Gambler's Folly (Bookstrand Publishing Romance) (5 page)

Both Marco and Paolo were waiting for them, which made Karianna a little nervous. Marco was the other man she’d met her first night here. Heavier than Paolo, maybe a little older than Damiano, he was still a very handsome gentleman, again of Mediterranean descent. Finding a chair where she could keep everyone in view, she sat down to find out what was going on.

“Kari, you seem upset,” Damiano said, looking concerned. “Is everything alright?”

“Well, all three of you in here together are a bit intimidating, you know?”

“Cara, cara, don’t worry. These two will never harm you. They are supposed to look intimidating and they can be quite protective, but that is all. They are here to help us arrange our little charade.” Smiling, he motioned for the two of them to sit down also. It made them a little less overbearing.

“Now, Paolo, explain for Karianna what we are going to do this afternoon,” Damiano said.

The basic plan was for Damiano and Karianna to make a grand exit from the front of the hotel and get into one of Damiano’s limousines. Ostensibly, they were going to the airport for a flight to an undisclosed destination, for their honeymoon. What was not in evidence was the other couple already in the limo, dressed similarly to the honeymoon couple.

Once at the airport, the other couple would get out, luggage in tow, and board a private plane to a lovely beach location. Damiano and Karianna would stay in the car, which would come back and park in the private underground space reserved for the Leone fleet.

Once in their suite, the real couple would have a week of peace and quiet to get acquainted and plan their course of action for the future. The return would be similar.

“Now, Karianna, I can’t help the press. We were on the news this morning. Well, I was and your name was. Your photo hasn’t been found yet, so nobody knows who you are. But as soon as we leave our suite, everyone will try to find out everything about you. You’re the mystery woman of the hour, the one who captured Damiano Leone.”

She sat and searched his face for a moment. “Is there nothing you can do?”

“I’m sorry, cara. I’ll be there, as will Paolo and Marco. They’ll keep the crowd back, but we need to stage the happy couple scene for the media. Can you do this?” he asked.

“I don’t see why not,” she replied. “I’ve been making love to Trae for years without caring. I should be able to kiss you believably.”

“Cara, why did you stay with the man? Did he provide well for you? Was he a fantastic lover? Did he have money?”

“None of the above, Damiano. I stayed because I had no other place to go.” And it was true. She’d had no training beyond secondary school, besides domestic help. These days, that didn’t pay enough to eat on.

“
Mia povera amore
,” he said sadly. “My poor darling. You are better off without him. A man who treats his beautiful wife like that is not a man. Whether you will ever love me or not, I don’t know. But you will always be treated as a lady.”

This from the man who threatened to beat me when we first met, she thought. Oh well, we’ll see.

“Thank you, Damiano. I may learn to respect you, but love…We’ll have to see about that.”

“Capisco, cara. I understand. Have you any questions? Anything at all?”

“No, I’ll follow your lead once we start,” she replied, shaking her head.

“It will be fine, cara, truly,” Damiano assured her. “We will keep you safe.”

Early in the afternoon, one of Lea’s helpers came down to help her with her wardrobe, hair, and makeup. “Alright, now. I think we’ll leave the hair down.”

Parted on the right, her hair was held in place high on her head with a gorgeous scrollwork comb, in silver and rhinestones. Dark ringlets cascaded from the bottom edge of the comb, where they met the rest of her curls.

“That’s gorgeous. You have wonderful hair.”

“Thanks. I’ve always had trouble trying to tame it,” Karianna admitted.

Her makeup was simple, just a little earth-toned eye shadows, a hint of smoky liner, and mascara. “With your complexion, we need to bring out one feature and leave the rest alone. Where did Damiano find you, anyway?”

“Long story,” was her only reply.

The dress would have been at home on a fashion runway, a floor-length column in pristine white and silver. Crossed spaghetti straps held up the closely fitting bodice, showing more cleavage than she remembered having. The side slit was up to midthigh. Karianna barely recognized the woman looking back from the mirror.

“But, Karianna, may I call you Karianna? It’s wonderful. When you’ve got good legs, you should show them, just a little slice at a time, to tease. How you’ll keep Mr. Leone’s hands off you until you’re in private, I don’t know.”

Just a few minutes later, Damiano came to escort her to the limo. He stepped through the door, turned and simply stopped and stared at Karianna.

“Cara!
Che bella—bellissimo
! Turn around for me, Karianna. I want to see the whole thing.”

Karianna turned slowly so he could take it in. “Do you approve?” she asked.

“It will definitely look good on the viewer tonight. We’ll walk slowly so the video is good,” he told her. “And it’s time to leave. The whole male population will have a new dream lover tonight.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Damiano,” she insisted. “I’m not that gorgeous.”

“But you do give a man an appetite,” he responded, his eyes smouldering. “Quite the tender morsel. Definitely delicious. Shall we go?”

Another first today. She would finally leave the underground suite, for the first time since Trae lost his bet. She took the lift with Damiano, and when they reached the gaming level, they were joined by Marco and Paolo.

“Everything is on schedule?” he asked Paolo.

“Yes, Mr. Leone. The car is outside, with the media waiting anxiously. The two of you should make the headlines, for fashion alone if nothing else.”

Karianna hadn’t really had time to take a good look at Damiano, but she did now. What she’d never noticed before was how tall he was. He had to be 190 cm, if not more. Even in three-inch heels, she only came up to his chin. Today, dressed in formal black with a crisp white shirt, the effect was even more pronounced. His dark hair, always combed to perfection, was immaculate. The hands she had felt on her body were salon perfect, the gold signet ring on his right hand completing the statement of wealth and power.

“Damn! I almost forget,” he said, motioning her back into the elevator. “Paolo, keep the door open. I want the two of you here as well.” From his pocket he drew a small jewelry case. Opening it, he removed a ring set. “May I have your hand, cara?” he asked. Gently holding her hand, he slid the rings onto her finger. The wedding band, of highly polished, diamond-cut gold, with repeating X-pattern, threw back the light from every angle. But the full carat, brilliant cushion-cut sapphire was stunning. Flanked by deep green emeralds, surrounded by diamonds, it was like a blue flower in a field of light. Karianna had never seen so many gems in her life.

“Damiano! I don’t know what to say. I’ll give them back once we’ve returned to the suite.”

“Give them back? Why? Don’t you like them? You are my wife, I want everyone to know that I love you. It is fitting for the wife of Damiano Leone.” Reaching back into his pocket, he brought out another ring, a man’s wedding band which matched her wedding set.

“Now we can go.”

Still in shock, Karianna walked through the lobby on Damiano’s arm. She had no choice, given her current mental state. The doors opened to the flash of cameras, as a forest of microphones was thrust forward to capture each and every nuance of the newlyweds. Questions came in a rush from all sides, as Paolo and Marco cleared the path for them. Startled and very nervous, she clung to Damiano for support.

“Mr. Leone, when were you married?” from one side. “Mr. Leone, where did you meet your wife?” from another.

“Where did I meet Karianna? On one of my business trips. I was so enchanted, I had no choice. I had to ask her to be my wife. We were married here just three days ago, in a private ceremony,” Damiano answered confidently, his arm comfortably around her shoulders.

“Can you give us a moment for some photos, Mr. Leone?” they insisted.

“Cara, what do you think?” he asked Karianna. “Can we spare a moment or two?”

“I don’t see why not,” she replied. “We have plenty of time before our flight.” They took a few of the classic poses for the cameras. Karianna hoped they would be satisfied.

“Could the two of you give us a kiss for the evening news?” someone asked.

This was what she had hoped to avoid. Shaking her head, she looked up at Damiano. “Dam…?” she asked.

“Come, cara, it is a little thing,” he said. Speaking to the crowd of cameras and microphones, he added, “Just this once, capisce, and then we go. We have a plane to catch and a week to relax in the sun.” Gently, one arm around her waist, one hand cradling the back of her neck, Damiano pulled her close, gazing into her eyes.

They had talked about this before they left the room. It was only going to be a little kiss, nothing much. Just one quick kiss to satisfy the press. It must have been the combination of the ring, the press, and cameras which boosted her emotions through the roof. But as he pulled her tightly against him and their lips touched, she felt an electric current run through her entire body, igniting fires in places she hadn’t wanted awakened. Damiano drew her even closer, his mouth insistent, his fingers in her hair now, holding her firmly in his grasp. In spite of everything she’d felt up to this point, Karianna lost herself in the moment, reveling in a sensual experience like none she’d had before.

“
Buon Dio
, Karianna,” he exclaimed a moment later, catching his breath. Karianna was lightheaded, breathless, her pulse racing, and she wanted nothing more than to be in his arms again.

“Do you think they got their photo?” she asked, still shaken.

Waving to the crowd, Damiano helped her to the waiting limo and saw her seated, before he walked around to fold into the back. Hands trembling ever so slightly, he loosened his tie, his impeccably styled hair not quite so perfect at the moment.

“Karianna, if that was a performance, you should be in films,” he said, reaching toward her.

“No! Don’t touch me,” she said. “Not right now.”

“Cara, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“I was not ready for that, Damiano. Not at all,” she stated firmly.

“Neither was I, but you seemed eager, so…”

“I don’t know what happened,” she said, confused. “It was just going to be for show, but then you pulled me close, and, well…I don’t know!” she shouted. “I just know that I need some time to adjust, please, Dam.”

“It’s fine, cara. It’s a long drive to the airport and then back again. Why don’t you rest?”

The luxurious leather seat creaked as she sank back into it. Opening her eyes again, she finally took note of their doubles facing them, amused expressions on their faces. They were remarkably similar to her and Damiano, right up to the clothes they were wearing.

“What?” she asked emphatically.

“Nothing, Madam Leone,” the woman said. “It looks like Damiano has finally met his match, though.”

“I have no idea what that means,” she replied. Tired beyond belief, she closed her eyes and dozed until they reached the airport.

Once their doubles had departed, she turned to face her new husband, still unsure about her feelings in the matter. Here was the man who ran the underworld on Gambler’s Folly. At the nod of his head, or a snap of his fingers, lives were taken or spared on his whim. Because of a debt owed to Damiano, Trae had died and Damiano had won her on a hand of cards.

She had every reason to hate him, or fear him, but there was something about him which wouldn’t allow it. His every action toward her rang true. He was either the best actor on the planet, or he really did care. Maybe he just needed some female company and she was convenient. They were married after all.

What was there about him that attracted her so much? He was charming, handsome, and strong. She had known other men who had those qualities, but she’d never felt that way toward them. Maybe it was his confidence, or his even temper. That and his scent. Whatever it was, it was aggressively sensuous. Nearly irresistible, it toyed with her senses on some primal level.

That could have been part of her reaction, she thought. Holding her so closely, touching her, kissing her, his scent was overwhelming. No wonder she couldn’t think straight. And right this minute, the car was filled with it, the indisputable male-in-rut scent that was Damiano.

“Cara, what are you thinking?” he asked quietly.

“I’m wondering what I’m going to do about you,” she answered.

“Do about me?” he asked. “What about me?”

“That’s what I don’t know,” she said. “Up to now, I’ve had no intention of being your wife, physically speaking. My mind still rebels at the idea, but physically, I seem to have a need only you can fill.”

“I see,” he nodded. “And what do you intend to do, cara?”

“That’s the problem, Damiano. I don’t know. If I get involved with you physically, it will be much harder to hate you, hold you responsible for Trae’s death, and everything else.”

“Now, Karianna, I’ve told you, I was not responsible for killing Trae. I have people looking into his death, and when we find the party responsible, they will no longer be a problem to anyone.”

“I wish I could believe you, Dam. I really do,” she said sadly.

“Come here, cara. Sit with me while we drive back. Perhaps you’ll figure it out.”

Snuggling back into his arms she went to sleep, somehow comforted in his strong embrace.

Nearly four hours after they’d left for the airport, they returned to the underground garage. Making their way through the back entrance to Damiano’s home, Karianna was invited to have dinner and coffee with him.

“It has been a long day, Kari,” he said. “We could have dinner, relax for a little while and unwind from the trip. I know it must have been tiring for you.”