her reluctance and it reminded him of the times she used to put herself down in the intellectual stakes during conversations between themselves and Finn. Not that Finn helped one iota. Without realizing, he’d used to make Eva feel as if her opinion didn’t matter. It aggravated Dante. He knew too well the frustration of not being good enough, worthy enough to be heard.
‘Go ahead, cara mia . We wish to hear.’
‘Well...in my opinion, you need new blood. A better mix of class and sass. In the ladies department especially. The problem is your rents are too high and so you’re not allowing the up-and-coming designers a chance to exhibit their raw talent. London is the place they want and they can’t afford it.’
Dante blinked.
Yakatani’s smile reached his deeply lined eyes and he said, ‘What would you suggest, Eva?’
Warming to her subject, her hands joined in the party. ‘Free rent for six months to get them established. Then off they go into the big wide world. Or they have the money to start paying you rent. Now, before you get all hot and bothered—’
Hot and bothered? Cristo ,he was burning up.
‘—about the words free rent , think about what you would gain. Respect in the industry. The opportunity to showcase new stars, thereby bringing in new custom, and satisfaction that you helped a fledgling company. Everyone’s happy,’ she said with another little shrug as her eyes flickered back to the baby.
Eyes that melted at the sight. Almost...longing.
With the back of her finger, she reached up and smoothed down the baby’s soft cheek. Once. Twice. Dusted over his dark mop of hair with a loving touch.
Then, as if she sensed he watched her, she turned towards him and curved her beautiful lush lips. Untutored. Pure. Affectionate ?
No. Impossible. Women didn’t look at him with affection. They looked at him with lust. Lust for sex, money, inordinate power.
So Dante didn’t want to think about what that smile did to him. All he knew was Eva belonged on the stage.
All too soon, her lips fell, together with her eyes. ‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘I must use the powder room.’
It was Yakatani’s voice that tore his gaze from her lush hair and curvaceous behind.
‘She is more than ready, Vitale. You will not have to wait long.’
Dante frowned. ‘For what?’
The man laughed as if they shared some private joke—one which Dante wished he was in on—and said, ‘That has certainly made up my mind. It is time we brought this discussion around to its lucrative assets. I fly to Tokyo on Friday and will not be returning for two weeks, so time is the issue. I prefer a quick sale, if you can manage it.’
Dante eased back into his chair, back in control of his world. ‘I also fly east on Friday morning to Phang Ton.’
‘They say it is truly a sight to behold. The most luxurious private domain in the world.’
Dante’s killer instinct snarled and sniffed the scent of victory. ‘I say you should see for yourself. Come. Be our guest for the weekend. Eva would love to meet your wife. One hour of business, the rest pleasure. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with my slice of paradise.’
‘We would be delighted.’
Dante smiled on a swell of gratification.
Come Monday morning, Hamptons would be his.
* * *
Eva stared at the first fall of snow dusting every step, every paving stone, like crystal sparkling, blazing like diamonds beneath the glare of streetlamps, as snapshots flickered in her mind. The beautiful baby boy. Dante staring at her with a dark, fierce intensity. One of his stunning ex-lovers kissing him on the cheek as they’d left. All reminding her of the naive, foolish girl who’d once made castles in the sky. Making her feel as fragile as the snowflakes kissing the heated windscreen. Don’t do this, Eva. Just walk away.
‘...so I agreed to fly out at ten a.m.,’ Dante declared. ‘I’ll pick you up at eight. A warmer climate will suit.’
Warmer climate ? Eva whipped
‘Go ahead, cara mia . We wish to hear.’
‘Well...in my opinion, you need new blood. A better mix of class and sass. In the ladies department especially. The problem is your rents are too high and so you’re not allowing the up-and-coming designers a chance to exhibit their raw talent. London is the place they want and they can’t afford it.’
Dante blinked.
Yakatani’s smile reached his deeply lined eyes and he said, ‘What would you suggest, Eva?’
Warming to her subject, her hands joined in the party. ‘Free rent for six months to get them established. Then off they go into the big wide world. Or they have the money to start paying you rent. Now, before you get all hot and bothered—’
Hot and bothered? Cristo ,he was burning up.
‘—about the words free rent , think about what you would gain. Respect in the industry. The opportunity to showcase new stars, thereby bringing in new custom, and satisfaction that you helped a fledgling company. Everyone’s happy,’ she said with another little shrug as her eyes flickered back to the baby.
Eyes that melted at the sight. Almost...longing.
With the back of her finger, she reached up and smoothed down the baby’s soft cheek. Once. Twice. Dusted over his dark mop of hair with a loving touch.
Then, as if she sensed he watched her, she turned towards him and curved her beautiful lush lips. Untutored. Pure. Affectionate ?
No. Impossible. Women didn’t look at him with affection. They looked at him with lust. Lust for sex, money, inordinate power.
So Dante didn’t want to think about what that smile did to him. All he knew was Eva belonged on the stage.
All too soon, her lips fell, together with her eyes. ‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘I must use the powder room.’
It was Yakatani’s voice that tore his gaze from her lush hair and curvaceous behind.
‘She is more than ready, Vitale. You will not have to wait long.’
Dante frowned. ‘For what?’
The man laughed as if they shared some private joke—one which Dante wished he was in on—and said, ‘That has certainly made up my mind. It is time we brought this discussion around to its lucrative assets. I fly to Tokyo on Friday and will not be returning for two weeks, so time is the issue. I prefer a quick sale, if you can manage it.’
Dante eased back into his chair, back in control of his world. ‘I also fly east on Friday morning to Phang Ton.’
‘They say it is truly a sight to behold. The most luxurious private domain in the world.’
Dante’s killer instinct snarled and sniffed the scent of victory. ‘I say you should see for yourself. Come. Be our guest for the weekend. Eva would love to meet your wife. One hour of business, the rest pleasure. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with my slice of paradise.’
‘We would be delighted.’
Dante smiled on a swell of gratification.
Come Monday morning, Hamptons would be his.
* * *
Eva stared at the first fall of snow dusting every step, every paving stone, like crystal sparkling, blazing like diamonds beneath the glare of streetlamps, as snapshots flickered in her mind. The beautiful baby boy. Dante staring at her with a dark, fierce intensity. One of his stunning ex-lovers kissing him on the cheek as they’d left. All reminding her of the naive, foolish girl who’d once made castles in the sky. Making her feel as fragile as the snowflakes kissing the heated windscreen. Don’t do this, Eva. Just walk away.
‘...so I agreed to fly out at ten a.m.,’ Dante declared. ‘I’ll pick you up at eight. A warmer climate will suit.’
Warmer climate ? Eva whipped
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