Page 29 of The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire

‘You’re avoiding the issue, Charlotte.’ He took his time, savouring the taste of her name, hearing his voice drop to a hungry drawl. He was rewarded with a rosy blush to her cheeks as her gaze fell to his mouth. His groin tightened.

The man he’d once been would have scorned such a cheap triumph as making her blush with awareness, but the man he’d become revelled in knowing she responded to him. That this sexual awareness wasn’t one-sided.

‘The question isn’t permission to go into the ballroom. It’s what you’re doing there.’ He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. ‘You’re up to something.’

She bit her lip, and he stifled a groan at the way that drew attention to her lush pink mouth.

‘There seemed no harm in a proper spring clean. We’re being extraordinarily careful. Every piece of glass is numbered and—’

‘That’s not in question.’ He kept his voice even. ‘What. Are. You. Up. To?’

Charlotte sighed and walked to a nearby table, carefully depositing the antique crystals. The sunlight caught them, casting a rainbow reflection across her face. But when she turned, there was no hint of radiance on her features, just wariness.

‘I found a list Anna had left in a drawer in the kitchen. A list of...plans.’

‘Go on.’

‘The main item was preparation for the island’s spring festival.’

A weight plunged through Alessio’s gut. ‘There’s been no festival for years.’ Not since he and Antonia moved here from Rome.

‘So I gather.’ At his stare, she spread her hands wide. ‘I asked Mario about it. He said it was enormous fun, the highlight of the whole year, not just for the islanders but for those beyond the lake.’

‘Wasbeing the operative word.’ This was no time for inane festivities.

‘So Anna hadn’t talked with you about it?’

‘Not this year.’ Alessio gritted his teeth. She’d raised the possibility last year, but he’d squashed it. He hadn’t been able to bear the idea of noise and gaiety, his island invaded by partygoers. Not when he needed peace and solitude.

‘I see.’ Again that almost martial look from under her finely arched brows. ‘You refused last year, and she didn’t have time to raise it again before she went to Rome.’

Or she’d been biding her time, waiting for the best opportunity to raise it, hoping to catch him in a weak moment.

‘You guessed she hadn’t,’ he said slowly, watching her expression shutter. ‘That’s why you didn’t mention it. What was the plan? To get so far along with the preparations, you hoped I wouldn’t have the heart to put a stop to it?’

Her flush deepened, but instead of apologising, she folded her arms, mirroring his stance and inadvertently giving him a tantalising glimpse of cleavage where a button had come undone as she’d unburdened herself of the crystal.

‘Why would you stop it, Alessio? Is it such a bad thing?’ Despite her challenging stance, far from being confrontational, Charlotte’s tone turned soft. As if she pondered and was concerned about his motivations. As if she guessed at some of the black burden of remorse weighing on his soul.

He pulled in his wandering thoughts. No one understood.

‘This isn’t up for debate. It’s my decision, and my answer is no.’

For a full minute, silence expanded between them. In the distance, he heard a motorboat crossing the lake, and nearer, a bird calling to its mate.

‘You know how much this celebration means to people here?’

Alessio stood taller. How dared she assume to lecture him onhispeople?

But she’d known about the need for a new commercial opportunity for local artisans. She’d known about Mario’s great-nephew. Things Alessio should have known. Anger rose at himself more than anyone else.

‘The festival was always at the prerogative of the Conte since he pays for it.’

Her eyes widened. ‘You’re worried about the cost?’

‘Of course not!’ He couldn’t believe she’d thought that or had the temerity to ask. Money had never been a problem for his family, and under his stewardship, the family business had gone from strength to strength.

She shook her head, her eyes never leaving his. ‘So it’s just that you, personally, don’t want to be bothered? I can do a lot of the work, and I know from speaking to some of the locals that we could set up a committee—’

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