Mediterranean Boss, Convenient Mistress

Sarah watched as she sat back down in her chair opposite. ‘So…’ she murmured idly as she crossed her long legs and smoothed down the silky material of her skirt, ‘tell me, Charlie…how long have you been in love with Marco?’

The outrageously personal question was asked with such nonchalance that for a moment Charlie wondered if she had misheard. ‘What on earth are you talking about?’ She stared at the woman in astonishment.

‘I think you know,’ Sarah continued smoothly.

‘All I know is that you are asking me an absurd question!’

‘Am I?’ Sarah shrugged. ‘From where I’m watching it seems blindingly obvious that you have a thing for him.’

Charlie was so outraged that she could barely find her voice. ‘I’m not even going to deign to answer that!’ she finally muttered.

‘You know you aren’t his type, don’t you?’ Sarah smiled but her eyes were cold. ‘And I’m not just talking about the fact that Marco only seems to date women who look like super-models, I’m talking about the fact that Marco would never fall for a romantic. He’s far too practical for that. So I’m afraid that unless you take those rose-coloured glasses off when you look at him…I think you have a problem.’

The sardonic tone grated on Charlie. ‘I think the only problem around here is you,’ she said succinctly. ‘And I’ll thank you to keep your weird opinions to yourself.’

Sarah just laughed.

At that moment the music stopped and the radio interview started. Charlie tried to switch off from the preposterous accusations and concentrate on the conversation in the studio but Sarah’s words kept echoing around in her mind with disturbing emphasis.

How long have you been in love with Marco?

CHAPTER THREE

‘ARE you OK?’ Marco’s quiet tone cut across the silence in the car.

‘Absolutely fine.’ Charlie changed gear with a grating sound that exactly mirrored the way she was feeling inside.

‘You haven’t spoken much since leaving the radio studio.’

Because she couldn’t believe the audacity of Sarah Heart—imagine asking a question like that! If anyone was in love with Marco Delmari it was Sarah herself. The woman had been almost sycophantic towards Marco as they were leaving the station. She’d invited him over to her apartment for dinner on Sunday, ostensibly to discuss his American tour, but by the tone of her voice she’d had more in mind than business discussions…and Marco had accepted the invitation quite happily. But maybe the thing that had annoyed her most of all was the way Sarah had looked at her as Marco accepted Sarah’s invitation. There had been triumph and disdain in the other woman’s eyes, as if to say you will never hook a man like Marco Delmari.

‘Well, you know me, I’m always quiet,’ Charlie murmured as she realised Marco was waiting for a reply. ‘The interview went well,’ she said, trying to change the direction of her thoughts. She wasn’t in love with Marco and it didn’t matter what Sarah Heart thought.

‘Yes,’ Marco frowned. ‘Except for the questions about my love life; I didn’t think they were relevant.’

‘No, they weren’t, but I suppose he had to ask. People will be interested in your private life.’

‘You are starting to sound like Sarah,’ Marco said drily.

‘Sorry!’ The last thing she wanted was to sound like Sarah Heart!

‘That’s OK. Maybe on reflection she has a point.’

Charlie glanced over at him in horror. ‘No she hasn’t!’

Marco smiled. ‘From an academic’s point of view she hasn’t. However, I’m not aiming my book solely at academics. It’s for the mass market and I have to give Sarah her due, she is a good businesswoman. She knows how to work the media…knows what sells.’

Charlie wanted to correct him and tell him that Sarah Heart just had her eye on the main chance…that she fancied a sexy doctor as husband number five. But she pulled herself back. ‘You’re not considering her idea of entering into a relationship as…as some kind of a publicity stunt, are you?’ she asked instead, her tone laced with incredulity.

‘Well, I’m still not completely convinced. But I suppose having a partner around at the moment wouldn’t go amiss.’ He shrugged. ‘But it would have to be somebody who is on a similar wavelength to me—’

‘You mean someone who wouldn’t get carried away by it all and imagine herself in love with you?’ Charlie guessed wryly.

‘No, I mean someone who believes in my ideas,’ Marco corrected her pointedly. ‘However, as my book tour starts in just a few weeks, I’d have to be quick to find a suitable candidate in that time.’

‘Oh, I’m sure you would be able to dig up someone acceptable very quickly,’ Charlie murmured. Sarah Heart for one, she thought sardonically.

The edge in her voice wasn’t lost on Marco. ‘The idea of a relationship without love really offends your sense of romance, doesn’t it?’

‘No. I just have doubts that it would work out in the long term.’

‘What kind of doubts?’

‘Well, you know…that it would actually last.’

‘Of course it will,’ Marco said softly. ‘I’ve backed up the hypothesis with exhaustive research studies. If two people are serious about wanting to get married…or about making a long-term commitment…and they follow the steps I’ve outlined in the book, then the relationship should be successful regardless of whether they are in love or not, the main proviso being both parties are willing to work at the agreement.’

‘It doesn’t sound very romantic. I always thought that all Italians were incredibly impulsive and passionate,’ Charlie murmured thoughtfully. ‘But you don’t really fit the criteria…do you?’

‘What makes you think that?’ Marco gave her a half-smile that made her tingle with sudden awareness of him. ‘Being impulsive and passionate with someone is one thing…making a lifelong commitment to them is quite another.’

‘Well…yes…obviously…’ Charlie was mortified now; she wished she hadn’t said that. ‘I was just talking about the romantic side of a partnership.’

‘But that is my whole point. For a relationship to be successful you’re supposed to work at that side of things as well.’

‘But if you are both in love to begin with, surely romance follows naturally like night follows day.’

‘Nice theory.’ Marco smiled at that. ‘But unfortunately not true. Very often love is just an illusory feeling…a misleading mirage…and even if it is not you can’t rely totally on just that feeling to sustain a relationship over the long term. You need to look deeper than that.’

Charlie looked over at him wryly. ‘Maybe you just don’t believe in love.’ She couldn’t resist the comment.

‘When making a long-term commitment I think it is an emotion that should be approached with caution.’ Marco’s voice was dry. ‘All too often people confuse making love with being in love…two different things entirely. It’s fine to have wild nights of passion and not think too deeply about things. But before you make any promises you should think with your head, not your heart.’

‘Sometimes you sound more cynical than sensible.’

‘I’m just a realist, Charlie.’ He shrugged. ‘I believe if you are looking for a successful long-term relationship it’s best to be practical, not starry-eyed. And, as bizarre as it sounds, my findings are that if you can disregard love from the equation you can see a relationship more clearly. But maybe the theory wouldn’t be successful for someone like you.’

‘What do you mean, someone like me?’ Charlie pulled the car to a halt in front of his house and turned to look at him.

‘Well…’ he shrugged in that particular way of his ‘…you’re obviously an incurable romantic.’

‘I wish you would stop saying that.’ Charlie glared at him.

‘Sorry, Ms Hopkirk.’ His tone was teasing. ‘But that is my considered opinion and the prognosis isn’t good, I’m afraid. There’s no hope for you.’

Unfortunately Charlie failed to see the humour behind his words. ‘Well, that is where you are wrong…actually.’ She emphasised the word with derision. ‘I was cured from my…as you would term…delusional state a long time ago. I got divorced and became a single parent. That has a way of grounding the senses, believe me.’

‘Hey, I was just making a light-hearted remark!’ Marco held up his hands and looked at her with that glint in his eye that she was starting to recognise so well.