Her skin tingled at the image. Did he want to continue this? Or was it a one-shot deal? If they were smart, this would be it. It would be foolish to continue any sort of affair.
Stasia frowned. It would also be foolish to leave it at this and never do anything else either. She wanted to know what it was like, having sex with Gavin. Having that connection with him, feeling him move inside her, come with her…
Her body softened, went damp. She couldn’t
not
continue this with Gavin.
Could only hope he felt the same way.
Chapter Eight
“Miss Anastasia, your brother is on the line.” Renzo held the house phone out toward her.
She hesitated before she took it from him. “Which one?” she whispered.
“Matteo,” he whispered back, gesturing toward her with the cordless phone.
She grabbed it, escaping out to the back patio so she could talk to him privately. Not that there was anyone else in the kitchen besides Renzo and Elena. Her mother was, of course, nowhere to be found, and Stasia had a feeling Gavin was still asleep in the tower room.
Warmth suffused her at the thought of Gavin naked in bed. So not the image she wanted floating in her mind as she spoke to her big brother. “Matt. Good morning.”
“Good morning. I trust you’ve spoken to Mama.” It wasn’t a question. He was that confident she’d taken care of things already. She’d let him know a few days ago she was going to the villa to confront their mother, and he’d encouraged her, agreeing it was a fine idea.
Thank goodness for her eldest brother. He was such a positive influence in her life, especially now, when she desperately needed the support.
Sighing, she went to sit on a lounger by the pool, ignoring the one she and Gavin had occupied last evening. “Not enough. She hasn’t come out of her room once. But we’ve not been here a full twenty-four hours yet, so there’s still time.”
“We? Who else is with you?”
She sighed again. Sometimes it was as if no one listened to her, especially her brothers. She knew she’d told him about Gavin. “I brought my attorney. He’s an old friend of Alexander Worth’s. I think he can get me in to speak with them.”
Matteo remained silent for so long, she thought she’d lost him. “Are you still there?” she finally asked.
“Stasia, this is a bad idea.” His voice was firm, in that there-will-be-no-arguing-way of his. “Get rid of the attorney and speak to Mama alone.”
“There is no way I’m getting rid of Gavin.”
“Gavin, is it? Sounds rather informal. How old is he, anyway? And how do you know him again?”
“None of your business,” she grumbled, hating how she felt like she was talking to her father. Matteo had always taken on that responsible-brother-in-charge role. It came with the territory, what with him being the oldest of the four.
“Meaning he is most likely young and handsome and successful. Meaning he will also try his damnedest to get into your bed. Don’t let him, Stasia. Attorneys are nothing but trouble.”
Too late.
Rubbing her forehead with the tips of her fingers, she leaned back against the chair. “I’m not a stupid little girl, so stop treating me like one.”
Now it was his turn to sigh. “Be careful, that’s all I ask. I know you can convince Mama to talk to you. The two of you have always been close. I don’t know why she’s behaving the way she is, but if anyone can get through to her, it’s you.”
“I hope so.” She paused, wishing her brother’s certainty could somehow transfer into her and give her the strength she needed to make the dreaded confrontation. “Where are you?”
“In Milan, visiting the in-laws. Lucia is not…feeling well.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” Not that she and her sister-in-law were very close, but she never wished ill will toward her. Lucia was quiet, could be rather snobbish. Quite proud of her husband, the newly appointed CEO of Renaldi Accessories, she enjoyed nothing more than going out with her equally snobby friends and shopping. Spending lots of money was her favorite hobby, but Matteo never seemed to protest. Not the most affectionate mother either, she practically neglected her young son, Matty.
That was the part that irritated Stasia the most. Who could ignore that sweet little boy, especially his mother? She didn’t understand it.
“She’ll be fine. I thought having her here with her family would cheer her up, but she’s spent most of the time in bed.” Concern laced her brother’s voice. “It’s as if she’s too weak to get out of it. She sleeps most of the day.”
Stasia frowned. That didn’t sound like Lucia. She was always all over the place, never one for idle time. “Take her to the doctor, Matt. Maybe she has some sort of flu.”
“Perhaps. You need to visit and soon, Stasia. Once all the dust settles over this entire mess, we would love to have you. We’ll be back in New York soon. And Matty misses you.”
“I miss him too. Give him a kiss for me.”
“Will do. Perhaps I’ll have him Facetime you in the next few days.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful. Please do so.”
They said their goodbyes and she hung up, setting the phone on the glass-and-iron table beside her. The sun was warm as it shone directly overhead, the constant breeze ruffling her unbound hair. She was still clad in her thin robe and nightgown, no make-up, her hair a mess. In desperate need of a shower before she went to her mother and tried to talk to her again.
Last night had ended soon after the moment on the lounge chair. Her cheeks heated remembering it. When they’d finally climbed off the chair, Gavin had slipped on his jeans and she’d gone in search of her dress, finding it a damp heap along with her panties by the pool. She’d put it on anyway, too self-conscious to walk around naked. Too worried over what Gavin might think.
And that was her biggest problem, wasn’t it? She never knew what Gavin was thinking. That they’d messed around still shocked her. He went from being the stern, argumentative lawyer to the fairly amiable, positive thinking partner to the man who growled at her to take all of him in her mouth right before he came.
Her entire body heated at that particular memory.
Like a gentleman, he’d walked her to the main house, given her a sweet kiss that turned her inside out and wanting more, then left her in front of the French doors while he headed back to the guest quarters. No offer for her to come join him in his bed and finish what they’d started, though she hadn’t invited him to her room either.
Not that she’d risk it. Something about being with Gavin made her a little louder than usual. She could only imagine screaming his name when he made her come, her mother’s bedroom down at the end of the hall. What if Mama heard her?
Her cheeks burned at the thought.
She felt someone standing behind her before she saw him, almost jumped in her seat when a large hand settled on her shoulder. Turning, she found Gavin standing there with a slight smile on his sleepy-looking face. “Hey.”
“Good morning.” She desperately tried to keep her voice neutral, couldn’t help the trace of warmth creeping in. Just looking at him made her insides flutter in anticipation. Not a good thing considering they were trying to have a professional relationship.
“Can I join you?” When she nodded, he sat in the chair across from her, deliciously rumpled in the same pair of jeans that he’d worn last night, though at least now he concealed his mouthwatering chest, donning a light gray T-shirt. It did nothing to detract from his handsomeness, though. The man looked good in just about anything.
“How did you sleep?” she asked politely.
He smiled, rubbed his stubble-covered jaw. “Great. Woke up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee too.”
“Ah, that was Renzo’s doing. He’s very courteous like that.”
“He snuck into my room then. I never heard him.”
“I hope you don’t mind.” She never thought of Renzo as invading anyone’s privacy. He was always just…there.
“No, I appreciate his thoughtfulness. I’m not usually such a heavy sleeper. Might’ve had something to do with what—happened last night.” He shot her a wicked smile.
Which in turn made her blush furiously, damn her fair skin. “About that. Maybe we should—”
He lunged toward her, taking her hand and bringing it to his mouth so he could press a gentle kiss to her palm. “Do it again?” he asked hopefully.
She laughed weakly, her bones melting at his possessive touch, the flare of heat in his beautiful eyes. “I don’t understand the change in you.”
“I don’t understand it either. I’m going to blame the Amalfi Coast.”
“What happens on the coast…” she started.
“…stays on the coast,” he finished with that same naughty smile.
Disappointment wound through her, but she pushed it away. This was the smarter approach. Once they returned to New York, they returned to their business-only relationship. “If that’s the way you wish to conduct it.”
“It is. If that works for you.” He nodded, satisfaction clear in his voice. “Have you spoken to your mother this morning?”
Oh, that sounded familiar. “Not yet.”
“Did she already turn you down?”
“I haven’t gone to her rooms yet today.” She ducked her head, tugging on her robe belt. “I slept in late. Must’ve been jet lag.”
“Or a really great orgasm to help you sleep,” he suggested not so helpfully.
He was downright jovial this morning, which went against his usual sour-faced role. “Perhaps,” she said, trying to keep it light.
Desperate to keep it light.
“Well, you should try and talk to her now.”
“After I shower,” she answered, saw the flare of heat rise in his eyes. He probably liked the idea of her naked in the shower. Would probably invite himself to join her if she didn’t watch it. Deciding it best to deter him for the moment, she stood, ready to make a dash for the main house’s doors. “How about we meet at the house for lunch? Hopefully I’ll have something to report to you.”
“Wait a minute.” He snagged hold of her hand, stopping her from fleeing. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She smiled, her voice sounding false and she wanted to kick herself. “Really, I am.”
“Stasia…”
“Meet me for lunch, twelve-thirty or so, yes? I’ll have Renzo let you know if there are any changes.” She tugged her hand from his grip and headed toward the house, keeping her head held high. Wanting Gavin to know he didn’t affect her at all.
“You can’t run and hide from me, you know. Not here,” he called after her. But she ignored him.
It was easier that way.
Stasia rapped determinedly on the door yet again. If she had to beat on this door until her knuckles were raw and bloody, she’d do it. She was like a woman possessed. Demanding someone open the door after fifteen minutes of incessant knocking did that to a person.
There was still no reply.
Slumping against the door, she thumped her forehead against it once. Then once again for good measure. Maybe it would bash some sense into her, or maybe it would bash all the sense out of her head and she could stand there for the next hour banging against the door.
God.
Her mother was being so damn selfish. She rapped on the door once, as hard as she could and decided to hell with it. She was going to scream.
“Why won’t you open the door?” She grabbed hold of the handle and rattled it, frustrated to find it locked when she shouldn’t have been. Her mother wasn’t so stupid as to leave the door unlocked. She wanted to keep everyone out at all costs.
Even her daughter.
“Go away.” The softly spoken words were hard to hear through the thick wood and Stasia paused, pressed her ear against the door.
“Mama?”
“Go away, Anastasia. I don’t want to talk to you.”
Her heart dropped into her toes. At least her mother acknowledged her, but not quite the way she was hoping for. “That doesn’t matter. I want to talk to you. We need to discuss what happened.”
“No.”
Stasia growled in frustration. “You can’t avoid it forever, you know. I need to know the truth. I need to know what happened and why Father did this to me. You can’t leave me hanging like this.”
She heard a lot of sniffling coming from within the room but nothing else.
“I have no one else. I’ve been disinherited. I have no job, no family. I don’t have you and you’re my mother. Please talk to me.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she was hardly aware of them. “Please. I can’t go on like this.”
Something heavy settled against the other side of the door and Stasia backed away, startled by the movement. Slowly the door cracked open, and she caught sight of her mother peeking through. “You’ll hate me,” Claudia whispered hoarsely.
“I won’t. I swear it.” Stasia grabbed hold of the door and pushed, her mother stepping out of the way with a squeal. She shoved her way into the bedroom and shut the door behind her, turning the lock. “Oh, Mama,” she whispered when she got a good look at the woman who’d given birth to her.
She was painfully thin, with thick, dark circles heavy beneath her eyes and her skin deathly pale. Her hair was disheveled, she appeared as if she hadn’t taken a bath in days and she wore a large, pale green satin robe that hung off one too-slim shoulder, revealing the bones of her chest. “Don’t look at me like that,” she snapped, full of fire. Sounding like her old self, though Claudia Renaldi had changed plenty since her husband’s death. She was a shell of a person, a ghost.