PunishingPhoebe (5 page)

“It’s getting late,” she said as soon as he
hung up.

“Yes.” Luca pushed away from the table and
stood up. “I have to leave now.”

Relief swept through her, but she tried not
to show it. “Really?”

“My father is pitching a fit and insisting
his assistant contacts the board to arrange an emergency meeting.”

She lifted a brow. “Because of…this?” she
asked with a wave of her hand to indicate the two of them.

He shrugged. “Probably, but I’ll take care
of it. He’s upset things didn’t go his way, but as soon as I point out how his
trying to remove me as CEO will undermine the merger he so desperately wants, I
think he’ll let it drop.”

Phoebe disdained the orange juice in favor
of a mug of coffee from the pot. She had forgotten to turn on the timer last
night, so he must have brewed a pot, though he rarely drank coffee. His
thoughtfulness caused tears to prick the back of her eyes and she cleared her
throat, impatient with the emotions assailing her. “I’m sure you’ll deal with
it.”

“Of course.” He drained his orange juice in
a long swallow and brought the glass to the dishwasher. “Hold down the fort
until I make it into the office. I’m confident you can deal with anything that
might arise.”

“You still trust me?”

“Not at all, but I know you can handle my
business. You’ve always been good at that.” He ignored her attempt to recoil
when he pressed a kiss against her mouth. “I’ll see you soon.”

Phoebe managed a nod, holding herself
stiffly until he left the kitchen. She didn’t relax her posture until the front
door closed a couple of minutes later. As soon as he was gone, she set the mug
of coffee on the counter and raced down the hall to her bedroom. She hadn’t
even started packing before his arrival last night, so she retrieved a suitcase
from the closet and tossed items inside haphazardly. She could acquire anything
she neglected to bring with her in Boston.

Phoebe called a cab with her home phone and
rushed down to meet it five minutes later when the doorman alerted her to its
arrival. Then, cursing all the way, she rushed back to her apartment for the
paperwork faxed to her by the clinic.

Things went more smoothly after that, with
Anya waiting for her on the corner, suitcase in tow. They cleared security at
the airport in record time and their plane took off only two minutes late.
Phoebe wanted to think everything would be okay, but it all seemed to be going
too well. Still, she released tension she hadn’t been aware of maintaining once
the plane left the tarmac and New York fell rapidly away.

Putting distance between herself and Luca
was the right thing to do. Perspective would give her time to come up with a
solution to the mess in which she found herself and would give Luca time to
realize he couldn’t treat her as his sex toy. Once his initial anger had time
to dissipate, they could work out a civilized repayment plan. Maybe. Even if he
wouldn’t be reasonable, she would just have to refuse to let him use her body
for revenge.

Not that she’d been very good at telling
him no, she acknowledged wryly. She was buying herself time to put up a wall
between herself and Luca. By the time the plane touched down at Logan, she
almost had herself convinced she could see Luca again and not fall into bed
with him.

* * * * *

Luca entered the elevator for his office
feeling surprisingly good, in spite of what had happened with Phoebe. Well,
probably because of what had happened with her, but not what had led to last
night. He’d dealt with his father and was now on his way to work. To see her,
his lover.

It was ridiculous to feel so excited to see
her again, especially knowing what he did about her. Only a fool let himself
fall for someone who was greedy and scheming. He tried to understand how she
could put money above their burgeoning relationship. As he’d told her, he
couldn’t relate to that kind of need, having grown up in a wealthy family.
Still, he couldn’t imagine any circumstances that would have made him take money
to leave her if the situation had been reversed.

He had to keep it firmly in mind why she
was now his lover. In effect, he had bought her, as distasteful as that was. It
wasn’t the best way to deal with her betrayal, but he didn’t have it in him to
overlook her actions, or to just let her go. Fool that he was, he cared too
much… Luca squashed that thought as it formed. All he needed from her was
physical pleasure until he no longer wanted her. Any feelings he’d had for
Phoebe before she revealed her true nature had to die a quick death.

Mentally steeling himself for the assault
to his senses the moment he saw her, he entered the office. Immediately, he
noticed her desk was empty. As he drew nearer, he saw it was exactly as he had
left it last night. Feeling just a spark of hope that he was misinterpreting
the scene, he knocked on the office washroom. When no one answered, he tried
the door, finding it unlocked, and pushed it open. It was as empty as the
office.

Anger exploded through him and he cursed as
he stomped back to her desk. Her home computer was connected to the office’s
network, so she could work from home. It took Luca very little time to call up
her internet history, to get an idea of where she had gone. Rage made his hands
shake and he refused to recognize the hurt rushing through him at her betrayal.

* * * * *

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”
Phoebe asked Anya several hours later.

Her sister nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure. I have
a lot of tests ahead of me, and you can’t accompany me. Why should you hang out
in the hospital room when you could be resting? You look exhausted.”

Phoebe eyed the patient suite where the
staff had installed Anya. “This place is probably nicer than my room.”

“Go.” Anya tossed a pillow in her general
vicinity. “Get some fresh air and see the sights. We haven’t been to Boston
since we were little.”

Phoebe blinked. “You’re right. I’d
forgotten we came here with Mom and Dad.”

“I was seven, so you must have been about
thirteen.”

Anya had spoken without much emotion, but
Phoebe couldn’t expect her sister to go to pieces at the memories of the
long-ago family vacation when she herself had forgotten all about it. There
were more pressing matters on which to dwell, instead of bittersweet memories.
“Well, I might sightsee later, but right now, I’m going to sleep.” She stifled
a yawn. “I am pretty tired.”

“You must have had a late night.” Anya
grinned. “Up all night with your boss?”

“I had a lot of work to get through.” She
spoke more sharply than she had intended. Before last night, she would have
laughed with her sister, but was too sensitive to make light of it right then,
though Anya had no idea her teasing had been spot-on the truth. Seeing her
sister flinch, she softened her tone. “Sorry. I’m just tired.”

Anya lifted one shoulder. “It’s okay. Just
get some rest.”

Reluctantly, Phoebe got out of the
sumptuous easy chair and walked over to where her sister sat on the queen-size
bed. She bent to hug her. “I feel bad leaving you here alone, kiddo.”

“I’ll be fine,” said Anya with barely a
tremor in her voice. “It’s just some tests, and I’ve been through most of them
before with Dr. Collins.”

After a second hug, she stood up. “I’ll be
back to have dinner with you.”

“How about breakfast? I’m probably going to
be pretty tired after all the poking and prodding.”

She nodded out of habit before remembering
Anya couldn’t see the motion. “If that’s what you want. I’ll come back in the
morning. You want me to bring you anything?”

“Are you kidding? Have you seen the menu? I
was reading through it while you completed the paperwork. It’s a feast.”

“How did you…?”

“Braille,” Anya said quickly. “Everything
is in Braille too.” A frown distorted her delicate features. “Makes me wonder
what kind of success rate they have, if their facilities are so blind-friendly.”

“They have to accommodate everyone.” She
cleared her throat, trying to sound cheerful when she spoke again. “It’s all
going to be fine. I promise.”

Something that might have passed for a
smile crossed her sister’s face. “I know. Now scoot.”

Phoebe grasped her suitcase and left her
sister’s room. The hallway was as opulent as the rest of the facility thus far,
making her wonder how much of the exorbitant fee she had paid to get Anya in
went to research, and how much went to maintenance of the surroundings. What
did it matter? She would pay twice as much, and gladly, to have Anya’s sight
restored.

She had deliberately booked lodging within
walking distance of the clinic, but the case was weighing heavy by the time she
walked the three blocks and found the charming bed and breakfast she had
selected. Since their stay could be a long one, she had chosen a place that
would be more like home than a chain hotel. If they were going to be there for
months, she would see about renting an apartment. In the meantime, Honeywell
House would do.

Mrs. Honeywell herself manned the desk
according to the nameplate. She was in her mid-sixties, pleasantly plump, with
an infectious smile. As soon as she heard Phoebe’s name, her smile widened
further. “Of course, dear. I have your room all ready.” She came out from
behind the desk and took the case from Phoebe before she could protest. “Let’s
get you settled.”

“But…don’t I need to register?”

“No need, dear. Your husband saw to all
that already.”

Phoebe swayed. “My what?”

A frown furrowed the old woman’s face.
“Your husband arrived a couple of hours ago. He upgraded your room to the
honeymoon suite.” She chuckled.

“Oh.” Numbly, Phoebe followed Mrs.
Honeywell up the stairs, idly noting the intricate details on the railing and
each balustrade. “I see.”

“I was sorry to hear your plans had changed
though.”

“Hmm, yeah.”

Mrs. Honeywell shook her head. “I love it
when my guests stay with me a while, giving me a chance to get to know them.
It’s a shame you’re checking out tomorrow.”

Phoebe’s lips tightened. “He—my
husband—told you that?”

The older woman nodded, apparently
oblivious to her outrage. “He looks like he works too hard, dear. It’s a shame
his business is interfering with your vacation.”

“Yes, it is.” She was seething with anger
by the time Mrs. Honeywell brought her to a room at the end of the hall on the
second landing.

She handed Phoebe an old-fashioned key,
patting her hand in the process. “Enjoy your time together, dear. If you want
me to send up a supper tray, just ring the desk.”

“Thanks.” Phoebe managed a smile that
disappeared the minute Mrs. Honeywell was gone. She unlocked the door briskly,
preparing herself for a confrontation with Luca. How dare he be so highhanded?

Anger carried her across the threshold in
seconds and she slammed the door behind her, gaining some satisfaction from the
way it made Luca jump. “How dare you?”

Her anger faltered when he strode toward
her, dying in the face of his. Gone was the cheerful man from this morning, or
even the bossy, but tender lover from last night. Here stood a reincarnation of
the angry man who had entered her apartment yesterday, except his anger had
clearly intensified.

“How dare you?” he countered. “The minute I
turned my back, you ran.” Luca shook his head. “I can’t believe I was so stupid
as to trust you, even a little.”

“Wait.” She backed away as he continued to
bear down on her. “I told you I had to go somewhere.”

“I thought you understood our agreement,
Phoebe. Your body for a large sum of money.” He lifted a brow. “Or did you lie
to me about accepting our deal too?”

She shook her head. “Of course not. If
you’d just listen—”

“I’ve heard enough lies come out of your
beautiful, deceitful mouth,
mia tesoro
.” He said the endearment so
sarcastically she winced. “I wouldn’t believe a thing you said unless God
himself vouched for you.”

Phoebe hung her head, not sure how to
handle his anger. Even last night, he hadn’t been this cold with her. Any
chance she’d had of reasoning with him, or explaining her actions, had clearly died
in the wake of what he viewed as her flight from him. “What are you going to do
to me?”

“Tomorrow, we’re going back to New York,
where I’m watching your every move.” He followed her as she backed away, until
she was pressed against the wall. Luca pressed his body against hers. “I’m
going to keep you in my sight until I decide I’ve gotten my money’s worth.”

“I can’t.” She tried to resist when he
grasped her wrists and brought them over her head, but part of her didn’t want
to. That part of Phoebe just wanted to throw herself into his arms and beg
forgiveness for her perceived sins.

“Wrong answer.” His tone could have frozen
water, and his unyielding expression granted no mercy as he pinned her hands
above her head, holding them in place with one hand. His other hand roamed
freely under her jacket, seeking out one of her breasts. He tugged hard on her
nipples, making her gasp, but with pleasure instead of pain. Her flimsy plan of
refusing to allow him access to her body died.