Page 11 of Unveiled As The Italian's Bride
‘Is he actually going to believe that we’re a couple?’
‘People are always keen to believe what they want to believe. At any rate, looked at logically, it would make a lot more sense than were I to produce a brand-new fiancée from nowhere, like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat. But the truth is, my uncle knows you and likes you, and I doubt he’s going to question our arrangement when he’s made such a fuss of marrying me off.’
He flushed and then confessed, with just a trace of discomfort, ‘I’m not sure he would be thrilled and impressed were I to show up with one of the women I usually date dangling on my arm with a diamond on her finger, anyway... He’s met two of my past girlfriends and has been noisy in his disapproval.’
Kate’s lips twitched. ‘Noisy in his disapproval?’
‘You’d be surprised,’ Dante said drily, ‘how much can be conveyed through a series of snorts, eye rolling, sighing heavily and head shaking.’
Kate threw her head back and laughed, a proper belly laugh that surprised her, because since when had Dante D’Agostino been the sort who encouraged hoots of laughter?
‘What sort of women have you dated in the past?’ The directness of the question surprised her as much as her laughter just had, and she saw him hesitate. But, more daringly, she added, ‘If we’re supposed to be a couple, then surely we’ll need to know a few things about one another?’ She blushed and ducked her gaze, dipping her finger into some of the crumbs on her plate and licking them off without looking at him. ‘I only ask because I can’t remember you ever...’
‘I never have. I’ve always refused to allow Angelina to be witness to my love life. I...may not see my daughter as much as I know I should, but every decision taken has her at the very centre of it.’
Kate nodded approvingly and he continued in the voice of someone making a decision, but a decision that might not have come easily,
‘Unchallenging,’ he said. ‘My girlfriends—fun, unchallenging...beautiful.’
Kate smiled and nodded, and wished she hadn’t asked the question, because of course those were the sort of women this man would be attracted to. His wife had been shockingly beautiful and it was unlikely he would have strayed far from that benchmark.
‘I’m guessing my uncle will have the champagne on tap when I break the news to him that you’re going to be my wife,’ Dante murmured with wry amusement.
‘I expect he will.’ Her smile felt stiff and painful. If his uncle had snorted with horror at a parade of sexy, unchallenging beauties, then of course he would approve of the dowdy nanny who looked after his beloved great-niece.
‘But, before we say a word, I think it might be appropriate that he perhaps sees you in a slightly different light. He might have his own doubts about the speed with which I’ve suddenly become attached to you, but he can be persuaded into believing that I’ve simply woken up to the potential of someone who isn’t quite what he thinks. He may very well like to imagine that what might have been an already existing loose relationship between us has crystallised into something more, thanks to his prompting.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘My uncle lives some distance away from my place in Milan,’ Dante mused thoughtfully. ‘It’s fair to say that that lends itself to a romance happening behind the scenes, one of which he would be ignorant. That said...’
He looked at her carefully, handsome head tilted to one side, his stare unwavering until she had to control the urge to squirm.
‘That said...?’ she prompted, to move the conversation along.
He flushed and for the first time looked truly uncomfortable.
‘Look, I wouldn’t want you to take this the wrong way...’
‘Take what the wrong way?’ Kate asked, instantly suspicious.
‘Eh, in keeping with your new role, it might be prudent... How do I put this...?’
‘What? If you have something to say, then might I suggest that you just say it?’
She narrowed her eyes, pursed her lips and was undeterred when he said, ‘Is this the stern-teacher face you pull out of the box when my back is turned?’
She folded her arms and waited and, grudgingly, he murmured, ‘The small matter of your wardrobe.’
‘What about my wardrobe?’
The lingering silence spoke volumes. He was allowing her to join the dots, and join the dots she did.
Her choice of clothing just wasn’t going to cut it. Kate gritted her teeth together and did her best not to take it as a personal insult. She told herself that it was no more insulting than applying for any job that required a specific uniform. She had accepted an unusual job and she would be required to have a specific uniform.
‘I see...’
‘You find my remark offensive.’
