as though she were about to split in half.

But now that she’d made her decision she had to stick to it. She couldn’t let Luca’s over-blown confidence sway her. ‘You can think that if you—’

‘Hang on a moment.’

Morgan couldn’t believe Luca had interrupted her mid-flow and was now talking to someone else. She was about to slam the phone down when part of the conversation she was unwittingly eavesdropping on stopped her.

Although she couldn’t make out every word—Luca must have wrapped his hand around the phone—the words ‘Stefania’ and ‘hysterical’ came through clearly.

Her heart leapt into the back of her throat and the air locked tight in her lungs.

Joseph.
My God! Had something happened to her father?

Barely able to hear Luca above the sound of her blood pounding at her temples, Morgan forced herself to concentrate on what he was saying.

It soon became clear that he was now talking to his sister on another line. Although she could only hear bits and pieces, Luca was obviously urging Stefania to calm down. After a while he fell silent, as if were listening to her talk.

Finally Luca began speaking again. The words ’hospital’ and ‘Joseph’ confirmed Morgan’s worst fears.

The phone dropped from her nerveless fingers and clattered onto the coffee table. She scrambled to pick it up but she was shaking so hard it took three attempts. When she put the phone back to her ear she was greeted with silence. Dropping the phone must have accidentally disconnected the call.

She was about to redial—had actually pressed the call list button to do exactly that—when she had second thoughts.

If she sounded only half as upset as Stefania was purported to be it would no doubt reinforce Luca’s opinion that she and Joseph were having an affair—in which case he would probably tell her as little as possible about Joseph’s condition.

There had to be a way of finding out how her father was doing without contacting Luca. She just had to figure out what it was.

Flinging herself down on the couch, Morgan dragged in several deep breaths and felt her heartbeat slowly return to normal. Feeling calmer, she mined her memory banks.

During her first conversation with Luca he’d told her that Stefania and Joseph were on his private jet on their way to Sydney, Australia.

That was her starting point.

Now all she had to do was use the internet to make a list of the hospitals in Sydney and then call them.

Two hours later Morgan almost jumped out of her skin when she finally hit the jackpot.

‘Yes, a Mr Joseph Langdon was admitted earlier this evening,’ the switchboard operator told her. ‘I’ll put you through.’

Morgan had been so focussed on finding Joseph she hadn’t given the time difference a thought. Not that it mattered. Hospitals operated twenty-four-seven and must be used to people calling at all times of the day and night.

‘Emergency. Can I help you?’

Morgan almost fainted when she realised which department she’d been put through to. ‘Yes. I’m calling to see how Mr Joseph Langdon is doing.’

‘Your name, please?’

Morgan frowned. ‘I don’t want to be put through to anybody. I just want to know what his condition is.’

‘I understand that, but I need to know if your name is on the list.’

A frisson of unease unfurled serpent-like down her spine. ‘What list?’

‘The hospital is under strict instructions to discuss Mr Langdon’s condition only with immediate family,’ the nurse replied.

Morgan swallowed.

She
was
immediate family.

Not that the other woman knew that.

Not that
anyone
knew that.

It was on the tip of her tongue to blurt out the truth
but she swallowed the words back. This was a fragile situation. She had to tread carefully. The last thing she wanted was to make the situation worse.

If she gave her name and it wasn’t on the list the nurse might mention it to Stefania. Under no circumstance could that be allowed to happen.

Equally, she couldn’t expect the nurse to believe that she was Joseph’s secret daughter just on her say-so. If she wasn’t dismissed as a complete fruitcake or a trouble maker, her story would probably be reported to the family.

Again, she couldn’t allow that to happen.

Anxiety clawed at her insides. She was rapidly running out of options.

‘Look, I’m not on your list. I’m a friend of Joseph’s. Please just tell me how he is,’ she pleaded. ‘I won’t tell anyone.’

‘I’m sorry. If you’re a friend of Mr Langdon’s then I suggest you contact his family for information on his condition.’

The line went dead.

Morgan’s heart sank like a stone.

She slumped back against the couch and pressed shaking fingers to her forehead.

Joseph was in Emergency.

The hospital was only revealing information to his immediate family.

Neither of those things sounded encouraging—in fact just the opposite.

Her father could be dying for all she knew.

She realised something else.

Whether she liked it or not, Luca was her only link to her father!

Morgan was pacing her apartment like a caged animal, hoping against hope that there was something she’d overlooked, when the doorbell sounded. She crossed to the door and pulled it open.

It was Luca.

He was the last person she was expecting, and for a moment all she could do was stand and stare at him.

He really was the most handsome man, she acknowledged, her heart doing a massive leap in her chest. Today he was dressed in a black hand made suit. His black hair was swept back off his forehead with the same arrogance she encountered every time he opened his mouth. Every feature was perfect in an entirely natural way, as if it had been sculpted by one of the masters. And his eyes…

They were amazing. A deep, intense black flecked with dashes of gold.

‘That’s a habit you have to break,’ Luca said, frowning down at her.

Morgan blinked up at him. ‘What is?’

‘Opening the door without checking who it is. That’s the second time you’ve done it. It’s dangerous.’

She knew he was right. ‘OK. Next time I will.’

‘Good. See that you do.’ He looked past her into the apartment. ‘Aren’t you going to invite me in?’

She held the door open. ‘Would it do me any good to refuse?’

‘No.’

‘What are you doing here, Luca?’ she asked, closing the door and following him into the lounge room.

‘What do you think I’m doing here?’ He snagged her wrist and pulled her into his arms. ‘I’m here to change your mind about becoming my mistress.’

‘But—’

She never had a chance to finish. Luca kissed the words right out of her mouth.

From the moment his lips claimed hers she was lost. Heated pleasure swept through her in waves, almost knocking her off her feet. Light bloomed behind her closed eyelids.

She had one second of sanity when she managed to drag her mouth out from under his. ‘Luca—’

Again, Luca didn’t let her finish. He was every inch the predatory male as he backed her up against the front door, his mouth moving on hers as if he couldn’t get enough of her.

Morgan could feel his heart racing in tandem with hers, could feel the press of his erection against her. His excitement triggered an answering response deep inside her, and what little sanity she had slipped away.

Luca lifted his head and stared deep into her eyes. ’Look me in the eye,
cara,
and tell me that you want me.’

She opened her mouth. Closed it again. Dragged in a breath and then another. ‘I can’t…’

‘You can.’ Luca pressed his hips closer to her. ‘Feel what you do to me.’

Her body pulsed. ‘I—’

He pressed a hard kiss on her mouth to silence her, then lifted his head. ‘Say it.’

Confusion washed through her. What was she doing? This wasn’t supposed to be happening.

She tore herself out of his arms and put some distance between them. ‘I haven’t changed my mind. I think it’s time you left.’

‘I don’t think so. We didn’t get a chance to finish our conversation earlier.’ He sat down on the couch, making
it clear that he wasn’t about to leave. ‘I apologise for the interruption. Did you stay on the line long?’

He’d tried to sound casual but didn’t quite pull it off. If it hadn’t been for the look in his eyes—which Morgan would describe as watchful—she might have been fooled. He wanted to know how much she’d heard. Wanted to know if she knew Joseph was ill.

Gut instinct warned her to keep what she knew to herself. It might prove useful—although how she could use it to her advantage she wasn’t quite sure.

She tossed her head. ‘No, not long. I called you a few choice names, then slammed the phone down.’

He flashed her a smile. ‘That sounds like you.’

‘It does, doesn’t it? Now, what are you doing here? You said we hadn’t finished our conversation, but as far as I’m concerned we had. My answer was no, remember?’

‘How could I forget? It’s a long time since a woman has turned me down.’

‘Going on the size of your ego, it sounds as though it’s well overdue,’ she fired back at him.

Luca threw his head back and laughed. ‘I’m going to enjoy taming you.’

‘You’re not going to get the chance.’

‘No?’ Confidence oozed out of every pore.

She shook her head.

‘Oh, I think I am.’ He stared at her in silence for a moment before saying softly, ‘I’m here to call your bluff.’

Her breath hitched in the back of her throat. ‘What…what do you mean?’

‘I think you said no to becoming my mistress because you doubt I’ll go through with my threat of telling Joseph and Stefania about your affair. You’re
taking a gamble in much the same way a poker player does.’ He looked her straight in the eye. ‘As I said, I’m going to call your bluff.’

‘Meaning?’

‘Meaning that unless you agree, here and now, to being my mistress I’m going to tell them.’ He extracted his mobile phone from his jacket pocket and held it up in the air. ‘Do I use this, or not?’

For a moment Morgan couldn’t breathe. Then her brain kicked into gear. Luca didn’t really mean what he said. He couldn’t. It would be inhuman to confront Stefania and Joseph while Joseph was sick in the hospital. He might be hard, but he wouldn’t be that cruel—at least not to his sister.

But that was the point, wasn’t it? She wasn’t supposed to know about Joseph’s illness, was she?

Luca was no doubt counting on that—that was why he’d been so interested in how much she’d overheard.

He was doing exactly what he said. He was calling her bluff, hoping she’d fold without putting his claim to the test.

He was clever.

Devious…but clever.

She couldn’t help but admire his determination, even though it infuriated her.

She looked away from him.

Her eyes landed on the oversized mug sitting in pride of place on the sideboard. It was bright yellow, with equally bright red lettering on the side which read ’Get Well Soon.’