Page 35 of The Maid Married To The Billionaire

‘Nonna doesn’t miss a trick,’ Enzo quipped. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘No, no need to apologise. Your family don’t know me and all of a sudden, you’re marrying me. Your grandmother was warm, friendly and delightful. I have no complaints.’

‘They wanted to fly over and meet you and the children before the wedding even though they’re aware that the wedding is more a paper event than a real one,’ he confided. ‘I told them that we’d be too busy getting all our ducks in a row in time for the wedding and requesting permission for the children to accompany us. You’ll have to go shopping and you’ll need swimwear et cetera for the Maldives, as well as all the bridal stuff.’

‘I don’t even know where to start.’

‘Chiara will make arrangements for the bridal end of things. She’s a seasoned operator.’

‘And a friend, you said?’

‘I’ve known her since I was a teenager.’

They had eaten and Skye had got the children to bed when the doorbell sounded.

‘It’s Chiara... Paola texted me that she had arrived. She’s staying at the Blackthorn Hotel. She asked if she could stay here but we need our privacy. Of course, she’ll be curious about you.’

‘I suppose,’ Skye conceded nervously on her path to the front door, turning her head, her voice dropping as she glanced back at Enzo with a troubled expression. ‘Before we go any further, youaresure about marrying me, aren’t you?’

‘Nobody ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do...aside from my grandfather. Stop worrying,’ he urged.

The sleek sports car parked outside and the woman on the doorstep were not at all what Skye had expected. Chiara was almost six feet tall and towered over her. She was built like a leggy supermodel with long blonde hair halfway to her waist and a perfect face. She was also clad head to toe in skin-tight midnight-blue leather leggings and a fitted jacket. Breezing past Skye without even looking at her, she headed straight for Enzo and a flood of Italian broke from her in a wave.

‘Use your English, Chiara. Come and meet Skye.’ Enzo closed his hand to Skye’s to bring her forward and introduce her. ‘Skye is your client and the bride-to-be.’

Chiara surveyed Skye in literal wonderment, much as though a worn hall rug had stood up and tried to trip her. ‘Skye...how lovely to meet you. I hope you’re free for the next forty-eight hours at least. I need to know your taste ineverythingbefore we can get organised.’

Enzo smiled at both women. ‘I’ll be working.’

Skye showed the blonde into the sitting room and offered her refreshments.

‘I’d prefer a drink to coffee,’ Chiara told her.

‘I’ll open one of Enzo’s bottles of wine.’

When Skye returned with a glass of wine for both of them, the blonde opened a sleek tablet and proceeded to ask for preferences in colours and styles. ‘It’s a shame Enzo’s grandparents are so determined to get heavily involved. It’ll have to be a modest traditional dress to please them, which cuts your options down.’

‘I suspect that I’ll choose something fairly traditional anyway.’

Chiara was very efficient but she shot in loads of personal questions, which Skye carefully sidestepped, assuming that the information that their marriage would be a paper sham had been disclosed only to Enzo’s grandparents.

‘It sounds like it was love at first sight,’ Chiara remarked after Skye had admitted meeting Enzo by the side of the road, although Skye had not mentioned that she had been fleeing an assault by her former boyfriend. ‘That doesn’t fit Enzo’s profile. He prefers a challenge, and you being here and available on site—’

‘Is just what I enjoy most,’ Enzo chipped in from the doorway.

Chiara raised a brow. ‘If you say so, but, let me tell you, none of your friends are likely to believe this caper is for real.’

‘I think, if that is your attitude,’ Skye interposed tautly, ‘you should leave me to organise our wedding.’

‘Perfectly said,piccolo mio.’ Enzo studied the blonde, who had flushed. ‘I know you can be nice if you want to be nice, Chiara. What’s it to be?’

‘I will mind my own business and say nothing more,’ Chiara responded tightly. ‘Iwantto do this wedding. It will be the society event of the year and I want it on my résumé to impress my other clients.’

Amused by that candour, Skye stood up to fetch another glass and poured wine for Enzo.

‘You look after him.Dio mio, no wonder he’s in seventh heaven!’ Chiara exclaimed. ‘Enzo, if that secret had got out sooner, you’d have had a queue of happy housewives at your door years ago.’

Ironically, Skye had some sympathy for that tart aside. Enzodidenjoy being looked after and she didn’t mind doing it because he was always appreciative and he didn’t take advantage. Clearly, Chiara had never wished to take care of any man but then every relationship was different and what was right for her might not be right for someone else.

---