Captivated by Her Innocence

‘That is private, Angel,’ her brother snarled.

Angel read one of the attached references. ‘It says here she has a natural empathy with children and she’s—’

Cesare, making an effort to slow his breathing, interrupted irritably. ‘Yeah, I know, she’s perfect.’

A thoughtful expression crossed his sister’s face. ‘You know, I think she might be...’

‘Put that down, Angel.’ He clenched his teeth as his sister predictably tuned him out and turned another page.

‘I’m curious,’ she admitted, still skimming the page. ‘Who was better than her?’

‘Paper qualifications are all well and good.’

‘You mean she’s another one of Paul’s victims.’

‘What the hell do you mean by “another”?’

‘I mean if you’ve got a blind spot it comes to that man. Don’t look like that. I love Paul, he’s a total charmer but, let’s face it he’s—’

Without warning Cesare pulled the car to the side of the road, drawing a startled gasp from his sister.

‘Are you trying to tell me he made a pass at you?’

Reassured by his sister’s peal of laughter enough to start breathing again, he released a deep sigh and turned the engine back on.

They had travelled a silent mile before Angel voiced the question she already knew the answer to. ‘And if he had?’

‘I’d kill him,’ Cesare informed her, with a total lack of emotion.

His response told Angel nothing she didn’t already know. ‘So saving your life makes it all right for him to mess with the—’ she wafted the printed CV his way ‘—Miss Hendersons of the world, but not your sister?’

‘Shut up, Angel.’

Smiling, she licked her finger and chalked up an invisible point in the air, drawing an almost smile from her grim-faced brother before she began to read the CV, which described the sort of person who even the most paranoid parent would feel happy about leaving in charge of their child.

* * *

‘Hi...Anna?’

Anna, who was on the point of leaving, turned and saw the beautiful brunette who had been with Cesare Urquart standing in the doorway of the hotel room she had been forced to take for the night. This morning the brunette was wearing jeans tucked into a pair of knee-high boots and a short fur-collared leather jacket, her river-straight, silky, waist-length jet-black hair secured in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Even if Anna hadn’t been having a bad hair day, and she really was, the woman would have made her feel hopelessly inadequate.

‘I don’t think your boyfriend will like it if you’re seen talking to me.’

Angel scowled. ‘I don’t care much what Cesare likes.’

Her brother had not reacted well to her suggestion over breakfast that his attitude to this woman was coloured by their own mother, and even less well when she had said that just because someone saved your life it didn’t mean they were a saint. And when she’d mentioned her totally brilliant idea he had suggested she had lost her mind.

‘And he’s not my boyfriend, he’s my brother.’

Anna’s chin dropped from the defiant angle as her eyes widened. ‘Brother!’ Were the whole family this stunning?

Anna’s shocked exclamation drew a grin.

‘I’d like to say he got the looks and I got the brains but I’d be lying.’ Her expression sobered. ‘But brainy or not, Cesare can be pretty stupid sometimes and he’s pathologically loyal to his friends even the ones who haven’t...’ She broke off, giving the impression of someone biting their tongue. ‘And, of course, sorry doesn’t come easy to him.’

Anna gave an unamused snort. The idea of that hateful man wanting to apologise was a joke. None of this was his sister’s fault so she forced a faint smile, but was unable to bite back her bitter retort. ‘Especially as he’s always right.’

The willowy brunette winced. ‘Ouch! So you are heading back to...London?’

Anna glanced at her watch. The information she’d received advised that passengers should only travel if their journey was strictly necessary because there were still flood warnings, and though some trains were running today there were numerous delays. The likelihood was her journey would take a lot longer than normal. At best, according to her enquiries, the trains were running on average three hours behind schedule.

‘I haven’t much reason to hang around.’

‘I suppose you have plans for your summer break.’

The seemingly casual remark drew a sigh from Anna. Break? Her summer break might end up being longer than she would have liked. Still, she’d done stints of supply teaching before and she could again.

‘Is there something I can help you with, Miss Urquart?’

‘It’s Angel and, yes, there is. When is your train due? Do you have time for a coffee? The place on the corner is actually pretty good.’

Her last phone call to the help line had suggested she had time for a three-course banquet but she shook her head in a negative motion. Despite her refusal she was actually rather intrigued by this woman’s appearance.

‘Sorry.’

‘You’re probably wondering what I want?’

‘I’m curious,’ Anna admitted.

‘I have a daughter.’ She waved her ring hand at Anna. ‘And, no, I’m not married.’

Half the children in her class of thirty in the inner-city school where Anna had worked had come from single-parent backgrounds.

‘And I never have been. Jas...Jasmine is a great kid. I just wish I could spend more time with her. It’s hard juggling.’ The frown on her brow smoothed as she added, ‘I’m luckier than most because my work is more flexible. Normally I keep the holidays free and, of course, Cesare is great but obviously he can’t be here all the time. He’s a victim of his own success.’ She looked at Anna and, after receiving a blank look back, loosed an incredulous laugh. ‘You’ve no idea who he is, do you?’

‘I know what he is...’ Anna gave a shamed grimace and grunted. ‘Sorry, he’s your brother.’

Angel looked amused. ‘Oh, don’t hold back on my account. Cesare can look after himself.’

‘I know your family owns the estate and castle. I suppose that makes him pretty important.’ In his own eyes at least, she thought viciously. ‘Locally.’

‘Sure, the Urquarts have been here for ever, but the estate barely breaks even. It’ll be years before it does despite the money he’s poured in over the last five years. Dad, bless him, was pretty resistant to change and Mum, before she packed her bags, was terribly expensive. Her divorce settlement was pretty extreme. Anyway, I digress. You don’t want to know about the family,’

On the contrary, Anna was eating up every fascinating detail.

‘I take it you’re not a fan of Formula One racing?’ Angel continued.

‘Not my thing.’

Was Cesare some kind of racing-car driver? It figured.

Danger and glamour plus a ridiculous amount of adulation—yes, she could see that suiting him.

‘Well, actually he is what most people would call famous.’ Accustomed to seeing her brother the target of women who had been known to stalk him in packs, Angel was amused that this girl didn’t have a clue who he was.

‘He was champion driver two years running.’ Anna watched a shadow cross the other girl’s beautiful face before she adopted a brisk tone and explained, ‘Obviously that was before the crash, then he moved seamlessly into management and took over team Romero.’

A crash! News reports of crashes always made Anna leave the room or switch channel; now the word made her shudder.

‘Was he...?’ She stopped. Presumably he had been injured, but if he bore any scars Anna hadn’t seen any—not that she had seen that much of him. Without warning an image floated before her eyes—a pretty detailed image.

Wafting cold air on her face with her hand, she cleared her throat more successfully than she cleared her mind of a naked bronzed man. ‘Romero?’ Even she had heard of the famous Italian racing team. ‘So he doesn’t live here?’

‘The team is based in Italy but after Dad died Cesare made the decision to live here. Obviously he travels a lot.’ She grimaced. ‘We both do—pretty ironic considering how we both hated it when we were kids. Our mum got custody after the divorce,’ she explained. ‘And she has what you could call a low boredom threshold—she doesn’t stay in one place for long.’

She flashed Anna a wry smile. ‘So neither did we. When Jas was born I was determined that she had security, stability, a stable home life.’

The implication that she, and presumably her brother, had not enjoyed this sort of childhood was not lost on Anna who felt a stab of sympathy. Not for Cesare, obviously, but for this beautiful young woman. Anna might have been tragically orphaned, not what most people would call a perfect childhood, but after her parents’ death she had been raised in a warm and loving home and treated as much a daughter as Rosie by her aunt and uncle.

‘I always feel guilty when I go away for work but...’ Angel shook her head. ‘I wish now I’d not taken this job. It’s too big a commitment.’ Anna, who had seen that look of guilt on the face of many working mothers trying to juggle childcare, struggled to maintain her detachment. Giving full rein to her empathy had led in the past to Anna being taken advantage of—it wasn’t going to happen again. She’d toughened up. Watching the person you loved most in the whole world having her stomach pumped did that to a person.

‘I hadn’t worked for three months while Jas was ill and in my business people have short memories. You’re only as good as your last assignment. I thought it might be tough to... Well, anyway, when I got offered this Face of Floriel gig I just grabbed it, but then—’ she sighed ‘—not thinking of consequences is the story of my life.’

Anna felt a flash of something close to envy. Had she ever done anything without thinking of consequences? Her caution was probably why everyone had considered it wildly out of character when she had gone for a job outside the city she’d lived in for most of her life.

‘Look, I wish I could help.’ She liked Angel Urquart and she would have liked to help her out.

Do not go there, Anna. Don’t even think it.

‘You can.’

Anna shook her head. ‘You must see that’s impossible. Obviously I’m very sorry your daughter has been ill—’

‘She missed all of last term.’

‘I’m sure she’ll catch up quickly. They do at that age.’ Anna stopped as things suddenly clicked into place in her head.

‘Oh, wow, you’re that model...Angel.’ Minus dramatic make-up, this was the woman with the impossibly perfect body, the woman from the ad campaign advertising lingerie. The images were plastered on the side of every bus in London a year or so ago.

‘Right now I’m the mum Angel and I just know that this will work. And you wouldn’t have to worry about Cesare,’ she cut in quickly. ‘It’s a very big castle. Jas and I have an apartment in the west wing so we’re totally independent. Of course, he’d be there if you needed him.’

Needing Cesare Urquart? ‘I won’t.’

‘Then you’ll do it?’

Anna’s eyes widened in dismay. ‘No, I just meant...Does he...?’ She swallowed, unable to bring herself to say the name of the man. ‘Does your brother know you’re here?’

‘I mentioned it.’

Anna’s lips twisted in a dubious smile. She was not fooled for a second by the casual tone. ‘And he’s willing to run the risk of me contaminating your daughter?’ Anna couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice.

Angel laid her hand on Anna’s shoulder. She was smiling but her narrowed green eyes shone with determination. ‘Cesare is my brother and I owe him a lot, but I’m Jas’s mother and where her welfare is concerned I make the decisions.’

‘But if you work, don’t you already have childcare?’

‘Sure, Jas has a nanny, only poor Jenny came off her bike, broke her leg and won’t be out of her plaster for another six weeks. She’d hobble back to work if I let her, but it’s out of the question.’ She gave a sigh. ‘Look, forget it. This isn’t your problem. I shouldn’t have come, and believe me you’re not the only one who is intimidated by my big brother.’ She fastened the button on her jacket and swept a strand of gleaming dark hair from her face.

‘I’m not intimidated by your brother.’

‘Of course you’re not,’ Angel soothed.

Anna’s jaw tightened. ‘I’ll do it.’

Angel’s smile flashed. She was already fishing a mobile phone from her pocket. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Totally.’

Angel made a call on her mobile.

‘Hi, Hamish. Yes. Bring Jas up.’ She looked at the bag on Anna’s bed. ‘Good, you’re packed,’ she approved. ‘You travel light, but no problem—we can stop on the way and pick up some more things. What size are you—six, eight?’

Anna blinked. ‘Your daughter is here? You expect me to come now?’

Angel looked surprised by the question. ‘Anna, I’m catching my flight at midnight and—’

‘You must have been very sure I’d say yes.’

The woman gave an airy shrug. ‘I’m by nature an optimistic person.’

Anna gave the sleek, stylish brunette a long searching look. Before she could challenge Angel, the door burst open and a small dark-haired figure burst in. Jas Urquart had a shy version of her mother’s smile and a front tooth missing. She was the embodiment of heartbreakingly adorable.

CHAPTER FOUR

HAD SHE BEEN down this corridor before? Anna looked around, trying to decide if the tapestry on the wall looked familiar. She shook her head in defeat; she didn’t have a clue. She kicked herself for not paying more attention.

Instead of looking for landmarks, Anna had been listening to Jasmine’s stream of chatter as the lively little girl had skipped along beside her, relaying some gruesome history, or possibly fantasy—the child clearly had a very lively imagination—of the castle that was her home.

The childish confidences had been liberally littered with her uncle’s name. Based on her experience, Anna would have thought he would feature as an ogre in a child’s life, but no, it was clear that for Jas at least he was something of a hero, endowed, if she was to be believed, with superhuman skills.

Oh, well, I’m sure he’d be the first to agree, Anna thought as her stomach muscles reacted to the image that floated into her head. Eyes as hard and cold as polished steel, a mouth that was cruel. A mouth that was...

She lifted a hand to one warm cheek and, sucking in air through flared nostrils, attempted to banish the image.

‘You’ve done what?’

Had she conjured Cesare up from her fevered imagination? This place was huge—how was it that she couldn’t avoid him, ever?

‘I thought we agreed.’ He was heading towards her, arguing furiously with Angel.

Shaking free of the frozen horror that had nailed her to the spot, Anna stepped back into the shadows. It wasn’t just the three sets of stone steps she had jogged up and down that made her heart pound in her chest as she shamelessly eavesdropped...short of covering her ears, what choice did she have?

When she responded, Angel’s voice did not suggest she was intimidated by the outrage in her brother’s voice; she sounded faintly amused. But mingled with the amusement was a hint of steely determination. Anna’s admiration for her employer went even higher. It took someone with guts to stand up to Cesare Urquart.

‘You talked, I listened and then I asked Anna Henderson to stay until term starts. She can tutor Jas and help her catch up with the work she missed, and be there to care for her when I’m away.’

‘There must be an alternative. I’ll speak to the agency.’

‘Sure, and they’ll send some girl who’ll spend more time flirting with you than taking care of Jas. It’s not your fault you’re eye candy, darling brother, but Anna is perfect. She doesn’t like you.

‘This woman—’

‘Look, Cesare, before you start you have a problem with Anna. I don’t. I know that Paul can do no wrong in your eyes and that’s fine, you can be in his debt for ever if you like, but he’s human and people make mistakes. Just look at me.’

‘This woman is nothing like you.’

‘No. she didn’t get pregnant. It’s daft to assume that it was all her fault. You want to know what I think?’

‘No.’

‘Fine,’ came the easy reply. ‘I have to be away for the next month. It’s not perfect, I know, but then, well, bottom line is, there’s nothing I can do about it, and with Anna—’

‘You don’t have to work.’

‘And you don’t have to be a serial seducer but you are. Sorry, but I’m not about to sponge off my big brother.’

‘There is no question of sponging, Angel.’ Anna could hear the irritation in his voice. She gave a contemptuous grimace. The man had the sensitivity of a brick. He should be admiring his sister for wanting to be independent, not knocking her. ‘This is about Jasmine, not your pride.’

‘Don’t try and emotionally blackmail me. This isn’t about me, is it? This woman really has got under your skin, hasn’t she?’

Have I? Anna thought from her hiding place.

‘But you’re right, this is about what’s best for Jas. I’m sorry if you don’t like it but she stays, and for God’s sake be nice to her.’

His response was a deep mumble that Anna didn’t catch. She shouldn’t be eavesdropping! She felt a belated stab of guilt. She ought to reveal herself, she knew she should, it was the right thing to do. You are a coward, Anna Henderson, she told herself in disgust as she stayed where she was.

‘You’re just going to have to suck it up, big brother.’

There followed another angry exchange, this time in Italian, before Anna heard a female laugh followed by the sound of heels vanishing in the opposite direction. The other, heavier, footsteps got closer...oh, help!

Anna was faced with the choice to hide in the shadows and hope he didn’t see her or reveal herself.

* * *

Had Anna got under his skin? The lines bracketing his sensual mouth deepened as, ebony brows drawn into a scowling straight line above his masterful nose, Cesare turned the words over in his head. It was true. The redhead had got under his skin.

An image of her soft mouth and extraordinary luminous sky-blue eyes floated into his head. His lips tightened as he banished it, aware as he did so that it was not likely to stay banished. For a man who took his self-control pretty much for granted, this knowledge was an added irritant. He had only encountered the woman a mere twenty-four hours ago and in that time she had rarely been out of his thoughts. Take last night, for example. He shook his head slightly, dislodging the images, none innocent and all involving that lush mouth! She was going to be living under his roof so he needed to keep his imagination and his libido on a tight rein.

He recognised that the most irritating part of the situation was that his sister had made her argument pretty well, somehow giving the woman victim status, which was laughable. As for the implication that he was somehow prejudiced? He might be forced to accept the situation but he was not about to accept this skewed view, though he could see why it suited his sister. From her point of view this was an ideal solution to her short-term problem. Great for Angel, not so great for him bumping into a woman whom he despised and desired with equal force.

It was an admission, a weakness, he would never have needed to acknowledge if she and her red hair had simply left, but she hadn’t and pretending a situation didn’t exist was no defence. Face the problem and then deal with it.

Angel might trust her with Jasmine but he gave Miss Henderson two weeks tops before she stepped out of line, and when she did he’d be there.

Anna took a deep breath and stepped out in front of Cesare.

‘S-sorry if I shouldn’t be here but I think I got a bit turned around on the third staircase.’ Her shaky laugh was met with stony silence.

Cesare felt a jolt of shock as the woman that he had mentally been cursing emerged from the shadows. Against the stone wall her face was a pale oval, the hair that had been a subject of unwilling fascination for him yesterday today hung loose and untamed, the rippling, richly coloured Pre-Raphaelite waves falling down her narrow back. Gone also was the professional suit, replaced today by a pair of faded jeans that clung to the slight feminine curve of her hips. Tucked into the belt cinched across her hips, the blue striped top echoed the cobalt colour of her eyes.

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