Mediterranean Boss, Convenient Mistress

‘No you weren’t, you were being condescending. Well, yes, I do like roses, soft, honeyed words and moonlight…but I’m not so stupid that I would fall in love and get married just because they are applied to a situation. And let me tell you, I’m looking for something much more realistic next time around, believe me.’

‘Are you?’

The sudden interest in his tone pulled her up and made her realise that she had just lost her temper, but why she had got so steamed up she didn’t know. Maybe because she was still smarting from Sarah’s earlier remarks, or maybe it was because she didn’t like the idea that Marco seemed to think that she was some kind of dreamer who had completely unrealistic expectations of life and wasn’t to be taken seriously. Just because she believed in true love and romance didn’t mean she was bewildered. Well, perhaps this was her chance to prove—even if she did have to lie a little bit! ‘Of course I want something realistic. I’ve made one mistake in my life by choosing the wrong partner and I don’t want to make another,’ she answered him hesitantly. ‘Sorry to disappoint you but my days of being starry-eyed are long gone. Deep down I am also a realist.’

‘So are you saying that if the terms were right you wouldn’t be averse to the idea of a serious relationship based on common sense rather than love?’ Marco continued wryly.

‘Terms?’ Charlie frowned.

‘Marriage, or cohabitation, should be treated like a business partnership; you need to know exactly what you want out of it before you enter into it.’ Marco noticed the high colour on her cheekbones and smiled. ‘You see…you do find the idea too clinical…distasteful even. I rest my case.’

‘No! If the terms were right I might consider such an idea.’ She raised her head defiantly. She wasn’t going to back down.

Marco gave her a sardonic smile. ‘Well I don’t believe you…I think your heart would be far too soft and emotional to ever be happy with that kind of an arrangement.’

‘And what are you basing that opinion on?’ Charlie asked dismissively. ‘The fact that I listen to romantic music?’

‘No…I’m basing it on what you have told me about yourself…about your parents’ marriage…about your date last night.’

‘You don’t know anything about me.’ Charlie shrugged. ‘But believe what you want! Now…I think we should forget this nonsense and get back to work.’ She tried to switch the subject and reached for the door handle, but Marco touched her arm, stopping her from getting out of the car.

‘So what are you looking for in your next relationship?’

The blunt question took her completely by surprise. She looked back at him and as she met the seriousness of his dark eyes she realised that perhaps this conversation had gone a little too far. ‘Well…. I…. hadn’t really thought about it that deeply. I mean…I was only speaking hypothetically.’

He was looking at her very intently as if he could see into her very soul…see the romantic streak lurking beneath the surface. And to her dismay she felt herself blushing wildly. This wasn’t fair—he had no right to ask such personal questions!

Marco laughed. ‘A word of warning, Charlie; never try and play poker, you wouldn’t be much good.’

It was that derisive, cynical laugh that pushed her over the edge. ‘Well, OK, then, if you really want to know, next time around I’d want…companionship.’ She pulled the word wildly out of mid-air.

‘Companionship?’ He didn’t know whether to believe her or not. She could see the dark light in his eyes was tinged with just a hint of uncertainty.

‘Well yes…’ She held his dark gaze determinedly. ‘What’s the matter—isn’t that practical enough for you?’

‘We’re not talking about me…we are talking about you and what you would want,’ Marco corrected her softly. ‘And would companionship really be enough for you?’

She wished those dark eyes of his weren’t so intense…Companionship would be good but she knew deep down it would never be enough for her. She would want a deep and passionate love…nothing less would suffice. She wished she’d never stated this lie now. Charlie glanced away from him. ‘Obviously the guy would have to care deeply about Jack and be good with him.’ She added the provision hastily. That at least was the truth.

‘Obviously.’ Marco nodded.

‘As you said in your book, it’s important not to allow emotions to cloud reality.’ She threw the line in for good measure.

‘You have been paying attention.’ He smiled.

She frowned; was he being facetious? ‘No, I’ve been through a divorce and, as I said before, it has a way of grounding the senses. Why do you think I’ve chosen internet dating? Let’s face it; it is the ultimate practical way to meet someone. You read through a list of a person’s attributes and decide from that if you have something in common. There are no hearts and flowers about choosing a partner using that method, I assure you.’ She left out the fact that it had been her friend Karen who had talked her into it.

‘I guess so.’ Marco frowned for a moment. ‘Maybe you are a little more practical than I gave you credit for.’

‘A lot more practical,’ she corrected him quickly. Even though she veered towards the romantic, that didn’t mean she wasn’t sensible.

Marco held up his hands. ‘Obviously I was very wrong in my assessment of you.’

‘Yes, you were.’ She smiled, pleased with the new note of respect in his tone. And now she knew why she had felt so compelled to lie. The label of incurable romantic was not a good one to have around Marco.

His eyes swept over her thoughtfully. He’d always had Charlie down as someone who could never view a relationship in just practical terms, but now that she had convinced him otherwise perhaps she was just what he needed…‘So, now that we have established the fact that we are both on a similar wavelength…so to speak…how about shelving your internet-dating idea for a while and coming out to dinner with me?’

The question was asked so nonchalantly that for a moment Charlie wondered if she had misheard. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘I was asking you out for dinner…you know, the meal that comes after lunch and before bed.’

The teasing, provocative words caused Charlie’s heart to slam hard against her chest. She didn’t know how to take this sudden turn of conversation at all. ‘As in…a date?’

‘Yes…as in a date,’ Marco said softly and suddenly his tone was very serious.

As their eyes met Charlie felt a flare of pure sexual attraction so raw it took her breath away. She couldn’t deny that she was wildly attracted to him. Then common sense kicked in as she reminded herself that Marco was not only her boss but also a man who only dated women who looked as if they’d come straight off a catwalk.

She tilted up her chin. ‘And why would you do that?’

Marco noted the expression of surprise and consternation in her eyes.

‘Why not?’ he countered quietly.

‘Well, for one thing, you’re my boss and it’s not good to mix business with pleasure.’ She decided to concentrate on practicalities, with her words stiff and formal.

‘I didn’t realise you were so conventional.’ His mouth slanted in a half-smile.

‘I was being sensible.’

‘Well, as you know, I’m all for being sensible.’ He regarded her with a wry, teasing gleam in his eye. ‘But you’ve intrigued me now and I want to find out more about this deeply practical side of your nature and what you are searching for in your next relationship.’

‘I’m not really searching for anything!’ Charlie said hurriedly.

‘That’s not what you just said.’

‘I was just speaking hypothetically…. just…you know…proving that my poker skills are better than yours.’

‘But you told me that you were specifically looking for a realistic type of relationship.’ Marco murmured the words silkily, knowing how she would react. ‘I kind of got the impression that you might have been sussing me out…testing the water…finding out if I was up for the idea.’

‘I certainly was not!’ Charlie was furious. ‘How could you think such a thing?’

‘Very easily when you are laying out your requirements in such an open and honest way.’

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake…’ Charlie trailed off as she suddenly noticed the glint of devilment in his dark eyes. ‘Are you winding me up?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘Just a little…’ He smiled and his eyes moved over her countenance thoughtfully.

Something about the way he was looking at her made her feel extremely self-conscious. ‘Well, I think the joke has gone far enough.’ She glanced away from him, feeling foolish now. ‘We should get back to work—’