Claiming His Pregnant Innocent

The charmingly aged Italian villeta she’d found provided her with just the surroundings she’d been looking for. It was the perfect place for her to work on her book illustrations and hopefully restore some confidence in herself. Particularly after a marriage that had made her doubt she would ever find a man who would truly desire her, or she him.

Perhaps she just didn’t have what it took for that?

‘Why don’t we sit down?’ she suggested, indicating the somewhat battered wine-coloured sofa while electing to sit in the chintz-covered armchair herself.

As Bastian settled himself Lily noticed that his hands rested on his knees, as though he might easily spring into action should the need arise. That surely suggested a man who found it hard to contain his energy and relax. Already sensing that he wanted to get their business over and done with as soon as possible, she hoped his impatience wouldn’t steer her towards trying to ameliorate him.

‘You remember a few weeks ago we gave you notice to vacate the property?’ he began.

Her smooth brow furrowed. ‘Yes. I was told that you needed the land for planting.’

‘Well, I understand from my father that you’ve changed your mind about leaving?’

‘I didn’t agree with the request in the first place and I told him so. When I rented this place I signed a legal document that stated the period of rental was two years. So far I’ve only been here six months’

‘I’m well aware of that, signora, but I hoped that our offer of financial compensation would take care of any inconvenience caused—as well as our promise to find you somewhere equally suitable for your requirements.’

Releasing a sigh, she sat up a little straighter. ‘It’s not just about practical considerations. I’ve—I’ve grown to love this place. Being here has helped me find the inspiration I was looking for.’

Lifting an enquiring dark brow, Bastian folded his arms. ‘You have had trouble finding it elsewhere?’

‘I had what you might call a dry period. I made an unwise decision and life got rather difficult for me for a while. Consequently I lost faith in my ability.’

With a helpless shudder she caught hold of her hands to stop them trembling, but she knew her companion hadn’t failed to miss their slight quiver.

Why had she been so candid with him? She should learn to think before she spoke! Now he would probably suspect she wasn’t entirely confident about their upcoming chat and that perhaps she was unsure as to where she stood regarding the legalities of her rental.

His deep brown eyes unsettled her with their frank intensity.

‘But presumably your publishers still want your work?’

‘Yes, they do. I illustrate the stories of a well-known children’s writer, and so far I haven’t had any complaints. The books are doing very well in spite of my recent challenges.’

‘You do not wish to write your own stories and illustrate them?’

Funny he should ask that. It was one of her long-held dreams.

Lily swallowed hard. The knowing smile that dimpled his bronzed cheek was disconcerting. Now she trembled for a different reason... If he worked for MI6 he could probably persuade any female perpetrator of crime to confess immediately.

It shook her to her core to think of what that effortlessly sexy smile of his could do to a woman...

‘Yes, I do. I’ve already written a couple but... Well, it’s not an easy profession to get into.’

‘So better to stick with what you know? Is that what you’re saying?’

Indignant heat flooded her. ‘I’m not saying that at all. I just think it’s best to deal with one thing at a time.’

‘You don’t believe in taking risks, then?’

‘You came here to talk to me about my tenancy, Signor Carrera... Don’t you think we’d better just get on with that?’ Endeavouring to sound firm, she felt wary of him seeing her as potentially weak and taking advantage.

Allowing his gaze to roam leisurely over the disconcertingly lovely features before him, Bastian realised that something that should have been easy—that he dealt with as a matter of course in his business life—suddenly felt tiresomely difficult.

Mulling over what she might have meant when she’d confessed that her life had been rather difficult lately and things had made her lose faith in her ability, he quickly ran his mind through the gamut of possibilities. Had she been bereaved? Was she recovering from an accident or an illness? Or had she lost her money in one of those deplorable financial scams?

Then it dawned on him.

She’d been recently divorced, his father had said. No doubt her confidence had been shaken by her marriage not working out. It must have been harder still if she’d really loved the man...

Because the idea disturbed him more than it ought, he steered his thoughts back to the matter in hand and said firmly, ‘Very well, then. We will talk business. Regrettably, my father and I need you to vacate the property as soon as possible, signora, and we will gladly compensate you in order for you to do that. As you have already been advised, we will even find you similar suitable accommodation in the area.’

Lily rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms as if she was feeling cold. His heart thudded at the thought of a very particular way of warming her. It had been a long time since he’d felt so attracted to a woman, and the fact that he did so now, with this woman, would turn out to be a major inconvenience should he succumb to it.

‘Do you really expect me to agree to leave just like that?’ she demanded, tucking a long strand of hair turned golden by the sun behind her ear. ‘I have rights too, you know.’

‘Of course you do. That’s why we have made you a very good offer to help you agree to go. You will not be out of pocket, or left to find alternative accommodation on your own.’ Taking a deep breath in, Bastian felt oddly ill at ease as he garnered himself to say what he had to say next. ‘If you do not agree to leave, I’m afraid we may have to resort to having the authorities evict you.’

Immediately she pushed to her feet. Bastian saw her upper lip quiver and a vivid rose tint spread over her cheeks.

It made him feel like an absolute louse that he’d put her in such an untenable position. Never before had the necessity to do such a thing in the name of business overly disturbed him. From early on in his career he’d learned that he couldn’t please everyone, that sometimes it was necessary to stick to his guns in order to get what he wanted. But it perturbed him that he was going to disappoint her.

‘You would really do that? Do you honestly think that’s fair?’

Lifting a broad, hard-muscled shoulder and dropping it again, he aimed to keep his tone matter-of-fact and not resort to getting into a disagreeable confrontation. He was well aware that on rare occasions heightened emotions could get the better of him.

‘We gave you plenty of notice.’ Standing up, he drove his hand exasperatedly through his hair. ‘Surely that was enough?’

‘It wasn’t...it isn’t.’

Determined to let him know she was no pushover, Lily stood her ground. Bastian Carrera wasn’t going to treat her as though she was some meek little lamb whose needs weren’t important and get away with it! Other people had treated her in such a cavalier fashion before and she wouldn’t tolerate it.

Memories came of being mocked at school for being shy and awkward and refusing to be part of any clique—it had singled her out to the class bullies. Their cruel taunts and efforts to exclude her from school activities had made her feel even more isolated and alone than she’d already felt at home. Hers had not been a loving household. But the pain of what she’d endured then made her even more determined to stand up to her landlord now.

‘How would you like to be ousted from your place of residence as though you don’t matter? As if your needs are inconsequential?’ Her tone rang with temper. ‘People like me clearly don’t matter to you so longas you get what you want, do they?’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘You know very well what I mean. It’s obvious you believe my needs are nowhere near as important as your own. I’m just an ordinary woman, trying to make her living in the best way I can, and I won’t be dictated to by a man who thinks he’s superior just because he’s inherited wealth and land and doesn’t have to depend on anyone for the fundamental things in life...like a home!’

‘You think I don’t appreciate what I have? That I take my good fortune for granted?’ Bastian’s glance was steely. ‘You have no idea how wrong you are. I work as hard as—if not harderthan—any of my employees who need to put food on the table for their families because that’s what I learned from my father. His example taught me that a business is only as good as the people who run it—that we have to value those who work for us and let them know their contribution is essential to the success and wellbeing of us all.’

The passion in his voice made Lily realise how much her comment had got to him. She knew she’d sounded accusing and jealous of his good fortune and she hadn’t meant to convey that at all. That wasn’t the way she felt. All she wanted was to be treated fairly and not to be pushed aside like some annoying inconvenience.

‘I didn’t say that you took anything for granted. I take pride in working hard myself. It’s just that...’

Disturbingly, she somehow found herself face to face with him, and she tried hard not to be distracted by his arresting presence for long enough to finish speaking her mind and let him know how furious she was at what appeared to be his distinct lack of understanding in her case.

‘Couldn’t this necessity of yours to turn over the land to more organic olive groves wait a while longer? At least until the agreed length of my tenancy expires? Can’t you at least think about it?’