Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire

Chapter Six



Until that point, Luc hadn’t been sure, but now he knew she was lying; she had that same innocent look in her big blue eyes that Jimmy Brent used to get. Right before he stabbed you in the back. No, she was definitely lying; he just wasn’t sure why.

If he had any sense, he would hand this whole mess over to his security team and get them to investigate Lia Brent and discover whether he was being set up. Obviously, he had no sense. He’d spent the last three weeks abroad; it was all that had kept him away this long. Nothing was going to keep him away longer. Instead, he’d come here determined to find out what she was up to, what she’d been searching for that night.

At first, he hadn’t recognized her. When he’d pulled up in the well-kept yard, he’d seen a tall blond man talking to a girl outside one of the stables. Only when she had turned slightly had he realized the girl was Lia. As he’d watched, she’d leaned over and kissed the man. It was a light kiss, but Luc had felt an almost primal fury well up inside him. And at that point, he’d admitted to himself he wanted her in his bed again.

But this was a different Lia from the one he’d met at the club and the one he’d had in his bed. No makeup, dressed in faded jeans, the soft, blue denim molded to her long legs and the slight curves of her bottom, and an equally faded T-shirt clinging to her small breasts. The sleek fall of hair had been replaced by a mass of blond curls pulled ruthlessly back into a ponytail. He found her natural beauty a refreshing change from the sophisticated, made-up women he usually dated.

So which one was the real Olivia Brent? Was she setting him up so Jimmy Brent could finish the job he’d started all those years ago? She honestly didn’t look treacherous—she looked gorgeous and real, and down to earth.

She’d put down her coffee cup and sat curled up in the chair, hugging her knees to her chest, nibbling on that succulent lower lip, obviously deep in thought. Then she glanced up at him.

“So, now I’ve told you what you wanted to know, will you give me those pictures?”

“No.”

A scowl flashed across her face, and she jumped up and paced the room in frustration. She came to a halt in front of him hands on her hips, and Luc almost smiled.

“How do I even know they exist?” she asked, staring at him through narrowed eyes. “You could be making this up.”

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a photo. “I like to keep this one with me. It raises all sorts of…” He stared into her eyes, his lips curling into a slight smile. “Fond memories.”

…



Lia slowly took the picture from his outstretched hand. She had to force herself to look down and then wished with all her heart she hadn’t pushed it, had taken his word. At first glance, she didn’t recognize herself, but it was definitely her. Naked from the waist up, with a man’s dark head against her breast, and her hands burrowed in his hair, holding him to her. But even worse was the expression on her face. She would never forget that look. If this picture became public, she could kiss her sponsorship deal good-bye.

She closed her eyes. When she opened them, he was staring at her, that slight smile still on his lips. Reaching out, he took the photo from her limp fingers and studied it.

“Tell me, Lia,” he said, “did that feel as good as it looks?”

In all her life, she had never wanted to physically attack someone—until now. “What is it you want from me?”

“I want to help you find your father.”

Lia snorted in disbelief. “How freaking noble of you. But why do I find it hard to believe that you’re doing all this for me?” She stared at him through narrowed eyes. “I don’t trust you. What are you really? Some kind of mob guy? Exactly how did you know my father?”

Luc regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. “My father worked for yours, and I did a few jobs for Jimmy before I…” he paused as if about to say something then changed his mind. “Before I started my own business.”

“And what is your business?”

“Oh, I buy and sell things. Lia, you’ll be coming to stay with me in London for a while. Organize it.”

“What? Stay with you? I don’t think so. I have a life here, a job, things I need to do. ”

He ignored her. “I have an apartment. It’s big enough for both of us. We hardly even need to see each other. And Lia,” he added almost gently, “it doesn’t really matter what you want. Besides, it will be safer.”

Her brows drew together. “Safer? Why do I need to be safe?”

“You said yourself, you didn’t know your father well, but why do you think he’s stayed away all this time?”

Actually, she didn’t know; she’d never really considered his reasons, just presumed that maybe he’d gotten bored with his family, taken the money, and run. Was Luc suggesting that somebody was after her father, might use her to get to him? That her father was some sort of mob guy? Like Luc. What the hell was going on?

When she didn’t answer, Luc lounged back against the wall, arms folded across his broad chest. “Besides, I have a few ideas for flushing out your father, and they include us appearing close.”

“What ideas? And how close are you talking?” she asked. It was clear from his behavior that he really disliked her, and had no more interest in her that way. Why should that make her feel strangely deflated?

A tentative knock sounded at the door, and Lia glanced up. It was one of the stable girls.

“Lia?” She peered into the room, her eyes flickering nervously from Lia to Luc. “Your ten o’clock lesson is here.”

Lia nodded, and the girl hurried away.

“You teach horseback riding?” Luc asked her.

“Yes. Look, I’ve got to go. I need to get changed. I’ll call you, okay?”

Not waiting for an answer, she hurried into the bathroom. She took her time changing into the cream jodhpurs and white shirt she wore for teaching, pulling on black knee-high boots. Hopefully, he’d be long gone. But when she reopened the door, he was standing in the same spot.

“You’re still here?”

He didn’t answer her rhetorical question, just stared at her, as his hot, hungry gaze drifted down over her body. “Madre del dio.”

“What?” she snapped.

“I like your outfit.”

He was watching her, an intent expression on his face, almost predatory, and Lia had a sudden urge to run. Her instincts were screaming danger, but her body refused to move as he strolled over to where she stood, halting a mere foot away. His eyes were no longer cold, they were smoldering, and it occurred to her that she had been wrong; he might not be pleased about it, but he was definitely still interested.

“Lia,” he murmured, before reaching out to drag her toward him until the heat of his long body burned into hers. His mouth came down and she melted against him, opening her mouth to the slide of his tongue, letting him fill her with the hot, wet heat of him. One hard hand slid down the length of her back, cupping her bottom, pulling her against the rigid length of his rapidly hardening erection. Heat flooded her, turning her insides molten and her nipples to hard, painful nubs. She wanted nothing more than to forget everything, let him take her clothes off, lie naked with him.

Her mind jerked to an abrupt halt. Naked? With him? No way! Wasn’t this the man who minutes earlier had threatened to blackmail her? How could she let him kiss her? Touch her?

Dragging herself out of his arms, she took a step back. “I don’t want this.”

“But I do.”

“And what will you do if I say no?” Lia didn’t try to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “Threaten to publish those pictures again?”

He studied her, his lips pursed; he picked up his glasses and slid them on, once again hiding his expression. “You’ve got two days. I’ll be in touch.”