Page 16 of Vicious Temptation

And how is he going to feel about you watching his children, if he knows you have nightmares? That you jump at shadows? If he knows what happened to you?

I push the thought away. I can manage it well enough, I tell myself, to keep him from knowing just how deep the trauma from my monstrous ex-fiancé runs. And maybe being out from under the threat of another impending arranged marriage, having space from my father and his expectations, will give me a chance to heal.

“I’ll accept,” I say with as much confidence as I can muster, tilting my chin up in an attempt to look as poised and collected as I can.

I wonder if he’ll be startled that I accepted so quickly, but all I see is a look of relief that immediately crosses Gabriel’s face. “It’s a live-in position,” he repeats. “I just want to make sure that’s clear, before we move forward. I want someone who can feel like an intrinsic part of my children’s lives, who can become a part of their routine and schedules. I’m not asking you to be their mother, but—” He draws in a breath, and I see another flicker of that pain on his face. It makes me wonder how long it’s been since he lost his wife. It doesn’t look like a deep and immediate grief, but it does appear to have lingered with him. It makes me wonder, too, how he felt about her. The sadness looks as if it goes deeper than a marriage of convenience.

“I’m not asking you to be their mother,” he repeats slowly. “But I do want someone to fill that role. I understand, of course, that it’s a significant responsibility. A demanding job. But I wanted to offer it to you. And I won’t be offended if you back out.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t want to back out. I want to take the job.”

Gabriel nods, his hands resting on the table. Our food seems forgotten—out of the corner of my eye, I see the server appear and then disappear again, seemingly waiting for us to finish our current dish before he brings a new one. “I don’t live in a mansion, but the house is large. You’ll have plenty of space to yourself. Anything you need, I’ll be happy to provide. I only keep a small staff—my housekeeper and her husband live on the property, and a few others that come and go. You won’t be taking over all of Agnes’ duties with the children immediately—you’ll have time to adjust, of course.” He lets out a breath, watching me as if he thinks I might change my mind at any moment. “It’s up to you how soon you want to start. But the children are starting their summer break, and Agnes is a little overwhelmed. So the sooner, the better. Within a week, if that works for you.”

“That’s fine with me. It’s not like I need to give anyone a two-week notice or anything.” I feel a bubble of laughter in my chest at that, and I stifle it, because I know I shouldn’t burst out laughing in the middle of this conversation. But it’s all overwhelming, and I don’t know what response to have. My entire perspective of the night has changed in a matter of minutes.

“Well, I wasn’t sure if you might need time to—I don’t know.” Gabriel shrugs. “I didn’t want to rush you. Whatever you need to make the move as easy on you as possible, I’m happy to provide.”

“I don’t think I’ll have much to bring. Just clothes, things like that.” I bite my lip. It all feels unreal. In a very short time, I’ve gone from preparing myself to let this man down gently in regards to an engagement, to accepting a job offer from him. A job. I’ve never had a job before. “My father knows what this is? He agreed to let me work for you?”

Gabriel nods. “We discussed it after you and I—ran into each other.” A small smile plays on the corners of his mouth, as if he finds that memory to be amusing instead of utterly embarrassing, the way I do.

He doesn’t elaborate on what exactly it was that they discussed. But I’m not entirely sure that I care. I sit there, looking at him across the table, and the entire feeling that I had about tonight’s dinner shifts.

Instead of uncertain and nervous, and a little guilty, I feel a flush of confidence. Of independence. I feel good, like I’m in a business meeting of my own. Like I’m making a decision about my own life, for the first time in my life.

I rub my sweating palm against my thigh, and hold out my hand, my breath catching in my throat. “Should we shake on it?” I ask, the slightest teasing note in my voice, and Gabriel smiles, extending his hand toward mine.

There’s the familiar surge of fear when I feel his skin brush mine, the urge to recoil, and I fight the shudder that threatens to ripple through me. But I force my hand to close around his, shaking it just once, before I pull it back.

“We have a deal,” Gabriel says with a smile, and I return it, feeling a sensation that’s almost foreign, it’s been so long since I’ve really experienced it.

For the first time since before I was engaged to Pyotr, I feel happy.

6

GABRIEL

I’m indescribably relieved by this turn of events. I hadn’t realized just how much I was hoping that the dinner would go well, that Bella would say yes, until she did.

The miscommunication at the beginning, I find amusing. I hadn’t thought, when I told Masseo that I wanted to discuss all of this with Bella myself, that he would keep all of it from her, and send her out to dinner with me without any information at all. Not even my name, which I hadn’t had a chance to give her in the chaos of our first meeting. It made sense, given that, that she thought this was a date. A setup for me to tell her that I wanted to arrange a marriage between us.

After all, it’s clear that her father has repeatedly drilled it into her that that’s the only purpose she’ll have.

I could see the relief in her face, too, when I explained what I’d really invited her here for. And sympathy, when I explained my situation. I watched her throughout the dinner, listened to her, trying to get to know her better. To make sure this is someone I want to bring into my home. Who I can trust with the job that I’m asking her to do.

She seemed nervous and a bit fidgety, but I’d expected that. Mafia daughters aren’t usually allowed to go out on dates alone, and I can’t imagine she’s done this before. Considering her aversion to marriage and her expectation that that’s what this was about—I can’t blame her for being nervous. I saw her relax a little, once I explained what it was that I really wanted to offer her.

What I’m the most startled by is how easy it is to talk to her, how naturally the conversation flowed—and is still flowing. After the matter of the job is settled, I’m curious to know more about her, and I don’t see any reason not to ask.

“You said you come into the city sometimes to visit your friend.”

“Clara.” Bella pokes at the thinly sliced fish on her plate with her chopsticks, finally picking up a piece of salmon and slipping it into her mouth. I’ve noticed that she hasn’t eaten much, but I’ve chalked it up to nerves. Or maybe she really is a picky eater, and she just didn’t want to disappoint me by saying she didn’t like my choices for our dinner. “I try to come see her every couple of weeks. And she’ll come to my house, too, when she isn’t working or too tired from work.”

“Where do you usually like to go in the city?” I pick up a piece of tuna, dipping it into the accompanying sauce before taking a bite. The meal is exquisite, one of the best I’ve had out in a long time, but I’m hardly paying attention to it. I’m more focused on the woman in front of me.

“All different places.” Bella waves a hand. “The park, museums—last time I was here, we went to the botanical gardens. It was really beautiful.”

“I can’t say I’ve been there. I’ll have to check it out sometime.”

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