The Italian's Secretary Bride by Kim Lawrence

intact.
    Luca was beginning to think that he had not escaped that evening totally unscathed himself.
    â€˜The knife thing was instinct or accident or most likely a bit of both. I would have done that for anyone…even you !’ Alice said. ‘Though I’m willing to bet there are a lot of people who would have paid me not to.’
    As an image of Luca injured consolidated in her head, so did the bleak empty feeling. A world that didn’t have Luca—infuriating, maddening and arrogant Luca—was shockingly unimaginable. But she had lost her husband and loss didn’t get worse than that. So why did the idea of losing a man she didn’t even like fill her with a dread that lodged like a solid object behind her breastbone?
    The feeble voice from that night was now robust and angry, the scared blue eyes now spitting fury. If Luca had been able to think humour when he recalled that night the contrast could have been comical, but it wasn’t and he couldn’t.
    She got to her feet. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to faint this time, but I am going to leave and you’re going to pay for a taxi to take me back to the hotel. I think that I deserve a free ride after putting up with your obnoxious company.’
    To her surprise Luca didn’t put up an argument. He made his farewells to Paolo, who became even more animated when Luca asked for the bill.
    â€˜You offend me!’ Paolo declared.
    â€˜If it hadn’t been for Luca here sorting out my accounts there would be no Paolo’s.’ He took Alice’s hand and kissed it. ‘And you will bring your lovely lady to see us again very soon.’
    Luca’s heavy-lidded eyes drifted towards her tense face. ‘Very soon,’ he promised in a voice that made her stomach flip.
    Outside he put her in a cab, unfolded some notes from a wad in his wallet and gave the driver instructions. Without a word he walked away.
    Â 
    Alice was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that it was some time before it occurred to her the journey back to the hotel seemed to be taking an awfully long time.
    â€˜Is this the quickest route?’ she asked the driver. ‘It only took a few minutes to get here on foot.’ All she wanted to do was get back to her room, lock the door, and indulge in a bout of unrestrained weeping.
    â€˜This is the best way to avoid the roadworks, lady,’ he replied and Alice didn’t have much choice but to take his word for it. She comforted herself with the reflection that if he was ripping anyone off it was Luca. And to her way of thinking anything that caused Luca O’Hagan a moment’s annoyance could only be a good thing.
    She closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat. Damn Luca O’Hagan!
    The relief she felt when they finally drew up outside the hotel was short-lived. It actually lasted until she stepped out of the glass-fronted lift and saw the tall figure of a man standing down the farthest end of the hallway. The man had sleek dark looks and the sort of inbuilt air of assurance that made him stand out from the crowd. Only there was no crowd, just the two of them.
    Alice’s heart climbed into her throat. Her firm light step faltered, but she carried on walking. What choice did she have? This couldn’t be happening. But it was; there was no mistaking the arrogant angle of Luca’s dark head.
    As she approached Luca levered himself off the wall. His relaxed manner was a striking contrast to her dry-mouthed discomfort.
    â€˜You’re not here?’ she protested in more hope than anticipation of him vanishing in a puff of smoke. ‘It’s not possible. I left before you.’
    â€˜The impossible is not so very difficult to achieve if you bribe the driver to take the scenic route.’
    His casual confession made her stiffen with anger. ‘Why?’
    â€˜Because you’d have kicked up a fuss if I’d tried to get in the cab with