TrisTris had worked through her lunch-hour and expecting that Tony would be detained by Gail had not thought to close her office door when she made her call. The result was that he walked in when she was right in the middle of it, and Chloe was describing Ethan"s newest trick. "Personal call?" Tony said sardonically when she had finished. "First time I have seen a spark of life in you since I got here. Does Matt know about him?" "My private affairs are my own," Tris retorted, colour scorching her skin as she realised the inference he had drawn from her words. Of course he would think she meant love affairs. She turned her back on him, searching through the files for an article she needed. When she straightened up Tony was standing right behind her. She could smell the faint tang of his" aftershave. His skin was firm and tanned, the blue eyes framed with ridiculously thick dark lashes. Just like Ethan's. Her heart pounded, and she bent down to close the cupboard drawer, trying to
Tony. Tony sipped his cognac and watched as the party winded down. Luscious chocolate chip cannoli cake and pots of strong coffee were served, and a relaxed atmosphere rippled through the rooms as family and friends began making their good byes.Tension swirled in his gut and fought with the lovely fire of the alcohol. This time he was in trouble. Big trouble. After the phone call with Valarie and Dominick, he decided to confront his mother with a well placed battle plan.Tony knew sticking with the family tradition was impossible. He also realized his mother believed strongly in rules and rarely broke them. He had decided on an alternate plan that seemed brilliant. He would throw her a story about a steady girlfriend, with a wedding in the firm future, and even promise a visit.Then he would calmly insist Valarie marry first because of her history with Dominick, and he would cite Papa’s heavenly blessing. Maybe he would tell her he saw it in a dream, something to soothe her doubts.
Tony. I quickly followed her to the door and held her by her arm. “I have a proposition for you.” She threw her head back and laughed. The smoky sound beckoned like a witch casting a spell. “Well, then, you have come to the right girl.” She licked her lips with deliberate precision. The faint sheen of wetness gleamed in the light.“Proposition away.”He smothered a curse and decided to go for the blunt approach. “I need a pretend wife.”She blinked. “Huh?”“Yes.” He despised the slight flush his ridiculous admission caused and forged on. “I am having some family difficulties and I’m required to marry. I need someone to go to Italy with me for a week, pretend to be my wife, spend some time with my family, then leave.”“Why do I suddenly feel like I dropped into the Lifetime movie of the week?”“What is Lifetime?”She waved his question off. “Never mind, a girl thing. Um, let me think about this for a moment. You need me to pretend to be married to you, hang with your familly, stay in
Tris.Tris glanced at her fake husband and tried hard not to panic. The familiar shortening of breath and hammering heart alerted her to trouble.She swallowed, hid her face behind Italian Vogue, and prayed she’d keep it together. She hated the idea of anyone knowing about such a weakness, especially Tony. The whole crazy plan hit her full force as soon as his private plane shot into the air. Her finger itched with the snug band of platinum gold, and the two carat round diamond sparkled like icicles catching the glint of the sun. The ruse seemed doable in Nadia’s house. A day later, though, with a ring, fake husband, and family to con, she realized she was a complete idiot.What the hell had she agreed to?Tris couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t use the available weapon to keep Tony away from her family.But at what price? Meeting his sisters and mother. Sleeping in his bedroom. Pretending to be someone she wasn’t?Her fingers tightened around the glossy pages, and she breathed
Tony.Tony glanced at the poised woman by his side as he wound his way through the curvy hills toward his home. The top was down, and her gold red hair blew in the wind in a tangled mass, but she didn’t seem concerned. Her pursed lips told him she was thinking hard, probably getting into character to meet his family. During the last twenty-four hours, he’d learned a lot about Tris .Unfortunately, the tiny glimpse only made him crave more.The vivid green of trees and brown earth flashed by and welcomed him in a way that soothed his soul. His family owned land from generations back, which had all been passed to him. But he had always known from his first visit to New york City that he longed to make his mark there. Papa took him to visit his uncle, and the bustle of Manhattan fascinated his sense of challenge.Unfortunately, the crowds and chaos did not call to his need for privacy and land. When he decided to expand La Dolce Famiglia in the States, he sought the excitement of Manhatt
Chapter One. Tris. "So what are we having? Whiskey? Soda? Wine? You look like a wine person, do you need a minute? The bartender asked me , as i settled into an empty chair. "Any chance i can get a cosmo?" i asked looking around,it was a little too quiet for a Friday night. "Nope, but i have all the hard stuff." "Make it a shot of Jack Daniels." i said looking around the empty bar. Its a little past midnight now. And that's when i spotted him. He was tall and had broad shoulders. He had tattoos that slide all the way up to his shirt sleeves, his shirt was purple in color which complimented his skin well. He was about ten feet away from me, but there was enough light that i could see his eyes as they slowly dragged over my body without revealing a single thought. This guy holds his cards well. I though to myself as I caught him lick his slips slowly, such a guy move! The bartender came back to me with my drink and I lost concentration of the guy i was watching watch me for
Chapter Two. Tris. The strangely sexy man watched me smoke for a while, like I was some piece of art. Unable to continue standing there in total silence, I cleared my throat and turned to fully face him. "Is it a woman?" i threw a question at him to get the attention off me. "Did she break your heart?" He looked at me, like really looked at me. Something in his eyes sparkled, and I could almost see a grin. His eyes meet mine, and he just stared at me. I have never seen eyes as intimidating as his, maybe i have, but his seemed darker attached to his beautiful face and intimidating presence. He didn't answer my question right away, he took a sip of his beer, then laughed a little. Even his laugh was sexy, the kind of laughter that seemed genuine and echoed. "What makes you think my heart is broken and by a woman?" He leaned onto the wall so that he could now face me. "Oh, oh am sorry, I don't judge whichever gender you are into. But if am being honest, you don't seem like the typ
Chapter Three. Tris. I shouldn’t have been so nervous riding a private elevator up to a penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue. The sight of high ceilings and prewar architecture wasn’t new to me, and really, it was all to be expected from a man who seemed to own damn near everything. And the coveted his anxiety as he watched for my reaction.His home was as beautiful as the man himself. It was sleek, modern, and cool. His private space was warm and sumptuous, filled with antiques and art anchored by gorgeous Aubusson rugs laid over gleaming hardwood floors.“It’s…amazing,” I said softly, feeling privileged to see it. But again he brings all his women back here so it was no priviledge really. “Come in.” He tugged me deeper into the apartment. He led me through the living room and down a hall to his bedroom.“Wow,” I breathed when he flicked on the light. A massive sleigh bed dominated the space, the wood dark which he seemed to prefer and the linens a soft cream. The rest of the furni