The Undoing of de Luca (14 page)

‘I’m afraid I have to go into the office today,’ Larenz said. He glanced up from his computer briefly, his gaze resting on Ellery for only a few seconds before he turned resolutely back to the screen. ‘A few things have come up that I have to deal with.’

‘Nothing too serious, I hope,’ Ellery replied. Her voice, she heard with relief, stayed light.

‘No. Just the usual minor crises. But I hope you can amuse yourself for the morning?’ He glanced up from the screen once more. ‘I have accounts with most of the major stores here, as well as all the important designers. And of course, you can buy anything you want at De Luca’s.’

‘Of course,’ Ellery murmured. She pictured marching into that sophisticated shop and asking for a boiler.

‘So you should be all right? I’ll be back after lunch, I hope.’

Annoyance streaked through her. ‘I’ll be fine, Larenz. I hardly need to be minded like a child. And as it so happens, I already have plans.’

‘Oh?’ Larenz hadn’t moved or changed expression but he suddenly seemed wary and alert. Dangerous.

‘Yes,’ Ellery answered, courage firing through her. ‘I used to live here, you know. I’m going to have lunch with one of my university friends.’ She hadn’t actually rung Lil yet, but she knew her friend would make time for her.

‘Oh, really?’ Larenz gave her an almost chilly smile. ‘I hadn’t realized you’d made such plans. What if I hadn’t been busy?’

Ellery shrugged. It felt good to be in control for once. She’d agreed to this week because she thought she’d
be
in control, but she’d been spinning out of it ever since they’d arrived in London. It felt good to snatch a little back. ‘I assumed you’d have business to take care of and, anyway, we can hardly be in each other’s pockets all week, can we? From what I saw between you and Amelie, you don’t particularly enjoy a clinging female.’

Larenz frowned, his eyes narrowing to navy slits. ‘I already told you, there was nothing between me and Amelie.’

Ellery shrugged, refusing to argue. She wished she hadn’t mentioned Amelie; the wretched woman hardly mattered any more. ‘Even so.’ She finished her coffee and rose from the table. ‘You can’t be cross I have plans, surely, when you’ve already said you’ll be busy? Why don’t we meet for afternoon tea downstairs? I read that The Berkeley puts on a good do.’

‘Tea?’
Larenz nearly spluttered. He sounded outraged.

‘Or pre-dinner drinks,’ Ellery suggested with a smile. ‘You’re right, I can’t quite see you balancing a teacup and a scone.’

She turned towards the bedroom and, from behind her, she heard Larenz say tightly, ‘Fine. We’ll meet for drinks. But at least spend the afternoon shopping. I want you to wear something suitable this time.’

Ellery didn’t answer. She’d tried for a light, unconcerned tone to show Larenz she didn’t care. She knew she wasn’t meant to care, didn’t even
want
to care, but he would never know how much it cost her. As she turned the knob of the bedroom door, her hand trembled.

Two hours later, Ellery stood in front of a soulless office building of glass and concrete in the heart of the city, waiting for her friend Lil to emerge. She was grateful Lil had been available for lunch; in fact, she’d been thrilled to hear from Ellery and insisted on treating her. Her friend’s familiar bubbly warmth was a balm to Ellery’s damaged dignity. The parting jab Larenz had given her regarding her clothes had added insult to grievous injury. Miserably, she wondered why he’d invited her along at all if he was going to avoid or ignore her both day and night.

‘Ellery!’ Small, curvy and red-headed, Lil Peters hurried across the skyscraper’s forecourt and enveloped Ellery in a tight perfumed hug. ‘I’m so happy to see you!’

‘Me too,’ Ellery replied after Lil had released her and she’d got her breath back. ‘It’s been too long.’

‘And whose fault is that?’ Lil asked, wagging a finger in front of Ellery’s face before she linked arms and half-dragged her down the pavement. ‘I booked us a table nearby. I don’t want to wait in some wretched queue—we’ve got loads to say to each other, I’m sure. And I need a drink.’

Ellery smiled as she let her friend barrel her along. ‘I do, as well,’ she said. ‘Let’s order a bottle.’

Ten minutes later, they were comfortably seated in a French bistro, a bottle of Chardonnay opened between them and two glasses already poured.

‘So what brings you to London?’ Lil asked as she took a healthy sip of her drink. ‘I thought our girls’ weekend wasn’t until next week.’ She arched her eyebrows. ‘Please tell me it’s because you’ve finally sold Go-Mad Manor and are coming back to London to live a proper life.’

Ellery grinned. ‘Not yet, I’m afraid.’

‘Ellery, what are you waiting for? I understand family loyalty, of course I do, but that place is falling down around your ears.’

‘Actually, I think it’s reached my shoulders.’ Ellery smiled and Lil just shook her head. They’d had this conversation too many times already. ‘I can’t sell it yet, Lil. I don’t know why.’ She pressed her lips together. ‘I know I have to sell it eventually, but I’m not ready yet.’

Lil shook her head. ‘Your father really did a number on you, Ell. It’s been five years since he died, you know.’

‘I know.’ Her throat was tight, the two words forced out. She looked away.

‘I know learning about…well, I know it was a shock,’ Lil said gently. ‘But surely you can let it go? You need to.’

‘I’ve let it go,’ Ellery said flatly. She tried for a smile, a lighter tone. ‘It’s just the house I’m holding on to.’

Lil smiled back, although Ellery knew her friend was neither satisfied nor convinced. ‘So what are you doing here, then? And please don’t tell me it’s to buy something dread-fully boring, like curtains for your drawing room.’

‘No, nothing so tedious, although I could use new curtains.’ Ellery glanced down at her glass, a few bubbles bursting against its sides. ‘Actually, I’m here with someone. A…man.’

‘A
man
?’ Lil squawked and several patrons shot her amused and curious glances.

Ellery flushed, rolling her eyes. ‘Lil—’

‘It’s just I’m so pleased.’ Lil leaned over the table, her eyes alight. ‘Tell me about him. Is he the local squire in Suffolk? Or a
farmer
? I always thought they were dead sexy when they did that programme about bachelor farmers—’

‘Neither.’ Ellery held up a hand to stop her friend’s gushing monologue. ‘Actually, he is—was—a guest.’

‘A guest? How romantic. Who is he? I want all the details.’ Lil’s eyes widened comically. ‘He’s not the one you mentioned this weekend, is he? The high-maintenance one?’

‘Actually, yes. But he’s not as high-maintenance as I thought.’ She paused. She didn’t really want to mention Larenz by name; he was, she knew, somewhat famous. ‘Just a man. A gorgeous man, actually.’

‘Gorgeous? Really? Oh, Ellery, I’m so happy for you.’ She reached over to squeeze her hand.

‘It’s not going anywhere,’ Ellery said quickly. ‘I mean it. It’s just for fun. A…fling.’ The word sounded awkward, coming from her. Lil, of all people, knew how few flings she’d had: zero. And how cautious she’d been with men.

‘A fling,’ Lil repeated thoughtfully, then gave a little shrug of acceptance. ‘Sounds fabulous. And he brought you to London for a dirty weekend?’

Ellery flushed once more. ‘A dirty week, actually,’ she managed and took a sip of wine. ‘After this, we’re going to Milan.’

‘Milan!’
Once again, a few patrons glanced Lil’s way but she didn’t even notice. ‘Just who is this man, Ellery?’

Looking at her friend’s excited, animated face, Ellery knew she couldn’t keep the truth from her, and she didn’t even want to. Lil was her closest friend; she’d come to her father’s funeral, she’d been there when her world had fallen apart.

And it might be about to fall apart again.

The thought slid into her mind slyly and Ellery forced it away.
No.
She was not going to get hurt, because she was in control. She was having a fling, a silly fling, and that was all. ‘His name is Larenz de Luca.’

Lil’s mouth dropped open so theatrically that Ellery found herself chuckling. The waiter had brought them two huge bowls of steaming pasta and she reached for her fork. ‘Close your mouth. And don’t shout his name from the rooftops, please. We’re trying to be…discreet.’

‘Larenz de Luca,’
Lil hissed, the name still managing to carry to several tables. ‘Ellery, he’s just about the most eligible bachelor in Europe!’

‘Is he?’ Ellery felt a ripple of unease. She hadn’t realized Larenz had quite that much notoriety. And yet he’d chosen
her.
‘How come I hadn’t heard of him, then?’

‘You don’t read the gossip mags like I do,’ Lil replied as she dug into her own pasta. ‘And, all right, perhaps he’s not the
most
eligible bachelor—there has got to be a minor prince or two that fits that title, but honestly—Larenz de Luca! He’s always in the tabloids, you know, usually with some bimbo on his arm—
oh
!’ She bit her lip, her blue eyes wide and contrite. ‘I did
not
mean you. You know that.’

‘Of course not.’ Ellery’s smile wavered only the tiniest bit. Lil wasn’t telling her anything she hadn’t known already. She’d suspected Larenz was a playboy, a womanizer; she’d gone into this with her eyes wide open. She
had.
‘I suppose he’s deviating from his usual this time round, eh?’

‘I suppose.’ Although Lil smiled back, her eyes were still clouded with anxiety. ‘I don’t want you to get hurt, Ellery.’

‘I’m not going to,’ Ellery replied firmly. ‘I told you, Lil, this is a fling. I don’t want a relationship.’ She smiled, reaching for her wine glass. ‘Don’t you know me well enough to know that?’

‘Ye-es,’ Lil admitted slowly, ‘but I also know when you
do
fall, you’ll fall hard.’

Ellery’s expression hardened. ‘I’m not going to fall.’ Fall in love. She had no intention of doing that. No intention of stumbling into it either. Love was off-limits, for both her and Larenz.

‘Why on earth was he staying at that Manor of yours?’ Lil asked. ‘I mean, I would have expected him to want a bit more luxury. No offence, of course—’

Now Ellery laughed with genuine amusement, the sound a relief. ‘None taken, I’m sure. I’d be the first one to admit Maddock Manor is not the pinnacle of luxury. We can’t even say we have hot water any more.’

‘Oh, dear.’

Ellery shrugged. ‘He was there with his PR person, scouting out a photo shoot.’

‘A photo shoot? At your house?’ Lil looked intrigued, and Ellery laughed again.

‘I know, it sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But apparently it has some ambience.’

‘And have you agreed? To the shoot?’

Ellery paused. She had neither agreed nor disagreed; the subject hadn’t come up again, and she wasn’t sure she wanted it to. If she agreed, she’d surely see Larenz after this week was over. That wasn’t part of their agreement; it wasn’t one of their terms. And yet…was it something she wanted? He wanted? ‘I don’t know,’ she said slowly. ‘Perhaps. The money would certainly help.’

‘Ellery…’ Lil reached over, her hand on Ellery’s arm. Ellery looked up, saw the concern and compassion in her friend’s eyes. ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing? Larenz de Luca is…well, he’s not exactly a safe bet. You know?’

‘Yes,’ Ellery replied lightly, ‘I know.’

Lil frowned. ‘Are you sure this is just a fling?’

Ellery arched her eyebrows. ‘Lil, this is Larenz de Luca we’re talking about.’

‘No,’ Lil said, ‘I’m talking about you. I’m damned sure Larenz de Luca only wants a fling. But what about you, Ellery? Are you sure that’s what you want?’

‘Yes,’ Ellery said quickly. Too quickly. And not firmly enough. For, as she gazed into her friend’s face, she was suddenly struck with the alarming—and frankly terrifying—possibility that it wasn’t what she wanted at all. That she wasn’t in control.

That she’d been lying to herself all along.

‘If you’re sure,’ Lil said doubtfully, and Ellery nodded.

‘I’m sure.’ Yet already her mind played over the conversation from last night, the way she’d been seeking Larenz out, trying to understand him,
know
him. That was not agreeing to the terms. It was not the way to keep from getting hurt. The only way to protect her heart, Ellery knew, was not to have it involved at all. And surely with a man like Larenz—a known womanizer—it shouldn’t be too hard.

Except for the times when he didn’t seem like the man the world knew, the playboy of the gossip magazines. When he asked her questions, when he made her lunch, when he washed her hair…

Ellery closed her eyes. She couldn’t think about
that
man. She couldn’t take that risk. She certainly couldn’t change the terms.

She opened her eyes and gave her friend a rather hard smile. ‘Don’t worry, Lil. I know what I’m doing. This really is just a fling.’

At six o’clock that evening Ellery made her way into the hotel bar, her new stilettos clicking across the parquet floor. She’d bought a dress to match the shoes, a slinky number in spangled grey silk that clung to every dip and curve and shimmered when she moved. The stilettos gave her another three and a half inches at least. She’d left her hair long and loose and she’d stopped by the make-up counter at Selfridges—she’d avoided De Luca’s—for a free makeover. When she’d only bought a lipstick the saleswoman had looked rather put out, but Ellery wasn’t using the de Luca account. She’d pay her own way, at least for this.

She saw Larenz waiting at the bar, his back to her, his hand clenched around a tumbler of whisky. He looked tense, she thought, and stressed. Had it been a bad day at work? She didn’t care. She wouldn’t ask.

She knew the rules. Larenz didn’t want her to ask about his day; he wanted her in bed. And she wanted him in bed. That was all they had, all they could ever have. All they wanted.

Ellery had been reminding herself of it all afternoon. Last night she’d let herself care; she’d even let herself be hurt. And that was not going to happen again.

Tonight she was going to be just what Larenz wanted—his lover. Only his lover. Not his love.